Vernonia amygdalina, (family Astaraceae) is a medicinal herb commonly known as bitter leaf. This plant is indigenous to tropical Africa and has enormous medicinal uses and is regarded as a gold mine by many African communities.

The plant is normally found along rivers and lakes, in forest margins, wood land and open grass land in the wild or cultivated. It grows very well under full sunlight and humid environmental conditions. The Vernonia amygdalina plant is a shrub that grows to a height of 1-3 m with petiole leafs of about 6 mm in diameter and about 20 cm long, and elliptic in shape. The leaves are dark green colored with a characteristic odour and have a bitter taste. The bark is grey or brown and has a rough texture that is flaked. Its flowers are white, small, tiny, and clustered with small fruits that are slightly hairy, with small nuts inside. Although the bitter leaf plant has been harvested in the wild for centuries, some communities have taken the initiative to grow it on farms. This is because herbal clinics are emerging that use it widely as an ingredient in the herbal formulations and also because of its demand as a vegetable in some communities.

This bitter leaf plant is propagated by seeds and stem cuttings. Communities or traditional healers collect the seeds from dry flower heads and first plant them in nursery beds to produce seedlings that can be transplanted 4-6 weeks after their emergence. Nevertheless, stem cuttings are also used in the propagation of bitter leaf plants since they can grow faster. The cuttings are planted in an erect manner or slanted at an angle to obtain more side shoots. Harvesting of the plant is preferred in the rainy seasons, since it allows the new leafy shoots to grow for another harvest, a few weeks later. In the dry season, only the leaves of the plant are harvested without cutting the shoot since there is a scarcity of water for the plant to regrow.

Bitter leaf has been used as food and medicine for centuries in Africa. The plant has a wide spectrum of uses in African traditional medicine and has been used in the management and treatment of a number of health conditions. For instance, African Traditional Healers across the African continent use the plant for treating and managing a number of medical conditions including: fever, malaria, stomach ache, skin infections like ringworm, acne, diabetes, cancer, insomnia, hepatitis, toothache, jaundice, diarrhea, bilharzias, pneumonia, tuberculosis, stroke, arthritis, wounds, fatigue and cough. It is also used as an anti-parasitic, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-helminthes, as a laxative, an appetizer, an aphrodisiac and for body weight loss.

The plant parts are prepared in different ways to treat different ailments. For example, the roots of the plant are pounded and boiled with water to make a decoction for treatment of stomach and gastrointestinal problems, while the decoction from the leaves is used in treating malaria, fever and cough. A traditional healer can prescribe a prepared decoction dose for the patients based on the type and extent of the sickness. In some communites, the stems of the bitter leaf are used as chew-sticks for oral hygiene, and for the management of some dental problems. The sap from the leaves can also be squeezed out and mixed with a small quantity of water and drunk twice daily to treat stomach upsets.

Pneumonia is a lung inflammation disease caused by bacterial or viral infection, in which the air sacs fill with pus and may become solid. Inflammation may affect both lungs (double pneumonia ) or only one ( single pneumonia. However, the miraculous plant is powerful enough to combat this condition. And tackle it, squeeze the fresh leaves of the plant in water and take a glass-full thrice daily. Always remember to warm the solution on fire each time before drinking. Do not boil, just warm. And continue the medication for a month.

Insomnia is a condition that promotes habitual sleeplessness. And as funny as it may sound, there are a lot of people experiencing this condition. This group of people finds it impossible to sleep at night and no matter how hard they try, their effort is always met with wakefulness.

However, studies have shown that Bitter leaf extract has done wonders for those suffering from sleeplessness. Simply take two glasses of bitter leaf solution every night and you will experience a calmness that comes with relaxation and sleep.

Studies have shown that bitter leaf boosts the chances of pregnancy among women who are finding it difficult to conceive. And this because the detoxification power of bitter leaf helps prevent the pollution of the antibodies that fight diseases, initiate tissue repair and regeneration. This is known to boost the fertility of the ovaries, significantly; as well as eliminating ovarian cyst and premature ovarian failure.

Traditional healers recommend bitter leaf for dealing with diarrhea. There are a couple of reasons why this herb works very well in controlling diarrhea. First, it has antimicrobial properties that enable it to kill off diarrhea-causing microbes in the intestines. Second, it has astringent properties that reduce mucus secretion in the colon.

So many bitter-tasting vegetables on the planet are beneficial for individuals who have diabetes or at high risk of it. One of them is bitter leaf. The reason why bitter leaf and other bitter-tasting vegetables are very good at keeping diabetes complications at bay is the fact that it can regulate sugar levels in the blood.

Bitter leaf is also known to be advantageous for any hypertensive person because it has the ability to lower the blood pressure. Experts say that this herb contains potassium and other compounds that are proven to keep the blood pressure from going past the range that is regarded as healthy and normal.

Another well-known medicinal benefit of bitter leaf is its ability to reduce fever. That’s because it helps in lowering the core temperature of a person. More importantly, bitter leaf possesses antimicrobial properties which enable it to kill off microorganisms that have invaded the body, causing an infection to strike.

Consuming bitter leaf in the form of tea is also an excellent home remedy for just about any form of stomach ache. For instance, it can be very helpful for anyone who is suffering from indigestion because of greasy, fatty or spicy foods. Bitter leaf is also effective for dealing with excess gas and abdominal cramps.

Last but not least, bitter leaf is revered for its ability to lower a person’s risk of having cancer. Scientists say that there are certain compounds in the herb that possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, helping to control oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which are commonly blamed for cancer development.

CAUTION: Make sure that you use bitter leaf for therapeutic or medicinal purposes only under the direct supervision of a reputable and experienced herbalist. Inform your doctor about your plan on using bitter leaf if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. The same is true if you are diagnosed with a medical condition.

Kindly have this article reposted on your various social media sites to let everybody you care about know that, despite of having a bitter taste, there are so many health benefits that bitter leaf can offer!