Herbal Medicine in the Philippines
disease.
Herbal medicine in the Philippines is steeped in folklore
and mysticism and has been practiced for centuries,
especially in rural areas. Venture into the countryside,
and you'll find that many people rely on alternative
medicines for healing all manner of ailments.
Philippines Department of Health (DOH) Approved
Herbs
According to RNspeak, the DOH has researched and
approved ten medicinal plants for public use. These are
the most popular in herbal medicine in the Philippines.
Many are also used by alternative medicine
practitioners in the United States.
Akapulko (Cassia alata)
Its common name says it all: ringworm bush. According
to information published at APA Med Central, akapulko
has anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties. These
properties make it a useful plant for treating skin fungal
infections. Akapulko may also have the ability to battle
some types of cancers.
Ampalaya (Momordica charantia)
This herb is actually a melon or fruit and looks a bit like
a cucumber. Ampalaya is also called "bitter melon" and
grows along climbing vines. Traditional Filipino healers
recommend ampalaya for a variety of ailments, as did
Chinese healers.
In recent times, ampalaya has proven to be a good herb
to treat diabetes as it appears to encourage the
pancreas to make more insulin. According to an article
written by Eduardo Gonzales, MD, ampalaya has been
proven to lower blood sugar in people with type 2
diabetes. The article also mentions that ampalaya has
anti-microbial properties and may be useful in treating
hemorrhoids, roundworm, and help heal wounds.
Bawang (Allium sativum)
Known as "garlic" in English, this is the same garlic you
find at any food store in the United States or in tablets
in pharmacies and health food stores nationwide.
WebMD states that garlic is known for its heart health
benefits and helps reduce blood cholesterol.
Bayabas (Psidium guajava)
Known as "guava" in English, this plant is often used to
fight infection and heal wounds due to its antimicrobial,
anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties. In fact,
bayabas is beneficial in treating toothache and gum
Lagundi (Vitex negundo)
The leaves of this medicinal plant, called a "5-leafed
chaste tree" in English, look like a hand. Lagundi
contains anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and
analgesic properties that are helpful in treating
respiratory illnesses. In addition, the article states
lagundi contains an antihistamine and muscle relaxing
substance called Chrysoplenol D, which makes the herb
useful in treating fever, asthma, colds, and coughs.
Niyog-niyogan (Quisqualis indica)
This tropical vine is found throughout Asia and Pacific
countries, and goes by the nickname Chinese
honeysuckle. Niyog-niyogan is so beautiful that it's
often grown as an ornamental plant and may be found
in arboretums, greenhouses and private homes through
Asia. The dried seeds are eaten two hours after eating a
meal to rid the body of intestinal worms. According to
Medical Health Guide, niyog-niyogan has shown to be
an effective worm treatment.
Ulasaming Bato (Peperomia pellucida)
Ulasaming bato's leaves are often brewed as a tea to
treat arthritis and gout. The International Journal of
Pharmacology states that peperomia pellucida contains
anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.
Sambong (Blumea balsamifera)
In English, sambong is known as "camphor," and is a
popular herbal remedy to treat kidney and urinary
stones. According to Medical Health Guide, sambong
cab be effective in dissolving kidney stones and helping
them pass through the lower urinary tract.
Tsaang Gubat (Ehretia microphylla Lam.)
Know as "wild tea" in English, this herbal remedy is
usually drunk as a tea. Tssang gubat is believed to have
a high concentration of fluoride and may be used to
help prevent tooth decay and cavities. According to an
abstract on The US National Library of Medicine's
PubMed website, a three year study performed on
Manila schoolchildren determined that drinking one cup
of tsaang gubat tea for 17 months significantly reduced
the incidence of caries in school aged children.
Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii)
Yerba Buena is known in English as "peppermint." In
Herbal Medicine in the Philippines, it's commonly used
to relieve the pain of gout and arthritis. An abstract on
the PubMed states that peppermint has proven anti-
microbial, anti-viral, antioxidant, anti-tumor, analgesic,
and anti-allergenic properties making it a viable option
for treating pain and digestive troubles.
Precautions
As with any herbal treatment, just because it's plant
based doesn't mean it's entirely safe, free from side
effects, or won't cause a reaction in certain individuals.
Consult a qualified herbalist before using herbs.
Pregnant or nursing women should avoid herbal
treatments unless the effects upon children are known.
When in doubt, see your doctor about any medical
treatment or concern.
A Bright Future
Although herbal medicine has always played a role in
Philippine culture, it's finally beginning to receive the
attention it deserves. In 1992, the Philippine
Department of Health created the Philippine Institute of
Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC).
Thanks to PITAHC's vision to put "traditional and
alternative health care in the hands of the people,"
herbal remedies that were once considered folklore are
now being researched and often recognized as practical
treatment options.
Herbal Treatment for Arthritis
Herbal treatment for arthritis reduces the pain and
inflammation association with all types of arthritis and
arthritic conditions. Chinese herbs for arthritis, other
herbs, and diet all help with arthritis. LoveToKnow
spoke with Llynn' Newman, a Certified Herbologist, New
York State licensed certified nutritionist, and certified
Reiki practitioner about the best ways to treat arthritis.
Llynn's 30 year career includes counseling hundreds of
arthritis suffers. Here, she shares her insights into
holistic management of this all-too common condition.
An Interview with Llynn' Newman
Holistic Treatment for Arthritis
Arthritis, a disease involving inflammation of the joints,
strikes people of all ages and walks of life. It can
seriously limit an individual's quality of life, and the pain
can be quite debilitating.
What do you consider the most important aspects of
treating arthritis?
Llynn' Newman: Back to basics is my motto, and upon
meeting a new client suffering from arthritis, I begin
with an evaluation of his or her overall health,
medication conditions, and diet. Diet plays such an
important factor in managing arthritis. Everyone should
drink plenty of fresh, clean water. Herbs are simply
plants chock full of good nutrition that we add to the
diet to aid healing. We focus on cleaning up the client's
diet, eliminating white sugar, white flour, and fried
foods.
What type of diet do you recommend for arthritis
sufferers?
LN: Acidic conditions encourage inflammation, so I
suggest clients immediately reduce sugar consumption.
Sugar induces inflammation. I also provide clients with a
diet based on organic green, leafy vegetables, lean and
high quality protein, and other vegetables. Avoid all
vegetables in the nightshade family, like green peppers,
eggplant, potato and tomato.
When do you incorporate herbs into the treatment
plan?
LN: I include herbs synergistically with diet
recommendations. Herbs are assimilated through the
digestive tract, so we must first ensure that the client's
digestion works properly. If the person is constipated,
for example, herbs won't be assimilated properly.
Drinking plenty of water and adjusting the diet to
include fresh, organic vegetables, for example, helps
digestion work properly and aids assimilation of herbs.
An Herbal Treatment for Arthritis
What herbs do you recommend to treat arthritis?
LN: The herbs that immediately come to mind to treat
arthritis include alfalfa, black cohosh, boswellia,
chamomile, ginger, Devil's Claw, sarsaparilla, wild yam,
white willow, yucca and nettles. All of these herbs,
when incorporated with the suggested dietary changes,
act in concert to provide healing. White willow provides
pain relief and reduces inflammation. Remember that
aspirin was derived from willow bark, and white willow
relieves pain and inflammation, especially for people
with sensitive stomachs who can't tolerate aspirin or
other pain relievers.
How should these herbs be taken?
LN: Anyone considering herbs for arthritis should
consult a qualified herbalist or holistic practitioners for
the proper dose. I also recommend trying one herb at a
time. This is especially important for people with known
allergies and sensitivities. By trying just one herb at a
time, you can study the effect of that particular herb on
the body and on the arthritic condition. It's also
important to rotate the herbs you're taking for a
condition so that the body doesn't get used to any one
particular herb.
LN: Get back to basics! The quality of one's diet is so
important. Fresh, natural, organic ingredients and a
plant-based diet are essential to overall good health.
Drink plenty of fresh, pure water, and be sure to get lots
of fresh air. It's the simple things in life that restore
balance and harmony.

Selecting Herbs

How should one select herbs? Which should a person

use - capsules, extracts, or whole herbs?

LN: Obviously the closer you can get to fresh herbs, the
better. But that's not realistic for most people today. If
you cook for yourself, try to include as many fresh herbs
and vegetables as you can in your daily diet. But you
don't need expensive pills. Simply add fresh herbs such
as parsley, basil and others to your salads or meals. You
can incorporate many herbs into your diet this way.If
you must use herbal products, choose organic, alcohol-
free extracts or capsule with no artificial ingredients.
Frequently clients show up for their first meeting with
me carrying bags of vitamins and herb capsules. Yet the
products they've purchased are virtually useless and
even worse, harmful. Many include toxins, artificial
colors, preservatives, dyes and waxes. Don't add to your
body's stress load by ingesting poor quality herbal
products.

Read the labels before you buy. Try to find a local health
food store and ask the proprietors. Most are deeply
committed to natural health and will be happy to
answer your questions. If you must shop for herbs
online, look for the ingredients posted on the website
before purchasing the product. If the site doesn't post
the ingredients in the product, skip that site and find
one that does.

Contraindications

Are there any contraindications associated with these

herbs?

LN: Usually not, but if the person is on blood thinners,

they should not take white willow, feverfew, ginger, or
cayenne. I also recommend taking herbs at a different
time of day than any medications. It's also important to
disclose to your medical advisor all the herbs and
medications you're taking so that he or she can adjust
the dose, diet or herbs as necessary.

Get Back to Basics

If readers could leave with just one piece of advice for

treating their arthritis, what would you tell them?