Herbal Blog

• 26Jan

  Euphorbia hirta

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  Snake weed locally known as tawa-tawa, gatasgatas or mangagaw (Visayan) has been popular in recent times because it was reported to help patients with dengue. This herb or weed is not only found in the Philippines but throughout Asia. It originated from Central America. This plant is a creeping and is considered a weed. However, ethomedical data in Indian and Asian traditional medicine indicates that the plant is used mostly for intestinal disorders such as diarrhea and antihelminthic and to a lesser extent topical for conjunctivitis and even for respiratory disorders such as asthma, bronchitis, and emphysema. This plant is slightly poisonous.

  

  For dengue, the decoction of the leaves is used and is given orally; 1 glass, about 2-3x daily until the patient improves. The most notable component of this plant is its high concentration of a bioactive substance, quercetrin, a bioflavonoid. Apparently, the phytochemical increases intestinal reabsorption and reduces prostaglandin I2, E2 and D2. It was also reported that it reduces platelet aggregation and inflammation. It also contains polyphenols, triterpenes and phytosterols.

  In addition recent reports have indicated that E. hirta produces sedative or anxiolytic effects at very high doses.

• 06Jan

  Health Benefits of Pineapple

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  The Philippines has abundant supply of pineapples from local producers. This fruit is popular locally and is also exported. More than just a tropical fruit in salads, cake ingredients and eaten as it is, pineapple is rich in fiber, Vitamins A, E and C as well as minerals phosphorus, iron and calcium.  These make pineapple a cheap material for daily detoxification. First, the fiber helps the body eliminate unwanted fat from the diet and the minerals allow a healthy exchange of toxic materials for a natural flush.

  The enzyme in pineapple, called bromelain, helps eliminate intestinal parasites. What’s more, the combination of bromelain from pineapple plus resveratrol from grapes has been found to be synergistic in helping people achieve weight loss. Resveratrol is available in the local market as “Slenda”.  We therefore recommend that people using the product “Slenda” also eat pineapple as part of a daily healthy diet. Can pineapple juice be substitute? Yes, you can if the juice is made from 100% pineapple.
• 04Nov

  Stick Plant for Warts

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  Euphorbia tirucalli or stick plant contains a latex which can be used for warts. The latex is corrosive and poisonous and a drop on the latex on warts for about 3 consecutive days can “cauterize” the warts. The latex material contains hydrocarbons (terpenic alcohol) which is also a good source of biofuel or biodiesel. Since the sap is poisonous be careful in handling the plant because any contamination with the eyes can cause blindness. Similar sap from trees such as pili or cashew works the same way on warts and moles.

  Tags: Stick Plant, Warts

• 27Oct

  Balbas pusa – a very good medicinal plant for kidney stones

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  Orthosiphon aristatus (Cat’s whiskers, a source of essential oils and flavones) –listed in the Philippine Pharmacopeia 1 as a traditional medicinal plant for bacterial and inflammatory diseases of the lower urinary tract and approved by the German Commission E for urinary tract infections and for kidney and bladder stones.  A study by Matsuraba et al  (1999) in laboratory animals had shown that the leaves contain Methylripariochromene A (MRC) which causes increased urinary volume and the excretion of sodium, potassium and chlorides which subsequently lower the blood pressure, vasodilatation.  These findings indicate that MRC decreases cardiac output and induce a diuretic effect.

• 02Oct

  A Great Recipe of A Slimming Salad

  Food and Meals, Health Tips No Comments
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  Do you know that cabbage which belong to the brassica family is rich in tartronic acid. This phytochemical (dicarboxylic acid), which acts not only as free radical scavenger, but also acts as an inhibitor of the conversion of carbohydrates into fat. What this means is that we can limit the fattening effect of carbohydrates by limiting its conversion to fat.

  Try a simple recipe of getting most out the brassica family, create your own salad:

  1. Chop these ingredients, celery, cucumber,  onions; shred the cabbage.

  2. Take about half a cup of each and put 3 tablespoon olive oil, a dash of pepper, and salt.

  3. Mix everything and serve cold.

  This is now your slimming salad. Eat it 3-4 x a week and it will supplement your slimming regimen. Don’t forget, exercise is need still, for any successful slimming or reducing plan.

  Tags: slimming

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