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Herbal Remedies in the Philippines

Discussion in '☋ Tourist Information ☋' started by Travel Guide, Nov 5, 2006.

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  1. Travel Guide

    Travel Guide DI Member

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    The Philippine flora is a rich repository of herbal medicines, a fact that made the health department to promote 10 of the 80 known medicinal plants. One of these is the ampalaya or the bitter gourd, a familiar vegetable in the native dish pinakbet. Amplaya has been found to be a good purgative and stomach tonic.

    The Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has identified some 80 local plants that have medicinal value. Ten of these herbs are now endorsed by the Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC), an institution that is attached to the Department of Health (DOH).

    Dr. Alfonso Lagaya, director general of PITAHC says that these herbal medicines can be an answer to the expensive prices of pharmaceutical drugs. Lagaya adds that these herbs—among them are lagundi, sambong, bayabas, tsaang gubat, niyug-niyogan, yeba Buena, garlic, pansit-pansitan, and ampalaya—have been tested for safety and efficacy. Safe means that these herbal nmedicines underwent rigorous studies, both pre-clinical and clinical. Pre-clinical means that they were tested on laboratory animals.

    The DOH is tasked to disseminate information on all 80 herbal medicines but budget limitations trimmed the number. Since DOH cannot disseminate 80 medicinal plants, the agency just focused on 10 herbal medicines.

    Dr. Lagaya looks at herbal medications as a complimentary modality to conventional medicine. For example, if a person has an infection, it is recommended that he takes an antibiotic that deliver powerful and immediate action. However, DOH would also recommend that the patient take a natural herbal remedy such as ampalaya (bitter gourd).

    Our grandparents knew ampalaya as a blood cleanser and purgative. They were not far off from the mark. Health scientists now say this bitter gourd—a basic ingredient in the Northern Philippine vegetable stew called pinakbet and other native dishes—can help reduce blood sugar levels of diabetics. The leaves and fruit of this common climbing vine is also rich in iron, vitamin B, calcium, and phosphorous.

    The DOH includes the vegetable ampalaya (Momordica Charantia) among the 10 herbal remedies it is promoting. For sufferers of mild, non-insulin dependent diabetes, the recommended dosage is one-third glass of ampalaya leaf tea, 30 minutes before meals. DOH instructions: Boil a handful of fresh ampalaya leaves in two glasses of water for 15 minutes. Divide the boiled solution into three portions and drink each portion 30 minutes before meals. It is best to use a claypot. If possible, use organically-grown ampalaya. Aside from being a diabetes potion, ampalaya is also known for other medicinal properties. Studies may yet confirm more of its powers.

    In India, its leaves are mashed and used for skin diseases. Juice of its leaves is also sometimes used to clear coughs. It is also mixed with oil and applied to hemorrhoids. In Cuba, its seeds are known to be good for bacillary dysentery and chronic ulcers. The fruit is a potent purgative. It is a known stomach tonic. It is said to be useful for gout and rheumatism and diseases of the spleen and lover. But don’t take too much of it, or limit intake to two or three times a week. In fact too much of it could kill a dog.
     
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