The Malay Medicine

Medicinal value of Black pepper

2019-11-26T19:19:00.002-08:00

Black pepper (Piper nigrum) and long pepper (Piper longum) are the best known species in this family and are probably among the most recognized spices in the world.

Piperine and its isomers are the major factors responsible for the pungency and irritant action of black pepper.

Black pepper is a perennial plant originating in India grown in tropical areas, especially in southern India, Indonesia, the Malay Peninsular, Central America and the Philippines.

Black pepper was used in eastern medicine as a remedy for indigestion, various pain and infections. In addition, black pepper has antiemetic and antipyretic effects.

Black pepper has been used to treat a number of ailments such as asthma, cough, heart diseases, throat, and other inflammations, urinary disorders, tooth and muscle aches, snake bites, eye diseases and cholera.

The main healing agent in black pepper is piperine, which is a powerful antioxidant. It demonstrates a strong action against free radicals. It helps in the protection of the circulatory system, the liver and protection against DNA damage, showing anticancer activity. In addition, aging processes are slowed.

Researchers have worked on the extract from pepper and it has been discovered that it possesses the drug ability in increasing digestive power, treatment to cold, cough, dyspnoea, intermittent fever, diseases of the throat, colic, dysentery, worms and piles; likewise, it can be used in the treatment of tooth ache, inflammation, liver and muscular pains, epileptic fits and leucoderma.

Medicinal value of Black pepper

Four elements in Malay Medicine

2019-11-15T01:07:00.001-08:00

The Malay belief that the universe — and humans within it — is composed of four major elements: earth, fire, air and water.

Some bomoh and pawang also believe that the physical characteristics of a person constitutes through the concept of earth, water, wind and fire (tanah, air, angin dan api) in the patient as well as the ingredients for treatment. Disease can be identified by recognizing these our characteristics.

The four elements are in turn paired up with the four qualities of cold, hot, moist and dry. Each individual has a particular humoural makeup, or “constitution”.

Equilibrium in the humors indicates good health while a disturbance in this equilibrium results in disease.

Four elements in Malay Medicine

Murdannia Nudiflora in traditional medicine

2019-11-11T01:29:00.001-08:00

The Malay community used to call Murdannia Nudiflora plant as Daun Embun Tengahari. It comes from family of Commelinaceae. Widely distributed in wet place, the plant is mainly found in low elevated areas as well as in the tropical and subtropical regions, with rarely can be seen among grass.

The genus was named and described Murdannia by Royle (1840), based on Aneilema scapiflorum Roxb. The genus was named after Murdan Ali, herbarium keeper at Saharanpur Botanic Garden, India who collected many of the plants described in Royle's work.

C. nudiflora is a universal plant for the treatment of venomous bites. This includes its used in the treatment of snake bites by various tribes. For snake bites the juice of the plant is given orally and it is advised that this is followed by local application of an antidote.

The plant is used in the treatment of asthma, leprosy and piles stomach complaints, giddiness, and astringent. Root paste with goat milk is prescribed orally to cure asthma. Whole plant paste with common salt is applied on the affected area to cure leprosy.

Murdannia Nudiflora in traditional medicine

Eurycoma longifolia (tongkat ali) medicinal properties

2019-10-31T01:21:00.002-07:00

The plant is an evergreen plant, which is slowly growing up to 15–18 m in height on jungle slopes where they receive adequate shade and water. The tree starts bearing fruits after 2–3 years, yet complete maturation takes up to 25 years.

Eurycoma longifolia Jack or ‘Tongkat Ali’ is a herb which has been claimed to possess various medicinal properties. Traditionally, people believe that this herb can be used as an anticoagulant for complications during childbirth, treatment for dysentery, aphrodisiac, antibacterial, anticancer, antihyperglycemic, anxiolytic, diarrhea, fever, hypertension, relief of pain in the bone, and its pounded bark has been used to treat wounds, syphilitic sores, and headache.

Eurycoma longifolia Jack has attained remarkable recognition as a potential natural herbal medicine in the improvement of male sexual disorders and infertility. The remarkable attention of researchers to Eurycoma longifolia is based on its aphrodisiac prospective, which is the ability to improve libido, restore erectile dysfunction, and stimulate production of testosterone, thus improving the overall male sexual well-being.

Phytochemical studies on this herb revealed that this herb possesses quassinoids which give the bitter taste. The roots of Eurycoma longifolia contain a wide variety of chemical compounds including alkaloids, quassinoids, quassinoid diterpenoids, eurycomaoside, eurycolactone, laurycolactone or eurycomalacton

Eurycoma longifolia Jack is also claimed to have anti-malarial properties and its effects have been extensively studied. The results indicated that these quassinoids possessed anti-malarial activity, higher than the anti-malarial property of chloroquine; the most widely used anti-malarial drug.

Eurycoma longifolia (tongkat ali) medicinal properties

Cashew leaves

2019-10-21T01:47:00.003-07:00

The cashew (Anacardium occidentale) is a tree in the family of the flowering plant Anacardiaceae. The leaves are short-stemmed, simple, oval shaped, breech-oblong with notched edges and strokes. They have a pointed base and rounded tip, curved inwards. The leaves are simple, alternate, yellowish green to dark green brownish in colour, length 4 cm to 22 cm and width 2 cm to 15 cm. The young and tender leaves are a popular herb consumed raw as ulam and sometimes blanched to reduce their stringent taste.

The bark and leaves are used medicinally. Leaves of young cashew nut have Vitamin A, Vitamin C, protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, phosphorus, iron and water.

Cashew leaf is known for its anti-inflammatory effects. In traditional medicine the cashew tree leaf is widely used for diarrhea and cramps treatment. Also cashew the tree leaf extract has been used to reduce blood pressure and blood sugar.

The leaves are also used for eczema, Psoriasis, Scrofula, Dyspepsia, genital problems, and venereal diseases, as well as for impotence, bronchitis, cough, intestinal colic, leishmaniasis and syphilis-related skin disorders.

From the chemical studyof the leaf, it is highlighted theoccurrence of flavonoids such as: agathisflavone, apigenin, kanferol, myricetin,quercetin, quercetin-3-O-glicopiranosil, quercetin-3-O-ramnopiranosil,robustflavone,and amentoflavone.
Cashew leaves

Health benefits of Centella asiatica

2019-10-09T06:51:00.003-07:00

The plant is commonly known as Gotu Kola, Asiatic pennywort, Indian pennywort or Spadeleaf and belongs to Umbelliferae/Apiaceae family. Besides its common use as a medicinal plant, it is also eaten fresh as salad, cooked as vegetable and blended as a drink.

Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) or also known locally as ‘pegaga’ is one of the herbs that getting a lot of attention for its medical purposes such as wound healing, antioxidants, memory enhancing property and have cytotoxic effect on liver tumor cells. C. asiatica is a small, annual and creeping plant that can be found abundantly in Malaysia mainly in wet areas.

C. asiatica herb is recommended in the treatment of dermatoses and skin lesions such as excoriations, burns, hypertrophic scars or eczema as well as in nondermatological diseases like gastric ulcers, gastric mucosal lesions, anxiety and for improving cognition in neurodegenerative disorders. C. asiatica has also been found beneficial in chronic venous insufficiency, mainly by improvement of microcirculation.

Asiatic acid, asiaticoside, and madecassoside form the major constituents responsible for pharmacological value apart from being rich in flavonoids and terpenoids. Centelloid was term given for different constituents of secondary metabolites produced by plant which mainly comprised of pentacyclic triterpenoid saponins. P-cymene-(44%) along with other volatile compounds was found to be in a prominent amount in the essential oil of C. asiatica.
Health benefits of Centella asiatica

Aleppo oak in herbal medicine

2019-09-24T02:32:00.000-07:00

Quercus infectoria Oliv (Family – Fagaceae) or aleppo oak or manjakani is a small tree or shrub about 2 m high , with many spreading branches is a small oak tree indigenous to Asia Minor and Persia.. The bark is slightly grey in colour.

The galls of Quercus infectoria are globular in shape and from 10 to 25 mm in diameter. They have a short, basal stalk and numerous rounded projections on the surface. Pharmacologically the galls are claimed to have various biological activities such as astringent effect, antidiabetic, antitremorine, local anaesthetic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and many more.

The oak galls, used in commerce and medicine, are excrescences of the Quercus infectoria tree. It is formed as a result of the puncture of the bark of young twigs by the female gall-wasp, Cynips Gallae-tinctoriae, which lays its eggs inside.

The bark and galls are astringent. They are used in the treatment of intertrigo, impetigo and eczema. Any galls produced on the tree are strongly astringent and can be used in the treatment of haemorrhages, chronic diarrhea. It is also useful in the infection of teeth and oral cavity, and piles.

In Malaysia, the galls have been used in Malay traditional medicine to restore postpartum uterine elasticity and also stimulate the contraction of vaginal muscles.
Aleppo oak in herbal medicine

Arabica coffee used in traditional medicine

2019-03-09T16:53:00.000-08:00

Arabica coffee prepare font the coffee bean, is the most frequently consumed drink around the world; coffee has medicinal properties.

Reported to be analgesic, anaphrodisiac, anorexic, antidotal, CNS-stimulant, counterirritant, diuretic, hypnotic, lactagogue, nervine, stimulant, coffee is a folk remedy for atropine-poisoning, fever, headache, jaundice, malaria, migraine, narcosis, nephrosis, opium-poisoning, sores, and vertigo.

In traditional medicine, different parts of coffee plants are used for influenza, anemia, edema, rage, hepatitis and externally for nervous shock and as stimulant for sleepiness, an antitussive in flu and lung ailments, a cardiotonic and neurotonic, for asthma and many more.

In Yemen coffea arabica is traditionally use as a stimulant, against headaches and kidney stones. The properties of coffee is stimulant of the central nervous system, has a slightly diuretic effect and lipolytic action when use externally as a cream.
Arabica coffee used in traditional medicine

Daun rerama (Mariposa Christia vespertilionis)

2018-11-28T00:36:00.001-08:00

Christia vespertilionis (L. f.) Bakh. f., (Family: Fabaceae), also commonly known as ‘Red butterfly wing’ or ‘daun rerama’ because of the similarity of its leaves to a butterfly in color and shape. This plant has been distributed and formulated as tea throughout Malaysia by traditional practitioners.

The herbs grow to a height of about 60-120 cm in open grasslands, thickets, seaside and roadsides.

This plant is widespread in tropical Southeast Asia and it is assumed to be native to Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Myanmar and Malaysia. Triterpenes, alkaloids, fatty acids, phenols, alkanes and long chained alcohols have been identified as main constituents of this plant.

C. vespertilionis is used to treat tuberculosis, bronchitis and inflamed tonsils, colds, muscle weakness and poor blood circulation. The whole plant is used for treating tuberculosis and snake bites while the leaves are used as a topical treatment for healing bone fractures.

The application of crushed leaves of C. vespertilionis on affected body parts provides a cure for scabies. Research also indicates that Christia vespertilionis could serve as an anticancer therapeutic for treatment of neuroendocrine tumors. (ONCOLOGY REPORTS 29: 2219-2226, 2013)
Daun rerama (Mariposa Christia vespertilionis)

What is pulut kuning?

2018-10-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

Pulut kuning is glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk and turmeric. This celebratory dish is usually served with curries during weddings and special occasions by the Malay community in Malaysia.

Yellow is the color of royalty in Malaysia, it is often use in Malay Magic as a symbol of the Sultan’s protection of his subjects.

Spirits fear the Sultan’s power since all Malay sultans are considered to be descendants of King Solomon who subjugated the genies. The color yellow also signifies good fortune, and wealth.

Pulut kuning is one of the items for preparation of the offerings for the spirits soon to be invoked during opening ceremony or buka gelanggang of silat. It is also use for other ceremonial occasions such weddings, circumcisions, a new bay’s naming ceremony, and melenggang perut.
What is pulut kuning?

Who is Malay magician?

2018-09-02T23:12:00.000-07:00

In the Malay world, shamans include pawang (specific kind of black or white magicians), or dukun and bomoh (spiritual counsellors, traditional healers, or medicine men). A shaman is an expert insorcery involving veneration and incantation by means of supernatural power.

The accredited intermediary between men and spirits is the pawang. The pawang is a functionary of great and traditional importance in a Malay village, though in places near towns the office is falling into abeyance. He may be regarded as the legitimate representative of the primitive ' medicine - man ' or ' village –sorcerer.'

He held out the likelihood of rain for crops and of remedies for disease. He taught spells with precise iteration, his insistence that any error in words would mar their cogency enhancing popular respect for their efficacy.

He instructed how to sacrifice with such stress on detail as to make men almost forget the risk or disaster that called for the offering. He dealt in charms and philtres that solaced unhappy lovers. and bought excitement into dull village lives.

He distributed talismans and amulets, that were outward and visible shields against spiritual evil. In Malay society, shamanism is an important social institution, and this was especially so in former times, because shamans played an important role as a mediators between humans and supernatural beings.
Who is Malay magician?

Guava fruits

2018-07-27T10:05:00.003-07:00

Guavas are plants in the genus Psidium of the myrtle family (Myrtaceae). There are about 100 species of tropical shrubs and small trees in the genus.

Guava fruit, usually 4 to 12 centimetres (1.6 to 4.7 in) long, are round or oval depending on the species. The outer skin may be rough, often with a bitter taste, or soft and sweet.

The flavonoids in guava have demonstrated antibacterial activity. Quercetin is thought to contribute to the anti-diarrhea effect of guava; it is able to relax intestinal smooth muscle and inhibit bowel contractions.

The guava fruits are either eaten fresh, or made into drinks, ice cream, and preserves. Guava fruit is still enjoyed as a sweet treat by indigenous peoples throughout the rainforest.

According to the recorded traditional Chinese folk medicine, guava is commonly used as an antibacterial agent as well as for enteritis and diabetes.

The decoction of dried fruits or leaves of guava has anti-hypertensive and anti-diabetic effects; thus, it is a popular herbal beverage in folk medicine.

According to the research, guava contains high levels of dietary fiber, which effectively controls blood glucose. In Mexico, decoction of guava is used for treating obstetric problems, hypoglycemia, skin disorders, dental caries, wounds, dehydration.
Guava fruits

Bedak sejuk

2018-06-20T08:30:00.002-07:00

Bedak sejuk, a non-chemical contained pastilles are a traditional Malaysia cosmetic product using rice as a main ingredient. It is a traditional cosmetic that still being used by the elderly women in Malaysia.

Literally, bedak means powder while sejuk is an adjective which means cool, thus this implies that by applying bedak sejuk on skin it will produce a ‘cool feeling’.

Bedak sejuk is used as facial mask, usually before going to sleep. The pastilles will be mixed with water and then applied to skin.

Bedak sejuk was used unscented or scented and patted onto face and neck. It helps to refresh the skin and gives clear complexion besides acting as a remedy for rashes and acnes. Usually, bedak sejuk is worn overnight to bed as a facial mask.
Bedak sejuk

Murdannia Nudiflora in herbal medicine

2018-05-07T03:16:00.003-07:00

Murdannia nudiflora (L.) Brenan commonly termed as Doveweed is one of only two recognized species of the genus Murdannia, the other being Murdannia spirata (L.) G. Bruckn.

Traditionally used for the treatment of asthma, leprosy and piles, stomach complaints, giddiness, astringent. Root paste with the mixture of goat milk is prescribed orally to cure asthma, whole plant paste with common salt is applied on the affected areas of leprosy.

Evidences shows the presence of significant group of phytochemicals such tannins, flavonoids and alkaloids while the ethanolic extract has shown significant level of analgesic effect.

How to use the plant:
*10 grams of plant paste is applied twice daily from 6 months on leprosy
*Leaf paste is used on forehead to cure from headache
*One table spoonful of leaf juice is given to cure asthma, piles, stomach and urinary complicacies
Murdannia Nudiflora in herbal medicine

Areca catechu and health benefits

2018-04-10T07:28:00.000-07:00

Betel nut (Areca catechu) is a slender, single-trunked palm that can grow to 30 m (100 ft). It is cultivated from East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula across tropical Asia and Indonesia to the central Pacific and New Guinea.

The word 'areca' is derived from the Malay word adakka (areca nut) or from adakeya, the Indian equivalent. Arecoline, the principal alkaloid in areca nut, acts as an agonist primarily at muscarinic acetylcholine receptors and stimulates the central and autonomic nervous system.

The seed of Areca catechu is used for medicinal purpose. The seed when it chewed is intoxicating. However, it can be used for urinary bleeding or to treat intestinal worms. It also can treat, fever and diarrhea too.

Fresh, uncured betel nuts are intoxicating, producing giddiness in some people. But the dried and cured nut, in which form it is mostly used, is a stimulant, astringent and febrifuge, i.e. remover of fever. Chewing the nut increases the formation of saliva. It decreases perspiration, sweetens the breath, strengthens the gums and generates a mild exhilaration giving the feeling of a good disposition.

Sushruta, in the 1st century AD, wrote that ‘it tends to cleanse the mouth, impart a sweet aroma to it, enhance its beauty and cleanse and strengthen the voice, tongue and teeth, the jaws and the sense organs’.
Areca catechu and health benefits

Daun Embun Tengahari

2018-03-11T20:03:00.002-07:00

Botanically name Murdannia Nudiflora but the Malay community used to call this plant as Daun Embun Tengahari. Murdannia nudiflora is a member of the Commelinaceae family and is an invasive plant of the old world.

Family Commelinaceae comprises about 41 genera and 650 species distributed mostly in the tropical and warm temperate regions of the world.

Murdannia Nudiflora is perennial in the tropical lowlands and an annual in temperate areas. It can be found in wet places, paddy fields, marshes, along ditches and in shady and grassy places

It had found use in traditional medicine of many tropical countries. From Africa to Hawaii it has helps maintain the health of the native communities with its varied traditional uses from treating bleeding emergencies like haemorrhoid, haemoptysis, epistaxis and even profuse menstrual bleeding to relieving the agony of snake bite and scorpion stings.

In India it used in the treatment of asthma, leprosy and piles. Root paste with goat milk is prescribed orally to cure asthma. Whole plant paste with common salt is applied on the affected area to cure leprosy. If the paste applied to wounded area, it will stop the bleeding immediately.
Daun Embun Tengahari

Onions in ancient and traditional medicine

2018-01-24T08:17:00.000-08:00

There are more than 325 varieties of onions, found all over the world. The pungent qualities of members of this particular family are because of the presence of sulfur on the bulbs.

Ancient medical treatises have lots of remedies using onions and onion juices to cure and prevent several diseases ranging from baldness to constipation. Onion is used externally to treat boils, felons, wounds and stings, and internally to relive coughs, bronchitis, asthma, gastro-intestinal disorders and headache.

Onion exhibited the following properties in experimental studies: anticholesteremic, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, antiinflammatory, antibiotic and anticancer properties.

According to the ancient Egyptians, this spherical bulb was a symbol of the universe and they believed that the onions kept evil spirits away. In ancient Chinese medicine onions were used to cure colds.
Onions in ancient and traditional medicine

Onion in folklore medicine

2017-12-26T20:08:00.004-08:00

The origin of the cultivated onion is obscure, but it is known that both onion and garlic were cultivated in ancient Egypt.

The Malay name for onion is bawang. The word bawang is almost universal in the other languages of the Archipelago whenever the plant is known.

Onion gruel was regarded as a good cure for colds and fevers, right up to the twentieth century. A Scottish Highland remedy for pneumonia was to place a boiled onion in each armpit.

The onion was use in a variety of cold remedies. Eating onions raw, ingesting the juice squeezed from a roasted onion, or drinking a glass of milk with a slice of onion in it were common remedies.

Onion contains vitamin B1, B2 and C, as well as potassium and a little protein. Folk healers have use onions for centuries to prevent infection.

Fresh onion can reduce clot formation, thereby reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. This effect is lost when the onion is cooked. They have anti-oxidant activity and may be helpful in preventing cancer. Folk medicine has use onion in the treatment of allergies, asthma and diabetes.
Onion in folklore medicine

Cymbopogon nardus or lemongrass

2017-12-11T16:02:00.000-08:00

The dried leaves can be used as insects repellant by warding off insects. In case of stomach ache, the essential oil is rubbed for comfort. In local community of Malay, the plant is known as - serai wangi. It is in the family of Gramineae.
It is can be called as citronella grass. It is arching leaves and overall vertical form subtle opposition when planted near bushy or rounded shrubs and flowers. Cymbopogon nardus is a clump-forming tropical grass, the clump increases in size as the plant matures.

The genus of Cymbopogon is a genus of 55 species, habitat to warm temperate and tropical region.
Cymbopogon nardus or lemongrass

Cashew leaves

2017-11-27T04:25:00.005-08:00

Cashew leaves contain antifungal, anti-parasitic, antibacterial, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties. The leaves also contain vitamins B, C, E, K thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, panthotenic acid and minerals such as protein, zinc, iron, calcium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, manganese, sodium, and potassium.

The leaves (also bark and roots) are use in the management and control of arthritis, diabetes and other inflammatory conditions among the Yoruba-speaking people of western Nigeria and the treatment of diabetes mellitus, diarrhea and hypertension in south of Cameroon and other African countries.

Cashew leaves area also used for the treatment of fevers and skin disease. The study published in Journal of King Saud University-Science edition July 2015 concluded that the extracts and isolated compounds had strong antioxidant and moderate antibacterial activities and could be effective in the management of oxidative stress related diseases. These findings justified the use of this plant’s extracts in folk medicine.
Cashew leaves

Daun tenggek burung

2017-11-03T03:09:00.000-07:00

Daun tenggek burung is a well-known herb in a number of Asian countries. It is often used as vegetable salad and traditional medicine to address various ailments.

Daun tenggek burung had a slightly bitter taste, crunchy young leaves, pungent, and lemon-lime aroma. The leaf extract was reported to have anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic and antioxidant properties8 as well as antimicrobial activities.

Traditionally, daun tenggek burung has been used to address various ailments such as fever, rheumatism, stomach ache, wounds, and itches. Other health benefits of daun tenggek burung including:
*It can increase sexual satisfaction for males
*It revitalizes the body
*Reduce blood pressure
*Improve body blood flow
Daun tenggek burung

Guava leaves

2017-10-06T04:32:00.000-07:00

Being packed with antioxidants, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents and beneficial tannins, fresh guava leaves are considered as a natural pain reliever.

In traditional medicine, guava tree leaves and bark have been sued for their health properties. It has been used to mask the smell of alcohol on then breath, for wound healing, the treatment of diarrhea, dysentery, gum inflammation, chronic wounds, infectious wounds, ingrowing nails, skin diseases, mucous bloody stools and allergy to mosquitoes.

The guava leaves have also be applied as a pus and lymph absorber and as a deodorant. Older children and adults, a cup once or twice daily of a leaf decoction is the tropical herbal medicine standard.

Normally guava leaf decoction is taken to relive colds and bronchitis. In case of arthritis, the paste of guava leaves is applied on affected parts, in addition to oral intake the malady can be controlled even quickly.
Guava leaves

Minyak serai (Lemongrass oil)

2017-09-11T03:57:00.001-07:00

Lemongrass is perennial and intensely fragrant herb, native to Asia, and widely cultivated as a commercial crop throughout the tropics and subtropics of the world. The lemongrass oil finds widespread use in soap, perfumery, cosmetics and the beverages industry.

In herbal medicine, lemongrass oil if taken orally, it provides relief from colic, intestinal gas, and obstinate, vomiting. Rubbed into the skin, it relieves lower backache, lumbago, rheumatism sciatica, sprains and tendinitis.

Lemongrass oil also is used in the treatment of cholera, colds, diarrhea, fever, flatulence, flu, headache, herpes, insomnia, parasites and stomachache.
Minyak serai (Lemongrass oil)

Onion in herbal medicine

2017-07-26T05:44:00.005-07:00

Onion (Allium cepa) is among the oldest of all cultivated plants with their origin in central Asia.

Onion has been used as medicinal agents for thousands of years. It contains a volatile oil with sulphur-containing compounds such as allicin (an antibiotic and alliin), flavonoids, phenolic acids and sterols.

Onion had been shown to have application as antimicrobial, antithrombotic, antitumor, hypolipidaemic, antiarthritic and hypoglycemic agents. Based upon the studies of guinea pigs outlined in the May-June 1984 issue of Agents Actions, an alcoholic extract of onion s seems to be effective in treating asthma or bronchitis attacks.

When used regularly in the diet, onions offset tendencies towards angina, arteriosclerosis and heart attack and also useful in preventing oral infection, and toothy decay.

Baked onions can be used as a poultice to remove pus from sores and warmed onion juice can be used as eardrop to treat earache. Onions are taken the world over for cold, flu and coughs, much like garlic. Onion has a long standing reputation as an aphrodisiac, and it is also used cosmetically to stimulate hair growth.
Onion in herbal medicine

Malay uses of turmeric

2017-06-26T05:41:00.001-07:00

Malays have used herbs and plant roots from the rainforest as traditional dietary supplement for generations. Most of the herbs and species are believed to have some medicinal value.

Turmeric or kunyit in Malay is a species of Curcuma longa. Fresh turmeric leaves are used as a herb in some Malay and Indonesian dishes. Ground turmeric normally used as spice, curry powder and pastes and dye. It is used as an important condiment in every house.

In Peninsula, turmeric is used as a carminative, dispelling flatulence and also as antispasmodic in diarrhea and dysentery. It is also used to treat foul ulcers and broken skin.

The Malays also used turmeric for treating eyes as a magic prescription. Turmeric is used as an herbal medicine for rheumatoid arthritis, chronic anterior uveitis, conjunctivitis, skin cancer small pox, chicken pox, wound healing, and liver ailments.
Malay uses of turmeric