Leaf of life
Bryophyllum pinnatum (Kalanchoe pinnata)
Herbs & Roots. Caribbean and African.
Also called Air plant, Life plant, Cathedral bells
Heart-acting compounds in leavesA succulent plant grown across the Caribbean and Africa. Folk users apply its leaves to wounds, but its leaves contain heart-acting compounds.
Did you know? Tiny new plants sprout from the notches along its leaf edges and drop off to root in soil, which is why it is called air plant or life plant.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Wounds, burns & bites. Used on wounds in folk medicine. Lab studies only.Traditional proof
- Infections. Lab studies show some antibacterial effects. No human trials exist.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
In the Caribbean and West Africa, folk users apply the leaves to wounds and brew them into teas for fevers and other complaints.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Vulnerary, Antimicrobial. Energy: neutral.
How people take it
Leaves are crushed onto skin or boiled into tea. Heart-acting compounds make drinking it risky, and no safe dose exists.
Topical and tea.
Where to get it
A succulent native to Madagascar, grown as a garden and houseplant across the tropics. Sold as a live plant. Herbal products are rare.
Be careful
Contains bufadienolides, which act like digoxin on the heart. Livestock have died after eating it. Human poisoning is less studied but possible. Do not take it by mouth, especially with heart disease or heart medicines.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; heart disease.
Mixing with other things
- Don't mixHeart rhythm medicine (digoxin, amiodarone)
Its heart-acting compounds may add to digoxin or other heart medicines and cause dangerous heart rhythms.
The honest take
Leaf of life has folk uses for wounds and fevers, but almost no human research. Its leaves contain digoxin-like compounds that have killed livestock. Oral use is not recommended.