Ethnobotanical Value of Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of Dengue

Abstract

The researcher was motivated to conduct this study because, years ago, neighbors and relatives were diagnosed with dengue fever, and no medicine is yet solely prescribed for its treatment. The researcher wrote down what plants are used to treat dengue and how they are used. It listed the local and scientific names of the plants, the parts that were used, and the different ways to prepare, give, and use the plants. It included information on medicinal plants and their value to the patients and their families. Further, it identified the assistance given by the government to the patients. Qualitative methods using a semi-structured interview and focus group discussions were employed. The ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, in seven barangays. There were 152 interviewees. Actual visits were done in selected places where dengue occurred. Ethical protocols were employed. As for results, 17 medicinal plants were used to treat dengue. These are papaya, tawa-tawa, camote, malunggay, ampalaya, dalandan, broccoli, kahil, neem, ipil-ipil, baraniw, bayabas, cucumber, coconut, lemon, kalamansi, and mansanas. The first three were the most commonly used among the identified remedial plants. Patients said that after two to five days of using the medicinal plants, the patients’ platelets became better and later normalized. Sources of information about the efficacy of medicinal plants were relatives, friends, faith healers, rural folk, and nurses. It is recommended that papaya, tawa-tawa, camote, and malunggay leaves be used by dengue patients for a maximum of 3-5 days.