Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) is incredibly useful and has shown to be beneficial to our health. How does bitter leaf help sexually? In this article, we have enumerated some amazing health benefits and how bitter leaf help sexually that you should know about.

What is bitter leaf ?

Bitter leaf is a small plant with dark leaves and rough bark belonging to the Asteraceae family.
They’re native to tropical Africa but are predominantly grown in West Africa where they grow rapidly on most types of soils.
The leaves are very bitter, hence its name. And are fondly called Onugbu, Ewuro (Nigeria), Awonwono (Ghana), Omubirizi (Uganda), Ndoleh (Cameroon), Ebichaa (Ethiopia), and Umubilizi (Rwanda).
All the plant’s parts including the leaves, stems, and roots are used in herbal remedies.

The leaves contain a variety of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, sesquiterpene lactones, and many more.
And studies have found that these compounds are responsible for bitter leaf’s impressive health benefits.

Does Bitter Leaf help Sexually

When it comes to the improvement of sexual performance bitter leaf is very useful. It does not only increase sex drive, it also improves the sexual performance. Here are how bitter leaf help sexually

As natural aphrodisiac

Bitter leaf is majorly used as medicinal herbs however; they can be used for other purposes relating to sex. Bitter leaf is a natural aphrodisiacs, they help to improve sexual performance. It contains an appropriate amount of magnesium, and magnesium is seen as one of the minerals that helps boost libido. Biologically, the sex hormones and associated neurotransmitters that act upon the nucleus accumbens regulate libido in humans. Boosting libido, it can also be helpful for men.

It improves man’s erection

Bitter leaf contains zinc, and zinc is one of the minerals that can improve a man’s erection and also help with erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is a condition in which a man finds it difficult to either obtain or sustain an erection. Bitter leaf is known to contain a compound known as alkaloid that can help in treating this erectile dysfunction in males. This phytochemical treats this condition by regulating the neurotransmitters (especially nitric oxide) and relaxing the erectile tissue smooth muscles known as corpora cavernosa. Thus, allowing the flow of blood to the penis. The nitric oxide in bitter leaf increase blood flow to the penis helping to get and sustain an erection.

Boosts Sperm Count

Also, bitter leaf is good for boosting sperm count levels in men. According to research, bitter leaf contain phytochemicals that can benefit a person suffering from low sperm count. Activation of potassium channels followed by hyperpolarization and relaxation of corporal smooth muscle cells is thought to be an important mechanism in boosting sperm count.

Enhances Fertility

Bitter leaf is very impressive when it comes to its benefit to the reproductive system of women. Drinking bitter leaf juice can help a woman get pregnant as the chemical compounds present in bitter leaf extracts like edotides promotes hormonal balance and boosts your immune system to help fight against toxification. Once balance is restored to your genital hormone, your chances of being reproductive increases.

Bitter leaf improves metabolic function

Vitamin B1, also known as thiamine, plays an important role in the metabolism of lipids, amino acids and glucose in the human body. Thiamine is an important dietary supplement occurring naturally in a bitter leaf that helps to oxidize fatty acids in order to produce the synthesis of lipids, which is one of the body’s essential processes.

Other Benefits of Bitter leaf

Bitter leaf is super healthy and medicinal hence, here are benefits of bitter leaf.

It may help protect against prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a relatively common cancer especially amongst older men. While following the treatments prescribed by a medical professional are essential for successful treatment of prostate cancer, bitter leave has shown promise in the prevention of the disease by a study in the Nutrients journal . The same research also noted that the plant may improve survival rates as well.
It is thought that the high levels of vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals such as flavonoids contribute to the preventative qualities of bitter leaf in regards to prostate cancer.

Aids In Weight Loss

The components in bitter leaf juice make it great therapy for burning off that extra fat you have been looking at getting rid of. A daily dose of bitter leaf juice in your diet can eliminate bad cholesterol and reduces excess calories in the body.

Diabetes management 

High blood sugar is the most common symptom of diabetes and other chronic conditions. Several studies have found that antioxidants and fiber found in bitter leaf plant may help lower sugar levels. One study found a 21.4% decrease in blood glucose levels of diabetic rats that were administered with bitter leaf extract after 14 days.  Another animal study discovered that bitter leaves significantly lowered fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-Cholesterol after fourteen days of administration.
Still, human-based research on the effects of bitter leaves on blood sugar is lacking.

Lowers High Blood Pressure

The same bitterness in bitter leaf that makes it unappetising is also one of its strongest best benefits. The bitterness of bitter leaf juice helps to lower your sugar level and controls blood pressure. Doctors advise hypertensive and diabetic patients to consume bitter leaf as the potassium it contains is a good remedy for hypertension as it prevents sodium from spiking up in the bloodstream by flushing out the accumulation of salt.

Some of the health benefits of  Bitter leaf also are:

• It speeds up metabolism and therefore is great for weight loss.
• Bitter leaf juice relieves fever and feverish conditions. Take the squeezed juice, 3 times daily until the symptoms disappears.
• Squeeze the fresh leaves on your palm and apply the juice on skin rashes,eczema, ring worms and any superficial skin ailments, you’ll notice a change in few days. Don’t apply to open wounds.
• Bitter leaf is said to soothe and also cure pile.
• Taking a cup of bitter leaf juice a day, is a great way to detoxify the body of harmful toxins.
• Bitter leaf juice nourishes the skin.
• Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) also cures mild stomach ailments
• Bitter leaf juice is said to increase breast milk production in nursing mothers.
• The washed roots and stalks of bitterleaf  are boiled and the infusion is taking as a worm expeller. A cup of bitter leaf infusion taking first thing in the morning before meals.

How to extract the Bitter leaf Juice

This can be done, the old school way of rubbing the clean leaves in between your palms with the help of a little water and squeezing out the juice from the leaves.
You can also use a juicer or blend the leaves with a little water, in a blender and strain out the extract with a cheese cloth, coffee strainer or a sieve with a tight mesh.

Bitter leaf juice on its own, is quite bitter and this taste might be a turn off for a lot of people.So to reduce the bitterness of the  bitter leaf juice, simply blend it with spinach or Ugwu (fluted pumpkin). If you still find it extremely bitter, then add some sweet fruit juices to it, such as pineapple , apples or oranges.
Dry bitter leaf is also potent, but has to be properly cleaned before use.

Possible Side effects of bitter leaf

Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) extracts have no known side effects on humans or animals and are considered safe.
However, scientific evidence advises that bitter leaves should not be consumed in high amounts – because, at high doses, it becomes toxic and poisonous to human cells.
Also, it is important to note that the roots contain toxic chemicals that may cause poisoning and should be ingested in minimal amounts after proper cleansing.