Guidebook on the Proper Use of Medicinal Plants
National Science and Technology Authority
Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila
Acknowledgment
The School Health and Nutrition Center wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation the
National Science and Technology Authority for their approval of the Center's request to reproduce
the "Guidebook on the Proper Use of Medicinal Plants" which will be distributed to the different
schools.
To the staff and members of the NSTA-UP Research Project no. 8003 Md., our sincere gratitude.
School Health and Nutrition Center
Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports, Manila
GENERAL GUIDELINES ON THE USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS
Identification
Determine the proper identity of the medicinal plant that you intend to use for a particular disease
or symptom since there are local names that refer to more than one kind of plant.
Harvesting
Know the right time to collect the medicinal plant materials.
- The leaves are best collected when the plant is about to bloom.
- The flowers are collected just before or shortly after opening.
- The seeds are collected after the fruits have matured completely.
Majority of the plant materials are best collected during the dry season.
Post-Harvest Handling
- Select and separate the desired plant part and remove dirt and other foreign substances.
- If washing is necessary, do it as quickly as possible.
- Dry the plant materials in a well-shaded and well-ventilated place until crumbly. If the plant
material is succulent, cut it into small pieces.
- Keep the dried plant materials in plastic or bottle containers. Brown colored bottles are
preferred. Cover tightly and keep in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Charcoal may be placed
inside the bottle to absorb moisture, thus maintaining the dryness of the plant materials.
- Label the container properly with the name of the plant and the date when ut was collected.
-Well-dried and well-stored plant materials can be used up to 6 months after the collection.
Discard the plant material if there are molds or other signs of decay.
Preparation
- Observe cleanliness in the preparation of medicinal plant materials.
- In the absence of a weighing scale, use the tablespoon to measure the desired amount of plant
material which have been cut into small pieces. One tablespoon of plant material would mean
one heaping scoop.
- Decoction is prepared by boiling the plant material in a given amount of water for 15 minutes.
Start timing when the water begins to boil and not upon putting the container on the stove.
-- Use an earthenware pot and take the cover off while boiling.
-- Keep the decoction in a cool pace or refrigerate.
-- Use the decoction within 12-24 hours.
- Infusion is prepared by soaking the plant material in a given amount of water for 30 minutes. As
in decoction, use only freshly prepared infusion.
- Juice and poultice should be prepared just before use.
Actual Use
- Use only the plant part suggested.
- Follow the recommended dosage and direction for use for each particular symptom or disease.
- Use only one kind of medicinal plant for each symptom or disease.
- Defer the use of medicinal plant should any untoward reaction or side effect occurs.
- If there are no signs of improvement after 2 or 3 administrations of the medicinal plant, consult a
physician.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR COMMON SYMPTOMS AND DISEASES
FEVER
A person has fever when his body temperature is 37C or more. Fever may be a sign of any of the
following diseases or conditions:
- Infection like influenza, colds, measles, malaria, meningitis, tonsilitis, diptheria, bronchitis,
pneumonia, tuberculosis, typhoid fever or urinary tract infection.
- Dehydration due to vomiting or diarrhea especially in children.
- Heat stroke
- Cancer
Treatment of the febrile patient
- Give the patient plenty of fluids like water and fruit juices. An adult patient should be given as
much as 8 to 12 glasses of water a day.
- Lower the body temperature.
-- Put the patient in well-ventilated (not warm) room.
-- Make the patient wear thin clothing unless he is having chills.
-- Do a sponge bath using any of the following:
----Lukewarm water
---- Tap water
---- Water with alcohol (This is not recommended for newborns and children below 2 years old)
---- Water boiled with the leaves of kamias, balimbling, sampalok or other recommended
medicinal plants which can be used for this purpose.
---- Water with vinegar
-- Use any of the suggested medicinal plants. If fever persists after 2 doses of the plant
preparation, give aspirin or paracetamol. However, if there are no signs of improvement within 24
to 48 hours, consult a physician.
- Keep the patient's clothes clean and dry.
- Give the patient nutritious food and plenty of rest.
- Consult a doctor when any of the following signs in observed:
-- The fever persists for 3 days or more.
-- The patient is losing weight.
-- There is constant headache, vomiting, nape pains or delirium.
-- There is difficulty in swallowing, reddening of the throat, inflammation of the neck or difficulty in
breathing.
- There is pain in urination or the urine is not clear.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR FEVER
Plant material: LAGUNDI leaves
Preparation:
Amount of chopped leaves needed for
- Adult: 4 tbsp (dried) / 6 tbsp (fresh)
- 7-12 years: 2 tbsp (dried) / 3 tbsp (fresh)
- 2-6 years: 1 tbsp (dried) / 1 1/2 tbsp (fresh)
Boil the needed amount of leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes or until 1 glass of liquid is
left. Cool and strain.
Direction for use:
Divide the decoction into 2 parts. Drink 1 part every 3 to 4 hours. Lagundi decoction is
recommended for fever due to virus infection such as influenza or colds.
Plant material: Leaves of SAMBONG, LAGUNDI, ALAGAW, SAMPALOK, KAMIAS,
BALIMBING, SUHA, DAYAP
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed. Boil 2 to 4 handfuls of the plant material in a small pot
of water for 5 minutes. After boiling, add tap water to make the decoction lukewarm.
Direction for use:
Use the decoction to sponge the febrile patient.
DIZZINESS, FAINTING AND HYSTERIA
A patient who has lost consciousness is unaware of his surroundings and does not see, hear,
smell or feel anything. This could be a manifestation of any of the following conditions.
- Heat exhaustion
- Low blood sugar
- Fright or extreme anger
- "Heart attack" (myocardial infarction)
- Sudden increase in blood pressure
- Alcohol intoxication
- Poisoning
- Head injury
- Epilepsy
- Complication of diabetes
Dizziness is characterized by a feeling of rotation, unsteadiness, weakness, faintness or
lightheadedness which may be associated with nausea or vomiting. Sometimes a patient
develops dizziness before losing consciousness. Dizziness may be caused by hunger, fatigue,
extreme heat, ear disease, eye disease, anemia, high blood pressure, poisoning and others.
In hysteria, sometimes mistaken for loss of consciousness, the patient is aware of his
surroundings. Stiffening of extremities is often observed. A painful stimulus usually "awakens" the
person. Common cause of hysteria is anger.
Treatment
- Make the patient lie of his back, with the head lower than the rest of the body, except in patients
with heart disease. Provide enough air for the patient to breathe. Loosen tight clothing.
- Use any of the recommended medicinal plants.
- Consult a doctor when signs and symptoms of a more serious condition are observed.
-- The person fails to gain consciousness within 3 minutes.
-- Dizziness or loss of consciousness occurs after alcohol intake, a head injury or exposure to
heat.
-- There is chest pain extending to the arm, neck or back.
-- The condition is associated with cold, clammy perspiration, increased pulse rate and low blood
pressure.
-- There is headache, nape pain or increased blood pressure (hypertension).
-- There is persistence of paleness after stroking the palm or sole.
-- There is frequent occurrence of dizziness or loss of consciousness.
-- The patient is diabetic.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR DIZZINESS
Plant material: SUHA, DAYAP or KABUYAW leaves or rind; DALANGHITA, KALAMANSI,
BAYABAS, BALANOY, SULASI or YERBA BUENA leaves.
Preparation: Use only one of the plant materials listed. Crush enough plant material.
Direction for use: Let the patient sniff the crushed plant material.
Plant material: ANIS, seed.
Preparation: Wrap 1/2 teaspoon of dry seeds in a piece of cloth. Pound the seeds.
Direction for use: Let the patient sniff the pounded seeds in the cloth.
HEADACHE
Headache may be a symptom of any of the following diseases or conditions:
- Fatigue
- Emotional stress
- Brain tumor
- Migraine-severe headache, pulsating in character, usually involving only one side of the head
- High blood pressure
- Head injury
- Meningitis
- Sinusitis
- Eye diseases -- error of refraction
- Diseases with fever like colds, flu and others
Treatment:
- Let the person rest in a quiet, cool and dimly lighted place. In most cases of headache
secondary to fatigue or emotional stress, rest, an ice pack or massage over the forehead and
nape would relieve the affliction.
- Use any of the recommended medicinal plants. Consult a doctor if there is no relief of the
headache after 1 day.
- Consult a doctor when any of the following is observed:
-- The headache is severe enough to awaken the person in his sleep.
-- There is an increase in frequency and severity of the headache.
-- There are other associated symptoms like vomiting, convulsions or loss of weight.
-- The headache is felt after an injury involving the head.
-- The person is known to have high blood pressure.
-- The headache is felt after reading.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR HEADACHE
Plant material:
Leaves of any one of the following: DAMONG MARIA, MANSANILYA, MAYANA, SUOB
KABAYO, YERBA BUENA, PANDAN MABANGO, ALAGAW, LAGUNDI, SAMBONG
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Heat enough fresh plant material over a small fire.
Crush.
Direction for use:
Apply the crushed plant material on the forehead and temples. Put a cloth bandage to keep the
plant material in place.
HYPERTENSION (HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE)
Hypertension is defined as:
- A blood pressure greater than 140/90 mm Hg.
- An increase in the blood pressure of 10 mm Hg or more than the previous BP reading with the
patient complaining of dizziness, headache, nape pain, easy fatigue or chest pains.
Most cases of hypertension are without known definite cause. This type is classified as essential
hypertension.
Other causes are the following:
- Obesity (overweight)
- Pregnancy
- Diabetes
- Renal disease
Treatment:
Hypertension should be treated in order to avoid or prevent complication such as 'stroke', heart
disease, renal disease or eye disease.
- The person must eat a low salt diet. He must avoid fatty and sweet food. He must also avoid
alcoholic beverages and smoking.
- An obese patient must lose weight and exercise regularly.
- Physical and emotional stress should be avoided.
- Regular consultation with a physician should be observed.
- The recommended medicinal plant or medicines prescribed by the physician should be taken
regularly. Diuretics are effective in lowering the blood pressure.
MEDICINAL PLANT FOR MILD HYPERTENSION
Plant material: BAWANG, cloves.
Preparation: Cook (roast or blanch) 2 medium-sized cloves of garlic.
Direction for use: Eat the cloves with meals, 3 times daily. Precaution. The use of garlic is not
recommended for persons with peptic ulcer.
MEDICINAL PLANTS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF URINE (DIURETIC)
Plant material: SAMBONG, leaves.
Preparation:
Amount of chopped leaves needed:
Adult: 4 tbsp (dried) or 6 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 2 tbsp (dried) or 3 tbsp (fresh)
Boil the needed of amount of leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes or until one glass of
liquid is left.
Direction for use:
Divide the decoction into 3 parts.
Drink 1 part 3 times a day.
Plant material: MAIS, corn hair.
Preparation:
Amount of corn hair needed:
Adult: 1 cup
7-12 years: 1/2 cup
2-6 years: 1/4 cup
Prepare as in SAMBONG.
Direction for use: As in SAMBONG.
Plant material: KUGON, roots.
Preparation:
Amount of chopped roots needed:
Adult: 6 tbsp
7-12 years: 3 tbsp
2-6 years: 1 1/2 tbsp
Prepare as in SAMBONG.
Direction for use: As in SAMBONG.
OTITIS MEDIA
Otitis media is an infection of the middle part of the inner ear. It is a common complication of
upper respiratory tract infection especially in children. This condition, if neglected, can lead to a
more serious complication like meningitis.
Prevention:
- Avoid blowing the nose too vigorously.
- Treat simple colds. Persons with colds must be advised to rest and to take more water and fruit
juices.
Treatment:
- Clean the affected ear with hydrogen peroxide two times a day.
- Use the recommended medicinal plant. If there are no signs of improvement within 3 days,
consult a doctor.
- Treat simple colds.
- Avoid swimming. Put ear plugs when taking a bath.
- Use antibiotics only on doctor's advise.
- Consult a doctor when there is severe headache, vomiting, fever or decrease in hearing.
MEDICINAL PLANT FOR OTITIS MEDIA
Plant material:
SOROSORO leaves.
Preparation:
Heat 1 or 2 fresh leaves in a small fire. Express the juice.
Direction for use:
After cleaning the affected ear, put 2 or 3 drops of juice. Do this 2 times daily.
Precaution: The juice, not the latex, should be used.
TOOTHACHE
The most common causes of toothache are cavities and infection. This could be avoided by the
following measures:
- Brushing the teeth regularly after eating.
- Avoiding too hot, too cold or hard food.
- Consulting a dentist at least once a year.
- Eating nutritious food like milk and fruits and vegetables rich in Vitamin C.
Treatment:
- Use any of the recommended medicinal plants.
- Consult your dentist to determine the cause of the toothache whether the pain was relieved or
not.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR TOOTHACHE:
Plant material:
Leaves of YERBA BUENA or LAGUNDI
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Amount of chopped leaves needed:
Adult: 4 tbsp (if dried) / 6 tbsp (if fresh)
7-12 years: 2 tbsp (if dried) / 3 tbsp (if fresh)
Boil the needed amount of leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes or until 1 glass of the liquid
is left. Cool and strain.
Directions for use:
Divide the decoction into 2 parts.
Drink 1 part every 3 or 4 hours.
Plant material:
Young leaves of BAYABAS.
Preparation:
Get 2 or 3 fresh leaf tops.
Directions for use:
Chew the fresh leaf tops. Leave the chewed leaves on the aching tooth. Do not swallow the
leaves.
Plant material:
BAWANG cloves.
Preparation:
Blanch a clove of garlic. Crush.
Directions for use:
Insert the crushed garlic clove into the aching tooth. Remove after 15 minutes.
Precaution: If burning sensation is felt, do not repeat the procedure.
Plant material:
Leaves of SULASI, BALANOY, SUOD KABAYO, YERBA BUENA.
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Pound enough fresh plant material and express the juice. Wet a small piece of cotton with the
juice ("treated cotton").
Directions for use:
Apply the "treated cotton" on the aching tooth.
Plant material:
KASUY leaves.
Preparation:
Soak 5 tablespoonful of chopped kasuy leaves in 1 glass of hot water for 30 minutes. Strain.
Directions for use:
Use the infusion as a gargle. Leave the infusion in the mouth for a few minutes before spitting it
out. Do not swallow the infusion.
SWOLLEN GUMS
Swollen gums may be a sign of dental caries, abscess, gingivitis (inflammation of the gums),
Vitamin C deficiency or gum tumor.
This could be prevented by keeping the teeth clean and healthy and by eating food rich in Vitamin
C.
Treatment:
- Use any of the medicinal plants recommended for inflamed gums.
- Consult a dentist when any of the following is observed:
-- There is no improvement despite the use of medicinal plants within two days.
-- Other parts of the face also get swollen.
-- Fever or lymph node enlargement occurs.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR SWOLLEN GUMS
Plant material:
Leaves of BAYABAS, DUHAT, KAYMITO, KASUY, LANTING
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Boil 5 tbsp of chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes or until 1 glass of liquid is left.
Cool and strain.
Direction for use:
Use the decoction as mouth wash.
Do this 3 times a day to reduce swelling of the gums.
ABDOMINAL PAIN
Abdominal pain can be a symptom of simple ailment like gaseous distention or of a more serious
illness like appendicitis.
Causes:
- Indigestion
- Gaseous distention - excessive air inside the stomach.
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Appendicitis
- Intestinal obstruction
- Abdominal tumor
- Disease of the liver, gall bladder or pancreas
- Peptic ulcer
- Intestinal parasitism
- Urinary tract disease
- Disease of the womb or ovary
- Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb)
- Menstruation
- Certain diseases of the heart or lung
- Emotional stress
- Hunger
Treatment:
- Use the recommended medicinal plant. Consult a doctor when there is no improvement after 2
administrations of the medicinal plant.
- Consult a doctor when there are signs of a serious condition:
-- Pain is persistent and with an increasing severity.
-- There is vomiting but with no bowel movement.
-- There is abdominal distention and rigidity.
-- There is vaginal bleeding in a patient with a history of amenorrhea (no menstruation)
-- Patient is unconscious or in severe pain.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR STOMACH PAIN
Plant material:
BAYABAS leaves, TSAANG GUBAT leaves, MANGOSTEEN peel
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Amount of chopped plant material needed (for adults):
Bayabas: 2 tbsp if dried, 3 tbsp if fresh
Tsaang gubat: 2 tbsp if dried, 3 tbsp if fresh
Mangosteen: 1 tbsp if dried, 1 tbsp if fresh
For children 7-12 years, use half of the adult dose.
Boil the needed amount of plant material in 1 glass of water for 15 minutes or until 1/2 glass of
the liquid is left.
Strain when lukewarm.
Direction for use:
Drink the decoction while lukewarm.
MEDICINAL PLANT FOR GASEOUS DISTENTION
Plant material:
Rhizome of LUYA, DILAW or BARAK. Leaves of TANGLAD, OREGANO, BALANOY, SULASI,
YERBA BUENA, SAMBONG, BANI or ROMERO.
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Amount of chopped plant material needed (for adults):
LUYA: 1 tsp
DILAW: 1 tsp
BARAK: 1 tsp
TANGLAD: 1 tbsp, dried / 2 tbsp, fresh
OREGANO: 1 tsp, dried / 1 tbsp, fresh
BALANOY: 1 tbsp
SULASI: 1 tbsp
YERBA BUENA: 1 tbsp
SAMBONG: 1 tbsp, dried / 2 tbsp, fresh
BANI: 1 tbsp, dried / 2 tbsp, fresh
ROMERO: 1 tbsp
For children 7-12 years, use half of the adult dose.
Boil the needed amount of plant material in 1 cup of water for 5 minutes.
Strain when lukewarm.
Direction for use:
Drink the decoction while lukewarm.
Plant material:
Leaves of DAMONG MARIA, MANSANILYA, ALAGAW, IKMO
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Heat enough fresh leaves in a small fire. Crush and add a few drops of cooking oil.
Direction for use:
Apply the crushed leaves in the abdomen while the leaves are still warm.
Plant material:
ANIS seeds.
Preparation:
Amount of crushed seeds needed:
Adult: 1/2 tsp
7-12: 1/4 tsp
Soak the seeds in 1/2 glass of hot water for 30 minutes.
Strain.
Direction for use:
Drink the infusion.
CONSTIPATION
Constipation is defined as a decrease in the frequency of bowel movement (less than the
patient's previous regular bowel movement). The stool usually is hard.
Constipation can result from:
- Lack of food rich in fiber.
- Drinking little amount of water or other liquids.
- Gastrointestinal or urinary tract disease.
- Emotional factors.
- Lack of exercise.
Prevention and treatment:
- Drink 8 to 12 glasses of water everyday.
- Eat plenty of food rich in fiber like vegetables and fruits.
- Exercise regularly.
- Use one of the recommended medicinal plants.
- Consult a doctor when any of the following is present:
-- There is no improvement after 2 trials of the recommended medicinal plant.
-- Constipation started since childhood (congenital).
-- Constipation is a problem for one month or more.
-- There is associated weakness, loss of weight or scanty or painful urination.
-- There is severe abdominal pain.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR CONSTIPATION:
Plant material:
PAPAYA, fruit
Preparation:
Slice the ripe fruit.
Direction for use:
Eat 1 to 2 medium sized pieces of the ripe fruit. Follow with water.
Plant material:
KANGKONG leaves, KAMOTE leaves, MALUNGGAY leaves, KAMOTENG KAHOY leaves.
Preparation:
Use only one of the vegetables listed. Cook as desired.
Direction for use:
At supper time, eat 1 or 2 cups of the cooked vegetables. Follow with water.
Plant material:
MANI seeds, PILI seeds, KASUY seeds, LINGA seeds.
Preparation:
Use only one of the vegetables listed. Cook as desired.
Direction for use:
Eat 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the cooked seeds. Follow with water.
Plant material:
KANYA PISTULA fruit
Preparation:
Crush 1 or 2 ripe fruits in 1 glass of water.
Direction for use:
Drink the mixture.
Plant material:
PALAY bran.
Preparation:
Boil 2 teaspoons of rice bran in 1 glass of water for 5 minutes. Cool.
DIARRHEA
Diarrhea is defined as an increase in the frequency of bowel movement (more than 2 times a day)
and a change in the character of the stool from formed to soft to watery.
This may resolve after a few days or it may persist for several weeks depending on its cause.
Diarrhea is one of the most common causes of deaths in Filipino children. Mostly affected are
small malnourished children.
Causes:
There are many causes of diarrhea but the most common causes are related to malnutrition and
poor hygiene.
Other causes are:
- Infections acquired through intake of contaminated food and water; gastroenteritis, typhoid
fever, cholera, dysentery (characterized by the presence of blood and mucus in the stool).
- Eating spoiled food.
- Eating too much raw, spicy or fatty food.
- Indigestion especially in children.
- Intolerance to milk.
- Allergy to food.
- Drugs such as ampicillin and tetracycline.
- Poisoning.
- Worms.
- Diarrhea associated with tonsilitis, bronchopneumonia, measles, otitis media or urinary tract
infection.
- Emotional stress.
Prevention:
- Eat plenty of nutritious food. Malnourished children are prone to develop diarrhea and diarrhea
can aggravate malnutrition.
- Always keep food clean. Cover the food on the table to protect them from flies, cockroaches and
rats.
- Keep the environment clean. Use your toilets. Observe proper garbage and sewage disposal.
- Have vaccination against cholera and typhoid.
How to feed infants:
- Encourage breast feeding. Breast milk is safer, cleaner and more superior than prepared milk.
- Start feeding infants with one kind of food at a time and in small quantity. Always give clean and
safe food.
- Keep the infant's surroundings clean.
Treatment:
- Treat dehydration (loss of water, sugar and salts). replace water, sugar and salts lost from the
body. You can give one of the following preparations:
-- Oresol
-- Coconut water
-- Clean water mixed with sugar, salt and baking soda. How to prepare: For every 4 glasses of
clean water, mix 2 tablespoons of sugar or honey, 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda, and 1/4 teaspoon
of salt.
- With prolonged diarrhea, malnutrition may complicate the illness.
-- When there are signs of improvement you can start the patient on liquid or semi-solid food.
--- For infants, continue breastfeeding. If the child is being bottle-fed, prepare diluted milk.
--- For bigger children and adults, give coconut water, tea, rice water and meat or chicken soup
with the fat removed.
- Food which could be given to patients with signs of improvement:
-- Meat, chicken, fish, egg, mongo not cooked in oil
-- Crackers, rice
-- Banana, guava, star apple
- Do not give oily food, spicy food, raw fruits, alcoholic beverages, purgative or ripe papaya fruit.
- Use recommended medicinal plant. If there are no signs of improvement within 1 day, refer the
patient to a physician. A physician must also be consulted should any of the following signs be
observed:
-- Severe dehydration - dry skin and mouth, sunken eyeballs, absent or very little urine.
-- Severe vomiting.
-- Convulsions or loss of consciousness.
-- Rice-washing-like stool
-- Blood or mucus-streaked stool.
-- Fever.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR DIARRHEA
Plant Material: BAYABAS leaves
Preparation: Amount of chopped leaves needed:
Adult: 6 tbsp (dried) or 8 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 3 tbsp (dried) or 4 tbsp (fresh)
2-6 years: 1 1/2 tbsp (dried) or 2 tbsp (fresh)
Boil the needed amount of leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes or until one glass of the
liquid is left. Cool and strain.
Direction for use:
Divide the decoction with 4 parts. Drink 1 part every 2 or 3 hours.
Plant Material: TSAANG GUBAT leaves
Preparation: Amount of chopped leaves needed:
Adult: 10 tbsp (dried) or 12 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 5 tbsp (dried) or 6 tbsp (fresh)
2-6 years: 2 1/2 tbsp (dried) or 3 tbsp (fresh)
Preparation: As in BAYABAS
Direction for use: As in BAYABAS
Plant material: MANGOSTEEN peel
Preparation: Amount of peel needed (dried):
Adult: 4 tsp
7-12 years: 2 tsp
2-6 years: 1 tsp
Preparation: As in BAYABAS
Direction for use: As in BAYABAS
Plant Material: KAYMITO leaves
Preparation: Amount of chopped leaves needed:
Adult: 6 tbsp (dried) or 8 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 3 tbsp (dried) or 4 tbsp (fresh)
2-6 years: 1 1/2 tbsp (dried) or 2 tbsp (fresh)
Preparation: As in BAYABAS
Direction for use: As in BAYABAS
Plant Material: ABUKDAO leaves
Preparation: Amount of chopped leaves needed:
Adult: 8 tbsp (dried) or 10 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 4 tbsp (dried) or 5 tbsp (fresh)
2-6 years: 2 tbsp (dried) or 2 1/2 tbsp (fresh)
Preparation: As in BAYABAS
Direction for use: As in BAYABAS
MEDICINAL PLANT TO REPLACE WATER, SALT AND SUGAR LOST DUE TO DIARRHEA:
Plant material: NIYOG fruit
Preparation: Get water from young coconut fruit (7-9 months old). For every 2 glasses of coconut
water, add an equal amount of clean drinking water, 1 tbsp sugar and 1/4 tsp table salt.
Direction for use:
Drink the mixture as tolerated (for adults).
For children, the following volume of the mixture should be consumed every 3 hours:
6-12 years - 1 glass
2-5 years - 3/4 glass
1-2 years - 1/2 glass
WORMS (ASCARIS)
A great number of worms invade the human body and cause disease. This includes ascaris, the
most common worm that infects Filipinos.
The adult ascaris stays in the intestines where the female worm lays eggs subsequently passed
out with the tools. This eggs may re-enter by the oral (mouth) route through contaminated food
and water. Once the eggs are swallowed, they hatch and transform into larvae in the intestines
and invade the bloodstream. They travel to the lungs where they further grow in size and are
swallowed back into the intestines where they mature into adulthood.
Ascaris infection can cause a number of complications.
- Malnutrition. A child remains thin despite good appetite because these worms compete with the
body for nutrients.
- Discomfort and weakness caused by the proliferation of roundworms in the intestines.
- Obstructions in the intestines caused by numerous entangled worms forming into a mass.
- Some worms may stray into other body passages as in the bile duct, up the esophagus and out
onto the mouth or nose, or into the air passages.
- Asthma due to small larvae in the air passages.
Prevention
- Observe good personal hygiene. Wash hands before eating and after every bowel movement.
Cut long fingernails. Teach children the value of cleanliness.
- Protect food from flies.
- Boil drinking water when unsure of its source and its cleanliness.
- Make it a habit to use the toilet.
- Clean food well before cooking.
Treatment
Use any of the suggested medicinal plants. Consult a physician if herbal treatment is not effective
after 2 or 3 doses have been tried or when complications listed above ensue.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR INTESTINAL WORMS
Plant material: NIYOG-NIYOGAN kernels
Preparation: Get mature and freshly opened fruits.
Adult: 8-10 kernels
9-12 years: 7-6 kernels
6-8 years: 5-6 kernels
3-5 years:4-5 kernels
Direction for use:
Eat the kernels 2 hours after supper. If there is no passage of worms repeat the same dose only
after 1 week has passed.
Precautions:
Do not eat more than the specified number of kernels.
Do not eat the immature fruit.
Some side effects that may be observed are hiccough and abdominal pain.
Medicinal plants for intestinal worms:
Plant material: IPIL-IPIL seeds
Preparation: Powder mature ipil-ipil seeds.
Amount of powdered seeds needed:
Adult: 1 tsp
10-12 years: 1/2 tsp
7-9 years: 1/4 tsp
Direction for use:
Eat the powdered seeds 2 hours after supper. Children may take the powdered seeds with
condensed milk.
POISONING
Children are often victims of poisoning. The commercial product of today bring an ever-increasing
supply of poisons to the home which through careless storage are gotten hold of by children. The
same is true in the case of medications.
Some safety measures to prevent poisoning:
- Use drugs only for the purpose for which they were prescribed.
- Discard unused drugs.
- All medications and household chemicals should be kept out of reach of small children.
- Never tell children you ar giving them candy when you are really giving them medicine.
- Never give or take medicine in the dark.
- Read labels before using chemical products.
- Never put any product not intended for eating or drinking in a food or beverage container.
- Never store household chemical products with food or medicine.
How to suspect poisoning:
- Odor of poison in the breath.
- Discoloration of lips and mouth.
- Pain or burning sensation in the throat.
- Whenever bottles or packages of drugs or poisonous chemicals are found open in the presence
of children.
- Unconsciousness, confusion or sudden illness when access to poison is possible.
Treatment:
- Induce vomiting in any of the following manners:
-- Tickling the throat.
-- Administration of egg white, milk or water with baking powder.
-- use of a medicinal plant that induces vomiting.
- Do not induce vomiting in any of the following circumstances:
-- The poison taken is a petroleum product (kerosene, gasoline, lighter fluid), toilet bowl cleaner,
rust remover, drain cleaner, acids for household use, iodine or household bleach.
-- The patient is unconscious.
-- The patient is in the last trimester of pregnancy.
-- The patient has a heart disease.
- With wretching and vomiting, place the victim face down with the head lower than the hips. This
prevents vomitus from entering the lungs and causing further damage.
- If poisoning is severe, immediately bring the patient to the nearest hospital or clinic.
MEDICINAL PLANTS TO INDUCE VOMITING
Plant material: BAWANG cloves
Preparation: Burn a whole bulb of garlic and place in 1/2 glass of water.
Direction for use: Drink the mixture.
Plant material: KINTSAY, whole plant
Preparation: Express juice from 1 or 2 fresh kintsay plants.
Direction for use: Drink the juice.
COUGH
Cough is not an illness in itself but a symptom of a disease affecting the respiratory system of the
body from the throat to the lungs.
Causes:
- Throat infections: laryngitis, pharyngitis
- Bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, pneumonia
- Cold, influenza
- Measles
- Diphtheria, pertussis
- TB
- Cigarette smoking
- Lung cancer or any tumor in the air passages
- Foreign bodies that lodge in the airways
- Asthma
- Some types of heart disease
- Emotional causes
Treatment:
Cough is a protective reflex of the respiratory system to rid itself of phlegm, microbes and foreign
bodies that have lodged in the airways. Therefore, the aim of therapy is to loosen the cough and
liquefy and expectorate the phlegm, and not to stop the cough. However, in cases when the
patient is distressed by coughing and is kept awake at night, measures are taken to lessen the
frequency of cough, such as giving of cough suppressants. Some guidelines to follow are:
- If the cause of the cough is known, treat and prevent the cause.
Example: Stop smoking of this is the cause of the cough.
- In order to loosen and ease cough, the patient should:
-- Drink plenty of water and fruit juices. Adults can drink as much as 8 to 12 glasses of water a
day.
-- Breathe hot water vapors (steam inhalation) for 15 minutes 3 times a day.
-- Use any of the suggested medicinal plants. Consult a physician if there are no signs of
improvement within 3 days.
- Consult a physician if there are indications of progression of the illness such as the following
cases:
-- The patient has distressing cough and with difficulty of breathing.
-- The phlegm is foul-odored, yellow or greenish-colored, or blood-streaked.
-- There is noticeable weight loss.
-- Hoarseness of the voice is more than 2 weeks duration.
-- Coughing episodes are frequent (more than 3 times a year).
- The patient should eat nutritious food, take plenty of rest and keep himself and his surroundings
clean.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR COUGH
Plant material: LAGUNDI leaves
Preparation:
Amount of chopped leaves needed
Adult: 4 tbsp (dried) or 6 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 2 tbsp (dried) or 3 tbsp (fresh)
2-6 years: 1 tbsp (dried) or 1 1/2 tbsp (fresh)
Boil the needed amount of leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes or until 1 glass of liquid is
left. Cool and strain.
Direction for use: Divide the decoction into 3 parts. Take 1 part 3 times a day.
Plant Material: BALANOY leaves
Preparation:
Amount of chopped leaves needed
Adult: 4 tbsp (dried) or 6 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 2 tbsp (dried) or 3 tbsp (fresh)
Preparation: As in LAGUNDI
Direction for use: As in LAGUNDI
Plant material: ALAGAW leaves
Preparation:
Amount of chopped leaves needed
Adult: 6 tbsp (dried) or 8 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 3 tbsp (dried) or 4 tbsp (fresh)
2-6 years: 1 1/2 tbsp (dried) or 2 tbsp (fresh)
Preparation: As in LAGUNDI
Direction for use: As in LAGUNDI
Plant material: OREGANO leaves
Preparation:
Amount of chopped leaves needed
Adult: 2 tbsp (dried) or 4 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 1 tbsp (dried) or 2 tbsp (fresh)
Preparation: As in LAGUNDI
Direction for use: As in LAGUNDI
Plant material: EUCALYPTUS leaves
Preparation:
Amount of chopped leaves needed
Adult: 4 tbsp (dried) or 6 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 2 tbsp (dried) or 3 tbsp (fresh)
Preparation: As in LAGUNDI
Direction for use: As in LAGUNDI
Plant material: YERBA BUENA leaves
Preparation:
Amount of chopped leaves needed
Adult: 4 tbsp (dried) or 6 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 2 tbsp (dried) or 3 tbsp (fresh)
Preparation: As in LAGUNDI
Direction for use: As in LAGUNDI
Plant material: SAMPALOK leaves
Preparation:
Amount of chopped leaves needed
Adult: 8 tbsp (dried) or 10 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 4 tbsp (dried) or 5 tbsp (fresh)
2-6 years: 2 tbsp (dried) or 2 1/2 tbsp (fresh)
Preparation: As in LAGUNDI
Direction for use: As in LAGUNDI
Plant material: LUYA rhizome
Preparation: Boil 2 thumb-sized rhizome of ginger in 4 glasses of water for 5 minutes. (For
adults) Cool and strain.
For children, use half the adult dose.
Direction for use: As in LAGUNDI
Plant material: MANGGA tops
Preparation:
Amount of chopped leaves needed
Adult: 4 tbsp (dried) or 6 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 2 tbsp (dried) or 3 tbsp (fresh)
2-6 years: 1 tbps (dried) or 1 1/2 tbsp (fresh)
Preparation: As in LAGUNDI
Direction for use: As in LAGUNDI
ASTHMA
Asthma is characterized by periodic attacks of difficulty breathing. Each attack begins abruptly,
occurring frequently at night, waking the patient from his sleep. He has to sit up and is totally
preoccupied with his efforts to breathe. Very noticeable are the retractions that his chest wall and
cat-cry-like sounds (wheezing) on breathing out.
Asthma often begins in childhood and may remain in life. The disease is not contagious but may
be inherited.
The following are the more common causes of asthma attacks:
- Inhalation of dust, kapok, pollen, chicken feathers or hair of cats or dogs
- Food such as shrimps, crabs and chocolates
- Changes of weather
- Colds and other respiratory infections
- Fatigue
- Emotional stress
Prevention:
- Avoid the factors triggering the attacks
- Always keep the surroundings clean
- have a change of environment if the triggering factor is traced to this
- Avoid smoking
Treatment:
- Avoid the causative factors
- Loosen secretions in the same way as treating cough
- Use any of the suggested medicinal plants
- If unimproved after the use of one dose of the medicinal plant, consult a physician
- For severe attacks consult a physician right away
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR ASTHMA
Plant material: LAGUNDI leaves
Preparation:
Amount of chopped leaves needed:
Adult: 4 tbsp (dried) or 6 tbsp (fresh)
7-12 years: 2 tbsp (dried) or 3 tbsp (fresh)
2-6 years: 1 tbsp (dried) or 1 1/2 tbsp (fresh)
Boil the needed amount of leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes or until 1 glass of liquid is
left. Cool and strain.
Direction for use:
Divide the decoction into 3 parts. Take 1 part 3 times a day.
Plant material: TALUMPUNAY flower or leaves
Preparation:
Make a cigarette out of a dried flower or 2 small dried leaves.
Direction for use:
Smoke the talumpunay cigarettes.
Precautions: Do not use more than 1 cigarette in 6 hours.
Talumpunay may be habit forming. Its use should be limited to adults.
Preparation:
Burn a dried flower or 2 small leaves.
Direction for use:
Inhale the smoke.
ARTHRITIS
Arthritis is a disease involving the joints that often affects the elderly. To date no effective cure is
at hand but the following suggestions may alleviate the pain.
- Avoid heavy work and exercise. Rest painful joints.
- Place warm compress on the affected joints.
- Use the suggested medicinal plants. If the patient does not improve with herbal therapy,
administer 2 aspirin tablets 4 to 6 times a day after meals or with milk. Aspirin should not be taken
when a patient has peptic ulcer. If the patient complains of ringing in the ears or abdominal pains,
reduce the dose of aspirin or consult a physician. Discontinue aspirin if stool becomes tarry
(black).
- To keep the function of a joint or maintain its range of motion, light or simple exercise is
necessary.
Seek medical advise for any of the following complaints associated with the joint pain:
- Fever
- Sore throat or difficulty in swallowing
- Sandy urine or urine with precipitates
- Red, warm and tender joints
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR ARTHRITIS
Plant material:
LUYA rhizome, SILING LABUYO fruit, leaves of YERBA BUENA, SULASI, BALANOY, KABLING,
LANTANA
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed. Heat enough fresh plant material over a small fire.
Pound.
Direction for use:
Apply the pounded plant material while warm on the affected joint.
SPRAINS
Sprains, particularly of the wrists and ankles, rank among the most common injuries that affect
man. A sudden movement or fall will stretch or over-stretch a ligament so that it tears. Fluid or
blood then gets into a joint and the area swells. Frequently it is difficult to determine if a particular
joint is just sprained or fractured, so that an X-ray becomes a helpful diagnostic aid.
The primary mode of therapy of sprains and fractures are almost the same. Immobilize the
affected area with a strap. Application of massage will have no beneficial effect but may only
worsen the sprained ligament or fractured bone.
Treatment:
If one is sure that there is a fracture:
- Apply bandage to the affected area.
- To reduce the pain and swelling, elevate the affected limb.
- Cpply cold compress or an ice bag over the affected area on the first day or injury for some 15
minutes 3 times a day to relieve the swelling. Use one of the suggested medicinal plants on the
succeeding days.
- Refrain from moving the affected limb too often.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR SPRAINS:
Plant material:
Leaves of TUBANG BAKOD, IKMO, MAYANA, LANTANA, KAKAWATI
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed. Heat enough fresh plant material over a small fire.
Pound.
Direction for use:
Apply the pounded plant material while warm on the sprained joint. Change the plant material 2
times a day.
BURNS
Among the many accidents that occur in children, burns are the most frequent and frightening.
Among the common causes of burns are:
- Scalds from liquids which may be due to spillage from hot teas, coffee, soup or hot liquid on the
stove.
- Burns from fire or heat which result from playing with matches which are irresistible attractions
to children or when fire breaks out due to an adult's carelessness or a child's mischief.
- Electrical burns
Burns could be prevented through the following measures:
- Do not allow children to play near any source of fire. Teach children the danger of playing with
fire.
- Keep matches away from children.
- Keep children away from the cooking area to make sure that pots and pans are beyond their
reach.
- Take the necessary precautions when dealing with occupations that involve the use of fire.
Treatment:
First aid care of burns is meant to prevent shock and to control pain.
A quick estimate of the body surface is a guide for action:
-- all of one leg - 18%
-- all of one arm and head - 18%
-- front of the truck - 18%
-- back of the trucnk - 18%
A person with 25% of the body surface burned can develop "burn shock" and may die unless he
receives immediate first aid. In "burn shock", the liquid part of the blood goes to the burned area.
There may not be enough blood volume to keep the brain, heart, and other organs functioning
normally.
- Superficial burns
With superficial burns, the upper layer of the skin is burned with redness, swelling and pain but
without formation of blisters. The skin is not broken. Place affected area immeidately in cold water
or apply cold compress to relieve the pain. Do not apply pomade, cooking oil or coconut oil.
- Burns with blister formation
If a blister forms, do nto drain. If the blister bursts, take off adjoining skin and clean with soap and
water. A suggested medicinal plant may then be applied.
It would be better to leave the burned area exposed to the air. Avoid contamination by insects
and flies. Never smear or grease.
If the wound cannot be kept clean, cover the burned area with a clean pad or cloth with vaseline.
If there are signs of infection such as pus formation, foul smell, fever and swollen lymph nodes,
consult a physician.
- Deep or extensive burns
If the burn is severe with gaping flesh or bones, or a big body surface is burned, call a physician
immediately or bring to the nearest hospital or clinic. While awaiting medical attention, follow the
tips listed above. Wrap the burned area with a clean cloth or towel.
Comfort and reassure the patient because those suffering from severe burn can experience
shock. Give aspirin to reduce pain and plenty of liquid to drink.
MEDICINAL PLANT FOR SUPERFICIAL BURNS
Plant material:
GUMAMELA flower buds, OREGANO leaves
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed. Express the juice from enough fresh plant material.
Direction for use:
Apply the juice on the affected parts. Do this 2 times a day. Maintain cleanliness during the entire
procedure.
Plant material:
SABILA leaves
Preparation:
Cut off a fresh savila leaf. Extract or collect sufficient juice to cover the affected part. The
remaining juice can be extracted when needed.
Direction for use:
Apply the juice on the affected parts. Wash of the sabila juice after 15 minutes.
Do this 2 times a day. Maintain cleanliness during the entire procedure.
WOUNDS
When treating wounds, cleanliness is most important to prevent infection and to promote healing.
Treatment for cuts and scratches:
- Never put the mouth over the wound because the mouth harbors germs that could infect the
wound.
- Do not breathe on the wound.
- Do not allow fingers, dirty handkerchiefs or other soiled materials to touch the wound.
- Wash your hands before treating the wound.
- Clean the would and surrounding area with soap and warm water then use the suggested
medicinal plant. Remove any ingrained dirt.
- Do not use alcohol or tincture of iodine on the wound. They damage the tissues and retard
healing.
- Hold a sterile pad firmly on the wound until bleeding stops. Replace sterile pad as necessary to
keep the wound clean and dry.
- Consult a physician in any of the following circumstances:
-- When too much blood spurts from the wound.
-- When slow bleeding continues beyond 10 minutes.
-- If any foreign material in the wound does not wash out easily.
-- If the wound is a deep puncture.
-- If the wound is long or wide and may require stitches.
-- If a nerve or tendon may have been cut (particularly in hand wounds)
-- If the wound is on the face or wherever a noticeable scar would be undesirable.
-- If the wound has been in contact with soil or manure.
-- If the wound is from a bite (animal or human).
-- At the first signs of infection (pain, reddened area around wound, swelling).
Treatment for infected wounds and skin ulcers:
- use any of the suggested medicinal plants.
- In the daily cleansing of wound, take out pus or dead tissue that has formed.
- Avoid contamination by dirt, flies or saliva.
- Consult a physician if the patient has fever, swollen and painful lymph nodes and abundant pus
formation.
- Seek medical assistance if signs of healing are not evident after a week following the above
treatment.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR SCRATCHES AND SUPERFICIAL CUTS:
Plant material:
LUYA rhizome, DILAW rhizome, EUCALYPTUS leaves, IKMO leaves, BAWANG leaves,
BALANOY leaves, SULASI leaves, SUOB KABAYO leaves
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Express the juice from sufficient fresh plant material.
Direction for use:
Apply juice on superficial cuts or scratches.
Maintain cleanliness throughout the procedure.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR SUPERFICIAL BLEEDING:
Plant material:
GATAS-GATAS stems and leaves, MALUNGGAY leaves, GULASIMAN stems and leaves
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Crush enough fresh plant material.
Direction for use:
Apply as poultice on superficial wound to control bleeding.
Maintain cleanliness throughout the procedure.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR SKIN ULCERS AND INFECTED WOUNDS:
Plant material:
BAYABAS leaves, BANI leaves, ABUKADO leaves, PAPAYA latex
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Pound enough clean fresh plant material.
With PAPAYA, get enough latex from the stem or unripe fruit.
Direction for use:
Apply as poultice.
Change the poultice once a day.
Maintain cleanliness throughout the procedure.
Apply the latex on the wound.
Allow 15 minutes before washing off the latex.
Maintain cleanliness throughout the procedure.
Plant material:
SABILA leaves
Preparation:
Cut off a fresh leaf, extract or collect sufficient juice to cover affected part.
Direction for use:
Apply the juice on the wound.
Wash off the sabila juice after 15 minutes.
MEDICINAL PLANTS AS WOUND WASH
Plant material:
Leaves; BAYABAS, SAMPALOC, DUHAT, LANTING, TANGAN-TANGAN, LAGUNDI,
BALANOY, SULASI, SUOB KBAYO, DAMONG MARIA, KAMAKAMATISAN
ABUTRA stems, KALANTAS bark
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Boil 1 or 2 handfuls of the plant material in a small pot of water for 5 minutes.
Cool and strain.
Direction for use:
Use the decoction to wash he wound.
Do this once or twice daily.
ABSCESS (BOIL)
An abscess is a warm, painful swelling under the skin containing pus. It may result from any of
the following causes:
- Dirty skin
- Obstruction of the sweat glands
- Puncture wound or infection from dirty needle
- Clotted blood
Aside from redness, swelling and pain over the affected area, the patient can have swollen lymph
nodes and fever.
Treatment:
- Wash the abscess daily. Apply any of the suggested medicinal plants.
- Apply warm compress over the boil. This provides relief to the patient and will hasten its pointing
and ripening.
- Let the boil break by itself, or when ripe, incise and strain. Allow the pus to drain spontaneously
or place a rubber drain for continuous drainage. Do not press or squeeze the boil since this may
cause the spread of infection to other parts of the body. Consult a physician when fever or
swollen lymph node develops.
MEDICINAL PLANTS TO HASTEN POINTING OF BOIL:
Plant material:
GUMAMELA flower bud, TALUMPAY leaves or flower, MANSANILYA flower, SUOB KABAYO
leaves, SAMBONG leaves, KAMANTIGI leaves
Preparation:
Use one of the plat material listed.
Pound enough fresh plant material.
Direction for use:
Apply as poultice over the boil.
Change the poultice once a day.
Plant material:
PILI resin
Preparation:
Heat a small piece of resin until it melts.
Direction for use:
Apply the resin on the boil while still lukewarm.
ITCHING
Itching is a manifestation of disease. It may be any of the following:
- Allergy
- Eczema
- Prickly heat
- Fungal infection
- Parasitic infestation such as worms, scabies
- Emotional causes
Treatment:
- Bathe in cool water or use cold compress
- Use any of the suggested medicinal plants.
- Consult a physician if the patient is having difficulty breathing
- Avoid scratching the itchy area to prevent infection
- Avoid or treat the cause of the itch if this is known
MEDICINAL PLANTS TO RELIEVE ITCHING
Plant material:
Leaves of BAYABAS or BANI or stems of ABUTRA
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Boil 1 to 2 handfuls of chopped plan material in a small pot of water for 5 minutes.
Cool and strain.
Direction for use:
Use the decoction to wash the itchy skin.
Plant material:
KAKAWATI leaves
Preparation:
Express the juice from enough fresh leaves.
Direction for use:
Apply the juice on the itchy skin.
Plant material:
Starch from KAMOTENGKAHOY, MAIS or PALAY
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Prepare as a thick starch solution.
Direction for use:
Apply the starch solution on the itchy skin.
SCABIES:
Scabies is a skin disease due to small insects which bite and make tunnels under the skin.
The insect bites result in eruptions over the skin that itch especially at nights. Frequently, they are
seen on thin skin - in areas between fingers, on the wrists, around the waist, in between the legs,
and on the genitals. Children are commonly affected.
The disease is acquired through direct contact with infected persons, or through clothes,
beddings or towels of infected individuals.
Uncontrolled scratching is the usual cause of wound formation and consequent infection.
Treatment:
- Keep away from individuals with scabies.
- Personal cleanliness is of primary importance. Bathe and change clothes daily. Wash all clothes
and beddings and hang under the sun.
- Use one of the suggested medicinal plants.
- Relieve itching. Small children should be made to wear gloves.
- If pus develops, treat this first before applying medication for scabies. Wash with decoction of
guava leaves 2 or 3 times a day until the wound dries up.
- Consult a physician if there are no signs of improvement within a week's time or if a great
amount of pus exudes or if swollen and painful lymph nodes develop.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR SCABIES:
Plant material:
MAKABUHAY stems, leaves of MALUNGGAY, KAKAWATI or AKAPULKO
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Express the juice by pundng enough fresh plant material.
Direction for Use:
After bathing, apply on the affected skin 2 times daily.
Plant material:
KALACHUCHI bark
Preparation:
Boil 1/2 cup of chopped dried bark in 1/2 cup of cooking oil for 5 minutes. Cool.
Directions for use:
Apply the oil on the affected skin 2 times daily.
TINEA, RINGWORM AND ATHLETE'S FOOT
These skin diseases are caused by a class of fungi that grow and spread in moist areas of the
body. They appear as round spots or rings and are commonly seen in between the toes, in the
armpit, groin and on the scalp. They can cause itching of the affected areas.
Prevention:
- Keep the body clean. Take a bath everyday and use clean clothes. Change undergarments and
socks when they have been moistened with sweat.
- Do not use the personal belongings (comb, clothes, shoes, socks, etc.) of an infected person.
- Always keep dry areas in between toes and fingers, armpit, groin and the scalp.
- Treat an infected person so that he may not spread the disease.
Treatment:
- Wash the affected part everyday with soap and water.
- Keep the area dry as much as possible and exposed to the air or sunlight. Change underwear
and socks when soiled with sweat.
- Use any of the suggested medicinal plants.
- Consult a physician if there is no evidence of improvement in two weeks' time.
- Relieve itching with appropriate medications.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR TINEA, RINGWORM AND ATHLETE'S FOOT
Plant material:
Leaves of AKAPULKO, BALATONG ASO, KANYA PISTULA, BALANOY, SULASI, or BAWANG.
Flowers of KAMANTIGI.
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Pound enough fresh plant material and express the juice.
Direction for use:
Apply the juice on the affected skin 2 times daily for 2 to 3 weeks.
FALLING HAIR
Factors such as poor nutrition, heredity, dandruff and emotional problems contribute to falling
hair.
Treatment:
- Eat plenty of nutritious food.
- Prevent dandruff by keeping their hair clean.
- Falling hair due to hereditary causes is impossible to remedy with available drugs that
purportedly cure falling hair.
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR FALLING HAIR
Plant material:
SABILA leaves
Preparation:
Remove the spines and cut one end of a fresh sabila leaf.
Direction for use:
Apply the juice on the scalp and massage. Wash off after 15 minutes.
Plant material:
GUGO bark
Preparation:
Obtain gugo bark from the store or market.
Soak in water until lathery.
Direction for use:
Use the water to wash hair and scalp
MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR A CLEAN BODY
For the teeth:
Plant material:
BAYABAS leaves
Preparation:
Obtain enough fresh leaves
Direction for use:
Rub the fresh leaves on the teeth after eating.
As a mouth wash:
Plant material:
Leaves of YERBA BUENA, BALANOY, SULASI or TANGLAD
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Soak 2 tablespoonfuls of chopped leaves in 1 glass of hot water for 30 minutes.
Strain.
Direction for use:
Use the infusion as mouth wash.
Plant material:
BAYABAS leaves
Preparation:
Boil 2 tablespoons of chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes.
Cool and strain.
Direction for use:
Use the decoction as mouth wash.
As vaginal wash:
Plant material:
Leaves of BAYABAS, MANGGA or SAMPALOK
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Boil 2 handfuls of chopped leaves in a small pot of water for 5 minutes.
Strain.
Direction for use:
Use the decoction as vaginal wash while still lukewarm.
As aromatic bath:
Plant material:
Leaves of BAYABAS, SAMPALOK, MANGGA, SUHA, KABUYAO, DAYAP, KALAMANSI,
DALANGHITA, SAMBONG, LAGUNDI, ALAGAW, SULASI, BALANOY, SUOB KABAYO,
KABLING, TANGLAD or ROMERO
Preparation:
Use only one of the plant materials listed.
Boil 2 to 4 handfuls of leaves in a big pot of water for 5 minutes.
Add enough water to make it lukewarm.
Direction for use:
Use the decoction as bath for the sick and for mothers who have just delivered.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF PLANT FOOD:
In the Philippines, still a great number of people, especially children, succumb to disease or die
as a result of undernutrition, a condition arising from inadequate intake of one or more essential
nutrients needed by the body. Because of this, proper selection of food must be given emphasis,
in addition to environmental sanitation, to prevent the occurrence of disease or lessen its severity.
In this section, the primary nutrients needed by each and every Filipino will be discussed.
PROTEINS
Proteins are used by the body as building materials for growth and repair. These are specially
needed by growing children, pregnant nd lactating mothers, and those who are sick or are
convalescing.
A great majority of Filipinos, just like people of other less developed nations, suffer from protein
lack. This causes their susceptibility to disease and proneness to infection, as well as retardation
in both mind and body.
Protein rich food should be eaten everyday. Animal proteins are of higher quality than that of
vegetable origin, although the latter should not be disregarded. Nutritious yet inexpensive sources
of proteins are dilis, hibe, ayungin, alamang, sapsap, galunggong and tawilis. other seafoods,
milk, eggs and meat are also rich in nutritive proteins.
Plant food rich in protein
1. utaw
2. mani
3. munggo
4. paayap
5. abitswelas
CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are the primary sources of calories, ingested carbohydrates are plentiful and
inexpensive.
Plants rich in carbohydrates:
1. tubo
2. palay
3. mais
4. kamote
5. kamoteng kahoy
6. gabi
7. araro
8. ube
9. patatas
10. saging
FATS
Just like carbohydrates, fats are primary sources of calories and provide the body with the
greatest amount of heat and energy. They also serve as vehicles by which fat soluble vitamins (A,
E, D, K) are introduced into the body.
As a rule, Filipinos still are deficient in food rich in fats.
Plants rich in fats
1. mais (oil)
2. niyog (oil)
3. pili
4. mani
5. kasuy
6. linga
VITAMINS
These are organic compounds occurring in natural foods, as in fruits and vegetables, which are
required in minute amounts for growth, maintenance of life and reproduction.
Vitamin A
This vitamin plays an important role in the maintenance of normal vision. It also functions to
maintain the integrity of epithelial covering of the body (the skin) which act as an important
barrier against microbial invasion.
Up to the present, a great number of Filipino children become blind because of deficiency of this
vitamin.
Vitamin A is found only in animal products. Pro-Vtamin A, however, which is converted into
Vitamin A in the human body, are available in many plant products. Absorption and utilization are
enhanced when fats and oils are added in the diet.
Food rich in Vitamin A should be eaten everyday. The ore intensely green or yellow the vegetable
and fruits are when taken into the body, the greater the amount of Vitamin A that they provide.
Plants rich in Vitamin A
1. Malunggay (leaves)
2. kamoteng kahoy (leaves)
3. papaya (leaves)
4. sayote (tops)
5. siling labuyo (tops)
6. karot
7. gabi leaves
8. uray
9. sili (tops)
10. gulasiman
11. dampalit
12. saluyot
13. kasuy (tops)
14. upo (tops)
15. katuray (leaves)
16. Alagaw (leaves)
17. kutsarita (green variety)
18. kulitis
19. ampalaya (tops)
20. kamote (tops)
21. tiesa
22. kalabasa
23. papaya
Vitamin B
Beri-beri is a preventable disease in children and pregnant women if adequate amount of food
rich in Vitamin B are supplied. Rice bran extract (darak) is an inexpensive and practical source of
this vitamin which can be made into rice cakes and other native delicacies.
Plants rich in Vitamin B
1. Pili
2. mani
3. kadyos
4. munggo
Vitamin C
Ascorbic Acid is widely required in the body's metabolism. It is important in the formation and
maintenance of intercellular materials: of connective tissues, bone, teeth and the cement
substance of capillaries. Deficiency of this vitamin (scurvy) manifests with symptoms that are due
to poor development of these structures. Vitamin C is also useful in strengthening body
resistance against infection.
Fresh, raw fruits and vegetables are rich sources of Vitamin C. Since the body is unable to store
this vitamin, unlike those of other vitamins, sufficient amounts have to be taken in.
Plants rich in vitamin C
1. singakamas (fruit)
2. malunggay (leaves and fruit)
3. papaya (leaves)
4. kasuy
5. bayabas
6. kamoteng kahoy (tops)
7. datiles
8. katuray (leaves)
9. kamatsile
10. mangga (tops)
11. gabi (leaves)
12. kasuy (tops)
13. strawberry
14. saluyot
15. mangga
16. rambutan
17. ampalaya (tops)
18. anonas
19. alugbati (tops)
20. kulitis
21. cauliflower
22. papaya
23. sinigwelas
IRON
Iron is needed by the body for the production of hemoglobin of the red cells. Deficiency of this
mineral renders a person anemic, weak and unable to perform work efficiently.
This nutrient is needed more by growing children, pregnant and lactating mothers and during
menstrual periods.
Iron from plant sources are better absorbed when together with Vitamin C.
Plants rich in Iron:
1. Tayngang daga
2. gamet
3. aurora (leaves and stems)
4. gulaman (red variety)
5. saging (flowers)
6. bornay (leaves and stems)
7. kamyas
8. kakaw
9. pinya
10. kintsay tsina
11. uray
12. darak
13. sitaw
14. saluyot
15. kulitis
16. talinum