This post will provide information on "What are the medicinal values of bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina)?" as well as provide answers to questions like: What is bitter leaf good for? What are the side effects of bitter leaf? Does bitter leaf affect liver? Can bitter leaf reduce sugar level? How often should I drink bitter leaf? Does bitter leaf reduce sugar in the body? Can bitter leaf affect kidney? What is bitter leaves good for?
Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) is a vegetable used for preparing the popular Bitter leaf soup. Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) as the name implies, is actually a bitter plant whose leaves, extracts, stems and barks are used for culinary, medicinal and curative purposes.
- It speeds up metabolism and therefore is great for weight loss
- Bitter leaf juice relieves fever and feverish conditions
- It also helps to reduce high sugar level in the blood, and great for diabetic patients
- Squeeze the fresh leaves on your palm and apply the juice on skin rashes,eczema, ring worms and any superficial skin ailments, you’ll notice a change in few days
- Bitter leaf is said to soothe and also cure pile
- Taking a cup of bitter leaf juice a day, is a great way to detoxify the body of harmful toxins
- Bitter leaf juice nourishes the skin
- Bitter leaf cures mild stomach ailments
- Bitter leaf juice is said to increase breast milk production in nursing mothers
- The washed roots and stalks of bitter leaf is boiled and the infusion is taking as a worm expeller
- Bitter leaf juice is used by local women in Guinea-Bissau to contract the uterus after childbirth
As nourishing and helpful as bitter leaf is, it also pose some dangers if taken in excessive dosage. Some of the side effects of bitter leaf includes:
- Bitter leaf should not be used during pregnancy because high intake might cause miscarriage
- It can lead to abnormality in blood pressure
- Serious heart issues
- Increase of glucose level in a blood