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Cotton (English), Bulak (Filipino)

Gossypium hirsutum L., Gossypium barbadense L.

Respiratory

Shrub Height: Not provided Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate, palmately 3–5-lobed, hirsute, blade cordate, as broad as long, 7.5–15 cm across Flowers: Flowers 6–8 on each fertile branch, large, white or yellow Fruits: Not provided

Medicinal Uses & Benefits

For bitánnù (Tagabawa). Preparation: Expressed juice/Inhalation- Rub mature leaves between two hands to express juice.. Part used: Mature leaves | For ménit é lawa (Tagabawa), kalintura (Bisaya). Preparation: Infusion-Prepare 5-6 mature leaves, then boil it in 1/2 kabo of water, wait till until it boils.. Part used: Mature leaves | For lios (Tagabawa), piang (Bisaya). Preparation: Infusion-Prepare 5-6 pieces of mature leaves of bukol.Boil it in 1/2 kabo, wait till it boils.. Part used: Mature leaves | For "sammor"-use for diagnosing the local ailment "sammor" at the same time use as treatment for the said ailment. Preparation: Soaked and pounded leaves- For diagnosing- Get 3 leaves each of the plants enumerated then soak it in a half-filled water dipper. If the water turns to red, then the patient is (+) positive for "sammor", if it remains colorless then the result is (-) negative for "sammor", no further action is needed. The patient who has a positive result should pound the soaked leaves.. Part used: Mature leaves

Preparation

Expressed juice/Inhalation- Rub mature leaves between two hands to express juice. | Infusion-Prepare 5-6 mature leaves, then boil it in 1/2 kabo of water, wait till until it boils. | Infusion-Prepare 5-6 pieces of mature leaves of bukol.Boil it in 1/2 kabo, wait till it boils. | Soaked and pounded leaves- For diagnosing- Get 3 leaves each of the plants enumerated then soak it in a half-filled water dipper. If the water turns to red, then the patient is (+) positive for "sammor", if it remains colorless then the result is (-) negative for "sammor", no further action is needed. The patient who has a positive result should pound the soaked leaves.

Location & Habitat

REGION XI (DAVAO REGION), DAVAO DEL SUR, SANTA CRUZ, Backyard | REGION XII (SOCCSKSARGEN), COTABATO (NORTH COTABATO), MAKILALA, Backyard

Research

UPM, UP Baguio, Oriental Mindoro Medical Society, Mangyan Heritage Center, WMSU and UP Mindanao: Phase II Documentation of Philippine Traditional Knowledge and Practices on Health and Development of Traditional Knowledge Digital Library on Selected Ethnolinguistic Group: The TAGABAWA BAGOBO people of Sitio Todaya, Sta. Cruz, Sibulan, Davao del Sur and Old Bulatukan and Lucatong, Makilala, North Cotabato

Quick Info

Scientific Name
Gossypium hirsutum L., Gossypium barbadense L.
Local Name
Cotton (English), Bulak (Filipino)
Family
Malvaceae
Category
Respiratory
Date Collected
Jun 28, 2026