Friday, November 28, 2014

Enjoy Life, Live to the Fullest!


Truly,  life is enriched by many good people around us and the gift of nature. Many times, however, we took for granted the many good things that happened in our lives because of our tight schedule and various things that occupy our mind. While walking in the streets, going to our home or work, our mind is pre-occupied with our “to dos” for the day, a problem to solve, an errand to accomplish, or targets for the day.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Realities that shouldn't be ignored (lessons from "The Interview with God")

The moment I read about the poem, "An Interview With God", it immediately made me reflect some realities of life.  The lessons I learned from the said poem, has greatly influenced my decisions in life, particularly those related to health, work, and daily activities as I pursued my quest for happiness. Whoever made this poem, my heartfelt gratitude for sharing this reflection.

Let me share with you this great poem:
-author unknown

I dreamed I had an interview with God.
“So you would like to interview me?” God asked.
“If you have the time” I said.
God smiled. “My time is eternity.”

Thursday, May 15, 2014

Pneumonia Vaccine, Is it Effective?


My youngest son, Paul Jethro, had his first pneumonia and asthma attack  last April 2009, summer, a week after we enjoyed a one-day picnic-swimming family activity at Ohlala Paradise Spring  Resort at Guinobatan, Albay.   I was then at the office when he was taken to the Emergency Room of  Bicol Regional Training and Teaching Hospital,  nearest hospital in our house by his sister.  He was gasping for air, he had difficulty in breathing.  He was diagnosed to have an asthma and a pneumonia at the same time.  He was confined to the hospital for five days.

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Acapulco, an Anti-fungal herb

      
Acapulko
Are you bothered by itchy fungal infections like dandruff, ringworm, etc.? Are you looking for a natural treatment? Try Acapulco and learn to process it into ointment and balm.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Smart Way of Facing Challenges


A problem is a part of life.  It is a difficulty encountered while meeting a necessity, a want or a dream.  A challenge is considered as a problem when it  affected us. When the realization of the “necessity” is important to us, we consider the problem as  significant one.  On the other hand, when it is only a “want” that we can do without, the challenge is only slight.  But, nevertheless, it gives us stress.

A puzzle.  That’s another way we can look at the problem we are facing. While being challenge with the puzzle, we sometimes spend an sleepless night, just to find the right move. We need more effort, time and resources, just to solve the puzzle.  By continuously finding solutions to the problems at hand, it eventually sharpen’s our mind.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

How to be freed from past heart aches and enjoy life?





All of us have painful experience inflicted by others. In most cases, we are vulnerable to those whom we love much.  Their words and actions that made us feel unimportant or those that belittle us can easily hurt us, with or without their knowledge. 

Monday, January 27, 2014

Photo Gallery

Below are photos of herbs and plants with medicinal properties:

Rosemary, the Memory Enhancer 



Tarragon, Anti Rheumatic, Appetite Booster, Stimulant 

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.


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

In caring for your skin, particularly your face, you don’t need much money to pay for the services of a beauty parlor or health clinic.  You can do it at the comfort of your home.  All you need to do is to learn a few  tricks, then look for the  ingredients, which can be found at your kitchen. Here are some tricks to help you care for your skin:

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Natural Treatment for Painful Arthritis (BLS Ointment or Balm)


Garlic, Ginger& Pepper
Painful Arthritis? Looking for a natural treatment for its pain? I have here an alternative treatment for you and i’ll share with you how you can prepare it at your home so that you’ll have a ready treatment when you need one.

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

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 StaphylococcusEnterococcus 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,

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

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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!


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