Atis: A potent healer of fever and colds

Atis- Anona Squamosa

English name- Sweet Sop, Sugar Apple
Local name- Atis

A small to medium sized fruit tree with light green, oval leaves used as a medicinal herb in most parts of the country. Atis is primarily a native plant of the Americas (Spanning from Central- South Americas) and was introduced in the Philippines during the spanish colonial times.

Described as having a milky, sweet and succulent flesh with black poisonous seeds, excluding only those; all parts of this tree have medicinal value.

Brewed leaves in boiling water is a good medicine for colds and fever. Drinking this concoction can also treat dysentery while pouring the hot concoction to one's bath will help ease out rheumatic pain. Inhaling its crushed leaves will help ease out drowsiness, while its bark brewed in boiling water will eliminate diarrhea.

An unripened Atis fruit is a good relief for insect bites.

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Ampalaya: The affordable medicine for Diabetes

Ampalaya- Momordica Charantia (English name: Bitter Melon)
Local name: Ampalaya, Paliya

A popular climbing vine having tendrils of which can grow up to 20 centimeters long. This plant is largely used in the country as a staple viand and is also known for the bitter taste of its flesh when eaten.

Throughout the ages, Ampalaya has been used to treat ailments but it has gained reputation in the treatment of Diabetes. Its fruit contains momorcidin, certain flavanoids and alkaloids with which the effect on diabetic patients, is that their pancreas produce more insulin to control blood sugar effectively. Its fruit is also a potent source of Vitamins and minerals particularly: A, B, C, Iron, Folic Acid, Phosphorous and Calcium.

Ampalaya has long been used in the country for the treatment of skin diseases, as parasiticide, antipyretic, purgative, treatment of cough to even increase sterility in women.

The Philippines’ Department of Health has recently recognized and endorsed Ampalaya as an alternative medicine for Diabetes.

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Akapulko: The potent antifungal alternative

Akapulko– (Cassia alata) (English name: Ringworm bush)

Local: bayabas-bayabasan,kapurko, katanda, katandang asoandadasi, andadasi-a-dakdakel, kasitas, sunting, palo china, pakayomkom kastila.



Described as an erect shrub that grows wild having dark green leaves that have an orange rachis and has 16-28 leaflets.

It can be found in abundance throughout the archipelago and is popularly used as herbal medicine in the treatment of fungal infections such as ringworms, scabies and eczema.

This shrub is most prized for its leaves and sap which have diuretic, sudorific and purgative properties. Akapulko is also widely used to treat intestinal parasites, bronchitis and even asthma.

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