- Origin
- Wild ancestors from the Andes; domesticated in Mesoamerica (Mexico). Solanum lycopersicum
Central America and the Caribbean · Food · № 157
Solanum lycopersicum
Food · Central America and the Caribbean
Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
A fruit-vegetable with vitamin C and lycopene. Research on lycopene and heart or prostate health is mostly observational and not conclusive.
Safety notes
Safe as food. May trigger heartburn or allergic reactions in some people. Leaves and stems are mildly toxic.
Preparation
Raw, cooked or as sauce; lycopene is better absorbed from heated tomato with a little oil. No dosage is given here.
Use in traditions
The Aztecs called the fruit tomatl. Spanish conquerors brought it to Europe in the 16th century, where it was long distrusted as a relative of poisonous nightshade. Ody mentions the tomato as a food with a medicinal reputation.
Applications
Use by tradition
How different herbal traditions describe this herb. Amounts are traditional guidelines checked for obvious errors; they are not medical advice. For poisonous plants no dosage is given on purpose.
Herbal medicine worldwide
Attributed effects
Antiscorbutic, antimicrobial, diuretic, mildly laxative, aids digestion, reduces acidity.
Preparation and amount
3 glasses of juice a day as a restorative tonic, one glass before meals for digestion; lotion of 100 ml juice with 50 ml vodka against acne; chopped tomato as a face mask (½ hour); crushed leaves on insect bites; cooked tomatoes daily to prevent prostate cancer and heart disease; fresh tomatoes for arthritis and gout.
Folklore and herbal magic
Symbolic meanings from folk use and modern herbal magic. These are handed-down associations, not effects.
Protection, love, health.
Home, kitchen and folk use
Attributed effects
Rich in vitamins; good for health.
Preparation and amount
Gazpacho, tomato soup.
- Ways to prepare herbs
- Compress, poultice and pastePowder and kitchen