Showing posts with label natural treatment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label natural treatment. Show all posts

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Natural Treatment for Painful Arthritis (BLS Ointment or Balm)

2:29 AM  , , , ,  14 comments


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!

Be healthy and enjoy life!

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Friday, January 10, 2014

Basil, a Powerful Anti-bacterial Plant and Source of Health-benefiting Nutrients

6:28 AM  , , , , , , ,  1 comment





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,

Be healthy and enjoy life!


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Tuesday, January 7, 2014

The Wonder Plant (Sabungai – Gynura Procumbens)

7:40 PM  , , , , ,  25 comments


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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