Kacip Fatimah

Kacip Fatimah (Labisia pumila Benth) is part of a genus of approximately 7 species and is found in Southeast Asia in the lowlands and hill forests of Malaysia at an altitude of 300 to 700 m. Kacip Fatimah is a popular herb among local women; it is frequently consumed by women of reproductive age.

It is a herbaceous shrub with creeping rhizomes. Their leaves are more or less upright and dark green with lighter shade of green at its margin. The petioles are relatively short and slightly flattened. The whole leaf can be more than 30 cm long and 13 cm wide. The clustered white to pink flowers are 6 to 30 cm long with sepals, petals, and stamens.

Kacip Fatimah has been used for centuries and is still commonly consumed by Malay women in Malaysia. In folk medicine L. pumila was thought to be useful for a number of applications, including labor induction and treating venereal disease and flatulence.

According to traditional practice, the whole part of the Kacip Fatimah herb will be boiled with other herbs for the wellbeing of women. It is traditionally used to maintain a healthy female reproductive system, to help tighten and lubricate, and to enhance sexual function.

Kacip Fatimah is rich in phytoestrogen and isoflavones, that may ease menopausal symptoms. . Other bioactive phytochemical contents are flavonoid (rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin), phenols (gallic acid, pyrogallol, caffeic acid), saponin, iron, benzoquinoid derivatives, alkenylresorcinols, triperpenoid and other antioxidative compounds consisting of β-carotene, vitamin C and anthocyanin. The plant also has been researched for use in making cosmeceutical products.
Kacip Fatimah

Black pepper in Malay traditional medicine

Black pepper is a perennial plant originating in India grown in tropical areas, especially in southern India, Indonesia, the Malay Peninsula, Central America and the Philippines.

In Malay traditional medicine black pepper is used to relieve abdominal pain, nausea, fever, joint pain and headaches. It is also used relieve wind problem and baby colic. Black pepper is also used by mothers in confinement period after the delivery.

Black pepper has been used to treat a number of ailments such as asthma, cough, heart diseases, throat, and other inflammations, urinary disorders, tooth and muscle aches, snake bites, eye diseases and cholera.

Black pepper can help banish evil spirit from the house. It can break the thoughts and bad wishes of evil people. Black pepper can protect home and clean up the negative energy there.
Black pepper in Malay traditional medicine