“Health Benefits of Breadfruit Leaf Tea”

Lots of people have heard about Breadfruit, that is what the movie “Mutiny on the Bounty” was all about. Giving water to Breadfruit trees instead of giving water to the sailors. But Breadfruit Leaves also have great healing powers such as lowering blood pressure, it’s great for inflammation, preventing cancer, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and much more.

Breadfruit or Panna (Artocarpus altilis) and many other common names is a starchy fruit that grows in the Pacific and Caribbean islands, Hawaii, Philippines, India, Africa, Sri Lanka, Tahiti, Jamaica, Indonesia, Trinidad, Brazil, Barbados, an other tropical places.

Breadfruit has a bit of a nutty flavor and is used in main dishes and even desserts. The fruit is large from 5 to 20 lbs with a white creamy texture inside. When the white sap starts to drip from the fruit you know it’s ripe and ready to cook.

But the leaves of the Breadfruit Tree are also very healing.

First of all Breadfruit Leaves must be prepared. Take two yellow leaves that are still clinging to the tree (do not use leaves that drop to the ground), chop them up and allow them to dry in the sun until completely dry. Use a stainless steel pot, not aluminum because Breadfruit Leaves reacts with aluminum. Then boil the dried leaves in two liters of water until half the water is gone. Then add more water to bring the water level back to 2 liters, then bring to a boil again, and then let the tea cool. The resulting tea is red in color, and the tea is bitter and thus stevia or honey must be added to make it drinkable. Store in a glass jar in the frig.

For cardiovascular disease drink one cup of Breadfruit Tea daily to prevent and promote healing of cardiovascular disease and lower blood pressure. Breadfruit Tea is very anti-inflammatory and thus helps to prevent inflammation which is the first step towards creating disease.

For lowering cholesterol drink one cup of Breadfruit Tea daily and also drink one cup daily for healing kidney disease. Also there are some indications that Breadfruit Leaf Tea can also help prevent cancer because it’s very anti-inflammatory in action.

For skin rashes, itching, and other minor skin irritations drink one cup of Breadfruit Tea daily. Again this tea contains powerful anti-inflammatory agents that help to put and end to minor skin problems.

Drinking one cup of Breadfruit Leaf Tea daily can help with inflammatory conditions of the liver. And Breadfruit Leaf Tea can also help with gout because it works as a good diuretic thus removing uric acid from the body.

Breadfruit Tea contains B Vitamins for good mood and vitality, it contains camphor and tannins which is great for inflammation and it’s also calming plus helps with allergic reactions, a good antispasmodic agent, and reduces swelling, redness, and pain.

Breadfruit Tea should be used under the supervision of a good herbalist because it does contain camphor and in large doses of camphor could cause major health challenges. And Breadfruit Leaf Tea should not be used by women who are pregnant or children.

If you google “Buy Breadfruit Leaves” lots of on-line places that sell breadfruit leaves will come up.

Dr. Paul Haider - Master Herbalist