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10 DOH
Approved Herbal
Medications
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Herbal Medicine

 As part of primary health care and because of the increasing

cost of drugs, the use of locally available medicinal plants and
herbs in the Philippine backyard and field have been found to be
effective in the treatment of common ailments as attested to by
the National Science Development Board, other government and
private agencies/ persons engaged in research.

 The DOH is advocating the use of the following ten herbal

plants.
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HERBAL MEDICINE REPUBLIC ACT
8423

 Otherwise known as TAMA TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE

MEDICINE ACT OF 1997

 An act creating the Philippine Institute of Traditional and

Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) to accelerate the development
of traditional and alternative health care in the Philippines,
providing for a traditional and alternative health care
development fund and for other purposes.
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10 HERBAL MEDICINES APPROVED
BY THE DOH
1. Sambong 8. Bawang

2. Akapulko 9. Bayabas

3. Niyog-niyogan 10. Yerba Buena

4. Tsaang Gubat

5. Ampalaya

6. Lagundi

7. Ulasimang Bato
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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.
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Reminders on the Use of Herbal
Medicine
 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.

 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 a doctor
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SAMBONG

 Scientific Name: Blumea balsamifera

 A plant that reaches 1 ½ to 3 meters in height with rough hairy

leaves.

 Young plants around mother plant may be separated when they

have three or more leaves.
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SAMBONG USES

 Anti-edema

 Diuretic

 Anti-urolithiasis
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PREPARATION

 Boil chopped leaves in water for 15 minutes until one glassful

remains. Cool and strain.

 Divide decoction into 3 parts. Drink one part 3 times a day.

 NOTE: Sambong is not a medicine for kidney infection

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AKAPULKO

 Scientific Name: Cassia alata

 Ringworm Bush Bayas-bayasan

 This plant is about 1 to 2 meters tall The leaves are embraced

with 8 to 20 oblongelliptical shaped leaflets It has flowers with
oblong sepals
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USES & PREPARATION

 Anti-fungal: Tinea Flava, Ringworm, Athlete ’s Foot and Scabies

 Fresh, matured leaves are pounded.

 Apply as a soap to the affected part 1 to 2 times a day.

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NIYUG-NIYOGAN

 Scientific Name: Quisqualis indica L.

 Chinese Honey Suckle

 A vine which bears tiny fruits and grows wild in backyards. The
seeds must come from mature, dried but newly opened fruits.
Propagated through stem cuttings about 20cm in height.
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USES & PREPARATION

 Anti-helmintic (used to expel parasitic worms.)

 PREPARATION:
 Seeds of niyug-niyogan are eaten raw two hours before the
patient’s last meal of the day.

 Adults may take 10 seeds; children 4 to 7 years of age may eat up

to four seeds only; ages 8 to 9 may take six seeds and seven
seeds may be eaten by children 10 to 12 years old.

 Not to be given to children below four years old.

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TSAANG GUBAT

 Scientific Name: Carmona retusa

 Forest Tea or Wild Tea

 A shrub with small, shiny nice-looking leaves that grows in wild

uncultivated areas and forests.
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USES & PREPARATION

 Diarrhea

 Stomach ache

 PREPARATION:
 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.

 Wash leaves and chop. Boil chopped leaves in 1 glass of water for
15 minutes. Cool and filter/strain and drink.
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AMPALAYA

 Scientific Name: Momordica charantia

 Bitter Gourd or Bitter melon

 A climbing vine with tendrils that grow up to 20 cms long. Leaves

are heartshaped, which are 5 to 10 cms in diameter Fruits have
ribbed and wrinkled surface that are fleshy green with pointed
ends at length and has a bitter taste.
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USES & PREPARATION

 Lowers blood sugar levels

 Diabetes Mellitus (Mild-non insulin dependent)

 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.
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LAGUNDI

 Scientific Name: Vitex negundo

 5 Leaved-Chaste Tree

 A shrub growing wild in vacant lots and waste land. Matured

branches are planted. The flowers are blue and bellshaped. The
small fruits turn black when ripe. It is better to collect the leaves
when are in bloom.
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USES & PREPARATION

 Asthma and cough, Fever, Dysentery, Colds & Pain Skin

diseases and wounds Headache Rheumatism, sprain,
contusions, insect bites. Aromatic bath for sick patients

 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.
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ULASIMANG BATO

 Scientific Name: Peperomia pellucida

 Silver bush or Shiny bush

 Pansit-pansitan

 A weed with heartshaped leaves that grow in shady parts of the

garden and yard.
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USES & PREPARATION

 USES: Lowers uric acid (Rheumatism and Gout)

 PREPARATION:

 Wash the leaves well. One and a half cup leaves are boiled in
two glassfuls of water over low fire. Do not cover pot. Cool and
strain. Divide into three parts and drink each part 3 times a day a
day.
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USES & PREPARATION

 PREPARATION:

 May also be eaten as salad. Wash the leaves well. Prepare one
and a half cups of leaves (not closely packed). Divide into three
parts and take as salad 3 times a day.
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BAWANG

 Scientific Name: Allium sativum

 Garlic

 A low herb and grows up to sixty cms high

 Leaves are flat and linear

 Bulbs consist of several tubers

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USES & PREPARATION

 USES: For hypertension, toothache, lowers cholesterol levels in

the blood

 PREPARATION: 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.
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USES & PREPARATION

 PREPARATION:

 For toothache, pound a small piece and apply to affected part.

CAUTION: Take on full stomach to prevent stomach and
intestinal ulcers..
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BAYABAS

 Scientific Name: Psidium guajava

 Guava

 A tree about 4 to 5 meters high with tiny white flowers with round
or oval fruits that are eaten raw.
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USES & PREPARATION

 USES: For washing wounds, toothache & diarrhea

 PREPARATION: Warm decoction is used for gargle.

 Freshly pounded leaves are used for toothache. Guava leaves

are to be washed well and chopped. Boil for 15 minutes at low
fire. Do not cover pot. Cool and strain before use.
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YERBA BUENA

 Scientific Name: Mentha cordifelia

 Peppermint

 A small multi-branching aromatic herb. The leaves are small,

elliptical and with toothed margin.

 The stem creeps to the ground, and develop roots.

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USES & PREPARATION

 USES: For pain in different parts of the body as head ache,

stomach ache; Rheumatism, arthritis and headache Cough and
cold; Swollen gums & toothache; Menstrual and gas pain;
Nausea and fainting and Insect bites & Pruritus
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USES & PREPARATION

 PREPARATION:

 For pain in diff. parts of the body, boil chopped leaves in 2

glasses of water for 15 minutes. Cool and strain.

 For rheumatism, arthritis and headache, crush the fresh leaves

and squeeze sap. Massage sap on painful parts with eucalyptus.
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USES & PREPARATION

 PREPARATION:

 For cough and cold, get about 10 fresh leaves and soak in a
glass of hot water. Drink as tea. Acts as an expectorant.

 For 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 solution before inserting the
cotton. To prepare salt solution: add 5g of table salt to one glass
of water.
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USES & PREPARATION

 PREPARATION:

 For Menstrual pain and gas pain, soak a handful of leaves in a

glass of boiling water. Drink infusion. It induces menstrual flow
and sweating.

 For nausea and fainting, crush leaves and apply at nostrils of

patient.

 For insect bites, crush leaves and apply juice on affected part or
pound leaves until paste-like and rub this on the affected part.
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THANK YOU!