Traditional Uses: Traditionally used as a digestive bitter to stimulate appetite and treat abdominal colic, as an emenagogue, for beri-beri, and smoked as a cigarette to cure asthma.
Potential Benefits: May help increase platelet counts in patients with dengue fever and exhibits antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and potential hypoglycemic effects.
Warnings: Generally safe for short-term use (less than 5 days) but may cause mild GI disturbance or rash; avoid during pregnancy and in those with liver impairment due to potential toxicity; use cautiously with diabetes medications, P-glycoprotein substrates (e.g., digoxin), and certain antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin).
