15 Benefits of bitter leaf and scent leaf: are they natural remedies?
Bitter leaf and scent leaf are far more than traditional herbs, they are useful in cleansing vital organs in the body and help reduce the risk of cancer. Kofi Busia, Pro-Chancellor and Associate Professor of Ethnomedicine at Pentecost University, confirms that the medicinal properties of these plants are scientifically backed, making them valuable natural remedies for overall well-being.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Bitter leaf helps promote hormonal balance.
- Bitter leaves can be used to treat several abdominal issues.
- Scent leaf is rich in vitamins A, which help maintain good eyesight.
- Scent leaf contains minerals needed for preventing heart disease.
- Moderation is key; excessive intake may cause gastrointestinal upset.
Benefits of bitter leaf and scent leaf
Check out the benefits of these herbs:
Benefits of bitter leaf
Bitter leaf is a medicinal plant that is important due to the various components it comprises. It helps in the prevention and treatment of multiple diseases. Some of the bitter leaf benefits include:
1. Effect of bitter leaf on the liver
Bitter leaves are used as body cleaning agents. They are useful in cleansing various vital organs in the body, like the liver and kidneys. This leads to the proper functioning of the liver and all the other body organs as well.
2. Effect of bitter leaf on fertility
Bitter leaves offer significant benefits for the female reproductive system. They contain extracts like Edotides, which promote hormonal balance. This, in turn, leads to increased chances of being reproductive. They also boost the immune system, which helps in fighting toxification.
3. Weight loss
Bitter leaves are made of various components that help burn excess fat in the body by clearing the bad cholesterol. To use the leaves for weight loss, you can incorporate them as a vegetable in your daily meals or drink them in the form of juice.
4. Reducing the risk of cancer
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Bitter leaves contain andrographolide, an anti-cancer property. This component has been scientifically proven to effectively treat various types of cancer, such as gastric, prostate, and colon cancers. Extracts from bitter leaves help boost the immune system, thus inhibiting tumour growth and the development of cancer cells.
5. Lowers high blood pressure
Patients who have diabetes and high blood pressure are advised to consume bitter leaves in high amounts. The potassium component in the leaves helps in preventing the spiking of sodium in hypertensive patients. It flushes out the accumulation of salt in the blood.
6. Treats abdominal issues
Bitter leaves are known to treat and prevent several abdominal issues. Drinking a cup of bitter leaves twice a day or consuming them as vegetables will help you to relieve the following stomach problems:
- Stomach upset
- Diarrhoea
- Dysentery
- Gastrointestinal tract diseases
Benefits of scent leaf
The scent leaf is an aromatic herb that is more than a sweet-smelling plant. It has great antibacterial, antifungal, larvicidal, and antipyretic components that help prevent and treat infections and diseases. Some of the benefits are as follows:
1. Maintaining good eyesight
The scent leaf is rich in Vitamin A, which the retina needs to maintain good eyesight. It is combined with protein opsin to form the light-absorbing molecule known as rhodopsin. The molecule is vital for low-light and colour vision. Vitamin A deficiency leads to an adverse medical condition, such as:
- The eyes failing to produce tears
- Night blindness
2. Improving the functioning of the heart
The leaf contains high levels of magnesium and calcium. The two components help in reducing bad cholesterol in the body, thus increasing the circulation of blood.
Bad cholesterol is dangerous as it increases the individual's risk of developing coronary artery disease, especially in adults. Taking scent leaves helps to reduce this risk. With adequate consumption, they help in preventing the clogging of arteries.
3. Helps in proper digestion
Scent leaves aid in relieving bloating by enabling the digestion process to take place on time. When brewed, they have a calming effect on the stomach. In addition, bowel evacuation is also made easier. For individuals experiencing heartburn, drinking scented leaves tea is a healer.
4. It lowers the blood sugar levels in the body
The leaves are useful in lowering blood sugars and protecting pancreatic islets that produce insulin from becoming damaged. For non-insulin-independent diabetes mellitus patients, blood sugar levels are lowered by eating significant amounts of this leaf.
5. It is used as a repellent
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Scent leaves can be used as mosquito and insect repellants since they are made of cineole, camphor, and limonene, which are harmful to insects. One can place the leaves near the insect-prone areas to repel them.
6. Oral hygiene
The stem of this plant is useful in promoting oral hygiene in several ways. Chewing the stem helps in killing bacteria found in the mouth and thus keeping off bad breath. In addition, it helps in preventing tooth decay. Scent leaves tea is also used as a tonic or gargling to treat sore throats.
7. Scent leaf and fertility
Scent leaf contains high levels of arginine. This is an amino acid that supports male reproductive function and optimum penile health. It has several components that facilitate healthy sexual performance. In women, the anetol and boron components of the leaf induce estrogen.
8. Food preservative
The leaf can be used as an alternative and cheap remedy for food preservation, as it contains antimicrobial properties. The ethanol extract from the leaf helps keep away fungi and bacteria that lead to food spoilage.
9. Scent leaf and pregnancy
Scent leaves have numerous benefits during pregnancy for both the mother and the unborn baby. They are a good source of vitamins, which are highly required during pregnancy. Some of the other benefits include:
- Boosts the immune system
- Relieve cramps
- Relieves headache
Nutritional riches: when bitter turns better
Kofi Busia, Pro-Chancellor of Pentecost University and Associate Professor of Ethnomedicine, explained in an interview that both bitter leaf and scent leaf are a powerhouse of nutrients:
Bitter leaf
This plant is rich in vitamins A, B, C, and E as well as essential minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, zinc, and magnesium. But they also contain phytochemicals, which are special plant compounds such as:
Flavonoids
These are the antioxidants of the plant world. Think of it as tiny bodyguards that constantly fight off the “bad guys” that cause damage inside us. Professor Busia explains:
(Flavonoids) mop up free radicals. Why is that important? Free radicals can cause a lot of damage to the human body and contribute to chronic diseases, including hypertension, diabetes, and cancer. If you have a plant that contains a chemical that can deal with these things, you can imagine the number of diseases that plant can be used to ward off, if not, cure them.
Saponins
As the name suggests, these have a “soapy” quality, which is why bitter leaf foams when you boil or blend it. The expert explains:
The fact that it has this soapy quality doesn't make it bad at all. It's good to a large extent because those chemicals can bind cholesterol, which means that the cholesterol cannot be absorbed into the bloodstream and therefore eliminated, either through feces or urination.
This plant compound makes bitter leaf a helpful tool for managing high cholesterol levels.
Scent leaf
This medicinal plant also carries nearly the same vitamins and minerals as bitter leaf, but its unique benefits come from its own set of compounds:
Tannins
These compounds were historically used to preserve leather, which gives you a hint of their powerful properties. Professor Busia explains:
For example, after animals were sacrificed, their skins would be treated with these chemicals to preserve them and make them suitable for long-term use.
Eugenol
This is the compound that gives scent leaf its alcohol-like properties. He said:
Scent leaf can also be used topically to treat wounds, such as cuts and bruises. For instance, if a young person sustains a cut while playing football, squeezing the fresh juice of the leaf onto the wound can be remarkably effective. This contributes to its antiseptic and healing effects, making scent leaf a valuable natural remedy for wound care.
Antimicrobial properties
This means that scent leaf can help combat minor infections. Professor Busia said:
For example, if you experience gastrointestinal upset caused by contaminated food, scent leaf can be particularly helpful in relieving the symptoms and addressing the underlying cause.
Antimalarial properties
The fragrance of scent leaf helps ward off mosquitoes. To have a stronger natural remedy for malaria prevention, the expert recommends combining scent leaf with other mosquito-repelling or antimalarial plants like citronella (it has a grassy smell and grows around many homes), bitterleaf, ginger, and garlic.
How to use them without losing their goodness
How should you prepare these two medicinal plants? Professor Busia shares some advice to help you maximize their benefits:
- Keep it fresh whenever possible because it retains all the natural oils.
- You can boil a handful of these fresh leaves in water for not more than ten minutes and drink them.
Boiling for too long can cause important nutrients to break down or evaporate, especially if the plant contains essential oils. These oils can easily be lost as steam. If you’re drinking, it’s a good idea to stir or warm it slightly before use to get the full benefit.
- You can use them in your soup or stew, but don’t overcook because it causes essential oils and other valuable compounds to evaporate as well. You can also add them fresh to salads.
- You can blend the fresh leaves and drink them as juice.
- You can also use them to make tea by soaking the fresh leaves in hot water for ten minutes, then strain and sip.
Side effects: when too much is too bitter
Like Professor Busia said, borrowing from Paracelsus, “everything is a poison. It all depends on the dose.” Even water can be dangerous if you drink too much. He said:
It's just like food. Food is supposed to nourish us, but if you take too much of it, it's going to have adverse effects. You may feel restless, you may feel like throwing up, you may be bloated, and so on. The same thing goes for excessive intake of these plants.
Bitter leaf
Taking too much bitter leaf can sometimes cause gastrointestinal irritation; it could also affect the central nervous system and reduce appetite. Professor Busia said:
Some people may feel uneasy in their stomach or even experience nausea or a desire to vomit. In larger quantities, it can also cause diarrhoea. But these effects don’t usually happen when it’s consumed in normal amounts—like a handful in soup or as a cup of herbal drink. The problem arises when people consume large quantities—say, a whole bunch at once.
Scent leaf
While animal studies have suggested that high intake of scent leaves has been linked to liver issues, Professor Busia points out that these findings should be viewed with caution. He explains:
A more realistic approach would be to observe communities that regularly use these plants. For example, in a densely populated area like Lagos, many people consume bitter leaf or scent leaf regularly. If we study a sample of such a population over a few months—asking them how often they consume these herbs, what health issues they experience, and whether they notice any side effects—we’d likely gain more useful and accurate data than testing on rats.
Though humans and animals may share similar DNA, the way our bodies metabolise substances can differ significantly. So yes, while animal studies may suggest liver effects at high doses of scent leaf, we should be careful about drawing firm conclusions without human data.
The expert concluded that the bottom line in taking bitter leaf and scent leaf is moderation. Use these plants as they’ve traditionally been used—clean them properly, prepare them hygienically, and don’t exceed the usual quantities.
The benefits of bitter leaf and scent leaf indicate how important these herbs are to individuals' bodies and lifestyles. You are sure to prevent lots of illnesses and cure the ones that have already attacked an individual.
DISCLAIMER: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional advice or help and should not be relied on to make decisions of any kind. Any action you take upon the information presented in this article is strictly at your own risk and responsibility!
READ ALSO: Pregnancy test with salt: How it works and how to do properly?
Legit.ng shared an article on how to conduct a pregnancy test with salt. The simple-to-find requirements are some salt from your kitchen cabinet and your urine. Blend the two, and within a couple of hours, you can determine whether you are carrying a child or not.
The steps for this test are quite simple and straightforward. The results are dependent on the reaction between the salt and the human chorionic gonadotropin hormone that is produced in the body when a woman conceives.
Source: Legit.ng
Adrianna Simwa (Lifestyle writer) Adrianna Simwa is a content writer at Legit.ng where she has worked since mid-2022. She has written for many periodicals on a variety of subjects, including news, celebrities, and lifestyle, for more than three years. She has worked for The Hoth, The Standard Group and Triple P Media. Adrianna graduated from Nairobi University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in 2020. In 2023, Simwa finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. You can reach her through her email: adriannasimwa@gmail.com
Mary Ugbodaga (Lifestyle Journalist) Mary Ugbodaga is a Legit.ng journalist with 7 years of experience in journalism and media communications. She graduated from Covenant University in 2018 with a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication/Media Studies. Mary previously worked as a journalist at TheCable, CNBC AFRICA, Voice of Nigeria, KPMG Nigeria. Email: mary.ugbodaga@corp.legit.ng.
