Archive for the ‘Dosage’ Category

Five-leaf Chaste Tree (Lagundi)

Description: a shrub about 5 meters in height. The leaves are arranged like the fingers of the hand.

How to plant Lagunduni: Plant cuttings of 20 centimeters long. Make sure that the cuttings have 3 or more nodes (where the new leaf comes out).

How to care for the plants:

* Water the newly planted cuttings everyday and remove weeds/grass around it.

* Remove leaves or branches that have been destroyed by pests or by plant diseases to prevent them from spreading to the rest of the plant.

* May use compost or organic fertilizer. NEVER use pesticides because the chemicals may remain in the plant.

Harvesting and Proper Storage:

* It would be better if the leaves are collected during the following season.
* Collect only the mature and healthy leaves.
* Make sure that there are enough leaves left on the plant to prevent the plant from dying.
* Completely dry the leaves before storing them and place them in a sealed plastic bag or tightly covered brown container.

Used for:

* Asthma
* Cough
* Body pains
* Fever

Preparation:

* Chop the leaves and place them in an earthen jar according to the following amounts:

For Dried Leaves:

ADULTS = 4 tbspful
7-12 y/o = 2 tbspful
2- 6 y/o = 1 tbspful

For Fresh Leaves:

ADULTS = 6 tbspful
7-12 y/o = 3 tbspful
2-6 y/o = 1 1/2 tbspful

* Pour in 2 glassfuls of water. Cover it. glassfuls of water. Cover it.
* Bring the mixture to a boil.
* Remove the cover and let it continue to boil for another 15 minutes.
* Let it cool, and then strain the mixture.

How to Use:

* Divide the decoction into 3 parts:

- for asthma and cough – drink 1 part 3 times a day
- for fever and body pains- drink 1 part every 4 hours

Source: doh.gov.ph

The proper use of Herbal Plants

Guidelines on the Proper Use of the Medicinal Plants

1. HARVESTING PLANT MATERIALS

* Gather leaves when flower is about to bloom.
* Gather flowers before or shortly after the flowers have fully bloomed.
* Gather seeds from ripe fruits.
* Select and separate specified plant part (stem, leaves, flowers, seeds, bark or roots); remove dirt, insects and unhealthy plant part.
* Wash quickly

2. STORING PLANT MATERIALS FOR LATER USE

* Gather most plant materials during summer so that the materials can be dried properly.
* Dry specified plant materials in a well-shaded and well ventilated place. It usually takes 4 days to dry the plant materials during summer or 2 weeks during the rainy season.
* Keep dried plant materials in sealed plastic bags or in tightly covered brown containers.
* Store in cool, dry place away from sunlight.
* Label container with the name of the plant and the date of collection.
* Keep away from children’s reach.
* Properly dried and stored materials can last for 6 months.
* Discard materials that have molds.

3. PROPER USE OF MATERIALS

* Use only 1 kind of medicinal plant at a time. Do not mix different medicinal plants.
* Decoctions should be freshly prepared. A few day’s dose can be prepared and kept in a thermos. This can last for 3 days. Discard the decoction if the color has changed or molds are present.
- decoction – is prepared by boiling the specified plant portion
* Use a regular empty bottle of softdrink to measure 1 glassful of water that is neede in preparing decoction.
* Stop herbal treatment after 3 days if the patient’s symptom has not improved or has becomes worse. Consult a doctor immediately.
* Use earthenware pot in preparing decoctions. Never use plastic, metal or aluminum containers because the chemicals may remain in the solution.

Source: www.doh.gov.ph

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