Desmodium leaf – traditional use

Desmodium adscendens is cultivated and picked when ripe, its leaves are then dried and cut to facilitate infusion. Known for its place in African and Amazonian traditions, this plant is incorporated into remedies for daily comfort or seasonal cures.

Description

Dark green to light brown leaves, slightly curled when dry, fine and fibrous texture. Dry vegetal odor, slightly bitter taste when infused.

Nomenclature

• Common names: Desmodium, savannah clover
• Latin name: Desmodium adscendens
• Family: Fabaceae (Legumes)
• Part used: Leaves
• Shape: Cut
• Origin: West Africa, South America
• English name: Desmodium leaf
• German name: Desmodiumblätter
• Name in Spanish: Desmodium leaf
• Name in Italian: Foglia di desmodio
• Name in Arabic: أوراق الدسموديوم (Awrāq al-Desmodium)

Main virtues

Traditionally used to support periods of general fatigue or imbalance, desmodium is valued for its balancing effects on the body, particularly in support of seasonal transitions or periods of overload. It is also used in general wellness treatments with a purifying aim.

Main constituents

Flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids (indolic), tannins, triterpenes, amino acids.

Use and dosage

• Infusion: 1 tablespoon for 250 ml of simmering water, infuse for 10 to 15 minutes.
• Decoction: Gently boil 5 to 10 g in 500 ml of water for 15 minutes, filter and consume hot or warm.
• Use as a treatment: generally over 2 to 3 weeks, according to the advice of a specialist practitioner.

Precautions, side effects and contraindications

• Not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women.
• Consult a professional in case of medical treatment or liver disease.
• Do not use continuously without suitable supervision.

History and origin

Long used in traditional African and Latin American pharmacopoeias, desmodium is renowned as a holistic support plant. Its name is often associated with rituals of regeneration or transition, particularly in African, Creole, or indigenous alternative medicines. It remains a staple in specialized herbalists today.

Miscellaneous information

• Packaging: lined kraft bag or opaque pot.
• Storage: away from humidity, light and heat.
• Appearance: Leaf fragments, greenish-brown when dry.
• Odor: herbaceous, slightly bitter and dry.

Sources and references

• Pl@ntUse – https://uses.plantnet-project.org
• West African Ethnopharmacopoeia
• Amazonian herbal medicine books
• Contemporary herbalism – Desmodium base

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