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The refreshing good herb “Yerba buena”

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Category: Region 9

Yerba BuenaDid you know that there is an herb more popular for its culinary application because of its minty flavor? Yes, and it is also used in salads, as a flavor for cooking foods, used to make tea and others. Likewise, this is also a popular aroma in essential oils, scents, and fragrances. That is “Yerba buena” which is commonly called Peppermint or Mint. Yerba Buena is a rambling aromatic herb of the mint family that is known and used for culinary and perfumes but also as herbal medicine worldwide because of its medicinal properties.  It helps soothe pain, relieves nasal congestion, and treats digestive problems such as irritable bowel syndrome.

Clinical: analgesic, antimicrobial and antiparasitic, antineoplastic. It can be a remedy for toothaches and headaches. Here are the procedures for how to use them.

How to use them:

For Toothaches

  • Boil ground fresh-picked Yerba Buena leaves in a pot filled with 2 glasses of water until the pot is only left with half-filled of water. Keep the lid off the pot after bringing it to boil.
  • Let it cool completely and then strain it.
  • Divide it into 2 portions. Drink 1 portion and drink another 1 portion after 3-4 hours if the pain still persists.
  • Dosage of minced leaves based on patient’s age: 3 tablespoons (7-12 years old; 6 tablespoons (13 years old and above)
  • Visit and consult a dentist about your illness if the toothache still persists.

For Headache/ Body pain

  • Compress or crush freshly picked peppermint leaves and use the extract in massaging the forehead and top of the head.
  • Consult a doctor if the headache still persists.

Yerba Buena is recognized by the Department of Health as one of the approved herbal medicines in the Philippines that can be used as for home remedy to treat some aches. The perfect herb to be grown and stocked at home. Although this has been among the ten DOH-approved herbal medicines, always keep in mind that this is for mild cases. If symptoms persist, truly, there is a need to have your self check by a physician to manage your ailment at the root cause.

AA VI Angelyn P. Intal, RND

 

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