Herbal Medicine – Page 24 – Philippine Tambayan

MEDICINAL USES OF SAMBONG

For headache

To use sambong for headache, simply heat enough fresh leaves over a fire until slightly

wilted. Then pound the leaves a little and place on the forehead and temples. A cloth

bandage may also be used to keep the leaves in place. Change the dressing every four

hours when needed.

For gaseous distention

Gaseous distention is caused by excessive air in the stomach. It is produced by

swallowing air, indigestion or eating too much gas-forming foods like rootcrops and

some fruits.

For these simple cases of gaseous distention, boil 1 tablespoon of crushed dried (or 1

tablespoon chopped fresh) leaves of sambong in 1 glass of water for 15 minutes. Strain

and drink and boiled mixture while lukewarm. For children, follow the same steps but

use only ½ tablespoon leaves.

DRIED GINGER

Raw materials:

Ginger

Sodium metabisulfite

Utensils:

Plastic basins

Knives

Ladle

Plastic bags

Colander

Researchers of ITDI have formulated a cough candy using oils of ginger (Zinigiber

officinale Rosc.) and “kalamansi” (Citrus microcarpa Bunge) and extracts from tamarind

(Tamarindus indica Linn.) and “kalamansi”. The use of local plant products to substitute

for the imported raw materials/ingredients in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals may

help contribute to the reduction of prices of drugs which have become prohibitive.

According to a plant researcher at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños,

Laguna, to be more effective and to protect their “healing powers,” medicinal plants

should be harvested at the right time, then dried and stored properly.