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

 A plant that reaches 1 to ½ meters in height with rough hairy leaves.

 Young plants around mother plant may be separated they have three or more leaves.

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

 Lowers blood sugar levels

 Diabetes Mellitus (mild-non insulin dependent)
 Preparation
 Gather and wash young leaves very well. Chop. Boil 6 tablespoons into 2 glassfuls of water for
15 minutes under low fire. Do not cover pot. Cool and strain. Take one third cup 3 x a day after
meals.

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

 Lowers uric acid (Rheumatism and Gout)

Preparation
 Wash the leaves well. One and a half cup leaves are boiled in two glassfuls of water over low
fire. Do not cover pot. Cool and strain. Divide into 3 parts and drink each part 3 x a day.
 May also be eaten as salad. Wash the leaves well. Prepare one and a half cups of leaves(not
closely packed). Divide into 3 parts and take as salad 3 x a day.

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.

 To prepare salt solution: add 5g of table salt to one glass of water.

 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.