Cat's whiskers plant - diuretic, eliminates kidney stones

There is a type of plant that looks very similar to a cat's cute whiskers, which is the cat's whiskers plant. Not only beautiful, the cat's whiskers plant is also known for its special effects on the urinary tract...

Cat's whiskers plant is also known as Silver Cotton plant. Scientific name is Orthosiphon stamineus Benth., mint family (Lamiaceae).

In the world, cat whiskers are a relatively typical tropical plant, growing naturally and commonly in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, countries in Indochina and even in Africa.

Cat's whiskers is an oriental medicine that has the effect of treating kidney stones, increasing excretion, lowering blood sugar... In Vietnam, cat's whiskers are scattered in the plains and mountainous areas such as: Cao Bang, Thanh Hoa (Vinh Loc), Hanoi (Ba Vi), Lam Dong, Phu Yen (Tuy Hoa), Ninh Thuan (Phan Rang), Kien Giang (Phu Quoc)... Although grown a lot, it still cannot meet the demand. According to the Institute of Medicinal Materials, every year our country has to import dozens of tons of cat's whiskers medicinal herbs from China and Cambodia.

Cat's whiskers

According to Oriental medicine, cat's whiskers have a sweet, bland, slightly bitter taste, cool properties; have diuretic, heat-clearing, damp-removing effects, used as a strong diuretic, bile-clearing medicine, used in kidney stones, gallstones, cholecystitis, used to treat acute and chronic nephritis; cystitis; urinary stones...

Some notable effects of cat's whiskers

Increase and excrete urine: according to authors Chow SYLiao JF (Taiwan), the extract from cat whiskers on experimental dogs by intravenous infusion at a dose of 18.8 mg/kg/minute has the effect of increasing the excretion of urine and electrolytes Na+ K+ Cl.

Diuretic: The authors GA Schut and JHZwaving (Netherlands) determined the diuretic effect of 2 flavones sinensetin and 3-hydroxy - 3,6,7,4 tetramethoxyflavon by intravenous injection at a dose of 10g/kg, the amount of urine collected after 140 minutes was 410mg, and Sinensetin used at the same dose, the amount of urine collected after 160 minutes was 614mg, while in the control group of mice, after 120 minutes, no urine was collected. The two flavones at the same dose of 1mg/kg were compared with the effect of hydrochlorothiazide and found that the diuretic effect was weaker and appeared later.

Kidney disease and kidney stones: According to Indian authors, cat whiskers are very useful for treating kidney disease and edema. In patients, cat whiskers have the effect of alkalizing the blood, the presence of the active ingredient orthosiphonin and potassium salt in the drug has the effect of keeping uric acid and urate salt in soluble form, thereby preventing their deposition to form kidney stones. In Thailand, experiments on healthy volunteers, cat whiskers extract has the effect of increasing the excretion of citrate and oxalate; high levels of oxalate can increase the risk of kidney stones.

Lower blood pressure, reduce respiratory rate:In experimental animals, methylripariochromene A (MRC), extracted from cat's whiskers leaves, has been shown to have the effect of lowering blood pressure (especially systolic blood pressure) due to its vasodilating, reducing cardiac afterload and diuretic effects. In white mice, cat's whiskers administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 2 - 4g/kg reduced the motor activity of mice. In dogs, administered intravenously at a dose of 0.179g/kg had the effect of lowering blood pressure and reducing respiratory rate.

Cat's whiskers

Hypoglycemia:Cat's whiskers leaf extract has the effect of lowering blood sugar in diabetic patients, but this effect is not constant, the mechanism of action may be due to stimulating the formation of glycogen in the liver. Ursolic acid reduces blood sugar, used to treat diabetes (in Taiwan).

Liver protection:Methanol extract of cat's whiskers leaves showed protective effect on liver damaged by paracetamol overdose.

Increase resistance:The flavonoids in cat whiskers have antioxidant effects and trap free radicals, which are substances that damage cells and the body's immune system, so cat whiskers also have the effect of increasing the body's resistance.

Acne treatment effectiveness:In two anti-acne trials, one in France on Europeans and one in Thailand on Asians, a cosmetic emulsion containing 2% cat's whiskers leaf extract reduced sebum production and comedone size in oily skinned subjects by reducing the type 1 isozyme of 5-alpha reductase and the production of squalene, a major component of sebum that causes acne. The effect of the cosmetic with cat's whiskers extract was better when compared with a conventional anti-acne preparation containing 1% zinc gluconate.

Cat's whiskers are used alone or in combination with other drugs to treat gout, rheumatism, extra-articular rheumatism, edema, nephritis, urolithiasis, oliguria, hepatitis, jaundice, fever, flu, chickenpox, measles, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.

How to use, dosage:

Usually use branches and leaves with flowers when they first bloom, fresh from 20 - 60g; dry from 12 - 30g/day, in the form of decoction, brewed like tea or processed into extract. 5 - 6g of medicinal powder per day mixed with half a liter of hot water, divided into 2 times, drink 15 - 30 minutes before meals. Usually drink for 8 days then rest for 2 - 4 days.

The dried branches are boiled to get water, a strong diuretic and good for urination. In cat whiskers, potassium, orthosiphonin, mesoisonitol have diuretic effects, increase the excretion of waste products such as urea, uric acid, Na+, Cl-... and especially do not cause loss of potassium as much as Western diuretics.

Cat's whiskers is also used as a medicine to treat kidney stones and gallstones. Use 15 - 40g per day in decoction or steeping form. Can be cooked into a liquid extract. Usually taken for 8 days, then rest for 2 - 4 days.

According to documents, India considers cat whiskers leaf infusion as a specific treatment for kidney and bladder diseases, and also for treating rheumatism and gout. Dosage: 5 - 12g of leaves infused with boiling water, divided into 2 doses, 15 - 30 minutes before meals. Should be drunk while the infusion is still hot, or boiled in water to drink.

Western medicines from cat's whiskers such as: orthosiphon, betasiphon... in liquid form in ampoules, just need to dilute in boiled water to drink.

Experience in treating diseases with cat's whiskers

Treatment of small urinary stones:6 - 10g dried cat whiskers, wash and steep with half a liter of boiling water like making tea. Divide into 2 doses to drink during the day, 15 - 30 minutes before meals. Drink hot, drink continuously for 10 days, rest for 4 days, then continue with another dose.

Or cat's whiskers grass, sawtooth dog tooth, jasmine, each 30g. Wash all, add 800ml of water, boil down to 250ml, drink during the day, before eating, while still hot. Use for 5-10 days per course.

Support diabetes treatment:50g fresh cat whiskers, 50g bitter melon (vine, leaves, young fruit, fresh), 6g sensitive plant (roasted yellow). Wash all, add 800ml of water, boil down to 250ml, drink during the day, use continuously for 1 month, then check blood sugar again.

Treatment of urinary incontinence (painful urination, frequent urination):40g cat's whiskers, 30g white jasmine, wash clean, add 750ml water, simmer, add 6g talcum, drink during the day. Drink for 5 consecutive days. If urination is normal, stop taking the medicine.

Treatment of urinary stones, blood in urine and painful urination:40g cat's whiskers, 30g white basil, Boil to get water, each time add 6g talcum powder to drink during the day, divided into 3 times. Drink continuously for 5-7 days.

Treatment of urinary tract infections:Cat's whiskers, jasmine, sawtooth dogwood, each 30g, decoct and drink. Use for one week.

Treat chronic nephritis, cystitis, arthritis, rheumatism, enteritis: 40g cat's whiskers, 30g each of spleen and coix root. Boil in water to drink. Use for 3 weeks, rest for 1 week.

Treatment of nephritis and edema: cat's whiskers, plantain, white flower snake grass, each 30g decocted and drunk. Note that it must be combined with modern medicine antibiotics in sufficient doses according to the regimen.

Treatment of kidney yang deficiency accompanied by lower abdominal pain: 16g cat's whiskers, 20g plantago, 12g cogon root, 12g sappanwood, 16g scratch grass root, 12g chicken intestine root. Dry medicinal herbs, decoct with half a liter of water 150 - 200ml, divide into 2 doses before meals.

Treat viral hepatitis, jaundice, pale yellow skin, chronic constipation: 30g cat's whiskers, 30g snake tongue grass, 30g milkweed, 20g artichoke, 30g eclipta. Add 1 liter of dry medicinal herbs to boil down to 3/4 liter to drink during the day. Use for 3 weeks, rest for 1 week and continue drinking for a few months.

Treating chronic constipation: 30g dried silver flower, 30g snake tongue grass, 30g milkweed, 20g artichoke, 30g eclipta. Wash all, put in a pot, add 1 liter of water, boil down to 3/4 liter to drink during the day. Use for 3 weeks, rest for 1 week, then continue drinking for 1 month.

Diabetes treatment: 50g fresh cat whiskers, 50g bitter melon (vine, leaves, young fruit, fresh), 6g dried mimosa. Wash fresh herbs, chop finely, fry mimosa until golden brown, add 1 liter of water, boil until 3/4 remains to drink during the day, use continuously for 3 months then test blood again.

Note: At normal doses, cat's whiskers do not have acute toxic effects. However, due to the impact on the balance of K+, Na+ ions... and other nutrients, cat's whiskers should not be used regularly and for a long time at high doses.

Caution should be exercised when used in pregnant women, especially during the first 3 months of pregnancy.

According to Health and Life