Scientific Name
Allium sativum

Where it is commonly available
Native to Southern Europe and Central Asia; cultivated throughout the world; extensively grown in Batanes Islands, Batangas, Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Norte, Mindoro, and Cotabato

Pre-clinical
Antihyperlipidemic, Antihypertensive, Fibrinolytic, antiplatelet, hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antimicrobial

Clinical
Hyperlipidemia, hypertension, arteriosclerosis,

How to use them
For high levels of blood cholesterol (Hypercholesterolemia)
> Consult with a health center for a formal diagnosis and medical advice for hypercholesterolemia, including the use of garlic to control blood cholesterol levels.
> The health care professional may advise patients to eat 2-3 garlic bulbs (soaked in vinegar, sterilized, grilled, or fried in a little oil) 3 times a day with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Side effects: Vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, allergies, contact dermatitis, or asthma

Not recommended because of these possible risks:
Use for snake or dog bites, which are both emergency cases. Immediately wash the wound with soap and water then bring the patient to a health center or hospital.

References
ASEAN 2014; Co 1989; BFAD 2005; Cortes-Maramba 1981; Dayrit 2014; FNRI 1997; Galvez Tan 2014; Quisumbing 1978; TKDL 2015; WHO 1999

Scientific Name
Blumea balsamifera

Where it is commonly available
Found from India to Southern China, through the Malay Peninsula to the Moluccas; distributed throughoutt the Philippines

Pre-clinical
Anti-cancer, anti-genotoxicity and anti-mutagenicity, antimicrobial, anti-obesity, antioxidant, dissolution of kidney stones

Clinical
Diuretic and antiuricemic (Philippine setting)

How to use them
For Kidney stones
> Visit a health center to identify your illness, and the treatment for kidney stones, including the use of sambong leaves for medication.
> The health care professional may advice you to use sambong as treatment through this method:
> Boil the minced and freshly picked sambong leaves in a pot filled with 2 glasses of water until the pot is only left with half-filled of water. Keep the lid off the pot after bringing it to a boil.
> Let it cool completely and then strain it.
> Divide it into 3 portions. Drink 1 portion 3 times a day.
> Drink 12 glasses of water or more daily.
> Dosage of minced sambong leaves based on patient’s age: 3 tablespoons (7-12 years old); 6 tablespoons (13 years old and above)

References
ASEAN 2014, BFAD 2005, Dayrit 2014, FNRI 1997, Galvez Tan 2014, Quisimbing 1978, TKDL 2015

Scientific Name
Carmona retusa

Where it is commonly available
Found from India to Southern China, Taiwan, and the Malay Peninsula; distributed throughout the Philippines

Pre-clinical
Anti-allergic, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, antimutagenic

Clinical
Caries-preventive, antispasmodic (Philippine setting

How to use them
For stomach pains
> Boil the chopped and freshly picked forest tea (tsaanggubat) leaves in a pot containing 1 glass of water until the water is reduced to half its volume. Remove the cover of the pot when it boils.
> Measurement of chopped leaves based on age: 1 1/2 tablespoons (7-12 years old); 3 tablespoons (13 years old or older); not recommended for children below 7 years old.
> Let it cool and then strain.
> Drink. If stomach pain symptoms persist, consult your doctor.

References
ASEAN 2014, BFAD 2005, Dayrit 2014, FNRI 1997, Galvez Tan 2014, Quisimbing 1978, TKDL 2015

Scientific Name
Momordica charantia

Where it is commonly available
Found in tropical East Africa, Madgascar, India to Japan, southward through Malesia to Polynesia; distributed throughout the Philippines

Pre-clinical
Antibacterial, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-tuberculosis, analgesic, purgative, antiviral

Clinical
Antimetabolic syndrome, antidiabetes

How to use them
For diabetes
> Consult a health center for a formal diagnosis and medical advice for diabetes, including the use of ampalaya leaves (Makiling variety) to help control blood sugar levels
> Health care professionals may advise patients to eat 1 cup of ampalaya leaves twice a day (as salad or as an ingredient in meals)
> Health care professionals may also advise patients to boil 2 cups of sprouts in 2 glasses of water until only half of the water is left (around 15 minutes of boiling), and to drink ⅓ of the boiled water (decoction) thrice a day (30 minutes before meals)

References
ASEAN 2014, BFAD 2005, Dayrit 2014, FNRI 1997, Galvez Tan 2014, Quisimbing 1978, TKDL 2015, WHO 2009

Scientific Name
Mentha cordifolia

Where it is commonly available
Distributed throughout the Philippines

Pre-clinical
Analgesic, antimicrobial and antiparasitic, antineoplastic

Clinical
Analgesic (Philippine setting)

How to use them
For toothaches
> Boil the grinded and freshly picked yerbabuwena leaves in a pot filled with 2 glasses of water until the pot is only left with half filled of water. Keep the lid off the pot after bringing it to a boil.
> Let it cool completely and then strain it.
> Divide it into 2 portions. Drink 1 portion, and drink another 1 portion after 3-4 hours if the pain still persist.
> Dosage of minced sambong leaves based on patient’s age: 3 tablespoons (7-12 years old); 6 tablespoons (13 years old and above)
> Visit a health center and consult about your illness if the toothache still persists.

Headache
> Compress or crush freshly picked leaves and use the extract in massaging the forehead and top of head.
> Consult with a health center if the headache still persists.

References
ASEAN 2014; BFAD 2005, Cortes-Maramba 1981; Dayrit 2014; Galvez Tan 2014, Quisimbing 1978; TKDL 2015; who 2002

Scientific Name
Peperomia pellucida

Where it is commonly available
Native to tropical America; distributed throughout the Philippines

Pre-clinical
Analgesic, antibacterial, antihyperuricemic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant

Clinical
Antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant, depressant, anti-gout (Philippine setting)

How to use them
Tips on how to control uric acid
> Consult a doctor at a health center to diagnose your symptoms, and to know the medicine for gout including how to use pansitpansitan to help in controlling your uric acid levels.
> The doctor may advise to eat 1 cup (not crammed) of leafy tops of pansit-pansitan thrice during the day (as a salad). Also, the doctor may advise to boil 1 1/2 glasses (or 3 cups), not crammed, of pansit-pansitan in 2 glasses of water until the water reduces to half (boil for around 15 minutes), and drink the 1/3 glass of boiled water thrice in the day after eating.

References
ASEAN 2014, BFAD 2005, Dayrit 2014, FNRI 1997, Galvez Tan 2014, Quisimbing 1978, TKDL 2015

Scientific Name
Psidium guajava

Where it is commonly available
Distributed throughout the Philippines

Pre-clinical
Analgesic, antidiarrheal, Antihyperglycemic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antispasmodic, antitussive, hemostatic effects, inotropic effects

Clinical
Gingivitis, rotaviral, acute diarrhea

How to use them
For scabies or wounds that discharge pus
> Boil 1 or 2 handfuls of leafy tops of guavas in a small pot containing water.
> Wash the wound with the lukewarm water after it has cooled. Do this twice during the day until the scabies will heal.
> Consult a doctor at a health center if the symptoms persist, if sudden fever occurs or ijf there is redding of the area around the scabies.

For dizziness
> Crumple the fresh tops and let it be inhaled by the person experiencing dizziness. Consult a doctor at a health center if dizziness symptoms still persist.

Swollen gums
> Boil one handful of leafy tops in a small pot with water.
> Gargle with the lukewarm water after it has been cooled. Do this twice during the day until your gums feel better.
> Consult a doctor at a health center if symptoms still persist or if sudden fever is developed.

Cleaning the vagina after giving birth
> Boil one handful of leafy tops in a small pot with water.
> Wash with the lukewarm water after it has cooled.

Taking a bath or for itchy skin
> Boil enough leafy tops in a pot with water.
> Take a bath with the lukewarm water after it has cooled.

References
ASEAN 2014; BFAD 2005, Cortes-Maramba 1981; Dayrit 2014; Galvez Tan 2014, Quisimbing 1978; TKDL 2015; who 2009

Scientific Name
Senna alata

Where it is commonly available
Distributed throughout the Philippines

Pre-clinical
Anti-allergic activity, athelmintic, mosquito repellent, insecticidal, snake bites

Clinical
Antifungal, antiscabies

How to use them
For ringworm (buni) and other fungal infections (an-an, had-had, alipunga)
> Grind a sufficient amount of fresh akapulko leaves as needed.
> Apply the extract on the affected area in your skin 2 times a day. Apply it daily within 3 weeks to complety kill the fungus (a type of germs) that causes ringworm (buni) and other fungal infections (an-an, had-had, alipunga)

Reminder: If you have an allergy to the extract of Akapulko leaves, use the decoction of the leaves instead. Boil a glass of grinded and freshly picked leaves in a pot filled with 2 glasses of water until approximately 1 glass of liquid is left in the boil. Use this to wash the affected area 2 times a day. Do this for up to 3 weeks.

References
ASEAN 2014, BFAD 2005; Cortes-Maramba 1981; Dayrit 2014; Galvez Tan 2014; Quisumbing 1978; TKDL 2015

Scientific Name
Vitex negundo

Where it is commonly available
Tropical East Africa, Madagascar, from India to Japan, southward through Malesia to Polynesia; distributed throughout the Philippines

Pre-clinical
Antimutagenic, depressant on cardiac function

Clinical
Antitussive (Philippine setting)

How to use them
For cough
> Boil crushed fresh lagundi leaves in a pot with 2 cups of water until only half of the water is left. Leave the pot uncovered when it starts boiling.
> Amount of crushed leaves according to patient’s age: 1 ½ tablespoons (2-6 years old); 3 tablespoons (7-12 years old); 6 tablespoons (13 years old and above)

References
Cortes-Maramba 1981; Dayrit 2014; Galvez Tan 2014; Quisumbing 1978; TKDL 2015

Scientific Name
Quisqualis indica

Where it is commonly available
Found from India to the Malay Peninsula and Southeast Aisa; widely distributed throughout the Philippines

Pre-clinical
Antipyretic, antihyperlipidemic, anti-inflammatory

Clinical
Anthelmintic

How to use them
For intestinal worms
> Get the seed from the parent plant and its withered fruit
> Eat it; chew it well and follow with drinking a half full or 1 glass of water.
> Dosage of seeds to eat based on patient’s age: 4-5 seeds (4-6 years old); 6-7 seeds (7-12 years old); 8-10 seeds (13 years old and above)
> If there is still no worm that came out during a bowel movement, you may use the same dosage after 1 week.
> Possible side effects especially after overeating seeds: nausea, hiccups, stomach ache, or diarrhea. Do not eat more that the recommended amount of seeds.

References
BFAD 2005; Galvez Tan 2014; Quisumbing 1978; TKDL 2015

Reference List