Important properties of SambiLOto leaves in traditional Balinese medicine
This time we will discuss about one of the usadha that is widely used by the people of Bali, maybe this plant is not unfamiliar, because this plant often grows wildly, although this plant is a wild plant but this plant has many good benefits for the health of the body. What is "sambiloto" yes this plant is an herbal plant that is used as a traditional medicine for generations because it is believed to be able to overcome various diseases, especially flu and fever.
This usadha is included in rare usadha or plants that have properties as medicines for children. Common diseases occur in children, which in rare usadha are called tiwang between, fever, abdominal pain, canker sores, flatulence, nausea, diarrhea, nosebleeds, cough, shortness of breath, red eyes, difficulty defecating and urinating, worms, heatiness, no appetite, and skin diseases. Sambiloto has the scientific name Andrographis paniculata and belongs to the family Acanthaceae. This plant grows wildly and is widespread from coastal areas with sandy soils to highlands with andosol soil types The most commonly used part of this plant is the herbaceous part, which is the part of the plant that is above the ground and is best harvested while the plant is flowering.
Fennel Plants (source: personal collection)
The main characteristic of this plant is its very bitter taste, this bitter taste is caused by the main chemical content, namely compounds of the diterpene lactone group such as andrographolide, deoxyandrographolide, neoandrographolide, and andrografisid. Sambiloto is an herbal plant with many health benefits that has been part of the life of Balinese people for centuries Well, but this time I will discuss the sambiloto plant and some of its benefits. Substances contained in the leaves of this plant have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant properties. Because of its content, sambiloto is useful for maintaining a healthy body. To benefit from sambiloto, we can make loloh or herbal medicine from these sambiloto leaves.
Sambiloto leaves (source: private collection)
The benefits of sambiloto for body health include, relieving flu symptoms, strengthening endurance, relieving inflammation, relieving fever, lowering blood pressure, lowering low sugar levels, and inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.For those who don't know the characteristics of the sambiloto plant, here are the characteristics of sambiloto leaves have short peduncles, lancet shape, pointed base, tapered leaf tips, dark green upper surface, and flat leaf edges, well this time I will try how to make loloh or potions from this sambiloto plant.
- Prepare the sambiloto plant
- The part used is the leaves, take 5-6 leaves
- Wash it first before boiling the leaves
- Boil cleaned sambiloto leaves
- Tunngu 10-15 minutes until the cooking water changes color
- Then strain the cooking water with the leaves
- Make the cooking water into 2 cups
- Can be added honey to reduce the bitter taste
- Do routine drinking 2x a day, to get maximum results.
Besides being made loloh, sambiloto leaves can also be used as bobokan so the method is also quite easy, just puree the sambiloto leaves after smooth, apply bobokan to the body of the affected part such as abdominal pain, flatulence, diarrhea can be applied to the stomach evenly.
