Akapulko (Cassia alata)

also known as "bayabas-bayabasan" and "ringworm bush" in English, this herbal

medicine is used to treat ringworms and skin fungal infections.

• External Use: continuous application to the

Treatment of skin diseases:
Tinea infections, insect bites,
ringworms, eczema, scabies and
itchiness.
• Mouthwash in stomatitis
• Internal use:
Expectorant for bronchitis and
dyspnoea
• Alleviation of asthma symptoms
• Used as diuretic and purgative
• For cough & fever
• As a laxative to expel intestinal
parasites and other stomach
problems.
Note: A strong decoction of Akapulko
leaves is an abortifacient. Pregnant
women should not take decoction of
the leaves or any part of this plant.
It should be noted that the
pounded leaves of this plant may
be applied thinly on the affected
part twice a day. Marked
improvement may be expected
after two to three weeks of
affected area(s) where the
prepared Akapulko leaves were
applied.
Preparation & Use:
• For external use, pound the leaves
of the Akapulko plant, squeeze the
juice and apply on affected areas.
• As the expectorant for bronchitis
and dyspnoea, drink decoction (soak
and boil for 10 to 15 minutes) of
Akapulko leaves. The same
preparation may be used as a
mouthwash, stringent, and wash for
eczema.
• As laxative, cut the plant parts
(roots, flowers, and the leaves) into a
manageable size then prepare a
decoction Note: The decoction looses
its potency if not used for a long
time. Dispose leftovers after one day.
• The pounded leaves of Akapulko
has purgative functions, specifically
against ringworms.
 Ampalaya (Momordica charantia)
known as "bitter gourd" or "bitter melon" in English, it most known as a treatment
of diabetes (diabetes mellitus), for the non-insulin dependent patients.
Herbal Benefits of Ampalaya:
• Good for rheumatism and gout
• And diseases of the spleen and liver
• Aids in lowering blood sugar levels
• Helps in lowering blood pressure
• Relives headaches
• Disinfects and heals wounds & burns
• Can be used as a cough & fever
remedy
• Treatment of intestinal worms,
diarrhea
• Helps prevent some types of cancer
• Enhances immune system to fight
infection
• For treatment of hemorrhoids
• Is an antioxidant and parasiticide
• Is antibacterial and antipyretic
Preparation & Use of
Ampalaya:
• For coughs, fever, worms,
diarrhea, diabetes, juice Ampalaya
leaves and drink a spoonful daily.
• For other ailments, the fruit and
leaves can both be juiced and
taken orally.
• For headaches wounds, burns
and skin diseases, apply warmed
leaves to afflicted area.
• Powdered leaves, and the root
decoction, may be used as
stringent and applied to treat
hemorrhoids.
• Internal parasites are proven to
be expelled when the ampalaya
juice, made from its leaves, is
extracted. The ampalaya juice, and
grounded seeds is to be taken one
spoonful thrice a day, which also
treats diarrhea, dysentery, and
chronic colitis.
 Bawang (Allium sativum)
popularly known as "garlic", it mainly reduces cholesterol in the blood and hence,
helps control blood pressure.
Health Benefits of Bawang-Garlic:
• Good for the heart
• Helps lower bad cholesterol
levels (LDL)
• Aids in lowering blood pressure
• Remedy for arteriosclerosis
• May help prevent certain types of
cancer
• Boosts immune system to fight
infection
• With antioxidant properties
• Cough and cold remedy
• Relives sore throat, toothache
• Aids in the treatment of
tuberculosis
• Helps relieve rheumatism pain
• With anticoagulant properties
Preparation of Bawang-Garlic:
• For disinfecting wound, crush
and juice the garlic bulb and apply.
You may cover the afflicted area
with a gauze and bandage.
• For sore throat and toothache,
peal the skin and chew. Swallow
the juice.
• Cloves of garlic may be crushed
and applied to affected areas to
reduce the pain caused by arthritis,
toothache, headache, and
rheumatism.
• Decoction of the bawang bulbs
and leaves are used as treatment
for fever.
• For nasal congestion, steam and
inhale: vinegar, chopped garlic,
and water.
Aside from being an alternative herbal medicine for hypertension, arteriosclerosis
and other ailments, garlic is also recommended for maintaining good health - eat
raw garlic bulbs if you can, and include bawang regularly in the food you eat. Garlic
is healthy and taste good on a variety of dishes.

Bayabas (Psidium guajava)

"guava" in English. It is primarily used as an antiseptic, to disinfect wounds.
Also, it can be used as a mouth wash to treat tooth decay and gum infection.

Uses of Bayabas : infection. Bayabas is also effective

• Antiseptic, astringent &
anthelminthic
• Kills bacteria, fungi and ameba
• Used to treat diarrhea,
nosebleeding
• For Hypertension, diabetes and
Asthma
• Promotes menstruation
The fresh leaves are used to
facilitate the healing of wounds and
cuts. A decoction (boiling in water)
or infusion of fresh leaves can be
used for wound cleaning to prevent
for toothaches. Note: Bayabas can
cause constipation when consumed
in excess.
Preparation:
• Boil one cup of Bayabas leaves
in three cups of water for 8 to 10
minutes. Let cool.
• Use decoction as mouthwash,
gargle.
• Use as wound disinfectant - wash
affected areas with the decoction
of leaves 2 to 3 times a day. Fresh
leaves may be applied to the
wound directly for faster healing.
• For toothaches, chew the leaves
in your mouth.
• For diarrhea, boil the chopped
leaves for 15 minutes in water, and
strain. Let cool, and drink a cup
every three to four hours.
• To stop nosebleed, densely roll
Bayabas leaves, then place in the
nostril cavities.

The fresh leaves are used to facilitate the healing of wounds and cuts. A decoction
(boiling in water) or infusion of fresh leaves can be used for wound cleaning to
prevent infection. Bayabas is also effective for toothaches. Note: Bayabas can
cause constipation when consumed in excess.

Lagundi (Vitex negundo)

known in English as the "5-leaved chaste tree". It's main use is for the relief of
coughs and asthma.

Herbal Benefits of Lagundi: rheumatism, dyspepsia, boils,

• Relief of asthma & pharyngitis
• Recommended relief of
diarrhea
• Treatment of cough, colds, fever
and flu and other
bronchopulmonary disorders
• Alleviate symptoms of Chicken
Pox
• Removal of worms, and boils
Preparation & Use:
• Boil half cup of chopped fresh or
dried leaves in 2 cups of water for
10 to 15 minutes. Drink half cup
three times a day.
• For skin diseases or disorders,
apply the decoction of leaves and
roots directly on skin.
• The root is specially good for
treating dyspepsia, worms, boils,
colic and rheumatism.

A decoction (boiling in water) of the roots and leaves of Lagundi are applied to
wounds, and used as aromatic baths for skin diseases. Boiled seeds are eaten in
order to prevent the spreading of toxins and venom from bites of poisonous
animals. Juice extracted from the flowers of lagundi is taken in as an aid for
disorders like fever, diarrhea, liver disorders, and even cholera. While a decoction of
the plant leaves is suggested to be taken by individuals to help increase the flow
and production of milk, as well as to induce menstruation.

Niyog-niyogan (Quisqualis
indica L.)
is a vine known as "Chinese honey suckle". It is effective in the elimination of
intestinal worms, particularly the Ascaris and Trichina. Only the dried matured
seeds are medicinal -crack and ingest the dried seeds two hours after eating (5 to 7
seeds for children & 8 to 10 seeds for adults). If one dose does not eliminate the
worms, wait a week before repeating the dose.
Benefits & Treatment of Niyog-
Niyogan:
Almost all of its parts are used
individually, or mixed with other
ingredients, as remedy to different
ailments. In the Philippines, these
are taken to rid people of parasitic
worms. Some also use these to
help alleviate coughs and diarrhea.
Medical experts, advice patients to
consult their doctors as improper
dosing may cause hiccups. Niyog-
niyogan’s leaves are used to cure
body pains by placing them on
specific problematic areas of the
body. Compound decoctions of the
leaves of niyog-niyogan are used in
India to alleviate flatulence.
Preparation & Use:
Seeds of niyog-niyogan can be
taken as an anthelmintic. These
are eaten raw two hours before the
patient’s last meal of the day.
Adults may take 10 seeds while
children 4 to 7 years of age may
eat up to four seeds only. Children
from ages 8 to 9 may take six
seeds and seven seeds may be
eaten by children 10 to 12 years
old.
Decoctions of its roots are also
sometimes used as a remedy for
rheumatism while its fruits are
used as an effective way to relieve
toothaches.

Sambong (Blumea balsamifera)-

English name: Blumea camphora. A diuretic that helps in the excretion of
urinary stones. It can also be used as an edema.
Health Benefits of Sambong:
• Good as a diuretic agent
• Effective in the dissolving kidney
stones
• Aids in treating hypertension &
rheumatism
• Treatment of colds & fever
• Anti-diarrheic properties
• Anti-gastralgic properties
• Helps remove worms, boils
• Relief of stomach pains
• Treats dysentery, sore throat
Preparation & Use:
Tsaang Gubat (Ehretia microphylla Lam.)
• A decoction (boil in water) of
Sambong leaves as like tea and
drink a glass 3 or 4 times a day.
• The leaves can also be crushed
or pounded and mixed with
coconut oil.
• For headaches, apply crushed
and pounded leaves on forehead
and temples.
• Decoction of leaves is used as
sponge bath.
• Decoction of the roots, on the
other hand, is to be taken in as
cure for fever.
Prepared like tea, this herbal medicine is effective in treating intestinal
motility and also used as a mouth wash since the leaves of this shrub has
high fluoride content.

Health Benefits of Tsaang • Thoroughly wash the leaves of

Gubat: tsaang gubat in running water.
Chop to a desirable size and boil 1
• Stomach pains cup of chopped leaves in 2 cups of
• Gastroenteritis water. Boil in low heat for 15 to 20
• Intestinal motility minutes and drain.
• Dysentery • Take a cupful every 4 hours for
• Diarrhea or Loose Bowel diarrhea, gastroenteritis and
Movement (LBM) stomach pains.
• Mouth gargle • Gargle for stronger teeth and
• Body cleanser/wash prevent cavities.
• Drink as tea daily for general
good health.

Preparation & Use:

 Ulasimang Bato | Pansit-Pansitan (Peperomia
pellucida)
it is effective in fighting arthritis and gout. The leaves can be eaten fresh
(about a cupful) as salad or like tea. For the decoction, boil a cup of clean
chopped leaves in 2 cups of water. Boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain, let cool
and drink a cup after meals (3 times day).

Pansit-pansitan is used as an herbal medicine for the treatment of:

• Arthritis
• Gout
• Skin boils, abscesses, pimples
• Headache
• Abdominal pains
• kidney problems
 Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii)
commonly known as Peppermint, this vine is used as an analgesic to relive body
aches and pain. It can be taken internally as a decoction or externally by pounding
the leaves and applied directly on the afflicted area.

Yerba Buena may be used to Preparation & Use:

treat:
• Arthritis
• Head aches
• Tooth aches
• Mouth wash
• Relief of intestinal gas
• Stomach aches
• Indigestion
• Drink as tea for general good
health.
Stems of Yerba Buena may be crushed and
applied directly to bruises. Folkloric use
include poultice preparation and the oil
extracts from its stems are suggested to be a
remedy for cancerous tumors. Caution
should be observed in taking this herbal
medicine as it can be toxic in large doses.
• Wash fresh Yerba Buena leaves
in running water. Chop to size for
dried leaves, crush) and boil 2
teaspoons of leaves in a glass of
water. Boil in medium heat for 15
to 20 minutes.
• As analgesic, take a cupful every
3 hours.
• For tooth aches, pound the fresh
leaves, squeeze juice out and apply
on a cotton ball then bite on to the
aching tooth.
• Yerba buena leaves may be
heated over fire and placed over
the forehead for headaches.