Orthosiphon: a diuretic and depurative plant

Published on October 23, 2019 - Medicinal Plants

Orthosiphon, also known as Java tea, is a plant native to Southeast Asia and belongs to the Lamiaceae family, scientifically named Orthosiphon stamineus Benth or Orthosiphon aristatus (Blume) Miq.

It is a perennial herb of small size, ranging from 30 to 80 cm in height, with a quadrangular stem, lignified at the base and herbaceous at the top. It has opposite leaves, irregularly toothed, with a short quadrangular petiole and an oval, rhomboid blade; cuneiform at the base, dark green on the upper surface, lighter and pubescent on the lower surface. The main veins and the petiole are violet.

The flowers are grouped in an inflorescence at the top, white or lilac in color, and have very long stamens, about twice the length of the corolla, which give them the nickname “cat’s whiskers“.

The fruit consists of four achenes enclosed in the calyx.

The drug is represented by the leaves, which have a salty, bitter, and astringent taste and are aromatic to the smell.

The leaves contain a large amount of potassium salts, but also diterpenes, triterpenes, essential oil, and many phenolic compounds, particularly lipophilic flavones (sinensetin, eupatorin, scutellarin tetramethyl ether, ramnazin, etc.), and esters of caffeic acid.

Orthosiphon has recognized diuretic properties, being a powerful eliminator of urea and chlorides, and possesses a depurative action. In addition to this, it has a modest cholagogue action (stimulating bile production) and hypocholesterolemic properties.

It is recommended by herbalists in case of edema, oliguria, ascites, urinary tract infections (urethritis, cystitis, and nephritis), arthritis, rheumatism, and gout, but also as an adjunct in obesity; and it is often recommended as a draining agent to help combat cellulite.

No side effects, contraindications, or interactions with other drugs or medications are known, however, “dilution therapy” recommended in cases of bacterial infections, inflammation of the lower urinary tract, and kidney stones, should not be practiced in cases of edema caused by heart or kidney dysfunction.

Orthosiphon can be taken through a simple infusion (2 grams of the drug in 100 ml of water, infused for 10 minutes), one cup 4-5 times a day; compound infusion (Orthosiphon leaves 20 grams, Horsetail 25 grams, Anise fruits 10 grams, Birch leaves 10 grams, Juniper berries 25 grams, Lovage 10 grams); or powder, fluid extract, mother tincture, or dry extract.

It is considered a diuretic plant and not simply aqueous; a very important distinction to make: diuretics are preparations that help the body increase urine excretion, directing water to the kidneys, thus performing a washing and purification function of the kidneys. They are mainly used to treat hypertension and heart failure as the volume of blood and the pressure it exerts on the blood vessel walls are reduced.

Instead, aqueous substances, plants, but also drugs, are capable of returning fluids that are normally accumulated in muscle tissues back into the bloodstream. These fluids are then expelled through various pathways, such as sweating or urine.

The etymology of the name Orthosiphon derives from the Greek orthos = straight, erect and siphon = siphon/pipe, alluding to the long and straight corolla tube, while it is also called Java tea because it originates from the East Indies.

Here are some examples of herbal teas in which Orthosiphon is present: