Bitter Leaf has Latin name as Andrographis Paniculate Ness and a botanical name as Vernonia amygdalina. This plant is thought to have come from tropical Asia. The plant grows wild in open places such as roadsides, in fields, on vacant land rather damp soil or planted in the garden as a medicinal plant. This plant can easily reproduce and can plant in lowlands to 700m above the sea level. Just as the name implies, the plant is bitter. But apparently its bitter taste made it to stand out because it contain a variety of many health benefits to human being.
In Nigeria, the Bitter Leaf plant is found in abundance almost everywhere. And it is used both for food and medicine. It is used to prepare the popular Nigerian Bitter leaf soup.
Some of the health benefits of Bitter leaf are as follows:
1. Treating Malaria
Malaria is caused by parasite plasmodium, particularly the anopheles(female) mosquito. It is very detrimental to human health. Bitter Leaf carries a large amount of natural quinine, which is said to help in this area of sickness relieve. To cure malaria with Bitter Leaf: A handful of bitter leaf should be boiled with a reasonable quantity of water. Allow to cool for some times after boiling. And be taking it two to three times in a day. The juice can also be taken three times a day for the cure of malaria and fever.
2. It helps breast feeding mothers
It has been reported that Bitter Leaf helps nursing mothers by aiding in the production of quality breast milk. Thus nursing mothers should drink the juice to reap this particular benefits.
3. Helps in Weight loss and Metabolism.
Bitter leaf has some chemicals that help in burning the fat of body. The plant is helpful in removing bad cholesterol from your body and burns the extra calories. It also increases the metabolic rate, which in turn leads to increased fat lose and reduced body weight. Take a cup of Bitter Leaf juice after eating because, it also helps in digestion.
4. Controls Blood Sugar:
The bitter taste of bitter leaf depicts its role in controlling the blood sugar. According to different researches, the bitter leaf can help in treating diabetes. The phytochemicals, vitamins and other nutrients such as proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, ash and other chemical content of the leaf are considered to aid lower blood sugar levels of the body.
5. Treats Insomnia:
Insomnia is a health condition whereby one cannot fall asleep easily. Bitter leaf has some properties that can relax your mind and
help you to fall asleep. Hence, bitter leaf has traditionally been used to treat insomnia.
6. Detoxification:
There are so many toxins in the human body and need to get rid of. Some of this toxins are harmful to the body that they can cause
infertility, metabolic disorder, cancer etc. Bitter leaf is very famous for its detoxifying properties. Its juice can be taken to aid this effect.
7. Enhances Fertility:
Bitter Leaf helps in improving the fertility of both men and women. The chemical compounds present in bitter leaf improves the sperm quality, and on the other hand, it has good effect on the fertility of females. As it helps in detoxification in the body, it helps in balancing the
hormones of females. Compounds like edotides help in balancing the hormones and improving the immune system. That’s why use of bitter leaf can help you to get pregnant.
