By Penelope A. Domogo, MD
Oregano (scientific name – Origanum vulgare) is one of the sturdiest herbs that I know of. We have some oregano in our pot gardens and they thrive even with just a little soil. We haven’t changed the soil for many years and they are as robust as can be. I just cut the woody stems to give way for new shoots. Sometime ago, I cut some stems and placed them on the cement floor and even after many months, they didn’t dry up and they could be replanted! Apparently, this plant can live just on air for a long time. It can thrive on any soil. What amazing power! This tremendous power of plants to heal and survive are what we get when we eat them, drink them or smell them.
Oregano is good for cough. Just get the leaves, wash with plain water if they haven’t been washed by the rain, then place them on the cover of pot of boiling water or food. Wait till they wilt then squeeze them directly to a spoon or cup and drink its juice. They have to wilt, otherwise, you will not be able to squeeze their juice. It has a mild taste. For kids, give one teaspoon plain three times a day. Give one tablespoon for adults. However, if you took one spoon and you are okay then that’s it. My grandchildren love it plain. You can put a drop of honey just to give it a sweet taste. But remember, honey is still sugar so just a drop will do if necessary.
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Lagundi (scientific name – Vitex negundo) is another one of those indigenous medicines for cough and colds and flu and fever and asthma. It is also a pain reliever. Boil a handful of leaves in two cups water for 5 minutes and divide into 3 doses so you can drink it 3x a day. The taste is unpleasant so manufacturers put a lot of sugar to make it syrup. This is available in the drugstore in syrup and tablet form. But if you want it freshly made, you can get from your garden and concoct your cough remedy. I read that it can also relieve arthritis. Lagundi easily thrives once it has taken root. Like oregano, it can be propagated though cutting.
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Sambong (scientific name – Blumea balsamifera) was traditionally used for cough and colds until it was discovered fairly recently that it could also melt kidney stones. Of course there were no kidney stones in the past, that’s why. Like lagundi, it is now available in the market. You can also boil the leaves like lagundi and drink the decoction three times a day. It can also be propagated by cutting.
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Gawed (scientific name – Piper betle) is not just for momma chewing but also used traditionally to relieve cough. Just wilt the mature leaves on top of the cover of boiling water or food, then quickly rub coconut oil and stick it on the back (“tapal”). For adults, you can place two leaves at the back but for children, only one is enough. Don’t overdo it. The leaves will just fall when they dry up. It is more convenient to do this at night. You can repeat the process if there’s still cough.
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Our generous Creator gave a lot more plants to use for cough and colds – ginger, peppermint, eucalyptus, etc. You can also mix the plants like what my friend Bernice Prado does. She gets an assortment of herbs from the gardens of Bontoc General Hospital and makes a delicious tea. She’s truly a pharmacist. For those who don’t have the patience of making their own medicine straight from your garden, there are essential oils already in the market like those produced by Young Living. These are pure, organic plant oils which come in handy anytime you need them.***
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“And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.” Ezekiel 47:12
