Getting to Know Mama Guava: A Comprehensive Guide to the Benefits and Uses of Guava Leaves

Guava leaves have a rich history in numerous folk medicine uses, not just in the Philippines, but globally. Learn about the physical, spiritual benefits, and cultural importance in folk healing and indigenous traditions in the Philippines.

Our beloved tree, whom we affectionately call "Mama Guava," represents a relationship nurtured for over two decades.  To learn from her and share her medicine is a profound privilege and honor.  Being an herbalist is not just about knowing the properties of every plant; it is about forming a deep, heart-soul connection with the plants that become our allies.

Before diving into the "Benefits and Uses of Guava Leaves," it's important to recognize where the true benefits lie.  Many people seek herbs and plants solely for their medicinal properties, hoping to find relief for specific ailments.  However, few take the time to consider what we can offer in return—to the plant, the land, and the planet.  This reciprocal relationship nurtures not only personal healing but also collective well-being and environmental restoration.

How can we engage with healing plants in a way that is respectful rather than extractive or appropriative?  The journey begins with self-awareness—understanding who we truly are and how we can live in harmony with the natural world.  I call this philosophy Halamanism—a return to our true selves in alignment with Inang Kalikasan, or Mother Nature.  Halamanism is the reclamation and assertion of Philippine plant medicine, moving away from westernized herbalism and reconnecting with Indigenous practices and belief systems rooted in pre-colonial animism.

When I speak of the guava tree as Mama Guava, it is not anthropomorphism but rather a genuine relationship built over time.  Approaching nature with reverence, cultivating a mindset of abundance, and embodying inner peace—these are the greatest teachings of Mama Guava.

As a teacher of guava medicine, my intention is to share only what Mama Guava has taught me personally with those eager to explore her deeper wisdom.  Here, you will find insights into the benefits and uses of guava leaves, along with carefully crafted products designed to help you experience her healing powers.  This is the beginning of your journey with guava medicine.

While guava holds a special place in Filipino cultural identity, her healing energy is universal—she belongs to everyone.  Through her, we discover the medicine the world needs right now.

The Healing Power of Guava (Psidium guajava)

Believed to have originated in the Americas, guava has long been revered for its potent medicinal properties.  In Filipino culture, guava leaves are widely recognized for their therapeutic benefits.  The leaves are astringent, antibacterial and antiseptic.  They can be prepared as a decoction for tea, used as a general healing tonic, applied as a wound wash, incorporated into postpartum perineal care, or added to a calming bath for rashes and other skin ailments.

Benefits of Guava Leaves:

• Promotes weight loss
• Fights cancer
• Soothes gastrointestinal issues
• Improves sleep quality
• Boosts the immune system
• Lowers cholesterol
• Lowers blood sugar
• Supports heart health
• Enhances skin texture
• Reduces acne
• Prevents hair loss
• Increases fertility
• Clears negative energy

How to Use Guava Leaves:

1. Guava Leaf Tea

Guava leaf tea is a simple yet powerful way to experience its benefits.

How to Make:

• Boil 6 cups of water.
• Add 3-4 fresh or dried guava leaves.
• Let it simmer for 20-25 minutes.
• Strain and enjoy.  Drink 1 cup a day.  Refrigerate any remaining tea, up to 7 days in the refrigerator.  You may add honey or lemon for flavor, however it's best to sip as it is to fully appreciate its flavor and healing effects without the added sugar.  Because it is a relaxing tea, I recommend drinking this more towards the evening when you are ready to rest.

Here's a TikTok video link on how I make guava leaf tea:

https://www.tiktok.com/@iamherbalaria/video/6979335505116712198?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc&web_id=7467823658683532831

(Sorry TikTok doesn't allow me to embed the video)

2. Guava Leaves for Toothaches

Chewing fresh guava leaves helps relieve toothaches and gum pain due to their antibacterial properties.

How to Use:

• Take 1-2 fresh young guava leaves.  The tips of brand new shoots are best.
• Wash thoroughly and chew slowly, allowing the juices to coat the affected area.  You may swallow the leaves or spit them out.  
• Alternatively, boil leaves, let them cool, and use the liquid as a mouth rinse.

3. Guava Leaf Decoction for Skin Rashes 

Guava leaves can be used as a soothing bath solution to treat rashes, itching, and skin irritation.

How to Make:

• Boil a handful of guava leaves in 4 cups of water for 15 minutes.
• Let the decoction cool to a comfortable temperature.
• Use it as a rinse or soak affected areas in the solution.

4. Guava Leaf Rinse for Hair Growth

Guava leaves help strengthen hair follicles, reduce hair loss, and promote growth.

How to Make:

• Boil a handful of guava leaves in 4-5 cups of water for 25 minutes.
• Let the solution cool, then strain.
• Pour the liquid over your head and massage into the scalp.  Leave for 30 minutes before rinsing with water.
• Repeat 2-3 times a week for best results.

The Precautions:

While guava leaves offer a range of potential health benefits, it's important to be aware of certain precautions.  Individuals who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant should consult their doctor before using guava leaf preparations, as research on their safety in these populations is limited.  Similarly, people with pre-existing medical conditions, particularly related to blood sugar or digestion, should talk to their healthcare provider before incorporating guava leaves into their routine, as they may interact with medications or affect these conditions.  Guava leaves can sometimes drastically lower blood sugar if overconsumed.  It's generally recommended to start with a low dose like one cup a day and gradually increase it as tolerated.  If you experience any adverse effects, discontinue use and consult your doctor.  Finally, remember that while guava leaves may offer complementary support, they should not replace conventional medical treatments for any health condition.  Always seek professional medical advice for diagnosis and treatment.  

Spiritual Benefits and Uses of Guava Leaves:

Guava leaves are deeply embedded in spiritual traditions, offering energetic cleansing, protection, and manifestation.

1. Burning Guava Bundles for Energy Clearing

Herbalaria’s hand-picked, dried, and shamanically blessed guava bundles can be burned as a spiritual smudging tool.  This practice, rooted in ancient Filipino traditions, clears negative energy, much like white sage in Native American rituals.

How to Use:

• Light the bundle carefully in a heat-resistant bowl.
• Allow the smoke to waft through your space while setting an intention for cleansing.
• Extinguish safely when done.

2. Writing Intentions on Guava Leaves for Manifestation or Ancestral Offering

Guava leaves can be used in sacred rituals to manifest desires or honor ancestors.

How to Use:

• Write your prayer, wish, or intention on a fresh or dried guava leaf.
• Place it in a fire-safe container and burn it while visualizing your intention coming to life.
• Alternatively, leave the written leaf at an altar as an offering to your ancestors.

3. Energetic Cleansing with a Guava Branch

A fresh guava branch can be used for an energetic cleanse, removing negativity from the body and spirit.

How to Use:

• Hold a small branch with fresh leaves.
• Gently pass it over your body from head to toe, as if dusting away negativity.
• Discard the branch outside in nature as an offering back to the earth.  It may be burned in a fire pit, buried, tossed into a river, or given to the ocean.

Cultural and Historical Uses of Guava Leaves in the Philippines:

1. Superstitions and Rituals

• Filipinos traditionally wash with guava leaves before entering a home, especially after attending a wake or funeral, to prevent spirits from following them (source: Flower Patch Delivery). 
• In Pampanga, guava leaf decoction is used to wash the clothes of a sick person when spiritual causes are suspected.

2. Mummification 

• In Benguet, the decoction of guava leaves was used to wash bodies, and burning the branches helped preserve them by keeping maggots away (source: A Glimpse of the Fire Mummies of Kabayan, Benguet, Luzon, Philippines and the Role of Plants Associated with the Mummification Process by Dr. Teodora D. Balangcod).

3. Other Indigenous Uses

• Various Indigenous groups in Panay and Mindanao use guava leaves in circumcision rituals.
• Leaves are used to wrap rice and bury underground for preservation.
• Folk traditional healing purposes.

At Herbalaria, our organically grown guava leaves are hand-picked, cleaned, dried, and shamanically blessed on our own land by our own family.  They come from a tree with a rich ancestral story that sets it apart.  Mama Guava is routinely honored through a sacred smoking ritual, accompanied by prayers and blessings.

Experience the Wisdom of Mama Guava

Here are a few Herbalaria products that contain guava leaves from Mama Guava:

Bayabas Guava Leaf Oil

Bayabas Guava Leaf Oil Cleanser

Bayabas Guava Leaf Face Cream

Bayabas Guava Leaf Face Toner Hydrosol

Marilag "Exquisite Beauty" Energy Body Polish

Bayabas Guava Leaf Smudge Bundle ORIGINAL

I hope you've enjoyed this little journey into the world of Mama Guava and that you now see the guava tree with fresh eyes.  It's amazing how much wisdom and goodness can be found in something we might often overlook, isn't it?  May this exploration bring you healing, connection, and deeper insight.  I'd love to hear about your own experiences with guava!  Do you have any family traditions associated with it, or perhaps you simply adore its delicious fruit?  Share your stories in the comments below – I can't wait to read them.  

Blessings to you and your ancestors.  Salamat!

 

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  Consult your doctor before using any herbal supplement, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have any underlying health conditions, or are taking other medications.

 

Copyright © 2020 by Lyn Pacificar All rights reserved.

Revised and updated February 2025 by Lyn Pacificar.