Study on the use of banana leaves

A total of 10 clients with decubiti ulcers were treated with banana leaves for 2 to 3 weeks during their confinement at the Philippine General Hospital Ward 5, during the months of January to the early part of March 1992. Since Ward 5 has two rooms accommodating 15 clients at any one time, one room was utilized for this research in order not to contaminate the other room in terms of research effect. A quasi-experimental research design was used. The 10 clients in Room A, who has two-inch circumference decubitis ulcers, were treated with boiled guava leaves as antiseptic solution. The wounds were dried with clean old T-shirts and clean banana leaves were applied three times a day over a period of 2-3 weeks. Room B clients who also had decubitus ulcers of similar dimensions, served as the control group. The usual decubitus ulcer treatment consisting of daily cleaning, application of betadine and vaselinized gauze pads were used for those in Room B, over a similar duration. The results of the study showed that the size of the decubiti in Room A decreased by 3 centimeters after a week's application of the boiled guava leaves infusion and banana leaves. The decrease and the drying of the decubitus site continued from day to day as evidence by the daily assessment and observation of the senior students nurses in-charge of the clients. When compared with those treated with visual betadine and vaselinized gauze pads in Room B, the healing of the decubitus ulcers in Room A was faster by a week. Through laboratory test, it has been proven that guava leaves are astringent in effect because of the tannic acid they contain. Banana leaves have a therapeutic element because the leaves contain preservative moisture, and it is also tannic in content, thus favoring the healing of ulcers. Though limited in scope, this study has shown that natural supplies of banana and guava leaves can be maximally harnessed for health care internvention purposes