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.

KALINGAG (Cinnamomum mercadoi Vidal Lauraceae)

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.

Kalingag is a small-to medium-sized tree with relatively thick, aromatic bark. It reaches a diameter of 60 cm or more. The bark is gray, without fissures or cracks and covered irregularly with corky pustules, which give it a slightly rough appearance. The leaves are smooth, opposite, elliptical, 7-14 cm long and 3-6.5 cm wide; apex is acute, tip is rounded, texture is leathery; both faces are glabrous, the upper face is shiny while the lower has a glaucous ochre bloom.

Medicinal Value:

■ The bark, when masticated and taken internally, helps digestion.

■ It is also used for flatulence (gas accumulation in the alimentary canal) and as an expectorant.

■ It is used for tuberculosis and as a remedy for headaches and rheumatism.