The most well-known benefits of betel leaf for women are to maintain the health of intimate organs. In fact, there are still many other benefits of betel leaf for women, from brightening the skin to accelerating wound healing, even postpartum wounds.
Betel leaf or Piper betle (L) is a herb that has long been used in traditional medicine, especially in women's health care. The benefits of betel leaf for women come from the ability of betel leaves to kill bacteria and fungi that cause various health problems.
This plant can be recognized by its green, heart-shaped, shiny leaves. The leaves also have a distinctive aroma which becomes sharper when boiled or mashed.
Benefits of Betel Leaf for Women
The benefits of betel leaf for women can be obtained by consuming betel leaves directly or using boiled water. The following are the various benefits of betel leaf for women that you can get:
1. Overcoming vaginal discharge
Normal vaginal discharge is experienced by women. This condition is a woman's natural way of keeping the female area clean and moist. However, vaginal discharge that is accompanied by an unpleasant odor, itching or pain in the female area can indicate abnormal vaginal discharge.
Washing the vaginal area with betel leaf boiled water is effective for treating leucorrhoea. This traditional way has been supported by several studies. One study even showed that betel leaf was effective in eradicating Candida albicans which causes vaginal yeast infections.
To get the benefits of betel leaf for this woman, you can use boiled water from green betel leaves or red betel leaves to wash the vaginal area.
2. Overcome vaginal odor
The next benefit of betel leaf for women is to overcome the unpleasant odor in the vagina. Normally, in the vagina there are good bacteria that play an important role in maintaining the acidity level (pH) of the area. However, under certain conditions, the amount of good bacteria can be reduced and bad bacteria dominate the vagina.
This condition will cause an infection or also known as bacterial vaginosis. A fishy-smelling vagina that resembles the smell of fish is one of the symptoms that arise as a result of this condition.
Because it has antibacterial properties, betel leaf boiled water can be used to treat bacteria that cause vaginal odor. However, when using it, you just need to wash the outside of the female organs (vulva) so that the pH of the vagina is not disturbed.
3. Overcoming itching in intimate organs
Itching in the intimate area can also be a symptom of a bacterial or fungal infection. In order to overcome excessive itching, you can use boiled water of betel leaves to wash the female area.
Betel leaf decoction is antibacterial and antifungal which can help kill the germs that cause itching in the intimate organs. However, as previously mentioned, you only need to wash the outer area of the intimate organs to get the benefits of betel leaf for this woman.
4. Heals normal postpartum tears
A perineal tear is a tear in the area between the vagina and anus. This condition occurs due to stretching or strong pressure on the birth canal when pregnant women push to give birth to their babies.
Research shows that washing the perineal wound area using betel leaf boiled water is proven to speed up the wound healing. The benefits of betel leaf for women on this one will be effective if done for 7 days in a row.
The efficacy of betel leaf for wound healing is thought to come from the saponin content in it which can stimulate collagen formation, thus speeding up the wound healing process.
5. Brighten the skin
The benefits of betel leaf for women that may not be widely known is that it brightens the skin. This benefit comes from the antioxidant hydroxychavicol content which can increase skin elasticity and reduce melanin production (skin pigment).
Research reveals that using a face cream containing betel leaves can lighten the skin of people who experience hyperpigmentation, such as in people who have freckles, melasma, and solar lentigo.
Apart from brightening the skin, applying betel leaves regularly is also known to improve the skin barrier, so that the skin becomes healthier and supple.
6. Prevent acne
Applying cream containing betel leaves can be a solution for skin that is prone to acne. Thanks to its antibacterial properties, betel leaf is known to inhibit the growth of acne-causing bacteria. According to research, this benefit will be more effective if you use a cream containing 15% betel leaf extract.
7. Overcome bad breath
The habit of chewing betel leaves is believed to be beneficial for maintaining healthy teeth and mouth, including overcoming bad breath. However, there are more practical ways to get these benefits, namely gargling with boiled betel leaves.
This benefit still comes from the content of kavikol and betlephenol in betel leaves which are effective at eradicating bacteria that cause bad breath. In addition to preventing and treating bad breath, betel leaf extract has also been tested to prevent caries or cavities.
In addition to the various benefits of betel leaf for women that have been mentioned above, betel leaf is also efficacious in dealing with sore throats, coughs, diarrhea, and body odor. Even so, further research is still needed to ensure the effectiveness, safety, and side effects of betel leaf.
If you want to use betel leaf for treatment, you should first consult with your doctor to ensure its effectiveness and safety for your condition.