Betel Leaf-Piper betle L.(Buyo) As Cough Remedy for Babies

I am primarily an asthmatic person. Aside from dust and pollution, my lung asthma triggers especially when I am exposed to sudden change in weather. In our dialect, we called it "subaw". When my first baby was three months old, she was diagnosed to have atopic dermatitis, also known as skin asthma. Since I an asthmatic person, it could certainly be that my baby would be the same. The doctor prescribed creams to soothe my baby's skin and she added that I have to make sure that the baby will not get colds to prevent further infection which may cause cough.

But since it can't be prevented, due to weather conditions, my baby first started sneezing, then had a slight runny nose. Then resulted to a little coughing which sometimes cause her to vomit. My father was so worried that he asked me when will I bring the baby to the hospital. I was on second thoughts because if I will have my baby admitted, she will definitely be on needles and I cannot afford to see the nurses putting on needles on my baby's little delicate hands.

I did an evaluation on my baby's state and decided to go on herbal remedy. I could attest to the effectiveness of buyo (betel leaf) myself so I tried it on her. I got 3 leaves, wipe it and heated the leaves, just a little enough for the leaves to shrink. Then I extracted the oil by squeezing it and applied it on my baby's back. I did it consecutively every night before going to sleep until her coughing softens.

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