When it comes to cough, natural medicine is in

MANILA, Philippines - The season’s changing temperature is the time when most people, particularly children and the elderly, are most prone to cough.

Besides colds and flu, other common causes of cough include allergies and asthma, pneumonia, sinusitis, cigarette smoking and exposure to pollutants and second hand smoke.

Below are some steps worth taking to ease the discomforts brought about by cough:

• Increase fluid intake. This helps keep the mucus thin and helps you cough it up. It also helps prevent dehydration.

• Avoid second-hand smoke both at home and in the workplace. Don’t smoke or use other forms of tobacco. A dry, hacking “smoker’s cough” means your lungs are constantly irritated. 

• Practice frequent hand washing, especially among children. If your child goes to a day care center, ask the staff to wash their hands often to prevent the spread of infection. You should also wash your hands thoroughly.

• Get enough rest and eat a balanced diet.

• Avoid using cough medicines that are made of chemical or synthetic ingredients, since these could trigger possible side effects, such as an allergic reaction that can worsen coughing. Instead, take medicines that are made of natural ingredients, like ASCOF Lagundi.

Manufactured by Pascual Laboratories, ASCOF Lagundi is made from 100 percent lagundi leaves and is commercially available in ponkan, menthol and new strawberry-flavored variants. It comes in 300- and 600-mg tablets and 60- and 120-ml syrup.

As one of the 10 herbal medicines endorsed by the Department of Health, lagundi is an effective natural medicine with proven therapeutic value. 

It has been clinically proven effective in treating not just cough but also bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and pharyngitis.

The Department of Science and Technology has also performed numerous studies on lagundi. These phytochemical studies have shown that lagundi contains chrysoplenol D, a smooth muscle relaxant with antihistamine properties. 

In addition, lagundi has been clinically tested to inhibit the release of leukotrienes, which makes it effective in controlling asthma.

Some doctors even prescribe lagundi to assist in the treatment of asthma, as regular doses reduce the severity of asthma attacks.

Aside from having no side effects, lagundi is also more affordable than its synthetic counterparts.