22 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



A. muricata, L. 



NOM. VULG. Guandbano, GoyabanOj Sp.-Fil. 



USES. The ripe fruit possesses antiscorbutic properties ; 

 the unripe fruit is used in treating dysentery. It is said that 

 the ripe fruit is used in diseases of the liver. 



BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. Tree with leaves oval, alternate 

 and glabrous. Flower solitary, terminal, whitish. The fruit 

 is much larger than that of the other species, is covered with 

 scales that end in a soft point or thorn and has a very pro- 

 nounced acid taste. 



HABITAT. All three species are common in all parts of the 

 Archipelago. 



MENISPERMACE^. 

 Moonseed Family. 



Tinospora crispa, Miers. (Menispermum crispum, L.; M. 

 rimosum, Blanco ; Cocculus crispus, DC.) 



NOM. VULG. Makabuhay, Tag. 



USES. Makabuhay is one of the most widely known and 

 used plants in the Philippines ; a sort of panacea applied to all 

 bodily afflictions. Its Tagalo name means literally " you may 

 live." A shoot deprived of roots and dropped in some moist 

 place is soon covered with bright green leaves and adventi- 

 tious roots. This peculiarity of the plant made it possible for 

 me to take a large number of sprouts from Manila to Paris 

 where they arrived perfectly fresh after a voyage of forty days, 

 during which they lay almost forgotten in the ship and the cars. 



The stem is the part employed in medicine. A decoction is 

 given internally in the various forms of malarial fever and of 

 dyspepsia. Externally it is most useful as a wash for ulcers 

 of all kinds, rapidly improving their appearance. 



In India the species T. cordifolia is used ; it differs but little 



