Photography: Bitter leaf photograph.

I was actually less busy with my phone today, I was moving round our compound, when I stumbled upon this bitter leaf tree. We have been using for the leaves for various purpose and it is actually helpful and I will explain.

Why is it called bitter leaf? If you closely, the leaves is highly bitter in nature when you taste it or decided to chew it. Funny thing is that the bitterness can last in one's mouth for close to 30minutes, the branch of the bitter leaf also has that bitter taste same as the leaf.

Although here in Nigeria some people do use the stem of the bitter leaf to wash their teeth, and it is believe it cleans faster than the normal teeth wash.

Bitter leaf is the plant you will find in some people's compound, their backyards or at the market. Even I myself do complain about the bitterness of the leaf but that what most people use as a traditional means to cure illness.

Bitter leaf can be prepared into a for that can be served as soup to eat various swallow like fufu, pounded yam or eba(prepared garri). As a bitter leaf soup, the leaves are cut away from their stem then placed in a bowl for proper washing, and squeezing with the hands. This is dome to reduce the bitter taste of the leaf, and after which it is taken to the grinding machine which leaves are then grinded into smooth substance, but if one doesn't prefare, grinding as smooth substance, you can wash and then sun dry the leaves after which you can use the leave at any moment to add to you cooking.

Most times the water from the bitter leaf can be used to treat sick poutry birds. Most times we add it to their water once their is a sign of weakness showning on the poutry birds.

Most times when one is injured, using the traditional method of medication, this bitter leaf is squeezed and applied on the area of the cut to stop the bleeding if possible preventing infection.

Lastly, most diabetic patient traditional take the squeeze juice(water) of the bitter leaf, which helps to reduce the excess sugar in the blood.

                          **thank you friends🤝🏾**