The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines Part 34

Uses.--All three species possess a characteristic camphoraceous odor and are commonly grouped under the one name, _albahacas_ (sweet basil). Some natives call them _solasi_ and others _balanay_, but many are able to distinguish the various species correctly. All three have a.n.a.logous properties, but the most widely used is the _O. basilic.u.m_. These properties are stimulant, diaph.o.r.etic, and expectorant, and the infusion is used commonly for flatulent colic and painful dyspepsia. The dry powdered leaves of the _O. sanctum_ are taken as snuff by the natives of India in the treatment of a curious endemic disease characterized by the presence of small maggots in the nasal secretion; this disease is called peenash, and possibly exists in the Philippines though I have never encountered it.

Martins states that in Brazil they use a decoction of the mucilaginous leaves of the _O. gratissimum_ in the treatment of gonorrhoea and Dr. Waitz highly recommends a strong decoction of these leaves for the aphthae of children, which he claims to have cured by this means after all European drugs had failed. This fact and the action of the snuff above mentioned, demonstrate the antiseptic properties of the plant, due doubtless to its abundant aromatic principles.

_O. basilic.u.m_ contains a green essential oil, very aromatic, becoming solid; it is a sort of camphor (C_20_H_16_6HO, Raybaud) and crystallizes in 4-faced prisms.

All the plants are used to prepare aromatic baths for cases of atrophy and debility in children (Waitz) and for the treatment of rheumatism and paralysis.

Botanical Description.--_O. gratissimum_ is a plant 2-3 high, stem straight, downy. Leaves medium lanceolate, finely serrate from the middle upwards, with short hairs and transparent dots. Flowers in long terminal racemes. Calyx, upper lip horizontal, round; lower lip 3 pointed parts, the middle one subdivided in two. Corolla yellowish, inverted, one lip cleft in 4 obtuse lobes; the other longer, narrow, serrate. Stamens didynamous, 2 shorter. Anthers semilunar. Stigma bifid. Seeds 4.

The _O. Americanum_ has leaves lanceolate, ovate, acute, full of pores, somewhat downy. It is more fragrant than the other species and its flowers are bluish-white in racemes.

The _O. sanctum_ is the most sacred plant of the Hindoos, dedicated to Vishnu; its branches are wavy or cauliflexuous, leaves obliquely ovate, obtuse, serrate, nearly glabrous.

Habitat.--All species are very common and universally known.

_Coleus aromaticus_, Benth. (_C. suganda_, Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Oregano_, Sp.-Fil.; _Suganda_, Tag.; _Marjoram_, Eng. (The Sp. and Eng. names are incorrect.)

Uses.--The fleshy, aromatic leaves of this plant are bruised and applied locally for the bites of centipedes and scorpions. They are also applied to the temples and forehead for headache, held in place by a bandage. In Cochin China they are used in asthma, chronic bronchitis, epilepsy and other convulsive diseases. The juice of the leaves is a carminative and is given to children suffering with wind colic. Dr. Wight claims to have observed occasional intoxicating effects following its use, but Dymock states that he has never observed such effects. The plant contains a coloring matter, _colein_ (C_10_H_10_O_3_), red, insoluble in ether, soluble in alcohol, slightly soluble in water. On the addition of ammonia the solution changes to purple, then violet, indigo, green, and, finally, greenish-yellow.

Another species, the _C. atropurpureus_, Benth. (_C. grandifolius_, Blanco), well known in the Philippines by its common name _mayana_, is used in the treatment of bruises, the bruised fleshy leaves being the part employed; these leaves are downy and dark violet in color.

Botanical Description.--Leaves opposite, nearly sessile, cordate, obtuse, downy and very fleshy. Flowers in a quadrangular raceme, each group of these flowerets having a concave scale at the base. Calyx bell-shaped, 2-lipped; the upper lip longer and entire; the lower with 4 narrow teeth. Corolla a pale violet, 5 times longer than the calyx. Stamens didynamous, straight, longer than the corolla. Style bifid. Seeds 4.

Habitat.--Universally abundant.

_Rosmarinus officinalis_, L.

Nom. Vulg.--_Romero_, Sp.; _Rosemary_, Eng.

Uses.--This is one of the plants most valued by the Filipinos. Its infusion is used as an eye-wash for slight catarrhal conjunctivitis, applied 3 or 4 times a day. It is one of the aromatic plants used so commonly to bathe women in the puerperal state, and in vapor baths for rheumatism, paralysis and incipient catarrhs. The entire plant is a stimulant and carminative but little used internally; in atonic dyspepsia it has given good results taken in the same form as the infusion of manzanilla.

It contains a large per cent. of an essential oil which gives the plant its agreeable odor. This oil enters into the composition of "Cologne Water"; it is said to arrest falling of the hair and is a diffusible stimulant which may be given internally in doses of 3-5 drops. It is colorless and liquid when fresh, but in time becomes dark and viscid. It combines freely with alcohol and its density is 0.885.

Botanical Description.--A plant from 2 to 3 high. Leaves sessile, linear, obtuse, margins revolute, white-h.o.a.ry beneath. Calyx tubular, 2-lipped. Corolla rose-violet color, gaping; the upper lip concave, 2-lobed; the lower lip longer, 3-lobed. Stamens, 2 fertile and 2 sterile. Style, same length as the stamens. Stigma simple. Fruit, 4 seeds in the depths of the calyx.

Habitat.--It is carefully cultivated throughout the Philippines.

_Anisomeles ovata_, R. Br. (_Phlomis alba_, Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Taligharap_, Tag.; _Jerusalem Sage_, Eng.

Uses.--The infusion of the leaves is bitter and aromatic and is used in catarrhal inflammations of the stomach and intestines and in intermittent fevers. Used as a vapor-bath it produces abundant diaph.o.r.esis, and the infusion given internally has a like effect. The leaves, when distilled, yield an oil which is used as an external application in rheumatism.

Botanical Description.--A plant 6 or more high. Root fibrous, trunk and branches enlarged at the joints. Leaves opposite, ovate, obtusely serrate, soft and downy. Flowers pink, verticillate, in opposite cl.u.s.ters around the stem, with several linear and hairy involucres at the base of each cl.u.s.ter. Calyx, 5 sharp teeth. Corolla, 2-lipped; the lower much larger, downy within, 3-lobed, the middle lobe larger and broader, notched at the extremity, and its borders turned downward; the other 2 lateral lobes very small, narrow; the upper lip much shorter and smaller, entire, enveloping the stamens. Stamens didynamous. Style about the same length as the stamens. Stigma bifid. Fruit, 4 small seeds.

Habitat.--Very common on the fields of Manila Province.

_Leucas aspera_, Spreng. (_Phlomis Zeylanica_, Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Pansipansi_, _Solasolasian_, _Karukansoli_, Tag.; _Pansipansi_, _Paypaysi_, Vis.

Uses.--The bruised leaves are applied to the bites of serpents or poisonous insects. In India they are similarly used. The juice of the leaves is very useful in the treatment of certain skin diseases, especially psoriasis.

Botanical Description.--A plant about 2 high, very well known to the natives. Leaves sessile, lanceolate, finely serrate and covered with short hairs. Flowers terminal, white, verticillate, with the characteristics of the mint family.

PLANTAGINACEae.

Plantain Family.

_Plantago erosa_, Wall. (_P. crenata_ and _media_, Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Llanten_, Sp.-Fil.; _Lantin_, Tag.; _Plantain_, Eng.

Uses.--The leaves of this popular plant are the commonest remedy in the Philippines for abscess of the gums. They are bruised and applied with a little lard over the swollen cheek. It is emollient and, in decoction, is used as a subst.i.tute for flaxseed.

Botanical Description.--This plant is so universally known that there is no fear of confusing it with others. It flourishes as a common weed in the U. S. as well as the Philippines.

NYCTAGINACEae.

Four-O'Clock Family.

_Mirabilis Jalapa_, L. (_M. longiflora_, Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Maravillas_, _Suspiros_, Sp.-Fil.; _Gilalas_, Tag.; _Four O'Clock_, _Marvel of Peru_, Eng.

Uses.--The root is purgative and possesses the same active principles, the same properties and is given in the same dose as jalap. According to the experience of Shoolbred, Hunter, W. O'Shaughnessy and Ainslie, its purgative action is weak and uncertain and therefore unworthy of use as a subst.i.tute for jalap. The bruised leaves are used as poultices to hasten suppuration, but according to Waring they are capable of causing dermat.i.tis.

Botanical Description.--The flowers open toward the end of the day and close again at sunrise. The root is blackish and spindle-shaped. The stem smooth, branches forked. Leaves opposite, lanceolate-cordate, acute, somewhat downy along the borders and the upper surface. Petioles short. Flowers fragrant, almost constantly blooming, of different colors even in the same plant, terminal, in umbels. Pedicels very short. Calyx persistent, 5-toothed. Corolla superior, very long, its tube downy, funnel-form, limb 5-lobed. Stamens 5, longer than the corolla. Style longer than the stamens. Stigma globose. Nut small, black, globose, many-ribbed, full of a mealy substance.