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Herbal Medicine
Herbal Medicine
As part of primary health care and because of the increasing cost of drugs, the use of locally
available medicinal plants and herbs in the Philippine backyard and field have been found to be
effective in the treatment of common ailments as attested to by the National Science
Development Board, other government and private agencies/persons engaged in research.
The DOH is advocating the use of the following ten herbal plants.
REPUBLIC ACT 8423
Otherwise known as TAMA
TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ACT OF 1997
An act creating the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITACH)to
accelerate the development of traditional and alternative health care in the Philippines,
providing for a traditional and alternative health care development fund and other purposes.
Reminders on the Use of Herbal Medicine
Avoid the use of insecticides as these may leave poison on plants.
In the preparation of herbal medicine, use a clay pot and remove cover while boiling at low
heat.
Use only the part of the plant being advocated.
Follow accurate dose of suggested preparation.
Use only one of herbal plant for each type of symptoms or sickness.
Use only half the dosage prescribed for fresh parts like leaves when using dried parts.
Decoctions loose potency after some time . Dispose of decoctions after 1 day. To keep fresh
during the day, keep lukewarm in a flask or thermos.
Leaves, fruits, flowers or nuts must be mature before harvesting. Less medicinal substances are
found in young parts.
Stop giving the herbal medication in case untoward reaction such as allergy occurs.
If signs and symptoms are not relieved after 2 or 3 doses of herbal medication, consult a doctor
Sambong
Scientific name-Blumea balsamifera
Uses
Anti edema
Diuretic
Anti-urolithiasis
Preparation
Boil chopped leaves in water for 15 minutes until 1 glassful remains. Cool and strain.
Divide decoction into 3 parts. Drink one part 3 x a day
Note: Sambong is not a medicine for kidney infection.
Akapulko
Scientific Name- Cassia alata
Ringworm Bush
Bayas-bayasan
This plant is about 1 to 2 meters tall
The leaves are embraced with 8 to 20 oblong elliptical shaped leaflets.
It has flowers with oblong sepals.
Uses
Antifungal: Tinea Flava, Ringworm, Athlete’s Foot and scabies.
Preparation
Fresh, matured leaves are pounded.
Apply as a soap to the affected part 1 to 2 times a day
Niyog-Niyogan
Scientific Name- Quisqualis indica L.
A Chinese Honey suckle
A vine which bears tiny fruits and grows wild in backyards.
The seeds must come from mature, dried but newly opened fruits.
Propagated through stem cuttings about 20 cm in height.
Uses:
Anti-helminthic (used to expel parasitic worms )
Preparation:
Seeds, of niyog-niyogan are eaten raw 2 hours before the patient’s last meal of the day.
Adults may take 10 seeds:
children 4 to 7 years of age may eat up to four seeds only.
Ages 8 to 9 may take 6 seeds and
7 seeds may be eaten by children 10-12 years old.
Not to be given to children below 4 years old.
Tsaang Gubat
Scientific Name- Carmona retusa
Forest tea or Wild tea
A shrub with small, shiny nice looking leaves that grows in wild uncultivated areas and forests
Uses/ Preparation
Diarrhea- Boil the following amount of chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes or
until amount of water goes down to 1 glass. Cool and strain.
Stomach ache- Wash leaves and chop. Boil chopped leaves in 1 glass of water for 15 minutes.
Cool and filter/strain and drink.
Ampalaya
Scientific Name-Momordica charantia
Bitter gourd or Bitter melon
A climbing vine with tendrils that grow up to 20 cm. long .
Leaves are heart-shape, which are 5 to 10 cm in diameter.
Fruits have ribbed and wrinkled surface that are freshly green with pointed ends at length and
has a bitter taste.
Uses
Lagundi
Scientific Name-Vitex negundo
5 leaved-Chase Tree
A shrub growing wild in lots and waste land.
Matured branches are planted
The flowers are blue and bell shaped.
The small fruits turn black when ripe. It is better to collect the leaves when are in bloom.
Uses
Asthma and cough
Fever, dysentery, colds & pain
Skin diseases and wounds
Headache
Rheumatism, sprain, contusions, insect bites.
Aromatic bath for sick patients.
Preparation
For Asthma, cough and fever, boil chopped raw fruits or leaves in 2 glasses of water left for 15
minutes until the water left only in 1 glass (decoction) strain.
For Dysentery, colds and pain boil a handful of leaves and flowers in water to produce a glass full
of decoction 3 x a day.
For skin diseases (dermatitis ,scabies , ulcer , eczema) and wounds, prepare a decoction of the
leaves. Wash and clean the skin and wound with decoction.
For headache crushed leaves may be applied on the forehead.
For rheumatism, sprain, contusions and insect bites, pound the leaves and apply on the affected
part.
Ulasimang Bato
Scientific Name-Peperomia lucida
Silver bush or Shiny bush
Pansit-pansitan
A weed with heart-shaped leaves that grow in shady parts of the garden and yard.
Uses
Bawang
Scientific Name-Allium sativum
Garlic
A low herb and grows up to 6 cm high
Leaves are flat and linear
Bulbs consists of several tubers
Uses
For hypertension
Toothache
Lowers cholesterol levels in the blood
Preparation
May be fried, roasted, soaked in vinegar for 30 minutes, or blanched in boiled water for 5
minutes. Take 2 pieces 3 x a day after meals.
For toothache, pound a small piece and apply to affected part.
CAUTION
Take on full stomach to prevent stomach and intestinal ulcers.
Bayabas
Scientific Name-Psidium guajava
Guava
A tree about 4 to 5 meters high with tiny white flowers with round or oval fruits that are eaten
raw.
Uses
For washing wounds
For Toothache
For diarrhea
Preparation
Warm decoction is used for gargle
Freshly founded leaves are used for toothache. Guava leaves are to be washed well and
chopped. Boil for 15 minutes at low fire. Do not cover pot. Cool and strain before use.
Yerba Buena
Peppermint
A small multi branching aromatic herb. The leaves e small elliptical and tooth margin.
The stem creeps to the ground, and develop roots.
Uses
For pain in different parts of the body as headache, stomach ache.
Rheumatism , arthritis
Cough and cold
Swollen gums and toothache
Menstrual and gas pain
Nausea and fainting
Insect bites & pruritus
Preparation
For pain in different parts of the body, boil chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes.
Cool and strain.
For rheumatism , arthritis,& headache, crush the fresh leaves 7 squeeze sap. Massage sap on
painful parts with eucalyptus.
For cough and cold, get about 10 fresh leaves and soak in a glass of hot water. Drink as tea, acts
as an expectorant.
For toothache, cut fresh plant and squeeze sap. Soak a piece of cotton in sap and insert this in
aching tooth cavity. Mouth should be rinsed by gargling salt solution before inserting the cotton.
For Menstrual pain and gas pain, soak a handful of leaves in a glass of boiling water. Drink
infusion. It includes menstrual flow and sweating.
For nausea and fainting, crush leaves and apply a nostrils of patient.
For insect bites, crush leaves and apply juice on affected part or pound leaves until paste like
and rub this on the affected part.