The Health Benefits of Banaba
Banaba [ Scientific name: Lagerstroemia speciosa]
Banaba has been a popular medicinal plant in the Philippines for the treatment of urinary tract infections. Most of our grandparents would acknowledge that banaba has been used for over 50 years. It is a tree commonly found in the provinces; its beautiful blue-violet colored flowers make the banaba tree an ornamental tree used also as shades for parking lots and roadside landscaping. You will find several of these in the South Luzon Express Way and at the Alabang Town Center parking lot.
Banaba is also a famous medicinal plant in ayurvedic medicine mainly to lower blood sugar and reducing weight agent. The Philippine banaba has become popular with respect to its anti-diabetic properties. Banaba tea is famous as a health drink in Japan and in the U.S. Technically, the active principle is considered to be corosolic acid, a triterpenoid compound, which promotes glucose transport or utilization in the body cells. The current thinking is that banaba can lower glucose independent of pancreatic insulin. This makes the active principle of banaba a natural form of insulin from plants.
With the reduction of blood glucose is the concomitant reduction in body weight, apparently due to the better control of carbohydrate. The weight reduction was seen even without dietary restrictions.
The leaves are generally used to make a concoction or tea, but the bark, flowers and fruits can be used as well. If you want to prepare your own banaba tea, get mature green leaves and chop them. The ratio is 1 part chop banaba leaves to 3 parts water boiled for about 15 minutes (low heat). You can drink this tea 3 or 4 times a day. If you want some twist in the flavor with added value of herbs, you can add “tanglad” or lemon grass with local citrus such as “kalamansi.”
There are no known side effects or toxic reactions of banaba. In fact, it has been reported that banaba can help detoxify the body and protect the liver. Banaba tea can be considered a health drink.
doc ang tatay ko po bagong opera sa hernia at nilinis din bituka kase me nabubulok daw bakit po kaya hinahangin tyan nya merun daw po nagalang hangin sa tiyan nya at lumaki p tiyan.
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Possible na hindi normal intestinal bacteria ang nasa bituka. He can take more of the Lacobacilli and reduce intake of red meat. Eat plenty of vegetables and fiber to clean the bowels. Make sure he moves his bowels daily or even twice a day.
Hi Doc,
Gusto kong magloose ng weight, umiinom ako ngaun ng lemon juice plus honey before breakfast, and umiinom din ako ng slenda at malunggay capsule.. Ok lang po ba un? Magloose kaya ako ng timbang:)
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Ok lang yan pero mag exercise ka din ng 3x a week so you will burn stored fat. Resveratrol (Slenda) helps burn fat before it is stored. Also to cut down on animal meat (pork, chicken and beef).
Hi, po. Doc I have contact dermatitis. I ave tried a lot of meds already, and had consulted 2 dermatologiss. It has been almost a year na po, wala pa rin nag babago sa condition ko. May ma isuggest po ba kayo na alternative medicines sa akin. Salamat po.
Salamt at God bless po.
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Try taking luyang dilaw, it has anti-allergy properties. Also try aloe vera gel from the leaves of aloe vera as skin toner. The contact dermatitis is usually due to a contact allergen so determine the source and avoid contact. Usually rubber or synthetic rubber, detergent or laundry soap. Change your soap to “Perla”. Coconut oil can also help if applied on the skin with contact dermatitis.
hi dok, ask ko lng po ano best alternative medicine for high in cholesterol, herbal medicinefor kidney. ok po b ung pag inom nya ng luyang dilaw. mataas po kc ung uric acid and cholesterol ng asawa ko. hope you advice me about alternative medicine. tnx po
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Herbal medicine for the kidneys: Balbas pusa, Sambong, Banaba, Luyang dilaw. With ampalaya, these can also help lower cholesterol. Take enough water also to lower uric acid. Vegetables with high fiber: kangkong, talbos ng kamote, saluyot, talbos ng sayote. Eat low fat meat or cut down on all types of animal meat. Eat more of fish and fruits.
hi doc, ask ko lang sana kng puwede sa batang 8y/o ang banaba? or ano po kaya pwede ipainom sa kanya kc lagi po siyang nahihilo at nagsusuka. madalas po yun ang lagi sakit nya.. salamat po…
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May mga batang ganyan, sensitive sa movement. Pa-check mo muna ang hemoglobin at mag pa checkup sa doctor. Wag kang basra magpainom ng gamot sa bata kung hindi na-checkup ng doctor.
follow-up question lng po doc, nung huling check up nya po sa urine madami po bacteria ang nakita tapos nresetahan sya ng antibiotic.. nag ok nman na sya.. maaari po ba talagang magpabalik balik yun? ano po pwede ko gawin para maiwasan nya yun pagdami ng bacteria sa urine nya.. maaari po kyang uti na yun? thnx in advance
doc, ask ko lang po kc yung anak ko po palagi may parang pigsa sa ulo… pero kpag nainuman nya na ng cloxacillin nawawala nman agad po.. ang tanong ko lang bkit po kaya ilan beses na itong pabalik-balik.. maraming salamat po..
doc,
tanong ko lang po,kasi nagka uti ako halos 1 month na di pa ri naaalis,nung first week na nagka uti ako nagpaurine test ako at niresetahan ako ng doctor ng ciprofloxacin,after 1 week di pa rin naalis.so nagbalik ako at nagpaurine test na naman lalong dumami daw ang bacteria,niresetahan ulit ako ng amoxiclab,after 1week mejo nabawasan ung sakit,pero sumasakit pa rin…1month na po ang uti ko pero hindi pa rin naalis,dapat na ba akong magtake ng ibang test,or ultrasound..salamat doc,
doc, ask ko lang po kung anong mainam na gamot sa gall stone o adenomyomatosis.. thanks po
Doc, ask ko lng po ano gamot s almoranas? one month n po ako nag home cure for hemmoroids lhat po ng read ko gnwa ko po..worst po lhat…mgkano po ang gagas2sin ko pagsusurgery ng may almoranas at saan po hospital?
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From Dr. Emil Aligui: Walang effective na gamot dyan, definitive treatment is surgery. Wala akong idea kung magkano surgery so you must consult a surgeon. Have you tried hot sitz bath ? http://ibs.about.com/od/treatmentofibs/ht/sitzbath.htm
hi doc i have painful urination sa end stream then ngopa urinalysis ako..i had problem po before sa kidney..
urinalysis result: color yellow, transparency: slightly turbid, rbc: 6-8/hpf, wbc: 76-100/hpf, epithelial cells: few, bacteria: few, amorphous phospates: few
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From Dr. Emil Aligui: Try Renalin (Balbaspusa, Sambong, Banaba, Luyangdilaw). 1 capsule 3x a day for at least 6 weeks.
ask q llng doc, bkit tuwing mggcing aq lgi mskit ang tgiliran ng tyan q pti tyan q rin ksm sumasakit pti back bone q sbay sbay cla sumasakit lgi nmn aq ngpp check up pro d nmn mkha s gmot ano kya un skit q kz hlos mg 1 yr npo 2 sumasakit. gve me an advice. tnx
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From Dr. Emil Aligui: Your spine may be mis-aligned. Usual cause yanpero it may also be from the kidneys. If you can call this number and ask for the specialist in chiropractic in Alabang at +63 (2) 659-2254. Ask for Ben Adorable.
gud pm doc…im not sure if this was already asked…is there any instant banaba tea available in the market? tnx doc..
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From Dr. Emil Aligui: Yes but it is combined with ampalaya it is the Ampalaya plus delite tea.
hi doc,
my husband has low sperm count..any herbalsuggestion to increase the count..thanks
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From Dr. Emil Aligui: Take Enduranz daily for 3 months with a month of abstinence then check sperm count after 3 months. If he is still young, no abstinence may be needed, say less than 30 years old.
Doc,I followed your advise in my lrtter last Dec8,2011… hindi na cya nagkaka uti kaya lang, napansin ko kapag binibigyan ko cya ng sambong tuwing mag recur, kumakati ang lalamunan niya.. side effects kaya ito? my 9 year old boy also has a n allergic rhinitis, mayron din cyang skin asthma at asthma… AAbangan ko po ang advice nyo… thank you po at sa uulitin…. God Bless you and more power!
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From Dr. Emil Aligui: Sambong has some “hairs” on the leaves that might cause throat irritations. Better to use Renalin than sambong leaves if you are sensitive to the “hairs” on the sambong leaves.
hi Doc.,
for how many days or weeks or month ko po pwde inumin ang sambong 500 mg tab? moderate po ung calcium exalate ko.. and my RBC is 50-60 hpf.. thank you po ng marami..
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From Dr. Emil Aligui:
- use it for at least 3 months
- better to combine it with balbaspusa, luyangdilaw and banaba
- try Renalin for 6 weeks
gud day po
doc delay po ako ng 7days tpos po nakapagpa inject ako ng depo provera it was my first shot…ano po ba pwede mangyari?
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From Dr. Emil Aligui: It might affect the fetus if you are pregnant, please see an OB-Gyne.
doc,
ask ko lng po ksi nag aalala din po ako kung anung sakit ko po na maari ko makuha pag ung urine ko ay yellow ang nalabas tapos may amoy sya na parang suka ng bata?normal pa po ba iyon?
please help me doc na masagot ito…
at magagawan pa ba ng paraan uminom nito ng herbal?ksi nainom po ako ng sambong before ako magka monthly period..
akoy nagbabasakaling sana masagot nyo po ito ASAP please po..thanks..
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From Dr. Emil Aligui: Dapat makita ka ng doctor para ma-diagnose ang problem mo. Huwag basta uminom ng any herbal preparation
hi doc, ask ko lang ko if pwede make take ng antibiotics ung taong nagtatake ng pills?
thanks
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From Dr. Emil Aligui: Yes, pwede. but all antibiotics must be prescribed by a doctor and not as self medication. you could develop problems later
Good evening Doc. tnong ko lng po may nabibili po bang luyang dilaw tea ? o ako mismo gagawa nun? hindi po ba ito msama sa may Reflux Esophagitis or Gerd ?
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From Dr. Emil Aligui: You can try Amplaya plus Delite Tea -may luyang dilaw ito.
Hi doc emil.
Nararamdaman ko po na tuwing naiihi na ako eh parang namamanhid na at namamanas ang left leg ko. Nagwowory po ako kung baka symptoms na yun ng kidney stones or kidney failure..Ano na po kaya eto? natatakot ako magpacheck sa hospita. Ano po ba ang pwede kong gawin is banaba or sambong and luyang dilaw will help? Sana po ay mabigyan nyo ako ng advice at ng hindi na lumalala pa kung ano man po eto.
Thank You po and Godbless
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From Dr. Emil Aligui: Mag pa check ka muna sa doctor to find out what is wrong with you
gud am po, doc! i was diagnosed with mild infiltration of fatty liver 2 mos ago. recurrent din po ang UTI ko and i had my urine culture and sensitivity test, may bacteria po na lumabas at binigyan ako ng antibiotic na cefuroxime. now, i am scheduled for a lipid profile test, sgpt/sgot and urinalysis. pede po bang makatulong ang sambong or banaba leaves to cure the said illnesses? ang haba po kasi ng travel period ko kaya napipigil ko na ang pag-ihi. bawas na rin po ako ng fat intake at mga foods with sodium. i would really appreciate if you could reply earlier. thanks po.
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From Dr. Emil: try luyan dilaw salabat daily for fatty liver. also sinta (Andrographis paniculata) tea (3 leaves in a cup of freshly boiled water, steeped for 5 minutes) but this is very bitter
Hello po Doc,
My wife told me may nakapa syang bukol sa suso nya, lately nkkramdam sya ng pain, kirot, pansin din po nya nag iiba size ng isang suso nya, anu po kayang herbal medicine puede niyang i take na makatulong sa paining na nararamdaman nya wala pa kaming sapat na pera para mapakonsolta sa specialist.
Thanks po dok, I appreciated for you reply.God Bless…
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From Dr. Emil: Luyang dilaw can alleviate pain but you must consult a doctor as soon as possible para ma-diagnose problem nya
Hi Doc,
I have UTI nag med po ako ng ciproflaxin 500mg for 7 days 2x day. After 7 days may WBC is still 6-8hpf so pinagpapatuloy po ung antiobiotic ko. Pede po ba isabay yung antibiotic with sambong? ayoko na din po kasi mag-antibiotic. And nagkaroon din po pala ako ng occasional yeast dahil po sa pag antibiotic ko. Sana po matulungan nyo ko. Thanks!
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From Dr. Emil: You can take sambong with antibiotics. Since meron ka ring yeast infection, please have a check by a doctor so that a proper prescription can be given to you.
Hi, doc…
I am diagnosed with kidney stone less than 0.6x04x06mm last april . My doctor prescribed acalka and im still taking it. I tried sambong tablet and banaba tea before, but stopped when i started taking acalka. Should I continue drinking banaba and sambong together with my med?
Thank you and more power!
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From Dr. Emil: You can take acalka with sambong and Banaba.
doc. Please help po takot po talaga me magpacheck up. Tulo ba agad an pagkakaroong madilaw at mabahong amoy na nilalabas sa ari? Please help me po what medicine po ang mabisang inumin para mawala ito agad?
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From Dr. Emil: Not sure but you need to have a laboratory exam usually a smear of the discharge.
Doc Emil,
Magandang umaga po!
Ang nanay ko po ay ngpa-ultrasound last week at ito po ang findings:
Mild uretero-pelvocaliectasia secondary to distal ureteral calculus, left
Cystitis
Normal ultrasound of the right kidney
Ni-refer po kami ng doctor sa isang nephrologist dahil, kailangan daw po i-lithotripsy para matanggal ung kidney stone -pero hindi pa po kami ngppnta dun sa nephrologist kase wala pa pong budget.
urgent po ba na ma-i-lithotripsy si mama? at saka alam niyo po ba kung magkano or estimated cost ng process na un?
Maraming salamat po! =)
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From Dr. Emil: Since the stone is uretheral, try Renalin for 6 weeks. Be sure to drink enough water (8 glasses) daily.
may ni-note din nga po pala na 0.7 cm calculus sa left pelvocalyceal.. and now po may blood na naman po ung urine niya..
Maraming salamat po ulit.. God bless!
doc gud pm ano po b effective n gamot para sa almoranas… wala p kasi ako kalalkihang budget… sobrang hirap at msakit pag nadumi ako… nawawala po sya dati pero ngayon tlganag masakit n.. thanz po
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From Dr. Emil: Hot sitz bath. see this: http://ibs.about.com/od/treatmentofibs/ht/sitzbath.htm
dear doc,
ako po ay naging luekemia patient last year, dati na po akong umuiinom ng banaba, at io na din po ang ginagawa kong tubig kapag nasa bahay. may nakapagsabi po sa akin na may side effect daw po ito. nakakapagpaputi daw po ito ng dugo. gusto ko pong sanang itanong kung totoo po ito, kasi [po baka ito angh dahilan ng leukemia ko.maraming salamat po at more power to you. God bless you po.
thanks po.
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From Dr. Emil: Ok lang ang banaba but you might want to try green tea for leukemia.
Doc.nanggaling po ako ng hospital kahapon para kunin resulta ng ultrasound ko and they found out na may “acute cholecystitis” ako and my Dr. already gve me antibiotics,ita2nong ko lng po sana doc.kung ang BANABA ba ay mainam din gamot sa pra sa ganitong case doc. at tsaka pwde bang pagsabayin ang banaba at tsaka antibiotics doc.
Thanks po doc.and more power..
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From Dr. Emil: Banaba will help you lower you blood sugar but not expell your gall stones. Try gall stone flush < http://gonatural.com.ph/herbalblog/removing-gallstones-naturally-excerpt-from-total-natural-health-approach-towards-recovery-and-no-more-cancer-by-dr-lai-chiu-nans-talk-in-singapore/>
good day po dok, may tumubo pong medyo matigas sa vagina ko and its itchy. is there a fast cure of it? is that normal having it after sex few days ago? what is that called? pls help me. thanks and God bless you always!
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From Dr. Emil: You have to consult a gynecologist and have a physical exam and colposcopy – examination of the vaginal canal and cervix. You cannot guess.
Hi Doc,
Tanong ko lang po kung anong magandang herbal med ang pwdei-take pra sa endometriosis?
Thanks po!
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From Dr. Emil: Hormonal balance to prevent further problems, reduce intake of food with phytoestrogens such as root crops and soya
ASK LNG PO IF OK ISABAY ANG GREEN BARLEY AT GUYABANO SA PAG-INOM NG DUODART, TNX PO. IM 75 YRS. OLD
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From Dr. Emil – Ok lang na uminom ng barley at guyabano for this medication (DUODART).
doc good day! matagal ko na pong nararamdaman ito. in my groins wala naman akong makitang deperencya kaya lang hindi naalis ang hapdi (di naman masyado ang hapdi) what irritates me is that hindi naaalis. ano po kaya ito? may nakasiping akong babae noon. simula noon ganito na. anong herbal medicin po ba ang mairecommend nyo. thanks a lot
Good day po Doc:) 18 years old na po ako and wanting to lose weight. I gathered information na nakakatulong daw po ang banaba tea. It’s my first time to drink that tea. I just want to ask doc if makakasama po ba kapag matapang yung pagkakagawa ko ng tea?, ano po ba ung tamang procedure ng paggawa ng tea? and is it ok if inumin ko po ito ng malamig magbabago po ba ang benefits na makukuha kapag malamig? thanks po Doc:)
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From Dr. Emil – Hot or cold tea ay pwede. To make banaba tea (fresh leaves) about 1 teaspoon chopped leaves (not too mature) in 1 cup freshly boiled water. Leaves of banaba can be air-dried and used also 1/2 tsp in 1 cup freshly boiled water. Steep (cover for about 5 minutes) before drinking.
Hi Doc… malaki po ang prostate ng father in law ko, more than double sa maximum range nang creatinine at may cyst sa kidney lagi pong mataas ang BP.. may tremor ang hands na halos di mahawakan ang spoon. ngayon po ay may manas ang paa niya…
can i lose weight if i will take sambong tablet 500mgand how many should be taken daily?
gud pm doc,,ano po ang ibang paraan para hndi ako mag pa opera? nag pa konsuta na po ako..kailangan na rw po tanggalin ang matris ko marami ng mayoma ang nakita..may malaki at maliliit….Godbless po,,,
gud pm doc, pwede po bang gamitin ang dahon ng bayabas sa paglanggas pagkatapos na-operaan ng pigsa sa ilalim ng bayag?
Doc. Goodeve po.naoperahan po ako sa ovary naalis ung right ovary q dhil sa my endometriosis po. Two months po kidney stone right side po..hirap po ako dumumi.ang uti ko po ay pbalik balik pa.ano po ba mga needs ko inumin ng mwala ito ng dna ko maoperahan uli.my aalmoranas din pi ba ko. Tenks po be blessed..
doc. morning po ask ko lng po ano po bang halamang gamot ang pdeng makatulong sa anak ko. nag CBC po cya ung neutrophils nya 0.25 mababa daw po tpos ung lymphosytes 0.56 tumaas daw po. nababahala npo kami thanks…
doc ask ko lng po kng ano po puede inuminna herbal para sa prostate enlargement..tnx po and more power!
doc may kapatid po akong mataas ang creatinine at mababa ang hemoglabin at hindi po kami resetahan ng doctor ng gamot sabi lang po samin idadayalisis po siya…pwede po ba nia itake ang banaba?? ang creatinine po nia ay 2320….ask ko lang po if kaya pa pababain ng banaba ang creatinine nia???hindi po namin siya pinadayalisis….thanks po god bless!!
Dok gud pm po. ask ko lng po, meron po kasi akong spot sa baga 1 buwan at kalahati na po akong umiinom ng fixcom 4 kaya lng po tumaas ang uric acid ko 441 at ang SGPT ko 42 ano po kaya ang mabuting inumin na aternative medicine pra sa uric acid at SGPT pra po makontrol ang pagtaas pa lalo? umiinom po ako ngayong fresh juice ng luyang dilaw. Thanks God bless!!
Hi Doc,
Yung sister ko po may diabetes, then last yr meron nakayod yung foot nya and until now open pa rin yung wound. Shes taking insulin too, ang kaso po sobrang mahal ng insulin, ano po bang herbal medicine na pwede sa kanya at the same time na pwede rin sa sugat nya or t least di makaka apekto sa sugat nya.
good day po ask ko lang po kc ofw ang mr. ko ng magpa annual check up sila sa trabaho nila nakitaan sya ng problema sa left kidney nya at ang sabi ng doctor nya operasyon daw ang gawin sa kanya,,,if ever po bang d2 na lng sa tin sa pilipinas gawin ang operasyon magkano po ba ang gastusin?
Good pm po Doc..ask lang po ang mother ko po ay 68years old na,may hika,at me hiblood,meron din po syang almuranas at minsan nag coz ng bleeding nya,nagtatake po sya ng Factu pag kaganun at hemostan,ngyon po pinaultrasound nmin sya nung nov 2012 sbi sa ultrasound eh me left renal cortical cyst or large cystic focus in the left inferior pole measuring 5.5cm, uterine myoma measuring 1.8cm at now po na pinaulit nmin nitong feb 2013 pra malaman kung lumalaki ba ung cyst or ung mayoma ito po ang result left renal cortical cyst, interval increase in size 6.2cm since the study of nov 2012,myoma unchange since nov 2012.anu po b ito at anung dpat inumin ng mother ko n herbal medicine at san po kami pede mag pachek up sa doctor na me specialty nitong ganitong kaso,,,meron dinpo pla syang cyst sa breast napa biopsy n po nmin ok nman po at di sya cancerous.all though malaki masyado pero takot po kaming ipaopera si mother..please doc i need your answer,,god bless po,,,
Good afternoon po, may tanong lng po ako bakit po ganun ung period ko d natugma sa mismong date,,, regular nmn po period ko, pwede po b umiinom ang nagdadalan tao ng guyabano tea?
dok tanong q lang poh…. ano poh kaya ang sakit q.. 2wing dumudume aq my lumalabas na dugo skin madame… palage..