Lavender

Scientific Name: Lavandula angustifolia (also Lavandula spica or Lavandula vera; formerly  Lavandula officinalis

Description: Lavender grows in temperate climate especially in hilly areas. It is an evergreen shrub with thick silvery leaves.  It's flower consist of numerous small thick tubular lavender-colour flowers that yield abundant nectar.

Parts Used:
Flowers and Leaves

Uses:

1. Muscle Pain/Arthritis/Sprain/Headaches

Because of its anti-inflammatory properties, massaging lavander essential oil can ease pain caused by sprain, arthritis, joint pains, sore muscles and headaches.

Note: lavender oil can also be a powerful allergen and must be avoided during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

2. Ease Nervous Tension/Anxiety
Lavender essential oil is used to calm the nerves. The scent of lavender is known to relieve emotional stress, anxiety, depression and nervous tension due to its calming effect. Use a scent diffuser or a lavender scented candle.  Some would also put a lavender soap inside a pillow to induce sleep.

3. Psoriasis/Sunburn

Lavender is known to be a powerful antiseptic and antifungal. Use as bath oils.

Lavender Tea:

Decoction of leaves and flower are used also as herbal tea.



THOUGH THE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG HAD BEEN TRIED & TESTED AND HAD BEEN USED AS FOLK/HERBAL MEDICINE IT IS STILL BEST TO CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR.

Guava

Scientific name: Psidium guajava

Description: 

Guava is indigenous to the Central American region and are cultivated and naturalized throughout the tropics as well as in some subtropical regions. The guava tree is aperennial shrub or a general shade tree that grows up to a height of 4 meters.  It leaves have conspicuous veins, are oblong and tapered at the end. Its green to yellowish fruits contain numerous seeds with a reddish, pink or yellowish flesh that is very delectable as well as nutritious.

Nutritional value:

Guavas are rich in vitamins A and C.  A big guava contains over four times the amount of vitamin C as a single orange (212 mg/100 g fruit) and the quantity of vitamin C increases as the fruit matures. The seeds are known to be rich in omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.  Depending on the variety, guava has good levels of the dietary minerals that includes phosphorus, potassium, calcim, and magnesium.

Parts Used: Fresh or dried leaves, bark, fruits.

Medicinal Properties:

The guava fruit,leaves and bark of the plant possess some therapeutic properties and have been known to treat various disorders.

The guava with a reddish flesh are extremely rich in antioxidants than the yellowish-green ones.  The guava fruit has carotenoids, flavonoids, saponins, essential oils, eugenol, lectins, triterpenes as well as polyphenols. The fruit is also considered to be an excellent source of a dietary fiber known as pectin. 

The guava leaf is high in flavonoids and quercetin, in fact, the majority of the medicinal properties of guava are attributed to the flavonoids seen in the fruits and leaves.

Indication:

1. Acute Diarrhea, Gastroenteritis, intestinal worm, dysmenorrhea,gastric disorders

Pound guava leaf and boil in a 1 liter of water.  Drink infusions prepared with guava leaves as a tea. Some would combine leaves and bark to prepare a decoction. In tropical countries, townfolks use the leaves, roots, barks as well as the unripe fruits of guava to treat such disorders because of the presence of quercetin and other flavonoids in the guava plant.

2. Nausea and Vomiting

same as above.

3. Vaginal discharges

Prepare a decoction with leaves and bark of the guava tree and use it as a vaginal wash.

4. Toothaches;Bad Breath; Bleeding gums; Mouth sores; sore throat and laryngitis

Chew leaves of guava.  Some would prefer to chew the young leaves of the guava. Others use a decoction prepared with the leaves of guava and use it as a gargle.

5. Wound and skin ulcers

Prepare a decoction of leaves and/ or barks of guava trees or an infusion prepared with guava flowers.  Some would pound the guava leaves and apply it as a poultice over the wound. Guava leaves and bark are used traditionally as a disinfectant and antiseptic.

6. Cough, sore throat and laryngitis

Eat guava fruit for this it is excellent source of Vitamin C (Four times more than oranges).

7. Believed to alleviate hangover when tender guava leaves are chewed before taking intoxicating drinks.

THOUGH THE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG HAD BEEN TRIED & TESTED AND HAD BEEN USED AS FOLK/HERBAL MEDICINE IT IS STILL BEST TO CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR.

Blumea Camphor / Ngai Camphor Plant/ SAMBONG

Description:
It is a strongly aromatic herb that can reach up to 3 m tall. The stems are erect, coarse and half woody. The leaves are leathery in texture, serrated at the margins and narrowly oblong-shaped with tapered
base.  The aggregated flower heads are yellow, sometimes reddish yellow that is 6 to 7 mm long.

Health Benefits:

• Alleviates rheumatism
• Diuretic agent
• Known to dissolve kidney stones
• Treatment of colds & fever
• Anti-diarrheic properties
• Relief of stomach pains and gas pains

Parts Utilized: Whole plant

Indications and Direction of Use:

1. Traumatic injuries, Abscesses, Boils - Fresh leaves that are crushed can be applied as poultice.

2. Arthritis, Rheumatism - Pound fresh leaves and mix it with coconut oil.  Rub it over affected area. To relieve rheumatic pains on the back or waist - soak affected area with warm decoction of boiled blumea camphor leaves.

3.Headache - Use the pounded fresh leaves as poultice on the forehead and hold it in place with a clean piece of cloth.  Some would mix the leaves with coconut oil before rubbing it on the forehead.

4. Cough and colds - the tea is used as an expectorant.

5. Gas pains(children)- rub the ointment consisting of crushed leaves and coconut oil.

Decoction of roots and leaves are also used for cystitis and fever.  One can use the lukewarm decoction as a sponge bath. Tea is also used to cure diarrhea.

THOUGH THE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG HAD BEEN TRIED & TESTED AND HAD BEEN USED AS FOLK/HERBAL MEDICINE IT IS STILL BEST TO CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR.

Spanish Needles

Scientific name: Bidens pilosa

Description: 

A native in North America it is now considered weed as well as an edible plant in some tropical places.  The fresh or dried tender shoots and young leaves are used as a vegetable.  A fruiting Spanish needles can easily cling to clothing.  It is erect, somewhat hairy and the flowers are small, yellow or brown and usually contain 4 to 5 white petals. 

Medicinal Properties:

Spanish needles have been used in traditional medicine for infections from wounds, upper respiratory tract infections like colds and flu, urinary tract infections as well as venereal diseases. The leaves, seeds and roots of spanish needles have also been reported to possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antimalarial, diuretic, as well as hypotensive properties.

Parts used: Leaves, seed and roots

Description and Indication of Use:

Dysuria or Painful Urination - drink the expressed sap of a fresh Spanish needles.

Wounds - sap from crushed leaves is used  on fresh wound to speed up clotting of blood.

Gastric pain - Boil spanish needles plant in water until most of the water has evaporated.  Make a pasty mass by mashing it.  Combine it with ginger tea.

THOUGH THE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG HAD BEEN TRIED & TESTED AND HAD BEEN USED AS FOLK/HERBAL MEDICINE IT IS STILL BEST TO CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR.

Avocado (Alligator pear)

Scientific Name: Persea americana

Description: This medium-sized tree is a native of tropical America.  The leaves are dark green and greyish green underneath. The flowers are small, clustered and yellowish- green.  The fruit is elongated thus the name alligator pear with a yellowish –green flesh surrounding a single large seed.

Health Benefits: Avocado provides protein and contains vitamins, minerals,fiber and antioxidants such as beta-sitosterol, glutathione and lutein.  It has no cholesterol and sodium. It is high in folate and provides more than 25 essential nutrients such as potassium, vitamin E, C, B-vitamins, iron, copper, panthothenic acid, niacin, phosphorus and magnesium. Avocado also provides calories for energy (the fat in avocado is mostly monounsaturated).

Parts used:

Leaves (fresh and sundried)

Bark (Sundried)

Seed (Sundried)

Indication and direction of use:

Rheumatism – Finely grind the sundried bark and sundried seed. Mix it with oil.  Rub on the affected area.

Wound wash – Boil leaves in a pot of water. Let it cool and use it as a wash.

Neuralgia – Mix the finely ground bark and seed (both sundried).  Add oil to the mixture.  Rub on affected area.

How to Make Avocado Tea –Take 30 g of finely chopped dried avocado leaves.  Boil in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes or so.


THOUGH THE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG HAD BEEN TRIED & TESTED AND HAD BEEN USED AS FOLK/HERBAL MEDICINE IT IS STILL BEST TO CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR.

Angel’s Trumpet

Scientific name:  Brugmansia suaveolens

Description:  A small tree about 3m or more with creamy white trumpet-looking flowers hanging

.

Parts used: Leaves and flowers

Indication and Direction of use:

Muscle Pain- Crushed the fresh leaves of the Angel’s trumpet.  Place the crushed leaves in coconut oil for about a week or two.  Rub it on the affected area.

Rheumatism - Pound fresh leaves of the Angel’s trumpet mix with a little starch paste.  Plaster it on the affected area.


THOUGH THE CONTENT OF THIS BLOG HAD BEEN TRIED & TESTED AND HAD BEEN USED AS FOLK/HERBAL MEDICINE IT IS STILL BEST TO CONSULT YOUR DOCTOR.