Directory of Medicinal Plants <<link not yet available
It is a fact that modern day pharmacopoeias being peddled by drug companies were developed from ancient herbals that early man used to cure his common ailments. In the Philippines, not only our so-called "albularyos" (or herbolarios) but also those from our scientific community make use of plants in the treatment of diseases. In the Western World, medicinal plants are cultivated on a large scale by the drug industry.
It is a fact that modern day pharmacopoeias being peddled by drug companies were developed from ancient herbals that early man used to cure his common ailments. In the Philippines, not only our so-called "albularyos" (or herbolarios) but also those from our scientific community make use of plants in the treatment of diseases. In the Western World, medicinal plants are cultivated on a large scale by the drug industry.
Lately, because of the "economic crunch" and the spiralling
costs of pharmaceuticals, there has been a renewed and growing interest in the
use of medi-cinal'plants even among the more cosmopolitan section of our
population. The "back to the garden" search for herbal cures may,
indeed, be worth one's time for our country is blessed with hitherto
"undiscovered" medicinal plants that grow right in our backyards.
A word of advice for those who
might be thinking of digging up and chewing that harmless-looking weed right
beside the bougainvillaea: it is not enough to know which plant part contains
the active principle. Different plant parts require different methods of
collection. For example, if the active principle is found in the seed, the
fruit should be allowed to ripen fully before harvest, whereas if it is the
whole fruit, it may be collected even before reaching maturity. Also, it has
been found that it is best to gather most plants in warm, dry weather in order
to attain the best medicinal effect.
A Few Definitions on Herbal
Preparations:
Decoctions — preparations from herbal materials boiled
in water for a certain length of time. Hard materials such as seeds, roots and
bark are usually boiled for 30 minutes at about five percent strength. The
solution is strained and allowed to cool before it is dispensed.
Infusions — commonly known as teas, these are liquid
preparations made by soaking the functional part of a medicinal herb for at
least fifteen minutes. Softer materials such as leaves and blossoms are
usually prepared as infusions. Boiling water is poured over the drug, in a
container, covered and left for fifteen minutes, then strained and flavored
with sugar or honey and used immediately.
Poultices - soft, semi-liquid external applications
that either alleviate an inflammation or stimulate a part of the body.
Tinctures — alcoholic or hydroalcoholic preparations,
100 ml of which contain the activity of 10-20 grams of the drug.
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