Indoor Herb Garden Kits and Herbal Remedies

Sweetleaf, Sweet Leaf or Sugarleaf  - Stevia rebaudiana (Asteraceae)

History
Stevia or Sweet Leaf occurs naturally in Sub tropical regions of North And South America. It has been popular for many years because of its sweet leaves, extracts of which can be up to 300 times sweeter than sugar. Recently stevia has gained some fame as low carbohydrate low sugar alternative with the added attraction of a minimal effect on blood glucose.

Stevia is named after Spanish physician/botanist Pedro Jaime Esteves. (Thus Stevia) The genus embraces some 240 species of plants native to South, Central and North America. Naturally occurring leaves of the plant have 30–45 times the sweetness of cane sugar and may be be consumed fresh or placed in infusions, teas or culinary concoctions.

Much controversy exists regarding the 1991 banning of stevia by the FDA. There is awealth of claims and counter claims – so if you are interested look it up. However people in many developed countries legally use stevia either as extracts or as a naturally occurring product.

Usage
Research has revealed possible benefits in treating high blood pressure and obesity. It’s negligible effect on blood glucose makes it attractive as a natural sweetener to persons on a carbohydrate-controlled diet.

In some countries, stevia has been used as a sweetener for decades or centuries. Japan began growing and using stevia in 1971 in opposition to conventional non-cane sugar sweeteners; today stevia has more than one-third of the Japanese sweetener market. World wide usage is increasing gradually in all forms, but there are still bans in various regions.

Modern medical research has produced positive results in treating hypertension and obesity. Tradition bound tribes of Bolivia, Paraguay and Brazil have used stevia as a sweetener in teas for treating heartburn and other ailments.

Propogation
Commercial enterprises plant cloned stevia to speed up propogation. Stevia does produce seeds naturally, but only a small percentage germinate. Home growers are advised to obtain seedlings from specialised herb nurseries.