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Herbal medicine is defined as the use of leaves, flowers, barks, seeds, fruits and roots of plants for the prevention or treatment of ailments and the promotion of good health. Like China, the Philippines is another country known for using herbal medicines long before its popularity in the west. Although some medical practitioners in the West may dismiss the efficacy of herbal medicines, the Chinese, Filipinos and many peoples in the orient have used medicinal herbs for centuries. For a long time Philippine herbal medicine has been unrecognized and has been considered by the medical community as folkloric and anecdotal at best. While the Chinese has continued to develop its technology and knowledge on medicinal herbs and is today, recognized as the best source herbal medicine worldwide and the west has started to accept the efficacy of some of the herbs in the treatment of select ailments. In recent years, medical researchers, pharmaceutical companies, organizations and government health agencies took a serious look at folkloric herbal medicines often used by Filipinos in rural areas. Research and studies by the academe the pharmaceutical industry and government confirm the effectively of certain herbs in the treatment of diseases. Many of these herbs also proved to have health benefits in addition to their curative value. The Philippine Department of Health spearheaded the research, development and promotion with active participation of its line agency, the research Institute for Tropical Medicine and the Bureau of Food and Drugs. This book presents the information on some of the basic concept of this subject. Coloured photographs of medicinal plants found in the area is an added attraction of the book.

Contents: Preface. 1. Introduction. 2. Important herb plants of Philippines. 3. Use of herbal plants in Philippines. 4. Philippines exclusive herb plants. Bibliography. Index.