Bacteria in lagundi leaves?

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It’s cough and cold season once again. The drivers, the maids, the kids have it.
For colds, one thing my doctor told me was to overdose on Vitamin C for about 5 days: 500 mg. twice a day (daytime and nightime). Surprisingly it works!
As for cough, I take Solmux, but the yayas told me to buy lagundi medicine for the kids.
It seemed OK with me until I heard that lagundi leaves harbor bacteria.
This doesn’t look like something you would feed to your kids.

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Confirming the idea is this ad from Solmux.
My feeling is, bacteria contamination in medicines shouldn’t be taken lightly, especially when our kids are involved.
Is it possible that not all natural and herbal medicines are safe? Should we trust only pharmaceutical companies that have proven track record in safety?
How do you feel about the bacteria issue? Let us know in the comments section.

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  • Francofule

    The first time I saw the ad for Solmux I already had the impression that it was a downright dirty way to promote a product. Even libelous at that. What is their basis for saying that? Did they actually test if Ascof Lagundi capsules contained harmful bacteria? Of course the people at National Integrated Research Program on Medicinal Plants(NIRPROMP), a part of UP-PGH, are NOT imbeciles! Of course they have stringent protocol for the safety of drugs that they develop. If you follow the line of thinking of those that made the commercial then all drugs, even food, are not safe. EVERY surface is covered with bacteria.

     It is ironic that the Philippine Association of National Advertisers(PANA) came out with the truth in advertising commercial but how many of the commercials shown in TV are actually truthful? What a shame. The unwitting TV viewers are duped into believing such lofty and misleading claims.

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  • Anonymous

    empleyado ka ba ng solmux? Hahaha

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  • http://twitter.com/matromao Marielle Ong

    The Vitamin C thing really works, especially if you catch the cold/cough early enough. I take Kirkland’s 1000 mg Vitamins twice a day when I start to feel sick.

    Based on my personal experience, Lagundi isn’t effective enough for me. But I don’t take Solmux either. I prefer Robitussin DM… –If only Lagundi worked for me, I’d be all for it. I would’ve liked to stick to more natural remedies.

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  • http://twitter.com/invincibleVV3 Vince III

    Naku naman… hindi naman tanga mga makers ng medicine.  Na process na po yung leaves bago maging gamot.  Hindi po ito pinitas lang at isiniksik sa capsule.  Not all bacteria are infectious.  There’s also what you call as Infectious Dose.  Is this a paid ad?  Surely.  Pero sana naging mas matalino sa pagpili kung ano ipa-plug. 

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  • Anonymous

    Would BFAD give an approval if this plant isn’t safe? Because if it isn’t, then they’re also doing us  a huge disservice. And herbal remedies have been around since time immemorial. So there you have it. Cut and dried, tried and tested. Why, do you think all chemicals can be trusted too? Not all of them are safe. 

    Enough said.

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  • Gosputnikgirl

    i agree. i handled different cough medication brands before. this is truly a sign of desperation. i would rather support a local, natural and affordable product than a chemical one that uses dirty advertising tricks. i am surprised this passed the adboard! did they test the competition, or test lagundi alone? i would think the latter.

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  • Anonymous

    Bacteria is not per se harmful. Some of them actually protect us, acting as antibodies. And yes, THEY ARE SAFE. It’s quite silly of the big pharmaceutical companies to assume that bacteria connotates dirt and disease. In fact, that’s not true. Look at Yakult. Lactobacilli is bacteria, but rather,  FRIENDLY bacteria. 

    Our ancestors did just fine with herbal remedies. There’s no reason why we can’t. And I’m sure the laboratory which made Ascof did a lot of measures to make sure that the medicine is safe. There is, after all, the concept of QUALITY CONTROL. Come on, you think it would be out in the market if they didn’t pass required standards? Of course not. Individuals and corporations have developed this sad tactic of insulting our intellect and instinct. All for the sake of profit. The company behind Solmux is one of them. While I applaud your concern over the well-being of your family, don’t just limit yourself to what the mainstream market is offering. Chemicals AREN’T always a surefire way of treating illnesses and their ilk. Lagundi is safe, try growing some in your background. If you still feel squeamish about it, try oregano. It’s also helpful for cough. It’s about time natural herbs get their turn in the spotlight. Why? BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY WORK.Trust nature. That’s the long and short of it.

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    BoomBoomPao Reply:
    February 10th, 2012 at 4:17 PM

    true…true… Yakult has lactobacilli,
    which is good bacteria.  Hmm…so you mean Lagundi
    has friendly lactobacilli? Interesting… gawa rin ba siya ni Dr. Shirota?

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    Anonymous Reply:
    February 10th, 2012 at 9:50 PM

    Boom, I’m not saying Lagundi has lactobacilli. What I am trying to say that not all bacteria is bad. I’m using Yakult as a point in reference. Sorry if I wasn’t clear about that! :)

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  • Mags

    Yikes, you cringed at the sight of a bacteria picture? You might start cringing at yourself, too, after I tell you that you’re a walking bacteria condo. The number of bacteria living within the body of the average healthy adult human are estimated to outnumber human cells 10 to 1. They’re really tiny cells though, so they can easily fit in every which pocket in our body and not overflow. We each house two to five pounds (1.0 to 2.26 kilograms) of live bacteria inside our bodies.

    sources:
    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080603085914.htm
    http://www.wisegeek.com/how-much-bacteria-live-in-our-bodies.htm

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  • http://www.facebook.com/chuckallie Chuckieboi Gepaya

    The Solmux ad is plain stupid and desperate. It assumes that viewers are stupid as well. If I’m a Pharmaceutical Company, would I allow products to go out of the market contaminated with bacteria?

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  • http://profile.yahoo.com/WY7CAHIRMPTY3GUI53FOBRLXZM mark

    wow… this is a dumb post. THINK. READ. dont just shop around and loiter in posh toilets.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000518245590 Edison Galla

    Synthetic cough syrup may adverse reaction sa katawan ng tao.  Itong mga multi-national company, nakakalimutan nila social responsibility nila sa public consumer. Basta kumita sila ng malaki….dadaanin nila sa advertisement at  celebrity endorser .

    Sa dami ng mahihirap sa Pilipinas, maisip ng SOLMUX, na yang binabayad nila sa TV, print adds at celebrity endorser nila ibigay nilang  sa mga mamamayang Filipino.

    Huwag nating siraan si halamang LAGUNDI, galing yan sa natural na kalikasaan.

    Parang walang pinagkaiba ito sa usaping  BREASTMILK vs. FORMULATED MILK.

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  • http://twitter.com/betteroffhenry Henry Barrameda

    can you spell desperate? what these pharma companies will go to when their product has fallen off the radar.

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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=605175786 Carlomar Daoana

    Unless there’s an independent scientific research that says the bacteria in lagundi tablets and capsules are invasive and harmful to the body, I’ll stick to Ascof for my preferred cure for cough.

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  • Anonymous

    Before Ascof was in the market, I take synthetic medicine but along the way it makes me feel “sicker” for days before I actually get well. When the lagundi syrup came out, my mom told me to try it, and surprisingly, I don’t get nasty side effects. 

    Honestly, I find this bacteria issue ridiculous. Parang desperate to stomp the competition. ‘Di naman siguro tanga ang consumers to fall immediately for those tactics, especially kung DOH and BFAD approved and promoted. Kung may bacteria, anong klaseng bacteria? If they wish to really eliminate Ascof, dapat detailed information.I guess this marketing tactic targets hypochondriacs.

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    Karen Torrevillas
    Twitter:
    Reply:
    February 11th, 2012 at 7:44 PM

    It is obvious that this is black propaganda by Unilab against Ascof. It is quite funny because Ritemed is a Unilab brand and Ritemed also carries Lagundi.

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    Kane07t Reply:
    February 11th, 2012 at 10:38 PM

    Correct!

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  • http://twitter.com/puyat1981 Puyat Tuason

    lagundi works best for me, my gramma and kid bro. 

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  • http://twitter.com/griaaa Ria Verdolaga

    Lagundi is actually in the DOH’s list of approved herbal medicines, meaning there is available evidence supporting its efficacy. In addition, research (randomized controlled trial) has shown that patients given carboceistine (like Solmux) for cough have comparable outcome with those just given water so might as well just hydrate with water than buy Solmux since their effect is just the same.  

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  • http://profile.yahoo.com/KTP7A5TYJR2HWIWLMH3CVOZAZU J

    It’s just a smear campaign as told by our pharmacology teacher in UPCM. Solmux sales are neck in neck with Lagundi. Think Vic Sotto and his tirade about the “dahon-dahon” lang medicines. ! :-)

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  • Mayunes

    my kuya who’s a doctor says it’s not true… the bacteria thing in lagundi…. processing of the leaves to turn it into a bottled medicine would kill those bacterias already… :)

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  • http://twitter.com/dennisjamir jamir

    i find it difficult to believe that a pharmaceutical company would release a medicine that has harmful bacteria in it.  but even if it has, Solmux should specify which bacteria can be found in lagundi.  we are bombarded with bacteria everyday, but not all of them are harmful to the body.  heck, even our body contains bacteria that helps our immune system, eg. lactobacillus strain (from Yakult).  

    im guessing more and more consumers are choosing lagundi vs solmux, hence the black propaganda. 

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  • http://twitter.com/CHIEsburger Chie Cerrafon

    IMHO, parang lagi na lang naghahanap ang Solmux ng tiny flaws sa Lagundi then they blow it out of proportion. Lagundi (can’t remember the brand) helped me  a lot when I had a primary complex, as in it’s the only one that actually worked. 

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  • http://eltorobumingo.blogspot.com el toro bumingo

    Looks like black propaganda for me. Talk about truth in advertisement. Solmux should back up their claim.

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  • http://twitter.com/zfiledh Zel

    I find it doubtful. If there weren’t strict processing procedures, Ascof would not have stocked this medication on their shelves. And my brother has been taking Lagundi to deal with his coughing, which worked.

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  • Anonymous

    Weh, parang black propaganda naman. Dati pa tinitira ng mga TVC campaigns ng solmux ang lagundi, coz it eats into their sales. Try harder solmux. 

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