DOCUMENTATION OF PHILIPPINE TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICES IN HEALTH: THE PEOPLE OF SAMAR ISLAND NATURAL PARK, SAMAR ISLAND A collaborative project of Communities in Samar Island Natural Park, Samar Island: Guirang, Balagon, San Isidro, San Vicente, Hiduroma, Pinamorotan, Burak, and Bagacay Local governments of Basey, Canavid, Las Navas, Dolores, San Jose de Buan, Calbayog, Llorente, and Hinabangan Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care – Department of Health Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau – Department of Environment and Natural Resources Samar Island Natural Park Office University of the Philippines Tacloban University of Eastern Philippines University of the Philippines Manila – National Institutes of Health (Institute of Herbal Medicine), College of Medicine, and School of Health Sciences, Palo, Leyte 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. REMINDER Page i II. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Page ii III. ABSTRACT Page 1 IV. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY Page 3 V. METHODOLOGY Page 5 VI. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION A. BASEY WATERSHED Page 11 BARANGAY GUIRANG, BASEY, SAMAR The study area Gathering information and herbarium vouchers The informants Tables of ethnopharmacological uses of natural materials B. CANAVID WATERSHED Page 29 BARANGAY BALAGON, CANAVID, EASTERN SAMAR The study area Gathering information and herbarium vouchers The informants Tables of ethnopharmacological uses of natural materials C. CATUBIG WATERSHED Page 51 BARANGAY SAN ISIDRO, LAS NAVAS, NORTHERN SAMAR The study area Gathering information and herbarium vouchers The informants Tables of ethnopharmacological uses of natural materials D. DOLORES WATERSHED Page 123 BARANGAY SAN VICENTE, DOLORES, EASTERN SAMAR The study area Gathering information and herbarium vouchers The informants Tables of ethnopharmacological uses of natural materials E. GANDARA WATERSHED Page 173 BARANGAY HIDUROMA, SAN JOSE DE BUAN, SAMAR The study area Gathering information and herbarium vouchers The informants Tables of ethnopharmacological uses of natural materials F. PAMBUJAN WATERSHED Page 211 BARANGAY PINAMOROTAN, CALBAYOG CITY, SAMAR The study area Gathering information and herbarium vouchers The informants Tables of ethnopharmacological uses of natural materials G. SURIBAO WATERSHED Page 231 BARANGAY BURAK, LLORENTE, EASTERN SAMAR The study area Gathering information and herbarium vouchers The informants Tables of ethnopharmacological uses of natural materials H. TAFT WATERSHED Page 257 BARANGAY BAGACAY, HINABANGAN, SAMAR The study area Gathering information and herbarium vouchers The informants Tables of ethnopharmacological uses of natural materials VII. APPENDIX Page 281 REMINDER The knowledge and practices written in this report were obtained with full consent from informants belonging to various communities within Samar Island Natural Park, Samar Island. Any information from this study to be used for further academic research or commercial purposes should have the free and prior informed consent of the knowledge-owners. The knowledge-owners and this study should be properly acknowledged and cited if information in this report will be used. Any commercial benefits which may arise from the utilization of the people’s traditional knowledge should be shared with the said knowledge-owners or the community.1 1 Based on Elisabetsky and Posey 1994. From Posey and Dutfield 1996. Beyond Intellectual Property: Toward Traditional Resource Rights for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities. p.48. i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS All the healers and community members who gave their time and energy to the project Barangays Hon. Rolando Alvarez and assisting barangay officials Brgy San Vicente, Dolores, Eastern Samar Hon. Mateo Bormate and assisting barangay officials Brgy Burak, Llorente, Eastern Samar Hon. Visitacion Colinayo and assisting barangay officials Brgy Guirang, Basey, Samar Hon. Bernardo Gales and assisting barangay officials Brgy Balagon, Canavid, Eastern Samar Hon. Rolly Rebato and assisting barangay officials Brgy Hiduroma, San Jose de Buan, Samar Hon. Julio Rebay and assisting barangay officials Brgy San Isidro, Las Navas, Northern Samar Hon. Alfredo Tinay and assisting barangay officials Brgy Bagacay, Hinabangan, Samar Hon. Marcelino Verano and assisting barangay officials Brgy Pinamorotan, Calbayog City, Samar Municipalities/City Hon. Alejandro Abarratigue, assisting officials, and Hinabangan, Samar employees of the municipal hall Hon. Ronaldo Aquino, assisting officials, and employees of Calbayog City, Samar the city hall Hon. Alicia Cesista, assisting officials, and employees of Canavid, Eastern Samar the municipal hall Hon. Tito Codoy, assisting officials, and employees of the Llorente, Eastern Samar municipal hall Atty. Junji Ponferrada, assisting officials, and employees of Basey, Samar the municipal hall Hon. Ananias Rebato, Vice-Mayor Joaquin Elizalde, San Jose de Buan, Samar assisting officials, and employees of the municipal hall Hon. Minda Mercader Tan, assisting officials, and Las Navas, Northern Samar employees of the municipal hall Atty. Emiliana Picardo-Villacarillo, assisting officials, and Dolores, Eastern Samar employees of the municipal hall Abito Bonga MPDC Llorente, Eastern Samar Rodolfo Carpeso MPDC Dolores, Eastern Samar Cirilo Gelina MPDC Canavid, Eastern Samar Margie Ramos MPDC Hinabangan, Samar Pedro Don Saborrido MPDC Calbayog Emma Tuazon DWSD Hinabangan, Samar Juana Yauder MPDC Calbayog Samar Island Natural Park Office Angelito Villanueva For.ll/Chief Ecotourism/PASU Ernesto Duran For.ll/Chief Admin & Finance Myron Garcia For.ll/Chief Community Development Eires Mate EMS ll/Chief Training & HRD Jerry Pluma UW-l/GIS Operator Rafael Manrique Watchman Academic institutions and other agencies Prof. Rolando Borrinaga UP School of Health Sciences – Palo, Leyte Dr. Jaime Sanico and Prof. Lydia Escober-dela Rosa University of Eastern Philippines, Catarman Prof. Teresa Mahinay University of the Philippines Tacloban Prof. Elena Ragragio and Prof. Jasper Obico University of the Philippines Manila Ulysses Ferreras - Eduardo dela Cruz PAGASA Office ii ABSTRACT An ethnopharmacological study of the communities within Samar Island Natural Park was conducted from August 2011 to February 2012. The knowledge was shared by 28 healers and 174 community members. The study covers the documentation of the traditional health knowledge and practices of eight communities representing the eight major watershed areas in the natural park. The said communities were: Barangay Guirang, Basey in Basey Watershed; Barangay Balagon, Canavid in Canavid Watershed; Barangay San Isidro, Las Navas in Catubig Watershed; Barangay San Vicente, Dolores in Dolores Watershed; Barangay Hiduroma, San Jose de Buan in Gandara Watershed; Barangay Pinamorotan, Calbayog City in Pambujan Watershed; Barangay Burak, Llorente in Suribao Watershed, and Barangay Bagacay, Hinabangan in Taft Watershed. 273 plants and 12 animal products were documented to be used for more than 130 indications recognized by the eight communities. Documentation included the local names of plants and animals, therapeutic indications, plant or animal parts used, method of preparation, direction for use, precautionary measures, source of information, and other significant data. The plants were identified by their scientific names, where applicable. A total of 178 different medicinal plants were brought to Manila for plant identification. Many of the people already prefer to consult doctors in the hospital or municipal health units, but traditional healing practices still remain. Community members still rely on traditional healers especially in financially difficult times and during cases of illnesses which cannot be cured by conventional medicine. Healers have also adapted to the changes brought about by mass media and interaction with different groups. Aside from the knowledge passed on to them by their elders, the peoples’ utilization of the resources available in the forest or around their barangay are already based on information obtained from health workers, religious groups, revolutionary forces, government and nongovernment organizations, and television or radio. Some healers’ treatments now combine medicinal plants with orasyon (Latin prayers), western medicine, and herbal supplements. Others refer to books and pamphlets on medicinal plants. The health practices of the communities may evolve but what will not change is the communities’ reliance on their natural environment. However, the community must do their part in conserving the natural resources of Samar Island Natural Park. This ethnopharmacological study shows the richness of the people’s surroundings and also their wealth of knowledge. It is crucial to take steps in guiding the communities, especially the youth, to value and protect their environment that they greatly rely on. 1 Documentation of Philippine Traditional Knowledge and Practices in Health: The People of Samar Island Natural Park, Samar Island 2 Documentation of Philippine Traditional Knowledge and Practices in Health: The People of Samar Island Natural Park, Samar Island SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY The Philippines is one of the richest countries in terms of cultural diversity, as well as of biodiversity. There are 110 indigenous communities and 175 ethnolinguistic groups in the country. Indigenous peoples and lowland mainstream rural communities have depended on plants and other natural products from the forest to prevent or treat sickness. But environmental degradation and the shift to western biomedical practices