The Philippine Online Chronicles

There was a time when the only people enthusiastic over vegetables and herbs were our parents, grandparents, and the barrio hilot. We came to associate vegetable eating as something that only adults and oldies do, or people who are sick and have no choice but to incorporate it in their diet.

Fortunately, the trend has been changing. Intentional parents are finding creative ways of raising children that eat vegetables. My son, for example, keeps burning his tongue because he can't wait for his veggies to cool. Parents are also turning more and more to herbal medicine to cure or provide relief for common maladies.

Which local produce are readily available and how are they useful? Here are just a few.

Corn is high on fiber, promoting intestinal transit and liver function as well as acting as a diuretic. A decoction from boiling fresh cobs for an hour, without the kernels, helps reduce edema and relieve gout. Cornstarch is also commonly used, mixed with a little water and used as paste for bites and itches, or added to a cup of water (1-2 tsps.) and drunk to successfully stop diarrhea. Corn silk tea is a common cure for any chronic inflammation in the urinary tract or kidneys.

The healing properties of ampalaya lie in its bitter quality. It is now popularly known for helping the pancreas produce insulin which facilitates control of blood sugar levels in diabetics; however, its leaves are also used in the treatment of skin diseases, sterility in women, intestinal worms, and diarrhea as well as a useful antipyretic for coughs and colds. Just grind and juice the ampalaya leaves and drink a spoonful every day. To treat skin diseases and wounds, warmed ampalaya leaves are applied to the affected area. Ampalaya juice also helps in relieving constipation.

People often think that malunggay is good only for lactating moms. However, malunggay capsules that can be bought in stores today are a good and cheaper source of daily vitamins and minerals like calcium, iron, Vitamins A, B, C, and zinc. A decoction of leaves may be used for hiccups, asthma, gout, back pain, and rheumatism. A decoction of roots will provide a gargle for sore throat or a wash for ulcers and sores. Pounded fresh leaves combined with coconut oil are applied on wounds and cuts for faster healing.  Eating up to two cups of cooked leaves at supper time with plenty of water will also ease constipation.

The Tokyo National Cancer Institute has listed squash consumption as a factor in populations with low cancer rate. Squash seeds are used as laxatives and purgatives and are also made into tea to alleviate gout, edema, and problems with kidney stones.

We only really use the fruit and sometimes the young shoots; however, tea made from chayote leaves has been found helpful in the treatment of arteriosclerosis, hypertension, and the removal of kidney stones. Both leaves and fruit also have diuretic, cardiovascular, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Few people may care, but our kamote has a higher nutritional value than the average potato. The tea made from boiling its tops for five minutes is good for diabetics and has even shown to improve platelet count in those stricken by dengue. Crushed leaves are applied to boils and acne while decoction from boiled roots is effective in treating diarrhea.

Studies have shown gabi (taro) and ube (purple yam) to help in hypertension and immune system regulation as well as lower blood sugar levels, improve metabolism, and provide antioxidant defenses. Rubbing taro peel on bumps helps reduce swelling. Yams have also been known to have an antispasmodic effect which is particularly beneficial to nauseous pregnant women. Wild yam, on the other hand, is beneficial to women suffering from menstrual cramps, endometriosis, and menopause.

OTHER HERBS AND SPICES, TREES AND PLANTS

More popularly known as tanglad, lemongrass makes tea that can relieve a slew of ills, like coughing, fever, congestion, and other digestive problems such as stomach aches and vomiting. Commercially prepared lemongrass capsules have also been found to reduce cholesterol levels in patients. Mixed with pepper, its tea can also bring relief to menstrual cramps. Oil extracted from the grass can be applied as ointment to athlete’s foot, cuts and scrapes, sciatica and rheumatism. Its oil is also beneficial for acne treatment and repelling mosquitoes.

Bark decoction of banaba, on the other hand, is used to treat diarrhea, while a decoction of old leaves and dried fruit (dried for up to two weeks) is great for treating diabetes. Such a decoction may also be used for fevers, bladder and kidney inflammation as well as other urinary disorders. A study in Ohio even found banaba to have anti-obesity properties, which is why it is now being used as an active ingredient in several weight loss products.

Sambong has been approved by the Department of Health (DOH) as an alternative medicine in treating certain disorders. Tea made from its leaves is a great diuretic and treatment for colds and fevers, worms, and stomach pains as well as an aid in the dissolution of kidney stones. Crushed or pounded leaves may be applied to the forehead for headaches. Taking a bath with a sambong decoction is popularly done in the country by people recovering from fevers as well as women who have just given birth.

Aloe Vera has long been known to help in producing a more beautiful head of hair but applying it in much the same way on skin also treats inflammation, acne, insect bites, and minor burns. The gel from the leaf also liquefies easily enough, making it easy to mix in drinks to help with constipation, hypertension, parasites, arthritis, and diabetes.

Lagundi has been clinically tested to be effective in the treatment of colds, asthma, flu, chronic bronchitis, and pharyngitis. Its tea is an effective expectorant. A decoction of the roots of this shrub is also being used to give relief to dyspepsia, rheumatism, and leprosy while tea made from its flowers is used as a cardiac tonic and a cure for liver diseases and other internal disorders such as diarrhea and cholera.

Ginger has been known to be beneficial in treating digestive diseases and an ideal anti-vomiting remedy. Eating some fresh ground root (a couple of centimetres), as is or blended with other fruits, is also a great remedy to reduce dizziness while travelling. Pregnant women, on the other hand, may drink a cup or two of its infusion (half a teaspoon of ginger root per cup) to reduce nausea in the first few months of pregnancy. Ginger tea with some calamansi is great for people suffering colds, sore throat, and sinusitis.

Chew a slice of ginger for toothache or bad breath. Make a decoction and use the water for a hot compress for arthritic ailments. The juice from pounding a square inch of luyang dilaw may be massaged into the scalp to induce hair growth. Salabat, now more commonly made from powdered ginger, facilitates blood circulation and helps reduce pain and inflammation. Just don’t have it on an empty stomach. Care should also be observed in applying freshly pound ginger, whether as is or mixed with oil, for rheumatic or joint pains as it may burn the skin and result in discoloration.

Onions are rich in flavonoids that give the body protection from cardiovascular diseases. Onion has also been a popular remedy for coughs, colds, and other respiratory problems such as asthma and bronchitis. It has also been found to reduce colon cancer risks. What is more, onion has a cooling effect on the body and is extensively used to make a tonic to avoid sun stroke.

Eating raw garlic is the most potent way of curing oneself of internal ills such as respiratory problems, worms, hypertension, colic, and cancer of the stomach due to its anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Due to the bad breath usually associated with it and the unpopular taste, some however opt instead to mix it with brandy or boil the cloves and add sugar or honey before drinking it. Oil derived from a clove can be used for toothache while ointment made from it may be applied to wounds, athlete’s foot, and other external skin irritation. And when you start reeking after taking some, it’s the garlic ridding your body of toxins through your pores!

One great thing about these herbs and plants is that most now come in concentrated capsule forms, which not only releases you from all that boiling and straining, but also saves you from any unpleasant taste and odor.

We can simply just eat more of these vegetables and use more ginger, onion, and garlic in cooking. It’s that easy to enjoy their medicinal benefits. What is tinola, after all, if not malunggay and ginger tea disguised as a viand?

Photos: Corn by Mec Arevalo. Some Rights Reserved / “Chuchu / Chayote” by , c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved / “lemongrasssquare” by Cory, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved / Garlic from WikiPilipinas. Under GNU Free Documentation License 1.2.

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