The Tree of Life, Bottle Tree, Cream of Tartar Tree, Dead-Rat Tree, Monkey Bread Tree, Upside-Down Tree are other names for the Majestic African Baobab Trees.  The Bombacaceae family of trees has leaves for only three months out of the year, therefore when the leafless branches stick up in the air they look like the roots of a tree.  The myth goes that, "The baobab was among the first trees to appear on the land. Next came the slender, graceful palm tree. When the baobab saw the palm tree, it cried out that it wanted to be taller. Then the beautiful flame tree appeared with its red flower and the baobab was envious for flower blossoms. When the baobab saw the magnificent fig tree, it prayed for fruit as well. The gods became angry with the tree and pulled it up by its roots, then replanted it upside down to keep it quiet."  Adansonia Digitata tree height can be up to 100 feet tall, can be 40 feet in circumference, the hollow trunk can store nearly 30,000 gallons of water, and can live to approximately 1,000 to 6,000 years old.  It has a cork bark and huge stem that give it the ability to collect enormous volumes of water, resist fires, repel insects and endure long droughts, which is a major factor for its durability and long lifespan in Africa’s Sahara, Namibia, Kalahari desert, other dry locations.  The African Baobab trees are magnificent gifts from nature that can be used by all humanity to enhance good health.  Also, the Magnificent Tree of Life produces large beautiful white and reddish pendulous flowers that are sweetly scented.

For hundreds of years the Baobab trees have been honored and praised by African people for its nutritional, medicinal, water supplying and other usages.  Modern science has confirmed that the Baobab Tree’s fruit and leaf has valuable nutritional benefits, and medicinal properties.  For example, the fruit is about the size of coconut and it is rich in vitamins B1, B2, C (6X more than oranges), calcium (6X more than milk), phosphorous (6X more than bananas), iron, trace minerals and protein. The fruit can be dried and grinded into fine or course powder that can be added to kuka soups, stews, gumbos or fruit, vegetable and herbal juices to be consumed by humans to strengthen overall health. The health benefits can increase energy levels, improve sleep patterns, enhance recovery from exercise, boost immune system, healthy blood sugar levels and heart function, mental clarity and healthy skin.  In addition, Baobab fruit has anti-inflammatory antioxidants and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) to fight off free radicals that damage healthy cells, thus leading to escalated aging. 

The fresh Baobab leaves are eaten like vegetable and they contain high amounts of  nutritional elements such as alpha and beta carotenes, rhamnose, uronic acids, tannins, potassium, calcium, catechins, tartrate, glutamic acid, mucilage and other sugars. Furthermore, the leaves have medicinal properties to treat common illnesses, such as expectorant for cough, diaphoretic and anti-pyretic, astringent. They also relieve excessive perspiration, treat certain forms of allergy with their anti-histamine and hyposensitive properties.  In addition, Baobab leaves  can treat asthma, fatigue, inflammations, insect bites, sores ; kidney and gallbladder diseases, and the African parasitic worm infection named dracunculiasis.  The Baobab Tree of Life has produced many Natural African remedies.

Other usages for the Baobab trees are: Seeds are eaten fresh, dried or roasted and are used as a substitute for coffee beans. The fruit oil is often used in traditional African ceremonies.  Bath oil, lotions and creams have been developed from the Baobab trees for its cosmetic natural moisturizing of human skin. The wood pulp is used to process local writing paper.  Its strong and durable inner bark fibre is used to make  rope, cordage, harness straps, strings for musical instruments, baskets, nets, snares, fishing lines and cloth.  Fresh and dried Baobab leaves are as forage for horse and cattle.  And, Baobob trees provide a habitat for many native animals, birds and reptiles.  Also, It has been reported that the hollow trunk of the magnificent tree of life was used as a tomb in West Africa for the Griots.  

Source : Ibo Changa