ALTERNATIVE AND COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES

A. Halamang Gamot

According to the Department of Health(DOH)

• As part of primary health care and because of the increasing cost of drugs, the use of locally available
medicinal plants and herbs in the Philippine backyard and field have been found to be effective in the
treatment of common ailments as attested by the National Science Development Board, other
government and private agencies/ persons engaged in research.

REPUBLIC ACT 8423

● otherwise known as TAMA

TRADITIONAL AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE ACT OF 1997

• An act creating the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) to
accelerate the development of traditional and alternative health care development fund and for other
purposes
• Improve the quality and delivery of health care services to the Filipino people through the
development and alternative health care and it's integration into the national health care delivery system
• A legally workable basis by which indigenous society would own their knowledge of traditional
medicine.

10 HERBAL MEDICINES APPROVED BY THE DOH

S 1. Sambong
A 2. Akapulko
N 3. Niyog-niyogan
T 4. Tsaang Gubat
A 5. Ampalaya
L 6. Lagundi
U 7. Ulasimang Bato
B 8. Bawang
B 9. Bayabas
Y 10. Yerba Buena

Herbal Medicine as an Alternative

4 reason why Herbal Medicine is used as an alternative:
● A cheaper alternative
● Found most everywhere, easy to find
● Easy to prepare, materials at home can be used
● Can easen and treat simple ailments
SAMBONG (Blumea balsamifera L. DC)
● is an amazing medicinal plant. Coming from the family of Compositae, it goes by several names
locally.
● It is known in the Visayas as bukadkad and as subsud in Ilocos.
● This plant possesses a multitude of properties that make it worthy of DOH approval.

Common names: Sambong(Tagalog) ; lakad-bulan(Bicol); Ngai camphor(English)

Indications: Diuretic in hypertension; dissolves kidney stones
Found in: In roadsides, fields, lowland and mountain regions
Parts used: Leaves and flowering tops
Special precautions: Avoid using other diuretics. When taking diuretics, eat at least one banana a day.

AKAPULKO (Cassia alata L.)

● a shrub found throughout the Philippines. It is known under various names in different regions in
the country.

Common names: Katanda(Tagalog); andadasi(Ilokano); palochina(Bisaya); ringworm bush, seven

golden candlesticks, bayabas-bayabasan
● Abundantly naturalized in South East Asia, occasionally planted through the region for medicinal
and ornamental purposes
Parts Used: Leaves
Indications: Anti-fungal(tinea flava, ringworm, athlete's foot and scabies)
Preparation: Fresh, mature leaves are
pounded. Apply soap to the affected area 1-2 times a day.

NIYOG-NIYOGAN ( Quisqualis Indica L.)

Common names: Tartaraok(Tagalog); balitadham(Bisaya); Rangoon creeper, Chinese honeysuckle, liane
vermifuge
Indications: Fruit(kernel) anthelmintic; leaves poultice for headache
Found in: In forest margins at low altitude, in gardens and backyards. Native to Asian tropics and
throughout the Malaysian region.
Parts used: Fruits
Special precautions: Follow recommended dosage. Overdose causes hiccups.
Preparation: Anthelmintic
 ● The seeds are taken2 hours after supper. If no worms are expelled, the dose may be repeated
after one week. (Caution: Not to be given to children below 4 years old)

TSAANG GUBAT ( Carmona retusa (Vahl) Masam)

● a shrub that grows abundantly in the Philippines. In folkloric medicine, the leaves have been used
as disinfectant wash during childbirth, as cure for diarrhea, as tea for general good health and
because Tsaang Gubat has high fluoride content, it is used as a mouth gargle for preventing tooth
decay.
● Research and tests now prove its efficacy as an herbal medicine. Aside from the traditional way
of taking Tsaang Gubat, it is now available commercially in capsules, tablets and tea bags.
Common names: Putputai(Bikol); alangit(Bisaya); forest tea, wild tea
Indications: pills, leaf decoction for gastroenteritis, as gargle to prevent cavities
Found in: In secondary forests at low and medium altitudes. Sometimes cultivated as ornamentals.
Parts Used: Leaves
Preparation:
For diarrhea: boil chopped leaves into 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Divide decoction into 4 parts.
Drink 1 part every 3 hours.
For stomach ache: boil chopped leaves in 1 glass of water for 15 minutes. Cool and strain.

AMPALAYA (Momordica charantia (L.) DC)

● has been for used even by the Chinese for centuries. The effectiveness of Ampalaya as an herbal
medicine has been tried and tested by many research clinics and laboratories worldwide.
● In the Philippines, the Department of Health has endorsed Ampalaya as an alternative medicine
to help alleviate various ailments.
Common names: Ampalaya (Tagalog); paria (Ilokano); palia (Bisaya); bitter gourd, bitter cucumber, bitter
melon (English)
Indications: lowers blood sugar levels
Found in: In lowland rain forest, thickets hedges, waste places, and roadsides.
Parts used: Young leaves
Special precautions: Blood sugar levels should be monitored regularly. The native variety with small
bitter fruit is recommended.
Preparation:
Diabetes Mellitus (Mild non-insulin dependent)
- Chopped leaves then boil in a glass of water for 15 minutes. Do not cover. Cool and strain. Take
⅓ cup 3 times a day after meals.

LAGUNDI (Vitex negundo L.)

● It is one of the ten herbal medicines endorsed by the Philippines Department of Health as an
effective herbal medicine with proven therapeutic value. Studies have shown that Lagundi can
prevent the body's production of leukotrienes, which are released during an asthma attack.
 ● This medicinal plant has recently been commercialized and many pharmaceutical companies are
making cough syrups out of it.
Common names: Dangla (Ilokano); five-leaved chaste tree, horseshoe vitex
Indication: Leaves and flowering tops decoction, syrup, tablets and capsules for coughs, colds, fever and
asthma.
Found in: in humid places or along water courses, in waste places and mixed open forest
Parts used: Leaves and flowering tops
Special precautions: Make sure to have the five-leaved varieties, as there are other varieties of lagundi
Preparation:
For asthma, cough & fever:
Decoction (the process of boiling the leaves or other parts of a fruit/plant in a couple of glasses of water
for 15 minutes) is the most convenient way to use this as a medication.
This plant can also be pounded using a pestle and mortar and can be applied to affected areas where
there is pain, or soreness.
For wounds, decoction can be used as an alternative to hydrogen peroxide for wound dressing.
For headache: Crush leaves may be applied on the forehead, Rheumatism, sprain, contusions, insect
bites
-Pound the leaves and apply on the affected area

ULASIMANG - BATO (Peperonia pellucida)

● It is a small herb that grows from 1 to 1 ½ feet. Pansit-pansitan can be found in the wild on lightly
shaded and damp areas such as nooks, walls, yards and even roofs. Pansit-pansitan has
heart-shaped leaves and succulent stems with tiny flowers on a spike. When matured, the small
fruits bear one seed which falls off the ground and propagates.
● This is a very popular traditional medication for gout as this herbal plant contains analgesic
properties. Gout is the most common type of arthritis for Filipinos, according to the statistics of the
Philippine Rheumatology Association (PRA), around 1.6M Filipinos are suffering from Gout.
● It's no surprise that this herbal medication is starting to become the center of attraction when
looking for an alternative to the conventional treatment of gout, like Allopurinol.
Common names: Ulasimang-bato pansit-pansitan (Tagalog); olasiman-ihalas
(Cebu,Bisaya);tangon-tangon (Bikol); peperonia (English)
Indications: Infusion, decoction or salad for gout and rheumatic pains; pounded plants warm poultice for
boils and abscesses
Found in: In lowland rain forest, thickets, hedges, waste places, and roadsides.
Parts used: aerial plant parts
Special precautions: Avoid using with other pain relievers, diuretics
Preparation: For Lowering Uric Acid(rheumatism and gout)- one and a half cup leaves are boiled into 2
glasses of water over low fire. Do not cover the pot. Divide into 3 parts and drink one part 3 times a day.
BAWANG (Alium sativum L.)
● Bawang is a herb that is considered as one of the most widely used herbal medicines in the
Philippines and can also be found commonly in the kitchen of Filipino households as it is used to
spice up food preparations. The Philippine bawang or garlic variety is more pungent than the
imported ones. Its medical properties have been known for a long time and have been especially
proven during World War ll when it was used to treat wounds and infections of soldiers. Garlic
antibacterial compound known as allicin, saved many lives of soldiers as this property prevented
the wounds from being infected and developing into gangrene at a later stage by extracting the
juice of bawang or garlic and applying it to the wounds.
Common names: Ajos(Bisaya); garlic
Indications: Fresh cloves, capsules for lowering blood cholesterol levels; antiseptic
Parts Used: Leaves and bulbs(cloves)
Special Precautions: Avoid taking it with medicines for lowering blood sugar, and medicines for thinning
blood. Dosage must not exceed 6-8 cooked cloves a day. Stomach ulcer may develop if garlic is eaten
raw.
Use and Preparation:
For Hypertension- may be fried, roasted, soaked in vinegar for 30 minutes, or blanched in boiled water
for 15 minutes. Take 2 pieces 3 times a day after meals.
For toothache - pound a small piece and apply to affected area

BAYABAS ( Psidium guajava L.)

● Bayabas or Guava is a tropical plant, which is locally known for its edible fruit. In the backyards
of Filipino homes in the country, this plant is commonly seen and grown because of its many uses
as fruit and as a traditional remedy to treat various ailments. As shown by many research studies,
almost all of the parts of this plant have medicinal qualities and value, thus, making it one of the
most popular therapeutic plants in the Philippines.
Common names: Guava, bayabas(Tagalog); guyabas(Ilokano); Guava(English)
Indications: anti- diarrheal and antiseptic
Found in: Common in the Philippines
Parts Used: Leaves, fruits
Special Precautions: Eating too much guava fruit may cause constipation
Preparation: For washing wounds- Wash the leaves with running water before boiling them for 15
minutes. Wait until the decoction cools down to a lukewarm temperature before rinsing the wound with it.
Be careful not to use it while it is still hot as it may cause burns.
For diarrhea - May be taken 3-4 times a day. As gargle and for toothache - warm decoction is used for
gargling. Freshly pounded leaves are used for toothache. Boil chopped leaves for 15 minutes at low fire.
Do not cover and then let it cool and strain.

YERBA BUENA (Clinopodium douglasii)

 ● Yerba Buena has been consumed for centuries as tea and herbal medicine as a pain reliever (
analgesic). Native American Indians used it even before the "white men" colonized the Americas.
Today, this folk medicine's efficacy has been validated by scientific research. In the Philippines,
Yerba Buena is one of the 10 herbs endorsed by the Department of Health (DOH) as an effective
alternative medicine for aches and pains.
Common names: Peppermint
Indications: for pain, cough, colds, nausea, dizziness, and pruritus
Parts utilized: leaves, sap of plant
Uses and preparations:
For pain(headache, stomachache)
- Boil chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Divide decoction into 2 parts, drink one
part every 3 hours.
For Rheumatism, arthritis and headache
- Crush the fresh leaves and squeeze sap. Massage sap on painful parts with eucalyptus
For cough and colds
- soak 10 fresh leaves in a glass of hot water, drink as tea(expectorant)
For swollen gums
- steep 6 g. of fresh plant in a glass of boiling water for 30 minutes. Use as a gargle solution
For Toothache
- Cut fresh plant and squeeze sap. Soak a piece of cotton in the sap and insert this aching tooth
cavity
For gas pain
- Soak a handful of leaves in a glass of boiling water. Drink infusion.
For nausea and fainting
- Crush leaves and apply at nostrils of patients
For Insect bites
- Crush leaves and apply juice on the affected area or pound leaves until like a paste, rub on the
affected area.
For pruritus
- Boil plant alone or with eucalyptus in water. Use decoction as a wash on affected areas.

Reminders on the Use of Herbal Medicine

• Avoid the use of insecticides as these may leave poison on plants

• In the preparation of herbal medicine, use a clay pot and remove cover while boiling at low heat
• Use only the part of the plant being advocated
• Follow accurate dose of suggested preparation
• Use only the kind of herbal plant for each symptoms or sickness
• Use only half the dosage prescribed for fresh parts like leaves when using dried parts
• Decoctions lose potency after some time. Dispose of decorations after one day. To keep fresh
during the day, keep lukewarm in a flask or thermos.
• Leaves, fruits, flowers or nuts must be mature before harvesting. Less medicinal substances are
found on young parts.
• Stop giving the herbal medication in case untoward reaction such as allergy occurs.
• If signs and symptoms are relieved after 2 or 3 doses of herbal medication, consult a doctor.