Curry leaf
Murraya koenigii
Spices. Ayurveda.
Also called Kari patta, Sweet neem, Kadi patta
Spanish: Hoja de curry
A fragrant leaf from southern India used to flavor curries and in folk remedies for digestion and hair.
Did you know? Fresh curry leaves lose much of their smell when dried, so cooks usually add them fresh to hot oil.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Blood sugar. Mostly animal studies suggest lower blood sugar. Human trials are few.Traditional proof
- Hair & nails. Used for hair growth in tradition. Lab tests show antioxidant effects, but there are no good human hair studies.Traditional proof
- Digestion & gut health. Leaves have been used for diarrhea and vomiting in traditional medicine. Human proof is lacking.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Pancreas & blood sugar, Skin & hair, Gut & intestines, Stomach
Traditional use
In southern India and Ayurveda, the leaves have been used for digestion, upset stomach and hair care. Oil made from the leaves is rubbed into the scalp.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Antioxidant, Hypoglycemic, Antimicrobial. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Cooks add a few fresh leaves to hot oil at the start of a dish. Leaf oil is rubbed into the scalp for hair. No medicine dose is set.
Food and oil.
Where to get it
The plant grows as a small tree in India, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. Fresh leaves are sold in Indian and Asian grocery stores, and hair oils are sold in health and beauty shops.
Be careful
Safe as food. Large amounts may upset the stomach. Medicine amounts are not well studied in pregnancy, so avoid them.
Avoid if: pregnancy.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both are fried in oil at the start of many South Indian dishes.
- Works well together
Fenugreek seeds and curry leaves are often tempered together.
- Works well together
Mustard seeds are popped in oil with curry leaves.
- Worth knowingDiabetes medicine (metformin, insulin, glipizide, Ozempic)
Animal studies suggest it can lower blood sugar. Check levels if you take diabetes medicine and eat it in large amounts.
Adds up with others that may lower blood sugar: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 39 more.
The honest take
Curry leaves are a good food flavor with a pleasant smell. Most health claims come from lab and animal studies, and human research is thin. Do not expect hair growth or blood sugar results from eating them.