"Knowledge about Sage as a medicinal plant"
Scientific name: Blumea balsamifera (Linn.) DC .; Conyza appendiculata Blume; Conyza odorata Rumph
Common name: Sambong (Tagalog); Blumea Camphor (English)
Sage is a small plant with a thin but hard, woody body and covered with hairy leaves. The flower grows in clusters on a branch. It usually grows in low-lying areas and vacant lots in some Asian countries, including the Philippines.
What are the nutrients and chemicals available in Sambong?
Different parts of sage plants can contain many types of chemicals and nutrients that can have health benefits:
The sage plant contains volatile oil, l-borneol, l-camphor, limonene, saponins, sesquiterpene and limonene, tannins, sesquiterpene alcohol, palmitin, myristic acid.
It also contains flavonoids, terpenes (borneol, limonene, camphor, a-pinene, b-pinene, 3-carene, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, triteroenes, and cryptomeridiol), lactones (blumealactone A, B, C)
What part of the plant is used as medicine, and how are they used?
Some parts of the plant can be used as medicine such as:
Leaves. Sage leaves are the part of the plant that is often used medicinally. It is usually brewed and drunk like tea or mixed with bath water. It can also be crushed and applied to certain body conditions.
Root. Sage root can also be used medicinally. It is served and also drunk like tea.
What diseases can Sambong treat?
Wounds. Grated sage leaves can be applied to wounds that do not heal easily. This will help to speed up the healing of the wound.
Fever. The sage leaves and roots should be drunk to reduce the fever.
Kidney disease. Drinking sage leaves is also effective in improving the condition of the kidneys. It helps in the continuous flow of urination.
Rayuma. For rheumatic conditions, it is effective to soak the part of the body that hurts the water soaked in sage leaves.
Sinusitis. The sage leaves are also used to treat sinusitis to improve mood.
Cold. Regular drinking of tea derived from sage leaves is effective in relieving cold symptoms.
Headache. The sage leaves are applied to the forehead in case of a headache.
Asthma. Sage tea is still effective for asthma conditions
