HEALTH

TOP TEN MEDICINAL PLANTS

MEDICINAL PLANTS
- commonly called as Herbal Medicine
- also known as Phytomedicine, Botanical medicine
- has natural compounds that according to study, can cure different ailment
- proven and tested by DOH to have medicinal value

 AKAPULKO / Senna alata

- woody bush that grows wild in the tropical climate of the Philippines and an affordable locally sourced herbal
medicine
- its leaves have been traditionally used to treat fungal skin infections such as ringworms, scabies, and eczema.

 AMPALAYA / Momordica Charantia

- popular medicinal herb for the treatment and management of Type 2 Diabetes
- rich in vitamins and minerals, can also aid those for coughs, colds, asthma,

 BAWANG / Allium sativum L.

- one of the most widely used herbal medicines in the Philippines
- for hypertension and toothache

 GUAVA / Psidium Guajava

- primarily used as an antiseptic, to disinfect wounds
- can be used as a mouthwash to treat tooth decay and gum infection
- people use guava leaves for stomach and intestinal conditions, pain, and diabetes
- the fruit is used for high blood pressure

 LAGUNDI / Vitex negundo

- widely used by Filipinos in treating wounds and as pain medication for centuries
- common for cough and asthma
- the seeds can treat skin diseases
- flowers can heal numerous diseases like diarrhea and cholera
- its black fruit, when dried and consumed, can relieve any intestinal discomfort
- the roots can be used in treating rheumatism and dysentery

 NIYOG-NIYOGAN / Quisqualis indica

- it is a vine known as “Chinese honeysuckle”
- effective in the elimination of intestinal worms due to its deworming properties, particularly the Ascaris and
Trichina

 SAMBONG / Blumea balsamifera

- a wild aromatic shrub that grows in tropical climate areas such as the Philippines, India, Africa, and in the
eastern Himalayas
- known as an herbal medicine for patients with kidney stones
- its Ngai or Blumea camphor is also known for treating wounds, cuts, rheumatism, colds, coughs, and even act
as anti-diarrhea and anti-spasms
 TSAANG GUBAT / Ehretia microphylla
- also known as wild tea
- used to treat skin allergies like eczema, scabies, and itchiness after childbirth
- the plant also contains properties that can treat mild psoriasis
- based on clinical research, tea extraction may also improve symptoms of allergic rhinitis

 ULASIMANG BATO / PANSIT-PANSITAN / Peperomia pellucida

- usually mixed as part of a salad
- said to be good in treating arthritis and gout
- can cure several health conditions like abscesses, abdominal pain, skin sores, conjunctivitis, measles, and
kidney stones

 YERBA BUENA / Clinopodium douglasii

- One of the oldest household remedies known in the Philippines
- the tea concoction of Yerba Buena can act as an analgesic to alleviate body aches, including pain caused by
rheumatism and gout
- can also relieve aches on the tooth and stomach

ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES
 ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
- A substitute/replacement in the absence of the standard medication treatment that people are used to avail
- 1500s
- Focuses on stimulating body capabilities to heal itself through energy alignment and herbal supplementations

 NATUROPATHY
- Naturopathic medicine views diseases as a manifestation of an alternation in the processes by which the
body naturally heals itself
- through natural remedies, controlled diet, exercise, and massage

TYPES OF ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES

 ACUPUNCTURE
- traditional Chinese medicine practice that originated thousands of years ago
- a form of energy medicine where long thin needles are inserted to specific parts of the body to affect the
energy flow
- is believed to treat musculoskeletal dysfunctions
- hair thin needles to specific acupuncture points throughout the body to restore the flow of qi (energy),
balance the body’s energy, stimulate healing, and promote relaxation

 VENTOSA CUPPING MASSAGE THERAPY

- an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes
to create suction
- people get it for many purposes, to help with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well-being, and
as a type of deep-tissue massage
- dates back to ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Middle Eastern cultures
- one of the oldest medical textbooks in the world, the Ebers Papyrus, describes how the ancient Egyptians
used cupping therapy in 1,550 B.C.
- the cups are made up of: glass, bamboo, earthenware, silicone
DIFFERENT TYPES OF CUPPING
 DRY CUPPING
- the form of cupping most commonly used by healthcare practitioners in Canada
- a glass, plastic, or silicone cup is placed on the skin where the air within the cup is removed causing a vacuum
effect
- a safe and beneficial technique

 WET CUPPING
- requires a skin incision
- the skin incision can be either before or after cupping treatment
- the cup is meant to suck out any impurities in the body which may include blood, toxins, fragmented blood
cells, and tissue fluid

SIDE EFFECTS OF CUPPING

- is fairly safe as long as you go to a trained health professional
- could have these side effects: burns, bruises, mild discomfort, skin infection

 ACUPRESSURE
- form of massage where pressure is intentionally applied to specific points of the body
- also referred to as a shiatsu massage

SIDE EFFECTS AND SAFETY

- should never be painful
- if you experience any pain, tell your therapist immediately
- after a session, some people may feel soreness or bruising at acupressure points
- may also feel temporarily lightheaded
- pressure should be gentle over fragile or sensitive areas, such as the face
- shouldn’t be done on open wounds, bruises, varicose veins, or any area that is bruised or swollen

 REFLEXOLOGY
- the application of appropriate pressure to specific points and areas on the feet, hands, or ears
- Reflexologists believe that these reflex points correspond to different body organs and systems, and that
pressing them create real benefits for the person’s health

BENEFITS OF REFLEXOLOGY
- relaxation, nerve function, blood circulation, headache reduction

 NUTRITION THERAPY
- Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) or Nutrition Therapy is a therapeutic approach to treating medical
conditions and their associated symptoms via the use of a specifically tailored diet devised and monitored by
a medical doctor, physician, or registered dietitian nutritionist (RD)
 QUACKERY
WHAT IS QUACKERY?
- A form of health fraud, is any advertisement, promotion or sale of products and services that have not
scientifically proven safe and effective.

WHO IS A QAUACK?
- An individual that has little or no professional qualification to practice medicine.
- Pretentiously uses meaningless medical jargon and relies on scare tactics, and quick fixes.
- Also called Charlatans.

There are major characteristics of health quackery:

1. It is a big business. A huge amount of money is spent on a fraudulent health products and services.
2. It multiplies and spreads fast.
3. It thrives on individuals who are diagnosed with illnesses that are known to have no cure.

REASONS WHY PEOPLE PATRONIZE QUAKERY:

 Lack of scientific knowledge in choosing health products and services
 The quack doctor does not charge service fee, donations only.

SIGNS OF QUAKERY:
1. Offer guaranteed, quick cure for illness with a “miracle” drug or treatment
2. Use of fear strategies to convince the patient o his need for cure
3. Use a secret formula to convince the patient that their illness is cured
4. Use testimonials or undocumented case histories from satisfied patients

MEDICAL QUACKERY
- Includes cures, treatments and remedies of various health conditions that are drugless or bloodless in nature.

NUTRITIONAL QUACKERY
- Involves promotion of food fads and other nutritional practices that claim to be all-natural.
- These are believed to have beneficial properties of multiple plants.

DEVICE QUACKERY
- It makes use of miraculous gadgets that are believed to cure certain health conditions.