Piper lolot: A Natural Remedy for Excessive Sweating and More. The leaves can be used to alleviate toothache, while the plant is also known as “lá tất bát.” Its scientific name is: Piper lolot C. DC, belonging to the Piperaceae family.
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Piper lolot (Photo: TTO) |
Piper lolot is a perennial herb that grows to about 30-40 cm tall and has a creeping growth habit. The stem swells at the nodes and features numerous longitudinal grooves on the exterior. The leaves are simple, entire, alternate, heart-shaped, with five main veins radiating from the petiole; the petiole has a sheath at the base that wraps around the stem. The flower cluster consists of a single flower growing in the leaf axil, and the fruit is a berry containing one seed.
Piper lolot grows wild and is also commonly cultivated for its leaves, which are used as a spice and in traditional medicine. It can be propagated by cutting the stem into 20-25 cm sections and planting them in a moist area.
The plant can be harvested year-round; the leaves should be washed, then sun-dried or dried in an oven at 40-50°C until completely dry.
Both the leaves and stems contain alkaloids and essential oils, with beta-caryophyllene being the primary component of the essential oil, while the roots contain essential oil with benzyl acetate as the main constituent.
Piper lolot has a spicy flavor, aromatic smell, and warming properties, making it effective for warming the middle, dispersing cold, lowering qi, and relieving pain.
It is beneficial for treating conditions such as wind-cold dampness, cold hands and feet, numbness, digestive disorders, vomiting, bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea, cold kidneys and bladder, toothaches, headaches, and foul-smelling nasal discharge.
An infusion made from the whole plant can treat bloating and vomiting; the recommended dosage is 10-20g per day. An infusion made from the roots can help with numbness and lower back pain; the recommended dosage is 8-12g per day, often combined with other medicinal herbs such as Dây Đau Xương (Vine for Bone Pain), Thổ Hạc (Creeping Grass), and Củ Cốt Khí (Root of Air Essence). A concentrated decoction of the leaves can be used as a mouthwash for toothaches. Fresh leaves can be crushed and combined with 50g each of starfruit leaves and white bean leaves, then mixed with water to drink as an antidote for heatstroke and snake bites.
Additionally, people also use Piper lolot to prepare foot and hand baths for those suffering from dampness-related excessive sweating.
