10 HALAMANG GAMOT Folkloric claims: The seeds used for intestinal parasitism.
Tincture from leaves reported to be purgative.
PHBIOSC201 - Botany Lab
2.) Ampalaya
Traditional Medicine Program (1992)
- DOH Secretary Juan M. Flavier Common name: Bitter gourd, balsam apple/pear,
- to promote an effective and safe use of traditional amorgoso
medicine. Scientific name: Momordica charantia
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Republic Act 8423 (R.A. 8423) Plant description: well-known for its bitter edible fruit. It
- President Fidel V. Ramos is a herbaceous climbing vine growing up to five meters.
- Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of The plant has heart-shaped leaves and bear green
1997 oblong-shaped fruits. Momordicin is the alkaloid
responsible for the bitter taste of ampalaya.
• Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative - anti-cancer
Health Care (PITAHC) - to promote and advocate the - momordicine (makes amapalaya bitter)
use of traditional and alternative health care - tip/tendrils (1 foot young leaves for capsules; expels
modalities. worms)
• Philippine Department of Health (DOH) through its Parts used: Leaves, fruits, and roots.
"Traditional Health Program“ has endorsed 10 DOH-endorsed use/s: Used in the treatment of diabetes
medicinal plants. (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus)
Preparation (diabetes):
10 Medicinal Plants in the Philippines • Wash the leaves thoroughly and chop or cut in
small pieces.
• Boil 2 glasses of chopped leaves. Add 4 glasses of
1.) Akapulko water. Let it boil for 15 minutes in low fire without
Common name: Ringworm bush, bayabas-bayabasan, cover.
asunting • Set aside to cool; then strain.
Scientific name: Cassia alata • Drink 1/3 glass of decoction 30 minutes before
Family: Fabaceae meal 3x a day.
Plant description: An erect, shrubby legume reaching six • Sprouted leaves can be eaten, steamed or cooked
feet tall, this grows throughout the Philippines. It has on top of boiled rice, ½ glass 2x a day.
dark green leaves and yellow-orange flowers, producing Other reported medicinal uses:
as much as 50 to 60 small, triangular seeds. • Juice extracted from leaves is used in easing cough,
Phytochemical study of leaves yielded 12 compounds. pneumonia, healing wounds and combating
- chrysophanic acid, anti-fungal, abortifacient(cause intestinal parasites.
abortion)
• Juice from fruits aid in treating dysentery and
Parts used: Leaves, seeds, and flowers
chronic colitis.
DOH-endorsed use/s: Used in the treatment of
• Decoction of roots and seeds is used in treating
ringworms and other skin fungal infections
hemorrhoids, rheumatism, abdominal pain and
(chrysophanic acid)
psoriasis.
Preparation (skin fungal infections):
Folkloric claims: In the Philippines, juice expressed from
• Pound fresh, mature leaves.
the green fruit is given for chronic colitis: also used for
• Apply extracted juice on affected area of the skin 1-
bacillary dysentery.
2 times a day.
• For people sensitive (allergic) to extracted juice, 3.) Bawang
make a decoction.
• Boil 1 glass of chopped leaves with 2 glasses of Common name: Garlic, ajos/ahos
Scientific name: Allium sativum
water under low fire for 15 minutes without cover.
Family: Liliaceae
• Wash the affected area of skin 1-2 times a day.
Plant description: This is a low herb with flat and linear
Other reported medicinal uses: leaves growing to about 30 to 60 cm tall. It is
• Decoction of leaves and flowers are used in easing commercially grown in the Philippines provinces of
Batangas, Cotabato, Ilocos Norte, Mindoro and Nueva
asthma, cough and bronchitis. The juice of the
Ecija. Allicin is generated only when the garlic is crushed
leaves is used for skin infections.
or cut, which activates the enzyme allinase which
• The seeds are used in expelling intestinal parasites.
Tincture from leaves reported to be purgative.
PHBIOSC201 - Botany Lab
2.) Ampalaya
Traditional Medicine Program (1992)
- DOH Secretary Juan M. Flavier Common name: Bitter gourd, balsam apple/pear,
- to promote an effective and safe use of traditional amorgoso
medicine. Scientific name: Momordica charantia
Family: Cucurbitaceae
Republic Act 8423 (R.A. 8423) Plant description: well-known for its bitter edible fruit. It
- President Fidel V. Ramos is a herbaceous climbing vine growing up to five meters.
- Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA) of The plant has heart-shaped leaves and bear green
1997 oblong-shaped fruits. Momordicin is the alkaloid
responsible for the bitter taste of ampalaya.
• Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative - anti-cancer
Health Care (PITAHC) - to promote and advocate the - momordicine (makes amapalaya bitter)
use of traditional and alternative health care - tip/tendrils (1 foot young leaves for capsules; expels
modalities. worms)
• Philippine Department of Health (DOH) through its Parts used: Leaves, fruits, and roots.
"Traditional Health Program“ has endorsed 10 DOH-endorsed use/s: Used in the treatment of diabetes
medicinal plants. (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus)
Preparation (diabetes):
10 Medicinal Plants in the Philippines • Wash the leaves thoroughly and chop or cut in
small pieces.
• Boil 2 glasses of chopped leaves. Add 4 glasses of
1.) Akapulko water. Let it boil for 15 minutes in low fire without
Common name: Ringworm bush, bayabas-bayabasan, cover.
asunting • Set aside to cool; then strain.
Scientific name: Cassia alata • Drink 1/3 glass of decoction 30 minutes before
Family: Fabaceae meal 3x a day.
Plant description: An erect, shrubby legume reaching six • Sprouted leaves can be eaten, steamed or cooked
feet tall, this grows throughout the Philippines. It has on top of boiled rice, ½ glass 2x a day.
dark green leaves and yellow-orange flowers, producing Other reported medicinal uses:
as much as 50 to 60 small, triangular seeds. • Juice extracted from leaves is used in easing cough,
Phytochemical study of leaves yielded 12 compounds. pneumonia, healing wounds and combating
- chrysophanic acid, anti-fungal, abortifacient(cause intestinal parasites.
abortion)
• Juice from fruits aid in treating dysentery and
Parts used: Leaves, seeds, and flowers
chronic colitis.
DOH-endorsed use/s: Used in the treatment of
• Decoction of roots and seeds is used in treating
ringworms and other skin fungal infections
hemorrhoids, rheumatism, abdominal pain and
(chrysophanic acid)
psoriasis.
Preparation (skin fungal infections):
Folkloric claims: In the Philippines, juice expressed from
• Pound fresh, mature leaves.
the green fruit is given for chronic colitis: also used for
• Apply extracted juice on affected area of the skin 1-
bacillary dysentery.
2 times a day.
• For people sensitive (allergic) to extracted juice, 3.) Bawang
make a decoction.
• Boil 1 glass of chopped leaves with 2 glasses of Common name: Garlic, ajos/ahos
Scientific name: Allium sativum
water under low fire for 15 minutes without cover.
Family: Liliaceae
• Wash the affected area of skin 1-2 times a day.
Plant description: This is a low herb with flat and linear
Other reported medicinal uses: leaves growing to about 30 to 60 cm tall. It is
• Decoction of leaves and flowers are used in easing commercially grown in the Philippines provinces of
Batangas, Cotabato, Ilocos Norte, Mindoro and Nueva
asthma, cough and bronchitis. The juice of the
Ecija. Allicin is generated only when the garlic is crushed
leaves is used for skin infections.
or cut, which activates the enzyme allinase which
• The seeds are used in expelling intestinal parasites.
