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.

KAMOTE LEAVES

(Sweet potato leaves)

HEALTH BENEFITS

Kamote tops can treat and prevent numerous diseases such as:

Helps in Heart Health
Enhances Eye Health
Helps in Bone Health
Normalize blood sugar level
 diabetes, cancer, kidney stones, liver diseases, hypertension, boils, acne, pimples, bowel movement problems, dengue fever, and kills bacteria causing diseases.

PROPERTIES

Anti-diabetic
Anti-mutagenic
Antioxidant
Anticoagulant
Anti-bacterial


Eating sweet potato leaves contains numerous nutrients, vitamins, and minerals, which has surprising and amazing health benefits to the body.

Sweet potato is a plant belong to the morning-glory family of Convolvulaceae. This plant bears a large, sweet-tasting, tuberous roots vegetable, which was mostly used for culinary purposes similar to a regular potato.

This plant can be usually found in tropical climate countries including the Philippines. Its crops were commonly used in making desserts, pastries, and different types of dishes in global cuisines, because of its sweet and delicious flavor.

It is also a herbaceous perennial vine with an alternate heart-shaped leaves, which has been traditionally used by ancient people for medicinal purposes. Its leaves can be both used for cooking purposes and as herbal medicine.

Sweet potato leaves are also known as camote tops, which have been mostly consumed in the island in the Pacific Oceans including Asian and African countries. It is very effective in treating and preventing several types of diseases. It can be also used as the natural alternative to high-cost treatments and medications.

Its leaves contain nutrients such as dietary fiber, niacin, thiamine, beta-carotene, vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K. It also contains minerals such as sodium, potassium, aluminum, boron, copper, calcium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, and sulfur.

It has also the ability to reduce blood sugar, cholesterol levels, prevent infections, and boosts the immune system. It also contains a lot of antioxidants that can help the body to fight free radicals, which can cause several types of diseases.

HIMBABAO LEAVES

(Broussonetia luzonica)

HEALTH BENEFITS

Normalize blood cholesterol level
Prevent coronary heart desease
Prevent stroke
Normalize blood sugar level


PROPERTIES

Antimicrobial
Antibacterial
Antifungal
Cytotoxic
Anti-cancer
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-oxidant
Anti-tumor
Antidiabetic


Himbabao is a medium-sized shed tree growing to a height of 15 meters with a trunk diameter of 30 centimeters. Bark is smooth. Leaves are alternate with a pointed apex and rounded base. Lower leaf surface is hairy. Flowers are very small, borne on long, slender, spike-like flowering branches. Inflorescences are pistillate and staminate borne on separate plants.

Himbabao is common in the Quezon area. Local describe two species by flowering and fruiting characteristics: Himbabao, with its long slender, spike-like flowers) and Himbabaong-lalaki, with its gray, puckered and wrinkled fruit. There is disagreement on whether it is a flower or fruit. There is also differing opinions on blogs: some referring to the fruit-bearing tree as male alukon and the spike flowering variety to alukon, and vice-versa. Or, perhaps, they are separate species.

Flower spikes are edible; used in meat and vegetable dishes like pinakbet and bulanglang. When cooked, the flower becomes gooey and slimy like okra.


In rural Quezon, excessive use of the flower or fruit is believed to cause elevation in blood pressure and aggravation of arthritis.

GABI LEAVES

(Taro Leaves)

BENEFITS

Reduces your cholesterol level
Aids in weight loss
Helps control blood pressure
Helps the development of the fetal brain and nervous system.
Helps prevent anaemia.
Helps reduce wrinkly skin.
Helps Increase sperm production.


PROPERTIES

Anti-Oxidant
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-cancer
hypolipidemic
Anti-diabetic
Antimicrobial
Antihelmintic
Antibacterial
Anti-Compulsive


Taro is kind of tropical countries’ plant which all of the parts are edible. The plant is originally from some south-east Asian countries. It becomes phenomenal because there are huge contents of nutrition in the leaves that humans need, so there are many health benefits of taro leaves. Besides, Taro is popular as one of the earliest plants which are cultivated and provide the main food for many people in numerous countries like African countries and of course Southern India. The name is also various like dasheen, dalo, cocoyam, elephant’s ear, kalo, kacchalo, etc.

The green leaves of taro have been widely used in a lot of Indian dishes. The taste is as similar as spinach but the leave can potentially be toxic due to raw consumption. The leaves provide calcium oxalate source which can trigger swelling and itchiness to the throat. Therefore, the leaves must be soaked all night and they must be cooked to avoid the toxicity.

Uses
Culinary / Nutrition
- Prized for its large corms or underground stems, used as staple food in many localities.
- Fresh edible leaves and petioles are a rich source of protein, ascorbic acid, dietary fiber, and some important minerals.
- The corms, petioles and leaf blades are good sources of vitamin B.
- To the early Hawaiians, grown mainly for poi production.
- Its easy digestibility makes it a great nutritional supplement for weight gain needs in cancer-cachexia, AIDS, pancreatitis and a miscellany of weight-loss conditions.
Folkloric
- Used for asthma, arthritis, diarrhea, internal hemorrhage, skin disorders.
- Juice of petioles sometimes used for earache and otorrhea.
- Juice of the corm used in alopecia.
- Leaf juice also used for internal hemorrhages, otalgia, adenitis.
- Internally, a good laxative. Also, used for piles.
- Also, used as antidote for wasp and insect stings. Leaf juice applied to scorpion stings and snake bites.
- Heated tubers are applied locally to painful rheumatic joints.
- Ash of the tubers, mixed with honey, is used for buccal aphthous stomatitis.
- Raw juice of gabi, mixed with sugar, used as febrifuge.

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Do not consume taro leaves as a raw vegetable or in their raw state.  They should be soaked first in clean water and then cooked for at least 10 - 15 minutes.

After that you have to cook them well to remove any toxic substances.