banner

PHOTO EDITING

Top 5 Herbal Tea

Herbal teas offer a variety of tastes and healing properties. When steeping herbal tea, a cover should be placed over the pot or cup until it is ready to drink. Here are some of the most popular herbal teas.

1) Detox Tea

A blend of detox herbs including milk thistle, sarsparilla root, dandelion root, echinacea, and red clover that stimulate the liver, gallbladder, and immune system. It should not be used by pregnant or nursing women, or by people with gallstones, breast or uterine cancer, or autoimmune disease.

2) Chamomile Tea

Chamomile is a calming herb that can be helpful for people under stress. It also relieves bloating and indigestion. Chamomile may cause an allergic reaction, and it should not be used by people taking warfarin or other anticoagulant drugs.

3) Ginger Tea

Ginger soothes the digestive system. It is also used for nausea and has been used for arthritis due to its anti-inflammatory effects. People taking drugs with a narrow theraputic index, such as warfarin, should consult a health practitioner since ginger can increase the risk of bleeding.

4) Peppermint Tea

Peppermint is a digestive aid that helps to relieve bloating and indigestion. In the form of coated capsules, peppermint is also used to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and gallstones. It should not be used by people with heartburn, as it may aggravate symptoms.

5) Hawthorn Berry Tea

Hawthorn is a traditional heart tonic. It is an antioxidant that strengthens blood vessel walls and heart function and has a beneficial effect on cholesterol. This tea should not be used to treat a heart condition, and it should not be used by people taking heart or kidney medication without consulting a health practitioner.

Top 5 Drugs

1. Heroin

Heroin is an opiate processed directly from the extracts of the opium poppy. It was originally created to help cure people of addiction to morphine. Upon crossing the blood-brain barrier, which occurs soon after introduction of the drug into the bloodstream, heroin is converted into morphine, which mimics the action of endorphins, creating a sense of well-being; the characteristic euphoria has been described as an “orgasm” centered in the gut. One of the most common methods of heroin use is via intravenous injection.

2. Cocaine

Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. It is both a stimulant of the central nervous system and an appetite suppressant, giving rise to what has been described as a euphoric sense of happiness and increased energy. It is most often used recreationally for this effect. Cocaine is a potent central nervous system stimulant. Its effects can last from 20 minutes to several hours, depending upon the dosage of cocaine taken, purity, and method of administration. The initial signs of stimulation are hyperactivity, restlessness, increased blood pressure, increased heart rate and euphoria. The euphoria is sometimes followed by feelings of discomfort and depression and a craving to experience the drug again. Sexual interest and pleasure can be amplified. Side effects can include twitching, paranoia, and impotence, which usually increases with frequent usage.

One of the best treatment for drug addiction is to consult with cocaine rehab centers for recovery.

3. Methamphetamine

Methamphetamime, popularly shortened to meth or ice, is a psychostimulant and sympathomimetic drug. Methamphetamine enters the brain and triggers a cascading release of norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. Since it stimulates the mesolimbic reward pathway, causing euphoria and excitement, it is prone to abuse and addiction. Users may become obsessed or perform repetitive tasks such as cleaning, hand-washing, or assembling and disassembling objects. Withdrawal is characterized by excessive sleeping, eating and depression-like symptoms, often accompanied by anxiety and drug-craving.

4. Crack Cocaine

Crack cocaine, often nicknamed “crack”, is believed to have been created and made popular during the early 1980s . Because of the dangers for manufacturers of using ether to produce pure freebase cocaine, producers began to omit the step of removing the freebase precipitate from the ammonia mixture. Typically, filtration processes are also omitted. Baking soda is now most often used as a base rather than ammonia for reasons of lowered odor and toxicity; however, any weak base can be used to make crack cocaine. When commonly “cooked” the ratio is 1:1 to 2:3 parts cocaine/bicarbonate.

5. LSD

Lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD, LSD-25, or acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the tryptamine family. Arguably the most regarded of all psychedelics, it is considered mainly as a recreational drug, an entheogen, and a tool in use to supplement various types of exercises for transcendence including in meditation, psychonautics, and illegal psychedelic psychotherapy whether self administered or not. LSD’s psychological effects (colloquially called a “trip”) vary greatly from person to person, depending on factors such as previous experiences, state of mind and environment, as well as dose strength. They also vary from one trip to another, and even as time passes during a single trip. An LSD trip can have long term psychoemotional effects; some users cite the LSD experience as causing significant changes in their personality and life perspective. Widely different effects emerge based on what Leary called set and setting; the “set” being the general mindset of the user, and the “setting” being the physical and social environment in which the drug’s effects are experienced.

Top 10 Diet Foods

1. Skinless, boneless chicken breasts - buy them fresh or frozen, and make sure to remove any remaining traces of skin and any visible fat. Chicken is extremely versatile at mealtime and there are tons of quick, easy recipes to make it taste divine.
2. Blueberries - these antioxidant-loaded powerhouses are low in calories, taste great and can be added to your yogurt, smoothies or oatmeal for a tasty snack.
3. Low-fat cottage cheese - cottage cheese is high in protein and calcium, but make sure you choose the low-fat kind. The texture might seem different, but once you add in fruits or vegetables, you won’t even notice.
4. Broccoli- broccoli might just be labeled a wonder food. It contains almost as much calcium as a glass of milk, is high in Vitamin C, and packs some serious fiber. This is one mean green. Steam it and enjoy with some lemon juice, add it to your stir-fry or enjoy it raw in your salads.
5. Oatmeal - if you’re looking for an energy-boosting and satisfying food for your diet, you can’t get much better than oatmeal. It’s low in fat and calories and contains the right amount of low-Glycemic carbs. Just make sure you choose steel oats as opposed to the prepackaged kind that are high in sugar. Oatmeal tastes great when you combine healthy add-ins like blueberries and soy milk. Or, a popular favorite, adding half a banana, one tablespoon of natural peanut butter and soy milk.
6. Tuna - tuna is one of the cheapest types of protein you can buy, and it’s also low in fat. Many people turn up their noses at tuna, but it can actually taste great if it’s mixed with the right seasonings. Try adding lemon juice and some pepper, or mix in somedill and Dijon mustard. For a spicier alternative, try mixing in some salsa. Once you get used to the flavor, tuna is a cheap and easy addition to your diet.
7. Eggs (Egg Whites) - make sure to buy the kinds that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Whether you boil them, scramble them or combine them with veggies and spices to make a tasty omelet, eggs are a cheap, easy and versatile addition to your weight loss plan. Not to mention they’re high in protein, and are a rich source of vitamins B, A, E and K. It’s the yolk of the egg that contains all the fat, so make sure to remove it. Or better still, buy pre-separated egg whites such as Egg Beaters.
8. Spinach - not just for Popeye anymore! Spinach is a great addition to omelets and soups, and also makes a great salad. The goodness of spinach is backed by its high amounts of Vitamin C, Vitamin E, calcium, fiber and antioxidants. It’s extremely low in calories and has no fat, which makes it a great addition to your weight loss plan.
9. Salsa- everybody salsa! Salsa tastes great on many of your favorite dishes and best of all it is low-fat and low-cal. It adds a delicious flavor and is a healthier option that many other condiments.
10. Apples - refreshing, juicy apples are a great addition to any diet. They are packed with antioxidants and vitamin C, and are an excellent source of fiber that can help lower your cholesterol levels and keep you feeling full. Not to mention, they taste great and are low on the Glycemic Index. So fill up - an apple a day keeps the doctor and the weight away!

Top Ten Causes of Death

Low-income countries	Deaths in millions	% of deaths
Lower respiratory infections	1.05	11.3%
Diarrhoeal diseases	0.76	8.2%
HIV/AIDS	0.72	7.8%
Ischaemic heart disease	0.57	6.1%
Malaria	0.48	5.2%
Stroke and other cerebrovascular disease	0.45	4.9%
Tuberculosis	0.40	4.3%
Prematurity and low birth weight	0.30	3.2%
Birth asphyxia and birth trauma	0.27	2.9%
Neonatal infections	0.24	2.6%

Middle-income countries	Deaths in millions	% of deaths
Ischaemic heart disease	5.27	13.7%
Stroke and other cerebrovascular disease	4.91	12.8%
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	2.79	7.2%
Lower respiratory infections	2.07	5.4%
Diarrhoeal diseases	1.68	4.4%
HIV/AIDS	1.03	2.7%
Road traffic accidents	0.94	2.4%
Tuberculosis	0.93	2.4%
Diabetes mellitus	0.87	2.3%
Hypertensive heart disease	0.83	2.2%

High-income countries	Deaths in millions	% of deaths
Ischaemic heart disease	1.42	15.6%
Stroke and other cerebrovascular disease	0.79	8.7%
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers	0.54	5.9%
Alzheimer and other dementias	0.37	4.1%
Lower respiratory infections	0.35	3.8%
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	0.32	3.5%
Colon and rectum cancers	0.30	3.3%
Diabetes mellitus	0.24	2.6%
Hypertensive heart disease	0.21	2.3%
Breast cancer	0.17	1.9%

World	Deaths in millions	% of deaths
Ischaemic heart disease	7.25	12.8%
Stroke and other cerebrovascular disease	6.15	10.8%
Lower respiratory infections	3.46	6.1%
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease	3.28	5.8%
Diarrhoeal diseases	2.46	4.3%
HIV/AIDS	1.78	3.1%
Trachea, bronchus, lung cancers	1.39	2.4%
Tuberculosis	1.34	2.4%
Diabetes mellitus	1.26	2.2%
Road traffic accidents	1.21	2.1%

Top 5 Pros and Cons Alternative Medicine

Americans spend billions of dollars on alternative medicine each year. Studies show that at least one-in-three people in the United States has used some form of alternative or complementary treatment (not including prayer for health reasons), whether it be dietary supplements for immune health, colonics for digestive health or yoga for heart health.

Since heart disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States, it makes sense that people would seek out every possible therapy to support their heart health. There are quite a few alternative therapies out there that claim to ward off heart problems like angina, clogged arteries and heart attacks. The coenzyme Q10 and the plant hawthorn, which contains strong flavonoids, are marketed as treatments for congestive heart failure. Garlic, soy, cholestin and various antioxidants, including beta-carotene, vitamins ­E, C, and B6, and polyphenols (like those in olive oil), have been touted as effective for lowering bad cholesterol and raising good cholesterol. There's the amino acid carnitine for general heart health, chelation therapy for atherosclerosis and yoga and meditation to lower blood pressure.

With so many people using these types of therapies in addition to traditional approaches like exercise, surgery and prescription drugs, there must be something to it. And in many cases, there is -- but like most things in life and medicine, there are pros and cons to stepping outside the box to promote heart health.

In this article, we'll look at some of the top reasons to include alternative therapies in your heart-health regimen, and we'll also see why and under what circumstances you might want to think twice.


One of the biggest benefits of certain alternative treatments is the way many of them focus on the mind-body connection, which can easily be neglected in a fast-paced life. So, up first, stress reduction.

Top 4 Diet pills

#1 Apidexin 

Apidexin contains 8 patented/patent pending ingredients.What’s the big deal about patented ingredients? They are proven to work. You can’t simply pay money to a patent, you must provide clinical evidence that your ingredient is safe and promotes significant weight loss.
Apidexin is ideal for someone who wants a diet pill / fat burner that contains some of the best ingredients available backed by a money back satisfaction guarantee. With so much clinical proof and a money back guarantee, it’s no surprise that Apidexin is ranked at #1

#2 Phenphedrine 

• Elevates mood and reduces stress
• 100% Ephedra Free
• Perfect Alternative to Ephedra

Phenphedrine Review
Phenphedrine is one of the strongest weight loss and appetite suppressant around. It’s one of the the only products we reviewed that surpassed the weight loss results of the now banned Fen-Phen. It would have been ranked #1 if it had not been for its slightly below average safety score.
Phenphedrine is a long term weight loss pill that leaves users feeling “Happy” and energized.³ The ingredients in Phenphedrine are determined to get you moving in your weight loss goals.

#3 Decaslim 

• Naturally Lose Weight and Treat Acne Fast
• Contains 10 “Super Foods” revealed by Oprah
• Fights Acne, Has Anti Aging benefits, plus Weight Loss!

Decaslim Review
Decaslim is one of the purest diet pills available. Its primary ingredients are ten “Super Foods” which were noted in a TIME magazine article titled “10 Foods that Pack a Wallop”. These foods were clinically proven to aide in healthy weight loss.⁹ After two weeks of taking these foods, the creator of Decaslim was able to lose 12 pounds^*. Her acne also virtually disappeared.^*
Decaslim comes with a 100% unconditional Lifetime Money Back Guarantee, which is a huge bonus in the diet pill industry. If you’re looking for an all natural weight loss and acne curing pill, Decaslim is for you.



#4 Testoripped 

• Muscle Builder
• Male Enhancement
• Weight Loss

Testoripped Review
Testoripped is the supplement of choice for the guy who is looking to shed some weight and add some lean muscle.⁴
TestoRipped contains only the most potent and effective body building, fat shedding, libido enhancing products available – Tribulus Terrestris (80% saponins), Caffeine Anhydrous, Arginine AKG, Creatine Ethyl Ester, L-Glutamine, Eurycoma Longifolia, Synephrine, Guggulsterones, and Yohimbine.
That is pretty much the body builders dream supplement list. It doesn’t matter if you are trying to get big or lean down – these ingredients are some of the most effective supplements available. If you are serious about getting lean, you can’t go wrong with TestoRipped.

Goodbye! Food Pyramid.. Hello! Plate

Plate = New Symbol for Healthy Eating

Goodbye, pyramid. Hello, plate.

The Food Guide Pyramid was the model for healthy eating in the United States. Maybe you had to memorize its rainbow stripes in school.

But the USDA, the agency in charge of nutrition, has switched to a new symbol: a colorful plate —called MyPlate — with some of the same messages:

• Eat a variety of foods.
• Eat less of some foods and more of others.

The pyramid had six vertical stripes to represent the five food groups plus oils. The plate features four sections (vegetables, fruits, grains, and protein) plus a side order of dairy in blue.

The big message is that fruits and vegetables take up half the plate, with the vegetable portion being a little bigger than the fruit section.

And just like the pyramid where stripes were different widths, the plate has been divided so that the grain section is bigger than the protein section. Why? Because nutrition experts recommend you eat more vegetables than fruit and more grains than protein foods.

The divided plate also aims to discourage super-big portions, which can cause weight gain.

What's a Grain Again?

You know what fruits and vegetables are, but here's a reminder about what's included in the three other food groups: protein, grains, and dairy:

• Protein: Beef; poultry; fish; eggs; nuts and seeds; and beans and peas like black beans, split peas, lentils, and even tofu and veggie burgers. Protein builds up, maintains, and replaces the tissues in your body.
• Grains: Bread, cereal, rice, tortillas, and pasta. Whole-grain products such as whole-wheat bread, oatmeal, and brown rice are recommended because they have more fiber and help you feel full.
• Dairy: Milk, yogurt, cheese, and fortified soy milk. With MyPlate, the dairy circle could be a cup of milk, but you also can get your dairy servings from yogurt or cheese. Choose low-fat or nonfat dairy most of the time.

The plate is simple and useful. It also shows how to balance your food groups. There's a reason the protein section is smaller: You don't need as much from that group. Eating more fruits and vegetables will help you eat fewer calories overall, which helps you keep a healthy weight.

Tips for Healthy Diet

13 Keys to a Healthy Diet

Developing healthy eating habits isn't as confusing or as restrictive as many people imagine. The first principle of a healthy diet is simply to eat a wide variety of foods. This is important because different foods make different nutritional contributions. 

Secondly, fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes—foods high in complex carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, low in fat, and free of cholesterol—should make up the bulk of the calories you consume. The rest should come from low-fat dairy products, lean meat and poultry, and fish.

You should also try to maintain a balance between calorie intake and calorie expenditure—that is, don't eat more food than your body can utilize. Otherwise, you will gain weight. The more active you are, therefore, the more you can eat and still maintain this balance.

Following these three basic steps doesn't mean that you have to give up your favorite foods. As long as your overall diet is balanced and rich in nutrients and fiber, there is nothing wrong with an occasional cheeseburger. Just be sure to limit how frequently you eat such foods, and try to eat small portions of them.

You can also view healthy eating as an opportunity to expand your range of choices by trying foods—especially vegetables, whole grains, or fruits—that you don't normally eat. A healthy diet doesn't have to mean eating foods that are bland or unappealing.

The following basic guidelines are what you need to know to construct a healthy diet.

1 Eat plenty of high-fiber foods—that is, fruits, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. These are the "good" carbohydrates—nutritious, filling, and relatively low in calories. They should supply the 20 to 30 grams of dietary fiber you need each day, which slows the absorption of carbohydrates, so there’s less effect on insulin and blood sugar, and provides other health benefits as well. Such foods also provide important vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals (plant chemicals essential to good health).

2 Make sure to include green, orange, and yellow fruits and vegetables—such as broccoli, carrots, cantaloupe, and citrus fruits. The antioxidants and other nutrients in these foods may help protect against developing certain types of cancer and other diseases. Eat five or more servings a day.

3 Limit your intake of sugary foods, refined-grain products such as white bread, and salty snack foods. Sugar, our No.1 additive, is added to a vast array of foods. Just one daily 12-ounce can of soda (160 calories) can add up to 16 pounds over the course of a year. Many sugary foods are also high in fat, so they’re calorie-dense. 

4 Cut down on animal fat. It’s rich in saturated fat, which boosts blood cholesterol levels and has other adverse health effects. Choose lean meats, skinless poultry, and nonfat or low-fat or nonfat dairy products.

5 Cut way down on trans fats, supplied by hydrogenated vegetable oils used in most processed foods in the supermarket and in many fast foods.

6 Eat more fish and nuts, which contain healthy unsaturated fats. Substitute olive or canola oil for butter or stick margarine.

7 Keep portions moderate, especially of high-calorie foods. In recent years serving sizes have ballooned, particularly in restaurants. Choose a starter instead of an entrée, split a dish with a friend, and don’t order supersized anything.

8 Keep your cholesterol intake below 300 milligrams per day. Cholesterol is found only in animal products, such as meats, poultry, dairy products, and egg yolks.

9 Eat a variety of foods. Don't try to fill your nutrient requirements by eating the same foods day in, day out. It is possible that not every essential nutrient has been identified, and so eating a wide assortment of foods helps to ensure that you will get all the necessary nutrients. In addition, this will limit your exposure to any pesticides or toxic substances that may be present in one particular food.

10 Maintain an adequate calcium intake. Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth. Get your calcium from low-fat sources, such as skim milk and low-fat yogurt. If you can't get the optimal amount from foods, take supplements.

11 Try to get your vitamins and minerals from foods, not from supplements. Supplements cannot substitute for a healthy diet, which supplies nutrients and other compounds besides vitamins and minerals. Foods also provide the "synergy" that many nutrients require to be efficiently used in the body.

12 Maintain a desirable weight. Balance energy (calorie) intake with energy output. Exercise and other physical activity are essential.

13 If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. That is one drink a day for women, two a day for men. A drink is defined as 12 ounces of beer, 4 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits. Excess alcohol consumption leads to a variety of health problems. And alcoholic beverages can add many calories to your diet without supplying nutrients.

Health Supplements

TOP 10 HEALTH SUPPLEMENTS

• Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 is one of the top ten health supplements because it strengthens the immune system and helps relieve the effects of physical and mental stress on the body.  Because 10-30% of adults over 30 may not absorb Vitamin B12 from food well, the University of Maryland Medical Center’s Complementary Medicine Program recommends daily health supplements containing vitamin B12 to all adults over the age of 50. 

• Green Tea Extract

The catechins in green tea extract, especially one known as ECGC (Epigallocatechin Gallate) protect your body against respiratory and digestive infections, short circuit the reproduction of cancerous cells, help lower high blood pressure, reduce the levels of LDL and total cholesterol in your blood, and – believe it or not – helps fight cavities.  Green tea extract should definitely be an ingredient in any health supplements that you take regularly. 

• Vitamin D

While scientists say that ten minutes a day of full summer sun is enough for your body to manufacture all the Vitamin D that it needs, they also suggest that anyone living in the northern states should be taking health supplements with Vitamin D during the winter months in order to get enough Vitamin D for their body’s needs.

• Alpha Lipoic Acid

Health supplements containing alpha lipoic acid (ALA) may help your body control its use of insulin, helps protect against memory loss in aging and may be beneficial in treating Alzheimers’ disease and stroke victims, increases blood flow to the nerve endings and helps reduce tingling and other symptoms of neuropathy.  The antioxidant properties of ALA are what make it so important as part of a daily regimen of health supplements. 

• Calcium

According to the National Institutes of Health, the average American gets less than half their needed calcium from his daily diet.  Because our high protein diets and the high consumption of caffeine also deplete the body’s supply of calcium, the NIH recommends daily health supplements containing calcium for most American adults. 

• Saw Palmetto (for men)

Beta sitosterol, the active ingredient in saw palmetto, is one of the most effective treatments for the symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, a prostate condition that affects over 60% of American men over 50. According to the Complementary Medicine Program at the University of Maryland Medical Center, the recommended dosage for treatment of the early stages of BPH is difficult to get in tea or tincture.  They recommend daily health supplements containing 160 mg of saw palmetto extract standardized for 85% to 95% of fatty acids and sterols for best effects. 

• Black Cohosh (for women)

Black cohosh has been used for over 40 years to treat menstrual cramps, hot flashes, mood swings, irritability and sleep disturbances.  Dozens of scientific studies over the years have proven the effectiveness of black cohosh in treating those symptoms.  Even the American College of Gynecologists recognizes the value of using black cohosh to treat menopausal symptoms, though they suggest limiting treatment with black cohosh to six months or less.  Health supplements containing black cohosh can help relieve the symptoms of painful menstruation and pre-menopause in women and greatly increase the enjoyment of daily their daily lives. 

• Vitamin C

Daily health supplements containing Vitamin C can help your body combat the effects of aging and boost the immune system to help you combat common illnesses.  It seems to prevent cataracts (Nurses’ Health Study) and protect the eyes against macular degeneration, the most common cause of vision loss among older adults.  Vitamin C, along with Vitamin E, may also help prevent Alzheimer’s disease. 

• Coenzyme Q10 (CO Q10)

Since its discovery in 1957, CO Q10 (ubiquinone) has been widely studied.  It’s a component in the mitochondria in every cell in your body, where it seems to function as an antioxidant.  Among the benefits associated with taking health supplements containing CO Q10 are fewer and less severe migraines, lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reduced incidence of atherosclerosis, increased energy and heightened immune system. 

• Fish Oil (DHA and EPA)

The omega 3 essential fatty acids found in fish oil, DHA and EPA, are essential for your body to make new cells, particularly brain and nerve cells. Because of the low availability and contamination of natural sources of fish oil and omega 3 fatty acids, health supplements containing fish oil extracts, particularly DHA, are a vital source of these important nutrients. 

While it is certainly possible to take each of these health supplements separately, most nutritional experts recommend choosing a multi-benefit health supplement.  Our personal choice of all the daily health supplements we’ve researched and tried is Total Balance, a formulation created by the R&D department at Xtend-Life Natural Products in New Zealand.  We particularly like the fact that Xtend-Life is committed to the concept of synergy, and carefully formulates all of its nutritional and health supplements to work together and support each other. 

Total Balance, Xtend-Life’s complete daily health supplement, is made in three different formulations to take into account the varying needs of men and women at different stages in their lives.  The Unisex formulation contains all the essential nutrients recommended for your body’s daily needs in a formula that is carefully balanced to make full use of each of them.  Total Balance Plus for Men adds the most potent herbal extracts, minerals and phytonutrients to promote prostate health in adult men.  Total Balance Plus for Women is created specifically to address the needs of women with extra calcium, vitamins and herbal extracts that relieve and prevent cramping, hot flashes, mood swings and other symptoms associated with menopause and premenstrual syndrome. 

While a varied diet is the best source of nutrients for your body, taking daily health supplements like Total Balance from Xtend-Life Natural Products can help ensure that your body has all the nutrients it needs to boost your energy and improve your health.

Herbal Medicine

What is lagundi

Scientifc Name : Vitex Negundo
Also knows as:
Dabtan (If.) Dangla (Ilk.) Kamalan (Tag.) Lagundi (Ibn., Tag., Bik., P. Bis.) Liñgei (Bon.) Limo-limo (Ilk.) Sagarai (Bag.) Turagay (Bis.) Five-leaved chaste tree (Engl.) Huang Ching (Chin.) Agno-casto (Spanish)
 
Lagundi (scientific name: Vitex negundo) is a large native shrub that grows in the Philippines and has been traditionally used as herbal medicine. The Philippine Department of Health has conducted research and study for Lagundi and has suggested that the lagundi plant has a number verifiable therapeutic value
Lagundi is an erect, branched tree or shrub, that grows to as much as 5 m high. Lagundi has a single thick, woody stem like a trunk and is usually seen in swamps of the Philippines. Lagund leaves appear palmately, in the form of five pointed leaves which splay out like the fingers of a hand. Lagundi leaves are 5-foliate, rarely with
3 leaflets only. Lagundi leaves are 4-10 cm long, slightly hairy beneath. The lagundi flowers are blue to lavender, 6-7 mm long bearing fruit globose of about 4mm in diameter that turns black when ripe,

lagundi, herbal medicine

Lagundi has been traditionally used as herbal medicine by Philippine folks.
The efficacy of Lagundi has also been verified by the Philippine Department of Health and other Philippine based scientists which concentrated on its use to ease respiratory complaints. Lagundi is generally used for the treatment of coughs, asthma symptoms, and other respiratory problems,
Lagundi is also known for its analgesic effect that helps alleviate pain and discomfort. Other traditional benefits that are derived from the use of Lagundi are as follows:

• Relief of asthma & pharyngitis
• Recommended relief of rheumatism, dyspepsia, boils, diarrhea
• Treatment of cough, colds, fever and flu and other bronchopulmonary disorders
• Alleviate symptoms of Chicken Pox
• Removal of worms, and boils
  

Lagundi Herbal Medicine Preparation

Lagundi leaves, root, flowers, and seeds are believed to have medicinal value. Lagundi concoction is prepared by boiling, steeping, and then straining various parts such as lagundi leaves, roots, flowers and seeds.

wash fresh or dried Lagundi leaves chop then add in 4 cups of water for every 1 cup of lagundi parts let it boil for 10 to 15 minutes Let it steep then strain the various parts. Drink half cup of Lagundi three times a day. Lagundi concoction can be stored in suitable glass container for later consumption.

Lagundi availability 

Commercially, lagundi can be purchased in the form of syrup or capsules to make it easier to handle. It is also blended in with cough medicines and other herbal remedies.
Lagundi tablets (300 mg) are available from the Department of Health's Philippine Institute of Traditional and Alternative Health Care (PITAHC) Telephone # (632) 727-6199.
Lagundi syrup is now commonly formulated as cough mediciine which can also be bought in leading drugstores and supermarkets. For outside of the Philippines, an laternative herbal capsule is Ricola Cough Drops, a naturally extracted cough and sore throat tablet with high and favorable review. Available in amazon products.

Warning and other Lagundi studies

Lagundi use is widely acceptable as safe for use for children and adults and no adverse reaction has been reported. However, moderate use is recommended for pregnant women, and treatment should not exceed one week. If symptoms persist and irritation occurs, stop the use and consult your doctor.