26Jan
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 indicate 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
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. Â 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 “Slendaâ€.  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.
27Oct
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
Now that dengue is on the rise, would it not be cool to drive mosquitoes away using natural means instead of fumigation which essentially does the same thing and yet introduce a hydrocarbon contaminant into the environment? Neem tree or Azadirachta indica is a popular tree, indigenous to India and Southeast Asia, fast growing, and can reach a height of 15-20 meters.
While there were reports of its medicinal use, what is peculiar to this plant is that it is a natural insect repellant. Neem derivatives, which are generally known as azadirachtin can neutralize about 500 pests known. These include insects, mites, ticks, and even round worms. The plant will not generally kill pests but repels them which in a way affects their growth and physiology. It is non-toxic to higher animals and is appropriate to plant in cities and populated areas where mosquitoes and insects.
Let’s stop fumigations but plant neem trees which would be beneficial to the environment.
10Sep
We often think of prunes as a stool softener, it contains fibers and a sugar called sorbitol a stool loosening sugar. Prunes come from plums and it is said that the semi-dried fruit contains plenty of antioxidants that is more than that of blueberries. Because of this property, prunes helps to slow aging process of the brain and body. It also helps normalize blood circulation. Prunes have a high nutrient density and for this reason is a very good source of energy and vitality. For every 100 gms of prunes (about a cup), there are 1,890 IU of Vitamin A, 10 mg of Vit B (Thiamine), 16 mg of riboflavin, 1.7 mg of niacin, and 3 mg of Vit C. It also contains minerals such calcium (11 mg) iron (: (7 mg), phosphorus (85 mg), potassium (810 mg) but be careful because it contains also 71 mg of carbohydrates. Overall 100 gm of prunes is equivalent to 268 calories. Carbohydrates alone is 71 gm while the fat and protein content are 6 gms and 2.3 gms, respectively.
For a healthy dessert or a power drink, you can combine half a cup of prunes with one plum and blended with half a glass of soya milk.
Tags: plums, Prunes
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