Many mothers of past generations knew the traditions from long ago that helped keep people healthy. They used this knowledge to maintain the well-being of their families.
In the rush to modernity, many of these natural health traditions have been forgotten or set aside. But with the more recent thrust to things natural and organic, some of these remedies are making a well-deserved return.
“Growing up, I used to see my diabetic mother boiling bayabas leaves to clean her wounds,” recounts Remed Pharmaceuticals CEO Michael B. Horaleza. This memory helped inspire the introduction of an exciting new product in Philippine wound care.
Bayabas or guava in English was a very trusted home remedy for many generations. Its leaves were chewed by boys then spat on their new circumcision wounds. The boiled water of guava leaves was used to clean wounds, rashes, ulcers and other skin infections.
Science confirms what many generations of people have long known: guava has beneficial medicinal effects. The Department of Health Traditional Health Program has listed guava as one of the top 10 medicinal plants. It is clinically proven as an antiseptic and disinfectant for wounds without the sting and pain of other medications. Other uses of guava are as an astringent, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, anti-diabetes, hypertension and fevers.
Remed Pharmaceuticals founder and president Remedios Aberin Rivera started researching in 2014 if guava’s long-trusted and well-known benefits could combine with the proven effects of modern medicines like povidone-iodine. Povidone-iodine is on the World Health Organization list of top 10 medicines; a broad-spectrum antiseptic used for skin disinfections and wound care.
After more than a decade of research and product development by the innovation-oriented Remed Pharmaceuticals, Guavidone was developed, the first-to-market product that combines two powerful antiseptics: guava extract and povidone-iodine. Because of its innovative formulation, Guavidone is patent pending.
Approved by the Food and Drug Administration, Guavidone is a dual action antiseptic combining the antibacterial power of povidone-iodine with the antiseptic and antioxidant benefits of guava leaves. It promotes faster healing and prevents infections. Moreover, the medication is pain free, without the sting or hapdi of other wound treatments and contains no alcohol.
“Guavidone bridges science and tradition in wound care. This exciting new product combines the healing power of nature with the best of modern medicine,” says CEO Hortaleza. “We are proud to have developed this product, a game-changer in wound care, and make this available to more Filipinos though national distribution and affordable pricing.” Currently, Guavidone is available in Mercury Drug, 7-Eleven, and Watsons.
