10 HERBAL PLANTS

APPROVED BY DOH
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8423 KNOWN AS :
TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ACT (TAMA) OF
1997

• act created the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC)
to further the development of traditional and alternative medicines in the Philippines
10 HERBAL MEDICINES APPROVED BY THE DOH

S 1. Sambong
A 2. Akapulko
N 3. Niyog-niyogan
T 4. Tsaang gubat
A 5. Ampalaya

L 6. Lagundi

U 7. Ulasimang bato

B 8. Bawang’

B 9. Bayabas

Y 10. Yerba buena

REMINDERS:

• Avoid the use of insecticides as these may leave poison on plants

• In the preparation of herbal medicine, use a clay pot and renmove 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
• Decoction loose potency after some time. Dispose of decoction after one day. To keep fresh
during the day, keep lukewarm in a flask or thermos.
• Leaves, fruits, flowers or nuts must be mature before harvesting. Less medicinal
substances are found on young parts.
• 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
doctor.
HTTPS://DRIVE.GOOGLE.COM/FILE/D/
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• Sabong is an amazing medical plant. Coming from the family of Compositae, it goes by
several names locally. It is known in the Visayas as bukadkad and as subsud in ilocos. This
plant possesses a multitude of properties that make it worthy of the DOH approval.
• COMMON NAMES:
• Sambong (Tagalog); lakad-bulan (Bikol); Ngai camphor (English)
• INIDCATIONS:
• Diuretic in hypertension; dissolves kidney stones
• FOUND IN:
• In roadsides, fields, lowland and mountainous regions
• PARTS USED:
• Leaves and flowering tops
• SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:
• Avoid using with other diuretics.
• PREPARATION:
• Boil chopped leaves in water for 15 minutes until one glassful remains. Cool and strain.
• Divide decoction into 3 parts. Drink on part 3 times a day.
• NOTE: SAMBONG IS NOT A MEDICINE FOR KIDNEY INFECTION
2. AKAPULKO (CASSIA ALATA L.)

• Akapulko is a shrub found throughout the Philippines. It is known under various names in
different regions in the country.
• COMMON NAMES:
• Katanda (Tagalog); Andadasi (Ilokano); Palochina (Bisaya); Ringworm bush, Seven golden
candlesticks, Bayabas-bayabasan
• INIDCATIONS:
• Anti-fungal: Tinea flava, Ringworm, Athlete’s Foot and Scabies
• FOUND IN:
• Abundantly naturalized in South East Asia, and occasionally planted throughout the region for
medicinal and ornamental purposes
• PARTS USED:
• Leaves
• PREPARATION:
• Fresh, matured leaves are pounded.
• Apply as a soap to the affected part 1 to 2 times a day.
3. NIYOG-NIYOGAN (QUISQUALIS INDICA L.)

• a vine which bears tiny fruits and grows wild in backyard

• COMMON NAMES:
• Tartaraok (Tagalog); balitadham (Bisaya); Rangoon creeper, Chinese honeysuckle, liane vermifuge.
• INDICATIONS:
• Anti-helmintic (used to expel parasitic worms)
• FOUND IN:
• In forest margins at low altitude, in gardens and backyards. Native to Asian tropics and throughout Malaysian
region.
• PARTS USED:
• Fruits
• SPECIAL PRECAUTION:
• Follow recommended dosage. Overdose causes hiccups.
• PREPARATION:
• 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)
4. TSAANG GUBAT (CARMONA RETUSA)

• a shrub that grows abundantly in the Philippines. In folkloric medicine, the leaves has been used as a
disinfectant wash during child birth, as cure for diarrhea, as tea for general good heath and because
Tsaang Gubathas high fluoride content, it is used as a mouth gargle for preventing tooth decay.
• COMMON NAMES:
• Putputai (Bikol); alangit (Bisaya); forest tea, wild tea.
• INDICATIONS:
• Diarrhea, Stomach ache
• FOUND IN:
• In secondary forests at low and medium altitudes. Sometimes cultivated as ornamentals.
• PARTS USED:
• Leaves
• PREPARATIONS:
• DIARRHEA:
• Boil chopped leaves into 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Divide decoction into 4 parts. Drink 1 part every
3 hours
• STOMACHACHE
• Boil chopped leaves in 1 glass of water for 15 minutes. Cool and strain.
5. AMPALAYA (MOMORDICA CHARANTIA)

• Climbing vine with tendrils that grows up to 20cms long.

• Leaves are heart-shaped, which are 5 to 10cms in diameter.
• COMMON NAMES:
• Ampalaya (Tagalog); Paria (Ilokano); Palia (Bisaya); bitter gourd, Bitter cucumber, Bitter melon
(English
• INDICATIONS:
• lowers blood sugar levels
• FOUND IN:
• In lowland rain forest, thickets, hedges, waste places, and roadsides.
• PARTS USED:
• Young leaves
• SPEACIAL PRECAUTION:
• Blood sugar levels should be monitored regularly.
• 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.
6. LAGUNDI (VITEX NEGUNDO L.)

• one of the ten herbal medicines endorsed by the Philippine Department of Health as an
effective herbal medicine with proven therapeutic value. Studies have shown that Lagundi can
prevent the body’s production of leukotrienes, which are released during an asthma attack.
• Even in Japan, lagundi is becoming recognized as an effective herbal medicine, especially
since researches have shown that it contains properties that make it an expectorant and it has
been reported to function as a tonic as well
• had recently been commercialized and many pharmaceutical companies are making cough
syrups out of it
• COMMON NAMES:
• Dangla (Ilokano); five-leaved chaste tree, horseshoe vitex
• INDICATIONS:
• Asthma & cough; fever, dysentery, colds & pain; skin diseases and wounds; headache; rheumatism, sprain,
contusion, insect bites; aromatic bath for sick patients.
• FOUND IN:
• in humid places or along water courses, in waste places and mixed open forest
• PARTS USED: 
• Leaves and flowering tops
• SPECIAL PRECAUTIUON: 
• Make sure to have the five-leaved varieties, as there are other varieties of lagundi.
• PREPARATION:
• ASTHMA, COUGH & FEVER
• Boil chopped raw fruits or leaves in 2 glasses of water left for 15 minutes until the water left is only 1 glass
(decoction). Strain
• SKIN DISEASES (DERMATITIS, SCABIES, ULCER, ECZEMA) & WOUNDS
• Prepare a decoction of the leaves. Wash and clean the skin/wound with the decoction.
• HEADACHE
• Crushed leaves may be applied on the forehead.
• RHEUMATISM, SPRAIN, CONTUSION & INSECT BITES
• Pound the leaves and apply on affected part.
7. ULASIMANG BATO (PEPERONIA PELLUCIDA)

• has heart shaped leaves, succulent stems with tiny flowers on a spike. When matured, the small
fruits bear one seed which fall of the ground and propagate. This is a very popular traditional
medication for gout as this herbal plant contains analgesic properties.
• COMMON NAMES:
• Pansit-pansitan (Tagalog); Olasiman-ihalas (Cebu,Bisaya); Tangon-tangon (Bikol); Peperonia (English)
• INDICATIONS:
• Lowers uric acid (Rheumatism and Gout)
• FOUND IN:
• In lowland rain forest, thickets, hedges, waste places, and roadsides.
• PARTS USED:
• aerial plant parts
• SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:
• Avoid using with other pain relievers, diuretics
• PREPARATION:
• One a half cup leaves are boiled in two glass of water over low fire. Do not cover pot. Divide into 3
parts and drink one part 3 times a day
• May also be eaten as salad. Wash the leaves well. Prepare on and a half cup of leaves (not closely
packed). Divide into 3 parts and take as salad 3 times a day.
8. BAWANG (ALIUM SATIVUM L.)

• Its medicinal properties have been known for a long time and have been especially proven
during World War II when it was used to treat wounds and infections of soldiers
• Low herb and grows 60 cm high. Leaves are flat and linear and bulbs consist of several tubers.
• COMMON NAMES:
• Ajos (Bisaya); Garlic(Englis)
• INIDCATIONS:
• Hypertension, Toothache, Lowers cholesterol level in the blood
• FOUND IN:
• Cultivated all over the world. Probably originated from Central Asia
• PARTS USED:
• Leaves and bulbs (cloves)
• SPECIAL PREACUTIONS:
• Avoid taking medicines for thinning blood. Dosage must not exceed 6-8 cooked cloves a day. Take on full
stomach. Stomach ulcer may develop if garlic is eaten raw.
• PREPARATIONS:
• HYPERTENSION:
• Maybe fried, roasted, soaked in vinegar for 30 minutes, or blanched in boiled water for 15 minutes. Take 2 pieces 3 times a
day after meals.
• TOOTHACHE:
• Pound a small piece and apply to affected part.
9. BAYABAS (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L.)

• almost all of the parts of this plant have medicinal qualities and value, and thus, making it as
one of the most popular therapeutic plants in the Philippines.
• COMMON NAMES:
• Guava, bayabas (Tagalog); Guyabas (Iloko); Guava (English)
• INDICATIONS:
• Anti-diarrheal and Antiseptic
• FOUND IN:
• Common in the Philippines
• PARTS USED:
• Leaves,fruits
• SPECIAL PRECAUTION:
• Eating too much guava fruit may cause constipation
• PREPARATIONS:
• Warm decoction is used for gargle
• FOR WASHING WOUNDS:
• Wash the leaves with running water before boiling it for at least 15 minutes. Wait until the decoction cools
down into lukewarm temperature before rinsing the wound with it. Be careful not to use it while it is still hot
as it may cause burn.
10. YERBA BUENA (CLINOPODIUM DOUGLASII)

• A small multi-branching aromatic herb. The leaves are small, elliptical and with toothed
margin.
• The stem creeps to the ground, and develop roots.
• COMMON NAMES:
• Peppermint
• INDICATIONS:
• Pain in different parts of the body as headache, stomachache, rheumatism, arthritis, menstrual and gas
pain; cough & cold; swollen gums & toothache; nausea & fainting; insect bites & pruritus
• PARTS USED:
• Leaves, sap of plant
• PREPARATIONS:
• PAIN (HEADACHE, STOMACHACHE)
• Boil chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Divide decoction into 2 parts, drink one part every
3 hours.
• RHEUMNATISM, ARTHRITIS & HEADACHE
• Crush the fresh leaves and squeeze sap. Massage sap on painful parts with eucalyptus
• COUGH & COLD
• Soak 10 fresh leaves in a glass of hot water, drink as tea. (expectorant)
• TOOTHACHE
• Cut fresh plant and squeeze sap. Soak a piece of cotton in the sap and insert this in aching tooth cavity. Mouth should
be rinsed by gargling salt before inserting cotton.
• GAS PAIN & MENTRUAL PAIN
• Soak a handful of leaves in a lass of boiling water. Drink infusion. It induces menstrual flow and sweating.
• NAUSEA & FAINTING
• Crush leaves and apply at nostrils of patients
• INSECT BITES
• Crush leaves and apply juice on affected area or pound leaves until like a paste, rub on affected area
• PRURITUS
• Boil plant alone or with eucalyptus in water. Use decoction as a wash on affected area.