1. WHAT IS FIRST AID? First aid is the provision of initial care for an illness or injury.

It is usually performed by non-expert, but trained personnel to a sick or injured person until definitive medical treatment can be accessed. Certain self-limiting illnesses or minor injuries may not require further medical care past the first aid intervention. It generally consists of a series of simple and in some cases, potentially life-saving techniques that an individual can be trained to perform with minimal equipment. While first aid can also be performed on all animals, the term generally refers to care of human patients. 2. IMPOTANCE OF FIRST AID First aid is important because it is the essential primary care given to an injured person hence the name, "first aid". If a person were simply thrown in the back of the ambulance on route to a hospital then it would be possible that he or she could bleed out where as if proper first aid were given they might have lived. 3. MEDICINAL PLANTS/ HERBAL PLANTS Medicinal plants are various plants used in herbalism and thought by some to have medicinal properties. Few plants or their phytochemical constituents have been proven to have medicinal effects by rigorous science or have been approved by regulatory agencies. 4. EXAMPLES MEDICINAL PLANTS/ HERBAL PLANTS 1. Akapulko (Cassia alata) - also known as "bayabas-bayabasan" and "ringworm bush" in English, this herbal medicine is used to treat ringworms and skin fungal infections.

An erect, shrubby legume reaching 6 ft tall, Akapulko grows throughout the Philippines. It has dark green leaves and yellow-orange flowers, producing as much as 50 to 60 small, triangular seeds. For medicinal purposes, leaves, flowers and seeds are used.

Medicinal Uses: Decoction of leaves and flowers is very effective in easing asthma, cough and bronchitis. The seeds are effective in expelling intestinal parasites. Juice from leaves aids in controlling fungal infections like; eczema, athletes foot, ringworm, scabies, an d herpes. Pounded leaves reduce injury-related swellings, treat insect bites, and ease rheumatism. Leaves and flowers concoction used as mouthwash in treating stomatitis. Juice from leaves ease fetid discharges. The leaves stain is an effective purgative.

2. Ampalaya (Momordica charantia) - known as "bitter gourd" or "bitter melon" in English, it most known as a treatment of diabetes (diabetes mellitus), for the non-insulin dependent patients. Well-known for its bitter edible fruit, Ampalaya is a herbaceous, climbing vine growing up to five meters. The plant have heart-shaped leaves and bear green oblong-shaped fruits. Leaves, fruits and roots are used in treating several health disorders.

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Medicinal Uses: Juice extracted from leaves is effective in easing cough, pneumonia, heal wounds, and combating intestinal parasites. Juice from fruits aids in treating dysentery and chronic colitis. Decoction of roots and seeds is effective in treating hemorrhoids, rheumatism, abdominal pain, psoriasis.

3. Bawang (Allium sativum) - popularly known as "garlic", it mainly reduces cholesterol in the blood and hence, helps control blood pressure. Garlic is a low herb with flat and linear leaves growing to about 30 to 60 cm tall. Garlic is commercially grown in the Philippine provinces of Batangas, Cotabato, Ilocos Norte, Mindoro and Nueva Ecija. Leaves, bulbs, lobes are used for medical purposes.

Medicinal Uses: Massaging crushed lobe to both temples can ease headache. Rubbing crushed lobe to affected areas is a good remedy for insect bites and athletes foot. Decoction of leaves and bulbs is effective for fever, tonsillitis, and digestive problems. Juice from crushed garlic is used to treat colds, cough, sore throat, bronchitis, and asthma

4. Bayabas (Psidium guajava) - "guava" in English. It is primarily used as an antiseptic, to disinfect wounds. Also, it can be used as a mouth wash to treat tooth decay and gum infection. The guava is a perennial shrub growing to about 25 ft. tall at maturity. It has oval to oblong leaves and bears white flowers, developing into green fruits that turns yellow in color when ripe. A common backyard plant, Bayabas is grown throughout the Philippines. The edible fruit is a good source of Vitamin C. The leaves are used for treating certain health problems.

Medicinal Uses: As cleaning agent, decoction of fresh leaves prevents infection in wounds. Also, decoction of leaves is effective for diarrhea and skin ulcers. Boiled fresh leaves are good ingredients for aromatic baths. Chewing fresh leaves help control gum swelling. Placing tightly roll leaves into the nasal tract can stop nosebleeds.

5. Lagundi (Vitex negundo) - known in English as the "5-leaved chaste tree". It's main use is for the relief of coughs and asthma. Lagundi is a small erect tree that can reach 3meter at maturity. The plant has evergreen leaves, blue flowers about 6-7 mm that develop into fruits about 4mm in diameter. Leaves, seeds, bark and roots are used for the treatment of various illnesses.

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Medicinal Uses: Decoction of leaves is effective for cough, colds, fever, headache, toothache, asthma, menstrual difficulties and amenorrhea. As washing agent, boiled leaves are used for sponge bathing, treating wounds and ulcer. Placing ash of fresh leaves in affected areas can ease rheumatic joints. Decoction of leaves taken as a diuretic.

6. Niyog-niyogan (Quisqualis indica L.) - is a vine known as "Chinese honey suckle". It is effective in the elimination of intestinal worms, particularly the Ascaris and Trichina. Only the dried matured seeds are medicinal -crack and ingest the dried seeds two hours after eating (5 to 7 seeds for children & 8 to 10 seeds for adults). If one dose does not eliminate the worms, wait a week before repeating the dose. Niog-niogan is a perennial climbing shrub growing to about 2.5-8 meters at maturity. It has egg-shaped leaves, aromatic flowers that may come in white to purple orange in color. The ovalshaped fruit can reach 30-35 mm long when ripe. For medicinal purposes leaves, seeds and roots are used.

Medicinal Uses: Dried seeds, when eaten, act as deworming agents. Roasted seeds help control diarrhea and fever. Boiled leaves used to check difficulty in urinating Fruit decoction of fruit, taken as mouthwash, is effective against nephritis. Juice made from leaves is used in the treatment of ulcers, boils, and fever-induced headache. Decoctions of roots aids in reducing pain due to rheumatism. Pounded leaves are used externally for skin diseases.

7. Sambong (Blumea balsamifera)- English name: Blumea camphora. A diuretic that helps in the excretion of urinary stones. It can also be used as an edema. Sambong is a tall, erect, shrub that grows in grasslands, open fields, waste areas. This strongly aromatic herb with elongated leaves, and yellow flowers can reach 4 meters tall at maturity. Leaves are used to treat certain medical conditions.

Medicinal uses: Decoction of leaves is effective against fever, kidney problems and cystitis. Leaves are used as poultice for abscesses. Concoction of leaves is used for sore throat, rheumatic pains, stomach pains, and dysentery. Fresh juice made from leaves is applied to wounds and cuts. As expectorant, Sambong tea is used for colds.

8. Tsaang Gubat (Ehretia microphylla Lam.) - Prepared like tea, this herbal medicine is effective in treating intestinal motility and also used as a mouth wash since the leaves of this shrub has high fluoride content.

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Grown throughout the Philippines, Tsaang Gubat is a shrub growing to about 5 m tall. Leaves grow in clusters with rough jagged edge towards the tip. The plant bears white flowers that developed into a fleshy, yellow-orange fruits when ripe. Leaves are used for medicinal purposes.

Medicinal Uses: Tea extracted from leaves is taken to ease stomach aches, diarrheas, and dysentery. Decoction of leaves is effective as dental mouthwash. Leaves concoction is used to stop bleeding cause by snakebites, and a cure for plant-based poisoning; Decoction of leaves is also used as body cleanser after childbirth.

9. Ulasimang Bato | Pansit-Pansitan (Peperomia pellucida) - It is effective in fighting arthritis and gout. The leaves can be eaten fresh (about a cupful) as salad or like tea. For the decoction, boil a cup of clean chopped leaves in 2 cups of water. Boil for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain, let cool and drink a cup after meals (3 times day). Pansit-pansitan is a small, fleshy herb (about 40 cm tall), which grows in yards, nooks and other damp areas. The plant has green, heart-shaped leaves, fleshy stems that produce tiny flowers on a spike. The small, oblong-shaped fruits turn to black when ripe. Parts uses are leaves and stems. Medical Uses: Fresh juice made from stem and leaves controls eye inflammation. Crushed whole plant as warm poultice is effective for pimples, boils, and wound. Concoction of leaves used in treating fevers, headaches, sore throats, coughs, common colds, and diarrheas. Boiled leaves and stems is used for gout, arthritis, rheumatic pains, and conjunctivitis. The mixture is also effective in controlling high blood pressure. Juice made from leaves and stem, taken externally, is a good facial wash for skin problems.

10. Yerba Buena or Mint (Clinopodium douglasii) - commonly known as Peppermint, this vine is used as an analgesic to relive body aches and pain. It can be taken internally as a decoction or externally by pounding the leaves and applied directly on the afflicted area. Yerba Buena is a perennial plant of the mint family that grows up to 1 meter long. Leaves are elliptic in shape, and produces small, hairy whitish, or purplish flowers. In the Philippines, Yerba Buena is grown in high elevated areas. As medicinal plant, the parts used are leaves and stem.

Medical Uses: Promotes good health, if taken as tea. Sniffing crushed fresh leaves is effective for dizziness. Leaves soak in a glass of water is used as mouthwash. Decoction of leaves is used for migraine, headaches, fevers, toothaches, stomach aches, muscles and joint pains, and dysmenorrhea. Pounded or crushed leaves are used to treat insect bites.

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5. ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE A. Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile plant materials, known as essential oils, and other aromatic compounds for the purpose of altering a person's mind, mood, cognitive function or health. Some essential oils such as tea tree have demonstrated anti-microbial effects, but there is still a lack of clinical evidence demonstrating efficacy against bacterial, fungal, or viral infections. Evidence for the efficacy of aromatherapy in treating medical conditions remains poor, with a particular lack of studies employing rigorous methodology, but some evidence exists that essential oils may have therapeutic potential. B. Ayurveda (Sanskrit yurveda , "life-knowledge"; English pronunciation /a.rved/) or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to the Indian subcontinent and a form of alternative medicine. The oldest known ayurvedic texts are the Suruta Sahit and the Charaka Sahit. These Classical Sanskrit encyclopedias of medicine are among the foundational and formally compiled works of ayurveda. By the medieval period, ayurvedic practitioners developed a number of medicinal preparations and surgical procedures for the treatment of various ailments. Current practices derived (or reportedly derived) from ayurvedic medicine are regarded as part of complementary and alternative medicine, and, along with siddha and Traditional Chinese medicine, form the basis for systems medicine. Safety concerns have been raised about Ayurveda; for instance, two U.S. studies found that about 20 percent of Ayurvedic US and Indian-manufactured patent medicines sold via internet contained toxic levels of heavy metals such as lead, mercury and arsenic. Other concerns include the use of herbs containing toxic compounds and the lack of quality control in Ayurvedic facilities. In classical Sanskrit literature, Ayurveda was called "the science of eight components" (Sanskrit aga), a classification that became canonical for ayurveda. They are: (general medicine) - Kya-chikits: "cure of diseases affecting the body" (paediatrics) Kaumra-bhtya "treatment of children" Surgeryhalya-chikits, "removal of any substance which has entered the body (as extraction of darts, of splinters, etc.)" [dubious discuss] (ophthalmology/ENTlkya-tantra "cure of diseases of the eye or ear etc. by sharp instruments" ) (demonology / exorcism/psychiatryBhta(past)-vidy "treatment of mental diseases supposed to be produced by past experiences" (toxicology)Agada-tantra "doctrine of antidotes" elixirs Rasayana-tantra "doctrine of " - Rasayana aphrodisiacsVjkaraa tantra C. Body Works i. Therapeutic Massage is the manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue using various techniques, to enhance function, aid in the healing process, decrease muscle reflex activity, inhibit motorneuron excitability, promote relaxation and well-being, and as a recreational activity. The word comes from the French massage "friction of kneading", or from Arabic massa meaning "to touch, feel or handle" or from Latin massa meaning "mass, dough", cf. Greek verb (mass) "to handle, touch, to work with the hands, to knead dough". In distinction the ancient Greek word for massage was anatripsis, and the Latin was frictio. Massage involves working and acting on the body with pressure structured, unstructured, stationary, or moving tension, motion, or vibration, done manually or with mechanical aids. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, skin, joints, or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearm, or feet. In professional settings massage involves the client being treated while lying on a massage table, sitting in a massage chair, or lying on a mat on the floor, while in amateur settings a general purpose surface like a bed or floor is more common. The massage subject may be fully or partially clothed or unclothed.

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ii. Deep Tissue is a type of massage which reaches structures far beneath the superficial fascia to attempt to relieve chronic muscle problems or injuries

iii. Movement Therapy, (DMT) or dance therapy is the psychotherapeutic use of movement and dance for emotional, cognitive, social, behavioral and physical conditions. As a form of expressive therapy, DMT assumes that movement and emotion are directly related. Since its origins in the 1950s, DMT has gained popularity and its practices have developed. However, its principles have remained the same. A typical DMT session has four main stages: preparation, incubation, illumination, and evaluation. Organizations such as the American Dance Therapy Association and the Association for Dance Movement Therapy, United Kingdom maintain standards of profession and education throughout the field. DMT is practiced in places such as mental health rehabilitation centers, medical and educational settings, nursing homes, day care facilities, and other health promotion programs. This form of therapy which is taught in a wide array of locations goes farther than just centering the body. Specialized treatments of DMT can help cure and aid many types of diseases and disabilities. Other common names for DMT include movement psychotherapy and dance therapy. iv. Energy Balancing is the relation between intake of food and output of work (as in muscular or secretory activity) that is positive when the body stores extra food as fats and negative when the body draws on stored fat to provide energy for work v. Acupressure [from Latin acus "needle" (see acuity) + pressure (n.).] is an alternative medicine technique similar in principle to Acupuncture. It is based on the concept of life energy which flows through "meridians" in the body. In treatment, physical pressure is applied to trigger points with the aim of clearing blockages in these meridians. Pressure may be applied by hand, by elbow, or with various devices. Some medical studies have suggested that acupressure may be effective at helping manage nausea and vomiting, or for helping lower back pain. According to Quackwatch acupressure is a dubious practice, and its practitioners use irrational methods. vi. Shiatsu (Kanji: Hiragana: ) in Japanese means "finger pressure"; it is a type of alternative medicine consisting of finger and palm pressure, stretches, and other massage techniques. There is no scientific evidence for any medical efficacy of shiatsu. Shiatsu practitioners promote it as a way to help people relax and cope with issues such as stress, muscle pain, nausea, anxiety, and depression. Many shiatsu schools exist across the world and all incorporate elements of anatomy, physiology and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Shiatsu is usually performed on a futon mat, with clients fully clothed. It can also be performed on horses and other animals. According to Cancer Research UK, "there is no scientific evidence to prove that shiatsu can cure or prevent any type of disease, including cancer."

vii. Qigong, chi kung, or chi gung (simplified Chinese: ; traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: qgng; Wade Giles: chi gong; literally "Life Energy Cultivation") is a practice of aligning breath, movement, and awareness for exercise, healing, and meditation. With roots in Chinese medicine, martial arts, and philosophy, qigong is traditionally viewed as a practice to cultivate and balance qi (chi) or what has been translated as "intrinsic life energy". Typically a qigong practice involves rhythmic breathing coordinated with slow stylized repetition of fluid movement, a calm mindful state, and visualization of guiding qi through the body. Qigong is now practiced throughout China and worldwide, and is considered by some to be exercise, and by others to be a type of alternative medicine or meditative practice. From a philosophical perspective qigong is believed to help develop human potential, allow access to higher realms of awareness, and awaken one's "true nature". Possible health benefits of qigong have been studied in various medical conditions. Evidence of effectiveness is inconclusive due to the poor quality of the clinical trials.

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viii. T'ai chi ch'uan or Taijiquan, often shortened to t'ai chi, taiji or tai chi in English usage, is an internal Chinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits. It is also typically practiced for a variety of other personal reasons: its hard and soft martial art technique, demonstration competitions, and longevity. As a result, a multitude of training forms exist, both traditional and modern, which correspond to those aims. Some of t'ai chi ch'uan's training forms are especially known for being practiced at what most people categorize as slow movement. Today, t'ai chi ch'uan has spread worldwide. Most modern styles of t'ai chi ch'uan trace their development to at least one of the five traditional schools: Chen, Yang, Wu (Hao), Wu, and Sun.

ix. Polarity Therapy is a holistic, energy-based system that includes bodywork, diet, exercise, and lifestyle counseling for the purpose of restoring and maintaining proper energy flows throughout the body. The underlying concept of polarity therapy is that all energy within the human body is based in electromagnetic force and that disease results from improperly dissipated energy.

D. Reflexology or zone therapy is an alternative medicine involving the physical act of applying pressure to the feet, hands, or ears with specific thumb, finger, and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. It is based on what reflexologists claim to be a system of zones and reflex areas that they say reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands, with the premise that such work effects a physical change to the body. A 2009 systematic review of randomised controlled trials concludes that "The best evidence available to date does not demonstrate convincingly that reflexology is an effective treatment for any medical condition." There is no consensus among reflexologists on how reflexology is supposed to work; a unifying theme is the idea that areas on the foot correspond to areas of the body, and that by manipulating these one can improve health through one's qi. Reflexologists divide the body into ten equal vertical zones, five on the right and five on the left. Concerns have been raised by medical professionals that treating potentially serious illnesses with reflexology, which has no proven efficacy, could delay the seeking of appropriate medical treatment. E. Chipropractic is a complementary and alternative medicine health care profession and an approach to healing concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system and the [2] effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractors emphasize manual therapy including joint adjustment and [3][4] manipulation with particular focus on joint dysfunction/subluxations. Currently, chiropractors practice in over 100 countries in all regions of the world, however chiropractors are most prevalent in North America, Australia and parts of [2][5] Europe. Most people who seek chiropractic care do so for low back pain F. Homeopathy (also spelled homoeopathy or homopathy; from the Greek hmoios- - "like-" + pthos "suffering") is a system of alternative medicine originated in 1796 by Samuel Hahnemann, based on his doctrine of similia similibus curentur ("like cures like"), according to which a substance that causes the symptoms of a disease in healthy people will cure similar symptoms in sick people. It is widely considered a pseudoscience. G. Mind-Body therapy is a treatment methods or techniques which are based on the knowledge of mind and body interactions. These techniques can be used to reduce the feeling of tension and effect of stress, and to enhance the physiological and psychological well-being of an individual. H. Herbal Therapy is the use of plants or plant extracts for medicinal purposes (especially plants that are not part of the normal diet)
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