Tsaang gubat (Carmona retusa) Herbal Medicine

Tsaang gubat is one of the 10 herbal medicines recommended by the Philippine’s Department of Health for safe use. It is largely used for the treatment of skin diseases and stomach problems.

Scientific Name: Carmona retusa, Ehretia microphylla Lam.

Other Names::

Alangit (Bis.) Kalamoga (Tag.) Alangitngit (Tag., Bis.) Kalimomog (Tag.) Balingsaa (C. Bis.) Kalimumog (Tag.) Buntatai (P. Bis.) Mangit (Tag., Bis.) Buyo-buyo (Sul.) Mara-mara (Bis., S.L. Bis.) Buyok-buyok (Sul.) Maratia (Ibn.) Cha (Tag.) Mura-mara (P. Bis.) Chaang-bundok (Tag.) Palupo (Iv.) Chaang-gubat (Tag.) Putputai (Bik.) Gari (Bag.) Santing (Sul.) Icha-nga-atap (Ilk.) Tsa (Tag.) Icha-ti-bakir (Ilk.) Fukien tea tree (Engl.) Itsa (Ilk.) Scorpionbush (Engl.) Wild tea (Engl.)

Tsaang Gubat (Carmona retusa) also called Philippine Tea is a shrub that grows wild in the tropical climate of India, Sri Lanka and Philippines. It is also cultivated as ornamental plant as single plant or hedge, recently gaining popularity as bonsai in China and Japan.

Tsaang gubat is an erect, shrub with green compound leaves. The tsaang gubat shrub grows to about 1 to 4 meters high and can be found in secondary forest in low and medium altitude. Tsaang gubat leaves grows in clusters on short branches, 3-6 cm long, somewhat toothed or lobed near the apex and pointed at the base, short stalked and rough on the upper surface. Tsaang gubat bears small white flowers, axillary, solitary, 2 or 4 on a common stalk. It bears yellow fruits when ripe about 4-5 mm in diameter, fleshy, with a 4-seeded stone.