tawatawa (Euphorbia hirta L.)

Euphorbia hirta L.; asthma-plant; hairy spurge. A common medicinal herb with hairy reddish stems, opposite leaves, tiny clustered flowers, and white milky latex. Grows in open fields, roadsides, gardens, and other disturbed places. Traditionally used to prepare a herbal decoction for cough, asthma, fever, diarrhea, and other common ailments. In the Philippines, it is also widely consumed as a supportive herbal remedy during dengue illness, although it is not a substitute for professional medical treatment.