Table of contents:
- Various benefits of the leaves of the gods for health
- 1. Treating breast cancer
- 2. Treating herpes
- 3. Treating hypertension
- 4. Treating diabetes
- 5. Treating stroke
- Do not carelessly drink the herbal leaves of the gods
Drinking herbal medicine has become an ingrained habit in Indonesian society. One of the plants that is often used as herbal medicine is the leaves of the gods, which have a Latin name Gynura procumbens or Kontak Nyawa in Malay. Indeed, what are the benefits of the leaves of the gods for health?
Various benefits of the leaves of the gods for health
1. Treating breast cancer
The leaves of the gods contain a protein compound called peroxidase. A 2013 study from the Universiti Sains Malaysia published in the journal PLoS ONE found that this protein works to inhibit the growth of breast cancer cells. Therefore, researchers believe that Dewa Leaf has the potential to be a breast cancer treatment option.
2. Treating herpes
One collaborative study from a team of Thai and German researchers found that ethanol extract from the leaves of Dewa was deadly and inhibited the herpes simplex viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2 from multiplying in the body. The findings of the benefits of this one divine leaf were published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine in 2013.
3. Treating hypertension
In addition to killing the herpes virus, the ethanol content in Dewa Leaves is also believed to be a medicine to reduce high blood pressure (hypertension). The findings were published in 2013 in the journal Journal of Acupuncture and Meridian Studies (JAMS) by a team of researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia.
4. Treating diabetes
Dewa leaf is much sought after for the treatment of various health ailments such as diabetes, fever, constipation, and hypertension. The leaves of the gods are also believed to be effective in treating kidney pain and rheumatism. A review study published in the journal Frontiers of Pharmacology reports that the benefits of this Dewa Leaf leaf come from its versatile healing properties - ranging from antihypertensive, cardioprotective, antihyperglycemic, anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, to anti-inflammatory.
5. Treating stroke
Dewa leaf is known to have antihypertensive and cardiprotective properties, which are believed to protect the heart. This is the reason that the benefits of gynura leaves can be an alternative medicine to treat heart disease, including stroke. What needs to be understood, stroke is an emergency condition that can be life threatening. Once you have a stroke, get medical help as soon as possible, don't delay by taking the herbs first.
Do not carelessly drink the herbal leaves of the gods
Consuming herbal and herbal medicines as a complementary alternative to chemical drugs (both prescription and non-prescription) is fine. Herbal medicine in the form of home boiled herbs is relatively safe for consumption because the toxic substances that may be contained have undergone changes in chemical structure. However, do not rely on the consumption of herbal medicines as the first and only treatment option for any chronic disease.
Herbal medicine should only be consumed to maintain health, cure disease, or reduce the risk of disease - not to cure it. To cure a disease, a doctor's prescription is needed. Herbal supplements also should not be taken carelessly because each person's reaction to drugs can be different. Even though you have the same complaints, it is not certain that herbal remedies that turn out to be suitable for you will provide the same benefits to your husband or sister.
Various studies that report the benefits of Dewa Leaf for health are generally still limited and less strong. The findings above are still preliminary in nature because they are made only on the basis of testing samples of cells or organ tissues or on mice in the laboratory.
What's more, the leaves have been linked to liver poisoning, which can lead to blockage of the liver veins. Liver vein blockage is characterized by painful swelling of the liver (hepatomegaly), fluid buildup, weight gain, and yellowing of the skin and eyes. In animals, gynura leaves are reported to inhibit the activity of angiotensin-converting enzymes, causing hypotension (low blood pressure). Therefore, further research is still needed to strengthen the claims of the benefits of Dewa Leaves for human health.
