Ever heard of amethyst leaves? Not just wild plants, this abundant plant that grows in turns out to have various benefits. What are the benefits of amethyst leaves for health? Are there any possible side effects of using it?
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Benefits of amethyst leaves
The amethyst plant has the Latin name Datura metal This plant with broad leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers you may often find growing wild in your yard or garden.
Although it has a negative stigma as a dangerous plant in the community, amethyst also has potential health benefits, especially the leaves.
Some of the benefits of amethyst leaves include:
1. Overcoming asthma
Amethyst leaves have long been popular as a natural asthma remedy. Not without reason, this Datura metal L. extract is known to have atropine compounds that are anti-asthmatic.
In Ayurvedic medicine, amethyst leaves are usually smoked using a pipe or made like a cigarette to relieve asthma.
2. Overcoming rabies
Rabies is a deadly disease that attacks the brain and nervous system. This zoonotic disease is caused by a viral infection that is transmitted from infected animals to humans through animal bites.
In the journal Pharmacognosy Research, it is known that amethyst extract has antiviral properties that are able to fight various viral infections, including rabies. Not only the leaves, but the amethyst seed extract in the study also showed anti-rabies properties that could potentially help treat rabies.
3. Help treat chronic diseases
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, stroke, atherosclerosis, cancer, and heart disease are often associated with oxidative stress and the effects of free radicals in the body.
One of the compounds that play an important role in fighting oxidative stress and free radicals are antioxidants.
Amethyst leaf extract is one of the plants containing phytochemicals that have antioxidant properties. This antioxidant property comes from the phenolic compounds such as flavonoids in it.
4. Solve skin problems
One more benefit of Datura metal for health is overcoming psoriasis. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and thickening of the skin.
In the journal Molecules, extracts of the amethyst plant, especially the flowers, have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation and are used as traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of psoriasis.
5. Overcoming digestive disorders
Another benefit of amethyst leaves is to overcome various digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), pancreatitis, and other stomach problems.
This benefit comes from the content of a chemical compound in amethyst plant extract called hyoscyamine.
6. Overcoming motion sickness
Amethyst leaves can also be used as a motion sickness remedy. Amethyst leaf extract in the form of patches attached to the skin can help overcome motion sickness because of the scopolamine compound in it.
Amethyst leaf side effects
Although it has potential health benefits, the use of amethyst leaves can still cause side effects. Plus, some of the research on the benefits of amethyst leaves above is still on a limited scale. More extensive research is needed to find out whether amethyst leaves are really safe if given to humans.
One of the dangers of amethyst leaves is poisoning. Quoted from the Romanian Journal of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, the highest toxicity of the amethyst plant comes from its seeds. Even so, other parts such as plants or amethyst leaves are also possible to be toxic to the body.
Some of the reported side effects of amethyst leaves include:
- Dry skin
- redness
- Heartbeats faster
- High fever or hyperpyrexia
- Difficulty urinating
- Decreased bowel activity
- Neurological disorders
- Confusion
- hallucinations
- Agitation or restlessness
- Delirium
- Seizures
- coma
Amethyst side effects can occur after use, either swallowed, smoked, or applied to the skin. These side effects usually occur 60 minutes after consumption. Symptoms of side effects can last up to 24-48 hours depending on gastric emptying.