Are you looking for cat whiskers plant health benefits? Here in this article, we’ll show you everything that you need to know. Keep reading!
What is Cat Whiskers Plant?
Cat whiskers is also known as ‘Java Tea’, ‘Balbas Pusa’ or ‘Kidney Tea’. Its botanical name is ‘Orthosiphon Stamineus‘ and comes from Labiatae (Lamiaceae) family. It’s a herbaceous perennial plant that is native to China, the Indian Subcontinent, South East Asia, and Tropical Queensland. This plant gets its name by its long elegant upright stamens, which look like cat whiskers.
Java Tea is a fast-growing tropical plant, that requires moist soil, full or partial sunlight with enough water supply. It can easily grow in indoor and outdoor gardens as well. You can easily propagate this medicinal plant with the help of stem cuttings or seed pods. This plant has two varieties – One with white flowers and another with light purple flowers.
Size:Â 3 to 4 Feet Tall
Hardiness: USDA Zones 9 to 11
Health Benefits of Cat Whiskers Plant
Cat whiskers plant leaves are used to make popular herbal tea. It has anti-hypertensive, diuretic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Its leaves have caffeic acid, lipophilic flavonoids, and oxygenated diterpenes. Here are some amazing health benefits of cat whiskers plant:
1. Prevent High Blood Pressure
The Cat whisker’s plant leaves extract, prevents high blood pressure. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that give you relief from hypertension. This herb attacks Angiotensin Converting Enzymes with the help of Rosmarinic acid, which stretches your blood vessels, thereby prevents blood pressure.
2. Helpful in Kidney-related Problems
Extracts of Balbas Pusa plant’s leaves and stems can cure kidney stones. It has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, that prevent kidney and Urinary Tract Infection. Java Tea plant’s leaves and stems, both are diuretics and a natural detoxifier, that flushes all the toxins out of the body, thereby removes the kidney stones. It has bioactive compounds, that are helpful in kidney-related disease. Cat Whiskers plant also has glycosides Orthosiphonin, which maintains kidney health by dissolving uric acid, phosphate, and oxalate.
3. Helps in Respiratory Problems
Cat whiskers plant is used to treat common cold and cough. This herb’s tea is very useful in mouth and throat infection. It has anti-viral properties, that fight against viral infections and diseases.
4. Prevents Diabetes
Java Tea plant has an ursolic and oleanolic acid, that reduces blood glucose levels in the body. It has anti-inflammatory properties, that prevent diabetes. Tea made from cat whiskers plant leaves increases leptin in the body that controls blood sugar.
5. Helpful in Weight Loss
Cat whiskers plant is a rich source of ursolic acid and berberine, that helps in your weight loss regime. Drinking java green tea reduces body weight and enhances your metabolism and detoxifies your whole body.
6. Possess Anti-fungal Property
Cat whiskers plant has anti-fungal properties, that can cure ‘Candida Albicans’ which is a fungal infection. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hypotension, and respiratory problems. This plant has compounds named – polysaccharides, terpenes, alkaloids, phenolics, and amino acids, that fight against fungal infection and the Dengue virus.
7. Prevents Gout
Java Tea plant gives you relief from gout. It has flavonoids and natural acids, that prevent joint pain. Enhanced production of Uric acid in the body leads to ‘Gout’ (Joint Pain). But thanks to this plant’s anti-inflammatory properties, that decreases the level of uric acid in the body.
8. Offers Anti-bacterial Properties
As you know, cat whiskers plant has anti-bacterial properties, which in turn helps you in dental problems and acne. It fights against harmful bacteria like E.coli, Klebsiella, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus Luteus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. It has alkaloids and bio-active substances, which treat various bacterial infections.
How to Make Cat Whiskers Plant Tea?
Ingredients
- 5-6 Fresh Cat Whiskers Leaves.
- 100 ml of Boiling Water
- 1-2 Cloves
- A Cup
Directions
- Firstly, fill the cup with 100 ml of boiled water.
- Then, add finely chopped 5-6 fresh cat whiskers leaves and 1-2 cloves in it.
- Wait for 15 minutes then strain it. Your herbal tea is ready for consumption.
After knowing the above cat whiskers plant health benefits, we bet you’ll try this medicinal herb more than ever. We recommended consulting your doctor if you are suffering from any serious disease.