SP asks DOH for results of study on weed "Mangagaw"

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City is asking the Department of Health to submit the results of its study on "mangagaw" or "tawa-tawa."

Councilor Efren Herrera said the city council adopted a proposed resolution last September 23, 2009 asking the DOH and BFAD to conduct a thorough study of the weed locally known as "mangagaw" or tawa-tawa.

Herrera said the council wanted to know whether the plant has a therapeutic effect on persons with hemorrhagic fever known as dengue and to insure that its wide-spread use is safe and advisable.

Herrera said that with the high prices of medicine, quite a number of victims of dengue fever resort to taking "mangagaw" instead of consulting doctors. (THE FREEMAN)