Although it has a bitter taste, the benefits of bitter for health need not be doubted. This herbal plant has even been used for a long time as traditional medicine because it is considered to be able to cure various diseases.
Sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata) contains an active substance called andrographolide. Substances found in the stems and leaves of this bitter plant have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.
Not only that, this herbal plant is also rich in antioxidants, such as saponins, terpenoids, tannins, and flavonoids.
Thanks to the chemical content of various chemical substances above, bitter is often used to maintain and maintain a healthy body, including to maintain body resistance. This plant is even used as a natural remedy to relieve cold symptoms.
Various Benefits of Sambiloto for Body Health
Although it tastes bitter, there are many benefits of bitter that you can get for your health, including:
1. Relieve flu symptoms
Some research shows that sambiloto is useful for relieving flu symptoms, such as sneezing, sore throat, fever, and cold cough, as well as speeding up the flu recovery process. This benefit comes from the content of substances that are anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral.
To maximize the benefits of bitter, you can choose a bitter supplement combined with ginseng.
However, in addition to consuming these herbal plants, you are also advised to get enough rest, eat and drink regularly, and stay away from cigarette smoke and pollution so that you can recover faster from the flu.
2. Strengthening the immune system
Sambiloto is also known to be useful for increasing the work of the body's immune system. This herbal plant can improve and stimulate the performance of white blood cells, so that they can be more effective against various germs and viruses that cause infection.
Bitter extract can also increase the body's immune performance in detecting and eradicating cancer cells in the body.
3. Relieves inflammation
Inflammation is the body's natural way of protecting and recovering from infection, disease, and injury. However, inflammation can be harmful to health if it occurs in the long term.
When experiencing inflammation, a person will feel symptoms of not feeling well, fever, pain, or swelling in certain inflamed body parts.
To reduce inflammation, there are several ways that can be done, including taking natural herbal remedies such as bitter. This plant has been used for a long time to treat symptoms of inflammation thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.
4. Relieves fever
Fever is one of the body's reactions that occur due to inflammation. This condition usually occurs when the body experiences an infection, for example due to bacteria or viruses.
Bitter leaf is a natural fever reducer. This is thanks to the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral effects present in the plant.
5. Lowering blood pressure
Sambiloto plants that are consumed as herbs, herbal teas, or supplements are also known to lower blood pressure. This plant can dilate blood vessels, thereby improving blood flow and keeping blood pressure stable.
However, you need to be careful when taking bitter, if you are on treatment for high blood pressure or hypertension. This is because sambiloto can cause side effects in the form of a drastic drop in blood pressure or hypotension.
6. Inhibits the growth of cancer cells
In addition to some of the benefits above, bitter plants are also known to reduce the risk of cancer. Some research in the laboratory shows that sambiloto extract seems to be able to inhibit and prevent the growth of cancer cells.
However, there is no research that can prove the effectiveness of this herb as a cancer drug.
7. Lowering blood sugar levels
Research shows that sambiloto extract appears to be able to lower and control blood sugar levels, as well as support the effectiveness of diabetes treatment by reducing blood sugar levels metformin. However, if consumed in excess, bitter also has the potential to cause dangerous side effects, namely hypoglycemia.
The various claims for the benefits of sambiloto above are indeed good for health, but this plant has not been proven to be effective for consumption as medicines to treat certain diseases. Therefore, you should consult a doctor if you want to use bitter as a treatment.
Things to Pay Attention to Before Consuming Sambiloto Leaves
If consumed with the right dose and in a short period of time, it is generally harmless. However, bitter can still cause some side effects, such as diarrhea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, loss of appetite, and allergic reactions.
The use of bitter in the long term or in doses that are too high are also at risk of dangerous side effects, such as liver damage.
In addition, this plant is also not recommended for consumption by pregnant and lactating women and people who have certain medical conditions, such as low blood pressure, autoimmune diseases, or blood disorders.
Sambiloto is also not recommended to be taken with drugs because it can cause drug interactions.
To be safer when consuming bitter, you should consult a doctor first, especially if you want to use this herbal plant as a treatment.