The Sampaguita's Use In Medicine

Jan. 20, 2010 - PRLog -- The sampaguita flower is one of the most Philippine's most prized species of flowers. This is because the sampaguita is currently the Philippine's national flower. Other than its part in Philippine culture and history, the flower is also known as one of the most useful species of flowers used for medicine. Although there are other flowers known for their medicinal properties, such as with the ylang-ylang flower and gumamela, the sampaguita flower Philippine is the only one that has a recorded history of its use in medicine.

Sampaguita as Medicine
The sampaguita flowers are mostly known for its scent. Usually known as the Arabian Jasmine across the world, the flower is mostly native in almost all Asian countries. In China, the flower is known for its use as the main ingredient of a unique tea, the Jasmine tea. However, in the Philippines, the flower has been known and recognized for its many uses, particularly for its use in medicine. The one researcher that studied the flower's use in medicine is Eduardo Quisumbíng.

Eduardo Quisumbíng y Argüelles, a leading authority of plants in the Philippines, is known to have studied the use of the sampaguita flower Philippine in medicine. According to his book, the Medicinal Plants of the Philippines, all parts of the sampaguita flower, from the roots up the flower, is known for many uses in medicine. The book reports that the flower, when applied as a poultice to the breast of women, can act as a lactifuge, or a means to stop the secretion of milk.

The leaves can also be used in many medicinal purposes. Sampaguita leaves is said to be given internally in decoction for fevers. If boiled, the leaves is said to exude a balsam which is used by the natives to alleviate eye complaints. If dried, the leaves are usually soaked in water and made into a poultice, then applied to indolent ulcers.

Other than the flower and the leaves, the roots have also present several uses as medicine. According to Eduardo Quisumbíng's book, the roots could be used to treat venereal diseases when given fresh, while a tincture made from them is reported to be used as sedative, anaesthetic, and vulnerary.

These are the reasons why the flower Philippine has been made the country's national flower. Although sampaguita lacks in appearance compared with other popular flowers such as roses, tulips, and orchids, the flower have proved itself useful in other aspects. Other than its scent, Filipinos have recognized the flower for its use in healing and in medicine. For more information visit to our site at http://www.myflowerdepot.com