Few plants got so much initial attention at the highest level and at the same remains unrecognized as feijoa, representative of the family myrtle, Feijoa sellowiana Berg. It is the most famous member of the genus, which consists of only three species that German botanist Ernst Berger named after Dona da Silva Feijoa, botany from the city of San Sebastian, Spain.

The specific name pays tribute to F. Zellovu, German specialist, who collected samples of plants in the Province of Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. The lack of popular name indicates a lack of popularity of this plant among the common people. In Uruguay it is called in Spanish - Guayabo del Pais. Feijoa is also nicknamed "the Brazilian guava" and "guava: Peach." The term "guavastin" was adopted in Hawaii. The most incredible, the term "New Zealand's banana" appears periodically in the agricultural literature of this country.

Description

The plant is a dense bush 0 . 9-6 meters or more in height with pale gray bark; spreading branches, swollen nodes, and white-hairy at a young age .  The evergreen, opposite, short, straight elliptically shaped leaves look thick, leathery, 2 . 8-6 . 25 centimeters in length and 1, 6-2, 8 centimeters wide, smooth and shiny on the upper surface, and finely wiry silver hairs on the back side .  Draws attention, bisexual flowers reach four centimeters wide and placed singly or in groups .  They have four fleshy, oval, concave petals, white outside, purple-red in 1, 6-2 cm in length, and a bunch of numerous erect purple stamens round, golden-yellow anthers .  Fruits are oblong or ovate or slightly pear-shaped 4-6 cm in length and 2 . 8-5 centimeters in width, with the constant segment of the cup attached to the top .  The thin skin is covered with "fluff" whitish hairs that are retained until maturity, when it becomes dull-green or yellow-green, sometimes with red or orange blush .  Fruits emits a strong lasting fragrance before full maturity .  Thick, white, granular, watery flesh and the translucent central part enclosing the seed, has a sweet and slightly acidic flavor resembling a combination of pineapple Pineapple: caloric and other features of sweet fruit   and guava or pineapple and strawberries on your flavor. Within the fruit, it is generally from 20 to 40, sometimes up to 100, very small, elongated, subtle seeds.

Origin

Feijoa originally from the southern part of Brazil, northern Argentina, western Paraguay and Uruguay, where it is common in the wild in the mountains. It is believed that this plant was first grown in Europe by M. de Wette in Switzerland and, a little later, around 1887, it is known that it appeared in the Botanical Garden in Basel. In 1890, the famous French botanist and horticulturist, Dr. Edouard Andre, brought the plant from the air layering from the stem of La Plata, Brazil and planted it in his garden on the Riviera. It bore fruit in 1897. Dr. Andre published a description of a plant leaf with colored plates, flowers and fruits in Revue Horticole in 1898, praising the fruit and recommending cultivation of plants in southern France and the Mediterranean.

Employee kennel in Lyon distributed processes with Andre plant in 1899, many of which were planted on the Riviera, some in Italy and Spain, and some in greenhouses in the north. That same year, the famous owner of the kennel Besson Frere received seeds from Montevideo and raised thousands of plants, which are widely sold and proved to plants of another species than the plant Dr. Andre. Seeds were imported even one or two French owners of nurseries and then, in 1901, seedlings from plants Dr. André were obtained by Dr. F. Franceschi of Santa Barbara, California, by M. Naudin from Antibes. They were planted in several different places of the State of California. In 1903, Dr. Franceschi acquired through F. Morel of Lyons a few shoots from the plant Dr. Andre. He put one or two in Santa Barbara, and most of the rest were sent to Florida.

Plants not taken root in southern Florida but became quite popular in northern Florida, primarily as a decorative and, in particular, cut the bushes. Dr. Henry Nerling raised two plants in the barn, in the penumbra in the town of Gotha in central Florida, in 1911. They flowered and fruited but the fruit dropped before maturity and maturing rapidly decayed. In recent years, vegetatively propagated cultivar 'Coolidge', also performed well in Florida. In California, the feijoa is grown in a limited way for the fruit, especially in cool coastal areas, mainly in the vicinity of San Francisco. At the Experimental Station in Honolulu a plant bloomed for fifteen years, but did not bear fruit. Later landing performed well at higher elevations.

Feijoa is sometimes cultivated in the highlands of Chile and other South American countries and the Caribbean. In Jamaica, a few plants came from California in 1912, they have been planted at various altitudes. In the Bahamas it is fashionable to see individual plants on roadsides and in private gardens, but they do not bear fruit, and often do not bloom. In southern India, the feijoa is grown for its fruit in home gardens in temperate altitudes of about 1067 meters.

The biggest spread of feijoa received in New Zealand .  The owner of the nursery in Oakland introduced three varieties from Australia - Coolidge, Choiceana and Superba - around 1908 .  They remained little known until 1930, when the feijoa was advertised as an ornamental plant .  Later, after the breeding improvement and naming of species with large, superior fruits and their vegetative propagation have been made small commercial planting in the citrus-growing areas of the North Island .  Feijoa Growers Association of New Zealand was established in 1983, and some of the fruits exported to USA, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Japan .  New Zealanders also planted feijoa as a windbreak around wind-sensitive crops .  In southern Africa, it is grown as an ornamental plant and for fruit .  After World War II, feijoa plantations were established in North Africa, the Caucasus region in southern Russia, as well as in Sicily, Portugal and Italy .

In England, the feijoa is much appreciated as an ornamental shrub, though it blooms profusely only in sunny areas. Planting feijoa officially welcomed in New South Wales and Victoria in Australia, because its fruits are home to fruit flies.

Interaction with Drug

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

According to some reports, flaxseed affects the body's ability to metabolize acetaminophen, but it is unknown exactly how, and how important this effect.

Antibiotics

Intestinal bacteria convert contained in flaxseed chemicals in lignans, flaxseed, and which owes its beneficial properties. But because antibiotics kill these bacteria, lignans are not formed, and, as a consequence, the majority of flax seed loses its medicinal properties.

Estrogens

Flaxseed act like the female hormone estrogen, so it can displace estrogen contained in birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. According to doctors, the effectiveness of flaxseed lowers estrogenosoderzhaschih drugs.

Furosemide (Lasix)

According to some reports, flaxseed affects the body's ability to absorb and use furosemide, but do not know exactly how, and how important this effect.

Ketoprofen (orudis, oruveyl)

According to some reports, flaxseed affects the body's ability to absorb and use ketoprofen, but it is not known exactly how, and how important this effect.

Medicines for diabetes

There is evidence that flaxseed can lower blood sugar levels Blood sugar Blood sugar - a very important indicator   - One of the main indicators of human health . Medicines for diabetes have a similar effect, so concomitant use of these drugs and flaxseed can cause abnormal decrease of sugar content. Regularly check your blood sugar and, if necessary, reduce the dose of medication.

These drugs for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (Diabetes mikronaza), insulin, metformin (Glucophage), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (diabinez), glipizide (glyukotrol), tolbutamide (orinaza ) and others.

Medicines for internal use

Flaxseed acts as a laxative, so there are fears that it may affect the ability of the stomach to absorb the drug too quickly eliminate them from the body. To avoid this, take medicine for an hour or two hours before taking flaxseed.

Medications that slow blood clotting (anticoagulants)

Linseed oil slows blood clotting, so in combination with anticoagulants, have a similar effect, increases the likelihood of severe bleeding and bruising.

For drugs that slows down blood clotting include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), diclofenac (Voltarus, kataflam and others), ibuprofen (dvil, Motrin and others), naproxen (Anaprox, Naprosyn and others), dalteparin (Fragmin), enoxaparin ( Lovenox), heparin, warfarin (Coumadin), and others.

Metoprolol (toprol)

According to some reports, flaxseed affects the body's ability to absorb and use metoprolol, but it is not known exactly how, and how important this effect.

Interactions with dietary supplements and homeopathic remedies

Flaxseed slows blood clotting. In combination with some dietary supplements and homeopathic remedies have a similar effect, flaxseed increases the likelihood of severe bleeding and bruising. These homeopathic remedies include clover, garlic Garlic health: almost a panacea Ginger Ginger and the most unexpected, but pleasant useful properties , Ginkgo, ginseng, and others.

The data on the interaction of flaxseed food available.

The dosage of flaxseed

Dosage flaxseed depends on several factors, including the patient's age, state of health, presence of chronic diseases. Taking supplements of flaxseed, always follow the instructions on the package, and contact your doctor if you experience unusual symptoms or side effects.

According to an application of the following recommended dosage flaxseed:

• In type 2 diabetes: 600 mg of flaxseed lignan extract three times a day for twelve weeks.
• When elevated levels of cholesterol: baking with flax seed (such as bread or buns), containing at least 40-50 grams of flaxseed.
• In order to improve kidney function in patients with systemic lupus 15 grams of crushed flaxseed twice a day with porridge, tomato or orange juice.
• To reduce the symptoms of menopause: Take 40 grams of grated flaxseed or eat bread with flaxseed every day.
• To reduce Hemoglobin A1c in type 2 diabetes: Take 600 mg of flaxseed lignan extract daily for twelve weeks.