Pegged as the “herb of longevity,” pennywort juice health benefits are utilized as a staple in traditional Chinese, Indonesian, and Ayurvedic medicine. Practitioners claim the medicinal plant has the power to boost brainpower, heal skin issues, and promote liver and kidney health — and some studies seem to agree. The most interesting pennywort juice health benefits include its ability to prevent hair loss, speed wound healing, aid in skin care, boost cognition, soothe nervous disorders, treat respiratory issues, reduce toxicity, protect the heart, enhance mood, and heal the circulatory system.
These strangely shaped leaves are the most valuable part of the plant and are most commonly used in herbal medicine. This herb works by averting a disorderly manner of the absorption of nutrition and corrects this process through an improved progression of digestion of nutrients.
Pennywort can be used to treat everything from anxiety to cardiovascular conditions. The high concentration of unique triterpenoid compounds (also known as saponins) found in it is the reason behind this plant’s power.
Pennywort Juice Health Benefits
1. Enhancing the growth of new brain cells
Pennywort triggers the release of Brain-derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF), a protein that plays a fundamental role in neurogenesis. Namely, BDNF improves the creation of new brain cells and prevents the health of existing ones by boosting brain plasticity, improving communication between brain cells, and enhancing dendrite branching.
2. Prevents Hair Loss
Pennywort juice increased hair growth in six rats, increasing the number of hairs per area and the length of each hair [R]. Although, it’s even better when combined with Aloe Vera, Eclipta alba (false daisy), Ocimum sanctum (holy basil), and Emblica officinalis (Amla).
3. Having anti-oxidant effects on the brain
Every day, our brain cells get attacked by numerous neurotoxins like lead, arsenic, aluminium, and monosodium glutamate that may cause migraines, brain fog, and mood swings. Pennywort juice has antioxidant effects and is used to minimize the effect of free radicals. Its antioxidants neutralize the damage of free radicals, preventing them from harming our brain cells.
4. Treating anxiety and boosting mood
Caused by the stressful, fast-paced lives we live, anxiety has become some of the most common maladies affecting modern society. And, this is where pennywort juice comes to shine, as it can reduce both chronic and acute stress. While it can improve calmness and alertness by 100%, pennywort juice reduces anxiety by 50%. More proof that it can be used for reducing anxiety symptoms is the fact that it can minimize the acoustic startle reflex reaction, which is one of the major indicators that someone is stressed.
5. Improving the quality of sleep
We cannot stress how important quality sleep is for brain health. In one of our previous articles, we’ve already mentioned that the lack of sleep can cause mental fatigue and short-term memory loss, and hurt your concentration and attention span. This is why sleep problems like insomnia need to be taken seriously and treated adequately. Usually caused by anxiety, stress, and depression, insomnia is treated with sleeping pills and similar remedies. Unfortunately, this is not an optimal solution for the patient’s well-being, as these pills can affect their memory and even their overall health (like in the case of Ambien). On the other hand, pennywort juice is a natural and safe remedy that’s been used to improve sleep for centuries. In Ayurvedic medicine, for example, pennywort tea was mixed with honey to produce a calming effect on our body and improve the quality of sleep.
6. Sharpening memory and cognitive abilities
Pennywort juice helps with boosting the overall cognitive function, one study from 2016 says. The researchers compared the benefits of the pennywort extract and the benefits of folic acid for improving cognitive function in patients that suffered a stroke. The results were amazing. While both supplements were equally useful in enhancing the overall cognitive abilities of those patients, pennywort was more powerful in boosting memory.
7. Serving as a strong antidepressant
Another common mental disorder pennywort juice can help with is depression. According to a 2016 report, patients who were taking it for 2 months experienced significantly lower levels of stress, anxiety, and depression. A separate animal study also claims that pennywort juice improved some of the most common symptoms of chronic depression.
8. Boosting the effectiveness of vitamin E
Vitamin E is one of the most important vitamins for our heart health, but it is also significant for our brain functions. Combined with vitamin C, vitamin E has been proven to prevent age-related cognitive decline. It also enhances our cognitive functions, minimizes memory loss and, more importantly – it significantly reduces the risk of diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Furthermore, the supplements combining pennywort juice and vitamin E also serve as incredibly powerful antioxidants and brain supplements.
9. Preventing and treating Alzheimer’s
According recent research, pennywort juice is an outstanding remedy for improving mood and cognitive abilities in both healthy seniors and those suffering from Alzheimer’s. Patients with this neurodegenerative disease generally have a much lower level of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that impacts memory and learning. To prevent the breakdown of this substance, numerous strong drugs like Aricept are prescribed.
This is where pennywort juice can also help. Namely, it contains triterpenes, chemical compounds, which can also prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine. They protect brain cells from high toxicity levels by reducing the accumulation of amyloid plaques that appear in patients with Alzheimer’s.
Pennywort is not only a plant, but also a herb. Treat with caution as it is a medicine. Before implementing pennywort into your diet, consult your doctor first to see if it’s safe for you. Over using pennywort juice can cause dizziness.