Health Benefits of Lagundi
We all have our own definition of “health”. But WHO (World Health Organization) defines it as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Every human being, regardless of ethnicity, religion, political beliefs, economic situation, or social standing, has the fundamental right to health, as it is one of the most considered factors in a person’s life. In this article, we are listing all the health benefits of Lagundi.
The State of Herbal Medicine
One way to improve overall health and well-being is through herbal medicine. Herbal medicine utilizes a more affordable and accessible use of resources for the treatment of disease and medical conditions, which some people may find more comforting as they think products labeled as “natural” are safe and good for them. It seeks to restore the body to a condition of natural balance in order for the body to repair itself.
Herbal medications come in many different forms. You can buy them in the form of tablets, capsules, powders, liquids, teas, extracts, and fresh or dried plants. They come from active and powerful ingredients that originate from plants and are more widespread way back in pre-modern times. And in the Philippines, using conventional and alternative medicine has always been a part of Filipino culture.
Origin of the Lagundi Plant
All life forms need plants as their primary source of nutrition. Since no animal can produce food or oxygen without plants, they are the main producers of these resources on earth. Numerous products for human use come from plants, which include food, firewood, lumber, fabrics, medicines, dyes, fertilizers, and export trade. And lagundi is one prime example of such a plant.
It is native to the tropical parts of Eastern and Southern Africa and Asia and commonly lives close to bodies of water, grasslands, and mixed forests. Additionally, the Department of Health of the Philippines recognizes and endorses it as one of the ten herbal medicines that show to have therapeutic efficacy.
Most people agree that using the plant’s leaves and roots as an extract can give everyone important health advantages. Filipinos most frequently use lagundi to treat coughs, symptoms of asthma, and other respiratory issues. Occasionally, people ingest lagundi for its analgesic function in alleviating aches and pains, treating rheumatism, easing muscular pain, and healing joint inflammation. You can find it in the Philippine market as a cough medicine under the brand names such as Ascof and Plemex.
Listed down below are the health benefits Lagundi or Vitex negundo can offer:
Health benefits of Lagundi or Vitex negundo
1. Relief from colds, fevers, and other bronchopulmonary diseases
2. Remove symptoms of chickenpox
3. Heals wounds
4. Prevents the spread of toxins and venoms
5. Helps in menstruation
6. Relieves anxiety
7. Improves digestion
8. Helps with skin problems
1. Relief from colds, fevers, and other bronchopulmonary diseases
Lagundi contains a substance called chysopleniol D with antihistamine and muscle relaxation properties, which scientists already have proven time and time again. Pharmaceutical companies already mass produce cough relievers, some of which are for children, due to this substance.
Moreover, Pharmaceutical companies already found ways to use Lagundi for other diseases. One of which is extracting juices from the flower for treating diarrhea and many more.
It can also counteract and lessen asthma attacks and even prevent leukotrienes, a group of chemicals that attack asthma. This chemical often affects the airways longer than histamine.
2. Remove symptoms of chickenpox
Chicken pox is often caused by a virus called varicella-zoster. One person can catch it by interacting with the subject who has it or by touching things that they already touched while having the disease. Most people only get this disease once in their lives, during childhood. Appearing with small blisters, chicken pox can also occur with a fever.
Most Filipinos often partner Lagundi with Balimbing to remove the symptoms of chicken pox. Both use leaves to treat their respective symptoms. Balimbing leaves are for itchiness, and Lagundi leaves are for fever. These herbal medicines usually take days to see the effect. That is why doctors and pediatricians often recommend regular intake to alleviate the fever symptom of chicken pox. The recommended intake of the syrups per age is listed below:
- Adults: 1 cup per 4 hours
- Babies: 1 teaspoon every 4 hours
- Children (2 – 6 years old): ¼ cup per 4 hours
- Children (7 – 12 years old): ½ cup per 4 hours
3. Heals wounds
You can also use Lagundi to heal wounds faster. It can also act as an antibacterial wash to treat wounds and encourage quick recovery. By boiling the leaves, Lagundi is often used as a bandage for wounds.
4. Prevents spread of toxins and venoms
The effectiveness of the Lagundi formulation has been demonstrated in limiting the transmission of disease-causing bacteria. To stop the spread of toxins from the bites of deadly animals, lagundi seeds are boiled in water and either eaten or the water is consumed.
5. Helps in menstruation
Women experiencing after-pain during the course of the puerperal period use a warm bath made of a leaf decoction. Women also use this herbal treatment, mostly to treat menopausal symptoms and menstrual pain.
6. Relieves anxiety
Lagundi tea or boiled leaves might help to calm nerves and soothe the body and mind, which promotes relaxation.
7. Improves digestion
Lagundi leaves are well-known for being a great treatment for some digestive issues since they contain active ingredients with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities that can aid with digestive issues.
8. Helps with skin problems
Applying crushed Lagundi leaves to an affected region will help in naturally treating acne, and putting Lagundi leaves in bathwater can help improve and smooth the skin. Itching and bug bites can also both be relieved using this technique.
Lagundi is also effective in treating skin conditions like boils, leprosy, and rashes because it contains cooling and antibacterial properties. To heal minor burns, cuts, and wounds, lagundi leaves can also be used to produce a poultice.
Final Thoughts
Herbal remedies are used extensively to treat medical ailments by people all over the world. Although they frequently have very broad uses, many of their alleged advantages are not well supported by science. It is important that herbal medications be taken under the supervision of a health professional and be given the same level of caution as prescription drugs, for the reason that herbal medicine has an impact on the body in a way similar to conventional drugs and may even be dangerous if misused.
Additionally, they may adversely interact with the other medications you are taking, which could increase the risk of negative side effects or impair the effectiveness of the other medications you are taking. As a result, it is advised that you speak with your physician before taking herbal supplements.
Read more:
