We’ve always use the juice extracts of steamed Oregano leaves whenever Nico has cough.  But since our home is undergoing renovation right now, the Oregano plants which used to be so abundant, withered one by one, as our backyard served as the tambakan of construction slabs and scraps and what-have-yous of those construction activities.  It’s saddening really, but I promised myself that once the renovation is finished, I’ll really make a good clean up of our backyard and start re-planting herbs and veggies again.

Late last month, Nico had one of those bouts of nasty coughs again. Itchy, dry and sticky with all the phlegm trapped in his respiratory system, I rushed to call the pedia for a medicine recommendation.  There’s Ambrolex and Solmux, both mucolytics and Ascof Lagundi, a herbal cough remedy, that the doctor recommended.  Even before we introduced Oregano, Nico had tried Ambrolex and Solmux.  These meds helped but am not too happy with the progress.  So for this recent cough attack, I decided to buy the last one–Ascof Lagundi.  And I’m glad I’ve made the right decision.

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The effect of this herbal cough syrup is much like that of Oregano’s.  It didn’t take long and minutes after drinking the first tablespoons full of the green-colored bitter-tasting herbal syrup, the next thing I knew, Nico was gagging the sink, expelling those nasty sticky phlegm.  And what’s good about Ascof is that it’s definitely very cheap.  For only P85 and my kid’s coughing went away after three days.

This amazing herbal medicine is manufactured by Pascual Laboratories.  Its main ingredient is Lagundi.

Lagundi is a common medicine shrub in the Philippines, and grows wild in many places like Mt. Banahaw. The use of Lagundi for medicinal purposes has a long history in the Philippines. The Philippine Department of Health has certified Lagundi as a medicinal plant for treatment in cases of colds, flu, pharyngitis, and asthma. Today, pharmaceutical companies sell it in tablet form at drug stores. A new cough syrup for children made from Lagundi is also on the market now. These products are approved by the Bureau of Food and Drugs.

The Department of Science and Technology has performed numerous studies on Lagundi. Phytochemical studies have revealed that Lagundi contains chrysoplenol D, a smooth muscle relaxant with anti-histamine properties. It also contains isoorientin, casticin, luteolin-7-0-glucoside, among other things which exhibit an anti-histamine effect. Lagundi also shows leukotriene release inhibition, an important mechanism in controlling asthma.

Today doctors in the Philippine routinely prescribe Lagundi as a remedy for coughs or for asthma relief.  (Philippine Herbs)

Too happy with the results, I think I’ll include Lagundi as one of my greens to plant as soon as our backyard is free from all the construction clutter.