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Family: Crassulaceae
Common names: African never die, air plant, green love, life leaf, live forever, miracle leaf, never die or resurrection plant, revival plant, abamoda (Yoruba); odaa opue (Igbo).
Bryophyllumpinnatum is a succulent perennial plant that grows 3-5 feet tall. It has bell-like pendulous flowers. The stems are hollow; leaves are simple, fleshy, dark green in color and produce new plants upon falling on the ground via vegetative propagation. Cultivated as an ornamental plant, it thrives well in flower beds and any humus rich soil.
Grows widely and is popularly used in traditional medicine in many parts of the world including Nigeria.
Parts used: Leaves, leaf juice, preferably used fresh.
Bryohyllum is like a complete medicine chest jammed into one compact little package. It’s been used for thousands of years to relieve rashes, banish bruises- and that’s not all. Here’s what else it can do.
Sprained ankle: A sprained ankle hurts like the dickens and can take weeks to heal completely. A natural way to help it back to health is with bryophyllum wrap-and it won’t cause any side effects. Get three or four leaves of this traditional trauma-treating herb and pulverize them by heating them gently over a low flame. Let them cool a bit, then drape them over the injured area and cover with an elastic bandage. Replace the leaves daily until the sprain heals.
Bunions: A bryophyllum foot-bath soothes painful bunions fast because the herb contains chemical compounds that reduce discomfort and help sore areas heal. To make a foot bath, extract juice from fresh leaves of the plant, add this to boiled water, you may also add cool water to make the temperature tolerable. Then pour into a basin, and soak your feet for 20-30 minutes. To keep your feet from frequently hurting, you may need to leave the pointy-toed high heels in the wardrobe. They’re a common cause of bunions.
Blister beater: Ointments containing bryophyllum leaves promote speedy healing of blisters. If you’ve been wearing those tight shoes again, be sure to keep a bryophyllum ointment handy.
Respiratory problems: The leaf extracts are of great value in strengthening the respiratory organ. Bryophyllum’s traditional uses for all sorts of upper respiratory conditions – from asthma and cough to bronchitis might be explained by research demonstrating that the leaf has potent anti-histamine and anti-allergic activity. Leaves are placed in hot water for 15 minutes, and then juice squeezed out and drunk. A little sea salt or honey may be added to the juice, if the victim has colds.
Vaginal pain: Minor vaginal pains can be helped by a sitz bath – a shallow bath that allows you to soak the vaginal area. Soaking in warm extracts of the herb for 15 minutes before or after intercourse can prevent or relieve pains.
Hemorrhoids: Warm sitz baths using an extract of bryophyllum and horsetail can help soothe inflamed anal tissues and over time, make them less susceptible to irritation. Make a strong infusion by simmering 1 cup of horsetail plant in about 500ML of water for20 minutes. Remove from the heat; add some poultice of bryophyllum, and steep for an additional 10 minutes. Strain the solution, pour it into a shallow basin, and fill the basin with enough warm water to come up to the top of your pelvic bone. Soak for 15 minutes three times weekly.
Skin disorders: It is applied externally as well as internally for various bacterial, viral and fungal infections. The leaves can be pulverized, pounded, or infused in water and applied on affected parts aspoultices, compresses, lotions or soap, as the case might be.
Applications of bryophyllumare said to also work for inflammations, swellings and pain. Heated or pounded, the cell-growth encouraging leaves are used directly at the area of discomfort. It is also very beneficial when mixed with oil and used as a massage.
Black eye: Bryophyllum is beneficial for treating shiners. Get some fresh leaves, wash properly and mash them into a paste. Apply the poultice directly to the bruise, being careful not to get any in your eye. Apply for about 20 minutes twice a day.
It is also employed for kidney stones, gastric ulcers and edema of the legs. Externally, a leaf infusion or juice is used for headaches.
The leaves are decocted and taken 1-2 cups daily to alleviate the symptoms of bladder infections.
For hypertension, a sandwich of two leaves and a half bulb of onion, taken 2X daily for 7days will help in lowering elevated blood pressure.
The leaves are also useful for the treatment of stroke. If the stroke victim is unconscious, instill some drops from the juice into the nostrils. He will sneeze and come to life.
The sedative properties will also help victims of insomnia.
Bryophyllum is indeed a leaf of protection that can bring quick relief from most horrible discomfort. It is available all year round and very easy to propagate. Just cultivate yours in flower beds, troughs and any humus rich soil. Leaves produce new plants upon falling on the ground (odaa – opue” in Igbo) via vegetative propagation.
