Scientific Name: Vitex leucoxylon Blanco

Description: Erect, branched tree or shrub, 2-5 m high. Leaves usually 5-foliate, rarely with 3 leaflets only. Leaflets lanceolate, entire, 4-10 cm long, slightly hairy beneath. Panicles terminal, slightly hairy, many-flowered, 10-20 cm long; additional axillary ones often present. Flowers blue to lavender, 6-7 mm long. Fruit globose, black when ripe, about 4 mm in diameter.

Traditional Uses:

Leaf decoction for fever, headache, toothache, cough, asthma.

(1) For fever and toothaches, boil 6 tbsp of the chopped leaves in 2 glasses of water for 15 minutes; strain and cool. Divide the decoction in 3 parts and take one part every 3-4 hours. Also, bruised leaves may be applied to forehead.
(2) For asthma and cough: Take 1/4 of the decoction three times a day.
Pounded leaves applies on the forehead and temples for headaches.
(3) Aromatic bath or sponge bathing: Boil 4 handfuls of leaves in a pot of water for 5 minutes; use the lukewarm decoction for sponge bathing.
(4) Wounds and ulcers: Use infusion of leaves as wash.

Recent Use:

• Lagundi has been proven to be an effective analgesic and antitussive (prepared as a pleasant tasting cough syrup) and has been considered as a replacement for dextromethorphan in the public health system.

Excerpts from: "An illustrated compilation of Philippine medicinal plants by Godofredo Stuart"