HAUILI (Ficus septic Burm.F.var.septica Moraceae)

Good morning everyone. Another tree with medicinal value found in the Philippines. I’m sure if many have this plant you can use it to cure some ailments. There are a total of 96 Philippine medicinal trees under 83 genera and 38 families. I want to share the most seen trees here.

This is an erect small tree, 3-8 m high, smooth, with the young shoot more or less hairy. The leaves are smooth and shiny, oblong-ovate to elliptic ovate, 10-20 cm long, with the tip tapering to a rather sharp point, and the base pointed.

Medicinal Value:

■ A decoction of the roots helps the body disposes of excess water through urination.

■ The roots are used as a poultice for boils.

■ The fresh leaves are used as a sudorific (induces sweating) and for headaches.

■ The leaves, when applied externally, are said to be antirheumatic.

■ The latex is used to cure certain varieties of herpes.

PILI (Canarium ovatum Engl. Burseraceae)

Good morning everyone. Another tree with medicinal value found in the Philippines. I’m sure if many have this plant you can use it to cure some ailments. There are a total of 96 Philippine medicinal trees under 83 genera and 38 families. I want to share the most seen trees here.

This large tree reaches a height of about 35 m and is a meter or more in diameter. The leaves are alternate, pinnate and about 30 cm long with usually three pairs of opposite leaflets and a terminal leaflet. The leaflets are ovate-oblong, 12-20 cm long and 3-7 cm wide, smooth and shiny on both sides, pointed at the apex and rounded or obtusely pointed at the base.

Medicinal Value:

■ The “saheng” (oleoresin) is used as a stimulant; a rubefacient (an external skin application causing redness of the skin); and an antirheumatic when applied externally..

■ Poultices of brea (soft resin obtained from genes Canarium tree) are used externally for swellings of the legs.

■ Oleoresin, prepared in the form of ointment, is applied on indolent ulcers.