English: Elumea, Ngaicamphor
Tagalog: Sambong

Sambong is found throughout the Philippines, and grows wild on Mt. Banahaw. Doctors in the Philippines prescribe Sambong for the dissolution of kidney stones. The leaves of Sambong are used as a tea in the Philippines, and as a cure for colds. It is also said to have antidiarrhetic and antigastralgic properties. It is also used as an expectorant. It is given for worms and dysentery. It is one of the most common used medicinal herbs in the Philippines. Leaves used also as flavoring ingredient.

Medicinal uses:

• Decoction of roots and leaves for fevers, kidney stones, and cystitis.
• Decoction of leaves used to induced diuresis for purpose of treating kidney stones.
• Used in upper and lower respiratory tract affections like sinusitis, asthmatic bronchitis, influenza.
• Applied while hot over the sinuses. Used for wounds and cuts.
• Leaves as poultice for abscesses.
• Fresh juice of leaves to wounds and cuts.
• Poultice of leaves applied to the forehead for relief of headaches.
• In Chinese and Thai medicine, leaves used for treatment of septic wounds and other infections.
• Sitz-bath of boiled leaves, 500 gms to a gallong of water, for rheumatic pains of waist and back.
• Tea is used for colds and as an expectorant; likewise, has antispasmodic and antidiarrheal benefits.
• Postpartum baths.
• In Vietnam, decoction of fresh leaves used for cough and influenza or as inhalation of vapour from boiling of leaves.
• In Thailand, dried leaves are chopped, made into cigarettes and smoked for treating sinusitis.
• For fever, leaves boiled and when lukewarm used as sponge bath.
• Decoction of roots used for fever.
• Roots used for menorrhage.
• In SE Asia widely used for various women problems. Postpartum, leaves are used in hot fomentation over the uterus to induce rapid involution. Also used for menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, functional uterine bleeding and leucorrhea.
• Decoction of roots and leaves used for rheumatism and arthritis; also used for treatment of post-partum joint pains.
• Decoction of leaves, 50 gms to a pint of boiling water, 4 glasses daily, for stomach pains.
• Poultice of fresh leaves applied to affected joint.
• A sitz-bath of boiled leaves used in the treatment of lumbago and sciatica.