What is herbal medicine?

In herbal medicine, the word herb applies to any plant or plant part used for its medicinal, flavoring, or fragrant properties. Leaves, flowers, stems, roots, seeds, fruit, and bark can all be constituents of herbal medicines

Herbal medicine is a type of alternative medicine, which makes use of plant parts or plant extracts for therapeutic purposes. Traditional herbal medicine has been popular in Philippines since long time. Herbal medicine had been used as an effective tool for treating ailments before the introduction of modern medicines. Till today, herbs and herbal medicines are used to promote the overall health as well as for treatment of various diseases.

Herbal Medicine in the Philippines

During the 20th century

By the beginning of the 20th century chemists had become more adept at isolating the active ingredients in plants, and the use of raw, whole-plant materials began to seem crude and unscientific.

Agoho (Casuarina equisetlifolia L. Cauanrinaceae)

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Agoho is large tree reaches 20 meters high, with a 65-cm diameter, the crown is norrow pyramid its appearance. The outer stem of agoho is color brown to dark brown and the stems of this tree are rough. The inner part of the stem is light and the taste is bitter. The leaves are actually reduced to small sheaths on the needle-like branchlets.

Medicinal value and used:
• The bark of agoho is used to boil in water, the herbs of agoho used to stimulate blood flow of the pelvic area and uterus. It is helpful for hemoptysis (expectoration of blood from some part of the respiratory tract) and also ad excellent astringent.
• The outcome flavor of the stem tonic.
• The stem of the agoho tree used of arrest diarrhea and dysentery
• The powder of the stems is prescribed for pimples on the face.
• The lotion of the agoho is used for beriden.
• The boiled stems of the tree is used as lotion for swellings.
• The leaves of the agoho tree is used for colic (spasm. Or twisting or abdominal pain)

MOLAVE (Vitex parviflora juss.)

picture taken from www.google.com

The molave tree has a large diameter in size about 100 to 150 cm in height about 25 to 30 m. the bole is irregular, short and fluted. The wood of molave tree is thick, from medium to large. Its crown is spreading, the leaves are small, whorled and deciduous. The color of the flower of molave is blue and size to 6-8 meters long, the outside of the corolla is hairy and borne in terminal, paniculate, and ample inflorences up to 20cm in length.

Medicinal use:
• Infusion or decoction of the wood is considered a good remedy for poison, as a dose it will produce vomiting.
• The outside of the molave tree or the stem is used for diarrhea.