1.

)LAGUNDI
Lagundi (scientific name: Vitex negundo) is a large native shrub that grows in the Philippines
and has been traditionally used as herbal medicine. The Philippine Department of Health has
conducted research and study for Lagundi and has suggested that the lagundi plant has a
number verifiable therapeutic value
Lagundi is an erect, branched tree or shrub, that grows to as much as 5 m high. Lagundi has a
single thick, woody stem like a trunk and is usually seen in swamps of the Philippines. Lagundi
leaves appear palmately, in the form of five pointed leaves which splay out like the fingers of a
hand. Lagundi leaves are 5-foliate, rarely with 3 leaflets only. Lagundi leaves are 4-10 cm long,
slightly hairy beneath. The lagundi flowers are blue to lavender, 6-7 mm long bearing fruit
globose of about 4mm in diameter that turns black when ripe,

Lagundi, herbal medicine - Health Benefits

Lagundi has been traditionally used as herbal medicine by Philippine folks. The efficacy of
Lagundi has also been verified by the Philippine Department of Health and other Philippine
based scientists which concentrated on its use to ease respiratory complaints. Lagundi is
generally used for the treatment of coughs, asthma symptoms, and other respiratory problems,
Lagundi is also known for its analgesic effect that helps alleviate pain and discomfort. Other
traditional benefits that are derived from the use of Lagundi are as follows:
•Relief of asthma & pharyngitis
•Recommended relief of rheumatism, dyspepsia, boils, diarrhea
•Treatment of cough, colds, fever and flu and other bronchopulmonary disordersk
•Alleviate symptoms of Chicken Pox
•Removal of worms, and boils

Lagundi Herbal Medicine Preparation

Lagundi leaves, root, flowers, and seeds are believed to have medicinal value. Lagundi
concoction is prepared by boiling, steeping, and then straining various parts such as lagundi
leaves, roots, flowers and seeds.wash fresh or dried Lagundi leaves ,chop then add in 4 cups of
water for every 1 cup of lagundi parts let it boil for 10 to 15 minutes ,Let it steep then strain the
various parts.Drink half cup of Lagundi three times a day.Lagundi concoction can be stored in
suitable glass container for later consumption.

Lagundi Availability
Commercially, lagundi can be purchased in the form of syrup or capsules to make it easier to
handle. It is also blended in with cough medicines and other herbal remedies.
Lagundi syrup is now commonly formulated as cough medicine which can also be bought in
leading drugstores and supermarkets. For outside of the Philippines, an alternative herbal
capsule is Ricola Cough Drops, a naturally extracted cough and sore throat tablet with high and
favorable review.

Warning and Side Effects of lagundi

Lagundi use is widely acceptable as safe for use for children and adults and no adverse reaction
has been reported. However, moderate use is recommended for pregnant women, and
treatment should not exceed one week. If symptoms persist and irritation occurs, stop the use
and consult your doctor.
2.)Ulasimang- bato (Peperonia Pellucida)

 A weed, with heart-shaped leaves also known as “pansit-pansitan”, grows in

shady parts of the garden and yard. It is effective in fighting arthritis and gout. The
leaves can be eaten fresh (about a cupful) as salad or like tea.
Parts utilized:
 leaves
Use:
 Lowers uric acid. (Rheumatism and gout)
Preparation:
 Wash leaves well. One and a half cup leaves are boiled in two glassfuls of water
over lower fire. Do not cover pot. Cool and strain. Divide into three parts and drink
each part three times a day after meals.
 May also be eaten as salad. Wash the leaves well. Prepare one and a half cups of
leaves. Divide into 3 parts and take as salad three times s day.

3.) Guava (Psidium guajava L.)

Bayabas or guava is a tropical plant, which is locally known for its edible
fruit. In the backyards of Filipino homes in the country, this plant is
commonly seen, and grown becauseof its many uses as fruit and as
traditional remedy to treat various ailments. As shown bymany research
studies, almost all of the parts of this plant have medicinal qualities and
value, and thus, making it as one of the most popular therapeutic plants in
the Philippines

Common names: Guava, bayabas (Tagalog); guyabas (Iloko); Guava

(English).
Indications: antidiarrheal and antiseptic
Found in:Common in the Philippines
Parts used:Leaves,fruits
Special precautions:Eating too much guava fruit may cause constipation

Preparation:
For washing wounds
– Maybe use twice a day
Diarrhea
– May be taken 3-4 times a day
As gargle and for toothache – Warm decoction is used for gargle. Freshly
pounded leaves are used for toothache. Boil chopped leaves for 15 minutes
at low fire. Do not cover and then let it cool and strain.

4.)Bawang (Alium sativum L.)

This herb is one of the most widely used herbal medicines in the Philippines
and can also be found commonly in the kitchen of Filipino households as it is
used to spice up food preparations. The Philippines bawang or garlic variety
is more pungent than the imported ones. Its medicinal properties have been
known for a long time and have been especiallyproven during World War II
when it was used to treat wounds and infections of soldiers.Garlic
antibacterial compound known as allicin, saved many lives of the soldiers as
thisproperty prevented the wounds from being infected and developing into
gangrene at a laterstage by extracting the juice of bawang or garlic and
applying to the wounds.

Common names: Ajos (Bisaya); garlic

Indications: Fresh cloves, capsules for lowering blood cholesterol levels;
antiseptic.
Found in:cultivated all over the world. Probably originated from Central Asia
Parts used: Leaves and bulbs (cloves)
Special precautions: Avoid taking with medicines for lowering blood sugar,
and
medicines for thinning blood. Dosage must not exceed 6-8 cooked cloves a
day.
Stomach ulcer may develop if garlic is eaten raw

Uses & Preparation:

Hypertension
– Maybe fried, roasted, soaked in vinegar for 30 minutes, or blanched in
boiled water for 15 minutes. Take 2 pieces 3 times a day after meals.
Toothache
– Pound a small piece and apply to affected area

5.) Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii)

Yerba Buena has been consumed for centuries as tea and herbal medicine as
a pain reliever(analgesic). Native American Indians used it even before the
“white men” colonized theAmericas. Today, this folk medicine’s efficacy has
been validated by scientific research. In the Philippines, Yerba Buena is one
of the 10 herbs endorsed by the Department of Health(DOH) as an effective
alternative medicine for aches and pains.

Common name:Peppermint
Indications and preparations: for pain, cough, colds, nausea, dizziness,
and
Pruritus
Parts utilized: leaves, sap of plant

Uses & Preparation:

Pain (headache, stomachache)
– Boil chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Divide decoction
into 2 parts, drink one part every 3 hours.
Rheumatism, arthritis and headache
– Crush the fresh leaves and squeeze sap. Massage sap on painful parts with
eucalyptus
Cough & Cold
– Soak 10 fresh leaves in a glass of hot water, drink as tea. (expectorant)
Swollen gums
– Steep 6 g. of fresh plant in a glass of boiling water for 30 minutes. Use as
a gargle solution
Toothache
– Cut fresh plant and squeeze sap. Soak a piece of cotton in the sap and
insert this in aching tooth cavity
Menstrual & gas pain
– Soak a handful of leaves in a lass of boiling water. Drink infusion.
Nausea & Fainting
– Crush leaves and apply at nostrils of patients
Insect bites
– Crush leaves and apply juice on affected area or pound leaves until like a
paste, rub on affected area
Pruritis
– Boil plant alone or with eucalyptus in water. Use decoction as a wash on
affected area.
6.) Sambong (Blumea balsamifera L. DC)

Sambong is an amazing medical plant.Coming from the family of

Compositae,it goes by several names locally.It is known in the Visayas as
bukadkad and as subsud in ilocos.This plant possesses a multitude of
properties that make it worthy of the DOH approval.

Common names: Sambong (Tagalog); lakad-bulan (Bikol); Ngai camphor

(English)
Indications: Diuretic in hypertension; dissolves kidney stones
Found in:In roadsides, fields, lowland and mountainous regions
Parts used:Leaves and flowering tops
Special precautions:Avoid using with other diuretics. When taking
diuretics, eat at
least one banana a day.

7.) Akapulko (Cassia alata L.)

Akapulko is a shrub found throughout the Philippines. It is known under
various names in different regions in the country.
Common names:Katanda (Tagalog); andadasi (Ilokano);palochina
(Bisaya);
ringworm bush,seven golden candlesticks, bayabas-bayabasan
Found in: Abundantly naturalized in South East Asia, and occasionally
planted
throughout the region for medicinal and ornamental purposes
Parts used: Leaves

Preparation:
Anti-fungal (tinea flava, ringworm, athlete’s foot and scabies)
– Fresh, matured leaves are pounded. Apply soap to the affected area 1-2
times a day

8.) Niyog- Niyogan (Quisqualis Indica L.)

Common names: Tartaraok (Tagalog); balitadham (Bisaya); Rangoon creeper,
Chinese honeysuckle, liane vermifuge.
Indications: Fruit (kernel) anthelmintic; leaves poultice for headache
Found in: In forest margins at low altitude, in gardensand backyards. Native to
Asian tropics and throughout Malesian region.
Parts used: Fruits
Special precautions: Follow recommended dosage. Overdose causes hiccups.
Preparation:
Anti-helmintic
-The seeds are taken 2 hours after supper. If no worms are expelled, the dose may be
repeated after one week. (Caution: Not to be given to children below 4 years old)
9.) Tsaang Gubat (Carmona retusa (Vahl) Masam.)
Tsaang Gubat is a shrub that grows abundantly in thePhilippines. In folkloric medicine,
the leaves has been used as a disinfectant wash during child birth, as cure for diarrhea,
as tea for general good heath and because Tsaang Gubathas high fluoride content, it is
used as a mouth gargle for preventing tooth decay. Research and test now prove it’s
efficacy as an herbal medicine. Aside from the traditional way of taking Tsaag Gubat, it
is now available commercially in capsules, tablets and tea bags.

Common names:Putputai (Bikol); alangit (Bisaya); forest tea, wild tea.

Indications:pills, leaf decoction for gastroenteritis; as gargle to prevent cavities
Found in:In secondary forests at low and medium altitudes. Sometimes cultivated
as ornamentals.
Parts used:Leaves

Preparation:
Diarrhea
– Boil chopped leaves into 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Divide decoction into 4
parts. Drink 1 part every 3 hours
Stomachache
– Boil chopped leaves in 1 glass of water for 15 minutes. Cool and strain.

10.) Ampalaya (Momordica charantia (L.) DC)

Ampalaya has been for used even by the Chinese for centuries. The effectively of
Ampalayaas an herbal medicine has been tried and tested by many research clinics and
laboratories worldwide. In the Philippines, the Department of Health has endorsed
Ampalaya as an alternative medicine to help alleviate various ailments

Common names:Ampalaya (Tagalog); paria (Ilokano); palia (Bisaya); bitter gourd,

bitter cucumber, bitter melon (English)
Indications:lowers blood sugar levels; for fertility regulation
Found in:In lowland rain forest, thickets, hedges, waste places, and roadsides.
Parts used:Young leaves
Special precautions:Blood sugar levels should be monitored regularly. The native
variety with small bitter fruit is recommended

Preparation:
Diabetes Mellitus (Mild non-insulin dependent)
– Chopped leaves then boil in a glass of water for 15 minutes. Do not cover. Cool and
strain. Take 1/3 cup 3 times a day after meals