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JAVA TEA, ORTHOSIPHON, ORTHOSIPHON STAMINEUS, LAMIACEAE, in an ornamental shrub native to South-East Asia cultivated in Indonesia, its local name: « kumis kutching » or « misai kucing » recalls its common European name: cats’ whiskers.

It has been introduced in all tropical countries for its decorative qualities and for its medicinal properties.

It is a perennial, bushy plant, generally low but which can reach 1 to 2 meters, with characteristic white or purple flowers with stamens twice as long as the corolla, hence the common name « cats’ whiskers ».
The opposite leaves are slightly toothed, the stem is clearly quadragular sometimes a little reddish.

ORTHOSIPHON JAVA TEA DIURETIC DIABETES TYPE 2 MODERATE HYPERTENSION CYSTITIS URINARY DISORDERS KYDNEY STONES SLIMMING REGIME

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES

Java tea contains:

• a large amount of potassium salt (up to 3% of the dry plant),
• specific diterpenes or orthosiphols,
• non-specific flavonoids including eupatorin and sinensetin,
• tannins,
• acid-phenol esters (including 45% rosmarinic acid) and a little essential oil.

ORTHOSIPHON DIURETIC and TO LOWER BLOOD PRESSURE

• The aqueous extract (infusion and especially maceration) is a diuretic which increases the quantity of urine and causes urinary elimination of sodium and potassium.
• The isolated flavonoids are diuretic but the total aqueous extract seems to have a more marked effect.
• Diuretic substances help lower arterial hypertension, but in the case of orthosiphon this is added to a relaxing effect on the musculature of the blood vessels.

ORTHOSIPHON HYPOURICEMIC

• The hydro-alcoholic mother tincture lowers the level of urea and uric acid in the blood.
• The dry plant extract obtained by an equal mixture of water and methanol is clearly diuretic and lowers the blood urea level (experiment in rats at doses of 0.5 to 2g per kg).

ORTHOSIPHON, HEPATOPROTECTIVE, ANTIBACTERIAL, CHOLERETIC, ANTIDIABETIC

Orthosiphon is a medicinal plant studied in Asia and Indonesia. Several properties have been confirmed or revealed.

• the sinensetin flavonoid would regulate glucose metabolism by limiting its absorption in the digestive system, this property is interesting in the case of type 2 diabetes,
• orthosiphon extracts are said to be anti-free radicals and strengthen the immune defense,
• the total extracts of the plant are also antibacterial and choleretic.

USES

Orthosiphon or java tea, diuretic and adjunct to weight loss diets.

We know that diuretics promote slight weight loss, but this is not sustainable.

ORTHOSIPHON CYSTITIS KYDNEY STONES

Its use is recommended to eliminate kidney stones and control infectious disorders associated with lithiasis disease.
But you have to be very careful because if the diuretics make it possible to eliminate very small stones, but if the stone is large enough it may blocks the urinary tract.

In case of banal cystitis, orthosiphon is useful by its diuretic and slightly antibacterial effect. It can be associated with cranberry .

In Asia orthosiphon is used to reduce the effects of type 2 diabetes and in cases of mild arterial hypertension.
We know that type 2 diabetes is a « modern » disease in the process of expanding all over the world and all the plants which limit its development and its associated effects (in particular cardiovascular) are interesting especially when they are easy to cultivate and therefore to find and that they have no notable toxicity (no alkaloids for example)

Orthosiphon or Java tea is listed in the German, Swiss and French pharmacopoeias.

Orthosiphon is available in pharmacies or herbalists in the form of « tea-bags », extracts and simple galenic preparations (eg ethanolic tincture, 50 to 100 drops per day), or sometimes in combination with other diuretic plants .
You can also prepare the maceration (but also the infusion) with the leaves and the flowering tops, fresh or dry, of orthosiphon or Java tea in the manner of an infusion of mint or tea.
Its use is very common in Southeast Asia.
We can only encourage its consumption, but, as with all diuretic drinks, avoid consuming it in the evening or in the late afternoon.

Orthosiphon or Java tea cultivation

Orthosiphon is a plant from hot regions that cannot stand frost.
It grows in tropico-equatorial zones and in certain subtropical zones with mild winters.
It is propagated very easily by cuttings like basil or mint using stems of 15 to 20 cm with several nodes (test in Martinique with 1 to 3 plant per m2).
It is advisable to eliminate the flower buds to promote the development of the leaves, we start harvesting 3 months after planting by cutting the stem 20 cm from the ground (information from Karaibio Martinique).

ABSTRACT

JAVA TEA A DIURETIC AND SLIMMING HERB

Java tea or orthosiphon is an ornamental shrub very common in Southeast Asia
where it is known for its diuretic properties.
Its leaves and flowers contain a lot of potassium salt, aromatic compounds and plant pigments which energetically promote the urinary elimination of water, eliminating micro-stones. that may exist in the kidneys and urinary tract, to treat common cystitis, to help lose weight. It is also recommended in Asia to help control type 2 diabetes

Copyright 2020 : Dr Jean-Michel Hurtel

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