10 Health Benefits of Guava Leaves, Help Treat Diarrhea and Gum Disease

Indonesians have been using guava leaves to treat various health issues since ancient times. Even today, many people choose to treat various ailments with traditional herbs like this.

Yes, guava leaves are one of the very popular traditional herbal ingredients especially for treating diarrhea and flatulence. This plant is also widespread throughout Indonesia. Guava leaves are usually eaten by boiling them with water to get the extract.

Guava leaves are known to contain tannins which can be used as antibacterial and antifungal. The content of guava leaves is 9-12% of compounds of tannin, essential oils, fatty oils and malic acid, according to Journal of Laboratory Technology of Yogyakarta Ministry of Health Polytechnic.

Apart from treating diarrhea, guava leaves are also effective in treating many other diseases. Here are some of the major benefits of guava leaves that you should know about.

1. Helps lose weight

The benefits of guava leaves are the first to help in weight loss. Guava leaves help in weight loss by preventing the transformation of complex starch into sugar.

For this purpose, carbohydrates must be broken down in the liver to be used by the body, and guava leaves prevent the transition of carbohydrates into usable compounds.

2. Treat diarrhea and dysentery

Efficacy of second guava leaves to help treat diarrhea and dysentery. Guava leaves are herbal medicines for diarrhea and dysentery which are widely known especially in Indonesia.

To treat diarrhea, boil 30 grams of guava leaves with a handful of rice flour in 1-2 cups of water and drink the mixture twice a day. In case of dysentery, cut the roots and leaves of the guava and boil them for 20 minutes at 90 degrees Celsius. Strain the water and drink enough to heal.

3. Treat Diabetes

Effectiveness of guava third leaf to help treat diabetes. According to research conducted by the Yakult Central Institute in Japan, guava leaf water can effectively lower blood sugar in diabetics by reducing the activity of the enzyme alpha-glucosidase.

Moreover, the decoction of guava leaves can also prevent the body from absorbing sucrose and maltose, thereby lowering blood sugar. Drinking boiled guava leaf water for 12 weeks can lower blood sugar without increasing insulin production.

4. Reduce cholesterol

Effectiveness of the fourth leaf of guava in helping to lower cholesterol. Research published in the journal Nutrition and Metabolism has proven that drinking boiled guava leaf water for 3 months can lower LDL or bad cholesterol and triglycerides without any adverse effects on good cholesterol. Apart from this, guava leaves are also an excellent liver tonic.

5. Start Digestion

Effectiveness of the fifth leaf of guava in aiding digestion. Guava leaf extract helps the digestive system by stimulating the production of digestive enzymes.

Its powerful antibacterial agent kills bacteria in the intestinal mucosa and stops bacteria from multiplying toxic enzymes. Guava leaves are very beneficial in case of food poisoning as well as to calm vomiting and nausea. To relieve stomach upset, boil 8 guava leaves in 1.5 liters of water and drink the water three times a day.

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6 Treat bronchitis

The benefits of guava leaves are then to help treat bronchitis. Water decoction of guava leaves is an effective concoction in treating bronchitis by opening the lungs, thinning mucus and relieving cough.

7. Treat Toothache, Sore Throat, and Gum Disease

Effectiveness of other guava leaves in helping to treat toothaches, sore throats and gum disease. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, fresh guava leaves can relieve toothaches, heal canker sores and canker sores, and treat sore throats when used for gargling.

The antibacterial agent contained in these leaves protects the teeth and gums. This was recorded in a study published in the journal Pharmacognosy. Hence, guava leaves are used as an ingredient in toothpastes and mouth fresheners. Guava leaves can even be made into a natural paste at home for brushing teeth and gums.

8. Reduce allergies

Effectiveness of the eighth guava leaf to help reduce allergies. Guava leaves prevent the release of histamine. Moreover, the compounds contained in guava leaves are effective in blocking all allergic reactions.

9. Treat dengue fever

Guava leaves have been considered a natural cure for dengue fever. And this is another very extraordinary property of guava leaves. Indeed, guava leaf extract can increase the number of platelets in the blood and is not toxic at all. For this purpose, boil 9 guava leaves with 5 cups of water until 3 cups of water remain. After straining and cooling, drink a cup of this concoction three times a day.

10. Treat wounds and infections

Effectiveness of guava leaves alongside to help treat wounds and infections. Guava leaves have good healing properties which can treat wounds such as cuts, abrasion collisions and others.

Antibacterial agents prevent infection and reduce inflammation in the uterus, thereby accelerating wound healing. Water decoction of guava leaves can also help cure ear infections

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