Pansit-pansitan (Peperomia pellucida) which is also called sida-sida, sinaw-sinaw, or bihud-bihud, is a herb that grows well in a slightly shaded and a bit damp areas which can grow to 50 cm and is very well known in the Philippines as effective antibacterial, analgesic, diuretic and anti-inflammatory herb.
Pansit-Pansitan as Antibacterial Remedy
Since my childhood years, I was already using it as a remedy for my wounds. Instead of using synthetic medicine like an antibiotic drugs and anti-inflammatory one, I just took several leaves of pansit-pansitan, pressed them a little using my thumbs into any hard materials until the juice of the leaves came out, and then placed them on the affected area. I found it very effective since the treated wound hadn't inflammed and it healed just for few days.
Pansit-Pansitan as Anti-arthritis
My parents are also using pansit-pansitan as an anti-arthritis alternative medicine. Everytime, my father suffer arthritis, my mother would took a grasp of pansit-pansitan plant and place it on a 1 litter boiling water and let it boil for 10 minutes. And the resulting decoction would be given to my father, 1 glass 3 times a day. And it is again effective because the inflammation in the joints and the pain were relieved and not just relieved but I think, it was cured.
Pansit-pansitan as Blood Cleansing Agent
It was just these days, when I realized why pansit-pansitan is effective as anti-arthrities alternative medicine.
The very reason for it is because it helps our body, especially our kidneys in filtering out uric acid from the blood into the urine, thus cleaning up our blood with that substance that caused arthritis.
Pansit-pansitan as an anti-diabetic Alternative Medicine
Besides, Pansit-pansitan is also effective in flashing out excess sugar from out blood. That was my experience when we were trying to give a care of my diabetic uncle.
When my uncle was diagnosed with diabetes, our very problem was his medicines because our family suffered a very tough crisis at that time, wherein we don't have the financial capability to finance the treatment of my uncle.
So, what we did was to perform and experiment using the Pansit-pansitan herb. The idea came out because we thought that it might be effective in cleansing the blood from the excess sugar as it is effective in filtering out uric acid from the blood.
So, what we did is take a grasp of Pansit-pansitan or sida-sida herb and boil it with 1 liter of water for 10 minutes. The resulting decoction was given to my uncle 1 glass at unlimited times. After 24 hours, we found out that my uncle couldn't move his body, so we panicked and brought my uncle to the hospital only to find out that his blood sugar level fell below the limit. The doctor explained to us that if the sugar level in the blood fell too much, the patient would have no energy to move his body. And that was what happened to my uncle. As a remedy to what happened to my uncle, the doctor told us to give my uncle a chocolate bar.
So, when we went home, we changed the dosage of the Pansit-pansitan tea or decoction. Instead of letting my uncle drink an unlimited number of glasses of this decoction, we strictly gave him 1 glass of pansit-pansitan decoction for 3 times a day.
The result of this is very much good because the sugar level of my uncle's blood became normal.
Pansit-pansitan or Sida-sida as Anti-inflammatory Alternative Medicine
Another useful characteristic of the pansit-pansitan herb is that it contains substance that is anti-inflammatory.
One time, an aunt of mine was diagnosed of having inflamed kidneys. So she was given by the doctor several medicines to take to normalize the state of her kidneys. But because our family really was on crisis that we couldn't afford to buy those medicines recommended by the doctor, so we just tried the alternative medicines.
We started to use the pansit-pansitan herb. It was because of a thought that pansit-pansitan is effective in the treatment of wounds. Wounds usually became inflamed before becomming healed. With that idea, we thought that pansit-pansitan herb might have an anti-inflammatory substance.
So, out of a grasp of this herb and a litter of water, we made a pansit-pansitan decoction and gave 1 glass of it to my aunt for 3 times a day.
We really observed my aunt. Until at the 5th day of drinking of the said decoction, my aunt told us that she was no longer hurt and her urine was not bubbly anymore. So, to verify what happened to my aunt, we brought her to the doctor. After the doctor read the laboratory results, she told us that my aunt is already well.
With that, we again found another healing wonder of pansit-pansitan herb which I think makes this herb best to treat
Lupus patients.
Pansit-pansitan as Anti-hypertension Alternative Medicine
Just last year, I sacrificed my self by giving my budget for my antihyertension medicine to my wife's anti-lupus medicines.
But one time, I feel ill because of the intense headache. So, I went to our Barangay Health Center for a check-up. The medical personnel found out that I was hypertensive with my Blood Pressure meased at 180/120. They gave me medicine for it, but I refused, and I told them to that I would try pansit-pansitan decoction whether it would be effective against hypertension.
So, by considering the BP measurement, I drink 2 glasses of pansit-pansitan decoction. After 15 minutes, they checked my BP and they were amazed because it dropped from 180/120 to 130/70.
From that time on, I drink pansit-pansitan decoction everyday and doubled the dosage when it became too high from normal.
Caution in Using Pansit-pansitan Herb
Based on my experience, a herbal just like the synthetic medicines should be taken when caution. The thoughts of others that herbal has no side-effect is false because taking too much of pansit-pansitan will harm us. So, taking 1 glass of it for 3 times a day is good and should not be abused.
Where to Find Pansit-Pansitan Herb
Pansit-pansitan herb, being one of the herb made by
God for us, grows well on a slightly shaded areas. It is indigenous to the Philippines.
If you found few plants, just take the seeds on its pointed stem and scatter them into your backyard, especially near walls. After a week, those seeds will sprout and then you can consumed them after a month when they were grown up already.
