Akapulko as anti-fungal medication

The floods caused by both nature – typhoon Ketsana and Parma - and the dam managers, exposed many of the already suffering victims to various diseases. With many areas remaining submerged, people had to wade through thigh-high mud and water, making them vulnerable to various ailments, among them skin disease.

This was very evident when IOHSAD, through the Task Force Obrero, conducted a relief and medical mission last October 1, 2009 at Ampid, San Mateo, Rizal. More than 30% of the patients had varying foot problems because of the constant exposure to dirty water. We needed to bring more anti-fungal medicines for the next mission but this become very difficult.

Those pharmacies who usually provides us solicited medicines were already running out of stock. To buy them would be too expensive. We decided, with a strong push from our resident herbalist Emma, to make them instead.

We've been able to produce anti-fungal medication for more than 300 people, although our little workshop can produce more but sourcing the ingredients have proven difficult. Before we were able to easily source Akapulko (Senna Alata L.), the main ingredient, from Marikina, but it was one of the areas devastated by the typhoon.

Here are the instructions on how to make anti-fungal medication from Akapulko leaves:

Materials:

• Akapulko
• Wooden spatula
• Sterilized containers with wide mouth (for ointment)
• Coconut oil
• Wax #5
• Clay pot
• Cheese cloth
• measuring cups

Preparation:

1. Clean the Akapulko leaves
2. Mix 1 part of coconut oil and 1 part of Akapulko leaves in the clay pot
3. Stir the mixture with wooden spatula until oil is green and the leaves have become brittle
4. Pour the oil inside the cheesecloth to filter the leaves.
5. Pour the oil in another clay pot and mix with wax. Stir until wax is melted.
6. While it remains hot, pour the mixture into the sterilized containers.
7. Let the mixture cool before covering and sealing the containers.

Application:

Clean the area affected. Apply the ointment on affected areas 3-4 times a day.