Mugwort (artemisia vulgaris in tagalog)

(Artemisia vulgaris) Part used: Tops. Properties: Emmenagogue, nervine, stomachic, diaphoretic, diuretic. What it affects: Nerves, circulation, stomach and uterus.

Preparation and amount: Infusion: Steep 20 min. Take 1 tsp. as needed. Tincture: Take 30-60 (1/2 – 1 tsp.) as needed. Fluid extract: Take 1 tsp. as needed. Powder: Take up to 10 #0 capsules (up to 60 grains) as needed.

Purposes: Internally, mugwort is excellent for nervousness, insomnia, and controllable shaking. It is also good for female problems, such as suppressed menstruation and menstrual cramps. It is especially good when combined with cramp bark, marigold, and black haw for these problems. It will bring on the menstrual period; and it is used with cramp bark to treat menstrual cramps and other female problems. The tea is useful in treating stomach disorders. For this purposes, it is diluted 3 times, to overcome the strong taste. For pains in the stomach and bowels, drink the tea in small frequent doses and apply a fomentation of the infusion over the painful area. It is good in kidney herb combinations for stones or gavel. American Indians used it for colds and flus, bronchitis and fevers. Drink it hot for a sweating therapy. It is also used for asthma, difficulty in breathing, bronchitis, hay fever, earache, epilepsy, and swollen glands.

Externally, mugwort may be applied as a poultice to boils, carbuncles and abscesses.

Motherwort (damong maria in tagalog)

(Leonurus cardiac) Part used: Tops. Properties: Emmenagogue, nervine, tonic, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, laxative. What it affects: Nerves, heart and uterus.

Preparation and amount: Infusion: Steep 5-15 min. Take 6 oz. 3-4 times daily. Tincture: Take 30-60 drops (1/2 – 1 tsp.) 3-4 times daily. Powder: Take 5-10 #0 capsules (30-60 grains) 3-4 times daily.

Purposes: Internally, motherwort is most commonly used for nervous heart problems and for stomach gas and cramps. For this purposes, a good combination is equal parts of motherwort, cramp bark and calendula. It relieves childbirth pain and is excellent for suppressed menstruation and other female problems, including amenorrhea. It is a good tonic for the heart and may be combines with hawthorn berries for an effective heart tonic and antispasmodic. This can be used to prevent heart attack and treat palpitations, pericarditis and neuralgia. It is good for all nervous conditions, sleeplessness, convulsions, neuritis, neuralgia and hysteria. It is used for shortness of breath, goiter, and congestion of respiratory passage. It is also used for menopausal symptoms and vaginitis. It is used for headache, thyroid, insomnia, vertigo, fevers, rheumatism, and suppressed urine. In general, it has similar properties to valerian, and can be used like it.

Warning: Contact with the plant may cause dermatitis in some individuals.

Marshmallow (marsmalow in tagalog)

(Althea officinalis) Parts used: Root, flowers, and leaves. Properties: Demulcent, diuretic, emollient, lithotriptic, alternative, nutritive, vulnerary. What it affects: Intestines, kidneys, and bladder.

Preparation and amount: Infusion (flowers and leaves) Steep 5-15 min. Take 1 cup at a time, frequently. Decoction (root): Simmer 5-15 min. Take 6 oz. 3 times daily. Tincture: Take 30-60 drops ( 1/2 - 1 tsp.) 3 times daily. Fluid extract: Take 1-2 tsp. 3 times daily. Powder: Take 5-10 #0 capsules (30-60 grains) 3 times daily.

Purposes: Marshmallow soothes and heals skin, mucous membranes, and other tissues, externally and internally. Internally, it is the best source of easily digested mucilage. It helps the body lubricate joints, to protect them against dryness and irritation. Because digestive fluids contain mucilage, marshmallow also acts as a counter-irritant to the digestive tract and aids in diarrhea, dysentery, and ulcers. It is also used for lung problems and as a douche in vaginal infections. It is good for bladder infection.

• Use marshmallow with other laxative herbs for chronic constipation that is associated with dryness or lack of roughage. In combination with other diuretic herbs, such as parsley root, use it as tea for kidney stone attack and to help expel gravel. It is also used for headache, sinusitis, sore throat, allergies. 

• Marshmallow is often used as 10% of the formula in various herbal mixtures.

Externally, as a poultice, marshmallow can be applied with a pinch of cayenne on a daily basis in order to treat open wounds, burns, gangrene, septic wounds, bruises, and blood poisoning. The tea is good to bathe sore eyes.

Mandrake (mandragora in tagalog)

(American) – (Podophyllum peltatum) Part used: Root. Properties: Cholagogue, hepatic, laxative, alternative, emetic, stimulant. What it affects: Liver, gallbladder, intestines and skin.

Preparation and amount: Decoction: Simmer 5-15 min. Take 1 Tbsp. (cold) 2 times daily. Tincture: Take 1 -10 drops 2 times daily. Fluid extract: Take 1/4 – 1/2 tsp. 2 times daily. Powder: Take 1-3 #0 capsules 2 times daily.

Purposes: Internally, mandrake is a powerful glandular stimulant and should be taken in small amounts. It is used for lymphatic problems, all skin diseases, liver diseases, and obstructions of the liver and gallbladder (gallstones and jaundice), as well as digestive problems. It is best taken in small doses in combination with ginger, licorice, or Oregon grape root. American Indians used it as a cathartic. It is said to eliminate poisoning from mercury ingestion.

Externally, the concentrated tincture (by gently cooking it down) is directly applied to warts, to rapidly remove them. But it must only be put on the wart and not on the surrounding skin. Indians used the crushed rootstock on warts, but doing so could produce dermatitis. A diluted solution is applied to skin diseases.

Note: European mandrake (Mandragora officinarum) is a different herb, with different properties.

Warning: Only take mandrake in small doses. Large doses, even applied externally, produces nausea, vomiting, and inflammation of the intestines and the stomach lining. An overdose could be fatal. Taking it during pregnancy could cause birth defects. Placing it undiluted on the skin may cause dermatitis.

Lungwort (pulmonary in tagalog)

(Pulmonaria officinalis) Part used: Leaves. Properties: Demulcent, emollient, expectorant, mucilage, astringent, tonic, vulnerary. What it affects: Lungs, bronchials, intestines and liver.

Preparation and amount: Infusion: Steep 5-15 min. Take 6 oz. at a time. Tincture: Take 15-30 drops 3 times daily. Fluid extract: Take 1/2 - 1 tsp. 3 times daily. Powder: Take 10 #0 capsules (60 grains) 3 times daily.

Purposes: Internally, lungwort tea is used primarily for the respiratory system, especially when there is bleeding of the lungs. It is reliable for coughs, asthma, colds, and bronchial and catarrhal problems. It will help heal tissues and counteract inflammation. It is also used for diarrhea, hemorrhoids, and hoarseness. It is also mildy diuretic.

Externally, lungwort tea is used for all kinds wounds and swellings. It is a good wash for infected sores.