IN SHORT: Several Facebook posts claim that guava leaves can cure ulcers. However, there is not enough evidence to support this claim.

A post on Facebook claims that guava leaves can cure stomach ulcers.

It says: “Guava leaf contains Methanol extract that's composed by volatile oil, flavonoid and saponin which works against stomach ulcers, and also promote healing effect.”

The post instructs users to boil “7 to 10 younger fresh leaves (or 5 to 6 older ones) with 1 liter of water in a closed pot over a gentle flame”.

It claims that the mixture can be taken by adults and children aged six months and above.

The post also recommends the remedy for pregnant women: “I am conscious that, there are many researchers who say the leaves are completely not good for pregnant women. But from practical experience, I recommend  minimum doses for pregnant women. These minimum doses are  beneficial to them.”

The same claim can be found here, here and here.

Ulcers are open sores that heal slowly or keep coming back. They can occur on many parts of the body, such as on the skin on your leg or in the lining of your stomach or upper intestine.

The guava is a small tropical tree in the Myrtaceae family. According to the medical website WebMD, people have used guava leaves to treat stomach and intestinal disorders, pain, diabetes and wound healing, but “there is no good scientific evidence to support any uses of guava”.