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
breast-feeding.
• 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 drink
As vegetable Wash the leaves/steams.
The leaves and steams may be Measure 2 glasses of water and 1
eaten raw, when freshly harvested glass of leaves/steam. Boil then
and washed.
set aside, cool and strain.
For headache - Use 2 times a day, 1 cup in the
Wash a couple of leaves, morning and 1 cup in the evening
bruise the surface and apply 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 children 10 to 12 years old.
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 ½ 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 it can be toxic
in large doses.
Preparations: For Cough & Cold
For pain (headache and Soak 10 fresh leaves in a
stomachache) glass of hot water, drink as tea.
Boil chopped leaves in (expectorant)
2 glasses of water for 15
minutes. Cool and strain. For Swollen gums
Steep 6 g. of fresh plant
For rheumatism, arthritis and in a glass of boiling water for 30
headache minutes. Use as a gargle solution
Crush the fresh leaves
and squeeze sap. Massage sap For Toothache
on painful parts with Cut fresh plant and
eucalyptus. squeeze sap. Soak a piece of
cotton in the sap and insert this
in aching tooth cavity
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 Pruritus
Boil plant alone or with
eucalyptus in water. Use
decoction as a wash on affected
area.

For Insect bites

Crush leaves and apply
juice on affected area or pound
leaves until like a paste, rub 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: five-leaved
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
there are other varieties of
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.
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
malunggay consumption is
generally accepted as safe. But
according to Indian traditional
usage, Malunggay may have an
abortificient effects.
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: Gatas-gatas,
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 and lactation is
therefore not recommended.
Preparation:

Cut roots off 5 to 6 tawa-tawa

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!