150 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



it is called by its Brazilian name, Aya-pana, more or less modi- 

 fied. The entire plant is aromatic and its infusion has an agree- 

 able, bitter taste. Its virtues have been much exaggerated, but 

 it is certainly a good stimulant, diaphoretic and tonic. An in- 

 fusion, 30 grams of the leaves to 1 liter of water, is given in dys- 

 pepsia, a small cup after each meal. In the island of Mauri- 

 tius this infusion was widely used as a stimulant and aromatic 

 in the cholera epidemics of 1854 and 1856. 



It is used internally and locally for the bites of venomous 

 snakes and insects. The leaf-juice is a good application for 

 foul ulcers,- as is also the decoction of the entire plant. " It 

 appears probable that this plant has fallen into unmerited 

 neglect." — Pharm. of India. 



Botanical Description. — An aromatic plant 3° high, 

 leaves opposite, sessile, coherent at the base, lanceolate, entire, 

 glabrous. Flowers in racemose panicles. Common calyx 

 cylindrical, of many imbricated, awl-shaped scales, the lower 

 ones smaller ; within are 20 or more hermaphrodite disk-flow- 

 ers. Corollas are funnel-form, 5-lobed. Style a little longer 

 than the stamens. Stigmas 2, long. Seed 1, quadrangular, 

 with simple, downy, sessile pappus. Receptacle nude. 



Habitat. — Common in fields and gardens. Blooms in Jan- 

 uary. 



Blumea balsamifera, DC. (Couyy, balsam ifcra, L.) 



Noir. VuLG.— /SWm6o??, Tag.; LahhamJulan, Hamllbon, 

 LalabJan, Lakadbulan, Ginlinyiniin, Gabucii, Ayoban, AUbun, 

 Vis.; Sobsob, Hoc. 



Uses. — Sambon is a panacea among the Filipinos ; its virtues 

 are prodigious according to the ignorant natives who wear the 

 leaves in the hat or the "salakod" (rain 'hat), to prevent 

 " tabardillo " (" burning fever " ; tabardillo pintado = spotted 

 fever). They use the decoction to bathe convalescents, and 

 for rheumatism they vaporize it in an improvised bath-cabinet 



