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The Yerba Buena (Mentha x villosa Huds Fam. Lamiaceae). Photo by Sarah Hazel Moces S. Pulumbarit and IHM/File

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ABS-CBN News Digital Intern

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1742716907203image-74.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">The Yerba Buena (Mentha x villosa Huds Fam. Lamiaceae). <em>Photo by Sarah Hazel Moces S. Pulumbarit and IHM/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) researchers have developed a safer and more effective alternative to painkillers using the herb Yerba Buena.</p><p>The UPM researchers said that the Yerba Buena tablet had significant analgesic effects on their test subjects.</p><p>Clinical tests showed that the pain relief provided by the herbal tablet took effect within 10 minutes of consumption.</p><p>The pain relief lasted up to 13 hours for moderate to severe pain from operations such as circumcision, dental extraction, and childbirth.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/3/19/up-develops-anti-gout-tablet-from-pansit-pansitan-plant-1506">RELATED: UP develops &#x27;powerful&#x27; anti-gout tablet from &#x27;pansit-pansitan&#x27; plant</a></div><p>The Yerba Buena tablet — compared to its synthetic counterpart, Paracetamol — is safer and more effective, the study said, as it does not pose any risk to the liver due to its natural properties. </p><p>While Paracetamol is widely accepted and considered safe for pain management, it could cause liver damage as it produces a toxic byproduct when taken in high dosages.</p><p>The Yerba Buena tablet has the potential to make a breakthrough in the field of medicine due to its pharmaceutical properties and the increasing demand for natural medicinal alternatives.</p><p>Besides its natural benefits, it is also an affordable alternative as it is priced between P4 to P7 per tablet, the UP experts said.</p><p>While the natural painkiller was included in the Philippine National Formulary in 2008, it was removed due to the unavailability of raw materials for mass production. </p><p>Fortunately, it is now ready for mass production due to recent technological advancements.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2024/10/2/up-researchers-ampalaya-medicine-tablet-for-type-2-diabetes-shows-promise-1343">UP researchers&#x27; ampalaya medicine tablet for Type 2 diabetes shows promise<br/></a></div><p>With intellectual property rights secured, the researchers are currently looking for partnerships to commercialize the tablet.</p><p>UPM researchers have also developed other herbal tablets such as ampalaya pill to manage Type 2 Diabetes as well as anti-gout tablet from &quot;pansit-pansitan&quot; plant.</p><p>These medical developments are also currently seeking partnerships to push for their commercialization.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ogZP0mU16P4?&amp;t=11s&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></strong><br/></div>

<p>University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) researchers have developed a natural, safer, and more effective alternative to painkillers using the herb Yerba Buena.</p>

University of the Philippines Manila (UPM) researchers have developed a natural, safer, and more effective alternative to painkillers using the herb Yerba Buena.

UP develops herbal painkiller, seeks partners for commercialization

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UP develops herbal painkiller, seeks partners for commercialization

ABS-CBN News Digital Intern,

Sam Bernardo

Published March 23, 2025 04:22 PM PHT

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