Bayabas
Psidium guajava Linn.
GUAVA

Other scientific names Common names
Psidium cujavus Linn. Bagabas (Ig.) 
Psidium aromaticum Blanco Bayabas (Ilk., Tag.)
Psidium pyriferum Linn. Bayabo (Ibn.) 
Psidium pomiferum Linn. Bayauas (Bik., Pang.) 
Bayawas (Bik.)
  Biabas (Sul.)
  Gaiyabat (If.) 
  Gaiyabit (If.)
  Geyabas (Bon.) 
  Guayabas (Tag.)
  Guyabas(Ilk., Tag.) 
  Kalimbahin (Tag.)  
  Tayabas (Tag.) 
  Guava (Engl.)

 

Botany
Somewhat hairy young branches are 4-angled with opposite leaves. Flowers with in-curved petals, cottony white, coming out in two's or three's in the leaf axils. Numerous stamens form the attractive part of the flower. Inferior ovaries develop into roundish green fruits that turn yellow on ripening and have edible, aromatic, seedy pulp.

Distribution
Widely distributed in the Philippines. Common in backyards. Well-known because of its edible fruit. Propagation by seeds, budding, grafting, and marcotting. Root cuttings have been tried with success.

Parts utilized
Leaves

Constituents
Fixed oil, 6%; volatile (essential) oil, 0.365%; eugenol; tannin 8-15%; saponins; amydalin; phenolic acids; malic acid; ash, aldehydes.

Uses
Folkloric
Astringent, antispasmodic, anthelminthic and antiseptic properties.
Leaves used for wounds and toothache must always be fresh.
Decoction or infusion of fresh leaves used for wound cleaning to prevent infection and to facilitate healing.
Aromatic bath: Use warm decoction of leaves.
Diarrhea: Boil for 15 minutes 4 to 6 tablespoons of chopped leaves in 18 ounces of water. Strain and cool. Drink 1/4 of the decoction every 3 - 4 hours.
Toothache: Chew 2-3 young leaves and put into the tooth cavity;
Gum swelling: Chewed leaves; or use the leaf decoction as mouthwash 3 times daily; chewed leaves.
Toothache: Chew but do not swallow fresh leaves.
Skin ulcers, wounds, pruritic or infected: Apply decoction of leaves or unripe fruit as wash or the leaf poultice on the wound or use the decoction for wound cleansing. It is also popularly used for the wound healing of circumcision wounds.
Nosebleeds: Densely roll the bayabas leaves and place into the nostril cavity.
Vaginal wash: Because of antiseptic properties, warm decoction of leaves as vaginal wash (after childbirth) or douche.
Cosmetic
Leaf extract used in skin whitening products.
Dental
Toothbrush au-natural: Bayabas twigs, chewed at the ends until frayed, used as alternative for toothbrushing with whitening effect.


Availability:
Wild-crafted.