Herbal Medicine (Yerba Buena)

Yerba Buena (Clinopodium douglasii)

A small multi- branching aromatic herb commonly known as Peppermint. The leaves are small, elliptical ands with soothed margin. The stem creeps to ground, and develops roots. May also be propagated through cuttings.

For pain in different parts of the body as headache, stomach ache – boil chopped leaves in two glasses of water for 15 minutes. Cool and strain. Divide decoction into two parts and drink one part every three hours.
Rheumatism, arthritis and headache – crush the fresh leaves squeeze sap. Massage sap on painful parts with eucalyptus.
Cough and colds – get about 10 fresh leaves and soak in a glass of hot water. Drink as tea. Acts as an expectorant.
Swollen Gums – steep 6 grams of fresh plant in a glass of boiling water for 30 minutes. Use solution as gargle.
Toothaches – cut fresh plant and squeeze sap. Soak a piece of cotton in the sap and insert this in aching tooth cavity. Mouth should be rinsed by gargling salt solution before inserting the cotton. To prepare salt solution add 5 grams of table salt to one glass of water.
Menstrual and gas pain – soak a handful of leaves in a glass of boiling water. Drink infusion. It induces menstrual flow and sweating.
Nausea and fainting – crush leaves and apply at nostrils of patients.
Insect bites – crush leaves and apply juice on affected part or pound leaves until paste-like. Then rub this on affected part.
Pruritis– boil plant alone or with eucalyptus in water. Use decoction as wash on affected area.

Sources: Cuevas, Francis Public Health Nursing in the Philippines. 10th Edition 2007
http://www.pcarrd.dost.gov.ph/prosea/proseaherbal