03/03/2026
๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐น๐ฑ ๐ช๐ถ๐น๐ฑ๐น๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฒ | ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ฐ ๐ฃ๐น๐ฎ๐ป๐๐: ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐น๐๐ต, ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฎ๐ด๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ถ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ๐ ๐ฟ
This World Wildlife Day, we celebrate the incredible power of medicinal and aromatic plants that sustain our health, culture, and communities. Among these treasures is Almaciga (๐๐จ๐ข๐ต๐ฉ๐ช๐ด ๐ฑ๐ฉ๐ช๐ญ๐ช๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ด๐ช๐ด), a native Philippine tree highly valued for its resin, also known as Manila copal.
For many years, almaciga has played a significant role in traditional medicine. Its resin serves as a liniment for arthritis, is inhaled as smoke to help with asthma, and supports digestion by treating stomach issues. In Mindoro, it is used for postpartum baths, while in the Cordilleras, it is traditionally applied to relieve arthritis and asthma. Decoctions of leaves and stems are used to treat dysentery, and powdered wood is used to treat headaches and muscle aches. Local communities also use the resin as a liniment and unguent to deter leeches (Boer and Ella, 2000). Its aromatic properties make it valuable for natural balms, incense, and other remedies.
Beyond its medicinal and aromatic benefits, almaciga trees are vital to forest ecosystems, providing habitat for wildlife, protecting watersheds, and supporting overall biodiversity. By conserving almaciga and other medicinal plants, we are not only preserving natural remedies but also safeguarding the cultural heritage and livelihoods of communities that depend on these forest treasures.
This World Wildlife Day, letโs celebrate the gift of nature by nurturing biodiversity, honoring our heritage, and ensuring that medicinal plants like almaciga continue to heal, inspire, and sustain life. ๐ฑ๐
