Akapulko / Acapulco (Cassia alata)

Akapulko / Acapulco (Cassia alata)

               Ever wonder where products we use in our everyday life such as shampoo, soap and lotion came from? Herbal Medicines take a great share in creating these vital things that any of us could not ever imagine. 

              Katanda, Andadasi, or Palochinain, whatever the different regions call it, Acapulco as known by many people is a shrub that may be found around the Philippines. This shrub belongs to the family of Leguminosae that grows one to two meters tall. Its thick branches produce eight to twenty oblong-elliptical shaped leaflets and bears tetragonal fruits. Its flower also blooms with oblong sepals. The leaves that serves as the main instrument for medicinal herb contains Saponin which is a laxative used in expelling intestinal parasites and chrysophanic acid that treats fungal infections such as eczema, scabies, and ringworms. 

              For us to have this Herbal Medicine; First we need to prepare a decoction of the roots, flowers, and its leaves as a laxative. The leaf decoction is good for bronchitis; dyspnea and can used also mouthwash, stringent, and wash fo eczema. We also needed a pounded leaves that has purgative functions which is against ringworms. 

             These pounded leaves should be applied thinly on the affected part twice a day and improvements can be seen 2-3 weeks of continuous use. 

             Thanks to the people who discovered the wonders of this plant. We don’t need to buy or spend a lot of money for what we need.

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Bawang or Garlic (Allium sativum)

Bawang or Garlic (Allium sativum)

Many people include garlic in their daily diets for health reasons, while others indulge themselves in eating it because of its flavor despite its offensive odor. Garlic or bawang is a common spice found in the kitchen of Filipino households, this herb helps make dishes more appetizing. Due to its strong odor, bad breath is the most common side effect of taking this herb. But this is also one of the most widely used Herbal Medicines in the country.  Allium Sativum also know as Garlic or Bawang, only grows up to sixty centimeters high. This low herb has flat and linear leaves and bulbs with several tubers on it. Extracting of the bawang bulbs and leaves are used as treatment for fever and may be used as insect repellant. 

During World War 11, Garlic has already proven itself on how effective it is in treating the wounds and infections of soldiers. Allicin which is an anti-bacterial compound found in Garlic saved many lives of the soldiers. It prevented the wounds from infections. By extracting the Garlic’s juices, a developing gangrene can be cured by applying the fluid on it. It fights bacterial infections, or also known as antibiotic. 

This popular herb can also be an antifungal for it can cure athlete’s foot.  Bawang or garlic’s juice slows up the growth of viruses. It is reportedly effective against flu viruses and cold sores. It also reduces congestion and a great help to people who are suffering from bronchitis. Through steam Inhalation of vinegar, chopped garlic, and water, nasal congestion may be lessened or can be completely eradicated. Studies suggest that bawang may be very beneficial in preventing cancers such as breast, bladder, skin, stomach, and colon cancers. 

This medicinal plant also showed some positive outcome in the treatment of AIDS on its preliminary test. Garlic also decreases cholesterol levels, lowers blood pressure, improves blood flow to reduce the risk of stroke, and boosts fibrinolytic (a process that prevents blood clots from being problematic) activities. 
Philippine Department of Health has endorsed bawang as one of the top ten Philippine herbs with therapeutic assessment with its positive results of thorough research and testing, DOH recommends its use as an alternative Herbal Medicine and remained and established in traditional and holistic healing practices. 

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Lagundi (Vitex negundo)

Lagundi - Scientific name: Vitex negundo

Ever see a plant with five pointed leaflets set like a hand? Fear no more because it is a Lagundi plant, a medicinal herb that rises up to five meters tall crossing between a shrub and a tree with a single woody stems that belongs to the family of Verbenaceae.

Made by decoction that should be taken orally by individual, this plant that consists of the roots, leaves, flowers and seeds can all be used as a Herbal Medicine.

Specified as one of the ten herbal medicine recognized by the Philippine Department of Health as an effective herbal medicine with confirmed therapeutic value, Lagundi has been clinically tested to be effective in dealing with colds, flu, bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and pharyngitis. Studies have revealed that it can avert the body’s production of leukotrienes. It also covers a substance called Chrysoplenol D that has anti-histamine and muscle relaxant properties. Other properties can also be an medicine and functions as a stimulant as well. Most especially, the roots of the shrub are used as a cure for rheumatism, dyspepsia, boils and leprocy.

You don’t also have to worry if you need to make it on your own. You can make some just in your home for you need only the process of decoction. Decoction means to extract roots, seeds and leaves by boiling. Apply the extracted roots and leaves on a wound and use it as aromatic baths for skin diseases. If you had bitten by poisonous animals, boiled seeds can be eaten to prevent spreading the toxins and venom. People with diarrhea, liver disorders or even cholera can drink the extracted flowers of Lagundi as a relief. The extracted leaves are good for women to help upsurge the flow and production of milk and it can also induce the menstrual cycle.

In any way, this Herbal Medicine is a blessing to us all. This is one thing that people need to take good care of.

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Sambong (Blumea balsamifera L.)

Sambong - Scientfic name: Blumea balsamifera

Bukadkad in Visayas, Subsob in Ilocos, or Sambong as several folks call it, is a stout aromatic Herbal Medicines from the family of Compositae that develops from one and a half to three meters with stems up to two and a half centimeters long.

Blumea balsamifera as its scientific name is approved by the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) as one of the ten herbal medicines in handling particular disorders. Colds, mild hypertension, kidney disorders diarrhea, wounds and cuts can be cured with this Herbal Medicine and it is stress-free to practice for it just uses the method of decoction.

There are numerous possible ways to experience how exquisite Sambong is. All you need is to boil the two to four Sambong leaves with water to use as a sponge bath if you do not want it to drink. Nonetheless if you are courageous enough to drink it, you can do it four times a day to relieve and treat stomach pains. The decoction from roots can also be drunk as a cure for fever. If you are discomfort with headache, you can pound and crush the leaves then spread over it directly to the throbbing area, in the temples and forehead. It can also use as a stringent for injuries and scratches. Its expectorant properties make it as a standard recommendation to be taken in as tea to treat colds. It is also recommended to be combined to post-partum baths and absorption of particular body areas that are afflicted with pains caused by rheumatism.

Sambong had been proven as a cure for several diseases until today. Several scientists make it as a medicine for the people to easily intake it. Good thing about it is that people today still appreciate the wonder of natural medication brought by our Great God.

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Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii)

Yerba Buena - Scientific name: Clinopodium douglasii

Yerba Buena belongs to the mint family that is known and used as Herbal Medicines worldwide. Its scientific name is Mentha arvensis Linn. It is called Heirba Buena in Spain, Minta in Italy, Minze in Germany, and Po-ho in China. This herb grows throughout the world from Asia to North America. It bears small whitish or sometimes purplish flowers during summers. Its flowers possess both male and female organs that allow it to be pollinated by insects, specifically bees, and other animals of the same nature.

Before knowing its medical assessments, this aromatic herb is first widely known for its culinary purposes. Its distinctive strong flavor is very ideal for salads and as flavor for cooking foods. The aroma of this herb comes from its elongated leaves.  This perennial plant that grows from 0.6 meters to 1 meter is also used for fragrances. Soaking fresh leaves in a glass of water makes a good and effective mouth wash for a clean, fresh smelling breath. Rats and other rodents can be drove away by its strong smell.  Po-ho or Yerba buena contains pulegone, a chemical that is toxic to rats.

Yerba buena is also known for its medicinal properties. It cures many ailments since ancient times.  You can make a tea out of it and drinks it when your body feels pain. It treats headache, stomach ache, and tooth ache. It is an effective analgesic. Your cough and colds can also be cured when you drink Yerba Buena tea. This medicinal plant can also induce menstrual flow and sweating. It is also consumed for Rheumatism and arthritis. Just massage its sap on parts that are in pain.

It has been recognized for its antiseptic, anti-cancer, diuretic, anti-spasm, anti-emetic activities, and proclaimed as one of the top 10 herbs authorized by the Philippine Department of Health. But caution is recommended for pregnant women for excessive intake of this Herbal Medicine.

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Bayabas or Guava

Bayabas, or guava, as commonly seen in the backyards of Filipino homes in the country is a tropical plant known for its edible fruit, and healing properties. It has grown around so well because it has always been regarded as a traditional remedy to treat varoius ailments. Various research studies have proven that almost all of the parts of bayabas or guava has medicinak qualities and value, thus making it as one of the popular Philippine herbals. The bayabas or guava leaves decoction is recognized for its effectiveness to cure several ailments. These includes treatment of swollenness of the legs and other parts of the bodyan chronic diarrhea, gastroenteritis, uterine hemorrhage and others. The most common use of bayabas or guava leaves is for cleaning and disinfecting the wounds by rinsing the afflicted area with the leaves decoction. Likewise, its leaves aid in the treatment of dysentery and inflammation of kidneys. While the bark and leaves could be used as astringent, it can also be utilized as a good wash for uterine and vaginal problems.

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Philippine Herbal Medicine: Ampalaya (Momordica charantia)

Ampalaya, with a scientific name Momordica charantia, is a climbing vine as well as the tendrils of which expand as much as twenty centimeters prolonged. This "Philippine Herbal Medicinal Plant" belongs towards the household of Cucurbitaceae, and it's a tropical as well as a subtropical vine. Its leaves are heart-shaped, that happen to be 5 to 10 centimeters in diameter. The fruits with the ampalaya vine are fleshy green with pointed ends at size. It may never be mistaken for just about any other assortment because its ribbed and wrinkled surface area had usually been ampalaya’s unique physical structure. 

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