Ethnobotany and physiological review on folkloric medicinal plants of the Visayans in Ipil and Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines

Medicines tend to be expensive and oftentimes inaccessible; however, local inhabitants such as the Visayans are resourceful enough to utilize plants as an alternative medicine (commonly called “Binisayang tambal”). Binisayang tambal practice serves as the local primary health care especially in rural areas and patients claimed that it is effective. Documentation of this alternative medicinal practice is necessary since this is just being passed on from generations to another orally but is never scientifically documented. Herein, an ethnobotanical study and physiological review on folkloric medicinal plants among the Visayans in Ipil and Siay, Zamboanga Sibugay were conducted. A snowball sampling method was utilized to interview 30 key informants from Siay and 1 known Visayan herbalist in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay, Philippines. Results revealed fifty (50) medicinal plants belonging to 32 Families which are utilized by the Visayans to treat different ailments. Blumea balsamifera (sambong) of the Family Asteraceae emerged as the frequently answered plant used in treating cough, colds and fever, “panuhot” and “piang” (fracture or dislocation of nerves or tissues). Other commonly treated diseases using medicinal plants include “bughat” (physical relapse). Culturally unique to Visayans is the practice of “toob” in treating diseases especially during fever which utilizes smoke from certain medicinal plants and inhaled by the patient in a closed compartment. Ethnobotanical knowledge in the municipality of Ipil and Siay is still conventional and lineages gave notable contribution for exhibiting actual records of these plants for conservation of their culture and practices for the utilization of the next generation.