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10 Amazing Benefits And Uses Of Mango Leaves That You May Have Not Known

From soothing ear aches to healing burns, mango leaves are a must-have in your pantry.

Medically reviewed by Gabrielle Kane, RDN, CSP, LD
Written by Tanya Choudhary, ISSA Certified Specialist In Fitness & Nutrition

Edited by Ravi Teja Tadimalla, Professional Certificate In Food, Nutrition & Health

Fact-checked by Moksha Gandhi, BPharm, Certified Health & Wellness Coach • Sep 13, 2023

10 Amazing Benefits And Uses Of Mango Leaves That You May Have Not Known

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While most of you might love eating mangoes, are you aware of the mango leaves benefits as well? Most often than not, it’s just the mango fruit we are obsessed with, given its delicious taste and multiple preparations. However, mango leaves are also rich in medicinal and healing properties. Next time you get your hands on freshly plucked mangoes, try to get the leaves as well. This article would further let you know how to utilise mango tree leaves to reap its key benefits. Reason to know more!

Know Your Ingredient: Mango Leaf

What Is It?
A long, green leaf taken from the mango tree that has a mild, vegetal taste.

What Are Its Benefits?
It helps with healing burns, lowers blood sugar levels, and treats dysentery.

Who Can Consume It?
Anybody can consume it, especially people with asthma and diabetes.

How Often?
You can drink 1 to 2 cups of mango leaf tea daily.

Caution
None

Medicinal Benefits Of Mango Leaves

The mango leaves are reddish or purplish when tender and new, and grow into a dark green color and have a pale underside. These leaves are rich in vitamin C, B and A. They are also rich in nutrition. They exhibit powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties due to their high content of flavonoids and polyphenols (1).

1. Treating Diabetes

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The mango leaves are very useful for treating diabetes. Animal studies suggest that the tender mango tree leaves contain phytochemicals, which may help in treating diabetes (2). The leaves are dried and powdered, or used as an infusion to treat the same. It may also help in treating diabetic angiopathyⁱXA blood vessel disease that involves damage to cells in the blood vessels caused by high blood sugar/glucose levels. and diabetic retinopathyⁱXA serious eye disorder that involves vision loss and blindness in people with high blood sugar/glucose levels. (3). Mango tea leaves are very good for this purpose. Soak the leaves in a cup of water overnight. Strain and drink this water to help relieve the symptoms of diabetes. It also helps treat hyperglycemia. The leaves contain a compound called 3 beta-taraxerol, and ethyl acetate extract which synergize with insulin to activate GLUT4 and stimulate the synthesis of glycogen.

Did You Know?

Young mango leaves are purple, yellow, or red in color. The leaves turn dark green only when they mature.

2. Lower Blood Pressure

Mango leaves may help lower the blood pressure as they have anti-hypertensive properties (4). They help in strengthening the blood vessels and treating the problem of varicose veinsⁱXA condition that occurs when veins become enlarged and overfilled with blood, commonly affecting the leg veins. .

3. Treats Restlessness

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Mangiferin, a phytochemical present in mango leaves, possesses anti-anxiety properties that may calm down restlessness experienced by people due to anxiety (5). Adding two to three glasses of mango leaf tea to the bath water helps treat uneasiness and refreshes the body.

4. Gall And Kidney Stones

The mango leaves may help treat kidney stones and gallstones (6). The daily intake of a finely ground powder of mango leaves, which are dried in the shade, with water kept in a tumbler overnight, helps in breaking the stones and flushing them out.

5. Respiratory Problems

Mango leaves may help with respiratory problems likes colds.

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The mango leaves are good for all kinds of respiratory problems. It is especially useful for people suffering from colds, bronchitis and asthma (7). Drinking a decoction made by boiling mango leaves in water with a little honey helps to cure cough effectively. It also helps in curing voice loss.

6. Cures Dysentery

Mango leaves may be very helpful in treating bleeding dysentery (7). The leaves dried in a shade should be powdered and then be taken with water two to three times a day to stop dysentery.

7. Ear Aches

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Ear ache can be quite irritating. Using this home remedy provides good relief. A teaspoon of juice extracted from mango leaves as eardrops provides relief from earache. Heat the juice slightly before using it.

8. Heal Burns

To heal burns on the skin and scalds, burn a handful of mango leaves to ashes (7). Apply this ash on the affected area. It provides relief.

9. Treats Hiccups And Throat Problems

Mango leaves may relieve hiccups and throat issues

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If you are suffering from hiccups or throat problems, mango leaf is a good home remedy (8). Burn a few mango leaves and inhale the smoke. This helps to cure hiccups and throat problems.

10. Stomach Tonic

Put some mango leaves in warm water, close the container with a lid, and leave it overnight. The next morning filter the water and drink it on an empty stomach. The regular intake of this infusion acts as a good stomach tonic and helps prevent various stomach ailments (8).

Anecdotal evidence suggests that it can play a role in effective weight loss, a healthy immune system, and improved skin, hair, and heart health as well.

Quick Tip

You can add ginger root and honey to your mango leaf tea to add some spice and flavor to it.

Infographic: 5 Important Health Benefits Of Mango Leaves

While we commonly consume mangoes, their leaves are rich in medicinal properties that can provide various health benefits to you. We have rounded up the 5 important health benefits of mango leaves you should know about. Check out the infographic below to know more!

5 important health benefits of mango leaves (infographic)

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Mango leaves benefits are lesser-known. These leaves are loaded with vitamins A, B, and C, minerals, and many beneficial nutrients that promote overall health. Mango leaves help in managing diabetes, and also lowers blood pressure. In addition, it effectively manages restlessness, respiration, and digestion problems, and cures earaches. Mango leaves also heal burns and aid in treating kidney and gall stones. These leaves also treat hiccups and throat problems, and the infusion of these leaves is an effective stomach tonic that helps relieve many stomach-related ailments. Try including mango leaves in your diet to reap the benefits they offer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are mango leaves poisonous?

No, mango leaves are not poisonous and are generally considered safe for consumption.

Can we eat raw mango leaves?

Yes, you can consume fresh raw mango leaves if they are available in your neighborhood.

Are there any anti-inflammatory benefits to using mango leaves?

Mango leaf extract is rich in bioactive polyphenols and is said to possess anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation in the body. One animal study showed that it reduces inflammation of the liver tissue, preventing the progression of liver damage (9).

How to prepare mango leaves as medicine?

The leaves should either be powdered after being dried or used as an infusion. Or, you can soak the leaves in a cup of water overnight and drink the liquid in the morning.

Does mango leaf tea lower cholesterol?

One animal study found that mango leaf extract exhibited cholesterol-lowering activity in albino Wistar rats (10). Hence, mango-leaf tea may help lower cholesterol levels.

Is mango leaf an antibiotic?

The ethanol extracts of mango leaves exhibit potent antibacterial properties that can act against the Staphylococcus aureus strain (11).

Are mango leaves good for uric acid?

From one study, it was seen that mango leaves and their extract have the potential to develop anti-gouty arthritis agents to help improve this medical condition (12).

Key Takeaways

Mango leaves help reduce blood pressure and treat diabetes.
Mango leaves contain a phytochemical called mangiferin, which may help ease anxiety-related restlessness.
You can burn a few mango leaves to ashes to help treat colds and hiccups.
Mango leaf extract can be used as ear drops to treat earaches.

Learn about the amazing health benefits of mango leaves that may help manage diabetes, hair growth, and weight loss! Discover how these leaves can improve your health by watching the video below. Check it out now!

Sources

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