Herbal Blog

Tongkat ali or long jack [ Scientific Name Eurycoma longifolia]

Several years ago the western world discovered an eastern plant called “Tongkat ali.” This plant is a tree reaching about 12 meters high, generally found in the wild in Southeast Asia. It is traditionally used for the treatment of malaria, high blood pressure, fever and loss of sexual desire. However, the plant is a traditional secret of Malays as a booster for strength, stamina and possibly immunity. The first documentation on tongkat ali was done in 1939 in the Dictionary of Malaysian Medicine. It is the roots of at least a 7-year old plant that is harvested. It is said that tongkat ali is five times more potent than ginseng.

Tongkat ali is now a very popular natural product for increasing libido, enhancing orgasm, voluntary control of sexual performance, enhanced energy and stamina; providing the natural solution to erectile dysfunction in a gradual and safe manner. Animal studies have shown that tongkat ali produces androgenic (male hormone property) effects similar to testosterone treated animals. It can also produce arousal, libido and sexual motivation in sluggish, old rats  Tongkat ali appears to stimulate the availability of endogenous testosterone (natural testosterone content of the body).

Those men who are getting old are actually having a 10% decline of available active testosterone every 10 years (that we get older). Generally, the decline becomes three times by their 60^th birthday. The decline is gradual and may start as early as age 30 years. So by the time males become 80 years old the testosterone could have declined by as much as 50-70% relative to the level or amounts when males were 20 years old. This is a condition called andropause. However this does not mean that a large amount of testosterone is not present, it is, but it is not available. Most of the testosterone are bound in the blood stream and contributing to this is the fact that with age the testosterone produced by cells in the testis is also progressively declining. Tongkat ali is the natural supplement that has the property to effect a complete improvement in testosterone level. This improvement in testosterone is reported to be achieved in two weeks of intake; bringing the back “normal” level that has declined with age. These imply that tongkat ali acts naturally in the body and achieves a level of testosterone needed for a successful male sexual performance. For the men who are infertile due to problems with the quality of their sperm, Tongkat ali can raise the amount of available testosterone that will help in improve the morphology, activity (motility) and count of sperms.
 
While studies and popularity of tongkat ali have centered on enhancement of male sexual dysfunction, as an aphrodisiac, there have been in-vitro (cells in culture, i.e., outside the body) studies on the action of plant against lung and breast cancer as well as anti-malarial activity (the original traditional use). This could be attributed to the presence of phytochemicals called quassinoids and diterpenoids. It also contains an anti-oxidant called super oxide dismutase.

For these reasons the plant is considered an important economic and medicinal material of Malaysia. Today, tongkat ali is part of collaborative investigation of both Malaysia and the US Massachusetts Institute of Technology and also part of the database documentation of the International Center for Science and High Technology and UNIDO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization).

Someone said: “Aging is inevitable, but why get old?” Discover tongkat ali, it releases the “locked” testosterone, naturally. 

Our body produces toxins as by-products of metabolism. Aside from these our body takes in toxins from food we eat, especially the processed food and drugs or medications we take. Most of the toxins in our body are detoxified by the liver which pass through the entero-hepatic circulation via the large intestines, particularly the sigmoid colon. Coffee enemas provide a powerful detoxifying method. Boil about 8 cups of water with 8 spoons (tablespoon) of freshly ground coffee let the sediments settle or use a French coffee press. Do not use an aluminum pot in brewing the coffee, use either a porcelain or stainless steel kettle. You have to have an enema kit, available from drug stores. Let the brewed coffee to cool (test its temperature before use (feel the temperature by putting a few drops of the brewed coffee on the inside portion of the risk, which is more sensitive to slight heat). Then pour it into the bag or enema pitcher, being careful not to include the sediments. Allow the enema to stay a long as possible in the colon. This is done by slowly raising the enema bag or pitcher at the level slightly above the body in the lying position. Among cancer patients coffee enemas represent an adjucnt to treatment. Among health conscious individuals, coffee enemas are done on a weekly or monthly basis depending on convenience. It helps the liver in its detoxification function; the alkaloids in coffee help in stimulating a liver enzyme, glutathione-s-transferase.

Banana [Scientific name: Musa paradisiaca]
 

It is said that an apple a day keeps the doctor away! This can also be said about banana. Our topical islands are blessed with plenty of food like bananas and we should not go hungry or have undernourished children. For young children who can eat solid food bananas will keep them healthy and alert. For the athlete who had just been from a workout, banana is an after workout fruit. Bananas are also good pre-athletic event food, 2-4 hours before an event as a source of carbohydrates. The elderly with all the high blood pressure and depression, banana is a good choice. Pregnant mothers who need more iron, the sick and those recovering from illness, bananas can build you up and improve hemoglobin.
People and doctors have recommended bananas as a rich source of potassium. In 1993, US FDA allowed health claims on banana as rich source of fiber, potassium and vitamin C.
Bananas have high fiber to help normalize bowel movement; but wait not all bananas can do that… remember LATUNDAN bananas are best suited for people who are having diarrhea because of its high tannin content. So most of the banana properties mentioned here refers to ripe LAKATAN and SABA.
Due to its high potassium content, bananas have a beneficial effect on the heart and brain; our circulatory and nervous system. The US FDA has even allowed claims on bananas: That it reduce the risk of high blood pressure and stroke. It is the potassium content of bananas that allow us to keep alert. This was proven in a study among students in the U.K.
Depression, one of the most prevalent problems in the developed countries and a condition that is more likely missed by doctors as a diagnosis can be alleviated by eating bananas. The fruit contains tryptophan, a serotonin precursor that controls our mood and brings about relaxation.
The effects of banana on the digestive system are also recognized; the fruit has a natural antacid effect in the body to beat heart burn. It can also be used to reduce the withdrawal effects of smoking cessation. So let’s give attention to a healthy diet…let’s go BANANAS on our daily fruit diet.

Gallstones may not be everyone’s concern.  But they should be because we all have them.  Moreover, gallstones may lead to certain cancers.

“Cancer is never the first illness,” Chiu-Nan points out.  “usually, there are lots of other problems leading up to cancer”.  In my research in China,  I came across some material which says that, “people with cancer usually have gallstones.”

We all have gallsontes.  It’s a matter of how big or how small, how many or how few.  One of the symptoms of gallstones is feeling of bloatedness after a heavy meal.  You feel you can’t digest the food.  If it gets more serious, you feel pain in the liver area.

So if you think you have gallstones, Chiu-Nan offers the following method to remove them naturally.  The treatment is also good for those with a weak liver, because the liver and gallstones are closely linked.

For the first five days, take four glasses of apple juice everyday. Or eat four or five apples, whichever you prefer.  Apple juice softens the gallstones.  During the five days, eat normally.

On the sixth day, take no dinner.  At 6pm , take a teaspoon of Epsom salt (Magnesium sulfate) with a glass of warm water.  At 8pm repeat the same.  Magnesium sulfate opens the gallbladder ducts.

At 10 pm, take 1/2 cup olive oil with 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice.  Mix it well and drink it.  The oil lubricates the stones to help its passage.

The next morning , you will find green stones in your stool.  “Usually it floats” Chiu-Nan notes, “You might want to count it.  I had people who posses 40, 50 or up to 100 stones.  ”

“Even if you don’t have any symptoms of gallstones, you still might have some.  It is always good to give your gall bladder a clean up now and then.  You’ll find that your digestion will be much better afterwards.”