PHILIPPINE TREE ( WITH MEDICINAL VALUE)

AGOHO
(Casuarina equisetlifolia L. Cauranrinaceae)

A large evergreen tree, 20 m high, with a 65- cm diameter. The crown is narrowly pyramidal resembling some of the conifers in appearnce. The bark is brown to dark brown and rough. The inner bark is light in color and has a bitter taste. The leaves are actually reduced to small sheaths on the needle-like branchlets.

MEDICINAL VALUE:

• A deocoction of the bark, when taken in large doses, is used as an emmenagogue ( an agent that promotes menstrual discharge) and ecbolic ( alleviates menstruation pains). It is helpful for hemoptysis ( expectoration of blod from some part of the respiratory tract) and also an excellent astringent.
• The bark is used to arrest diarrhea and dysentery; its lotion used for beriberi; a powder of the bark is prescribed for pimples on the face.
• An infusion of the bark is used as  a tonic.
• A decoction of the twigs is used as a lotion for swellings; an infusion of the branches is used as a diuric ( an agent that tends to increase the flow of urine.)
• The leaves are used for colic ( spasm, obstruction or twisting or abdominal pain).