Benefits of Scent Leaf l 6 Surprising Health Benefits of Scent Leaf-Asikoherbs
Scent leaf, also known as Ocimum gratissimum, is a herb used in Nigerian cooking. Ocimum gratissimum is a species of Ocimum that is also known as clove basil, African basil, and wild basil in Hawaii. Naturalized in Polynesia, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama, the West Indies, Brazil, and Bolivia, it is native to Africa, Madagascar, southern Asia, and the Bismarck Archipelago.
However, many people are unaware that this common herb has some unexpected health benefits. This blog article will look at six of these health benefits.
- Ocimum gratissimum (Botanical Name)
- African basil is the preferred common name.
- Common International Names
- menthe gabonaise; basilic sauvage
- wu mao ding Xiang Luo le (Chinese)
Africana albahaca; cimarrona albahaca; limón albahaca
Clover basil, East Indian basil, shrubby basil, and tree basil are all English names for this plant.
Alfavaca-de-caboclo; alfavaca; alfavaco
Gratissimum is a popular culinary herb in West Africa and is also used by some in the Caribbean under other names.
- Igala’s Ayeba
- Daidoya is a Hausa word.
- Yoruba for efirin
- Edo’s ebe-amwonkho
- Tchayo (Fon)
- Ewe’s dogosui
6 Surprising Health Benefits of Scent Leaf
1. It protects against malaria and fever.
In Nigeria, it is known as ‘fever leaf,’ and it is an effective malaria therapy, particularly when combined with bitter leaf. To avoid nausea, boil, squeeze, or smear it before drinking. It has been proven that people who take this often as a drink do not get ill quickly. It fortifies the body’s defences against malaria and fever.
2. Encourages good oral hygiene
When used as a chewing stick, the stem of the scent leaf destroys germs in the mouth and aids in the prevention of bad breath. It may help prevent tooth decay. Scent leaf tea may be used as a tonic or as a gargle to treat sore throats.
3. Preservatives in food
Antimicrobial properties have been reported for scent leaves. Because its extracts are plant-based, the ethanol extract may be utilized as a powerful food preservative to keep bacteria and fungus at bay, preventing food from spoiling. This provides a less expensive and perhaps healthier alternative to other often-used preservatives.
4. It lowers blood sugar levels.
Scent leaves have an unrivalled capacity to decrease blood sugar and prevent insulin-producing pancreatic islets from harm. A study on mice revealed that scent leaves were effective in decreasing blood sugar levels.
5. It relieves stomach aches, dysentery, and diarrhea.
Scent leaf is a herbal plant that soothes the bowels. It also aids in the evacuation of any unwelcome intruders detected in the body’s bowels. This alleviates stomach aches and prevents dysentery, cholera, diarrhea, and other stomach discomforts.
6. it fights cold and catarrh
Do you ever wonder why people take pepper soup and scent leaves when they have a cold? It is because it fights cold and catarrh. It may also be used to treat stomach ailments such as cholera and dysentery. It is beneficial for skincare and fights skin diseases such as ringworm when crushed into a paste. When you have menstrual cramps, make it into tea to relieve the agony.
Other benefits of Scent leaf
Aside from its health benefits, it is also quite versatile. Beans, jollof rice, pepper soup, local rice, stew, peppered chicken, nkwobi, isi ewu, yam porridge, and plantain porridge may all include scent leaf. This is why most families who understand its values may desire to have it in their homes. Some boil, squeeze, smear, and drink it, and it has been proven that people who do this daily seldom become ill. As a consequence, it is advised that this herb not be overlooked.
However, before consuming, we must take into fact that medicinal plants may be just as potent as prescription pharmaceuticals. It may interfere with certain drugs in certain situations. As such, it should be approached with extreme care