Herbal medicines are an important traditional remedy for many illnesses. Sophisticated drugs have been formulated and widely distributed all over the world but because they are expensive, herbal plants are continually used specially in rural areas. The Philippines is so rich with these medicinal plants that rural folks continue to use these herbal plants.

The Department of Health, with the help of Department of Science and Technology, has selected ten priority herbal plants to be studied for pharmaceutical use. More than 30 other plants are listed by the Department of Health as herbal plant and the list is likely to increase because there are many medicinal plants not yet known to the scientific world. However, these herbs still need to be studied for efficacy and safety.

One herb that is traditionally used for several illnesses is Euphorbia pilulifera / Euphorbia hirta, Linn. (Figure 1). Locally known as gatas-gatas or taua-taua, this plant is abundant in the Philippines in waste places and open grasslands. The herb is normally harvested taking the whole plant at its flowering stage. The decoction is prepared by boiling the whole plant for about 15 minutes and the decoction is given to the patient as a tea. The latex of the fresh plant is used for sore eyes and warts.