Kacip Fatimah 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. Oak Gall is rich in antioxidants and is traditionally used as postpartum care to tighten the reproductive system.
Kacip Fatimah has been traditionally used by the Malay women for many generations in childbirth in inducing and eases delivery, as a post partum medication to help contract the birth channel, to regain body strength, regulate menstrual cycle and avoid painful or difficult menstration, and to alleviate menopausal symptoms. The plant is traditionally boiled and the water extraction is taken as a drink.
Other traditional uses include treating dysentery, rheumatism, and gennoehoea. It is also used as antiflatulence by helping to drive away and prevent the formation of gas. The plant will also help to firm and tone the abdominal muscles. Scientific studies have established that the medicinal properties and biological activities of Kacip Fatimah are due to the presence of phyto-estrogen (plant estrogen) that is naturally found in the plant.
While being used by the indigenous people of Malay the Kacip Fatimah plant were usually boiled and the water soluble extract was taken as drink. Interest had recently been shown in the herbal preparation to determine its mode of action and potential pharmacological application. In the mean time commercial preparations as can drinks have been marketed without knowledge of the mode of action potential toxicity and side effects. Because it is given to women post-partum, the possibility of it being a phyoestrogen was considered highly likely.
Recent studies in the Institute for Medical Research, the water extracts of Kacip Fatimah were able to displace estradiol binding to antibodies raised against estradiol, making it similar to other estrogens such as estrone and estriol. Binding to estrogen receptors are being investigated.
Other claimed traditional uses of the Kacip Fatimah plant include using it to effectively treat dysentery, rheumatism and gonorrhea. It is also used as anti-flatulence by helping drive away and preventing the formation of gas. By cleansing and avoiding painful or difficult menstruation it is used as an anti-dysmenorrheal. This plant will also help to firm and tone the abdominal muscles. All these properties and biological activity is due to the presence of phytoestrogens that is naturally found in the plant.