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| Rosemary, the Memory Enhancer |
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| Tarragon, Anti Rheumatic, Appetite Booster, Stimulant |
Monday, January 27, 2014
Photo Gallery
Below are photos of herbs and plants with medicinal properties:
Saturday, January 25, 2014
How to Eliminate Gallstone the Natural Way
Pain and discomforts due to gallstone? It’s no laughing
matter, cause it’s really painful according to a friend of mine.
All of us has a gallstone inside us, but most are too insignificant to cause
much discomfort.
Two months ago, my friend Ann (not her real name),
complained about the pain she felt in her abdomen area. Initially, we
thought that it is a simple gastritis that can be treated by an over the
counter medicine and lots of water intake . However, after taking the over the
counter medicine, the pain did not subside as expected, instead the pain got
worse.
She had no choice but to consult a doctor,
an specialist. She was surprised when the specialist told her that she
has gallstone and recommended for a surgery as soon as she is ready. She
was not ready financially to undergo a surgery, so she consulted another
specialist, for a second opinion. The second specialist has the same
findings and recommendation. Her problem then, was, she don’t have the
financial capability for the surgery since, two of her children are in college,
2nd year and 4th year, and she has no savings.
Another friend of ours advised her to go to the Wellness
Clinic in Daraga, manned by a retired doctor who, according to our friend, an
advocate of natural medicine. As advised, she consulted him.
The next time we met Ann, she was so happy. Her pain
was gone and she resumed her normal routine. She told us that the doctor taught
her how to remove her gallstone the natural way and she showed me her
“treatment process”, which, was also found at the net, when she checked.
According to her, she followed the process as is, then her gallstones
were flushed out, as evidenced by the ultrasonography result. She
was very grateful that her gallstone was treated the natural way, that she did
not undergo the prescribed surgery and therefore she was able to save the money
she loaned for her treatment.
Now, I am sharing with you the treatment process through this blog, hoping
others can benefit from it, too.
The Treatment Process:
- Drink 1 glass (250 ml) 100% apple
juice 4 times a day for 5 days. One
glass at breakfast, 1 glass at lunch, 1 glass at dinner and 1 glass before
going to bed. This softens the gallstones. Eat normally.
- On
the 6th. day, skip dinner. At 6 pm. take a teaspoon of Epsom
salt (magnesium sulphate) with a glass of warm water
- On the same day, at 8 pm., repeat
the same for purging purpose. It helps to flush out all solid stuff. It
also opens the gallbladder ducts.
- Later that evening, at 10pm.,
drink half a glass of olive oil mixed with half
glass of lemon juice. The oil lubricates the stones to
ease their passage. Lemon juice helps to extract the stones out from
gallbladder ducts. Soon you will purge again. This time you can find greenish
stuff floating in your toilet bowl, that is if you have gallstones.
1 cup =
250 ml, 1/2 cup lemon juice = 3 lemons (approx).
I just hope the information would help those who need it. But, if symptoms persist, please see your doctor.
Be healthy and enjoy
life!
Other Posts you may like:
Monday, January 20, 2014
A Simple Trick to Heal Painful Memories
Have you ever wondered
why you’re not comfortable with some persons you have just met, to the point that
you’re easily irritated with those persons for no reason at all? That, when you
talk about some “sad” events in your past, you can still feel the pain, as if it
just happened? That, you want to block
some memories of embarrassment that made you angry with yourself? Can you still do something that would help you
move on, be free of pains and embarrassment of the past?
Friday, January 17, 2014
Tips and Tricks for a Lovely Face and Glowing Skin
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Natural Treatment for Painful Arthritis (BLS Ointment or Balm)
 |
| Garlic, Ginger& Pepper |
Have you heard about BLS
Ointment? It is applied externally to the affected area 3x a day, and it
relieves the pain caused by arthritis. BLS refers to its main ingredients, such
as Bawang (garlic), Luya (ginger) and Sili (red pepper, preferably, “siling
labuyo”. Garlic has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties while both ginger
and red pepper has anti-inflammatory characteristics that can help relieve
muscle and joint pains. . I used to
prepare it for my mother when she had her pains due to arthritis and according
to her, it helped.
How to prepare a BLS Ointment? Its simple.
Ingredients: garlic, ginger, red pepper and oil
(preferably virgin coco oil or olive oil)
Procedure:
·
Mince the garlic, ginger and red pepper
·
Measure ½ cup of garlic, ½ cup of ginger and ½
cup of red pepper
·
Mixed all the ingredients and add 1 ½ cup of
oil
·
In a slow fire, heat the mixture for 10
minutes.
·
Store in a glass container together with the
mixture your BLS ointment.
Optional: To make your
Ointment into a Balm, here’s the procedure:
· Strain, to separate the oil from the solid mixture
· Once again, heat the solution in a slow fire and
add Wax. Bee hive wax is preferred. But
in its absence, you can use a white candle instead.
· Just add wax, little by little. To know that it is the right amount, when the
wax melted, test by dropping a mixture in a plate or saucer. Check when it when it's cold. Test using your fingers. it must be balm-like.
Arthritis refers to inflammation of a joint or a state
characterized by inflammation of the joints. Inflammation is a process in which the body's white blood cells and chemicals help protect us from infection and foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. Its symptoms can be either one or a combination of the following:
·
Redness
·
Swollen joint that's
tender and warm to the touch
·
Joint pain
·
Joint stiffness
·
Loss of joint function
The cause of arthritis is
not fully known, yet, can we still do something to prevent it? Of course, we can! Maintaining proper weight (obesity added
strain to joints), regular joint exercises, proper diet (excess protein can
increase your uric acid) and strengthening immune system can help a lot.
Prevention is better than cure. If symptoms persist, see your doctor!
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Stevia Plant, The Natural Sweetener
 |
| Stevia, the Sugar Plant |
High
Level of Blood Sugar? Diabetes? You can,
still enjoy a sweetener using Stevia, the Sugar Plant. Stevia is a natural sweetener derived from the sweetleaf plant.
It’s 300x as sweet as sugar, so it only takes a small amount to produce the
same sweet taste as cane sugar. Stevia has been used as a sweetener in
many cultures for centuries, but is only recently gaining acceptance as a sugar
substitute in the United States. It was first introduced in the US in the mid
1990s as an herbal supplement. After much controversy, it was approved by the
FDA.
The following are the
top five health benefits from Stevia:
A no-carb, no-calorie
substitute
For those watching their
carbohydrate or caloric intake, Stevia is both carb- and calorie-free. This
makes it possible for dieters to satisfy sweet cravings without wrecking their
eating plans.
Lowers blood pressure
Stevia has been shown, in
some studies, to lower blood pressure. This makes it an ideal sweetener for
people with high blood pressure.
Lowers blood sugar
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| Stevia |
For people with high blood sugar levels, Stevia has the
possible benefit of lowering sugar levels. This makes it a possibly acceptable
substitute for anyone with blood sugar or insulin problems, including
diabetics. However, diabetics should continue to monitor their blood sugar levels and insulin levels after using Stevia
to make sure everything remains in check.
Has antibacterial properties
Stevia, when used orally,
has shown antibacterial properties. This makes it an ideal ingredient in
toothpaste and mouthwashes, as it can aid in fighting cavities and gingivitis.
It has shown the same properties when used topically, and has been used as an ointment
in thetreatment of eczema and acne.
Aids in calcium formation
Some studies, conducted on
chicken eggshells, have shown that chickens who are fed a preparation laced
with Stevia lay eggs with significantly tougher shells. This suggests that
Stevia aids in calcium formation, which would be an ideal side effect
particularly for women and children with growing bones. However, experts warn
that this has not been definitely proven to translate to human calcium
formation.
You can have your home grown sugar plant. In this way, you can make sure that it is organically cultivated. It is
best propagated by cutting stems. This
plant loves the sun and you can plant it on pots. By doing so,you'll have a ready sweetener when you need it.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Basil, a Powerful Anti-bacterial Plant and Source of Health-benefiting Nutrients
The Health Benefits of Basil
Basil is a very good source of iron, calcium, potassium and vitamin A and C. Basil is also a
good source of magnesium, which promotes
cardiovascular health by prompting muscles and blood vessels to relax, thus
improving blood flow and lessening the risk of irregular heart rhythms or a
spasming of the heart muscle or a blood vessel.
Research Findings on Basil
Research studies on basil have shown unique health-protecting effects in two basic areas: basil's flavonoids and volatile oils.The flavonoids found in basil protect cell structures as well as chromosomes from radiation and oxygen-based damage.The volatile oils on the other hand provide protection against unwanted bacterial growth.
Essential
oil of basil, obtained from its leaves, has demonstrated the ability to
inhibit several species of pathogenic bacteria that have become
resistant to commonly used antibiotic drugs. In a study published in the
July 2003 issue of the Journal of Microbiology Methods, essential oil of basil was even found to inhibit strains of bacteria from the genera Staphylococcus, Enterococcus and Pseudomonas,
all of which are not only widespread, but now pose serious treatment
difficulties because they have developed a high level of resistance to
treatment with antibiotic drugs.(September 8, 2003)
Studies published in the February 2004 issue of Food Microbiology,
have shown that washing produce in solution containing either basil or
thyme essential oil at the very low concentration of just 1% resulted in
dropping the number of Shigella, an infectious bacteria that
triggers diarrhea and may cause significant intestinal damage, below the
point at which it could be detected. While scientists use this research
to try to develop natural food preservatives, it makes good sense to
include basil and thyme in more of your recipes, particularly for foods
that are not cooked such as salads. Adding fresh thyme and/or basil to
your next vinaigrette will not only enhance the flavor of your fresh
greens, but will help ensure that the fresh produce you consume is safe
to eat. (March 25, 2004).Basil Tea, an effective remedy for cold and cough ...
I found basil to be a very good treatment for cold and cough, particularly when it's just starting. I drink basil tea three times a day, 10 minutes after breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's very effective! Try it! It's very aromatic, and I'm sure it will help you too, as it helped me.
Instead of buying bottled dried basil or packed basil from
supermarkets, why don’t you plant one in a pot or in your garden?
Picking fresh leaves from your home grown basis is much more fun.
Besides, it can be easily propagated by seeds or by cutting stems.
Ever since i learned about basil's health benefits, it became part of my collections in my garden. I love three of its varieties such as the Thai, Sweet and Lemon basil,
Ever since i learned about basil's health benefits, it became part of my collections in my garden. I love three of its varieties such as the Thai, Sweet and Lemon basil,
Be healthy and enjoy life!
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
The Wonder Plant (Sabungai – Gynura Procumbens)
High Cholesterol? High
level of blood sugar? Are you looking for a natural treatment? Try the Ganura
Procumbens. It is also known as the wonder plant, anti-cholesterol plant and longevity spinach. It is used as anti-hypertensive, glucose lowering, anti-inflammatory
and source of proteins and peroxidase.
As I searched for natural
treatment for hypertension and high blood sugar level, I've found Sabungai (Gynura Procumbens). This plant is widely recognized
for its
medicinal value. Research shows that it is an efficient regulator of blood
sugar and protects the kidney and retinas from damage caused by high blood
sugar. It also lowers blood cholesterol and triglycerides, lowers blood pressure,and
has anti-inflammatory and antiviral activity.
The leaves of this plant can be eaten
raw or can be used as vegetable. Most recommends 3-6 leaves to be eaten
daily. I have this plant in my garden,
and it grows fast. It likes moist soil
always. It is easily propagated by
cutting stems.
Please be aware, however, that there are many sellers of this plant who call it Ashitaba. Based on my research, the plant shown on the picture is Sabungai (gynura procumbens) and NOT Ashitaba and the two plants have different medicinal properties.
Sabungai is generally accepted as
safe. There is no warning or evidence of
interaction with drugs.
General Studies as
published in Philippine Alternative Medicine
Anti-Inflammatory: Study of ethanol
extract showed anti-inflammatory activity.
Antihypertensive: Study showed the
oral administration of aqueous extract significantly lowered blood pressure in
spontaneously hypertensive rats. Results suggest GPE may be useful for
prevention and treatment of hypertension through increasing NO (nitric oxide)
production in blood vessels.
Glucose Lowering: Ethanolic extract
of leaves significantly suppressed elevated serum glucose levels in diabetic
rats. The extract did not significantly suppress glucose levels in normal rats.
Results conclude the leaves of GP may be biguanide-like activity.
Abundant Leaf Proteins / Peroxidase:
Study found few abundant proteins from the leaves of GP; among these,
peroxidase was found the most abundant of the extracted proteins. Results
suggest a natural source for peroxidase for use in the cosmetic and skin care
industry.
Nutritive / Antioxidative Properties:
Ethanolic Gynura extract exhibited the highest antioxidative properties in
every assay. Nutritive evaluation suggests the extract is a good protein source
and may have positive effects on free radical scavenging and iron chelating.
Gynura procumbens Medical Toothpaste:
A Gynura procumbens toothpaste invention consists of" gynura procumbens
(Lour.) extractant of 1-20%, glycerol of 20-55%, diglycol of 10-15%, abradant
of 20-45%, carboxymethyl cellulose of 0.5-1.5%, sodium dodecyl sulfate of
0.5-2%, additive of 1-4%, essence of 1-2% and saccharin of 0.1-1%.
Anti-Ulcerogenic: Study results
suggest the ethanolic leaf extract of Gynura procumbens promotes ulcer
protection as shown by significant reduction of ulcer area, histologic
decreases in ulcer areas, with absence or reduction of edema and leucocyte
infiltration of submucosal layer.
Anti-Diabetic: (1) Study evaluating
the water extract of G. procumbens in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
showed a hypoglycemic effect by promoting glucose uptake by muscles. (2) Study
results suggest the antidiabetic effect may be mediated through the stimulation
of glucose uptake and the potentiation of insulin action.
Toxicological Evaluation:
Administration of a methanol extract of G. procumbens did not produce mortality
or significant changes in various parameters in both acute and sub-chronic
toxicity studies.
Be healthy and enjoy life!
Reference: Philippine Medicinal Plants, http://www.stuartxchange.com/Sabungai.html
Other Posts you may like to read:
How to prepare effective herbal medicines?
On my succeeding blogs, I plan to
write about herbal medicines, particularly those herbs, which are found in
the Philippines and those which can treat common health problems like cold,
cough, high level of bad cholesterol, high blood sugar level, fungal infection, urinary track infection, and others.
Before I introduce to you the
different herbal medicine plants, let me first give you some tips on proper handling
and preparing herbal medicines:
Tips on Handling Medicinal Plants / Herbs:
Ø
If possible, buy herbs that
are grown organically - without pesticides.
Ø
Medicinal parts of plants
are best harvested on sunny mornings. Avoid picking leaves, fruits or nuts
during and after heavy rainfall.
Ø
Leaves, fruits, flowers or
nuts must be mature before harvesting. Less medicinal substances are found on
young parts.
Ø
After harvesting, if drying
is required, it is advisable to dry the plant parts either in the oven or
air-dried on screens above ground and never on concrete floors.
Ø
Store plant parts in sealed
plastic bags or brown bottles in a cool dry place without sunlight preferably
with a moisture absorbent material like charcoal. Leaves and other plant parts
that are prepared properly, well-dried and stored can be used up to six months.
Tips on Preparation of Herbal Medicines:
Ø Use only half the dosage prescribed for fresh parts like leaves
when using dried parts.
Ø Do not use stainless steel utensils when boiling decoctions. Only
use earthen, enamelled, glass or alike.
Ø As a rule of thumb, when boiling leaves and other plant parts, do
not cover the pot, and boil in low flame.
Ø Decoctions loose potency after some time. Dispose of decoctions
after one day. To keep fresh during the day, keep lukewarm in a flask or
thermos.
Ø Always consult with a doctor if symptoms persist or if any sign of
allergic reaction develops.
For best
result, please observe the above tips.
Be healthy and enjoy life!
Other Posts you may like to read:
Nutritious Sea Grapes “Lato”(Caulerpa lentillifera)
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| "Lato: |
Have you known or tasted Sea Grapes, a seaweed locally known as “lato”
in Bicol? Did you know that “lato” is highly nourishing for it contains high amount of minerals,
balanced amino acid profile and rich in iodine. Being a good source of
Magnesium, this seaweed helps reduce high blood pressure and prevents heart
attack. It is also useful for people suffering from thyroid problems. It can be
eaten raw as an appetizer, dipped in lemon juice or vinegar mixed with onion
and/or other spices. It can be used in
salads, be eaten as snacks, can be used in Sushi and as an ingredient in Salmon
Rolls, and many more.
 |
| Newly harvest "Lato" |
“Lato”,
scientifically known as Caulerpa lentillifera is one of the favored species of
edible Caulerpa due to its soft and succulent texture. They are also known as
sea grapes, green caviar and "ar-arosep". This pretty green seaweed is made up of tiny oblong balls.
Did you know that the sea grapes are abundant in
Panlatuan Cove of Pilar, Sorsogon, Philippines?
This seaweed grows naturally and abundantly in an area of about ten hectares , as estimated
by the Municipal Agriculture Office Technician. The term “Panlatuan” is a local
dialect meaning, a place where “lato” came from. The cove covers the villages of Lungib, San
Rafael and Inapugan. It has a pure seawater, which is considered as high
saline, with 28-31 ppt as tested by a refractometer. Local
folks observed that said seaweed is more abundant from October to May than
during rainy season when the level of salinity decreases. The “lato” from this
area, can now be found at the wet
markets of the provinces of Albay,
Sorsogon, and even in some parts of Metro Manila.
Dare
to taste and enjoy its heath benefits.
Other Posts you may like to read:
Pansit-pansitan , a Herbal Medicine for Arthritis, Gout, Pimples,etc.Natural Treatment for Wrinkles Soya Milk: A Healthy Drink Good for Adults and ChildrenDiscover Tarra-Mint Tea: Health Benefiting Tea Fresh From Your Garden
How to Keep Fit after Christmas and New Year Celebrations?
Other Posts you may like to read:
How to Keep Fit after Christmas and New Year Celebrations?
Saturday, January 4, 2014
Pansit-pansitan , a Herbal Medicine for Arthritis, Gout, Pimples,etc.
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| Pansit-pansitan |
Pansit-pansitan (family: Piperaceae) is used as a herbal medicine for the treatment of:
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Skin boils, abscesses, pimples
• Headache
• Abdominal pains
• kidney problems
Pansit-pansitan is also known as Ulasiman-bato and tangon-tangon in the Philippines. Its English name is peperomia. Its leaves and stalk are edible. It can be harvested, washed and eaten as fresh salad. Taken as a salad, pansit-pansitan helps relive rheumatic pains and gout. An
infusion or decoction (boil 1 cup of leaves/stem in 2 cups of water) can