Frequently Asked Questions and Testimonies

Q: Why was Herbal Medicine not widely accepted in the Philippines 50+ years ago?

A: Because of the association of the use of medicinal plants with superstition and witchcraft.

Q: What brought about the wide acceptance and popularity of medicinal plants/Herbal Medicine today?

A: Extensive information dissemination of the results of scientific researches done by Filipino scientists.

Q: Why can’t metallic cooking utensils be used in the preparation of herbal products?

A: Reaction between the plant constituents and the metal may produce undesirable results (an entirely different product).

Q: Why is it better to collect medicinal plants in the morning of a sunny day?

A: Plant constituents are generally at highest concentration in the mornings. Sunny day: Constituents are present in minute amounts which can be leached out by rain; also for convenience of the collectors.

Q: Is it O.K. to collect medicinal plants from the wild?

A: (Many medicinal plants are still obtained from the wild) O.K. as long as the location is away from pollution of any kind.

Q: Are the claims regarding Mahogany seeds medicinal correct?

A: Studies have shown that Mahogany seeds, when ingested, causes liver damage and its use as medicine is being banned.

Q: Comfrey is widely used as tea, is it true that comfrey can trigger a heart attack?

A: Studies have shown that Comfrey tea can cause fibrillation of the heart. Its use as tea or in any form taken internally is being discouraged.

1. Sambong, an interview with Prof. Ning de Padua

About seven (7) years ago, the author experienced difficulty in urinating: scanty urine with bleeding. After consultation with the doctor and undergoing an ultrasound examination, it was confirmed that she had kidney stones and was scheduled for laser survey. "Teka muna, aking lecture tungkol sa nagagawa ng Sambong (Wait a moment, my lecture is about what Sambong can do), why don’t I practice what I preach?", she asked herself. She gathered Sambong leaves from her own garden, boiled them and drank half a cup twice a day. Lo and behold, after only one day, she experienced relief in urination and on the second day there were white granules in the urine. She went back to her doctor and he confirmed that the stones were no more. She has been using Sambong since then.