The Hempedu bumi (picture) or Bitterweed in English is a terribly bitter herb whose many curative properties make it a desirable plant to have around the house. It's Malay name means "bile of the earth" and some people even know it as the "king of bitters".
It's scientific name is Andrographis panicukala and it is a herbaceous shrub that grows upright. Because it thrives so easily in so many different locales, from the roadside to the seaside, it is often considered a weed by local gardeners. People who know about its wonderful properties like a to keep a pot or two in the garden where it can be safely left to itself, needing only water and trimming to prevent overgrowth.
Hempedu is quite easy to recognise, with its glossy green leaves and 4-sided furrowed stems. It's flowers are small, white and dotted with purple spots. It has fruits, too. They are small, hairy and look like pills but are brown when mature.
Although the whole plant can be eaten raw, it is the hempedu's leaves which are its most wonderful part.
The bitterweed's leaves are best harvested harvested about two months before the plant starts flowering. That is when its active constituents are most concentrated. Scientists have found that it can not only act as an antioxidant but it also protects your liver from a number of toxins. Though most well-known locally as a cure for sore throats, traditional medicine men have even used it to relieve fever, as a cure for poisoning and an antidote for snake bite!
When its juices are extracted and concentrated, it is even more powerful. In fact, hempedu extract is even available in capsule form nowadays.
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