Incredible Mulberry Leaf Benefits You Need In Your Life Now

Mulberry leaf is a medicinal plant that comes from a tree or shrub native to China. It’s full of protein and bioactive compounds that help support many ailments Americans struggle with.

Best of all, mulberry leaf is easy to add to your diet in supplement form. Check your local health store and take it to support immune, digestive, and cardiovascular health. Here are five benefits of mulberry leaf all Americans need to know about.

5 Ways Mulberry Leaf Can Boost Your Health

People in Asian countries commonly brew and consume herbal tea that uses mulberry leaves to improve their health. You can use the ingredient in capsule, powder, or extract form. 

It may reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes

Mulberry leaves are a potent source of 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), phenolics, and flavonoids. The herb demonstrates an anti-hyperglycemic effect when consumed daily over a prolonged period.

Ingesting a mulberry leaf capsule every day for four weeks was found to reverse postprandial – after eating a meal – responses to a carbohydrate-rich meal in diabetic patients.

An animal study also learned that long-term use of mulberry leaves can reverse insulin resistance.

It may help prevent cardiovascular diseases

In addition, animal studies highlight the blood pressure-lowering effect of long-term mulberry leaf use by decreasing the heart rate and blood pressure.

The use of mulberry leaves can attenuate the potential development of atherosclerotic events through a few pathways. In vitro experiments discovered that extracts of the herb inhibit the deposition of LDL (“bad” cholesterol) in the blood vessels. It can also reverse the damage to the inner lining of blood vessels and prevent heart attacks.

A separate investigation of vascular reactivity reveals that mulberry leaves can help improve the responses of blood vessels to external stimuli. Research also exhibits consistent evidence of mulberry leaves’ anti-oxidative effect in halting the formation of free radicals. It can also ease stress-induced tissue damage. 

It provides general health support

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) states that using mulberry leaves (Sangye) is useful for cooling lung and liver heat. “Mulberry leaves have a cooling effect that can help clear Wind-heat and moisten a dry lung cough, and dry eyes due to liver heat,” says Eu Yan Sang physician Kong Teck Chuan. The best way to consume the herb is to brew it into a tea and combine it with honey.

Though, physician Kong cautions, “Mulberry leaves in TCM are cooling in nature. Therefore, people with cold and weak lungs, spleen, or stomachs should avoid the herb. It’s also not suitable for consumption by people with a Qi Deficiency or Yang Deficiency body constitution.” You should also steer clear of mulberry leaves if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or undergoing surgery within 14 days. 

It helps keep your skin healthy

The health benefits of using mulberry leaf extract are also present in natural skincare products. It can be attributed to the anti-tyrosinase activity of the herb, which is effective in lightening skin tone and promoting skin glow.

Mulberry leaves can also be helpful for people with pimples or acne-prone skin. For best results, try taking it in an enzyme powder form to support microbiome health. This gives you a healthy digestive system and great skin!

It supports brain health

Beta-amyloid protein is a protein that can collect between neurons and trigger the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. Interestingly, the use of mulberry leaves can help allay the progression of the condition. This is because it contains compounds like kaempferol -3-O-glucoside, and kaempferol -3-O-(6-malonyl) glucoside, which restrict the formation of these proteins in the brain.

Methanol extract of the mulberry leaf, meanwhile, possesses an anti-dopaminergic effect that helps to keep some psychological disorders away. Oxyresveratrol – a tyrosinase inhibitor – is also present in the mulberry leaf extract. It can act as a neuroprotective component and has a curative effect on strokes. 

Final Thoughts On Mulberry Leaf

Using mulberry leaf as a health supplement can provide a multitude of benefits. A mulberry chrysanthemum tea can have a cooling effect on the bodies of people with Wind-heat symptoms. You can also use mulberry leaves to fill a Chinese crepe.

However, you should speak to a clinical and TCM physician if you wish to consider using this herb. Doing so will help you identify possible allergic reactions and their suitability for use for your specific body constitution.