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.
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.
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

10 DOH APPROVED HERBAL

MEDICINES

Sambong (Blumea
balsamifera)

Common names: Sambong

Indication:
Hypertension,
Urolithiasis,
Parts used: Leaves
Special precautions:
Although considered safe,
not much is known about
Sambong therefore it is
advised to avoid taking it
during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Avoid using with other
diuretics.
When
taking
diuretics,
eat
at
least one banana a day.

Preparation:
a) Boil Chopped leaves
in water for 15 minutes
until
one
glassful
remains. Cool and strain
b) Divide into 3 parts.
Drink one part part 3
times a day

Ulasimang Bato (Peperomia

pellucida)
Common
names:
Pancit-Pancitan
Indication: Gout and
Rheumatic
arthritis,
Headache, Skin Boils,
Abscess, Pimples
Parts used: Leaves,
Stems
Special precautions:
Though there are no
reported side effects,
it is advised to take
moderate doses
Avoid
using
with
other pain relievers,
diuretics

Preparation:
As vegetable
The leaves and steams
may be eaten raw, when
freshly
harvested
and
washed.

As drink

Wash
the
leaves/steams. Measure 2
glasses of water and 1
glass of leaves/steam. Boil
then set aside, cool and
strain.
For headache
Wash a couple of leaves, - Use 2 times a day, 1 cup
bruise the surface and apply in the morning and 1 cup in
the evening
on the forehead.
For skin problems
Wash and pound the
leaves/steams and apply it
directly to affected area.

Niyog-Niyogan (Quisqualis Indica L.)

Common names: Chinese
Honeysuckle, talulo (tagalog),
pinones (visayan)
Indication: Antihelmintics
Parts used: Seeds, Leaves,
roots, fruits
Special precautions: May
cause hiccups and abdominal
pain. 150 mg/kg p.o. is the
maximum
dose
allowed,
Adults may take 10 seeds
while children 4 to 7 years of
age may eat up to four seeds
only. Children from ages 8 to
9 may take six seeds and
seven seeds may be eaten by

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)

Bayabas (Psidium guajava)

Common names: Guava
Indication: Hypertension,
Toothaches, Diarrhea,
Deworming, Poor Circulation
Parts used: Fruit, Bark,
Leaves
Special precautions:
Eating too much can cause
constipation

Preparation:
Boil one cup of Bayabas
leaves in three cups of
water for 8 to 10 minutes.
Let
cool.

Use
decoction
as
mouthwash, gargle. Use
as wound disinfectant wash affected areas with
the decoction of leaves 2
to 3 times a day. Fresh
leaves may be applied to
the wound directly for
faster healing.

For diarrhea, boil the

chopped leaves for 15
minutes in water, and
strain. Let cool, and drink
a cup every three to four
hours.
To stop nosebleed,
densely roll Bayabas
leaves, then place in the
nostril cavities.

Akapulko / Acapulco (Cassia alata)

Common names: Ringworm
bush, bayabas-bayabasan
Indication: Tinea Infections,
Ring worms, Expectorants for
bronchitis, Mouthwash for
stomatitis, used as a diuretic
Parts used: Leaves, Flower,
roots
Special
precautions:
Pregnant women should not
take decoction of the leaves
or any part of this plant as a
strong decoction of this plant
is considered abortifacient

Preparation:
For external use, pound the
leaves of the Akapulko plant,
squeeze the juice and apply
on affected areas.
For internal use: cut the
plant parts into a manageable
size then soak and boil for 10
to 15 minutes let cool and
use as soon as possible.
Note: The decoction looses its
potency if not used for a long
time. Dispose leftovers after
one day

Ampalaya (Momordica charantia)

Common names:
Bitter
gourd
Indication:
Diabetes
Mellitus
Parts used: Leaves (young)
Special precautions:
Blood sugar levels should
be monitored regularly.
In
large
dozes,
pure
Ampalaya juice can be a
purgative and abortifacient.

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.
Note: Young leaves may be
blanched
and
eaten

glassful 2 times a day

Tsaang Gubat (Carmona retusa)

Common names: Wild tea,

alangit
Indication:
Diarrhea,
stomachache,
prevent
cavities
Parts used: Leaves
Special precautions: None

Preparation:
For Diarrhea
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.

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

Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii)

Common
names:
Peppermint
Indication: Pain (headache,
stomachache, tooth ache),
rheumatism,
cough
and
colds, swollen gums, pruritus
Parts used: Leaves, sap of
plant
Special
precautions:
Caution should be observed
in
taking
this
herbal
medicine as itcan be toxic
inlarge doses.

Preparations:
For pain (headache and
stomachache)
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 & Cold

Soak 10 fresh leaves in
a glass of hot water, drink
as tea. (expectorant)
For Swollen gums
Steep 6 g. of fresh
plant in a glass of boiling
water for 30 minutes. Use
as a gargle solution
For Toothache
Cut fresh plant and
squeeze sap. Soak a piece
of cotton in the sap and
insert this in aching tooth

For Menstrual & gas pain

Soak a handful of
leaves in a lass of boiling
water. Drink infusion.
For Nausea & Fainting
Crush leaves and apply
at nostrils of patients
For Insect bites
Crush leaves and apply
juice on affected area or
pound leaves until like a
paste, rub on affected area

For Pruritus
Boil plant alone or with
eucalyptus in water. Use
decoction as a wash on
affected area.

Bawang (Alium sativum)

Common names:
ajos,
garlic
Indication: Hypertension,
toothache
Parts used: Leaves, 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

Preparation:
For Hypertension
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.

Lagundi (Vitex negundo)

Common names:
fiveleaved
chaste
tree,
horseshoe vitex
Indication: Asthma and
cough, fever, dysentery,
colds & pain, skin diseases
and
wounds,
headache,
rheumatism,
sprain,
contusions,
insect
bites.
Aromatic bath for sick
patients
Parts
used:
Leaves,
flowering tops
Special
precautions:
Make sure to have the
five-leaved varieties, as

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.
For aromatic bath for sick
patients
Prepare leaf decoction
for use in sick and newly
delivered patients.

Commonly used herbal meds that are

not approved by doh

Malunggay (Moringa oleifera)

Common names: Ben oil
tree. Miracle tree, drumstick
tree
Indication: Asthma, gout,
back pain, rheumatism,
wounds and sores. Increase
breast milk in lactating
women.
Parts
used:
Leaves,
flowers, young pods
Special
precautions:
Although
malunggayconsumption is
generally accepted as safe.
But according to Indian

Preparation:
For sores and wound
Boil malunggay roots and
let it cool to tolerable warm
temperature and use it to
wash wounds and sores. By
gargling
the
Malunggay
decoction, it may also be
used to wash mouth sores
and sore throats.
As poultice

Grounded
Malunggay
seeds, leaves and bark may
be
applied
topically
as
poultice onto swollen flesh to
relieve inflammation.

Tawa-Tawa (Euphorbia hirta)

Common names: Gatasgatas, asthma weed
Indication:
Asthma,
diarrhea,
dysentery,
dengue
Parts used: Entire plant
Special precautions: Safe
use of tawa-tawa during
pregnancy and lactation has
not been established. It has
been reported to cause both
contraction and relaxation of
the smooth muscles. In view
of lack of pharmacological
and toxicity data, the use of
tawa-tawa during pregnancy

Preparation:

Cut roots off 5 to 6 tawatawa plants. Rinse. Put

the tawa-tawa into a pot
of boiling water for one
minute. Cool. Drink the
decoction, 1 to 1 1/2
glasses, every hour for
24 hours.

Tanglad (Cymbopogon citratus)

Common names:
lemon
grass, citronella
Indication: stomachache,
fever,
headache,
diuretic,
vomiting,
Parts
used:
Leaves
Special
precautions:
Tanglad is not known to be
harmful when taken in
recommended
dosages.
However,
individuals
should always take caution
before
using
any
treatment.

Preparation:
As Tea
Pound or cut about 10
leaves of Tanglad then
add in 2 cups of boiling
water for 10 to 15
minutes, strain, add sugar
and a slice of ginger to
taste. Let it cool and drink
a cup three to four times a
day.

Thank you!