Cashew (Anacardium occidentale)
Folk Names: Caju, Cajueiro, Cassavium pomiferum, Marañon, Merey,
Description: The cashew tree grows in the tropical zones of South America and the Islands, preferring hot and humid conditions. It will grow to a height of thirty-three to forty feet with simple, oval leathery evergreen leaves on alternating leafstalks. The flowers appear at the tips of young branches and are pinkish-white, small, and scented. The flower stalk swells to form a fleshy, sweet, edible mass the size of a fist. This is usually referred to as the cashew apple. The cashew apple is white, yellow, or scarlet when ripe. The cashew nut is dry and kidney shaped and is found attached to the end of the cashew apple. The nut is enclosed in a very smooth, ash colored outer shell. An inner shell covers the cashew. Between the two shells is thick combustible oil, caustic enough to raise blisters on the skin and dangerously painful for anyone who decides to crack the shells with their teeth.
Effects: strong
Planet: Sun Zodiac: Virgo
Element: fire
Associated Deities:
Traditions:
Portuguese explorers brought the cashew tree from its native Brazil to India, Africa, and Asia in 1558.
Magic:
The Cashew may be used in prosperity and money spells. Carry it to help you find a job.
Known Combinations:
none noted
Medical Indications: Parts Used: oil, fruit, bark, leaves
Though it must be handled with caution, the oil of the cashew has been applied to corns, warts, ringworm, cancerous ulcers, and elephantiasis with great success. It has also been used in cosmetic surgery to remove the skin of the face in order to grow a new one.
The cashew apple and its juice act as a powerful diuretic and has been used in urinary tract problems.
An infusion of the bark and leaves is an astringent and a mouthwash for toothache and sore gums. It is also used internally for dysentery. There is some evidence that is might reduce hypertension and hyperglycaemia as well.
Nutrition:
Both the cashew apple and nut are edible. The nut may be eaten fresh or roasted and contains a milky white just used in puddings. When roasting, care must be taken to afford direct exposure to the smoke as it can cause inflammation. Ground and mixed with cocoa, cashews are said to make good chocolate. The juice of the cashew apple is used to brew a strong and strong smelling liquor ‘feni,’ a mark of pride of Goa, where it is the most favourite local drink.
Mercantile Uses:
Oil is extracted from the nut for lubricant in aviation. This oil is inedible and poisonous. In India, it is sometimes rubbed into the floors of houses to keep white ants away. It is also used, along with milky juice harvested from the tree itself, to make indelible ink. The flower stems also produce a milky juice, which may be turned into a varnish when dried. The tree also contains a gum comparable to Gum Arabic, which is called Cadjii gum. This is used by bookbinders in South America as a wash to keep insects away from their books.