Does anyone know why the bitter almond tree was banned in the usa in 1995?
Probably to protect us from ourselves (or rather, to protect the stupid from themselves), or, the pharmaceutical companies didn’t like all its curative properties. The bitter almond is a cousin to the sweet almond and, like other members of Prunus, contains traces of lethal prussic acid in its raw state. Although the toxicity is destroyed by heat, fifty unprocessed bitter almonds can be lethal to an adult and as few as seven can kill a child. Almonds have been used as folk remedy for cancers, tumors, ulcers, corns, and calluses, and were even thought to prevent intoxication from drinking too much alcohol. Almond is a major ingredient in cosmetics, still, and is naturally high in B vitamins.
