Raspberry (loganberry in tagalog)

(Rubus strigosus) Part used: Leaf. Properties: Anti-spasmodic, astringent, alterative, stimulant, tonic. What it affects: Stomach, liver, blood, genitor-urinary system, and muscles.

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

Purposes: Rubus idaeus is the regular red raspberry you like to grow in your garden. Internally, the leaf tea is good for diarrhea and one can also drink it as a beverage. Because it is perfectly safe, it is one of the best herbal teas for pregnancy: to relieve nausea, prevent hemorrhage, reduce pain, and ease childbirth. It is also used freely to reduce menstrual cramps. Combined with other herbs, such as uva ursi and squaw vine, it is used for the treatment of vaginal discharge, hot flashes, and other female problems. Combine it with peppermint, to treat uterine hemorrhage or morning sickness. It is a stimulating, astringent tonic to the mucous membranes. As a douche or enema for dysentery, combine it with myrrh or goldenseal in equal parts. It will stop uterine hemorrhages. It is also used for measles.

• Raspberry relieves urinary irritation, and soothes the kidneys and entire urinary tract. For relief of kidney infection, chronic dysentery, and hemorrhage, mix 1 part raspberry, slightly over 1 part goldenseal, and 2 ½  parts witch hazel.

• Raspberry is also a reliable treatment for acute stomach problems, fever, colds, and flus. The fresh juice, mixed with a little honey, makes an excellent refrigerant beverage, to be taken in the heat of a fever in order to reduce it. Steep an ounce of the herb in a pint of boiled water for 20 minutes. It promotes healthy nails, bones, teeth, and skin.

Externally, because of its astringent qualities, raspberry is used as a gargle, mouthwash, or an external wash for sores, wounds, burns, canker sores, and skin rashes. It is also used as an eyewash. The above formula, using goldenseal and witch hazel, is also a helpful gargle for throat diseases.

Note: Wild red raspberry (Rubus strigosus) has somewhat similar properties, but it is not used very much; since the garden variety is so easy to obtain.

Quassia (amara in tagalog)

(Picraena excels) Part used: Wood. Properties: Anthelmintic, febrifuge, stomachic, bitter tonic. What it affects: Gastro-intestinal system.

Preparation and amount: Infusion: Steep 1 tsp. quassia wood in  1 cup water. Take 1 cup a day. Tincture: One dose is 2-5 drops.

Purposes: Internally, the primary value of quassia is to kill round worms. Taken as an enema, it kills pinworms. An infusion of quassia wood is used to treat fever, rheumatism, and dyspepsia. A bitter tonic for the stomach can be obtained by letting water stand overnight in a cup made of quassia wood or glass cup with many wood chips. The result is a weak infusion which, in a drink, will help strengthen the stomach. The tea is also said to destroy an appetite for alcohol.

Externally, an infusion can be used as a scalp rinse, to counteract dandruff.

Pumpkin Seeds (kalabasang binhe in tagalog)

(Curcubita pepo) Part used: Seeds. Properties: Anthelmintic. What it affects: Intestines.

Preparation and amount: Crush 7-14 oz. of seeds for children and up to 25 oz. for adults; stir into fruit juice, to make a mash to be eaten. Two or three hours later, take castor oil to drive out the worms.

Purposes: Internally, pumpkin seed is the classic means of eliminating parasites-worms-from your intestines and large bowel. These are the seeds from the pumpkins harvested in your garden in the full of them. Take large amounts of pumpkin seeds as a safe anthelmintic (worm expeller). It is safe for both children and adults. The seeds is also used to treat prostate disorders and irritable bladder.

Externally, pumpkin seed oil is used for healing wounds, especially burns, as well as for chopped skin.

Note: Take care with tapeworms, that the entire worm is expelled.

Psyllium (silyum in tagalog)

(Plantago psyllium) Part used: Seeds. Properties: Demulcent, laxative. What it affects: Intestines.

Preparation and amount: Infusion: Steep 5-15 min. Take 2-4 tsp. after each meal; children take 1 tsp. after each meal. Powder: Take 1 tsp. in warm water or juice, 3 times daily. Powder: Take 6-8 #0 capsules (50-60 grains) 3 times daily.

Purposes: Internally, psyllium seed is a faithful standby. Either the powder or the soaked seed will assist easy bowl movements during colitis, inflamed ulcers, and hemorrhoids by increasing water content in the colon. Take a teaspoon of the powder in warm water or juice 3 times a day, to clean the intestines and remove putrefactive toxins. Make the dose one-half teaspoon for children.

Externally, psyllium seed powder is very often added to poultices as a binder (to hold it all together). For this purposes, add a small amount while pouring water over the ingredients and stir until it becomes thick, similar to dough. Psyllium will draw pus from boils, sores and carbuncles.

Note: Psyllium seed powder can also be added to unleavened bread as a binder.

Prickly Ash (kasabang in tagalog)

(Xanthoxylum americanum) Part used: Bark. Properties: Stimulant, alternative, antispasmodic/astringent, emmenagogue, rubefacient. What it affects: Blood, circulation, and stomach.

Preparation and amount: Decoction: Simmer 5-15 min. Take 1-2 oz. 3-4 times daily. Tincture: Take 5-20 drops 3-4 times daily. Fluid extract: Take 1/2 – 1 tsp. 3-4 times daily. Powder: Take 2-5 #0 capsules (10-30 grains) 3-4 times daily.

Purposes: Internally, prickly ash is a stimulant that greatly increases blood circulation throughout the body. For the reason, it is used for impaired circulation, cold, extremities and joints, wounds that are slow to heal, lethargy, rheumatism, and arthritis. It will promote warmth during chills. Add a carminative herb (such as peppermint or catnip) to prickly ash, to increase the effect. Because is so warming to the stomach, it is used for weak digestion, as well as colic and cramps. If an excess amount of unwanted sweating occurs, reduce the amount by a fourth, until the amount taken is producing the desired effect. This herb will produce sweating when all else fails.

Externally, prickly ash bark was a toothache remedy for both the Indians and early settlers. Indians also boiled the inner bark to make a wash for itching skin. Herbalists today used boiled fresh bark (inner and outer) for the same purpose. It is applied as a poultice, to help dry up and heal wounds.

Note: As a stimulant, prickly ash bark is very similar to bayberry bark.