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Archive for the 'Ethnic medicine' Category

Acai berry as a powerful antioxidant

November 6th, 2008 by admin

Acai berry is a tropical fruit picked from the Amazonian palm tree Acai. For ages, this fruits has been collected and consumed by native Brazilians as food and especially for its rejuvenating and detoxifying properties. Recently discovered by the Western media, Acai berries are being talked about in popular television programs like 0prah and the Today show to name a few, and thousands of people all over the world recognize how Acai berry products help them live a healthier life.

Acai is a great source of antioxidants thanks to their elevated content of anthocyanins (a molecule that is typical of purple-skinned fruit and vegetables). These compounds help eliminate free radicals that cause damage throughout the body. This is especially important during periods of sustained exercise and heavy dieting, as these activities increase the metabolic processes that generate free radicals. Anthocyanins may also help promote cardiovascular health and cellular integrity.

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Category: Weightloss, Fitness, General health, Ethnic medicine, Wellness, Beauty | 3 Comments »

Aloe vera and Asthma

September 13th, 2008 by admin

Asthma is a highly prevalent condition that affects one in four people on average. Its symptoms can be triggered by many factors, such as allergies, emotions or stress. Asthma attacks are usually treated with prescription medications such as Albuterol and other corticoids.

This disease leads people to change their way of life to avoid or reduce attacks, but complete avoidance of stress, dust or allergens is virtually impossible to achieve 100% of the time. Even though asthma is not curable, the good news is that some children grow out of it. But those that don’t are usually on the hunt for anything that can help.

Many profesionals take very seriously the help coming from certain natural products. For example, studies found that 57% of the asthmatics find more relief from a combination of conventional and natural treatments, than prescription medicines alone. Aloe vera is one of the natural treatments being used. In fact, there are published studies on the benefits of aloe vera for asthma, and this relationship has been known since 1951, and more recent studies shed more light on this issue.

Aloe vera is rich in natural steroids and other compounds with the ability to reduce or even block inflammation. Moreover, studies done in Japan in the eighties showed that some compounds present in aloe vera leaves seem to help in the removal of particles that trigger asthma attacks. Since Aloe vera has only been shown to be beneficial as a preventive measure, it should not be used to treat an ongoing asthma attack. Asthma patients should still keep their prescribed inhalers nearby for attacks.

Even though it is listed as one of the beneficial effects of aloe vera, some people find the laxative effect of aloe a nuisance and are reluctant to take Aloe vera. A recently launched brand of aloe vera pills, Aloeride® aloe vera capsules, has eliminated the problem completely. This product does not contain the plant compound responsible for the laxative effect. In addition, Aloeride® is pharmaceutical grade, which assures maximum purity and safety. Click here to learn more about Aloeride®.

Category: Allergy, General health, Ethnic medicine, Respiratory, Wellness, Asthma | 1 Comment »

The mangosteen fruit

November 9th, 2007 by admin

Mangosteen - Much has been made over the recent scientific studies completed on the mangosteen fruit. One of the leading mangosteen researchers (Professor Nakatani from Japan) was recently recruited by Pfizer Inc. Pfizer secured Nakatani’s research under a non-disclosure agreement and he may no longer discuss his research on the mangosteen.

Why would the world’s fastest-growing major pharmaceutical company, the one Fortune® magazine ranked #14 on it’s list of “World’s Most Admired Companies,” be so interested in the mangosteen fruit? Maybe there is something to the mangosteen and what it holds!

Some Keywords to Research on:

- Xanthones
- Gamma Mangostin (one of the many xanthones in Mangosteen)
- Mangosteen
- Garcinia Mangostana (scientific name)

Mangosteen Ingredients

The research on Mangosteen & Xanthones is astounding. What’s more, the fact that the world is just finding out about this gift from nature, means that we are very lucky to be hearing about this fruit now.

But Xanthones are not the only great component of the mangosteen fruit. There are other ingredients which have their own set of benefits. It is also known to have: Vitamins C, B1, B1, Protein, Iron, Calcium Fiber, Potassium, Phosphorus, Sodium, Niacin, and Polyphenols, Cathechins/tannins, Flavonoids.

Polyphenols - These are a group of plant chemical substances. They are considered to be strong antioxidants in their own right. You’ve probably heard of some of the other things with high polyphenols - pomegranates, green teas and extra virgin olive oil.

Flavonoids - there have been over 5,000 naturally occurring flavonoids identified in various plants. Quite often, the benefits associated with plant foods actually come from the flavonoids instead of other known nutrients.

Catechins - Usually associated with Flavonoids.

Category: General health, Medicine, Ethnic medicine | No Comments »

Studies confirm the benefits of “yerba mate” tea on cholesterol

October 24th, 2007 by admin

University of Illinois scientist Elvira de Mejia conducted a study that showed that  mate tea drinkers increased the activity of enzymes that improve HDL (good) cholesterol and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. “Yerba mate” is a traditional infusion drunk in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and regions of Chile and Brazil. “Ilex paraguayensis, the mate plant has been grown and consumed for centuries. Dr Mejia has signed a five-year agreement with La Universidad Nacional de Misiones (UNaM, national University of Misiones) to carry out a collaborative study to assess 84 genotypes of mate tea for their ability to provide benefits on cholesterol and other health factors. Both cultivated and wild varieties will be included in the study.

In the September issue of the specialized journal Planta Medica, Dr mejia said that their studies show that some of the most important antioxidant enzymes in the body experience induction by this mate herbal tea, and since Argentina has so many different mate varieties, they’ll perform more comparisons between the various genotypes. They’ll be also able to explore the benefits of cultivating under different conditions.

The aim is not only identifying the most beneficial genotypes of the herbal tea in terms of nutrition value, but also help Argentine producers to improve drying and processing of mate tea to achieve better extraction of the tea’s bioactive compounds.

“Food companies are very interested in adding tea extracts to juices, soda, and even beer to increase the nutritional value of their products,” she said.

Adapted from http://www.eurekalert.org/

Category: General health, Medicine, Nutrition, Ethnic medicine, Cholesterol | No Comments »

The unique properties of Buah Merah

September 26th, 2007 by admin

It may seem surprising, but even the most sophisticated biochemistry and pharmacology industry cannot beat nature’s ability to provide efficient compounds and substances to cure and alleviate disease. Aboriginal tribes from all over the world are excellent sources of information when it comes to discovering natural compounds with curative properties. Such is the case of Buah Merah, a unique tropical fruit found in Papua. Papua people have known about the properties of Buah merah for centuries. They use it for food, craft materials and also as medicine for intestinal worms, skin disease, to prevent blindness and to increase energy.
However, ongoing research has shown that buah merah contains a myriad of natural compounds such as carotenes and other pigments and it is thought that its extracts could be used to cure and prevent many more diseases. Some claim that buah merah constitutes an efficient alternative cancer treatment, but also promising results have been reported when treating immune disorders, viral infections, hepatitis. There are even testimonials about progress on lung cancer and breast cancer. Experts who know buah merah say that with all the antioxidants, multivitamins,  minerals and antiviral compunds, the ability to defeat many different diseases is not at all surprising.
Buah Merah is another example of the power of nature and certainly more research needs to be done to uncover its full potential.
Source: http://www.redfruitoil.com

Category: General health, Medicine, Cancer, Ethnic medicine | 1 Comment »

XanGo

September 25th, 2007 by admin

“What is the mangosteen and what is all the excitement about?” There are some very important things that you, your family and your friends should know about this fascinating fruit.

XanGo Juice is a great tasting drink with naturally occurring nutrients. A healthy diet low in saturated and trans fats may reduce the risk of heart disease. XanGo Juice is free of saturated and trans fats. Xanthones (or catechins, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins) are a factor in the maintenance of good health and are a factor in normal growth and development.

XanGo L.L.C. launched XanGo Juice at the end of 2002 that the mangosteen fruit began to achieve worldwide recognition and acceptance in western markets.

Native people throughout Southeast Asia have historically used the fruit for its natural healing properties. It was when Europeans explored Southeast Asia that folklore related to the mangosteen fruit first spread to western culture.

In Asia, the mangosteen is known as “The Queen of Fruits”. The actual scientific name for it is Garcinia Mangostana but is usually called by its common name - mangosteen. What makes the mangosteen so remarkable is that it naturally contains many powerful phytonutrients. The most talked about nutrients are called Xanthones, and the mangosteen alone contains an incredible 43 Xanthones. More will be said about these “super-antioxidants” in tomorrow’s email.

About the size of a tangerine, the mangosteen has a smooth, dark purple rind, encasing a delicious snow-white fruit. Delicious? Yes! A healthful food that actually tastes good is a discovery to say the least, but it’s what science has to say about the mangosteen that’s turning so many heads. Those who haven’t yet heard about the mangosteen soon will. Consider yourself lucky to be a part of those who are finding out about it early on.If it’s this good, why doesn’t everyone know about it?

Chances are you probably have only heard a little about the mangosteen… or possibly nothing at all. It’s interesting that something like the mangosteen - with so many potential benefits - has remained in relative obscurity.

Although the mangosteen remains largely unknown in parts of the world, it has been utilized in Southeast Asia for many centuries. It has been transplanted into Central and South America, India, Southern China and the Caribbean. It has widespread use in all these countries.

If you look up the history of the mangosteen, you can learn all sorts of interesting things about its many traditional uses.

More recently, university scientists around the globe became curious about these traditional uses and began doing experiments and scientific studies on mangosteen and its active Xanthones. Subsequently, hundreds of scientific studies have been published and more studies are ongoing.

To help you further understand the history, terms and recent news coverage related to the mangosteen and XanGo Juice, you may click on the links below for more detailed information:

XanGo

Category: General health, Ethnic medicine | No Comments »

Hoodia

September 6th, 2007 by admin

Hoodia Gordonii is succulent plants that is widely used traditionally by the San people of southern Africa as an appetite suppressant and thirst quencher during their long hunting trips for generations. Hoodia is sold in pill, liquid, or tea form in health food stores such as healthsupermart.com.

There are various species of Hoodia, but the Gordonii variation is the only one that contains the all-natural
appetite suppressant. Hoodia contains a molecule that has similar effects on nerve cells as glucose, and tricks the brain into the sensation of fullness. Results of human clinical trials in Britain suggest that hoodia may reduce the appetite by hundreds of calories a day or more. In a BBC interview, Phytopharm’s Dr. Richard Dixey explained how P57 works: There is a part of your brain, the hypothalamus. Within that mid-brain there are nerve cells that sense glucose sugar. When you eat, blood sugar goes up because of the food, these cells start firing and now you are full. What the Hoodia seems to contain is a molecule that is about 10,000 times as active as glucose. It goes to the mid-brain and actually makes those nerve cells fire as if you were full. But you have not eaten!

Since Hoodia is a plant, it is completely natural and experts say it is safe to eat. Scientists have been studying Hoodia for almost 12 years and have not found any side effects (Not to mention the San Tribesman who have been eating Hoodia for years with seemingly no ill effects). One way to tell if a Hoodia pill is real is to look for a document called the C.I.T.E.S. Certificate (The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Since the Hoodia plant is a protected plant species it can only be sold to an exporter who has this certificate. Experts make the following recommendations for overweight people interested in trying Gordonii supplements. The length of time to experience the appetite suppressing effects may occur quickly, even following the first dose, but some people do not notice a significant difference until after taking the supplement for several weeks. In addition, the recommended dosage may need to be adjusted up or down depending on the individual. There are no adverse side effects associated with Hoodia Gordonii.

Category: Weightloss, Obesity, Ethnic medicine | No Comments »

XanGo

September 5th, 2007 by admin

XanGo. Sometimes change is gradual. Other times, it occurs with a sudden invention, a blast of creativity and innovation, an unexpected discovery. But most of the time, it’s a combination of the two approaches that yield the most dynamic results. When immediate change and sustained evolution join forces, the results can be incredible. Just look at the sweeping and complete effect of the internet over the past 10 years.

The same can be said for the nutrition industry. Words like aloe vera and gingko biloba were largely unknown; now they’re household standards. You’ll find them on a shelf at the corner supermarket.

And now it’s time for your introduction to the next paradigm-shifting explosion: the mangosteen fruit and the company that first brought it to market, XanGo.

While you surely enjoy a good chuckle as much as anyone, your health is no laughing matter. And you know that finding the perfect supplement can be a challenge. Some promise surprising health benefits but taste so terrible that you’d never want to try them out. Others taste fine, but are little more than watered down placebos.

That’s what makes XanGo Juice incredible. XanGo harnesses the bold nutritional value of the whole mangosteen fruit. You get supercharged antioxidants–known as xanthones–and at the same time, you treat your tastebuds to a tongue-waggling experience. And that’s a good reason for the buzz you might have heard about XanGo.

Category: General health, Ethnic medicine | No Comments »

XanGo Mangosteen Juice

September 5th, 2007 by admin

Native people throughout Southeast Asia have historically used the mangosteen fruit for its natural properties. In 599 AD, scribes in Southeast Asia first recorded the use of the Mangosteen fruit as a natural remedy and healing agent. More than a thousand years later, Laurens Garcin , studied the fruit, provided detailed diagrams, and determined that the mangosteen was helpful in treating various intestinal inflammations. In the following centuries, research and documentation multiplied. Today, you can visit the National Library of Medicine website and simply type the word: Mangosteen. You will get more than 30 documented results from the last 15 years alone. And each entry provides detailed research on the medicinal properties and health benefits of the mangosteen.

As you read through the scientific research and talk to people who know about XanGo Juice, they will mention the word: Xanthones. So let me take a minute to explain what they are talking about. You have heard of antioxidants; they are a common health-conscious buzzword. So let’s define xanthones this way: xanthones are some of the most powerful antioxidants ever found. Xanthones, are very stable and robust molecules, which show biological activity. The mangosteen fruit contains approximately 40 known xanthones and the majority of these are found in the highest concentration in the rind. In addition, there are two flavonoids in the mangosteen: catechins (found in green tea) and proanthcyandins (found in grape seeds). Many research institutions, such as The Mayo Clinic, The Linus Pauling Institute, UCLA Center for Human Nutrition and many others have studied flavonoids extensively. While science is still progressing in its attempt to validate the uses of mangosteen, the research of the mangosteens powerful phytonutrients thus far is quite promising.

XanGo Juice is a great tasting beverage with naturally occurring nutrients, such as xanthones and flavonoids. XanGo’s whole mangosteen fruit puree represents the next generation of powerful phytonutrients. What are phytonutrients? All-natural plant compounds offering health-protecting benefits that will change the future of dietary supplements. Now you can search far and wide for xanthones. But chances are, you will only find trace amounts in certain fruits and vegetables. However, the pericarp of the mangosteen is the premier source of these nutrients in concentrated amounts.

Category: General health, Medicine, Ethnic medicine | No Comments »

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