Introduction

The need for medicinal plants for the country's health care delivery system has become more evident in recent years, especially in remote areas where lack of medicines and medical attention is critically felt. High cost of medicines and increasing poverty further compound the problem. Medicinal plants, hand in hand with proper nutrition, disease prevention and control measures help provide adequate health care to the population and contribute to the improvement of the quality of life.

Included here are medicinal species found throughout the Philippines which have been the subject of scientific research, clinical testing and product development and are now being used in primary health care. The plants are arranged alphabetically according to their popularly-known Tagalog name, together with information such as scientific name, family to which the plant belongs, available local names in as many dialects, English and Spanish names, plant part used, method of preparation and administration, with illustrations of the plants. Dosage indicated here are for adults; dosage for children is half of the adult dose. The amounts are for fresh plant materials. In cases wherein only dried plant drug is available, use half of the indicated amount and always follow the recommended instructions.

Caution and moderation must always be observed in the use of medicinal plants. Use only one plant drug at a time and take only the prescribed dose. It will be easier to pinpoint the cause of desirable reaction than if many plants are used together. Discontinue treatment and consult a knowledgeable medical person when there are no signs of improvement after 24 hours.

Akapulko Cassia alata L.

· Leguminosae

· Bayabasin, bikasbikas, gamot sa bunt, kapurko, katanda, pakagonkon, sonting (Tagalog), Andadasi (llokano), Kalsitas (Bicolano), Palochina, stinting (Bisaya), Ringworm bush

· Juice, poultice, ointment from leaves for fungal skin infections, applied twice a day.

Cassia alata L:.

Alagaw Premma odorata Blco.

· Verbenaceae

· Adiyo (Tagalog) Anobran (llocano) Adgaw (Bicolano) Abgaw, argaw, agbaw (Bisaya), Pumuhat tangli (Kapampangan)

· Poultice for headache, colic and chest pains: infusion of leaves (1 palm-sized leaf in 2 glasses of water) for fever and cough; 1/4 cup every 44 hours. Decoction of leaves sponge bath for fever.

Premma odorata Blco.

Ampalaya Momordica charantia L.

· Cucurbitaceae

· Ampalaya (Tagalog) Paria (Bicolano) Palya (Bisaya) Amargoso (Spanish) Balsam pear, bigger gourd, balsam apple

· Young leaves cooked as vegetable for diabetes; leaf juice for skin diseases.

Momordica charantia L.

Banaba Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.

· Lythraceae

· Banaba (Tagalog and other dialects)

· Decoction of leaves and bark for diabetes, as diuretic; 4 tablespoons chopped leaves in 2 glassfuls of water; 1/4 cup in the morning, after breakfast.

Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers.

Bayabas Psidium guajava L.

· Myrtaceae

· Bayabas (Tagalog), Guyabas, bayabas (llocano), Bayawas (Bicolano), Bayabas (Bisaya), Guava

· Decoction of leaves (6 8 tablespoons of chopped leaves in 2 glassfuls of water) for stomachache, diarrhea: 114 cup every 3 hours for cleansing wounds, swollen gums, as needed. Crushed leaves stops bleeding of shallow cuts, for fainting and dizziness.

Psidium guajava L.

Damong maria Artemisia vulgaris L.

· Compositae

· Damong maria, kamaria, maria, tinisas (Tagalog) Arbaaka (llocano) Hilbas (Bisaya) Cintura de San Jose, Cordon de San Jose, Sta. Mesa (Spanish)

· Pounded leaves as poultice for colic and headaches; decoction of leaves for cleansing wounds.

Artemisia vulgaris L.

Oregano Coleus amboinicus Lour.

· Labiatae

· Suganda (most dialects), Bildu (Sulu) Oregano, torongil de limon (Spanish)

· Poultice of leaves for headache, colic, burns; juice for insect bites; syrup or infusion for cough and asthma.

Coleus amboinicus Lour.

Pandakaki Ervatamia pandacaqui

· Apocynaceae

· Pandakaki, kampupot (Tagalog), Busbusilak, kurbetbet (llocano), Alibotbot, halibutbut, pandaya, pandakaking-puti, sakang-manuk (Bicolano) Alibutbut, salibukbuk, salimbabaya, tungkal (Bisaya)

· Milky sap is for healing cuts and wounds.

Ervatamia pandacaqui

Papaya Carica papaya L.

· Caricaceae

· Papaya (Tagalog) Apayas (llocano) Tapayas (Bicolano) Kapaya (Bisaya) Pawpaw

· Ripe fruit for constipation; poultice of leaves for rheumatism; sap from fruit peelings for freckles and other complexion problems.

Carica papaya L.

Sambong Blumea balmasifera

· Compositae

· Sambong (Tagalog) Sob-sob, subusub (llocano), Lakadbulan, alibum, alimon, ayoban, bakadkad, hamlibon, lalakdan, lakdanbulan (Bisaya)

· Ngai camphor, blumea camphor

· Leaf decoction as sponge bath for fever; infusion for high blood pressure as diuretic; poultice for headache, boils and abscesses

Blumea balmasifera

Tangan-tangan Ricinus communis L.

· Euphorbiaceae
· Tangan-tangan (Tagalog), Tawa-tawa (llocano), Katana (Ivatan), Gatlawa (Ifugao)
· Castor oil plant
· Leaf poultice for headache, skin ulcers boils, rheumatism; oil from seeds is purgative.

Ricinus communis L.

Tsaang-gubat Carmona retusa L.

· Boraginaceae

· Tsaang-gubat (Tagalog), maragawed (llocano), Putputay (Bicolano), Alibungog, maramara (Bisaya), Willd tea

· Leaf infusion (2-3 tablespoons of chopped leaves in 1 glassful of water) for stomachache.

· Leaf decoction (6-8 tablespoons of chopped leaves in 2 glassfuls of water) for diarrhea. Take 1/4 of the resulting decoction every 3 hours.

Carmona retusa L.

Dilaw Curcuma longa L.

· Zingiberaceae

· Luyang-dilaw Tagaiogj, Kulyaw (llocano), Dulaw (Bisaya), Angay (Kapampangan), Turmeric

· Juice, tincture, poultice, ointment from rhizomes for scratches, shallow cuts, sprains and bruises, rheumatism, stomachache, scabies.

Curcuma longa L.

Lagundi Vitex negundo L.

· Verbenaceae

· Dangla (llocano) Dabtan (Ifugao) Tugas (Bisaya) Fiveleaved chaste tree

· Poultice of leaves for headache; decoction, infusion syrup (4-6 tablespoonfuls of chopped leaves in 2 glassfuls of water) for fever, cough and colds, asthma, take 1/4 cup 3 times a day; decoction of leaves as sponge bath for fever and for cleansing wounds.

Vitex negundo L.

Luya Zingiber officinale Rosc.

· Zingiberaceae

· Luy-a (Bisaya), Gengibre (Spanish) Ginger

· Decoction of rhizome for cough, sore throat, stomachache, colic (1-2 teaspoonfuls of chopped rhizome in one CUD of water)

· Poultice, liniment for rheumatism

Tincture for cuts and scratches

Zingiber officinale Rosc.

Makabuhay Tinospora rumphii Boerl.

· Menispermaceae

· Makabuhay (Tagalog, llocano, Bisaya), Panyawan, panawan, taganagtagwa, palyaban (Bisaya)

· Poultice of pounded stem and leaves for stomachache and rheumatism; decoction as sponge bath for fever and malaria.

Tinospora rumphii Boerl.

Malunggay Moringa oleifera Lam.

· Moringaceae

· Kalungay (Bicolano) Kamunggay (Bisaya) Dool (Kapampangan) Horseradish tree

· Decoction of leaves/cooked leaves for lactation and constipation and cleansing scabies; poultice for scabies and stopping bleeding of sha!!ow cuts.

Moringa oleifera Lam.

Niyog-niyogan Quisqualis indica L.

· Combretaceae

· Tagaraw, tataraok, tagulo (Tagalog) Tartaraw, tartarauk (llocano), Tanglon, tangulo, kasumbal (Bicolano), Balitadham, pinyon, bonor (Bisaya), Chinese honeysuckle; Rangoon creeper; Yesterday, today and tomorrow

· To expel intestinal worms: 8-10 nuts hours after supper followed with several glasses of water, every 6 months.

Quisqalis indica L.