32 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



Cratseva religiosa, Forst. 



Nom. Vulg. — Saligbobog, Tag.; Balay-namuk, Hoc. 



Uses. — It is in common use in India as a tonic and stom- 

 achic. It seems also to possess laxative and diuretic proper- 

 ties. In Concan the juice of the leaves mixed with cocoanut 

 oil is used as a liniment in rheumatism. 



Infusion. — Leaves, fresh 50 grams. 



Water 500 " 



Dose. — 50-100 grams a day as a tonic or stomachic. 



Botanical Desckiption. — A shrub 15-20° high with com- 

 pound trifoliate leaves with long petioles ; leaflets lanceolate, 

 acuminate, smooth, dark green. Calyx of 4 imbricated sepals. 

 Corolla of 4 unguiculate petals, between white and straw color, 

 V long. Stamens indefinite, violet-colored. Ovary unilocular, 

 many-ovuled. Berry spherical with many seeds buried in pulp. 



Habitat. — Blanco has seen the plant growing in Ilocos and 

 Imus. 



BIXINEiE. 



Bixa Orellana, L. 



Nom. Vulg. — Atsuiti, Achuiti, Tag.; Achiote, Achuete, Sp.- 

 Fil.; Annatto, Eng. 



Uses. — The principal use of the seeds is in cookery and 

 everybody knows the yellow color which Filipino cooks im- 

 part to almost all their dishes. In medicine the fine powder 

 that covers the seeds is used as a haemostatic and internally as 

 a stomachic. On account of the astringent qualities of the 

 coloring matter it is used in some countries to treat dysentery, 

 a fact which suggests its possible therapeutic or rather hygienic 

 usefulness as a condiment. It seems to effect a cure in dysen- 

 tery in the same manner as ipecac. 



In India, Brazil and the Antilles the natives make a sort of 

 paste of achuete known under the name of rocu. There is a 



