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A shrub growing wild in vacant lots and waste land. Matured branches are planted. The flowers are blue and bell- shaped. The small fruits turn black when ripe. It is better to collect the leaves when are in bloom. Parts utilized: leaves, flower. Indications: >Asthma, cough and fever boil chopped raw fruits or leaves in 2 glasses water left for 15 minutes until the water left in only 1 glass(decoction). Strain. The following dosages of the decoction are given according to age group: Dried leaves Fresh leaves Adult 4 tbsp 6 tbsp 7-12 y/o 2 tbsp 3 tbsp 2-6 y/o 1 tbsp 1 tbsp >Dysentery, colds, and pain in any part of the body as in influenza boil a handful of leaves and flowers in water to produce a glass full of decoction three times a day >Skin diseases (dermatitis, scabies, ulcer, eczema) and wounds prepare a decoction of the leaves. Wash and clean the skin/ wound with the decoction. >Rheumatism, sprain, contusions, and insect bites- pound the leaves and apply on affected part. >Headache crushed leaves may be applied on the forehead. >Aromatic bath for sick patients prepare leaf decoction for use in sick and newly delivered patients
Fresh leaves Adult 4 tbsp 7-12 y/o tbsp of adult dose *divide decoction into two parts and drink one part every three hours. >Rheumatism, arthritis and headache crush the leaves and squeeze sap. Massage sap on painful parts with eucalyptus. >Cough and cold get about 10 fresh leaves and soak in a glass of hot water. Drink as tea. Acts as an expectorant. >Swollen gums steep 6 g of fresh plant in a glass of boiling water for 30 minutes. Use solution as gargle. >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 5 grams of table salt to one glass of water. >Menstrual and gas pain soak a handful of leaves in a glass of boiling water. Drink infusion. It induces menstrual flow and sweating. >Nausea and fainting crush leaves and apply at nostrils of patients. >Insect bites crush leaves and apply juice on affected part or pound leaves until paste-like. Then rub this on affected part. >Pruritis- boil plant alone or with eucalyptus in water. Use decoction as wash on affected area.
Sambong ( Blumea Balsamifera) A plant that reaches 1.5 to 3 meters high with rough hairy leaves. Young plants around mother plant may be separated when they have three or more leaves. Parts utilized: leaves Indications: >Anti- edema, diuretic, anti- urolithiasis -boil chopped leaves in water for 15 minutes until one glassful remains. Cool and strain. Dried leaves Fresh leaves Adult 4 tbsp 6 tbsp 7-12 y/o tbsp of adult dose *divide decoction into 3 parts. Drink one part 3 times a day. *Remember that sambong is not a medicine for kidney infection.
>Diarrhea 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. Dried leaves Fresh leaves Adult 10 tbsp 12 tbsp 7-12 y/o 5 tbsp 6 tbsp 2-6 y/o 1 tbsp 3 tbsp *divide decoction into 4 parts. Let patient drink 1 part every 3 hours. >Stomachache- wash leaves and chop. Boil chopped leaves in 1 glass of water for 15 minutes. Cool and filter, strain and drink. Dried leaves 2 tbsp 1 tbsp Fresh leaves 3 tbsp tbsp
Betel nut
Also called areca nut or the seed of the areca palm (Areca catechu), which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. The betel nut is not a true nut, but rather a drupe. It is commercially available in dried, cured and fresh forms. While fresh, the husk is green and the nut inside is so soft, it can easily be cut with a typical knife. In the ripe fruit, the husk becomes yellow or orange and, as it dries, the fruit inside hardens to a wood-like consistency. INDICATION: Ripe and unripe seeds are used to treat urinary infections and vaginal discharges Betel nut is used for relieving toothache the seeds of the betel nut palm are best known for their use as a stimulant but traditional medicinal uses include relief from abdominal discomfort and eliminating intestinal parasites like roundworms and tapeworms.( There is scientific evidence to support these properties. Although betel nut is known to be toxic, its use in traditional medicine continues. ) PREPARATION: Usually for chewing, a few slices of the nut are wrapped in a betel leaf along with lime.
Sunflower
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is an annual plant native to the Americas. It possesses a large inflorescence (flowering head). The sunflower is named after its huge, fiery blooms, whose shape and image is often used to depict the sun. The sunflower has a rough, hairy stem, broad, coarsely toothed, rough leaves and circular heads of flowers. The heads consist of many individual flowers which mature into seeds, often in the hundreds, on a receptacle base. INDICATION: Sunflower seeds improve digestionand Improves cardiovascular system Strengthens bones & muscles
Banana
The largest herbaceous flowering plant. The plants are normally tall and fairly sturdy and are often mistaken for trees, but their main or upright stem is actually a pseudostem that grows 6 to 7.6 metres (20 to 24.9 ft) tall, growing from a corm. Each pseudostem can produce a single bunch of bananas. After fruiting, the pseudostem dies, but offshoots may develop from the base of the plant. INDICATION: Lower Blood Pressure
Studies show that the high amounts of potassium in bananas (over 13% of the RDA) can lower one's blood pressure, which in turn lessens the possibility of atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. Bone Health
Along with lowering blood pressure, potassium prevents the weakening of the body's bones. A high sodium intake, which is typical of many American diets, can cause excessive amount of calcium to be lost through the urine, which threatens not only the strength and general health of the bones, but also negatively affects blood clotting, proper muscle contraction, and normal nervous system function. The potassium found in bananas neutralizes the high amounts of sodium in one's diet, thus allowing for healthy amounts of calcium to remain within the body. Cancer Prevention
A large study by the Internal Journal of Cancer illustrates that the probability of developing kidney cancer is greatly lessened by frequent consumption of fruits and vegetables, though especially bananas. For instance, the probability of developing kidney cancer in female subjects decreased by 50% when eating bananas four to six times a week. PREPARATION: Banana hearts are used as a vegetable in South Asian and Southeast Asian cuisine, either raw or steamed with dips or cooked in soups, curries and fried foods.
JAVA TEA
isnt a potent brew made from coffee and ordinary Camellia sinensis tea. Also known as kidney tea, it refers to an herbal tea made from the Orthosiphon plant, which flourishes on the Indonesian island of Java. The plant also grows throughout Indonesia as well as in Malaysia and Thailand. In all three countries, the tea has long been consumed as medicine for kidney and related disorders. INDICATION: Drinking this gentle, non-caffeine herbal tea made from the leaves and stalks of the orthosiphon plant is supposed to induce urination, reduce uric acid, and dissolve kidney stones. It's also believed to relieve gout, inflamed joints, muscle spasms and the discomfort related to gall bladder and urinary infections. Scientific studies in Malaysia and elsewhere are now attempting to verify the claims. Studies with rats suggest that the ingredients in Java tea could be a treatment for hyperglycemia, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
PREPARATION: With individual sachets, a cup or pot of Java tea is made like any other cup of tea. To make it from scratch, thoroughly dry out the leaves and stalks. A pestle or a rolling pin can be used to crush them into more compact form, but dont reduce to a powder. Store in an air-tight jar. As with any loose tea, use a small strainer or tea ball to brew the tea for several minutes in freshly boiled water. To get the most benefits and keep the water warm, let the tea brew up to 10 minutes in a teapot or in a cup with a lid. The color will be brownish-green. The smell is slightly flowery, like many another herb tea. It has neither the refreshing tart taste of roselle tea nor the acrid aroma of bael tea. It tastes salty and bitter.
JACKFRUIT
An aromatic, fleshy fruit renowned for its delicious taste. The unripe form can be utilized to prepare a lip-smacking dishes, and the ripe ones are so juicy and delicious that you can even eat them raw, either singly or as part of a fruit salad! It is also a nice idea to use the ripe fruit as a dessert topping.
INDICATION: Ensures Better Gastrointestinal Health: Jackfruits are good for digestion and are known to help cure ulcers and indigestion. Additionally, the high fiber present in the fruit prevents constipation and helps in smooth and regular bowel movements. The fiber also offers protection to the mucous membrane of the colon by driving away the carcinogenic (cancer causing) chemicals from the colon. Strengthens Immune System: Jackfruit is a very good source of vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent colds and infections. Vitamin C helps in the proper functioning of the immune system by supporting the functions of the white blood cells. Protection Against Cancer: Apart from containing vitamin C (a powerful antioxidant), jackfruits are also rich in phytonutrients like lignans, isoflavones and saponins that provide protection against cancer. These phytonutrients can help eliminate cancer-causing free radicals from the body and slow down the degeneration of cells that can lead to degenerative diseases. Lowers Blood Pressure Levels: Jackfruit is a rich source of potassium, containing around 300 mg in 100 grams of jackfruit. Potassium is important for the body as it helps keep the body fluids and electrolyte balance in body cells and helps in regulating blood pressure, thereby reducing the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Kinchay/Parsley
Parsley is a short lived perennial with bright green leaves. Tiny yellowgreen flowers are produced followed by small ribbed oval seeds. Parts used: Leaves, roots, seeds and oil Indications: >Itch relieving properties apply externally on itchy area. >Diuretic Parsley may be eaten raw, juiced in an extractor, or made into a soup to produce a free flow of urine from the system. >Poultice To soften hard breasts in the early stage of nursing, apply bruised parsley to the breasts.
A small plant found in many places in the Philippines, often cultivated. On Mt. Banahaw it grows wild. Filipinos use it for all sorts of stomach ailments. Indications: >Skin ulcers - wash ulcers with infusion of leaves. >Used for: Cough, Colds and Fevers Preparation: Decoction of leaves and flowers used as expectorant. It should however, not be given to those suffering from gastric ulcers, gastric intestinal inflammation and typhoid fever. Boil about 40 fresh leaves with flowering tops (10 g) in 3 cups of water, for 15 to 20 minutes until you get 1 glass of the greenish tea solution. Application: Drink while warm; dose good for one day use to be taken twice.
Cayenne pepper
Cayenne Pepper is an herb made from the dried pods of chili peppers. Besides being a very popular spice in cooking, cayenne has also been used medicinally for thousands of years. High in Vitamins A, C, B complex, calcium and potassium, cayenne is a wonderful healing aid for the digestive system since it acts as a catalyst and increases the effectiveness of other foods and herbs when used with them. It is also very healing for the heart and circulatory system. Studies have shown that Cayenne can rebuild the tissue in the stomach and the peristaltic action in the intestines. Indications: >Relieves pain of sore throat - gargle Cayenne solution >Toothache - A few grains of cayenne will smart on the gum, and in a cavity, but will act as a temporary pain alleviator, until you get to your dentist. >Applied externally, Cayenne can act as a counterirritant to the pain of arthritis. Essentially, this means that rubbing cayenne on the affected area causes a mild irritation, which in turn distracts the nerves from the more severe arthritic pain.
REFERENCES: http://forums.bizhat.com http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areca_nut http://www.healthdiaries.com http://suite101.com Public Health Nursing in the Philippines book by National League of the Philippine Government Nurses; pp. 324 329 Healing Wonders of Herbs by Herminia de Guzman Ladion; pp. 12 - 45 http://www.herbalmedicineguide.com/onion.html http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mugwor61.html