6 health benefits of cat whiskers, plant it!
Cat’s whiskers plant (Orthosiphon aristatus or Orthosiphon stamineus) is included in the familli Labiatae or Lamiaceae. This plant originated from Africa and then spread to Asia and Australia.
The part of this plant that can be consumed is the leaves. In Southeast Asian countries, cat whiskers are processed into herbal tea. The method is quite easy to process, namely by boiling one glass of water with 3-4 cat whiskers leaves until it boils.
According to a report entitled “Orthosiphon stamineus Benth. is an Outstanding Food Medicine: Review of Phytochemical and Pharmacological Activities “in Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences In 2018, the cat’s whiskers plant is one of the herbal plants that has many good benefits for the health of the body. This plant has active compounds that are antioxidants, antihypertensives, cytotoxic, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory.
Summarized from several sources, here are some of the health benefits of cat whiskers that you need to know.
1. Overcoming kidney problems
Kidney illustration. unsplash.com/Robina WeermeijerCat whiskers in the area are known as “kidney plants”, because this plant is considered effective for removing kidney stones up to 5 cm in size. In addition, this plant herb is used to treat acute kidney failure to other chronic diseases.
However, if you have kidney stones, especially those that are large in size or if the condition is severe, the main treatment must still be through a doctor’s consultation. Keep in mind, the cat’s whiskers plant is not a medicine. Its use as an alternative therapy should also first be consulted with a doctor.
2. Lower blood pressure
freepik.com/rawpixel.comMany studies have been reported on antihypertensive activity Orthosiphon stamineus. A study in a journal Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin 1999 shows that methylripariochromene A. (100 mg / kg) isolated from the leaves O. stamineus can lower systolic blood pressure and heart rate, when injected into spontaneously conscious male hypertensive mice.
Study in Journal of Pharmacy and Bioallied Sciences year 2018 did the test nutraceutical compound containing alcohol extract from the cat’s whiskers plant. It was found that cat whiskers leaves can reduce systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse pressure of dyslipidemic hypertensive patients after 8 weeks of treatment. Nutraceutical which is tested contains berberine, monacolin, and policosanols, besides extract of cat whiskers.
Also read: 7 Indonesian medicinal plants with proven efficacy, what are they?
3. Acts as a diuretic
Illustration of cat whiskers (IDN Times / Nurulia R. Fitri)Diuretics are substances that are used to increase the amount of urine produced. In cat whiskers, there are synensetin and tetramethoxy-flavone compounds which function to increase the amount of urine by relaxing the muscles of the internal vessel walls.
In addition, these diuretic properties are said to reduce uric acid levels in the body.
4. Help detoxify the body
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jovee.idLaunch Health Benefits Times, the cat’s whiskers plant has long been consumed by people in Java, which makes cat whiskers also dubbed as “Java tea“.
One of the reasons why people consume this herbal ingredient is because of its cleaning property. It is believed that this plant is a natural cleanser that can help flush out toxins and foreign compounds in the body, aka detoxification.
5. Regulate blood sugar levels
pixabay.com/TesaPhotographyBased on a study published in the journal Molecules in 2011, it was reported that extracts from O. stamineus has significant hypoglycemic or antihyperglycemic activity against normal and diabetic mice.
Previously there were also studies investigating the effects of O. stamineus on plasma glucose concentrations and lipid profiles in normal and streptozosin-induced diabetic rats.
In the oral glucose tolerance test, extract O. stamineus significantly decreased plasma glucose concentrations of both normal and diabetic mice, depending on the dose administered. Amount of extract administration O. stamineus
as much as 1.0 g / kg was most effective at lowering plasma glucose concentrations and this response
has an effectiveness close to the therapeutic effect of glibenclamide (5 mg / kg).
A deep research Journal of Medicinal Food 2012 gave the extract O. stamineus as much as 200-1000 mg / kg. After repeated administration of the extract orally every day for 14 days, there was a significant decrease in plasma glucose concentrations from diabetic rats on days 7 and 14.
In addition, diabetic rats given the extract had lower triglyceride concentrations, and there was a significant increase in HDL cholesterol concentrations compared to mice that were not given the extract.
However, for people with diabetes, the main therapy should still be from a doctor. If you want to use the cat’s whiskers plant as a treatment, first consult a doctor.
6. Antibacterial
health.grid.idCat whiskers have compounds such as phenols and acids caffenic. These two compounds function as an antidote to bacterial growth and kill any remaining bacteria, so they can be used to treat wounds or bruises.
7. Deal with gout
Swelling and pain due to high uric acid. pixabay.com/cnickCat’s whiskers are reported to have active enzymes that play a role in the healing process of uric acid. The active enzymes consist of flavonoids and natural acids. Both of these enzymes play a role in reducing pain in arthritis due to high uric acid, aka gout.
Those are the various health benefits of the cat’s whiskers plant. It’s okay to eat it regularly to maintain a healthy portion of your health. However, if there are certain medical conditions, keep in mind that this plant is not a medicine. Examination and treatment from a doctor is the main therapy.
Also Read: Toxic Oleander Plants Are Used As A Medicine For COVID-19? These are the facts!
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