AKAPULKO

PROPERTIES

Antifungal

Antidermatophytic

Antimicrobial

Antiseptic

Anti-inflammatory

Antibacterial

Hepatoprotective

Antidiabetic

antiviral

 -Saponin acts as a laxative and expels intestinal parasites.

-Its fungicide property derives from chrysophanic acid.

-Plant considered alterative, astringent, abortifacient, aperient, expectorant, purgative, sudorific, hydragogue, diuretic, vermifuge.

Akapulko is a coarse, erect, branched shrub, 1.5 to 3 meters high. Leaves are pinnate and 40 to 60 centimeters long, with orange rachis on stout branches. Each leaf has 16 to 28 leaflets, 5 to 15 centimeters in length, broad and rounded at the apex, with a small point at the tip. Leaflets gradually increase in size from the base towards the tip of the leaf. Inflorescences are terminal and at the axils of the leaves, in simple or panicled racemes, and 10 to 50 centimeters long. Flowers are yellow, about 4 centimeters inn diameter, at the axils of thin, yellow, oblong, concave bracts which are 2.5 to 3 centimeters long. Pod is rather straight, dark brown or nearly black, about 15 centimeters long and 15 millimeters wide. On both sides of the pods there is a wing that runs the length of the pod. Pod contains 50 to 60 flattened, triangular seeds.

Parts utilized

Leaves, seeds, and flowers.

- Preparation: Pound enough fresh leaves; express (squeeze out) the juice and apply on the affected skin morning and evening. Improvement should be noticed after 2 - 3 weeks of treatment.

- Decoction of leaves and flowers used as mouthwash in stomatitis.

- For wound treatment, leaves are boiled and simmered to one-third volume, then applied to affected areas twice daily.

- In India, plant used as cure for poisonous bites and for venereal eruptions.

Ointment preparation

(1) Wash fresh leaves thoroughly and cut in small pieces.

(2) Add one glass of cooking oil or coconut oil to one glass of cut fresh leaves.

(3) Fry until crispy.

(4) Remove from the heat; strain.

(5) Cut 2 white candles (Esperma No. 5) into small pieces.

(6) In a cooking pot, pour the strained oil together with the candle pieces; stir until the candle has melted.

(7) Pour the mixture into a clean container; cover when cool.

(8) Apply the ointment to affected areas twice daily.

SORO-SORO LEAVES

(Karimbuaya)

HEALTH BENEFITS

Asthma

Cough

Earache

Rheumatism

External hemorrhoids

Sores, Cysts, Warts, and Calluses

PROPERTIES

antiseptic

antiasthma

antiarthritic

anti-inflammatory

Soro-soro (scientific name: Euphorbia neriifolia linn) is a plant that grows abundantly in northern Luzon, particularly in Ilocos Sur. The cactus-like plant has fleshy, oblong-shaped leaves and grows almost into a big tree with stubby thorns.

Karimbuaya or Soro-soro is best ingredients of lechon baboy and manok  

To Norther Luzon, no lechon is complete without karimbuaya. When combined with herbs and spices, karimbuaya lends the lechon a distinct taste and aroma. The milky sap of the plant has medicinal properties and helps remove the unpleasant odor of meat and fish.

KANGKONG

(Water Spinach)

HEALTH BENEFITS

Prevention of Cancer

Reduces Cholesterol

Treatment of Jaundice and Liver Problems

Lower blood sugar level

Useful in treating Anemia

Treatment of fever

Treatment of Indigestion and Constipation

Protection against Heart Diseases

Beneficial for Eyes

Boosts the Body’s Immunity

treat intestinal worm infestation

Promote relaxation and sleep

Rejuvenates Skin

Treatment of skin Diseases

PROPERTIES

Anti-oxidant

Anti-aging

Anti Diabetic

Kangkong is a leafy vegetable usually found in Asian Cuisines that is rich in vitamins and minerals. Kangkong is also used in herbal medicine for the treatment of fever, liver disease, and most importantly diabetes in pregnant women. 

Kangkong, Kangkung (Ipomoea aquatica) is a semiaquatic, tropical plant that flourishes naturally in water and moist soil. Kangkong is an edible plant harvested as a leaf vegetable. Kangkong thrives in tropical and subtropical regions and is more commonly found in Southeast Asian countries.

Kangkong can grow rapidly spreading through waterways forming floating mats that can block water flow and passage of small water crafts. 

Kangkong is a herbaceous trailing shiny vine with milky sap. The stems are hollow, rooting at nodes, usually found trailing in moist soil or floating in aquatic locations. Kangkong leaves are alternate, simple, in the shape of arrow heads about 3–14 cm (1–6 in) long. The hollow vines float on water and the leaves are held above the water line.

Kangkong bears trumpet like flowers whose petals are white or pink-lilac with mauve color at the center. Kangkong has oval or spherical seed pods that contains 1 to 4 gray seeds which may be used for planting.

Kangkong is considered safe even for pregnant women and breast feeding mothers. Kangkong is actually used to treat diabetes during pregnancy. Kangkong might have a side effect of lowering the blood sugar levels. Caution is advised if you are taking diabetes medicine.

Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) of  Water spinach, raw

                Energy.........................79 kJ (19 kcal)

                Carbohydrates.         3.14g

                Dietary fiber.             2.1g

                Fat.                               0.2g

                Protein.                       2.6g

            Vitamins..........................

                Vitamin A equiv.       315 μg (39%)

                Thiamine (B1)           0.03 mg (3%)

                Riboflavin (B2)          0.1 mg (8%)

                Niacin (B3)                 0.9 mg (6%)

                Pantothenic acid(B5) 0.141 mg (3%)

                Vitamin B6.                0.096 mg (7%)

                Folate (B9)                  57 μg (14%)

                Vitamin C.                  55 mg (66%)

            Minerals............................

                Calcium.                     77 mg (8%)

                Iron.                            1.67 mg (13%)

                Magnesium.              71 mg (20%)

                Manganese.               0.16 mg (8%)

                Phosphorus.              39 mg (6%)

                Potassium.                 312 mg (7%)

                Sodium.                      113 mg (8%)

                Zinc............................  0.18 mg (2%)

OTHER BENEFITS

          In addition to the benefits given above, water spinach is effective in treating ulcers, menstrual pains, toothache, launched urination, nosebleed etc. It acts as a sedative for people who have insomnia or sleeping difficulty. The juice of spinach mixed with water is used as a cold compress to treat fever. Being anti-venom, it is used to promote vomiting in case of poisoning.

NEEM TREE

(Azadirachta indica)

HEALTH BENEFITS

bruises and sprains
arthritis
malaria
jaundice
intestinal parasitism
hemorrhoids
wounds
diabetis
leprosy
scabies
treatment of head lice
ulcers
eye problems
pain and fever
urinary disorder
cough
asthma


PROPERTIES

antibacterial
hypoglycemic
antiulcer
antifertility
spermicidal
anti-malarial
antitumor
immunomodulatory
hepatoprotective
antioxidant
antifungal
anti-inflammatory
spermicidal
antifungal
insecticidal.




Neem is a medium-sized tree growing to 15 meters high, with wide spreading branches forming an oval crown. Leaves are pinnately compound. The drooping leaflets are 1 centimeter long, paired, lanceolate, acuminate with serrated margins. The blade is shiny dark green on the upper surface and pale green on the underside. Flowers are numerous, small, white and fragrant.

Edibility
- Leaves and flowers are edible.
- Leaves used for making tea.
Folkloric
- Poultice of leaves for swollen glands, bruises and sprains.
- Decoction of leaves used for arthritis.
- Fresh leaf-tea used for malaria.
- Bark used for malaria.
- Tree and root barks have been used for malaria, jaundice, and for intestinal parasitism.
- Edible pulp of the fruit used for hemorrhoids, intestinal worms, wounds, diabetes, and leprosy.
- Flower used for controlling phlegm and treatment of intestinal worms.
- Used for scabies and many other skin diseases.
- Applied directly for treatment of head lice, wounds, skin ulcers.
- When soaked in water, used for bathing and as postcoital contraceptive.
- Spermicide made from plant sold in India.
Ayurvedic medicine
• Leaf- leprosy, intestinal parasites, eye problems, skin ulcers
• Bark - pain and fever.
• Flower - bile suppression, intestinal worms and phlegm.
• Fruit - piles, intestinal worms, urinary disorder, nose bleeding , phlegm, eye problem, diabetes, wounds and leprosy.
• Twig - cough, asthma, piles, intestinal worms, spermatorrhoea, urinary disorders, diabetes.
• Gum - ringworm, scabies, wounds and ulcers.
• Seed pulp and oil- leprosy and intestinal worms.
• Neem oil may be useful for gingivitis.
• Oil used intravaginally for spermicidal and contraceptive properties.

Toxicity Studies
• Acute Toxicity Study of Neem Oil: Study of neem oil by oral route in rats and rabbits showed dose-related pharmacotoxic symptoms along with biochemical and histopathological indices of toxicity, with the changes in the lungs and CNS as target organs of toxicity.

WATERLEAF PLANT

(Talinum Paniculatum)

HEALTH BENEFITS

Cough

diarrhea

liver problem

kidney problem

gastrointestinal disorders

skin inflammation, minor scratches, cuts, and scrapes

arthritis

stomach inflammation

pneumonia

Lower blood sugar level

PROPERTIES

Antinociceptive

Anti-edematogenic

Phytoremediative

Anti-fertility

Estrogenic

Tocolytic

Anti-aging

Antioxidative

Antiscorbutic

Anti-inflammatory

Waterleaf is a fleshy, erect herb, growing up to 100 to 120 centimeters tall. Roots are swollen and fleshy. Stems are succulent, slightly woody at the base. Leaves are in whorls, obovate-lanceolate, flat, glossy and bright green. Flowers are in terminal panicles, small and pink colored. Fruit is a globose, glossy, dark red capsule, 3 to 5 millimeters in diameter, many-seeded.

- Young leaves and stems are used as vegetable.

- Leaves used as salad ingredient.

- Shoots and leaves added to stews and soup.

- In some parts of Asia, used as a spice.

- In Asian traditional medicine, use extensively as a reproductive tonic.

- Roots used as substitute for ginseng.

- Used to regulate menses; also, for cough, general debility, diarrhea.

- In China, it is cultivated as a medicinal herb. In traditional Chinese medicine, the herb is used as a substitute for Ginseng.

- In Indonesia, used for liver and kidney problems.

- In Brazil, plant used to treat inflammatory conditions.

- Used to treat bad smelling urine, enuresis, irregular menses, gastrointestinal disorders, general debility. Leaves used topically in the treatment of edemas, skin inflammation, minor scratches, cuts, and scrapes. Decoction of roots used to treat scurvy, arthritis, stomach inflammation, and pneumonia.

- Popular in Thai herbal recipes for enhancing vitality, treating diabetes, inflammatory skin problems, GI troubles, and general weakness. Used to induce lactation and restore uterine functions postpartum.

- Swollen root used as aphrodisiac.

PURSLANE

(Portulaca Oleracea)
(Papait)

HEALTH BENEFITS

Control blood sugar level

Prevent headaches

Good for the heart

Lower blood pressure level

Boost immune system

Strengthen bone

PROPERTIES

Anti-oxidant

Antifungal

Antimicrobial

Anti-inflammatory

Antidiabetic

Anthelmintic

Antiseptic

Purslane is a slender, spreading or ascending, smooth, branched, annual herb, with branches as long as 10 to 40 centimeters. Leaves are opposite or whorled, spatulate, oblanceolate to oblong-obovate, 1 to 3 centimeters long, and up to 1 centimeter wide. Flowers are white and fascicled, with slender stalks up to 1 centimeter long. Sepals are 3 to 3.5 millimeters long. Capsule is ellipsoid, a little shorted than the sepals. Seeds are numerous and covered with raised tubular points.

Purslane has a long history of use in traditional/alternative medicine.

It is also high in many nutrients. A 100 gram (3.5 oz) portion contains

Vitamin A (beta-carotene): 26% of the DV.
Vitamin C: 35% of the DV.
Magnesium: 17% of the DV.
Manganese: 15% of the DV.
Potassium: 14% of the DV.
Iron: 11% of the DV.
Calcium: 7% of the RDI.
It also contains small amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B3, folate, copper and phosphorus.

Purslane is a a weed that grows in many parts of the world. It is also a highly nutritious vegetable that can be eaten raw or cooked.

Purslane is much higher in omega-3 fatty acids than other greens. It contains high amounts of ALA, but also trace amounts of EPA, a more biologically active form of omega-3.

Purslane is very high in antioxidants and beneficial plant compounds, which may have various health benefits.

Several important minerals are found in purslane, including potassium, magnesium and calcium.

Purslane contains oxalates, which can reduce the absorption of some minerals and contribute to the formation of kidney stones.

ALUGBATI LEAVES

(Malabar spinach)

HEALTH BENEFITS

Control blood pressure
Prevent constipation
Relieve Ulcer
Prevent cancer
Prevent anemia
Lose weight
Release toxins out of the body
Improve eyesight
Boost immunity
Soften skin
Reduce swelling
Good for pregnancy
Help you sleep


PROPERTIES

Anti-aging
Anti-oxidants


Alugbati is a leafy green vegetable, usually grown as a garden plant. Also, it is familiar as Malabar Spinach and it is very favored in the Philippines. This vegetable has a bright red stem with heart-shaped leaves growing along. Its fruit can range from red to dark green color.

As well as the other green leaves vegetables, the Alugbati leaves are rich in iron and have a lot of nutrition. According to the nutrition data, only 100 grams of Alugbati leaves has the following calories, minerals, vitamins, protein, and water.

When consuming the Alugbati Leaves, it is highly recommended to select the shiny, fresh leaves and firm stems. That means to avoid the discoloured, sunken and dry leaves. Prior to cooking, the Alugbati leaves should be thoroughly washed in cold running water. The best way to consume this vegetable is to include it into soup, stew or to stir-fry.