The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines Part 36

_Piper Betle_, L. (_Chavica Betle_ and _C. auriculata_, Miq.; _Piper Betel_, Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--_Hojas de buyo_, Sp.-Fil.; _Itmo_, Tag.; _Mamin_, Bic.; _Buyo_, _Mamon_, Vis.; _Samat_, Pam.; _Betel Pepper_, Eng.

Uses.--A masticatory, used all over the extreme Orient, is composed of the leaves of this plant, a little slaked oyster-sh.e.l.l lime and a rounded slice of the bonga or areca nut; the Filipinos call this combination _bayo_, though the name is not of native origin; the Tagalos call it _hitsu_. The use of buyo by careless persons is decidedly repugnant, for the mixture of the lime and the pigment of the bonga imparts a blood-red or rather brick-red color to the saliva which they spit in mouthfuls into the streets and other public places with no thought of the feelings of others. Unless the mouth is carefully cleaned the teeth become encrusted with a sort of black enamel and the breath a.s.sumes a detestable odor. When used in small quant.i.ties and with proper toilet of the mouth, and this is the common practice among the Filipinos, buyo seems to be a very useful preservative of the teeth and a gingival and stomachic tonic. These properties are readily understood when we consider that the lime is antacid, the bonga astringent and tonic and the betel aromatic and stimulant.

The buyo leaf plays a very important part in the therapeutics of the infant of the Philippines: in its indigestions, colics and diarrhoeas the heated leaves are applied to the abdomen previously anointed with hot cocoanut oil. In bronchitis and laryngitis the heated leaves are applied over the chest or neck after rubbing the parts with oil. It undoubtedly produces good effects and the physicians of India recommend it in the same cases and in the same form as in the Philippines. Applied to the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of parturient women it dries up the milk and in the same way tends to reduce any glandular enlargement.

Dr. Kleinstuck of Java recommends the essence of the leaves in all sorts of catarrhs and as an antiseptic in doses of one drop to 140 of the vehicle. This essence is obtained by distillation; it is dark in color, has an acrid taste and an odor resembling that of tea. Its density is 1.020. The dried leaves contain one-half per cent. of the essence and it is probable that the fresh ones contain a greater proportion.

Botanical Description.--A plant with yellow flowers and scandent stem, climbing straight up trees or artificial supports. Leaves cleft at the base, acute, entire, glabrous, dark green. According to Blanco it is cultivated best in somewhat sandy soil. Pasay, near Manila, and Bauang, in Batangas, furnish a leaf most highly appreciated.

_Piper nigrum_, L.

Nom. Vulg.--_Pimienta_, Sp.; _Paminta_, _Malisa_, Tag.; _Black Pepper_, Eng.

Uses.--The berry-like fruit of the pepper is more extensively used as a condiment in cooking than in the treatment of disease. Used in moderation, however, it is of considerable value as a convenient stomachic and aid to digestion in tropical countries where the digestive functions readily become sluggish. Its abuse may lead to serious consequences, such as inflammation of the gastro-intestinal mucous membrane, of the portal system and the liver itself.

Pepper is used as a febrifuge in the various forms of malarial fevers, in the form of granules of 8 or 10 berries in a cup of brandy and anise (Spanish); this is taken by the patient in one dose at the beginning of the cold stage and followed by large quant.i.ties of water to relieve the thirst caused by the pepper. This treatment causes the cold stage to rapidly subside and more rapidly induces and intensifies the sweating stage. It is said that no further attack of fever follows.

Piperin (C_17_H_19_NO_3_) is febrifuge and is given in pill form internally in doses of 30-60 centigrams; the action of the crude drug is evidently due to this neutral principle.

Botanical Description.--The plant is a perennial, climbing shrub. Leaves oval, tapering at both extremities, 7-nerved. Flowers yellow, in a spike. Stigmas 2, bifid. Fruit globose, with one seed.

Habitat.--The dried fruit of the pepper is universally familiar. It was at one time cultivated in the Philippines, especially in Batangas, and Gen. Basco promulgated a series of orders to encourage its cultivation. Padre Gainza, afterward Bishop of Nueva Caceres, wrote a report about its cultivation, but since then the subject has entirely disappeared from notice.

CHLORANTHACEae.

Chloranth Family.

_Chloranthus officinalis_, Bl. (_C. Indicus_, Wight.; _C. inconspicuus_, Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg.--Unknown.

Uses.--All parts of the plant are aromatic. The leaves and stems lose this property after drying, but the roots, if properly dried, preserve it for a long time. They have a camphoraceous odor and bitter, aromatic taste, reminding one of that of _Aristolochia Serpentaria_. The mountaineers of Java use an infusion of the powdered root and the bark of the _Cinnamomum Culilowan_ to treat puerperal eclampsia. Combined with carminatives like anise and onion, they use it with some success in virulent small-pox of children. The infusion seems to be efficacious in fevers accompanied by debility and suppression of the function of the skin. It has also been prescribed in the intermittent fevers of Java, mixed with an infusion of the leaves of the _Cedrela Toona_. Blume states that it is one of the most powerful stimulants known.

Botanical Description.--A plant 3-4 high. Stem quadrangular. Leaves opposite, broad, lanceolate, serrate, with stiff-pointed teeth and somewhat scaly beneath. Petioles very short, clasping the stem at their base, with 2 intermediate stipules ending in two awl-shaped points. Flowers compound in axillary spikes, which bear the flowerets in 2 ranks, each flower with a keeled bract. The corolla (if it may be so called) a fleshy, 3-lobed lamina. Perianth wanting. Receptacle dome-shaped. Anthers 4, inserted on the surface of the lamina, 2-valved. Ovary 1-celled, with 1 ovule. Style short. Berry-like fruit, globose, with 1 seed covered by a somewhat brittle membrane.

Habitat.--La Laguna and other provinces of Luzon. Blooms in September.

LAURACEae.

Laurel Family.

_Cinnamomum pauciflorum_, Nees. (_Laurus culilaban_, Var., Blanco.)

_C. tamala_, Nees. (_L. culilaban_, Blanco.)

Nom. Vulg. (of both).--_Kalingag_, _Makalingag_, Tag., Vis.; _Kandaroma_, Iloc; _Ca.s.sia Lignea_ or _Ca.s.sia_, Eng.

Uses.--The bark of both species is known in pharmacy as Chinese ca.s.sia or Chinese cinnamon (ca.s.sia cinnamon). Indeed it is very like the cinnamon of Ceylon, comes in curled quills, has the same odor and taste though not so delicate; but it is darker in color, with a surface less clean and smooth. Its chemical composition is identical with that of the latter and nowadays it forms an important article of commerce.

Cinnamon renders good service in therapeutics as a stimulant of the digestive tract and a heart tonic. In the atonic diarrhoeas so common in the Philippines a tincture of cinnamon in doses of 8-10 grams a day, or the powder in cases where alcohol was contraindicated, have given me unhoped-for results.

In Spain and the Philippines it is very popular as a condiment in the kitchen of the confectionery and as a flavor for chocolate; in fact in those countries it takes the place of vanilla in France. It enters into the composition of several elixirs and compound tinctures, such as "Botot's Water" (dentifrice), "Elixir of Garus" (tonic stimulant), "Balsam of Fioraventi" (external stimulant), laudanum and the elixir of the Grande Chartreuse (diffusible stimulant).

Lately it has been demonstrated that the essence is a powerful antiseptic, in the presence of which typhoid fever bacilli cannot develop.

Botanical Description.--A tree, 15-20 high. Leaves opposite, lanceolate, 3-nerved, entire, glabrous. Flowers yellow, paniculate, umbellate. Common peduncles very long, those of the flowerets long. Calyx none. Corolla, 6 ovate, hairy petals. Stamens 9; 6 external to the rest and bearing the anthers, 4 on each filament, 2 below the others; the 3 inner stamens bear 2 anthers each.

In the second species the flowers form loose, terminal panicles. Stamens 9; 6 filaments inserted on the receptacle, spatulate, each bearing 4 anthers on the inferior face; the other 3 filaments thick, each bearing 4 anthers. Between the last filaments are 8 nearly globose glandules.

Habitat.--Both species are common in the forests of Luzon. The first species blooms in May, the second in January.

_Ca.s.sytha filiformis_, L.

Nom. Vulg.--_Malabohok._

Uses.--This plant has no therapeutical uses in the Philippines. In Senegal it is employed, according to Dujardin-Beaumetz, mixed with lard to treat urethritis; its action is to decrease the ardor urinae. It is not stated whether this mixture is used internally or externally.

In Cochin China the same writer states that it is used as an antisyphilitic. In India it is used for the piles and as an alterative for bilious disorders. It possibly acts as a circulatory stimulant.

Botanical Description.--A slender, thread-like, cylindrical vine, without leaves, that covers the trees like a mantle, so luxuriant is its growth. Flowers yellow, in axillary spikes. Calyx small, 3 sepals. Corolla, 3 fleshy concave petals. Stamens 12 in 4 verticils, 9 fertile and 3 inner sterile. Ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled. Style cylindrical. Drupe globose, 1-2'' in diameter, covered by a fleshy envelope, formed by the receptacle. Seeds without alb.u.men.

Habitat.--Luzon, Mindanao, Cebu, on the seash.o.r.e.

EUPHORBIACEae.

Spurge Family.