Department of Health (DOH) endorses 10 herbal plants which have been thoroughly tested and have been clinically proven to have medicinal value in the relief and treatment of various ailments.
About 400 plants in the Philippines which have medicinal or therapeutic values. However, only ten have been clinically tested to have medicinal value.
Lagundi tablets are mainly used for the relief of coughs and asthma.
Sambong tablet is a diuretic that helps in the excretion of urinary stones and can also be used as an edema.
Tsaang Gubat 250mg tablet is effective in treating intestinal motility and also used as a mouth wash since the leaves of this shrub has high fluoride content.
The fourth is Akapulco is used to treat ringworms and skin fungal infections.
The Ampalaya is most known as a treatment of diabetes (diabetes mellitus) for the non-insulin dependent patients.
Bawang mainly reduces cholesterol in the blood and hence, helps control blood pressure.
Bayabas is primarily used as an antiseptic, to disinfect wounds. Also, it can be used as a mouth wash to treat tooth decay and gum infection.
Niyog-Niyogan is effective in the elimination of intestinal worms, particularly the Ascaris and Trichina.
Ulasimang Bato is effective in fighting arthritis and gout.
Yerba Buena, or commonly known as Peppermint, is used as an analgesic to relive body aches and pain.
There are other herbs and herbal remedies like banaba, virgin coconut oil, mangosteen, gumamela, luyang dilaw, silymarin, and countless others.
There is no substitute for the services of a licensed medical practitioner. Consult with a doctor knowledgeable with herbal medicine or Philippine medicinal plants before taking or mixing herbs with prescription and non-prescription drugs. Test show that some herbal medicines have adverse reaction when mixed with other drugs. (PIA)
