12/08/2020

OBJECTIVES
At the end of the discussion, the participants will be able to:

1. Discuss the role of medicinal plants in

Philippine Health Care
2. Differentiate the use of each of the 10
DOH approved medicinal plants
3. Explain how to prepare decoction and
infusions of medicinal plants

RA NO. 8423

TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

ACT [TAMA]
- An act creating PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF
TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE
HEALTH CARE [PITAHC]

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MEDICINAL PLANT
DEFINITION
• A plant which has been used
for medical purposes at one
time or another and which
although not necessarily a
product or available for
marketing, is the original
material of herbal medicines

HERBAL MEDICINES

• “Used to provide first-line and basic health service to

people where it is the only available health service or
where it offers the only affordable remedy”
• “herbal medicines are not necessarily always safe
because they are natural”
• “HERBAL MEDICINE – plant-derived materials or
products with therapeutic or other human health benefits
which contains either raw or processed ingredients from
one or more plants”

TYPES OF HERBAL MEDICINES

1. RAW PLANT MATERIALS – fresh or dry plant
materials which are marketed whole or simply cut
into small pieces

2. PROCESSED PLANT MATERIALS – plant materials

treated according to traditional procedures to
improve safety and efficacy, to facilitate clinical use
or make medicinal preparations

3. MEDICINAL HERBAL PRODUCTS – finished,

labelled pharmaceutical products in dosage forms
that contain one or more of the following: extracts,
powdered, purified substances from plant materials

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HERBAL PLANTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

• 80 Philippine medicinal plants passed safety and

efficacy testing
• Out of these, 10 are actively being promoted by the
DOH as a component of Primary Health Care
• 3 medicinal plants are now included in the National
Drug Formulary

GATHERING, STORING AND USING

HERBS

Never gather plants after a rain

Dry the plant upside down away

from pests, animals and air pollution

One dose does not fit all

DECOCTION
1. Usually the preparation of choice
2. Select a ceramic pot with fitting
lid
3. Proportions:
– I cup chopped fresh herbs
– Less than ½ cup of dried
herbs
– 2 cups of water
4. Turn on the heat and bring to a
roiling boil
5. Simmer for 15 mins or until half
of the water is left
6. Strain mixture to a teacup
7. Use within the day

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1. Used for flowers, delicate leaves or fresh

tender plants
2. Water is brought to a boil
3. Pour over herbs, steep for 10-15 mins
4. Stirring a few times while steeping is
helpful
5. Strain the infusion is using chopped
herbs
6. Taken on the same day it was prepared
7. Refrigerate remainder

INFUSION OR TEA

LAGUNDI: Vitex Negundo

VITEX NEGUNDO: QUICK REF

Common Names Lagundi, Dangla, Five-leaved Chaste Tree, Tugas

DOH-approved Use: Cough
Preparation: boil grated fresh leaves in 2 cups of water
2-6 y/o: 1 ½ tbsp
7-12 y/o: 3 tbsp
>13 y/o: 6 tbsp
Cool and strain
Other uses: Bath for mothers who newly delivered

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VITEX NEGUNDO

PARTS USED Leaves, seeds, roots

INDICATIONS Bronchitis, tracheobronchitis
Asthma, cough, sinusitis
Common cold, fever,
Adjuvant therapy to anti-inflammatory
drugs
Analgesic
DOSAGE Decocted Leaves: 1 cup, 3-4x/day
Leaves: 300mg/cap
SIDE EFFECTS Overdose causes tachycardia
Not for children below 3 y/o
Not for pregnant/lactating mothers

YERBA
BUENA:
MENTHA X
CORDIFOLIA

MENTHA X CORDIFOLIA: QUICK REF

Common Names Hierba Buena, Hilbas, Mint, Peppermint, Marsh Mint

DOH-approved Use: Body Pain
Preparation:
Boil fresh leaves
Drink in equal amounts 3x/ day

Alternatively:
Crush fresh leaves and apply on areas with pain
Other uses: None

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MENTHA X CORDIFOLIA
PARTS USED Leaves, stem
INDICATIONS Antibacterial, anti-febrile
Analgesic, antimutagenic
Antiteratogenic, local vasodilation
Pruritus, urticaria
Antihelminthic, antispasmodic
Catarrh of the Upper Respiratory tract
Anti-asthmatic
Stimulant, dyspepsia
Abdominal distension, flatulence

DOSAGE Prepared as an infusion 3-5x/day

Dried and powdered plant 250-350mg
/cap

MENTHA X CORDIFOLIA
SIDE EFFECTS Do not use near the eyes and muco
us membranes
Mint and mint oil generally recogniz
ed as safe
not to be ingested patients with kid
ney or gall bladder stones
Not to be recommended for use in
pregnant or lactating women
INTERACTIONS Animal study indicates that use of pep
permint oil may increase cyclosporine l
evels

INFUSION PREPARATION

1. Water is brought to a boil and poured over the herb

2. Covered with saucer and allowed to steep for 10-15 mins
3. Best to use ceramic pot with lid [avoid metal pots] and stir
Or
1. 1-2 teaspoon of powdered herb in 180-250ml of water
2. Stir once halfway through the steeping time and let the powder settle to the bottom
3. Drink infusion off the top while leaving the sediment

Infusions are best prepared as needed and taken the same day it was prepared either hot, warm or co
ld
One teacup, 2,3,5x/day

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SAMBONG: BLUMEA
BALSAMIFERA

BLUMEA BALSAMIFERA

Common Names Blumea Camphor, Bukadkad, Sambong, Subsob

DOH-approved Use: Edema, decrease the size and weight of urinary calculi
Preparation:
Boil fresh leaves in 2 cups of water
Divide and drink decoction in equal amount in the mor
ning, afternoon and evening
WATCH OUT Not used for urinary infections

BLUMEA BALSAMIFERA

PARTS USED Mature leaves

INDICATIONS Urolithiasis
Diuretic
Hepatoprotectant
DOSAGE Fresh or dried leaves in decoction:
4-8 cups/day
Leaves, dried and pulverized:
250mg/cap
Drink 2 or more liters of water/day
Balneotherapy Add 600-900 ml of decoction to bath water, soak
for 10 mins

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BLUMEA BALSAMIFERA

SIDE EFFECTS Prolonged internal use should be avoided

Not be used for children below 3y/o
Not to be used during menstruation and during
first four months of pregnancy

TSAANG GUBAT: CARMONA RETUSA

CARMONA RETUSA: QUICK REF

Common Names Wild Tea, Alangitngit, Kalimong

DOH-approved Use: Anti-motility, against tooth decay
Other uses: Anti-allergic, anti-oxidant,
antispasmodic

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CARMONA RETUSA
PARTS USED Leaves
INDICATIONS Anti-motility, antispasmodic,
anti-allergy, anticaries,
antimutagenic, antioxidant
DOSAGE Decoction 3-6x/day
Half of the amount for children under 12 y/o
Capsules 250-300mg/cap
CONSIDERATIONS Patients with diarrhea have to rehydrated

CONTRAINDICATION Not for pregnant or lactating mothers

NIYOG-NIYOGAN:
Quisqualis Indica

QUISQUALIS INDICA: QUICK REF

Common Names Chinese Honey Suckle, Niyog-niyogan

DOH-approved Use: Intestinal worms and parasites
[anti-helminthic]
Other uses: Inflammation of kidneys, boils,
skin ulcers, headache, fever,
diarrhea, dysuria

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QUISQUALIS INDICA
PARTS USED Leaves, flowers, fruits and seeds
INDICATIONS Antihelminthic – seeds are dried and taken orally
Inflammation of the kidney- fruits taken orally
Boils, skin ulcer, headache –
leaves are used as poultice
DOSAGE > Follow steps if used for infusion
> Deworming –
4-7 seeds for children
8-10 seeds for adults
SIDE EFFECTS Diarrhea, abdominal pain, distention and hiccups

CONTRAINDICATION Avoid heavy intake during pregnancy and

breastfeeding mothers, allergic reaction

BAYABAS
PSIDIUM GUAJAVA

PSIDIUM GUAJAVA: QUICK REF

Common Names Guava, Bayabas, Bayabo, Tayabas

DOH-approved Use: Wound cleansing [antiseptic]
Other uses: Diarrhea, toothache, gum infection,
tooth decay, skin diseases

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PSIDIUM GUAJAVA
PARTS USED Leaves
INDICATIONS Bronchitis, anti-diarrheal, antispasmodic,
antimicrobial, hepatoprotective
DOSAGE 1-4 cups of leaf decoction/day
500mg/cap, 3x/day

Wound cleaning: soak gauze sheet in the tincture

Reapply 3-5x/day
INTERACTION May potentiate effects of antidiarrheal meds

CONTRAINDICATION Pregnant/lactating mother

AKAPULCO: CASSIA ALATA

CASSIA ALATA: QUICK REF

Common Names Ringworm bush, akapulko, kapurko

DOH-approved Use: Ringworms, fungal infection
Other uses: bronchitis, asthma, diuretic, cough, fever

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CASSIA ALATA

PARTS USED Leaves

INDICATIONS Broad spectrum antibacterial, anti-candida, analgesic
, anti-inflammatory, laxative
DOSAGE Infusion: 1cup, 2x/day
250mg/cap
CONTRAINDICATION Children below 12y/o
Pregnant/lactating mothers

PANSIT-PANSITAN:
Peperomia pellucida

PEPEROMIA PELLUCIDA: QUICK REF

Common Names Ulasimang Bato, Pansit-pansitan,

Pepper Elder, Shiny bush
DOH-approved Use: Rheumatism, gout
Other uses: Eye inflammation, sore throat,
hypertension, wounds, burn, fever,
abdominal pains

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PEPEROMIA PELLUCIDA

PARTS USED Stems and leaves

INDICATIONS Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant,
Antibacterial, uric acid reduction
DOSAGE Follow steps for decoction
Can be eaten raw [as salad] or
cooked with other vegetables
CONTRAINDICATION Pregnant and lactating women
Allergies

BAWANG: ALLIUM SATIVUM

ALLIUM SATIVUM: QUICK REF

Common Names Garlic, Bawang, Ajos

DOH-approved Use: Antilipemic, decreases blood pressure
Other uses: Infection, rheumatism, toothache

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ALLIUM SATIVUM

PARTS USED Cloves

INDICATIONS Hypolipidemic, fibrinolytic, diuretic vasodilator,
Antimicrobial, antifungal
DOSAGE 300-500mg/cap, 3x/day
Oil extract: 1 tbsp, 3x/day during meals
SIDE EFFECTS Overdose causes skin irritation, stomach irritation
CONTRAINDICATION Children below 12 y/o
CONSIDERATIONS Always use fresh cloves

AMPALAYA:
MOMORDICA
CHARANTIA

MOMORDICA CHARANTIA: QUICK REF

Common Names Bitter gourd, bitter melon, ampalaya

DOH-approved Use: Hypoglycemic in Type II-NIDD
Other uses: Weight reduction, skin burns, scalds,
hemorrhoids

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MOMORDICA CHARANTIA

PARTS USED Fruits, leaves

INDICATIONS Hypoglycemic agent, weight management
DOSAGE Juice 1-2 fresh fruit, drink 1 cup 2x/day
Follow procedure for decoction
250mg/cap, 3x/day
SIDE EFFECTS Hypoglycemia, hypokalemia
CONTRAINDICATION Pregnant/ lactating women
Children below 12 y/o
CONSIDERATION Seeds may cause acute hemolytic anemia,
Abortifacient effects

REFERENCES
1. Rummel, D. Philippine Medicinal Plants in Primary Health Care: Phy
totherapy Phytopharmacology, Phytochemistry, Veterinary Medicine.
Volume I. 2009. C&E Publishing.
2. World Health Organization. 1998.Report: Working Group on Herbal
Medicines. Manila, Philippines.
3. Philippine Herbs and Supplements Research Database. Herbs.ph
4. DOH. A.O. 174 s. 2004. Guidelines on the Registration of Herbal Me
dicines. 2004.

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