Traditional Uses: Traditionally used in folk medicine across Africa, the Middle East, and tropical countries as a diuretic, mild laxative, for treating high blood pressure, liver diseases, fever, and as a calming beverage.
Potential Benefits: May help lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure (showing comparable efficacy to some antihypertensive drugs), reduce total and LDL cholesterol, provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and show antimicrobial and potential skin anti-aging properties.
Warnings: Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding (safety data lacking, though one study included it in a lactation tea); may interact with blood pressure medications, diabetes drugs, diuretics, and alter pharmacokinetics of chloroquine, acetaminophen, and diclofenac.
