The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines Part 26

COMPOSITae.

_Eupatorium Ayapana_, Vent.

Nom. Vulg.--_Aya-pana_, Sp.; _Ayapana_, _Apana_, Tag.; _Ayapan_, Indo-Eng.

Uses.--A native plant of Brazil now naturalized and well known in the Philippines and many other tropical countries; it is called by its Brazilian name, Aya-pana, more or less modified. The entire plant is aromatic and its infusion has an agreeable, bitter taste. Its virtues have been much exaggerated, but it is certainly a good stimulant, diaph.o.r.etic and tonic. An infusion, 30 grams of the leaves to 1 liter of water, is given in dyspepsia, a small cup after each meal. In the island of Mauritius this infusion was widely used as a stimulant and aromatic in the cholera epidemics of 1854 and 1856.

It is used internally and locally for the bites of venomous snakes and insects. The leaf-juice is a good application for foul ulcers, as is also the decoction of the entire plant. "It appears probable that this plant has fallen into unmerited neglect."--Pharm. of India.

Botanical Description.--An aromatic plant 3 high, leaves opposite, sessile, coherent at the base, lanceolate, entire, glabrous. Flowers in racemose panicles. Common calyx cylindrical, of many imbricated, awl-shaped scales, the lower ones smaller; within are 20 or more hermaphrodite disk-flowers. Corollas are funnel-form, 5-lobed. Style a little longer than the stamens. Stigmas 2, long. Seed 1, quadrangular, with simple, downy, sessile pappus. Receptacle nude.

Habitat.--Common in fields and gardens. Blooms in January.

_Blumea balsamifera_, DC. (_Conyza balsamifera_, L.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Sambon_, Tag.; _Lakbandulan_, _Hamlibon_, _Lalakdan_, _Lakadbulan_, _Gintingintin_, _Gabuen_, _Ayoban_, _Alibun_, Vis.; _Sobsob_, Iloc.

Uses.--Sambon is a panacea among the Filipinos; its virtues are prodigious according to the ignorant natives who wear the leaves in the hat or the "salakod" (rain hat), to prevent "tabardillo" ("burning fever"; tabardillo pintado = spotted fever). They use the decoction to bathe convalescents, and for rheumatism they vaporize it in an improvised bath-cabinet consisting of a chair in which the patient sits enveloped in blankets that reach to the floor and retain the steam.

The hot infusion of the leaves is a good diaph.o.r.etic taken by the mouth, especially useful in catarrhal bronchitis, and prized as an expectorant by the Chinese and Javanese. Furthermore it is stomachic, antispasmodic and emmenagogue.

The camphorous odor of the plant suggested to me its application as an antiseptic lotion for varicose ulcers and my results have been very satisfactory. The infusion for internal use is 30 grams to the liter of water.

Botanical Description.--A woody plant 6-9 high. Leaves 1 long, 3' wide, oblong, lanceolate, acutely serrate, rugose, soft, downy, whitish. Flowers yellow in panicles. Involucre conical, of many linear scales, enclosing 15 or more hermaphrodite disk-flowers and several pistillate ray-flowers. Hermaphrodite: corolla infundibuliform, 5-toothed. Pistillate: corolla very minute, infundibuliform, obscurely 4-toothed. One seed crowned with a simple hairy pappus.

Habitat.--Grows universally in the islands and is well known. Blooms in January.

_Sph.o.e.ranthus Indicus_, L. (_S. hirtus_, Willd.; _S. mollis_, Roxb.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Sambong-gala_, Tag.

Uses.--This plant seems to possess anthelmintic properties and for this purpose it is administered in powder, 2-4 grams with a little mola.s.ses or syrup. It is bitter and aromatic and is given in diseases of the stomach and intestines for its tonic and stimulant effect. The odor of the drug is transmitted to both urine and sweat. In India it is used in "bilious diseases" and to dissipate all sorts of tumors. The Hindoos cook it with flour, lard and sugar and eat the mixture as a tonic and to prevent gray hair and baldness. They also give the seed, fried in oil, as an aphrodisiac. The aqueous distillate is a good preparation as it contains the active principle of the plant, a yellow, viscid, essential oil.

Botanical Description.--A plant about 1 high, stem and branches bearing 3 serrate wings. Leaves premorse, lanceolate, decurrent, downy. Flowers white, in a globose head, divided into 50 or more groups each with its own calyx of 9 or 10 leaflets surrounding 2 or 3 hermaphrodite, 5-toothed, campanulate flowers. Anthers 5, united. Style 1, thick at extremity. Stigma none. Corolla of pistillate flowers very minute, with 3 obscure teeth. Stigma of 2 down-curved divisions. One seed, 4-angled, imbricated.

Habitat.--The rice fields. Blooms in January.

_Spilanthes Acmella_, L.

Nom. Vulg.--_Hagonog_, Tag.; _Agonoy_, Sp.-Fil., Vis.(?); _Palunay_, Pam.

Uses.--Some native herb-doctors use the root as a purgative, giving a decoction of 4-8 grams to a cup of water. The infusion is used locally for itch and psoriasis. Internally it has a diuretic effect and is reputed to be a solvent of vesical calculi. The leaf juice and the bruised leaves are applied to wounds and atonic ulcers. These leaves with those of "sambon" and "sampaloc" (tamarind) are used to prepare aromatic baths for convalescents, rheumatics and pregnant women.

Botanical Description.--A plant with stem drooping, square, grooved, covered with drops of gum resin. Leaves opposite, cordate, oval, lanceolate, serrate, 3 prominent nerves covered with short down. Petioles short, grooved. Flowers yellow, in a sort of umbel, with 3 or more flowerets on long peduncles. Common calyx, 9-11 narrow sepals, concave, fleshy, in 2 rows. Hermaphrodite disk-flowers 40 or more. Corolla tubular, 5-toothed. Anthers longer than corolla. Pistil longer than stamens. Style bifid. Pistillate flowers, 15 or more, forming the rays. Corolla monopetalous, 3-toothed. Style and stigma as in hermaphrodite flowers. Seeds of hermaphrodite flowers quadrangular, crowned by one long awn, and the rudiment of another. Seeds of ray flowers small and sometimes flattened, 2 awns, of which one alone lengthens and becomes conspicuous. Receptacle covered with concave scales.

Habitat.--Grows along the sh.o.r.es of the sea and of rivers. It is very well known.

_Artemisia vulgaris_, L. (_A. Indica_, Willd.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Ka-Maria_, _Santa Maria_, _Tinisas_, Tag.; _Indian Wormwood_, Indo-Eng.

Uses.--The native women use the infusion of its aromatic leaves to induce menstruation. It is also used as an abortifacient, but is too mild a uterine stimulant to be reliable for that purpose. Its stomachic and tonic properties are common knowledge in the Philippines. The Hindoos use it for those effects and as an antispasmodic in amenorrhoea and hysteria. Dr. Wight states that the leaves and tops are useful in nervous troubles resulting from debility and that a decoction of them makes a good fomentation for phagedenic ulcers.

The infusion is prepared in the proportion of 10-30 grams of leaves to 1 liter of water and the powdered leaves are given in doses of 4-8 grams; the aqueous extract 30-40 grams a day. For amenorrhoea the drug is given daily for a week preceding the menstrual date.

Botanical Description.--A plant 3 high, stem straight, woody, square toward ends of branches. Leaves alternate, tomentose, decurrent, divided in several places, medium lanceolate. Flowers straw-colored, in axillary and terminal, 1-ranked spikes. Common calyx cylindrical, 2 circles of oval, scarious leaflets around its border, 11 hermaphrodite disk-flowers and about 5 pistillate ray-flowers. Hermaphrodite: Corolla bell-shaped, 5 obtuse teeth; stigmas 2, bent to the sides. Pistillate: Corolla diminutive, 5 toothlets; anther none; stigmas 2. Seeds of both small and quadrate, smaller in the latter. Receptacle nude.

Habitat.--Grows throughout the islands and is well known.

_Carthamus tinctorius_, L.

Nom. Vulg.--_Azafran de la tierra_, Sp.; _Biri_, _Kasubha_, _Katsumba_, _Lago_, Tag.; _Kasabba_, Vis.; _Kasubha_, _Kastumba_, Pam.; _b.a.s.t.a.r.d Saffron_, _Dyer's Safflower_, Eng.

Uses.--This plant must not be confounded with _Curc.u.ma longa_, L., whose tuber is also frequently called saffron (azafran), and is used to color food.

The flower is the part employed as a condiment coloring the food yellow. Some use them internally in doses of 4 grams to cure icterus. The leaves coagulate milk. The seeds are purgative in dose of 8-16 grams, bruised and taken in emulsion, or 15-30 grams in decoction.

The following is the chemical a.n.a.lysis of the plant:

Yellow coloring matter, soluble 26.1-36.0 Carthamic acid 0.3- 0.6 Extractive matter 3.6- 6.5 Alb.u.min 1.5- 8.0 Wax 0.6- 1.5 Cellulose, pectin 38.4-56.0 Silica 1.0- 8.4 Oxide of iron, aluminum, oxide of manganese 0.4- 4.6

(Salvetat.)

Botanical Description.--A plant 3 high, root gray and spindle-shaped. Stem straight, few branches. Leaves scattered, sessile, partially embracing the stem, lanceolate, serrate with hooked teeth. Flowers yellow, terminal in a sort of corymb. Common calyx semiglobose, with imbricated scales, the border often bearing thorns; numerous hermaphrodite disk flowers, with corolla very long, funnel-form, 5-toothed. Style longer than the stamens. Stigma bifid. Seed large, lacking pappus.

Habitat.--Cultivated in the gardens.

PLUMBAGINEae.