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Preparation of Herbal Medicines

Akapulko ointment An ointment prepared from the leaves of Senna alata L.
Capsicum liniment A liniment prepared from mature fruits of Capsicum frutescens L
Ginger lozenges Medicated candies prepared from rhizomes of luya, Zingiber officinale
Lagundi syrup A sweetened preparation from the leaves of Vitex negundo L.

 

OINTMENT.jpg (4683 bytes) AKAPULKO OINTMENT
An ointment prepared from the leaves of Senna alata L; for fungal skin infections like ringworm, tinea, athlete’s foot; applied on the affected areas morning and evening.
 

There are two methods for preparing ointments: the cold process and the hot process. Both produce standard ointments and are easy to perform. They differ from one another in more ways than just the temperature. Note the differences as you go through the procedure.
The Cold Process

Materials: fresh chopped akapulko leaves, 95% ethyl alcohol, glass jar with cover, strainer, shallow bowl, white petroleum, mortar and pestle/mixing bowl and spoon, ointment jars, labels.

Procedure:

  1. Macerate/soak the leaves in ethyl alcohol in the glass jar for at least 3 days. Cover and set aside. Add more alcohol to keep the leaves always immersed in the alcohol.
  2. On the 4th day, filter the extract through a clean piece of cheesecloth/filter paper.
  3. Using a water bath (in a big kettle with water, place your enamel
    "tabo" containing the extract) and under medium heat evaporate the solvent (the ethyl alcohol) until you get a thick, concentrated extract.
  4. Upon reaching the desired consistency, remove the extract from the water bath.
  5. Mix thick extract with the white petrolatum in a 15% proportion (15 grams/1 Tablespoon extract for every 100 gms of white petrolatum) until the extract is blended well with the petrolatum.
  6. Transfer the akapulko ointment in the desired containers. Label properly.

 

The Hot Process

Materials: fresh chopped leaves, vegetable oil, candle (Sperma #5), frying pan, strainer, ointment jars, labels.

Proportion: 1 cup fresh chopped leaves: 1 cup vegetable oil, 2 candles, grated.

Procedure:

  1. Fry the chopped leaves until crisp.
  2. Strain. Add the grated candle to the oil.
  3. Heat over low heat until all the candle wax is melted. Mix well.
  4. Transfer to ointment jars before the mixture hardens.
  5. Label properly.

 

CAPSICUM 3.jpg (3299 bytes)

 

CAPSICUM LINIMENT
A liniment prepared from mature fruits of Capsicum frutescens L; applied by massaging gently a few drops on painful muscles and joints, morning and night.
 

Materials: Siling labuyo fruits, vegetable oil, wide-mouthed glass jar with cover, medicine bottles, label.
Procedure:
  1. Macerate siling labuyo fruits in vegetable oil, enough to cover all the fruits, for one week. Keep the jar covered.
  2. After one week, strain to separate the fruits from the oil. (The macerated fruits may be discarded; or leave the maceration mixture in the jar and just decant portions of the oil as needed, from time to time).
  3. If the resulting product is turbid (cloudy), heat the oil gently at low temperature (do not boil) until the product becomes clear.
  4. Transfer to medicine bottles. Label properly.

 

lozenge.jpg (7993 bytes)GINGER LOZENGES
Medicated candies prepared from rhizomes of luya, Zingiber officinale, for sore throat, cough and as breath freshener, dissolved in the mouth as needed.
 

Materials: Ginger rhizomes, powdered; confectioner’s sugar, gum Arabic powder, USP; cornstarch, water, mortar and pestle, spatula, spoon, knife, tray, wax paper, aluminum foil.

Proportion: 2 tablespoon powdered ginger for every cup of confectioner’s sugar.

Procedure:

  1. Mix powdered ginger, confectioner’s sugar, a little gum Arabic powder in a mortar and pestle.

  2. Add water, a few drops at a time, enough to form a mass/ball.

  3. Line a tray/plate with cornstarch lightly. Transfer the mass/ball to the starch-lined tray.

  4. Flatten the mass/ball to desired thickness, or make a long roll.

  5. Divide the flattened mass or roll, as the case maybe, into equal portions, as desired.

  6. Allow the discs to dry (air-dry or place in an oven briefly); then wrap each one in aluminum foil.

 

Lagundi.jpg (3607 bytes)LAGUNDI SYRUP
A sweetened preparation from the leaves of Vitex negundo L.

 

Materials: cooking pot, ladle, cup strainer, medicine bottles, labels, lagundi leaves, sugar/honey, water.

Proportion: 1 cup chopped lagundi leaves to 1 cup water
 

Procedure:

  1. In an uncovered pot, prepare a decoction of the lagundi leaves.

  2. Cool and strain.

  3. Measure the amount of decoction that you produced. One-third of this volume will be the amount of sugar/honey that you are going to use.

  4. Add your sweetener, stirring gently. You may put the mixture back on the stove, with low heat, until all he sweetener is dissolved/blended with the mixture. This is your syrup.

  5. Transfer the syrup into the sterilized medicine bottles. Seal and label properly.

  6. Store your bottled lagundi syrup in a clean, cool, dry place away from light.

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