10 DOH Approved Herbal Medicine

10 DOH APPROVED HERBAL MEDICINE PAOLO M. ZABAT, RN

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.

HERBAL MEDICINE 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 (PITAHC) to accelerate the development of traditional and alternative
health care in the Philippines, providing for a traditional and alternative health care development fund and for other
purposes.

HERBAL MEDICINE 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 kind 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.

HERBAL MEDICINE Reminders on the Use of Herbal Medicine

Decoctions loose potency after some time. Dispose of decoctions after one 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 on 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

1. SAMBONG -A plant that reaches 1 ½ to 3 meters in height with rough hairy leaves. Young plants around mother
plant may be separated when they have three or more leaves.
Scientific Name: Blumea balsamifera

SAMBONG USES:

 Anti-edema
 Diuretic
 Anti-urolithiasis

PREPARATION: Boil chopped leaves in water for 15 minutes until one glassful remains. Cool and strain.  Divide
decoction into 3 parts. Drink one part 3 times a day.

NOTE: Sambong is not a medicine for kidney infection

2. AKAPULKO -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.
Scientific Name: Cassia alata

AKAPULKO USES:

Anti-fungal:
  Tinea Flava,
 Ringworm,
 Athlete ’s Foot
 Scabies

PREPARATION: Fresh, matured leaves are pounded. Apply as a soap to the affected part 1 to 2 times a day.

3. NIYUG-NIYOGAN -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 20cm in
height.

Scientific Name: Quisqualis indica L.

NIYUG-NIYOGAN USES:

Anti-helminthic (used to expel parasitic worms.)

PREPARATION: Seeds of niyug-niyogan are eaten raw two 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 six seeds and seven seeds
may be eaten by children 10 to 12 years old. Not to be given to children below four years old.

4. TSAANG GUBAT-Forest Tea or Wild Tea a shrub with small, shiny nice-looking leaves that grows in wild
uncultivated areas and forests.

Scientific Name: Carmona retusa

TSAANG GUBAT USES: Diarrhea and Stomach ache

PREPARATION: 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. Wash leaves and chop. Boil chopped leaves in 1 glass of water for 15
minutes. Cool and filter/strain and drink.

5. AMPALAYA Bitter Gourd or Bitter melon a climbing vine with tendrils that grow up to 20 cm long. Leaves are
heart shaped, which are 5 to 10 cm in diameter Fruits have ribbed and wrinkled surface that are fleshy green
with pointed ends at length and has a bitter taste.

Scientific Name: Momordica charantia

AMPALAYA USES: Lowers blood sugar levels and Diabetes Mellitus (Mild-non insulin dependent)

PREPARATION: Gather and wash young leaves very well. Chop. Boil 6 tablespoons in two glassfuls of water for 15
minutes under low fire. Do not cover pot. Cool and strain. Take one third cup 3 times a day after meals.

6. LAGUNDI 5 Leaved-Chaste Tree A shrub growing wild in vacant 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.

Scientific Name: Vitex negundo

LAGUNDI USES:

 Asthma
 cough
 Fever
 Dysentery
  Colds & Pain
 Skin diseases and wounds
 Headache  Rheumatism
 Sprain
 Contusions
 insect bites
 Aromatic bath for sick patients

LAGUNDI 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 in only 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 time a day.

For skin diseases (dermatitis, scabies, ulcer, eczema) and wounds, prepare a decoction of the leaves. Wash and clean the
skin/wound with the 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.

7. ULASIMANG BATO -Silver bush or Shiny bush Pansit-pansitan a weed with heart shaped leaves that grow in
shady parts of the garden and yard.

Scientific Name: Peperomia pellucida

ULASIMANG BATO 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 three parts and drink each part 3 times a day 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
three parts and take as salad 3 times a day.

8. BAWANG -Garlic A low herb and grows up to sixty cm high Leaves are flat and linear Bulbs consist of several
tubers

Scientific Name: Allium sativum

BAWANG 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
two pieces three times 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.

9. BAYABAS -Guava A tree about 4 to 5 meters high with tiny white flowers with round or oval fruits that are eaten
raw.

Scientific Name: Psidium guajava

BAYABAS USES:

 For washing wounds

10. YERBA BUENA- Peppermint A small multi branching aromatic herb. The leaves are small, elliptical and with
toothed margin. The stem creeps to the ground, and develop roots.

Scientific Name: Mentha cordifelia

YERBA BUENA USES:

 For pain in different parts of the body as head ache, stomach ache
 Rheumatism, arthritis and headache
 Cough and cold
 Swollen gums & toothache
 Menstrual and gas pain
 Nausea and fainting
 Insect bites & Pruritus

YERBA BUENA PREPARATION: For pain in diff. parts of the body, boil chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes.
Cool and strain. For rheumatism, arthritis and headache, crush the fresh leaves and 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 the 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 induces menstrual
flow and sweating. For nausea and fainting, crush leaves and apply at 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.