[01.22] Principles of Ethnopharmacology V2

Reaching 3 billion more people to move towards Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3

What is the strategic priority of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 13th General Programme of Work (GOPW) for 2019-2023?

Good Health and Well-Being

What does SDG 3 aim to achieve?

Universal Health Care (UHC)

How does the WHO aim to achieve SDG 3?

Part of the provision of essential health services

What is the role of Traditional and Complementary Medicine (T&CM) in Universal Health Care (UHC)?

2018

As of what year did the Philippines have a registration system for herbal medicines?

10

How many herbal medicines are officially recognized in the Philippines?

Low-cost and effective alternatives to drugs in the market

What is one rationale for the study and use of herbal medicines?

To guide patients and prevent misconception

Why is it important for healthcare providers to study herbal medicines?

Ethnopharmacology

What is the study of people’s use of plants, fungi, animals, microorganisms, and minerals and their biological and pharmacological effects based on principles of pharmacology?

Evidence-based and credible

What is a key characteristic of ethnopharmacology, distinguishing it from unscientific practices?

Traditional Medicine

What describes knowledge, skills, and practices based on theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures?

The use of non-mainstream approaches along with conventional medicine

What defines Complementary and Alternative Medicine?

Culturally responsive

What is one of the main advantages of using herbal medicines, encompassing availability, accessibility, affordability, acceptability, and appropriateness?

Available, Accessible, Affordable, Acceptable, Appropriate

What are the five 'A's that describe why herbal medicines are culturally responsive in the Philippines?

Many doctors do not know them properly

According to Dr. Soller, what is a possible reason why herbal medicines are not used mainstream?

1992

In what year was the Traditional Medicine Unit of the DOH established?

Traditional and Alternative Medicine Act (TAMA Law)

What law, enacted in December 1997, aims to improve healthcare services through the development and integration of traditional and alternative healthcare?

Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC)

What institution, established in 2000, works with the PFDA as the national office of T&CM?

2008

In what year did the regulation of acupuncture providers begin in the Philippines?

16,690

As of 2017, how many medicinal plants were documented in the Philippine Traditional Knowledge Digital Library of Health?

66

How many healing practices or rituals were documented in the Philippine Traditional Knowledge Digital Library of Health as of 2017?

509

How many traditional healers were documented as of 2017?

No health insurance coverage

What is the current status of health insurance coverage for T&CM in the Philippines?

25%

What percentage of modern pharmaceutical drugs have botanical origins?

Foxglove (Digitalis lanata)

What plant is the source of digoxin?

Digoxin

What drug, sourced from Foxglove, decreases heart rate and is used for atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and heart failure?

Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna)

What plant is the source of atropine?

Atropine

What potent drug, sourced from Deadly Nightshade, is used for pupillary dilation and can cause death by slowing heart rate?

Chondrodendron tomentosum

What plant is the source of tubocurarine?

Tubocurarine

What anesthetic drug, sourced from Chondrodendron tomentosum, causes paralysis by inhibiting acetylcholine?

Crude products

What classification of herbal products usually refers to the whole herb, either dried and encapsulated, or processed and preserved in a solvent?

Powder, tea, or herbal collections

What are common forms of crude products?

Crude extract

What classification describes when the active component of the plant is removed, usually in the form of galenicals?

Galenicals (e.g., tinctures, fluid extracts)

What are common forms of crude extracts?

Volatile and fixed oils, or resins

In what forms are primary processed plant products available?

Alkaloids (e.g., morphine, quinine, atropine) and Glycosides (e.g., digoxin)

What are examples of individual plant metabolites extracted from plants?

Dry extracts (Powdered Extracts)

What type of preparation are solid preparations obtained by condensing and drying fluid extracts?

95% solids + 5% water residue

What is the general composition of dry extracts?

Compress, poultice, dry powder, tablets & capsules

What are examples of applications of native dry extracts?

Supercritical fluid like CO₂, ethane, NO₂, and ethylene

What kind of solvents can be used to extract natural products for liquid extracts?

A substance at a temperature and pressure above its critical point, giving it properties between a gas and a liquid

What is a supercritical fluid?

Water

What is used as the extracting agent in Aqueous Extracts?

They are relatively unstable, and microorganisms can multiply rapidly

What are the disadvantages of aqueous extracts?

Infusion

What aqueous extract method involves pouring water over or soaking soft tissue plant parts like flowers, leaves, and crushed seeds?

1 teaspoon of dried herb: 1 cup hot water

What is a typical dose for an infusion?

Chamomile, lemon balm, peppermint, Chinese formulas

What are examples of herbs commonly prepared as infusions?

Decoction

What aqueous extract method involves simmering herbs in a water bath for 10-15 minutes?

4 teaspoons of dried herb: 1 cup of water

What is a typical formulation for a decoction?

Don’t use stainless steel utensils, use earthen, enameled, glass utensils, and don’t cover the pot

What are important instructions to follow when preparing a decoction?

Alcohol Extract (Tincture)

What type of extract uses ethanol and water at various ratios and concentrations?

Able to isolate lipophilic drug constituents and longer preservation period (up to 2-3 years)

What are two main advantages of alcohol extracts or tinctures?

Olive oil, almond oil, peanut oil

What are examples of oils used to dissolve fat-soluble constituents in oil extracts?

They are relatively unstable and cannot be stored for longer periods

What are the disadvantages of oil extracts?

Go organic and avoid pesticides

What is a key consideration when collecting plants?

Sunny mornings

When should plants be harvested to avoid constituents being washed away?

Mature

What characteristic should leaves, fruits, flowers, or nuts have before harvesting?

Before blooming

When should flowers be collected for more active ingredients?

Dry season, plant must be > 2 years old

When should seeds and bark be collected?

When plant is ready to bloom

When should stems and leaves be collected?

Air dry

What drying method is recommended for leaves and flowers?

Sun dry

What drying method is recommended for fruits, seeds, bark, and branches?

Heat dry

What is the least desired drying method as it may destroy most active ingredients?

Sealed plastic bags or brown bottles in a cool, dry place without sunlight, with a moisture absorbent material like charcoal

How should dry herbal preparations be stored?

Up to 6 months

How long can dry herbal preparations last when properly stored?

After one day (use immediately after boiling, discard excess)

How long should decoctions be kept?

Sambong

What common herb is known scientifically as Blumea balsamifera and is used as a diuretic and for common colds?

Diuretic, common cold, anti-urolithiasis

What are the therapeutic uses of Sambong?

Lagundi

What common herb, scientifically known as Vitex negundo, is a mucolytic and expectorant for cough and colds?

Mucolytic, asthma, cough and colds, fever, diarrhea, boils

What are the therapeutic uses of Lagundi?

Ulasimang Bato

What common herb, also called Pansit-pansitan or Pepper elder, is used for arthritis and gout?

Arthritis and gout, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, antifungal

What are the therapeutic uses of Ulasimang Bato?

Tsaang Gubat

What common herb, Ehretia microphylla Lam., is known for treating diarrhea and stomach pain?

Diarrhea, stomach pain, mouthwash, analgesic, antimicrobial, antiplasmodic, antidiabetic

What are the therapeutic uses of Tsaang Gubat?

Niyog-niyogan

What common herb, Quisqualis indica L, is a purgative and antihelminthic?

Purgative, antihelminthic (Ascaris), tonic, astringent, diarrhea, skin diseases

What are the therapeutic uses of Niyog-niyogan?

Ampalaya

What common herb, Momordica charantia, is widely advertised as a blood sugar lowering agent?

Lowers blood pressure, antipyretic, purgative (antihelminthic), blood sugar lowering agent

What are the therapeutic uses of Ampalaya?

Bawang

What common herb is garlic, used for hypertension and lowering cholesterol?

Antihypertensive for blood pressure control, lowers cholesterol

What are the therapeutic uses of Bawang?

Akapulko

What common herb, Cassia alata, is used for fungal and skin infections like scabies and eczema?

Fungal and/or skin infections (scabies, eczema)

What are the therapeutic uses of Akapulko?

Bayabas

What common herb, guava, is used as an antiseptic and for diarrhea?

Antiseptic, diarrhea

What are the therapeutic uses of Bayabas?

Yerba Buena

What common herb, peppermint, is an analgesic for body pain and an antispasmodic?

Analgesic for body pain, antispasmodic, stimulant, sudorific (pampapawis)

What are the therapeutic uses of Yerba Buena?

Sambong, Lagundi, Ulasimang Bato, Tsaang Gubat, Niyog-niyogan, Ampalaya, Bawang, Akapulko, Bayabas, Yerba Buena

List the ten common herbs recognized by the DOH in the Philippines.

Gingko Biloba

Which best-selling herb is known as a brain tonic for memory and is associated with bleeding tendencies as an adverse effect?

Brain tonic (vasodilator), memory, asthma, bronchitis, fatigue, tinnitus

What are the uses of Gingko Biloba?

Bleeding tendencies, headache, nausea, gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, dizziness, allergic skin reactions

What are the adverse effects of Gingko Biloba?

Echinacea

Which best-selling herb is used to treat or prevent colds, flu, and other infections?

Colds, flu, and other infections

What are the uses of Echinacea?

Allergic reactions

What are the adverse effects of Echinacea?

Garlic

Which best-selling herb (also a common herb) is used for hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, but can cause breath and body odor?

Hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, antiseptic

What are the uses of Garlic as a best-selling herb?

Breath and body odor, heartburn, upset stomach, allergic reactions

What are the adverse effects of Garlic?

Ginseng

Which best-selling herb is marketed for well-being and stamina, improving mental and physical performance?

Well-being and stamina, improving mental and physical performance, hypertension, blood glucose

What are the uses of Ginseng?

Headaches, sleep, gastrointestinal problems

What are the adverse effects of Ginseng?

Saw Palmetto

Which best-selling herb is specifically used for prostatic disorders like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)?

Prostatic disorders (benign prostatic hyperplasia)

What are the uses of Saw Palmetto?