HERBAL MEDICINE FOR ALTERNATIVE HEALTH CARE

A Research Paper Presented to The Faculty of the Languages and Literature Department College of Liberal Arts De La Salle University-Dasmariñas Dasmariñas, Cavite

in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Course ENGL 102-Communication Arts and Skills II

Hannah Khamille Bayalan Marie Pia Iscel Villa Dianne Lherry Landicho

March 2008

Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Plants had been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded history. For example, ancient Chinese and Egyptian papyrus writings describe medicinal plant uses. Indigenous cultures such as African and Native American used herbs in their healing rituals, while others developed traditional medical systems in which herbal therapies were used systematically. Scientists found that people in different parts of the globe tended to use the same or similar plants for the same purposes. In the early 19th century, when methods of chemical analysis first became available, scientists began extracting and modifying the active ingredients from plants. Later, chemists began making their own version of plant compounds, beginning the transition from raw herbs to synthetic pharmaceuticals. Over time, the use of herbal medicines declined in favor of pharmaceuticals. Long before the introduction of modern medicines and Western curative methods, herbal medicines had been widely used in the Philippines. The use of medicinal plants or herbs has been gaining popularity this past few years in the Philippines and worldwide as more clinical proof emerges that validates many of the age-old alternative medicines used by Filipino folks that has been passed on. The curative effects of the herbs were tested by traditional healers on their patient. The knowledge and skills on the curative application of any given herbal medicine has been handed