Tuba-tuba - English

Tuba-tuba   - English

  
Kung gusto po ninyong mabasa sa Pilipino (Tagalog) Pumindot lamang po dito! 

Tuba-tuba is a herbal medicine with a scientific name Jotropha curcas, known in the Philippines as a remedy to bruise, and sprained ankle.  Yellow dye can be obtained from its  roots and blue dye from the bark.   The most promising part of this plant is the seed, that can be processed to produce alternative biofuel.

It is a plants that grows from a meter  to 8 meters of more, with a wide 5 lobed leaves, 5 to 8 inches long.

Use as herbal remedy for:

Bruise
Sprained ankle

How to prepare:

As a patch

1. Wash the leaves
2. Wipe it dry with clean cloth.
3. Heat it in a low fire, then put some oil, natural oil from coconut is better, others use efficascent oil.
4. Put it in affected area, wrap some used cloth or bandage.

       Replace it when the leaves are dry or brittle. 

Flower and fruit (ripe and dried)

Tawa-tawa - English

Tawa-tawa  - English

  
Kung gusto po ninyong mabasa sa Pilipino (Tagalog) Pumindot lamang po dito! 

Is a herbal medicine known also as gatas-gatas, scientifically know as Euphorbia hirta, grown in grasslands, pathways, rice fields or even in roadsides.  This indigenous plant,  a hairy herb is considered by many Pilipino as folkloric treatment or cure for dengue.

DOH warned those who use it with cautions.  Since they said that it only promotes the development of blood platelets, but does not fight the dengue virus. 

Others have taken the herb seriously, students of UST – Faculty of Pharmacy conducted a study with intent on finding out the truth. (click here for the link)

Use as herbal remedy for:

Dengue

How to prepare:

As drink

1. Wash the leaves/steams
2. Boil in water
3. Set aside, cool and strain.

       Use 3 times a day, or use as you want.

Ulasimang bato – Pansit pansitan - English

Ulasimang bato – Pansit pansitan   - English

  
Kung gusto po ninyong mabasa sa Pilipino (Tagalog) Pumindot lamang po dito! 

Is a herbal medicine known also as ulasiman-bato, ulasiman-ilahas, singaw-singaw, sida-sida, tagulinaw  and tangon-tangon in some part of the Philippines, It’s English name is Peperomia, shiny bush, silver bush, clear weed, rat-ear and clear weed.

It is a wild plants that grows on damp and lightly shaded area, it  has a alternate  heart shaped leaves with a very succulent round steams, a green spikes, dot-like flowers that bear seed which fall of the ground and propagate.

Leaves and steam are edible, often use by some on a salad and can be eaten raw. 

Use as herbal remedy for:

Arthritis
Gout
Skin boils,
Wounds,
Burns,
Skin inflammation,
abscesses,
pimples,
Headache
Abdominal pains
kidney problems
Eye inflammation,
Sore throat,
Diarrhea,
Prostate problems
High blood pressure
Fever,
Renal problems
Mental excitement disorder .

How to prepare:

As vegetable

       The leaves and steams may be eaten raw, when freshly harvested and washed.

As drink

1. Wash the leaves/steams
2. Measure 2 glasses of water and 1 glass of leaves/steam.
3. Boil
4. Set aside, cool and strain.

       Use 2 times a day, 1 cup in the morning and 1 cup in the evening

For skin problems

        Wash and pound the leaves/steams and apply it directly to affected area. 

For headache

        Wash a couple of leaves, bruise the surface and apply on the forehead.

Guava (Bayabas) - English

Kung gusto po ninyong mabasa sa Pilipino (Tagalog) Pumindot lamang po dito! 

Bayabas or guava – a small fruit bearing tree.   It’s leaves and fruits are widely used in the Philippines as herbal medicine and is recognized by the Philippine Department of Health for its antiseptic property.    

Bayabas or guava is used in herbal medicine as, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-allergy, antiseptic , anti-plasmodial, antidiabetic, antigenotoxic and for treatment of cough.  Bayabas or guava fruit is known for being rich in vitamin C and vitamin A

Also use as bath for women after child birth, clean wounds and cuts.

Use as herbal remedy for:

Leaves and bark
     Wounds
     Cuts  
     Burns
     Mouthwash
     Cough
     Baths for women after birth.
     Aromatic bath
     Wash and cleaning cut after circumcision   
     Feminine wash
     Gum swelling
     Nose bleeding
     Tooth ache

Fruits

     Source of vitamin C 
     Used as vegetable in cooking
     Canned and jelled

How to prepare:

As drink

1. Wash the leaves
2. Measure 3 glasses of water and 1 glass of leaves.
3. Boil for 8 - 10 minutes.
4. Set aside, cool and strain.

    Gargle as mouthwash
    For wounds, wash the affected area, 3 times a day.
    Use to clean and  soften the dressing in circumcision. 

As bath

             Use for first bath after giving birth.  Include a lot of leaves into a casserole of water and let it boil, and add it to the water for bathing, measure the temperature according to your preferences,  you can also use the leaves as sponge.  

Sambong - English

 
Kung gusto po ninyong mabasa sa Pilipino (Tagalog) Pumindot lamang po dito!

          Sambong (Blumea camphor, Ngai camphor in English, Alibum, Alimon, Ayoban, Bukodkud, Dalapot, Gabuen, Gintin-gintin, Kambibon, Lalakdan in Visayas and Sob-sob, Subusub, Subsob in Ilocos.) with a scientific name, Blumea balsamifera is one of the 10 herbal alternatives endorsed by the DOH (Department of Health) of the Philippines. It is antiulithiasis and work as diuretic, helps dispose excess water and sodium (salt) in the body and also help treat kidney disorder, used also to treat colds and mild hypertension, also known with Anti-diarrheic, Anti-gastralgic, anti-diarrhea and Anti-spasm properties.

          Also use as bath for women after child birth, clean wounds and cuts.

Use as herbal remedy for:

Leaves
     Dissolve kidney stones
     Edema
     Hypertension
     Rheumatism
     Colds
     Asthma
     Bronchitis
     UTI
     Stomachic
     Vermifuge
     Respiratory problems
     Sores
     Dysentery
     Sore throat
     Worms
     Boils
     Anti-diarrheic
     Anti-gastralgic

Dried leaves as cigarette
     Sinusitis.

Roots

     Fever

How to prepare:

As drink

1. Wash the leaves and cut into pieces
2. Measure 2 glasses of water and 1 glass of chopped leaves.
3. Boil in low fire for 15 minutes without cover.
4. Set aside, cool and strain.

    Drink 1/3 glass 3x a day.

As bath

          Include a lot of leaves into a casserole of water and let it boil, and add it to the water for bathing, you can also use the leaves as sponge.

          Leaves can be crushed or pounded and mixed with coconut oil and apply on forehead and temples for headaches

Lagundi - English

 
Kung gusto po ninyong mabasa sa Pilipino (Tagalog) Pumindot lamang po dito!

          Lagundi (Shrub or five-leaved chaste tree) with a scientific name Vitex Negundo is one of the 10 herbal alternatives endorsed by the DOH (Department of Health) of the Philippines. It is know to be a common herbal medicine shrub grown wild in the Philippines. Research and studies shows that Lagundi has chrysoplenol D, smooth muscle relaxant with anti-histamine properties. It also contains isoorientin, casticin, luteolin-7-0-glucoside, among other things which exhibit an anti-histamine effect. Lagundi also shows leukotriene release inhibition, an important mechanism in controlling asthma. The leaves, root, flowers, and seeds of lagundi all appear to have medicinal value.

          Lagundi also appears to have some usefulness as an analgesic, being compared to drugs like aspirin in research and study that show to be helpful in the treatment of things like pain after dental extraction.

Use as herbal remedy for:

Leaves
     Asthma
     Coughs
     Fever
     Flu

Flowers
     Diarrhea
     Cholera
     Fever
     Diseases of the liver
     Also recommended as a cardiac tonic

Seeds
     Inflammation of the mouth
     Skin diseases
     Leprosy

Roots
     Dyspepsia
     Rheumatism
     Worms
     Colic
     Boil

How to prepare:

Decoction:

Wash the leaves thoroughly and chop into pieces.
Measure 2 glasses of water, and 1 glass of freshly chopped leaves.
Boil under low fire for 15 minutes without cover.
Set aside to cool and strain.

Cough and asthma - 1/3 glass 3x a day;

Fever - 1/3 glass every 4 hours

Flowers, seeds and roots. Boil as with the leaves.

Ampalaya - English

 

Kung gusto po ninyong mabasa sa Pilipino (Tagalog) Pumindot lamang po dito!

          Ampalaya (Bitter Melon or Bitter Gourd) with a scientific name, Momordica charantia is one of the 10 herbal alternatives endorsed by the DOH (Department of Health) of the Philippines. Rich in vitamin A, B and C, folic acid, calcium, phosphorous and iron. As the English name suggests, (bitter melon) it has a bitter taste due to the presence of Momordica. It have been used as folkloric cure for centuries by the Chinese and passes from generation to generation and proven effective by many research clinics and laboratories worldwide. It is known as a cure for a lot of illnesses but most significant of which is Diabetes. It helps the Pranceas produce more insulin that control the blood sugar due to its contents, a mixture of flavanoids and alkaloids. Asides from known help for diabetics and liver problems it is also being use as an alternative medicine for HIV

          Ampalaya is antioxidant, and it’s also known as antibacterial, antipyretic, parasiticide and helps enhances the immune system to fight against infections.

Use as herbal remedy for:

Diabetes
Liver problems
Rheumatism
Gout
Diarrhea
Headaches
Disinfects and heals wounds & burns
Cough
Fever
Intestinal worms
Help prevent some type of cancer

How to prepare:

The DOH (Department of Health) of the Philippines suggests the following procedure on how to prepare the Ampalaya extract.

1. Wash and finely chop leaves.
2. Add six tablespoons of the chopped leaves in two glass of water or 2 glasses of leaves to 4 glasses of water.
3. Boil the mixture for 15 minutes in an uncovered pot.
4. Let it cool and strain.
5. Drink 1/3 cup of the solution 30 minutes before meals 3 times a day.

You can also steamed and eat Ampalaya tops (1/2 cup 2 times a day)

To use as purgative administer a large dozes.

Warmed the leaves and apply to the afflicted area to treat skin diseases, wounds and burns.


*
DOH - Circular No. 0058 s, 2007 : reinstating Ampalaya as Scientifically-validated herbal medicinal plant -  http://www.doh.gov.ph/files/dc2007-0058.pdf