Tempuyung leaves are one of the herbal medicines that help overcome various health problems.
The name tempuyung may sound foreign to the ear. However, this wild plant with the scientific name Sonchus arvensis is very easy to find in yards or on roadsides.
Tempuyung’s has a characteristic bright yellow flower which over time becomes brownish red.
Tempuyung’s leaves are oval and pointed with a length of 6-48 cm and a width of 3-12 cm.
According to Setiawan Dalimartha in the Atlas of Indonesian Medicinal Plants Volume 1 (1999), shell leaves have a bitter taste and a cold sensation.
The benefits of tempuyung leaves, among others, come from the content of alpha lactorcerol, beta-lactucerol, potassium, flavonoids, taraxasterol, inositol, silica, and mannitol.
Benefits of Tempuyung leaves
Compiled from various sources, here are the benefits of tempuyung leaves for health:
1. Destroys kidney stones
Kidney stones are small, hard deposits that form in the kidneys and are painful when urinating.
Prof. research Dr. Sarjito from UGM showed that tempuyung leaves help dissolve or break up kidney stones.
Research by soaking a person’s kidney stones in a decoction of tempuyung leaves at room temperature and a temperature of 30-35 degrees Celsius.
The experimental material was divided into two, shaken like a human body movement or not.
As a result, all the weight of kidney stones in the boiled tempuyung leaves was reduced.
Unfortunately, it is not yet known which compound the benefits of tempuyung leaves for kidney stones come from.
Even so, other studies have proven, potassium content plays a role in the destruction of kidney stones.
2. Lower uric acid
Gout or gout is an inflammation of the joints due to the accumulation of uric acid crystals.
When uric acid levels in the body are high, pain can be felt in any joint, including the ankles, knees and big toes.
Consuming shell leaves, according to Kontan, helps reduce uric acid, thereby preventing gout from recurring.
The benefits of this shell leaf are due to the content of flavonoids, which help inhibit the action of the xanthine oxidase enzyme.
The xanthine oxidase enzyme itself has a role in the process of purine degradation, by oxidizing hypoxanthine to xanthine, and then forming uric acid in the body.
3. Prevent cancer
Cancer is a chronic disease caused by exposure to free radicals. The excess of free radicals in the body can be balanced with antioxidants.
Thanks to the content of flavonoids which are antioxidants, the benefits of tempuyung leaves are believed to help prevent cancer or tumors.
Consumption of these antioxidant foods will prevent the body’s cells from being exposed to oxidative stress or damage that causes various diseases including cancer.
4. Lower high blood pressure
High blood pressure or hypertension occurs when the pressure of blood against the artery walls is too high.
A person is said to have hypertension if the sphygmomanometer shows a number above 140/90 mmHg.
Sonchus arvensis leaves help lower high blood pressure. The benefits of this tempuyung leaf come from its potassium and flavonoid content.
Potassium acts to relieve tension in the walls of blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure.
Meanwhile, flavonoids work as ACE inhibitors which help inhibit enzymes to produce the hormone angiotensin II. This hormone can constrict blood vessels and increase blood pressure.
The benefits of other tempuyung leaves
Still according to Setiawan Dalimartha, tempuyung leaves also have indications for dealing with other health problems, including:
1. Dysentery (inflammation and infection of the intestine)
2. Hemorrhoids
3. Hearing loss or deafness
4. Bruises
5. Boils and burns.
How to consume tempuyung leaves
The benefits of tempuyung leaves are obtained by consuming them directly or by boiling and consuming the water.
As fresh vegetables, here’s how to process tempuyung leaves:
1. Take about five pieces or more of fresh tempuyung leaves
2. Wash and smoke the leaves briefly
3. Then, eat tempuyung leaves as a side dish with rice and other side dishes.
Meanwhile, here’s how to brew tempuyung leaves to consume the water:
1. Take two pieces of dried tempuyung leaves
2. Sedu with one glass of water to drink like making tea
3. This brewed water is taken as medicine to help relieve health problems.
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