Introduction
Cedar is believed to be the progenitor of citrus fruits, from which all other members of the genus derive Citrus.
It is said that cedar is a real concentrate of medicinal potential, in particular thanks to its richness in vitamins and mineral salts. During the article, after mentioning it for its botanical characteristics, cedar will be praised for its phytotherapeutic properties.
Cedar is the plant that in the botanical field is mentioned under the heading Citrus medica: "Cedar", clearly, is a vulgarization of the scientific term Citrus, although in some texts citrus is referred to as citrus, word referring to the same name assigned to the conifer (cedar of Lebanon). [taken from wikipedia.org]
The cedar is also mentioned by Pliny the Elder in the "work"Naturalis Historia”, Recalling the citrus with the term“ Assyrian apple ”, at the time used, however, only as a repellent for insects.
Generality
Although it has been in Europe since time immemorial, the cedar is a typical plant of Southeast Asia; it is believed that the cedar arrived in Italy from the Persian peoples around the third century BC.
Currently, in our Peninsula, the cedar is widespread in the southern regions, in particular in Calabria. The cedar loves areas with a warm-temperate climate and fears the cold: in the winter months, the leaves fall, but the productive-vegetative activity resumes during the spring.
The Citrus medica it is an exponent of the Rutaceae family: we are talking about a shrub of medium height (max 4 meters), covered by whole, oblong leaves with a toothed margin, dressed in dark green; the flowers, beautiful and fragrant, are grouped in inflorescences of 3 or 12. The bud, reddish, hides striking white-violet petals.
The fruit of the cedar bears the same name as the plant: the cedar is a rather large hesperidium, so much so that it sometimes reaches 4 kilos in weight. Externally, the peel (epicarp) of the citrus fruit is yellow, rough, wrinkled or smooth, and extremely thick: this constitutes 70% of the entire hesperidium, while the remaining 25-30% is edible (despite the fact that cedar is hardly consumed fresh. , due to the sour and slightly bitter taste, very little appreciated). The pulp of the fruit is divided into segments: generally there are from 5 to 12 segments, which vary according to the species and variety. Each slice contains a few monoembryonic seeds.
Nutritional and chemical analysis
Fresh cedar provides 11 Kcal per 100 grams; when considering the candied citron, the calories increase exponentially to 187. Considering the latter, there are 49.4 g of carbohydrates, 17 g of water, 3.3 g of fiber and 0.2 g of lipids (values refer to 100 grams of cedar-edible part). The candied citron also contains a large quantity of calcium (55 mg / 100 g) and sodium (27 mg / 100 g of product). The ascorbic acid content is estimated around 2 mg per hectogram.
Among the vitamins, the presence of vitamin B1 is also mentioned.
The quantity of flavonoids is also important, in particular hesperidin.
The peel is rich in oil glands from which the essential oil is extracted.
Cedar, citron and other varieties
Considering that the essential oil extracted from cedar is rather perishable, it is preferable to prefer the one obtained from lemon verbena, a variety of cedar (Citrus medica citrea gibocarpa). The essence of citron is characterized above all by citral, limonine and terpenes in general: this remains clear even in the long term, unlike the essential oil of cedar, which, due to resinous residues, tends to become cloudy.
Citron has proved to be an excellent substitute for cedar, considering that the latter is rarely consumed fresh: in this regard, in some areas, the cultivation of cedar has been completely supplanted by that of citron.
In terms of variety, cedar is the prince of citrus fruits: there are, in fact, innumerable qualities, mostly distinguished by their sensory and morphological characteristics. Just to give an example, we recall the Jewish cedar (Citrus medica var. ethrog), very particular and easily distinguishable from other cedars for the juicy and edible mesocarp (albedo), unlike the common cedar, whose albedo appears spongy and unpleasant. For those who suffer from stomach acid but cannot give up citrus fruits, we recommend the "vozza vozza", Sicilian cedar known for its low degree of acidity. The hand of Buddha is instead a variety of cedar used purely for ornamental purposes, as it has no pulp.
An emphasis should also be placed on the hybrids between lemon and cedar: we obtain a plant with an appearance comparable to that of lemon, not demanding in terms of temperature (unlike the common cedar) and capable of producing fruits very similar to cedar.
Uses of cedar
We have seen that the fresh consumption of cedar is not a widespread practice, given the acidulous and bitter taste of citrus. In the kitchen, cedar is particularly used to prepare candied fruit and generally carbonated soft drinks (cedar). The peel of the fruit is also used to decorate cakes and pastries, as well as for the preparation of jams.
The essence of cedar finds various uses: the perfume industry uses the essential oil to enrich perfumed waters, bubble baths, body creams, perfumes, etc; the essence is also used to prepare room fragrances or for home.
Homemade Cedrata - Cedar Syrup
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Phytotherapeutic properties
In the pharmaceutical field, cedar tincture and cedar syrup are used as excipients corrigens. The extract obtained from the peel of the cedar is known for its digestive, carminative, stimulating properties for internal use, in addition to the germicidal and disinfectant qualities for topical use. Cedar juice, added to warm water, seems useful for promoting intestinal transit ( laxative properties), as well as being an excellent natural remedy in the treatment of colitis.
The citrus extract is rich in flavonoids and vitamin C: these molecules combine to enhance the anti-radical properties ascribed to cedar. The antioxidant and potentially anticarcinogenic properties (in particular, useful rather in the prevention cell damage), helped make cedar the symbol of World Cancer Day.
But the properties of cedar are not finished yet: probably, this citrus fruit is able to regulate blood pressure, counteracting hypertension.
The essential oil is also used in creams and massage oils as an anti-cellulite remedy - given its strong ability to stimulate microcirculation - and is recommended to promote hair growth by rubbing a drop of cedar essence on the scalp. mixed with a spoonful of alcohol. [taken from www.oli-essenziale.it/]
Cedar oil is also used as a mosquito repellent, due to its properties comparable to lemongrass.
Finally, to alleviate kidney disorders, dysuria and cystitis, the administration of cedar oil is also recommended.
The cedar and its properties, in brief "
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