Petai Belalang

Petai belalang
Photo by Wuan.

When my second maternal aunt heard that I am having problems with my kidneys, she called me up. “Try the small petai,” she said. “My neighbour here, dried the pods, steeped it in hot water and drank it. When she went back to see the doctor, her condition improved tremendously.”

There used to be a plot of vacant land beside my house. The neighbourhood kids and I would play there and occasionally pluck the petai belalang, peeled open the pods and ate the seeds inside. It tasted slightly sweet with a pungent smell, not unlike that of petai. It proliferates well in secondary forests and cleared lands. In Penang, several plots of vacant lands around Jalan Mahsuri are overgrown with the petai belalang trees.

Petai belalang (Leucaena leucocephala) is known among diabetics here for its blood glucose lowering properties. I have also heard of someone who was diagnosed with kidney cancer looking for petai belalang because it supposedly helps too. It is used most extensively as cattlefeed. It is more commonly known as cowbush because of that.

As for me, I will stick to my current regiment. Many who are concerned with my well-being have suggested alternative remedies. I know they meant well but I trust Dr. Liong best with the care of my kidneys. Moreover, there is no point in risking further damage to my kidneys by using folk remedies that have not been scientifically tested for efficacy and toxicity.

Author: Peter Tan

Peter Gabriel Tan. Penangite residing in the Klang Valley. Blissfully married to Wuan. A LaSallian through and through. Slave to three cats. Wheelchair user since 1984. End-stage renal disease since 2017. Principal Facilitator at Peter Tan Training specialising in Disability Equality Training. Former columnist of Breaking Barriers with The Borneo Post. This blog chronicles my life, thoughts and opinions. Connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.

5 thoughts on “Petai Belalang”

  1. yes peter, i think so too that you better stick to dr liong’s medication. i’m sure he knows best and you are in pretty good hands for sure.

  2. ya.i am worried that too much of particular food might have interaction with drugs you are taking.Keep it modest and Take care ya.mUaks!

  3. lucia,
    That is what I will do.

    MrsT,
    Better stick to the tried an tested than to go on a wild goose chase.

    s0ceress,
    Thanks. I have been very careful with my diet since my last trip to the doctor. 😀

  4. i suggest you can go for parallel treatment.The other treatment does not involve any intake of medicine or herb.That mean you are still taking the doctor medicine.

    Peter:
    What kind of parallel treatment?

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