5 Leaf Extracts Inside the Kutus Kutus Oil and Their Benefits
Updated: Jan 15, 2021
A staple healing oil in many Balinese and Indonesian homes, the Kutus Kutus Oil consists of 69 philosophical yet scientifically medicinal plants, herbs, and essential oils. Its key ingredients include: coconut oil, ashitaba leaves, agarwood, purwoceng leaves, neem leaves, black caraway, lemongrass, Javanese ginger, and much more.
Plenty of its ingredients are exotic and foreign here in Europe. Therefore, let's take a look at five of the different leaf extracts found in the Kutus Kutus Oil, and get to know its benefits.
1. Ashitaba Leaves
Nicknamed ‘the tomorrow leaf’, Ashitaba (Angelica keiskei) is a leafy herb native to the coastal regions of Japan. This leaf was, traditionally, seen as a major contributor to the supposedly healthier, extended lives of the local residents in coastal regions of Japan, possibly due to the high amounts of chalcanoids contained in the leaves.
In folk medicine, people used it on wounds and to improve digestion. Scientifically, Ashitaba is high in one particular antioxidant: chalcone. Chalcone is a crucial antioxidant, studied for years for their anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal effects [1]. These range of benefits may contribute to its large range of health concerns, from inflammatory conditions to infections and early aging.
2. Neem Leaf
Neem is a tree which grows in tropical regions, such as Indonesia, India, and Myanmar. Its bark, leaves, and seeds, are traditionally used and processed to make medicine.
Neem oil has strong antimicrobial effects. Often, it is included in several shampoos designed to repel lice, ticks, and fleas. Neem oil is effective against sand fleas and mosquitoes.
A 2012 study published by Abdel-Ghaffar [2] mentioned that a single treatment of head lice using a neem extract shampoo was effective in eliminating both live fleas and its nits (eggs). Overall, Neem extract is safe to use topically whilst being very effective at keeping lice, ticks, fleas, aw
ay.
3. Purwoceng Leaf (Pimpinella Pruatjan)
Purwoceng, also scientifically called Pimpinella pruatjan, is an indigenous plant species of Indonesia. Preliminary research on Purwoceng’s effects on rats have shown that Purwoceng does have aphrodisiac properties [3].
What’s more, is that a study in 2016 found that Purwoceng is antimicrobial by producing alkaloids as bioactive compounds. Purwoceng contains secondary compounds such as coumarin, sterol, alkaloid, saponin, and several kinds of oligosaccharide. Its secondary metabolites have an antibacterial, anticoagulant, and antiinflammatory activity [4].
4. Kemuning Leaf & Flower (Murraya paniculata)
Kemuning, scientifically called Murraya paniculata, is a south-east asian plant which has a nice and refreshing fragrant. Some people describe the scent to be similar to a refreshing orange.
Turns out, this plant has more to offer than just for decorative purposes. A study in 2015 tested Kemuning’s effects on rabbits, turns out Kemuning shows bronchodilator and vasodilator properties [5]. Tested on rabbit’s trachea, Kemuning produced relaxation in the trachea - allowing the rabbits to breathe better and avoid blockade.
5. Gandarusa Leaf
Gandarusa, or also called Justicia gendarussa, is a small erect, branched shrub, commonly used in India, China, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Indonesia,
A study was performed in 2009 on rats, to explore the anti-arthritic potential of the Gandarusa plant [6]. Two groups of rats were collected, one to be treated with Aspirin, and the other with ethanolic extract of Gandarusa. The result showed that “The ethanolic extract of Justicia gendarussa showed significant anti-arthritic activity that was statistically similar to that of aspirin. Our results suggest that the alcoholic extract of Justicia gendarussa exhibits significant anti-arthritic potential.”
Arthritis is the swelling and tenderness of one or more of your joints. The main symptoms of arthritis are joint pain and stiffness, which typically worsen with age.
There you go, these are just 5 of the main ingredients inside our Kutus Kutus Oil.
Shop our Kutus Kutus oils Here.
Sources
1. A Review of the Medicinal Uses and Pharmacology of Ashitaba
https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0042-110496
2. Efficacy of a single treatment of head lice with a neem seed extract: an in vivo and in vitro study on nits and motile stages
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21667206/
3. Pruatjan (Pimpinella pruatjan Molk.): The rooted herbal medicine of Indonesia for aphrodisiac properties
4. Metabolic Profiling of Endophytic Bacteria from Purwoceng (Pimpinella pruatjan Molkend) Root and Antibacterial Activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
https://aip.scitation.org/doi/pdf/10.1063/1.4953537
5. Validation of ethnopharmacological uses of Murraya paniculata in disorders of diarrhea, asthma and hypertension
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4564972/
6. Anti-Arthritic Potential of the Plant Justicia Gendarussa Burm F
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2694464/