Medicinal Plants

Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC.

Sembung

Asteraceae

Location in the garden Main
Photo 1 of medicinal plant Blumea balsamifera (Sembung) Photo 2 of medicinal plant Blumea balsamifera (Sembung) Photo 3 of medicinal plant Blumea balsamifera (Sembung)

Summary

Sembung (Blumea balsamifera) is a shrub more than 4 meters tall of the Asteraceae family, distributed from India to Indo-China, South China, and the Philippines. An open clinical trial showed sembung leaf extract produced objective improvement in 89.2% of kidney stone patients after six weeks of use. Sembung is also traditionally believed to aid weight loss, relieve fever, and speed up blood clotting.

Agroecology

Grows wild in fields and is considered a nuisance weed. Grows fairly well from lowlands up to elevations of 2,200 m above sea level and in slightly open places or with adequate sunlight.

Morphology

  • Root a taproot and milky white in color.
  • Stem dark green in color, upright, round.
  • Leaves single, oblong shaped, pinnate venation. Upper leaf surface somewhat rough, underside densely and finely hairy.
  • Flowers compound, stalked with whitish-yellow corolla.
  • Fruit whitish-brown in color, cylindrical shape, hard, and hairy.
  • Seeds flat-shaped and white in color.

Cultivation

Propagated generatively (seed), vegetatively (cuttings). Planting distance 1.5 x 1.5 m.

Chemical Content

Borneol, cineole, limonene, flavonoid, sterol, monoterpene, sesquiterpene, triterpene, alkaloid, L-camphor, caryophyllene, β-camphene, alpha humulene.

Benefits

Weight loss, fever, malaria, wound healer, speeds up blood clotting, antibacterial, diarrhea, cough and colds, rheumatism, irregular menstruation, beriberi, antitumor, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiplasmodial, antityrosinase, anticancer, and antiobesity.

Simplisia

  • Choose fresh leaves, clean off attached dirt, wash then drain.
  • Slice the leaves and place on a tray then dry in the sun, and cover with a thin dark-colored cloth.
  • Once dry, place in a clean, tightly sealed or airtight plastic bag.

Local Names

Capo (Sumatra), Sembung utan (Sunda), Sembung letet (Central Java), Kamandhin (Madura), Mandikapu (Ternate), Sembung (Bali).

Traditional Recipes

The following recipes reflect traditional knowledge passed down through generations, not a substitute for professional medical diagnosis or advice. Consult a healthcare provider before use.

Traditional recipe Fever (malaria) from Sembung

1. Fever (malaria)

  • Prepare 10 g sembung leaves, 100 g yellowed papaya leaves, 100 g mature turmeric, 100 g kencur (aromatic ginger), 10 g temulawak, 50 g palm sugar, 10 g tamarind, 600 ml water.
  • Peel the turmeric, kencur and temulawak. Boil all ingredients over low heat until the water reduces to 400 ml.
  • Drink while warm in the morning and evening.
Traditional recipe Fever from Sembung

2. Fever

  • Boil 10 g fresh sembung leaves with 1 glass of water for 15 minutes, once cool then strain.
  • Drink twice a day.

Reference Sources

  1. Larasati EK, Achmad I, Ibrahim A. 2015. Efek antidiare ekstrak daun sembung (Blumea balsamifera) terhadap mencit putih. J. Sains dan Kesehatan 1(2): 56-60.
  2. Rahardjo SS. 2016. Review tanaman sembung (Blumea balsamifera (L.). Prosiding Seminar Nasional Tumbuhan Obat Indonesia ke-50, Samarinda.
  3. Pang Y, Wang D, Fan Z, Chen X, Yu F, Hu X, Wang K, Yuan L. 2014. Blumea balsamifera -a phytochemical and pharmacological review. Molecules 19(7): 9453-9477.
  4. Pang Y, D, Hu X, Wang H, Fu W, Fan Z, Chen X, Yu F. 2014. Effect of volatile oil from Blumea balsamifera (L.) DC. leaves on wound healing in mice. J. Trad. Chinese Med. 34(6): 716-724.