THE response to my initial blog on the Ashitaba Medicinal herb, otherwise known as the Tomorrow Leaf, seems to have generated a great amount of interest. This is probably an indicator of the number of people who need assistance in the healing of certain physical ailments. This particular blog will serve only as a quick response to some of the queries posted by those who read of the wonderful qualities of the Tomorrow Leaf. A longer response will be forthcoming, complete with pictures of the plant – albeit, a small one at that – and the turnover of a number of them by Ms Charlene Ang, daughter of my classmate Wilson Ang of Bio-Research, to our village Garden Club.

First, Wilson Ang propagates the Tomorrow Leaf as an avocation, and distributes the plant (one plant for each visitor or depending on need) FOR FREE to those who go to his Bio-Research plant in Sucat, Paranaque.

Second, Wilson Ang DOES NOT SELL the Ashitaba plant, but makes it available to those who go to his 4-hectare office FOR FREE as an advocacy, his own way of giving back to the community that has supported his business for so many years. The staff of Bio-Research also hand out a primer on the Ashitaba plant that contains some instructions on how to consume it. But for the sake of clarity, I will make some other recommendations based on what I have heard from Wilson and Charlene, and my own observations after a few weeks spent with the plant.

Some points to remember: The plant does best when established under full sunlight, and watered the usual way, either early AM or late PM. Once established, either in a potting medium or in a garden plot, observe how the plant grows. It grows pretty fast and after a couple of weeks, can be pruned to obtain a new stem for planting. Make sure that enough leaves remain on the two stems to promote photosynthesis. You can take anywhere from two to four leaves from each plant per day as long as you see new leaves sprouting the next day, thus the name Tomorrow Leaf. Once harvested, clean the leaves like you would do to fresh vegetables. Wash them and then place in a mixture of water and salt for some time just to eliminate any germs, microbes, or other vermin. Then, wash again and store or consume.

Some people make the leaves into a tea, but also consume the leaves after. Personally, I just take four of the leaves per day and chew on them like I would lettuce. My son, who is particular about taste, dips the leaves in his coffee and is satisfied with the taste!

Will the Ashitaba plant solve all our health problems? Maybe yes, maybe not. But the plant has been documented as a particularly effective healing herb, which explains why its existence and availability has kept secret by many who have had access to the herb. Thus, Wilson Ang has chosen to break from the mold by not only propagating the plant, but also choosing to give it away FOR FREE to anyone willing to make the trip to the Sucat facility.

(For those who don’t know how to get there, take the SLEX and exit at Sucat. Go straight until reaching the second Shell station that is at a corner, just before Jaka Plaza. Bio-Research is on the other side of the road, going toward the Sucat exit, just after the Holy Trinity chapel and mortuary(!). For those coming from Baclaran, just look out for the Holy Trinity facility. Bio-Research is located right after that place.)

Hope this answers some of the questions that came in.