Ethnomedicinal Plants Used by Traditional Healers in Laguna, Philippines

This study aimed to document the traditional knowledge of traditional healers of Laguna, Philippines on the use of medicinal plants in treating different diseases. Thirty two respondents were identified following a snowball sampling technique and were interviewed on their traditional knowledge and practice of using different medicinal plants. The gathered data were identified with the help of literature from different published articles and websites. A total of 50 plant species, grouped into 29 families were recorded. The families most represented were Lamiaceae with eight species, Euphorbiaceae with five species and Asteraceae with three species. Out of 27 medicinal uses, the eight most common were urinary tract infection, wound infection, stomachache, cough, diabetes, headache, cold and hypertension. The commonness preparations were done by boiling the leaves with water (decoction) and taken internally.

Keywords –diseases, ethnomedicinal plants, traditional healers.