herbal medicine
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
FORMS OF HERBAL PREPARATION
are made in a similar fashion like one makes a cup of tea the normal way. The doses are 1 ounce or 25 grams of dried herbs, or 2 ounce or 50 grams of fresh herbs, should be added to 1pint or 600 ml of water, which is at boiling point. You can make adjustments in the measurement to suit your taste buds so that you make it a regular habit to drink the tea. You can put herbs in a warm teapot, add boiling water, cover for ten minutes, and strain and drink it. If the person is suffering from any chronic disease, then one cup of tea should be consumed three times a day and if the condition is quite acute, then one cup of tea should be consumed 6 times a day. An infusion can be stored in the fridge till about two days maximum. . Infusions are mostly taken hot but only in cases like treating urinary system, the infusion should be drunk lukewarm to cold.
Infusions
Decoctions
• Decoctions are preparations from hard woody parts of plants like barks, roots, seeds and nuts. They are quite similar to infusions and require more heat in preparing it and imparting their constituents into the water. To prepare decoctions, you have to break or hammer barks, roots, etc. with a mortar and pestle. You could also chop them if they are fresh, and put them in a pan of water and start boiling, cover the pan with a lid and simmer for 10 minutes and then strain. The measurement of the water can go over a pint per ounce of herb, in case some of the liquid is evaporated during simmering. The measurements of decoctions and infusions are the same.
Poultice
A dampened mixture, which is applied on the part of the body, which needs the remedy. Fresh or dried herbs are used as poultice. They are placed between two pieces of gauze and applied on the area, which is to be cured .If you are using fresh leaves, stems or roots, then you should break them or crush them before utilizing them. If dried herbs are being used, then a little warm water can be added to the herbs, which are either finely chopped or powdered. After the mixture is ready to use, and then spread the paste into gauze.Bind the gauze poultice to the area which is affected, a light cotton bandage can be used for this purpose and after binding it to the affected area, you can keep it warm with a hot water bottle.
Tinctures
• Tinctures are extracted from herbs, which are very concentrated, and they are mostly used in mixture of water and alcohol, so that their constituents are extracted for various remedies and they also act as preservatives.
Liniments
• Liniments are oils for rubbing on the body to relieve any muscular pain, they are used for massage, for the stimulation of the muscles and ligaments of the body and they can cure any pain, which is caused by inflammation, or any other injury. The mixture is an extract of herbs with an oil base or alcohol base, or they could be a mixture of herbal oils and alcohol tinctures. They can be easily absorbed into the skin and get transferred into the affected part of the body.
10 HERBAL MEDICINE APPROVED
BY DOH
Plant Name: Lagundi
( Vitex negundo)
Uses & Preparation:
Asthma, Cough & Fever - Decoction ( Boil raw fruits or leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15
minutes)Dysentery, Colds & Pain - Decoction ( Boil a handful of leaves
& flowers in water to produce a glass, three times a day)
Skin diseases (dermatitis, scabies, ulcer, eczema) - Wash & clean the skin/wound with the decoction
Headache - Crush leaves may be applied on the forehead
Rheumatism, sprain, contusions, insect bites - Pound the leaves and apply on affected area
Plant Name: Sambong ( Blumea balsamifera)
Uses & Preparation
Anti-edema, diuretic, anti-urolithiasis – Boil chopped leaves in a glass of water for 15 minutes until one glassful remains. Divide decoction into 3 parts, drink one part 3 times a day.Diarrhea – Chopped leaves and boil in a glass of water for 15 minutes. Drink one part every 3 hours.
Plant Name: Yerba (Hierba) Buena
( Mentha cordifelia)
Uses & PreparationPain (headache, stomachache) – Boil chopped leaves in
2 glasses of water for 15 minutes. Divide decoction into 2 parts, drink one part every 3 hours.Rheumatism, arthritis and headache – Crush the fresh leaves and squeeze sap. Massage sap on painful parts with eucalyptusCough & Cold – Soak 10 fresh leaves in a glass of hot water, drink as tea. (expectorant)Swollen gums – Steep 6 g. of fresh plant in a glass of boiling water for 30 minutes. Use as a gargle solution
Toothache – Cut fresh plant and squeeze sap. Soak a piece of cotton in the sap and insert this in aching tooth cavityMenstrual & gas pain – Soak a handful of leaves in a lass of boiling water. Drink infusion.Nausea & Fainting – Crush leaves and apply at nostrils of patientsInsect bites – Crush leaves and apply juice on affected area or pound leaves until like a paste, rub on affected areaPruritis – Boil plant alone or with eucalyptus in water. Use decoction as a wash on affected area.
Plant : Tsaang Gubat ( Carmona Nameretusa)
Uses & Preparation
Diarrhea - Boil chopped leaves into 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes.
Divide decoction into 4 parts. Drink 1 part every 3 hours
Stomachache – Boil chopped leaves in 1 glass of water for 15 minutes.
Cool and strain.
Plant Name: Niyug-Niyogan
( Quisqualis indica L.)
Uses & Preparation
Anti-helmintic - The seeds are taken 2 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)
Plant Name: Bayabas/Guava
( Psidium guajava L.)
Uses & Preparation
For washing wounds - Maybe use twice a dayDiarrhea - May be taken 3-4 times a dayAs gargle and for toothache - Warm decoction is used for gargle. 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
Uses & Preparation
Anti-fungal (tinea flava, ringworm, athlete’s foot and scabies) - Fresh,
matured leaves are pounded. Apply soap to the affected area 1-2 times a
day
Plant Name: Ulasimang Bato
( Peperonica pellucida)
Uses & Preparation
Lowers uric acid (rheumatism and gout) – One a half cup leaves are
boiled in two glass of water over low fire. Do not cover pot. Divide into 3 parts and drink one part 3 times a
day.
Plant Name: Bawang/Garlic
Uses & PreparationHypertension - Maybe 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.Toothache - Pound a small piece and apply to
affected area
Uses & 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 1/3 cup 3 times a day after meals
Tips on Handling Medicinal Plants / Herbs:
If possible, buy herbs that are grown organically - without pesticides.
Medicinal parts of plants are best harvested on sunny mornings. Avoid picking leaves, fruits or nuts during and after heavy rainfall.
Leaves, fruits, flowers or nuts must be mature before harvesting. Less medicinal substances are found on young parts.
After harvesting, if drying is required, it is advisable to dry the plant parts either in the oven or air-dried on screens above ground and never on concrete floors.
Store plant parts in sealed plastic bags or brown bottles in a cool dry place without sunlight preferably with a moisture absorbent material like charcoal. Leaves and other plant parts that are prepared properly, well-dried and stored can be used up to six months.
Tips on Preparation for Intake of Herbal Medicines:
Use only half the dosage prescribed for fresh parts like leaves when using dried parts.
Do not use stainless steel utensils when boiling decoctions. Only use earthen, enamelled, glass or alike utensils.
As a rule of thumb, when boiling leaves and other plant parts, do not cover the pot, and boil in low flame.
WHEN TO AVOID HERBAL MEDICATION
Contraindicated for pregnant and breast feeding women.
Contraindicated for serious medical condition such as heart disease, bleeding disorder, kidney and liver problem.
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