USES

Akapulko is commonly used as an anti-fungal and antibacterial treatment for different skin
diseases that include the following:

 Ringworms
         Scabies
         Eczema
         Insect bites
         Skin itchiness/inflammation
         Other skin infections
Akapulko or Acapulco • Benefits & Treatment of Akapulko:

• External Use:

• Treatment of skin diseases: Tinea infections, insect bites, ringworms, eczema, scabies and itchiness.

• Mouthwash in stomatitis

• Internal use:

Expectorant for bronchitis and dyspnoea

• Alleviation of asthma symptoms

• Used as diuretic and purgative, used as a diuretic Parts used: Leaves, Flower,

• For cough & fever

• As a laxative to expel intestinal parasites and other stomach problems.

Nursing Responsibilities:

 Instruct the patient to avoid the use of insecticides as these may leave poison on plants.
 In the preparation of herbal medicine, instruct the patient use a clay pot and remove cover
while boiling at low heat.
 Inform the patient to use only the part of the plant being advocated.
 Instruct the patient to follow accurate dose of suggested preparation.
 Encourage the patient to use only one kind of herbal plant for each type of symptoms or
sickness

Nursing considerations

 During medication reconciliation, determine whether patients use or intend to use Akapulko,
including other herbal supplements.
 Assess their knowledge of their health status, diseases, and treatments.
 Identify any potential interactions of drugs and herbal remedies and document them in the
medical record, then follow up with the patient and provider as indicated.
 Help educate patients about how to make informed choices.
 Evaluate their understanding of the difference between OTC "drugs" and "food supplements,"
such as herbs provided in tablet or capsule form that are unregulated and lack FDA approval.
 Caution patients about the potential for fraudulent advertising, especially on the Internet. Warn
patients that advertisers who lack scientific data to support their claims often use testimonials
from users.
 Encourage patients to fully disclose their CAM supplement use to their healthcare providers.

Educate Patient and Family:

Educate the Patient about the following precaution for akapulko herbal plant:
 Some people may have an allergic reaction to the component of the akapulko plant so if the
patient experience skin irritation and inflammation when using, advise them to consult their
doctor immediately.
 If the patient have hypertension or heart problems, it is best to consult a doctor before using
the akapulko plant since it tends to counteract or exacerbate the effectiveness of your current
medications.
 Excessive use of the akapulko herb can cause the breakdown of red blood cells, which could
prove to be a serious problem, especially for those who are already anemic or suffering from
illnesses involving regulation of red blood cells.
 The akapulko plant contains a certain form of amino acid called canavanine that may aggravate
the grave symptoms of auto-immune diseases like lupus.
 Akapulko also contains Vitamin K, which is an essential vitamin and plays an important role in
the blood coagulation process. If the patient is taking anticoagulants or other vitamin K-
containing drugs, they should consult a doctor before using this herb to treat their condition.
 A strong decoction of Akapulko leaves is an abortifacient. Pregnant women should not take
decoction of the leaves or any part of this plant. It should be noted that the pounded leaves of
this plant may be applied thinly on the affected part twice a day. Marked improvement may be
expected after two to three weeks of continuous application to the affected area(s) where the
prepared Akapulko leaves were applied.
 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.