Local Filipino Herbal Remedies And Ingredients To Add To Your Pantry And Garden
Stock up on these locally available superfood and natural ingredients to keep your body healthy and fit
Now more than ever, natural medicine, vegan skincare, organic food, and natural remedies have taken center stage. In a world where everything is artificially created, where nutrients and minerals are swapped for cheaper chemical alternatives, more people are turning to healthier means of living. In fact, in 2017, the global herbal supplements market size was valued at USD 5.26 billion, which was heavily influenced by the shift of awareness towards natural products, preventive healthcare, and the increasing spending on health and wellness.
The Philippines is lucky to have rich natural resources and a flora so diverse that sourcing natural products and ingredients is easier and cheaper here than anywhere else in the world. And although natural medicine has yet to completely replace traditional pharmaceuticals, many herbs, plants, and superfoods have been endorsed by commercial brands that advocate healthy living, naturopathy doctors, and even recommended by the Department of Health (DOH) through its “Traditional Health Program” to help keep the body healthy and in tip top shape. With the age-old adage “prevention is better than cure,” keeping your body strong gives you a better fighting chance against many illnesses, especially as you age.
More importantly, in these times where a healthy body with a strong immune system is key in fighting off the notorious Covid-19 virus, it doesn’t hurt to stock up on healthy superfood and herbal remedies for that health boost or emergency remedy.
So we’ve rounded up a list of superfood, herbs, and plants that are readily available locally and have been clinically tested to have medicinal value. These would be handy to store in your pantry or plant in your own personal garden.
Healthy Filipino Ingredients
Healthy Filipino Ingredients
Raw honey
Although honey is not a staple in Philippine cuisine, it’s abundant in many beekeeping areas in the provinces. Pure, raw honey is a great source of energy, and has antifungal and antibacterial properties that make it popular in helping fight off diseases and infections. Down with a cold or sore throat? Take honey as is or add it to hot tea. Skin problems? Manuka honey has been used in medical settings to treat wounds. It’s also rich with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin c, calcium, iron, and zinc. So instead of reaching for that refined sugar for your drinks and food, why not substitute it with honey?
Photo Credit: Heather Barnes/Unsplash
Akapulko
Akapulko or bayabas-bayabasan is traditionally used to treat ringworms and skin fungal infections because it has it has anti-dermatophyte properties (which is the main cause of ringworm), anti-fungal properties, and anti-microbial properties. Boil the leaves in water and drink. For skin inflammations, apply a poultice of akapulko leaves directly on the area.
Photo Credit: Wildturmeric.net
Ampalaya
Ampalaya or bitter gourd is rich with vitamins and nutrients such as vitamin A, folate, potassium, and zine—and just one cup of it gives you 93% of your needed daily intake of Vitamin C. It has long been used by indigenous populations to treat diabetes, but recent studies have indeed found that adults who took 2,000 mg of ampalaya daily saw their blood sugar and hemoglobin decrease significantly. It’s also great for weight loss since ampalaya is low in calories but high in fiber.
Photo Credit: Vita Ital/Flickr
Virgin Coconut Oil
Another widely marketed superfood that’s abundant here in the Philippines is virgin coconut oil, which brings positive effects to your overall health. When ingested, VCO contains healthy fatty acids so some people use it as substitute to cooking oil to boost heart health, manage diabetes, and enjoy its antimicrobial effects. It’s also widely used in hair and skin products because it has been proven to protect against UV rays and reduce symptoms of eczema.
Photo Credit: Dana Tentis/Pexels
Garlic
We may be gaga over garlic as a seasoning or cooking ingredient, but it actually comes with so many additional benefits. It’s been clinically tested and found to reduce cholesterol in the blood, which in turn helps control blood pressure. Although cooked and raw garlic both deliver benefits that may help protect against prostate cancer, common colds, and osteoarthritis, cooking the garlic reduces its anti-inflammatory effects compared to raw garlic. So start training your senses to like that pungent smell!
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Guava
Guava is such an amazing thing to have in your garden because not only is the fruit delicious and rich in vitamins, the leaves also make for great herbal remedies. The guava fruit is found to be one of the richest food sources of Vitamin C (twice what you’d get from orange) so it’s great for strengthening your immune system. Boiling the leaves and drinking it makes for a great medicine for diarrhea, a clinically proven remedy for tooth decay and gum infection, can lower cholesterol, and even promotes weight loss.
Photo Credit: Jane Chang/Flickr
Lagundi
You won’t see anyone else in the world as familiar with Lagundi as Filipinos, but the plant has been used to treat wounds, headaches, ulcers, skin diseases, diarrhea, and the common cold in Asia and Africa for hundreds of years. Recently, it has been endorsed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) after clinical tests and research for treating cough and relieving asthma. Just boil lagundi leaves in water for at least 15 minutes and then drink the tea, three times a day to help loosen the phlegm. For fever, drink every three hours.
Photo Credit: Danapot/Flickr
Malunggay
Malunggay is very cheap and abundant everywhere in the Philippines, but it’s also known as its fancier term, moringa. It’s considered as a superfood because one cup of chopped malunggay leaves is a good source of iron, calcium, vitamin C, vitamin B6, riboflavin, and even protein. It’s also rich in antioxidants, can help lower blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation that leads to heart diseases, and even lower cholesterol. Moringa powder, which is essentially pounded dried leaves, is already widely available and can be added to your smoothies or teas.
Photo Credit: Healthline
Pansit-pansitan
It may have a funny name (it’s also known as ulasimang bato), but it has been effective against arthritis and gout. In fact, it was endorsed by famous cancer doctor Dr. Farrah Agustin-Bunch in her bestselling book, Dr. Farrah's Book of Natural Home Remedies. Pansit-pansitan leaves can be eaten fresh in a salad (combine with onions, tomatoes, salt, and pepper) or boiled in water for 10 minutes to soothe and prevent arthritis and gout.
Photo Credit: DOLCEVITALUX/Flickr
Papaya
Papaya or marketed as pawpaw has become popular around the world in its fermented form, sold in tubes or tubs. As a fruit, eating papaya has been commended for aiding in digestion problems. In its fermented form, it can be used as a topical application for boils, burns, cuts, chafing, cracked skin, insect bites, and rashes.
Photo Credit: Alleksana/Pexels
Sambong
Sambong usually grows as a shrub in tropical countries like the Philippines; but in other countries, its cousin herb is kept small and more commonly known as sage. It’s popular among those with kidney problems because of its diuretic properties and ability to regulate uric acid in the body. Popular TV show Salamot Dok featured Sambong years back and advices sambong leaves to be boiled in water for 10 minutes before taken as a tea to treat kidney stones. The leaves can also be crushed into poultice and put directly on the affected area to treat arthritis and rheumatism, and in the forehead for colds and fever.
Photo Credit: Carmela Alcoseba/Flickr
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