HERBAL MEDICINE

 As part of primary health care and because of the increasing cost of drugs, the use of
locally available medicinal plants has been advocated by DOH.

SAMBONG (Blumea balsamifera)

Description:

- rough and softly hairy, 1-4 m high. Simple, alternate,

broadly elongated leaves with toothed margin and
appendaged or divided base.
Uses:

- anti-edema, diuretic, anti-urolithiasis

Preparation:

- boil chopped leaves in water for 15 minutes until 1 glassful remains. Cool and strain.
Divide into 3 parts. Drink 1 part 3 times a day.

*Sambong is not a medicine for kidney infection

Akapulko (Cassia, alata L.)

Description:

- shrubby legume with dark green compound leaves on

stout branches. Leaves have orange rachis. An axis of
golden yellow flowers produces 4-winged pods
containing 50-60 flattened, triangular seeds. Flowers
enclosed by yellow-orange bracts that are later shed.

Uses:

- anti-fungal, Tinea flava, ringworm, athlete’s foot,

scabies

Preparation:

- fresh matured leaves are pounded. Apply as soap to affected area 1-2 times a day.

Niyug-niyogan (Quisqualis indica L.)

Description:

- large climbing shrub. Leaves are oblong and opposite, rounded at the base. Flowers
tubular and fragrant, white to purplish orange, in clusters on the same stalk. Narrow 5-
angled dried fruit, resembling coconuts in taste.

Use:

- anti-helminthic

Preparation:

- Seeds are taken 2 hours after supper. If no worms are expelled, the dose may be
repeated after 1 week.

*not to be given to children below 4 years old.

TSAANG GUBAT (Carmona retusa)

Description:

- very branched shrub growing up to 1.5 - 4 m high.

Shiny leaves in clusters on short branches, toothed or
lobed near the apex and pointed at the base.
Uses:
- diarrhea, stomachache

Preparation:

- boil the following amount of chopped leaves in 1 or 2

glasses of water for 15 minutes. Cool and strain

AMPALAYA (Mamordica charantia)

Description:

- A climbing vine with tendrils up to 20

centimeters long. Leaves are snow flake shaped, has yellow
flowers long-stalked with pair of small leaflike bracts at
middle or toward base of stalk. Fleshy green fruit, oblong
with pointed ends, ribbed and wrinkled, bursting when
mature to release seeds.
Uses:

- lowers blood sugar levels, diabetes mellitus (mild non

insulin dependent)

Preparation:

- wash and chop young leaves. Boil 6 tbsp in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes under
low fire. Do not cover pot. Cool and strain. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day after meals.

*Young leaves may be blanched/steamed and eaten ½ glassful 2 times a day.

LAGUNDI (Vitex negundo)

Description:

- branched tree or shrub, 2-5 m high. Leaves usually 5-

foliate, rarely with 3 leaflets only, slightly hairy
beneath. Panicles terminal, slightly hairy, many-
flowered, flowers blue to lavender, fruit goes black
when ripe.
Uses/Preparation:
- Asthma, cough and fever: boil chopped raw fruits
or leaves in 2 glasses of water left for 15 minutes
until the only water left in 1 glass. Strain.
- Dysentery, colds and pain in any part of the body as in influenza: boil handful
of leaves and flowers in water to produce a glassful of decoction three times a day.
- Skin diseases (dermatitis, scabies, ulcerm eczema) and wounds: prepare a
decoction of leaves. Wash and clean the skin/wound.
- Headache: apply crushed leaves on forehead.
- Rheumatism, sprain, contusions, insect bites: pound leaves and apply on
affected part.
- Aromatic bath for sick patients: prepare leaf decoction for sick and newly
delivered patients.

ULASIMANG BATO (Peperonia pellucida)

Description:
- An annual herb, shallow rooted, may reach 40 cm
high, with succulent stems. Leaves are alternate,
heart-shaped and turgid, as transparent and smooth
as candle wax. Tiny dotlike flowers scattered along
solitary and leaf-opposed stalk (spike); naked;
maturing gradually from the base to the tip; turning
brown when ripe.
Use:
- Lowers uric acid (rheumatism and gout)
Preparation:
- Wash leaves. 1 ½ cup leaves are boiled in 2 glassfuls
of water over low fire. Do not cover pot. Cool and strain. Divide into 3 parts and drink
each part 3 times.
- May also be eaten as a salad. Wash salad and divide into 3 parts and take 3 times a
day.

BAWANG
Description:
- A low herb, 30 to 60 cm high. Bulbs are broadly ovoid,
2 to 4 cm in diameter, consisting of several, densely
crowded, angular and truncated tubers. Leaves are
linear and flat. Umbels are globose, many flowered.
Sepas are oblong, greenish white, slightly tinged with
purple.
Uses:
 - Hypertension, Toothache, lowers cholesterol level in blood.
Preparation:
- May be fried, roasted, soaked in vinegar for 30 minutes, or blanched in boiled water
for 15 minutes. Take 2 pieces 3 times a day.
- Toothache: pound and apply on affected part.

*Take on a full stomach to prevent stomach and intestinal ulcers.

BAYABAS (Psidium guajava)

Description:
- Somewhat hairy young branches are 4-angled with
opposite leaves. Flowers with in-curved petals, cottony
white, coming out in two's or three's in the leaf axils.
Numerous stamens form the attractive part of the flower.
Inferior ovaries develop into roundish green fruits that
turn yellow on ripening and have edible, aromatic, seedy
pulp.
Uses/Preparation:
- For washing wounds: may be used twice a day.
- Diarrhea: may be taken 3-4 twice a day.
- Toothache: warm decoction is used as gargle, freshly
grounded leaves are used to reveal toothache. Guava leaves are washed and
chopped. Boil for 15 minutes over low fire. Do not cover pot. Cool and strain.

YERBA BUENA (Mentha cordifelia)

Description:
- Branched, strongly aromatic herb that stems up to 40 cm long
with ascending terminal branches. Leaves are elliptic to
oblong-ovate, short-petioled, toothed margins, rounded or
blunt tipped. Hairy purplish to light blue axillary flowers.
Uses/Preparation:
- Pain in different parts of body: boil
chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15
minutes. Cool and strain. Divide decoction into
2 parts and drink 1 part every 3 hours.
- Rheumatism, arthritis, headache: crush
fresh leaves and squeeze sap, massage sap on
painful parts with eucalyptus
- Cough and cold: Get about 10 leaves and soak in a glass of hot water. Drink as tea.
Acts as expectorant.
- Swollen gums: boil leaves for 10 minutes and use as gargle.
- Toothache: cut fresh plant and squeeze sap. Mouth should be rinsed by gargling salt
solution. Use cotton to soak sap and apply on tooth.
- Menstrual and gas pain: soak handful of leaves in a glass of boiling water. Drink
infusion. It induces menstrual flow and sweating.
- Nausea and fainting: crush leaves and apply at nostrils of patients
- Insect bites: crush leaves and apply juice on affected part or pound leaves until
paste-like and rub on affected part.
- Pruritis: Boil plant alone or with eucalyptus in water. Use decoction as a wash on
affected area.
 REMINDERS ON THE USE OF
HERBAL MEDICINE
1. Avoid the use of insecticides as these may leave poison on plants.
2. In preparation of herbal medicine, use a clay pot and REMOVE cover
while boiling at low heat.
3. Use only the part of the plant being advocated.
4. Follow accurate dose of suggested preparation.
5. Use only 1 kind of herbal plant for each type of symptoms or sickness.
6. Stop giving the herbal medication in case untoward reaction such as
allergy occurs.
7. If signs and symptoms are not relieved after 2 or 3 doses of herbal
medication, consult a doctor.