A NEGROS OCCIDENTAL FARM ADVOCATES THE USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS
Agriculture|December 2019
BEFORE MODERN MEDICINE was developed during the 18th century, people used plants as a remedy for most of their ailments. Numerous folklore from various parts of the globe attest to the capability of plants to address such problems.
Patricia Bianca S. Taculao
A NEGROS OCCIDENTAL FARM ADVOCATES THE USE OF MEDICINAL PLANTS

Even with the rise of contemporary treatments, many still prefer traditional medicine made from plants because it has a more natural touch to it.

Named after its owners, St. Monica Healing Gardens promotes the medicinal properties of plants not by just growing them, but by also educating people on how to properly utilize nature to benefit their health.

“[It] is a hub for medicinal plant propagation and utilization and healthy lifestyle education,” said Ester Malunes Sta. Monica, the registered owner of St. Monica Healing Gardens.

Different plants such as herbs, shrubs, small trees, and vegetables which are known to have health benefits are planted throughout the 3,500 sq. m farm lot located in Bago City, Negros Occidental.

Among the herbs they’ve planted are the 10 medicinal herbs approved by the Department of Health because they have been thoroughly tested and clinically-proven to have medicinal value in the relief and treatment of various ailments.

These are acapulco (Senna alata), garlic (Allium sativum), yerba buena (Mentha arvensis), ampalaya (Momordica charantia), guava (Psidium guajava), niyog-niyogan (Combretum indicum), sambong (Blumea balsamifera), tsaang gubat (Carmona retusa), pansit-pansitan (Peperomia pellucida), and lagundi (Vitex negundo).

Each of these plants have specific medical properties that can be used to ease a number of health conditions.

For example, garlic, a common kitchen staple, can actually be a natural alternative for antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal prescriptions. It can either be ingested or applied to the skin as a paste, depending on the kind of ailment.

This story is from the December 2019 edition of Agriculture.

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This story is from the December 2019 edition of Agriculture.

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