Mango leaves have lots of health benefits even though not many people are aware of the amazing benefits. Mango leaves are filled with medicinal and healing properties and can actually work as a great herbal medicine. These leaves are very beneficial for our overall health, because they are rich in vitamins, enzymes, antioxidants and many other minerals.
The mango leaves are reddish or purplish when tender and new, and grow into a dark green colour and have a pale underside. These leaves are rich in vitamin C, B and A. and other nutrients. The mango leaves have powerful antioxidant properties as they have a high content of flavonoids and phenols. They can be boiled in water to make a decoction or can be consumed in powdered form. The tender leaves of the mango tree are cooked and eaten in some part of the world.
Some of the surprising health benefits of mango leaves you might have not known include:
Treats Restlessness: For people suffering from restlessness due to anxiety, the mango leaves provide a good home remedy. Adding two to three glasses of mango leaf tea to bath water helps treat uneasiness and refreshes the body.
Gall And Kidney Stones: The mango leaves help treat kidney stones and gallstones. The daily intake of a finely ground powder of mango leaves, which are dried in the shade, with water kept in a tumbler overnight, helps in breaking the stones and flushing them out.
Respiratory Problems: The mango leaves are good for all kinds of respiratory problems. It is especially useful for people suffering from cold, bronchitis and asthma. Drinking a decoction made by boiling mango leaves in water with a little honey helps to cure cough effectively. It also helps in curing voice loss.
Cures Dysentery: They are very helpful in treating bleeding dysentery. The leaves dried in a shade should be grinded into powdered and then be taken with water two to three times a day to stop dysentery.
Treats Hiccups And Throat Problems: If you are suffering from hiccups or throat problems, mango leaf is a good home remedy. Burn a few mango leaves and inhale the smoke. This helps to cure hiccups and throat problems.
Ear Aches: Ear ache can be quite irritating. Using this home remedy provides good relief. A teaspoon of juice extracted from mango leaves as eardrops provides relief from earache. Heat the juice slightly before using it.
Treating Diabetes: Mango leaves are very useful for treating diabetes; the tender leaves of mango tree contain tannins called anthocyanins, which help in treating early diabetes. The leaves are dried and grind into power, or used as an infusion to treat the same. It also helps to treat diabetic angiopathy and diabetic retinopathy. Mango tea leaves are very good for this purpose. Soak or boil the leaves in a cup of water overnight. Strain and drink this water to help relieve the symptoms of diabetes. It also helps treat hyperglycemia. The leaves contain a compound called 3beta-taraxerol, and ethyl acetate extract which synergize with insulin to activate GLUT4 and stimulate the synthesis of glycogen.
Stomach Tonic: Put some mango leaves in warm water, close the container with a lid, and leave it overnight, the next morning filter the water and drink it on an empty stomach. The regular intake of this infusion acts as a good stomach tonic and helps prevent various stomach ailments.
Lower Blood Pressure: These leaves help lower the blood pressure as they have hypotensive properties. They help in strengthening the blood vessels and treating the problem of varicose veins.
Heal Burns: To heal burns on the skin and scalds, burn a handful of mango leaves to ashes. Apply this ash on the affected area. It provides instant relief. The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties contained in mango leaves helps treat various ailments efficiently.
So, have you ever used mango leaves for medicinal purposes? If yes, share with us the experience.
By Mercy Kukah
