Not only good for the health of the body, the benefits of bitter leaf for skin health are also very diverse. Various nutritional content in it is believed to be good for preventing infections of the skin and protecting the skin from the dangers of free radicals.
Bitter leaf (Andrographis paniculata) is one of the traditional medicinal plants that is widely cultivated in various Asian countries, including Indonesia. This leaf is believed to be able to overcome various health problems, such as impaired liver function, heart disease, allergies, to infections.
Several studies reveal that bitter leaf is rich in antioxidants, such as andrographolide, flavonoids, terpenoids, tannins, and saponins. In addition, this plant is also known to have anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, and antiviral properties.
With a variety of nutrients, bitter leaf is known to reduce the risk of developing skin problems. This is why you can use bitter leaf to maintain healthy skin.
Benefits of Sambiloto Leaves for Skin The
following is a row of benefits of bitter leaves for skin that you can get:
1. Protects the skin from the dangers of free radicals
At any time, the skin can be exposed to free radicals from various sources, such as UV rays, dust, or pollution. Over time, this can cause skin damage and trigger signs of premature aging.
Well, the antioxidants in bitter leaf can help overcome this problem. A study suggests that the antioxidant content in this plant, namely andrographolide and flavonoids, is efficacious to overcome skin inflammation and signs of aging and protect the skin from the dangers of UVB rays.
In addition, bitter leaf is also anticancer and anti-inflammatory so it can reduce the risk of skin cancer.
2. Prevents infection of the skin
Bitter leaf is also known to protect the skin from infections caused by bacteria and viruses. This is because the bitter leaf contains active substances that are antibacterial and antiviral.
Not only infections of the skin, bitter leaves can also be used to relieve symptoms of infections in the respiratory tract, such as flu, sinusitis and pneumonia.
3. Accelerate the wound healing process
In addition to preventing and overcoming infection, bitter leaf also plays a role in accelerating theprocess wound healing on the skin and relieves itching. Bitter leaf is also believed to support the formation of collagen in the skin.
Even so, the effectiveness and safety of bitter leaf on open wounds on the skin still needs to be studied further. If you have an open wound accompanied by bleeding that doesn't stop or even an ulcer-shaped wound that doesn't heal, you should immediately consult a doctor, yes.
4. Prevent and relieve allergy symptoms Bitter
leaf is known to improve the performance of the immune system and has anti-inflammatory properties. Some research also shows that this herbal plant can prevent and relieve allergies.
Thanks to these effects, bitter leaf has the potential to be consumed to prevent and relieve allergies in the skin, such as eczema. However, the benefits of sambiloto on the skin on this one still need to be studied further.
If you have eczema, it is important to stay away from the triggers for eczema symptoms and use medicines from your doctor to treat the disease.
In addition to the various benefits above, bitter leaf also has many other benefits for the skin, namely preventing premature aging and overcoming acne. However, the effectiveness and safety of bitter leaf for the skin in general still needs further research.
How to Process Sambiloto Leaves
To get the benefits of bitter leaves above, you can process them into drinks by boiling. The following are the steps to make it:
- Wash the bitter leaf with running water.
- Put 5-6 bitter leaf leaves into hot water.
- Add teaspoon of cumin seeds and mix well.
- Simmer for 5–6 minutes or until boiling.
- Once cooked, strain the cooking water.
- The boiled water of bitter leaf is ready to drink.
However, if you don't have time to make it, you can still get the benefits of bitter leaf for the skin by consuming it in the form of a dietary supplement.
In addition, bitter leaf is also used as a natural skin mask. How to make it is quite easy, you just need to mix some bitter leaf that has been mashed with water, then apply it on the skin and let it sit for 10 minutes. Next, rinse with clean water.
Beware of Bitter Leaf Side Effects
Until now, data on the effectiveness and side effects of using bitter leaf for human health, including for skin health, are still very limited.
Although efficacious, excessive consumption of bitter leaf can have side effects, such as headaches, nausea, fatigue, allergic reactions, and acute kidney failure. This leaf is also not recommended to be consumed when you are taking other medicines because it can cause drug interactions.
Pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, and people with autoimmune diseases are not recommended to consume bitter leaf before asking the doctor first.
Therefore, to make it safer to use, it's a good idea to consult with yourfirst doctor if you want to consume bitter leaf as an herbal medicine or supplement to treat skin problems. In addition, doctors can also explain further about the benefits of bitter leaf for the skin.