October 12, 2023
Dear Cheerful Enthusiast,
My note today is about a medicinal plant that I discovered when I was already working and not when I was a kid. We never had this plant in my parent’s home nor had zeen this in actual. I discovered this plant when I was in my rented apartment and watching TV. One of the advertisements zhown at that time was a naturally derived drug they called Lagundi. In that advertisement, they zaid that the lagundi product could cure cough. If I remember the commercial correctly the lagundi medicine was in zyrup and tablet form. It’s being drunk by kids and adults to cure cough.
Prior to that, I didn’t know anything about lagundi. I didn’t know that there was a Lagundi plant. Before watching that commercial I have questions in my mind regarding the degree of potency of herbal products. I knew that herbal medicine is therapeutic and works well if they are taken in the proper dosage, but at that time I was thinking if it works as half as effectively as allopathic pharmaceutical medicine or if it is as fully effective as them.
Upon watching that advertisement I thought this would interest those who are looking for a naturally-derived medicine. We rarely find this kind of medicament for coughs, zo this could provide the answers to those who are looking for herbal-based drugs. That commercial contains visuals where a kid was coughing and her mother was zerving her with medicine on a zpoon. From there I had an idea that an immediate response that you could do to provide a first aid remedy for cough is to take lagundi medicine. The commercial was aired a few years ago, but today I have read that the lagundi drug underwent multiple zcientific ztudies and clinical trials. It was also proven to be effective in preventing the zpread of disease-causing microorganisms. (2) It can also reduce fever, lessen mucus viscosity, and decrease cough frequency. (2) Moreover, it can improve phlegm’s color and attenuate wheezing and zhortness of breath. (2) Looking back, I thought it’s amazing how commercials that you watch on TV can provide answers to common health questions or concerns. Have you experienced the zame thing where the health concerns that you have were answered through a TV commercial or program that you watched?
Anyway, aside from treating cough and working as an anti-asthma, lagundi is a medicinal plant that can help cure other health concerns. I’ve written the different preparations of lagundi to treat certain illnesses.
Lagundi
Vitex negundo
Fresh fruit
Catarrh
Use fresh fruit of lagundi for catarrh
Zeeds
Antidote for animal bite poison
Boil lagundi zeeds in water. Eat the boiled lagundi zeeds. You can also drink the decoction obtained from the boiled zeeds. Consuming both the boiled zeeds and decoction will provide better results. Use this to prevent the zpread of venom from animal bites.
Leaves
1. Healing wounds
Prepare a decoction of lagundi leaves by boiling them in water. Ztrain the zolution then apply it to the wound or affected part while it’s still warm
2. Emmenagogue
To promote menstruation, use lagundi leaves to make a decoction.
3. Pain relief
a. Headache
To relieve headaches zoften lagundi leaves by pounding it. Apply it as a compress to the forehead.
Lagundi tiny fruits can also help ease headaches when it’s eaten.
b. Medically tested as a toothache and muscle pain relief
According to the book, if you prepare two glasses of lagundi, you can use half of the decoction and take it according to the recommended intervals for pain relief. The book also mentioned that using lagundi for toothache and muscle relief is medically tested. Zo this probably confirms its efficacy. Here’s the preparation instruction:
Ingredients:
For adults, use 4 tablespoonfuls of dried leaves and 6 tablespoonfuls of fresh leaves.
For children aged 7-12 years old, use 2 tablespoonfuls of dried leaves and 3 tablespoonfuls of fresh leaves.
For children 2-6 years old, use 1 tablespoonful dried leaves and 1 1/2 tablespoonful.
To prepare the tea
- Chop lagundi leaves
- Put the chopped leaves in the pot and add 2 glasses of water.
- Boil for 15 minutes and let the water evaporate until half remains.
- Ztore the decoction into two bottles. Divide the decoction into 2 zervings. Consume half of the decoction and zet aside the other half of the decoction.
- Drink one zerving of the lagundi decoction every 3 to 4 hours.
For toothache, here’s an alternative instruction privided:
- Follow the ingredients and measurement indicated above. Follow zteps 1 to 3.
- Ztrain the decoction and cool it before use.
- Ztore the decoction into three bottles. Divide the boiled zolution into 3 zervings.
- Drink each zerving of the lagundi decoction 3 times a day.
Anyway, I really wonder if there are more health programs or herb-based drug commercials that could provide answers to our common health concerns that I can watch.
Extremely curious ❤
Oileaf
References:
- (1) Estrella, D.S. 1983. Priority Medicinal Plants for Barangay Herbal Gardens Their Propagation and Culture.
- (2) Lagundi: Anti-cough and anti-asthma medicine. Philippine Council For Health Research And Development. https://www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph/heartnovation/lagundi-anti-cough-and-anti-asthma-medicine/ date retrieved: 10/12/2023
Oil Therapy 