The Philippine Online Chronicles

Usually, when people talk of herbal medicine, what come to mind are images of bitter-tasting, foul-smelling concoctions that make one wonder who can keep them down long enough to have some curative effect.

The truth, however, is that a lot of the fruits in the Philippines that we commonly eat have medicinal properties that beat over-the-counter medicine in efficacy and safety.

Dubbed the Tree of Life, every part of the coconut can be used for something - whether for food, fuel, or furniture. The juice from a young coconut is a natural dextrose, providing electrolytes to people suffering from diarrhea or on the verge of dehydration. It is also a natural laxative, aiding digestion and possibly, weight loss. Buko juice is an easy cure for Urinary Tract Infections (UTI) and provides a cooling effect in the body, perfect for this summer heat.

Virgin coconut oil (VCO), on the other hand, is now easily bought from the neighborhood drugstore or grocery. VCO helps with weight loss, cardiac health, and immunity-building due to its lauric acid content. VCO is also used by diabetics to reduce their symptoms, and by persons with HIV to help destroy viruses. It supports thyroid function and may be used for a multitude of skin infections as well as a beauty and pampering agent during massages.

Guava is certainly more than a fruit and something to flavor sinigang with. Crushed leaves may be applied to minor wounds (more popularly used in summer for circumcision in the barrios) and rheumatic places. Leaves are also chewed to relieve toothache and swollen gums. Boiling its leaves and drinking the decoction (4-6 tbsp. of chopped leaves in 18 oz. water for 15 minutes) helps in diarrhea and vomiting.  A warm decoction is also an effective vaginal wash. With its fruit rich in Vitamin C (the redder the meat, the higher the antioxidant content), guava is a great immunity booster for those suffering from the common cold. Leaf extracts, on the other hand, suggest anti-diabetic and anti-cancer properties.

Aside from being naturally sweet and yet containing only 20 percent sugar, the banana is now becoming a popular weight-loss staple food because it is easily digestible but also provides vital nutrients like protein, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Pregnant women are advised to eat it to avoid cramps and morning sickness. With the Philippines being one of four top exporters of bananas in the world, Filipinos should be enjoying as much of it as they can since the fruit promotes heart, bone, and kidney health. Bananas have also been shown to improve mood, aid in constipation, and have a cooling effect. The inside of its skin may be applied to mosquito bites or used as a patch for warts.

Atis, or sweet sop, has seeds that are generally toxic. However, a decoction of its leaves helps hasten menstrual flow and is used to treat dysentery, colds, and pain. The decoction may also be used as bath water to relieve rheumatic aches. Crushed leaves may be inhaled to help with dizziness and fainting while juice from an unripe fruit may be used for infected insect bites.

One other fruit that’s a joy to eat is the mango, which is rich in vitamins that are good for the eyes, skin and heart. It is also a natural cure for poor digestion. To prevent heat stroke, the people of India boil its unripe fruit, extracts the juice, add sugar, salt, and cumin to it, and drink it all through summer. Chewing tender leaves helps with bleeding gums and toothache while soaking its young leaves in water overnight will make a decoction beneficial to diabetics. Green mangoes, which we often enjoy with bagoong, aid in the absorption of iron and increases our resistance to TB, anemia, cholera, and dysentery.

Aside from being nourishing, the pineapple has long been popular in folk medicine. Raw fruit is an effective diuretic. The bromelain in pineapples also helps to expel intestinal worms as well as reduce swelling in cases of arthritis, gout, and acute sinusitis. The juice is a uterine tonic and its leaves are used to induce menstruation while also easing painful ones.

Papaya is known for aiding digestion, aside from being a rich source of Vitamin A. Latex, the milk-like juice from unripe ones, is sometimes used to clear up freckles, or is mixed with honey and taken before meals to avoid heartburn and indigestion. Munching on papaya seeds helps with intestinal worms and parasites while the juice of the seeds is useful in dyspepsia and bleeding piles. Believed to have compounds that mimic the female hormone, estrogen, the fruit is used to induce menstruation, increase libido, facilitate childbirth, and boost milk supply in the mother. A recent study has demonstrated that papaya leaf extracts may help fight various cancers.

Calamansi is used for cooking, marinating, and making cool beverages. But the fruit also has a lot of medicinal purposes: clearing up acne, deodorizing underarms, and helping insect bites heal. Its juice is a great medicine for cough when mixed with a little bit of honey, and is combined with pepper to expel phlegm. Squeezing the rind near the nostril also helps with nausea.

Summer is the perfect time to indulge in these amazing Filipino fruits. Have a glass of buko juice every day. Munch on those bananas. Whip up a papaya shake or mango smoothie. As you enjoy, you are preventing a lot of illnesses as well.

All photos by Mec Arevalo. Some Rights Reserved.

-----