The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Herbal

  • Herbal product to berth in South Africa

    Herbal product to berth in South Africa

    A Herbal weight loss product Ezslim will soon berth in South Africa, Managing Director, Herbal Pro, producers of Ezslim, Mr Kishore Uttamchandani, has said.

    Produced by Herbal Pro, Ezslim was in Ghana before coming into the country. Since then, it has experienced growth of 80 percent sales.

    Commedienne Lepacious Bose is the brand’s ambassador.

    Speaking at a briefing on EZslim’s anniversary at Ikeja, Lagos, Uttamchandani: ”It is our belief that we can conquer anything using what nature has provided. EZslim since it entered the market two years ago has redefined the need for weight loss.

    ‘’The product helps to lose weight without side effects. I will like to appreciate our brand ambassador, Ms Lepacious Bose who is a source of inspiration to many and whose success story has contributed greatly to our own success.”

    The last two years of the company’s existence has seen a 70percent direct sale from its website and on social media. The company, which preaches healthy living ensures that it reflects in the content on its website and social media pages where weight loss tips, healthy recipes and other weight loss or healthy living related information are shared.

    Nigeria recorded a 41percent internet penetration in the last quarter of last year and this number was pumped up to 54 percent in the first quarter this year.This increase has reflected in the trend observed at Herbal Pro, a company that uses the online space for advertising and sharing of useful information.

    The company’s Public Relations Officer and Digital Marketing Manager, Miss Vivian Iweha, said: “We receive over 200 new inquiries daily. We have also recorded increase in sales which has doubled in the last 3 months due to the various promos by Herbal Pro which offer customers more. Seventy percent of this figure is from direct sales from the Herbal Pro website as well as our social media pages and via emails, while the rest are sales by EZ Distributors and registered pharmacies and walk-ins.

    “Herbal Pro is always on the lookout for more ways to promote healthy living hence one of the reasons we celebrate today. Herbal Pro is proud to present Nigeria’s first health focused news letter which will contain information on healthy living, including tips on weight loss, healthy life style, videos, feedbacks, customers testimonials, news from around the world, as well as from the Herbal Pro blog. Access to the newsletter is free

    Bose added: “EZslim is the cheapest weight loss pill I have used. It costs only N9, 000 per pack and comes in easy to take capsules. It has no side effects. I have used it so it is tasted and trust.”

    She emphasised the importance of weight loss and healthy living. “Being obese or overweight exposes people to a lot of health-related issues. I advise every Nigerian to take healthy living seriously,” he added.

  • ‘Malaria can be treated with herbal medicines’

    ‘Malaria can be treated with herbal medicines’

    Treating malaria is much simpler and more effective with herbal-based medicines, OYEYEMI GBENGA-MUSTAPHA writes.

    Despite the huge funds voted for its treatment and prevention yearly, malaria  remains a thorn in the flesh of many Nigerians.

    The choice of the theme “End malaria for good”, by the WHO for its World Malaria Day celebration, is, therefore, apt, an expert has said.

    The event, which coincides with WHO’s 25th anniversary to be  held next week, is focusing on the disease’s prevention, which, observers said, is a strategy for reducing the disease that kills over 400,000 people yearly globally. Since 2000, malaria prevention has played an important role in reducing cases and deaths.

    The expert, Mr Samuel Etatuvie, said malaria is caused by a parasite of the species plasmodium,  spread by infected mosquitoes. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment were necessary to control the disease and to save the lives of those afflicted, he said.

    In consonance with WHO, Etatuvie, who is the Nigerian Agency for Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency Director-General, said avoiding mosquito is the best way to treating malaria. “That is, never to catch it in the first place, but to avoid mosquitoes in the tropical world is difficult, to say the least. Powerful bug spray(specifically those good for mosquitoes) is good; you should add mosquito netting to your bed and windows, so you can sleep soundly, knowing that you won’t wake up in two weeks with the symptoms of malaria. You should also ensure that there are no large pools of standing water near your home, as those are the perfect places for mosquitoes to lay their eggs,” he explained.

    Etatuvie said recent successes in the malaria elimination had shown that prevention works: expanded access to proven, as cost-effective prevention tools has significantly reduced the global disease burden.

    “A new brochure from WHO, released ahead of World Malaria Day offers a summary of WHO-recommended tools in the malaria prevention arsenal. It highlights remaining gaps in coverage and the need for new anti-malaria tools. But if you still come down with malaria, there are ways to quickly treat same, especially before the condition becomes complicated,” he said.

    He identified the symptoms, which may include fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, shaking chills, nausea and vomiting. These may come and go, but they appear seven to nine days after being bitten.

    Etatuvie said proper malaria treatment was possible using herbs as long as you know what type you have. ”Some strains can remain dormant in the system for months or years after the initial exposure. There are three types of malaria: Tertian Fever, Quartan Fever and Malignant Fever. In Tertian Fever, the attacks happen on alternate days. With Quartan Fever, the attack of fever happens after an interval of two days, for example, first fever will occur on the first day, then again on the fourth day, then the seventh, and so on. Malignant Tertian is a very severe type that is the most alarming,” he explained.

    While Tertian and Quartan Fevers can be treated at home, Malignant Tertian must be treated in a hospital. Complications of malaria include anemia, dysentery and kidney failure.

    Explaining the role of the celebrated Artemisia Annua in the treatment of malaria, he said, Artemisia annua, also known as sweet wormwood (Morinda lucida, Owuro, Yoruba), is one of the most effective natural remedies for malaria. “That is even the WHO recommendation for the treatment of malaria from mono therapy to  artemisinin-based combination therapy.   Big players in the anti-malarial manufacturers in the pharmaceutical industry have all bought into this. Hard to believe, it took so long for conventional medicine to accept the herbal drug artemisinin as an effective treatment for malaria, though it has been used for a millennium and a half, it has been considered ‘acceptable’ by modern medicine for barely 40 years.

    “But now, it’s in short supply, and producing drugs with smaller dosages won’t work – a drug containing only half of the active ingredient won’t cure malaria and, in fact, will create drug resistance. Two well-known malaria drugs – chloroquine and pyrimethamine are already useless because of drug resistance. To get the best of the plant, the herb has to be steeped in cold water, and the water should be consumed directly in order to get optimum results.

    “Our agency, the Nigerian Agency for Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency, has come up with scientifically proven and efficacious products – mosquito repellant cream, and anti-malarial tea. These were even showcased at the just-concluded Technology innovation expo held in Abuja. I will recommend these to Nigerians because they are highly efficacious both in the prevention and treatment of malaria,”  Etatuvie said.

    On other Nature’s provisions to treat uncomplicated falciparum malaria, Etatuvie said: “The benefits of lemon or lime tea for weight loss are well-known but they are also handy in treating malaria as home remedies. Lime and lemon also play a vital role to reduce the quartan type of malarial fever. Take four to five drops of lime, add the juice of one lemon and dissolve it in one glass of water. This mixture needs to be consumed before the onset of fever. Lemon juice is also an effective home remedy for the treatment of malaria. Take two to three tablespoon of lemon juice and mix in half cup of water. Take this mixture during the initial stage of fever. Grapefruit is a great remedy for curing malaria. Sufferer should take raw grapefruit or its juice. Other fruits, which are good for patient suffering from malaria, are apple, orange, etc. If a patient cannot eat these fruits, freshly prepared fruit juice should be given.

    “Fruit and vegetable meal plan is always great when it comes to treating the body. One of the most effective home remedies for malaria is grapefruit. It should be consumed daily. The natural quinine-like substance can be extracted from the grapefruit by boiling a quarter of it and straining its pulp.”

    He said cinnamon is a valuable remedy for treating malaria. “One teaspoon of powdered cinnamon should be boiled in a glass of water with a pinch of pepper powder and a teaspoon of honey. This needs to be taken every day which is a beneficial medicine for malaria. As home remedies for malaria one can include cinnamon with clove powder. Take two to three teaspoon of finely powdered cloves and cinnamon and mix in a glass of water. Boil this mixture until the constituent become half. Allow it to cool and add little amount of black pepper or honey to it. Patient can take this mixture two to three times a day. This is a very old remedy for curing malaria.

    “Holy basil leaves are good in the prevention of malaria. Make a paste using 11 grammes of holy basil leaves with three grammes of black pepper powder. This mixture can be consumed daily in the cold stages of malarial fever. This will check the severity of the disease. Ginger is one of the oldest home remedies for treating chronic diseases. Take a small piece of ginger and two to three teaspoon raisins. Add this to a glass of water and boil it till the constituent become half. Allow it to cool, and then give to the sufferer.”

    He said Neem (Dongoyaro) biologically called Azadirachta indica,  a tree in the mahogany family, is plethora in our environment. “We use the plant’s leaves and bark to treat malaria. Its extract substantially increases the state of oxidation in red blood cells, preventing normal development of the malaria plasmodia. Neem can block the development of the gamete in an infected person. This not only prevent the infected person from developing malaria but also stops the disease from spreading. Two other compounds found in neem leaves called gedunin, a limonoid, and quercetin, a flavonoid, are at least, as effective as quinine and chloroquine against malaria. Neem also lowers the fever and increases the appetite, thereby strengthening the body, which aids in fighting the disease parasite and speeding recovery. Neem leaf extract substantially increases the state of oxidation in red blood cells, preventing normal development of the malaria plasmodia.

    “Drinking Neem teas or chewing a couple of its leaves daily reduces the possibility of contracting malaria. According to reports, Neem cures the disease in one week; it is very good in persistent cases. Drink one glass of Neem thrice daily. The extract is made by boiling 30g of Neem leaves in three litres of water for 20 minutes. Some Westerners familiar with Neem often substitute an occasional Neem leaf tea to drinking quinine on trips to malaria-infested areas of Africa and India as a preventive measure. Neem extracts tested by the Malaria Institute were found to repel the mosquito that causes malaria for up to 12 hours. Neem provides protection from not only mosquitoes but also from biting flies, sand fleas and ticks. Because of Neem’s proven effectiveness, insect repellents made with Neem are being used in malaria prone tropical countries. An active ingredient in Neem leaves, called Irodin A, is toxic to resistant strains of malaria, with 100 percent of the plasmodia dead in 72 hours with only a 1:20,000 ratio of active ingredients.”

    Etatuvie continued: “Most importantly, maintain a clean and hygienic surrounding and prevent yourself from malaria by using the above-home remedies. Keep yourself healthy by eating the right kind of foods and keeping away from mosquitoes by using mosquito repellent creams, medications and devices and don’t forget to use the mosquito net at night.”

    He appealed to healers across the country to contact his agency to document their innovations: “We haven’t been able to document properly. If you look at the practice, it is transfer from one generation to the other. In fact, this is one of our core areas of strength – documentation. We need to document the practice for continuity in practice. The essence of our documentation is to ensure that the agency has what we call the national comprehensive inventory of medicinal plants. Once we do that, we will be able to put it in book and practitioners will have access to them.

    ‘’We also encourage practitioners to document their own formulas,  to prevent scarcity of information on the practice. Prior to this time, most aged practitioners died with their knowledge without passing it to the next generation. Although some people think everything herbal is fetish, it is not so.

    This country has very huge numbers bio-resources in the nine geological areas and six geopolitical zones. We have places, such as the Obudu Cattle Ranch, Osogbo Groove and Mambila Plateau. All these places have special climatic conditions, which produce special effects in the medicinal plants grown there. We must document to narrow down on areas of specialisation. This enables researchers to work better on pharmacopeia.’’

  • ‘Police should monitor herbal medicine dealers’

    ‘Police should monitor herbal medicine dealers’

    The Abia State Commissioner for Health, Dr John Ahukanna has urged the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to monitor herbal drug makers in order to check their excesses and ensure the people’s health safety.

    Speaking during the United Nation’s Day Against Drug Abuse in Umuahia, Ahukanna said that if the NDLEA are serious about fighting drug abuse they must have a say on the constant trade fairs organised in the state capital by herbal medicine dealers.

    Ahukanna said that the herbal medicine trade fairs are a form of drug abuse which the state police command and the NDLEA should look into to save the people from health problems.

    The Abia Health commissioner noted that the country through NDLEA and other law enforcement agencies is winning the war against sale and use of illicit drugs, “with the high number of syndicates that are being smashed almost on a daily basis.”

    He said, “Trafficking syndicates are being incapacitated by the seizure and destruction of many kilograms of narcotics recovered from them and conviction of many of them in law courts, while addicts are being rehabilitated in many rehabilitation homes across the country.”

    He said that NDLEA and the federal government still needs to do more in the fight against hard and illicit drugs, to ensure that youths who are the greatest assets of the country are well protected at all times.

    Ahukanna said that the state government under Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is not relenting in the war against hard and illicit drugs, stressing that the present administration has been promoting awareness of the dangers associated with drug abuse.

    The health commissioner explained that the governor has also set up the Abia State Drug Abuse Control Committee which has been complimenting the efforts of the NDLEA and other agencies through enlightenment campaigns in schools, motor parks and other places, on the dangers of drug abuse.

    He advised parents to be close to their children and educate them about the risks in drug abuse, peer pressure and dangers in keeping bad companies, stressing that it is only when parents are close their children that the issue of drug abuse could be reduced.

    Earlier the Abia state assistant state commander, operations and intelligence of NDLEA, Mansel Kupi in his speech said that for decades, drug abuse and trafficking has constituted a major global menace and has also strained relationships among countries in the world.

    Kupi also said that the issue of drug abuse and trafficking has caused a serious economic problems to both source and consuming countries, while regretting that Nigeria for a years now has been given the unfortunate tag of a transit country.

    He said that this year’s theme is ‘Listen First’, stressing that the emphasis of the theme in on the need for parents to listen to their children and the youths as the first step to help them grow healthy and safe.

    The assistant NDLEA boss in the state explained that the idea behind parents listening to their children, “Is that it will enable them [parents] know what is on their children’s mind to avoid certain acts by taking premptive measures”.

    He explained that young people and adolescents have been identified as the high risk group prone to drug abuse, adding that any drug education which does not include the need for the youths to develop skills to withstand the pressure not to use drugs is not complete.

    Kupi said, “Any preventive drug education programme targeted at this group [youths] is not complete without highlighting the need for them and others to develop coping skills to withstand any negative pressure to use drugs”.

    Coping skills are ability required to resist illicit drug use or abstain from drug abuse and these skills include, decision making skills, inter-personal relation skills, communication skills, refusal

    skills and others. These copping skills may take time to develop and can only be achieved by constant ‘Listening’ and communication with the youths.

    The highlight of the awareness campaign was a play-let performed by members of the NYSC of Umuahia North local government area, which depicted the way drug abuse destroy youths and families.

     

  • Ensuring modern herbal practices

    Traditional medicine practitioners have been advised on the need for retraining and expansion in their area of expertise to meet modern demands in healthcare delivery.

    Director-General, Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Mr Sam Oghene Etatuvie gave this admonition at the three-day training workshop, organised by his agency and the Green Centre for Alternative Medicine practitioners (GCAD) on skill acquisition and enhancement on the manufacturing of herbal products.

    Etatuvie said patient satisfaction was an important and commonly used indicator for measuring the quality in healthcare.

    For him, patient satisfaction affects outcomes, patient retention, and traditional health-giver claims.

    He continued: “Patient satisfaction also affects the timely, efficient, and patient-centered delivery of quality healthcare. It is, thus, a proxy but a very effective indicator to measure the success of practitioners and their facilities. This training is to ensure patient satisfaction in traditional medicine practice.”

    He said the practice of traditional medicine has evolved over the centuries and it is training and retraining that can assist practitioners to meet modern challenges, adding: “There are certain significant developments which have taken place in the health systems in recent times. Chief among them are: Regulation, partnership, investments, the establishment of corporate centres equipped with the latest equipment, the advent of third-party payers (insurance companies, governments, companies, etc.); increasing awareness among patients, availability of information through the internet, and higher expectations of patient care, and finally the increasing litigations for unsatisfying results. “These factors have resulted in a challenging profile for the traditional health care industry – away from the traditional concept of a noble profession toward a service industry. So a practitioner that knows his onion should be on top of his practice.”

    He said there was no need to advertise before patients patronise practitioners, stressing that all they needed was to specialise in their areas of competence and that would bring patient satisfaction, which could lead to customer (patient) loyalty.

    “To improve patient retention, just satisfy one customer, the information reaches four others. If we alienate one customer, it spreads to 10, or even more if the problem is serious. So, if we annoy one customer, we will have to satisfy three other patients just to stay even. Also be moderate and considerate in your charges.

    Other winning tips are Break the ice: make eye contact, smile, call people by name, express with words of concern. Show courtesy: Kind gestures and polite words make a patient very comfortable. Listen and understand: encourage patients to tell their problem. Invite and answer their questions. Inform and explain: it promotes compliance. People are less anxious when they know what’s happening,” he said.

    He continued: “Seeing the whole person: see beyond illness the whole person. Share the responsibility: risks and uncertainty are facts of life in medical practice. Acknowledging risks builds trust. Pay undivided attention: this reduces distractions and interruptions as much as possible. Secure confidentiality and privacy: watch what you say, where you say, and to whom you say. Preserve dignity: treat the patient with respect. Respect modesty. Remember the patient’s family: families feel protective, anxious, frightened, and insecure. Extend yourself, reassure, and inform. Respond quickly: Keep appointments, return calls, and apologise for delays are some of the practical things practitioners need to imbibe to ensure patronage.”

    Etatuvie said: “It is an ironic fact – the better the practitioners are, the better they must become. Quality does not stand still. It should be linear and always ascending. One should strive to provide better care and soar above each and every patient’s expectations. A satisfied patient is a practice builder. Here at NNMDA we have the mandate to enable the Federal Government of Nigeria through Federal Ministry of Science and Technology actualise its critical and strategic mandate to research, develop, document, preserve, conserve and promote Nigeria’s natural medicine, including traditional/indigenous healthcare systems, medications and non-medications healing arts, Science and Technology.

    “We are here to assist and  facilitate your integration into the National Healthcare delivery system, as well as contribute to the country’s wealth and job creation, social-economic and development effort. This is why we are partnering with Green Centre for Alternative Medicine practitioners (GCAD) and Technology Incubation Centre ( National Board for Technology Incubation) to ensure your products and services meet modern day demands.”

    Vice president/Executive Director, International affairs, Green Centre for Alternative Medicine Practitioner, Mrs Jane Yu said the training is another step at fulfilling NNMDA’s strategic mandate, adding that GCAMP was a body born out of desire to share health and help people to discover the secrets of maintaining good health through nature.

    The Centre, she said, has trained many students of various categories in the healing arts and has strong affiliations with some world’s best universities of TCM in China.

    Mrs Yu said Nigeria is blessed with abundant flora and fauna, which are the basic raw materials for Traditional and Alternative Medicine Products.

    “Nigeria is home to approximately 5, 000 plant species. Unfortunately, only 40 percent of herbal medicines consumedin Nigeria are produced locally and the remaining 60 percent are imported from foreign countries as statistics reveals world global herbal market is currently estimated at about US$150 billion. The global acceptance of herbal medicinal products is on the increase and this has led to the  forecast  that the global market for herbal products is expected to be $5 Trillion by 2050.

    She said the Green Centre for Alternative Medicine practitioners will support in research and development of Nigerian herbs by sharing with our practitioners the latest techniques in the cultivation, harvesting and production of Herbal Medicine by integrating the Traditional Chinese Medicine systems which has been in use in over 5,000 years till date.

    Centre Manager, Technology Incubation Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State John Oni and Mrs Yu put the participants through herbal products formulation and production techniques.

    The participants were taught how to optimise economic potentials on the cultivation of some medicinal plants.

    Also, they did introduction to good agricultural and collection practices, essential equipment for herbal production, sourcing and its operation, listing of herbal products with NAFDAC, overcoming challenges of meeting its requirements, good manufacturing practices (GMP) for herbal medicine and strategies to marketing herbal medicine in the country.

  • Ensuring modern herbal practices

    Traditional medicine practitioners have been advised on the need for retraining and expansion in their area of expertise to meet modern demands in healthcare delivery.

    Director-General, Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Mr Sam Oghene Etatuvie gave this admonition at the three-day training workshop, organised by his agency and the Green Centre for Alternative Medicine practitioners (GCAD) on skill acquisition and enhancement on the manufacturing of herbal products.

    Etatuvie said patient satisfaction was an important and commonly used indicator for measuring the quality in healthcare.

    For him, patient satisfaction affects outcomes, patient retention, and traditional health-giver claims.

    He continued: “Patient satisfaction also affects the timely, efficient, and patient-centered delivery of quality healthcare. It is, thus, a proxy but a very effective indicator to measure the success of practitioners and their facilities. This training is to ensure patient satisfaction in traditional medicine practice.”

    He said the practice of traditional medicine has evolved over the centuries and it is training and retraining that can assist practitioners to meet modern challenges, adding: “There are certain significant developments which have taken place in the health systems in recent times. Chief among them are: Regulation, partnership, investments, the establishment of corporate centres equipped with the latest equipment, the advent of third-party payers (insurance companies, governments, companies, etc.); increasing awareness among patients, availability of information through the internet, and higher expectations of patient care, and finally the increasing litigations for unsatisfying results. “These factors have resulted in a challenging profile for the traditional health care industry – away from the traditional concept of a noble profession toward a service industry. So a practitioner that knows his onion should be on top of his practice.”

    He said there was no need to advertise before patients patronise practitioners, stressing that all they needed was to specialise in their areas of competence and that would bring patient satisfaction, which could lead to customer (patient) loyalty.

    “To improve patient retention, just satisfy one customer, the information reaches four others. If we alienate one customer, it spreads to 10, or even more if the problem is serious. So, if we annoy one customer, we will have to satisfy three other patients just to stay even. Also be moderate and considerate in your charges.

    Other winning tips are Break the ice: make eye contact, smile, call people by name, express with words of concern. Show courtesy: Kind gestures and polite words make a patient very comfortable. Listen and understand: encourage patients to tell their problem. Invite and answer their questions. Inform and explain: it promotes compliance. People are less anxious when they know what’s happening,” he said.

    He continued: “Seeing the whole person: see beyond illness the whole person. Share the responsibility: risks and uncertainty are facts of life in medical practice. Acknowledging risks builds trust. Pay undivided attention: this reduces distractions and interruptions as much as possible. Secure confidentiality and privacy: watch what you say, where you say, and to whom you say. Preserve dignity: treat the patient with respect. Respect modesty. Remember the patient’s family: families feel protective, anxious, frightened, and insecure. Extend yourself, reassure, and inform. Respond quickly: Keep appointments, return calls, and apologise for delays are some of the practical things practitioners need to imbibe to ensure patronage.”

    Etatuvie said: “It is an ironic fact – the better the practitioners are, the better they must become. Quality does not stand still. It should be linear and always ascending. One should strive to provide better care and soar above each and every patient’s expectations. A satisfied patient is a practice builder. Here at NNMDA we have the mandate to enable the Federal Government of Nigeria through Federal Ministry of Science and Technology actualise its critical and strategic mandate to research, develop, document, preserve, conserve and promote Nigeria’s natural medicine, including traditional/indigenous healthcare systems, medications and non-medications healing arts, Science and Technology.

    “We are here to assist and  facilitate your integration into the National Healthcare delivery system, as well as contribute to the country’s wealth and job creation, social-economic and development effort. This is why we are partnering with Green Centre for Alternative Medicine practitioners (GCAD) and Technology Incubation Centre ( National Board for Technology Incubation) to ensure your products and services meet modern day demands.”

  • ‘How herbal medicine can exist with orthodox practice’

    ‘How herbal medicine can exist with orthodox practice’

    The Nigerian Association of Medical Herbalists (NAMH) has urged its members to close ranks to develop the profession.

    Its President, Chief Felix Esho, said in unity, lay their strength and the profession’s progress.

    Esho, who spoke at the monthly meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), the  association’s  ruling body,  said practitioners must work together to avoid being swallowed by  orthodox medicine practitioners.

    “This is the only profession I know. I have been practising before I got married. I joined NAMH in 1965. The late Chief Joseph Lambo was our General Secretary then,” he said.

    He berated orthodox doctors for dissuading people from patronising herbalists,  saying: “We are not evil, neither are we crude.”

    Esho said: “For instance, in 1974, doctors in a gazette said nobody should take oral herbal medicine. This affected our practice but we have moved on since then.

    The association, he said, had been building the capacity of  practitioners to ensure they are current.

    “Moreover, we are engaging in research so that we can produce evidence-based herbal drugs,” Esho said.

    To him, herbalists are knowledgeable: on physical and spiritual healing.

    The NAMH president said the association fought for the legal framework of the profession. So, herbal medicine is now on its own devoid of unnecessary interference and control.

    NAMH Vice President Prince Johnson Idowu said herbal medicine has come of age in Nigeria.

    ‘’Besides, we are the real care-givers in the country’’, he said.

    The association, Idowu said, was stifled by litigation by factions which want to head it, adding: “The court gave judgment on Monday, February 29 that Chief Omo Oleabhiele should continue as president of the National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), which is the umbrella body for all herbal medicine associations”.

    He continued: “Leadership crisis had rocked the association since it was established in 2006. This was borne out of personal interest”.

    The Second Vice President of the association, Dr Lasisi Olakoyo, said disharmony almost marred the purpose for establishing NAHM by the founding fathers of herbal medicine.

    “But, today the association is promoting the practice in Nigeria’’.

    He said many herbal drugs are being produced and marketed by members of the association locally and internationally.

    “Our profession is quite unique because we make and prescribe our drugs. We also diagnose before we treat anybody. But orthodox practitioners can only diagnose and treat. The prescription is done by pharmacists. We perform an all round function, which makes our profession unique,” he said.

    The chairman, Lagos State chapter of NANTMP, Dr Yekini Akande, said practitioners are still trying to have a common factory for manufacturing of herbal drugs.

    He said his association had approached the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to inspect its facility for herbal production factory in Badagry.

    “The agency came and told us to make some adjustments to the herbal factory, which we have started doing,” he said.

    A member of the Council, Chief Jimoh Bakare urged the Federal Government to help herbal medicine grow.

    He said herbal medicine has been with the country for many generations,and as such, should not be allowed to die.

    President, NAHM, Ogun State, Alhaji Fasasi Badmus said practitioners have since changed their stand after the court judgment that the incumbent president should carry on.

    He said the practice is gradually growing in Ogun State.

    “The practice suffered a bit of setback when the late Chief Joseph Lambo returned from Cairo in Egypt where he had gone to receive an award in traditional medicine as a healer. Our people then took the practice as the association of healers. So, this affected the NAHM a lot,” Badmus said.

  • Red algae 2016 upcoming herbal medicine… (8)

    We live in a world of colours. Back in primary school, we learned about ROYGBIV… Red, Orange, yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo and Violet. ROYGBIV is the formula for tracking them. We had Crayons of some, if not all of them. Also, we had the water colour box. We learned that not all these colours exist naturally on their own. Some, called the primary colours do.

    They all speak to us. But we no longer understand their language. And, because we do not understand this language any longer, we do not understand the message they bring to us from Mother Nature about how to use them to obtain radiant health. Knowing people of old knew the health benefits of the various colours which we are exposed to every day in the plant kingdom. For example, they knew each organ of the body expresses a different colour from another. This colour is its radiation or aura or frequency on which it is broadcasting its existence to the world. Thus, clairvoyant physicians of old could tell if an organ was healthy or sick or likely to be sick from the brightness or dullness of its colour or radiation.

    The radiation is no more than a physical expression of the rays which occurs in the organ. And every organ feeds on rays from food or the environment which are homogenous with its own constituent rays. And this is why, in bygone days, water kept in white glass bottles was left in the sunlight from sunrise to sunset to absorb radiations from sunlight. Sunlight is a powerhouse of ROYGBIV. It is thus assumed that such water exposed to ROYGBIV in sunlight hours would provide all the rays needed by every organ of the body. If the blue ray absorbed by that bottle of water was needed to revive the health and radiation of a blue-ray organ, water was kept in a blue glass bottle and kept in the sunlight as already described.

    The medics of old believed the blue bottle would eliminate absorption into the water of other ROYGBIV colours except the blue, thereby making this bottle of water very rich in the blue ether and medicinal for the ailing blue organ. The water colour of healthy living is, therefore, an interesting one provided in the various colours which plants, food crops, fruits and marine life presents to us.

     

    The red algae

    The foregoing is an introduction to the Red Algae. Red is one of the three natural primary colours of Red, Green and Blue. The Red algae is different from the deep Blue-Green algae, such as Spirulina and Chlorella, which have been mentioned in this series. Spirulina, for example, is one of the richest nutritional plants on earth. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described it as the “super food of the 21st Century.” The Americans make it a part of the diet of their astronauts in their space voyages. WHO recommends it for the growth of children and up keep of the health of adults. And children? The WHO recommends Spirulina for their nutritional health, especially in situations where they obtain little protein in the diet, and are not growing well. Equally nutritional, it is an antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory and excretes heavy metals from the body apart from fighting cancers, among its various benefits. There are about 10,000 species of Red algae, but not all of them are edible. It is a plant form in the water or sea which provides food for marine animals. In the web site www.disabledworld.com, Jane Lantree says:

    “Red marine Algae has long been known to assist the body’s immune system to respond to virus attacks and their severity. It has been used traditionally for many ailments, including boils, urinary infections, asthma, goitreand stomach problems, and also for ulcers and tumors with varying degrees of success. The scientific basis of these applications is varied, but it is the typical use to eradicate cold sores that is is best known for in the West, though it has been claimed to be an effective means of reducing the cholesterol levels in the blood.”

    “At one time, those who suffered chronically from cold sores had no long-term relief. In fact, frequently, the short-term relief was sleep. It is not so much the pain that cause the distress of a cold sore but the constant irritation much like a painful itch. Temporary relief could be obtained by the use of some herbal remedies such as chamomile and Licorice root, although they were no genius remedies in that they did not cure the condition but provided relief from the symptoms for a short time.

    “However, St. John’s Wort and Lemon Balm were real remedies in that they killed the virus and were likely to be the best anti-viral remedies available other than Red Marine Algae. The virus killed, however were the active soldiers while the main body remained dormant deep within the nerve cells, ready to become activated at some future date. Herpesor cold sores are not nice viruses because they can lie dormant for years and then be activated by one trigger or another. These triggers include menopause, stress, dental work (so probably stress!), other infections, sunburn and fatigue caused by over work…

    “There are many species of red algae used in China, Japan and the Pacific Region in general, though the family dumontiaceae has been particularly useful in the treatment of Herpes I and II. Herpes I is the cold sore and Herpes II is the genital herpes. It has been proved unequivocally to alleviate the symptoms of Herpes topically and to prevent a recurrence by oral administration.

    “The active agents of Red algae are Carrageenans, a family of sulfated polysaccharide that in 2006 were found to be effective against the sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and genital herpes. In fact, it is already being used in some condom lubricants where it has been found to inhibit HPV,  human Papillo viruses that cause genital warts. Carrageenans seem to be able to identify unfriendly proteins such as viruses and prevent them from bonding to human cell surfaces. The polysaccharides are thought to stimulate the production of interferons which work with the immune system as antiviral agents. They also improve the activity of T cells and B cells that destroy virus-infected cells in the body. These polysaccharides are generally contained within the top cell walls of the dumontiaceae that also bind with heavy metals, carcinogen and other harmful impurities before they do any damage. It is a very useful seaweed. In fact, the sulfonated Carregeenans of red Marine algae are now thought to be natural anti-viral agents superior in effect to ACYCLOVIL, and to effectively cure Herpes zoster (shingles) infections which is a definite breakthrough on the treatment of viral infections and the understanding of the immune system. The effects of extracts from Dumonticeae delivered orally on other viral infections such as Candida have been very encouraging, resulting in very rapid improvement of the condition. ACYCLOVIL can create immunity if used frequently, in much the same way that antibiotics do. But Red Marine Algae, do not appear to. The full benefits of these supplements used by the Chinese and Japanese for thousands of years, have yet to be determined but it is thought of to be of more value to those that suffer regularly from cold sores than Acyclovil which, chemically, is a glucosamine named “Acyclogualosine”.

    hat sounds a mouthful. Jean Langtree has provided a great insight into the health benefits of Red algae marred only, in my view, by the polemic discrepancy that suggests that pharmaceutical antibiotics promote immunity whereas Red algae doesn’t. If antibiotic drugs promote immunity, why do doctors warn against self-medication or are sometimes reluctant to prescribe them. Why do we have to take probiotics to re-boost immunity after a course of antibiotics? Why has the immune function so failed with the use of antibiotics because micro-organisms against which they are used have developed resistance against them? Why is the medical profession searching desperately for a new generation of antibiotics?

    Anne Gordon, in www.naturaldoc.com agrees that red algae builds immunity. She speaks of GIGARTINA, a specie of red marine algae, which is indicated for hair, nails, skin and immunity. She says:

    “Gigantin is a type of ocean growing algae commonly known as sea vegetable that could be one of the most important new therapeutic foods sea vegetables. It contains 10 – 20 times the minerals of land plants as well as an abundance of vitamins and other elements necessary for proper metabolism. They have been sought for thousands of years for their ability to prevent disease and prolong life. While sea vegetables have been a common part of the diet of many healthy cultures to prevent aging and prolong life, scientific research has only recently reinforced the nutritional and medical importance of sea vegetables. In the mid-70s and early 80s, scientists identified some 30 species of red marine algae (RMA) which enhance the immune system regulatory response and were shown to be antiviral. The most promising part of this discovery was that these species had an antiviral effect against a wide varietyof pathogens. Current research on red marine algae has shown promising results in the control and reduction of both the candida albicans yeast (a fungus) and the herpes simplex virus. Clinical trials have shown that these sulfated polysaccharides can suppress HIV, herpes and influenza viruses, and patients have reported a lessening and even a halting of their growth within the body. Researchers believe that Red Marine Algae may serve as a gateway to resist many other types of bacteria, fungal and viral pathogens.”

    Anne Gordons reports a personal experience when she and some of her other family members travelled to care for a senior family member admitted to hospital for about three months in the United States. She says:

    “While hospitalised, this elder contacted MRSA (Methiguin resistant staphylocusaureus, virulent staph infection)and Clostridium difficile, an intestinal bacteria commonly referred to as cdif by hospitals. Both are very hard to treat hospital-borne bacteria infections that have evolved from the overuse of antibiotics. These bacteria had colonized in our bodies and could never be fully eradicated. With frequent courses of antibiotics, they were able to be kept under control briefly. Then, they would return in a few days due to her weakened immune system and poor overall health. I tried to talk to the hospital and get some of the natural alternatives that I would discuss below as part of my own case, but at the time I did not have the personal experience that I now have to support any assertions about their effectiveness. While frequenting my relative’s hospital for two weeks straight, I myself contracted an acute eczema outbreak that spread all over my body. Doctors at a local urgent care facility could not diagnose the particular pathogen I had, and we figured it was some sort of hybridized hospital-borne super bug. Then, my sister got it, too. So, it became clear that it was caused by an infection pathogen and not just an allergic reaction. I called my naturopathic doctor for a phone consultation, and he advised myself and my sister to get several supplements at a local health food store. Colloidal silver (which I took both orally and topically), freeze-dried Nettle and Pantothenic Acid (vitamin B5) we also took Naturodoc domatium product known as 1918, a powerful immune boosters that was the method the Western Indian tribes used to survive  the great influenza 1918 epidemic unscathed.

    These were dramatic support for my adrenal functions and seemed to help control the terrible itching and fight the infection. But my skin was still dried out, hardened and scaly all over my body. It was still uncomfortable and looked terrible.

    Within three days of taking Gigartina I, a strain of red marine algae, upon returning home, her lackluster skin began to improve.

    “The scaliness and scably, lesions cleared up, Anne Gordons recalls, and the skin lost its angry redness, the tormenting itch completely subsided, my skin became healthier and clearer the next month. I noticed another effect from the Gigartina that I hadn’t expected. For over a year, I had been experiencing increasing amounts of hair loss (Alopecia) that had become a significant concern for me. I knew the hairloss had something to do with a skin problem in my scalp, and I had been battling scaliness and even eruptions and scabs in my scalp for which I could not find any obvious explanation. I had suspected that my hair loss might be due to a candida yeast infection, so I had been taking yeast-fighting formulations, drinking Pau d’ Arco tea and changing my diet to fewer carbohydrates, but my problem still hadn’t improved much.”

    hatever my skin problem was, it was obviously hurting the hair follicles and lots of hair were falling off every time I washed or brushed my hair. My hair had been getting noticeably thinner, and none of the therapeutic shampoos I was using was having a positive effects either.  About a month after starting to take Gigartina, it suddenly dawned on me that the hair loss to which I got accustomed to was greatly diminished. My scalp was less itchy and disrupted, and there was a lot of hair coming out when I washed my hair. I believe the skin strengthening effect that result from taking Gigartina is actually reversing the cause of my hair loss. I don’t know if my scalp irritation was caused by Candida or some other pathogen, or whether Gigartina, would work this way for everyone. However, because of my own experience, I am convinced the power of this sea vegetable extract to correct chronic and acute skin problem by boosting immunity.

     

    Any side effects?

    Jan Millehan tell us in www.lifestrong.com that red marine algae, too, may have its problems. It is said to be a heavy source of Vitamin K, which is a blood clot forming agent. This may disturb the work of blood thinners. The large Calcium load may also lead to constipation and calcium-hardening of the arteries. And this may cause high blood pressure. But a Korean study, published in the 2006 edition of the Journal ALGAE “observed the inhibition effects of the red algae extracts on an enzymes linked to high blood pressure.”

    In that study, “Angiotensin -1 converting Enzymes or ACE, plays a significant role in combating blood pressure, according to researchers. Scientists reported that some red algae specie produce remarkable anti ACE activities when compared with other marine organism.”

    Everything which goes on to the mouth, even water, had side effects when more than is needed is taken.

    Welcome, again, to the water colour of life. Red is the colour of the blood… life. It is active, energetic, even boisterous. Blue calms. Look at the sky. It is also the colour of love. And green? It is the colour of the formula of the blood…. Life. Isn’t there a reason the earth’s vegetation is green? On account of this, when a proprietary brand of liquid chlorophyll arrived in Nigeria, this column suggested: “Let’s drink green, for the earth is not green for the fun of it”.

  • Mango Peel: 2016 upcoming herbal medicine (7)

    Last Thursday (17 February, 2016), I hinted that I could hardly wait for this year’s mango season to break in full steam. Mangos are here in trickles, I said, noting that, being premature, they were force ripened by burying carbide in their heaps. This isn’t good for health. When the season is in full bloom, we should enjoy healthier mangoes. I obtained deeper insights into the healthbenefits of mangoes than I did in ‘O’ Level class from H.K Bakhru Foods that heal. He is a versatile Indian author of such other books as Herbs that heal and Vitanins that heaL. From Foods that heal, I was reminded of such nutritional endowments as Vitamin A and Beta Carotene, which are good for the eyes, skin and the immune system, for example, of fiber, which is beneficial for digestion, of the use of the kernel of the seed as a spermicide in Indian and for vaginal candidiasis. In this nutritional age when the eating of fruit peels has become a nutrition vogue, we can add, as I suggested last Thursday, Mango Peel to our collection of orange peel banana peel, pineapple peel and pineapple stem, as this series has been advocating. I have been eating mango peel for many years. I void the ones with spots. And I smile in the small room when my poop smells mango! I have spoken with many people who confirm they, too, eat mango peel. But not many people know the good they are adding to their health by doing so. So, what are some of the benefits we enjoy when we eat mango peel?

    The benefits

    One of our tour guides is Dr. Jeffery Shapiro, M.D, who say’s in www.doctorhealthpress.com:

    “The mango is a delicious fruit that is readily enjoyed the world over. The mango skin, on one hand, is often discarded without a second thought. This is a shame since mango peels after a delightful array of nutrients and health benefits to any-one who chomps down on one. Although cancer bitter and tough, mango peels are perfectly edible and will readily reward anyone who tries them.

    “The mango peel contains many of the same nutrients as the flesh and some of them are even higher quantities than the main ‘meat’ of the fruit. Why then, would you bother eating the peel instead of a few extra mango slices to make the difference?

    Sugar:

    “A mango has around 24 grammes of sugar and 28 grammes of carbs (carbohydrate) almost all of which come from the flesh itself. Going for the skin lets you get ball of the lovely nutrients and avoid much of the carbs and sugar that would otherwise bog down your diet. But that’s what a mango peel doesn’t contain. Here is what it does contain:

    • “Vitamin A is an import nutrient for anyone who wants strong eyes and a healthy immune system.
    • “VitaminsC helps in wound repair, the absorption of Iron, and the growth and restoration of skin, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels. C is antioxidant Vitamin-rich, meaning it is able to sweep off any free radicals bouncing about before they can cause too much trouble.
    • Fiber is a big consideration when it comes to mango peel. Like with most fruits, the fiber content found in the rougher skin dwarfs any found in the flesh by a significant margin. Mango peels can add much needed mobility to your digestive system and help keep bowel movement comfortable and regular.
    • Phytonutrients …a fruit peel is filled with special nutrients that are meant to protect against insects, fungi and other annoyances that could threaten the plant. Although many of thesephytonutrients are not used by the body directly, they do have antioxidant properties that can help lower cholesterol and reduce your risks of cancer.Of specific note is a phytonutrient called Margiferin, which is highly available in the peel but only has trace amounts in the flesh of the fruit.Margiferinis known to be a powerful antioxidant capable of easing inflammation and protect against UV (ultra violet) damage and skin cancer”

    Dr. Shapiro responds to the question of safety often raised by some people.

    “There is a common belief”, he says, “that the skin of a mango is not safe to eat because it contains Urushiol, the active chemical behindPoison Ivy and Oak.  Mango trees are part of the same family as thus less than edible plant and they do contain some amount of Urushiol, but this is not normally an issue. The reason is because the mango Urushiol is most concentrated in the tree sap and in the stem.neither of which is eaten as part of the peel. Having said that, people who are sensitive to Urushiol may still develop an allergic reaction from a mango peel.  But there is an easy way to tell if this applies to you. Pick up an unpeeled mango with your bare hand. Are you developing a reaction? If not, then you are good”.

    Bitter and had to chew, mango peel may be juiced in a smoothie with other fruits or chopped and baked in an oven to make crunches. The powdered peel may be added to meals such as rice or beans or pap. This makes it possible to enjoy the nutritional benefits of mango peel a long time after the mango season is over.

    WHAT do researchers say about human consumption of mango peel? In www.thehindu.com: we are advised some compounds in mango peel help fight diabetes and some forms of cancer. The website said:

    “My father was fond of mangoes. During the summer season, he would polish off two mangoes at each mealtime…juice, pulp and skin with relish. My wife, who is from Gujarat, wondered why he would eat the skin too, while she did not. When she asked, he would say ‘you North Indians are missing out a good part of the fruit’ I, the son and husband, take the safe mid course and eat it from time to time.

    “ At het Australian Health and Medical Research at Melbourne, by Ashley Wilkinson and SarahThompson of Queensland University, show that some compounds in the mango skin help fight some metabolic diseases such as diabetes and some forms of cancer. These compounds modulate some receptor molecules called PPARs in our cells. These receptors help in controlling the levels of cholesterol and related fatty compounds in the bloodstream on one hand, and the levels of glucose in the other hand. Thus, mangoes might have positive benefits from diabetes and heart conditions. Since PPARs are also related to some cancers, the substances in the mango may also have anti-cancer effects.These compounds are more abundant in the mango skin than in the pulp.  We do not yet have a full catalogue of all the compounds in the skin, but some of them are already well known and found elsewhere, one isQuercetin, an antioxidant molecule that helps our cells from “cellular overburn”or oxidative damage. It is found in several other fruits, in some greens and also in onion. The other is Mangiferin, found in the mango skin, which, as the name applies, Quarantines away excess free iron in the body and, thus, offers protection against iron-caused oxidative damage. The third is a by-product of MangiferincalledNorathyriol, which, too, is an antioxidant.

    “It is likely that the mango skin also has Resveratrol,which also lowers cholesterol level. The skin of the blue of grapes are rich in resveratrol,  which found its way into red wine, wines and juices from all dark-coloured berries are rich sources of resveratrol. Hence, the recommendation of red wines as health aids. Green grapes are not high on this score, hence neither is white wine, incidentally the punkish skin of peanuts (groundnuts) is another rich source of resveratrol and other health-aiding agents. Here, my wife evened up to my father. She would bring roasted salted peanuts with (skins intact) from Baronda, and my father would remove the skin from them by rubbing the nuts off his palms and eat the nuts. She would then peep in: ‘you Tamilians don’t know a good thing when given to you’ eating mango skin and peanut skin may thus be useful against diabetes, a disease that has become a pandemic across India.

    “But is eating the mango pulp a good idea? Afterall, it contains a high amount of sugar. While sugars such as glucose are the fuel for the body and give us energy, not using them up efficiently and having them lying around in the cells and bloodstream is harmful. Glucose is ‘burnt’ or oxidized in our cells to yield energy, but too much of it can lead to ‘overburn’ and oxidative damage. Glucose also chemically combines with proteins and alters their properties and functions. This leads in time to impaired eyesight, neuromuscular functions, kidney damage and so on. In discarding the skins of many fruits, he throw away useful health aids. Other herbivorous mammals such as cows, goats, horses and elephants eat the white fruit with skin intact and gain health benefits.”

    Mrs. BukolaAzeez, chief executive officer of Lagos based Budget Travels, an air line ticket booking and tour guide agency, should now understand why I eat my peanuts with the skin intact. Our offices are nearby. The same vendor brings her peanut and mine. I reject naked nuts she expresses wonder on her face when I eat the nuts and their skin. Incidentally, I and other pig farmers in Oke Aro, Ogun State, near Lagos, mixed pig feed with sacksful of peanuts peel when I farmed pigs in the 1990s. We did this for the vitamins and minerals said to be present in peanut peel.

    For people who fear that peanuts may be dangerous to their health, and their vision in particular, isn’t the resveratrol in peanut skin an antidote for whatever troubles the excessfact in peanut may wish to forment? From Maryellen Cicione, and Award winning writer, comes the following in www.gardenguide.com!

    There is difference of opinion about eating the skin of mango. Since the mango skin is acidic, it can be toxic for some people, causing a rash similar to poison Ivy. But many people eat mango peel with no consequences. And find its taste appealing. Like a mango, the flavour of the peel differs according to its varietal type. Some have a detectable fragrance and others a stronger, astringentodour. Mango peel is high in Calcium, Vitamin B6 and antioxidants; and isa good source of fiber. Besides eating the skin raw, it can be chopped and added to Chuchey, chilli and other to give the dish some fruity acidity as it cooks.

    “According to researchers at the Central Food Technological Research Institute in Mysora, India mango peel provides high quality pectin.

    This means the skin of the tropical fruit is ideal as a thickening agent for making jams and jellies. Since the peel makes up to 20 – 25 percent of the total fruit weight, the average yield from the fruit makes it a sufficient and effective pectin source.”

    In some cultures, mango peel is used as a digestive and, particularly for treating Gastritis. For example, people in India with inflamed  stomach mucus membranes take mango peel to relief symptoms in this applications, the skin of the mango is mashed and then  boiled to extract its oils (of course, never use mango peel for medical reasons without consulting a medical professional).

     

    The Kernel.

    The peels of fruits are becoming popular as diet supplements,  just as the grasses (wheat grass, Bailey grass, Alfalfa, etc.) and the algae, such as deep blue Spirulina and deep blue Chlorella, and the red algae, of which we may soon learn.

    Mango seeds, thrown away after the mango flesh is eaten, can be powderised to become useful medicine.

    The powder of the seeds get rid of dandruff when made into mango seed butter and applied to the hair. It helps to cure female reproductive health problems. A teaspoonful paste of mango paste applied inside the vagina eliminates such conditions as vaginitis and leucorrhea relaxes vaginal wall after many pregnancies. A little bit of the powder brushed on the teeth is reported to prevent tooth cavities and support enamel health. When the powder is used to gargle, it checks throat inflammation and cough. Dysentery and diarrhoe, too, succumb to this therapy. Mango seed extract taken with lemon juice is reported to the behelpful for weight loss and detoxification. When added to mustard seed oil and applied to the hair, mango seed extract offers hope for hair growth and a remedy against premature greying. This seed extract is reported as well to promote blood circulation, reduce high cholesterol and C-reactive protein levels, this should be good for inflammation and related diseases. Good for digestion and acidosis, mango seed extract is an antioxidant packed with the power phenols and phenolic compounds. Women and men who suffer from dry and champed skin are often advised to apply mango seed butter on the affected areas The foregoing benefits of mango seed extract comewww.dryhealthremedy.com.

    It offers about 15 health benefits of a wonderful gift from Mother Nature which we thoughtlessly or foolishly thrown away.

    Aren’t we blessed? Aren’t we foolish? Don’t “my people perish in ignorance”?

    Mrs. Azeez, with this column, I hope Mr. Azeez will now be persuaded to take orange peel as a dietary supplement. With him, a long time ago, I discussed the book MAN AND NATURE. It is and enlargement of the doctoral thesis of an Islamic scholar who discoursed in it the distancing of Christians and Muslims from Mother Nature, through whose work the Almighty Creator, Allah, reveals himself in part to us.

    This Revelation, even in terms of our diet or nurture back to health when we are ill, express His will. Let us all in humbly gratitude consume that which Mother Nature offers us in this light.

  • Bromelain… 2016 upcoming herbal medicine (6)

    The promise made last week (4 February, 2016) to give Dr. Axe the floor today is kept in the following article in which he shares his knowledge of pineapple and Bromelain, one of its enzymes.There are contributions, also, by other people. They suggest pineapple is good for human health and for overcoming all sorts of human health challenges. Dr. Axe has the floor:

    “Of the 600 plus articles evaluating the medicinal benefits of Bromelain, I decided to narrow down this brief review to some of the more important topics because of their prevalence in our society and because of the sheer volume of research that supports its use.

     

    Cancer

    “Not just an effective treatment against lung cancer, the journal ANTICANCER DRUGS published the results of a Clinical trial this past February that evaluated how Bromelain affected malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM)… a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure. According to the study, it was uncovered that the addition of Bromelain increased the die off of cancer cells (cytotoxicity) significantly… Bromelain has the potential to being developed as a therapeutic agent in treating malignant cancer.”

     

    Digestive disorders

    “Because it’s an enzymes that specifically digests proteins, Bromelain has been found to help your body digest food and absorb nutrients more efficiently, as well as being extremely effective at healing issues in the gastrointestinal tract:

    • Inflammatory bowel disease
    • Ulcerative colitis
    • Dyspepsia
    • Colon cancer
    • Constipation
    • Crohn’s disease

     

    Faster recovery from surgery and injury

    “Just this past July, a study was published that evaluated Bromelain’s ability to treat patients who just had impacted third molars extracted.

    Most patients who undergo this surgery experience significant post-operative pain and swelling. Unfortunately, antibiotics and pain killers are not only quite effective, they bring with them a slew of side effects.

    “Of the 80 people participating in the study, those who were prescribed Bromelain ‘significantly lowered’ post-operative pain, swelling and even redness compared to the control group that were prescribed a generic pain killer. Bromelain’s anti-inflammatory properties makes it a natural replacement to harmful medications like Aspirin.

     

    Allergies and asthma

    “Last year, the journal EVIDENCE BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE highlighted the results of a study that investigated how Bromelain affected mice with asthma. The study produced some interesting results. In addition to showing that Bromelain reduced allergic sensitisation, it was discovered that the development of allergic airway disease was also markedly decreased. ‘This is actually quite profound because it suggests that Bromelain helps modulate the entire immune system’.  It was observed in the study that CD 11c (+) dendritis cells and DC. 44 anti-antigen presenting cells were kept at bay, which proves that Bromelain does more than masks the primary immune response that most people suffering from allergies experience (stuffy/runny nose, itchy eyes and skin e.t.c.). It can actually prevent allergies by addressing the root cause… a hyperactive, oversensitive immune system!

     

    Sinus infections (rhinosinusitis)

    “To see whether or not a daily dose of Bromelain (300 fip units) (600mg tablets) could help people suffering from chronic sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses), the University of Cologne, Germany researchers recently took 12 patients who had already had sinus surgery and treated them with Bromelain for three months. They discovered the following Bromelain benefits:

    • “Total symptoms scones improved
    • “Total rhinoscopy scones improved
    • “Overall quality of life was enhanced
    • “And no adverse effects were reported.

    “Because surgery can oftentimes be effective at treating sinusitis, this research brings a lot of hope to people suffering for irretraceable sinus problems!

     

    Joint pain

    “Due to its powerful anti-inflammatory and analgesic characteristics, Bromelain is fantastic for acute or chronic joint pain. This past winter, the journal Alternative therapies in health and medicine published a research trail that evaluated 42 osteoarthritis patients with degenerative spine or painful joint conditions.

    “Two 68mg capsules of Bromelain were given to the patients two to three times each day on an empty stomach (depending on whether they had acute or chronic pain) and it was discovered that pain decreased up to 60 percent for acute  situations and more than 50 percent for chronic disorders.

    “There are three primary ways to incorporate Bromelain in your natural health regimen: ONE: Eating the fibre-rich core of a juicy, ripe pineapple is the right way to consume natural sources of Bromelain. Keep in mind that the riper the fruit is, the softer the core will be. So, make sure you keep it out on your counter an extra day or two to make sure that you are not growing on a tough steam! Note that the flesh of a pineapple is also good for you, but doesn’t have a high Bromelain content like the core does.

    TWO: Juicing the stem of the pineapple or throwing it into
    a smoothie along with other vegetables like cucumber.

    Drinking fresh pineapple juice has been shown to be a powerful remedy against inflammatory disease. I recommend drinking four ounces a day to help prevent digestive issues and up to eight ounces to treat illness like ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease or constipation.

    “THREE: Taking a natural Bromelain supplement or protolytic enzymes supplement with Bromelain can also be quite effective if you are targeting some specific inflammatory or chronic disease. If you are trying to improve digestion, you will take it with meals but for all other health conditions, you will take it on an empty stomach.

     

    Dosages

    “The most common prescribed dosage for Bromelain is 500 mg daily. However, for various conditions, many physicians may recommend: Arthritis 400mg one to two times daily, Allergies 1,000mg daily of Bromelain plusQuercitin/ Cancer 2000mg of Bromelain with other proteolytic enzymes /Digestion 500mg with meals/Surgery recovery 1,000mg three times daily between meals. Bromelain should be taken on an empty stomach, unless you are taking it to improve digestion.

     

    Side effects

    “Because it helps prevent blood clots, be especially careful when consuming excess pineapple or a Bromelain supplement if you are taking blood thinners. Make sure you get your platelet count regularly checked by your natural health care provider and keep your iron levels up so you don’t develop a blood thinning disorder.”

    Thanks, Dr. Axe.

    This column suggests that you visit his website regularly for more health tips. You will also find useful, I believe, the contributions of Dr. Edward in www.Globalhealingcenter.com which has helped many people improve their knowledge of the health benefits of Bromelain and pineapple. Dr. Edward says:

    “Bromelain breaks down protein. This has daily obvious benefits when you consider that many of the foods you eat contain high amounts of protein and they have been thoroughly cooked, destroying most of the naturally-occurring enzymes. As a proteolytic enzyme, it assists the body’s own digestive mechanism in reducing very large, complex protein molecules into smaller peptide units or individual amino acid.

    “These smaller components are crucial for your own production of muscle, neurotransmitters and other protein-shared molecules that your body produces.”

    Dr. Edward links the acceptance in Europe of Bromelain for wound healing after surgery to a double-blend controlled studies. “One double-blend study of over 150 women who received episiotomies (surgical cuts in the perineum) during child birth,” he says, “found that women given large servings of oral Bromelain over a period of three days, beginning four hours after delivery, experience a huge decrease in swelling and discomfort. Ninety percent of women taking the supplement showed excellent recovery compared to 44 percent of women in placebo group.”

    Dr. Edward cites studies in which Bromelain helped all degrees of burns, sports injuries, osteo-arthritis, hemorrhoids, varicose vein, cardiovascular health, coughs, mucus related to Sinusitis, and many other conditions. People who need to upgrade the capacity of their immune system are advised by Dr. Edward:

    “One German Clinical study of 16 breast cancer patients found that oral supplementation of Bromelain could help stimulate immune. Other studies suggest that it may also boost the amount of certain immune system hormones, called CYTOKINES (made in our white blood cells). Recent studies suggest that Bromelain may help relieve some of the standard cancer side effects related to lowered immunity. Animal studies suggest that Bromelain possesses action against harmful organisms, and it may be effective for ailments resulting from their presence. For women challenged with uterine fibroids, the website www.shrink.com may offer a lead into how to combine such enzymes-rich food supplements as Bromelain, Serrapeptase and Nattokinese in a warhead. Bromelain is mentioned also in www.electroherbalism.com as a possible answer to tissue explosion in the uterus. It says:

    “Bromelain in large amounts is helpful to assist processing the ludge tissue as can gaira herbs scudder’s, alternative, a deep tissue cleanser. Non acidic enzymes like Megazyme or Bromelain are used when large amount are taken since ones which contain acid components can upset or burn the stomach when taken in large amounts.

  • Banana Peel: 2016 upcoming herbal medicine…(4)

    When I told Sunday Papa Danson last week that banana peel has caught my attention as a nutritional or food supplement, he screamed:

    “Are we now animals?” Papa is an always funny young man who makes light of anything, including the serious. Asking a young man like him to eat banana peel, so soon after introducing orange peel to his dining table (21 January 2016 column), isn’t a playful matter at all. “Aren’t we supposed to be higher animals?,” I asked him, as a way of playing back the joke like a table tennis, Ping-Pong game, but clear in my heart that we human beings aren’t higher animals. Charles Darwin made many people think so with his theory of evolution. Many people have interpreted or misinterpreted this theory to mean that from single-celled plants, complex life forms such as the human cell form emerged over millions of years after intricate adaptation to the environment.

    Today in some spiritual circles, it is even thought that the evolutionary process involves many earthly incarnations in which plants become animals and animals become human  beings. By this thinking, humans will one day become gods.

    In serious spiritual circles, however, it is known that each plant or animal specie as a creation idea, does not abandon its primordial family or specie and evolve into another creative idea in creation. Thus goat can never become dog nor can mosquitoe become lion. What actually happens is that each specie evolves to the highest point possible for it development and then becomes extinct on earth after this achievement or turns its cloak, covering or body to another specie of a higher origin which can further develop that body or covering to the ceiling of its own capacity. The dinosaur disappeared because there was no inheritor of its cloak. The human spirit, set for its sojourn on earth, inherited the body of the most developed animal at that time which was to vacate the earth.

    Thus, the human spirit from the spiritual world, a world far, far above the animistic world from which the souls of animals come, made that inherited body not only to be able to stand erect and walk on two feet instead of fours, but to also develop the vocal cord and speak, and the brain so that, today, it builds houses, even skyscrapers better than any animal can, makes and fly aeroplanes and made the computer among other things.

    But we cannot write off Charles Darwin. Our bodies are derived from the animal kingdom and has gone through an evolutionary process which has made our children look and think better than we do, as we also belooned beyond our parents, and they beyond theirs. Is Papa Danson listening? Primates eat banana and the peel. So do Asians, who cook or eat it raw. In Babanki Village in the Cameroun, the peel is roasted to fine powder in earthen wave pots and added to foods such as pap to treat peptic or duodenal ulcer. This is not surprising, given the wide range of nutritional factors found in banana peel.

    Foremost among this is potassium, which may help to resolve primary hypertension, that is elevated blood pressure which may develop when there is not enough of potassium in the bloodstream. Another important constituent of banana peel is tryptophan, a chemical substance which improves the level of Serotonin in the body especially in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is a brain chemical. Insufficiency of it may cause insomnia or depression or most swings, irritability and agitation. Two banana skins eaten every day for three days is reported by researchers to increase Serotonin levels in the blood by about 16 percent.

    Owen Bond reports in www.lifestrong.com that “banana skin contains Lutein, a powerful antioxidant that protects the eyes from free radicals and harmful frequencies of UV radiation from the sun. Lutein has been proven to reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, as cited in BIOCHEMICAL, PHYSIOLOGICAL and MOLECULAR ASPECTS of HUMAN NUTRITION”

    Owen Bond adds that Asians parboil banana peel, juice it and add the puree to other juices, eat it raw or fry it.

    “In addition to eating banana peel,” he says, “they can be used to rub on your skin to stop inching, reduce inflammation, remove warts, smooth out wrinkles, get rid of stains, control psoriasis, and improves skin tone and texture.”

    Even in the United States, efforts are being made to sell banana peels a food form in the bid to cut food wastages says Samantha Oison 2035.

    One of the leaders of the efforts is the Educational Outreach and Environmental Advocacy Group Sustainable America. www.healthyliving.com says that this organisation “created an all-encompassing infographic to help banana lovers and newbies everywhere reap the many benefits and their peels have in store for us.”

    Their target is to cut the current 40 percent food wastage in America to 20 percent by 2035. For every one who would like to try banana peel, www.starcraze.com is a good guide it says: “The flesh of the banana is rich in many nutrients and carbohydrates. It is high in Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, magnesium and potassium. The sugar content is the highest when the banana peel turns black. Role the banana peel every day on your teeth for about a minute. This actually results in teeth whitening which can cause a lot of money otherwise.

     

    REMOVES WARTS

    The banana peel helps in removing warts and eliminate the occurrence of new ones for this, simply rub the peel on the affected area or tie the peel overnight on it this is one of the simplest ways to use banana peel on the skin.

    “EAT THEM

    Face, skin clear facial hair remover, permanent weight loss retreat. Reduce wrinkles. Hair loss solutions. Best acne scar treatment. Lose belly fat quickly.

    “CURES:

    PIMPLES. Just massage banana peels on your face and body for five minutes every day to cure pimples. The result should be visible within a week. Keep applying the skin until the acne disappears.

    “REDUCES WRINKLES.

    The banana peel helps to keep your skin hydrated. Add an egg yolk to marshed banana peel. Apply this mixture on your face for five minutes. Wash up after five minutes.

    “PAIN RELIEVER.

    Apply the banana skin on the painful area. Leave it for 30 minutes till the pain is gone. A mixture vegetable oil and banana peel also helps in pain relief.

    “HEALS PSORIASIS.

    Apply the peel on the psoriasis affected are. The banana peel has moisturising properties and also reduces itchiness. It will quickly heal psoriasis and you can see reasonable results within no time.

    “HEALS BITES BY BUGS.

    Apply the peel on the mosquitoes bite to get instant relief from itching and pain.

    “SHOE, LEATHER, SILVER POLISH

    Role the banana peel on shoes and silver articles to make them shine instantly.

    “UV PROTECTION.

    Banana peel helps in protecting the eyes from the harmful UV rays. Make sure you leave the peel under the sun before rubbing the banana peel on your eyes. It is also proven to reduce the risks of cataract!

    We learn a little more from www.businessinsider.com, which says: “People around the world are eating banana peels because they know something that Westerners do not. That’s right, we can eat banana peels. And not only are they edible, they are also good for you. If you live in the US, you are probably used to tossing banana peels in the trash. But people in other countries, including India, have been taking advantage of their nutritional benefits for decades. While banana flesh is soft and sweet, the skin is thick, fibrous, bitter. To eat the peel, you can either blend it into smoothies or fry, bake, or boil them for at least 10 minute. Heat brakes down the skins fiber and loosens up that tough texture, making the peel easier to chew and digest. Also, the riper you allow the banana to get, the thinner and sweeter the peel becomes. That’s because of a natural plant hormone called ethylene the fruits release as they ripen. Ethylene interacts with the sugars and fibre in the banana skin, changing complex sugars into simple sugars and breaking down pectin, a form of fibre in banana that keeps them stiff.” The sweet flesh of a medium sized banana contains significant percentages of your Daily Recommended Intake (DRI) of various nutrients such as:

    “ONE, 12 percent of your daily fibre, which helps with digestion and may help lower your risk of diabetes.

    “TWO, 17 percent OF YOUR Vitamin C, which is important for your immune system as well as growth and development.

    “THREE, 20percent of Vitamin B6 which aids the body’s ability to convert food into energy.

    “FOUR, 12 percent of your potassium, which helps in development of cells’, Tissues and organs throughout the body.

    “FIVE, eight percent of Magnesium, which is important for the body’s energy production and regulating glucose and blood pressure level”.

    Potassium is important for people who would like to avoid or combat abnormal growths such as uterine fibroids. Dr. Max Gerson of Germany resolved his terrible migraines with a potassium extract from fruits and vegetables, and went on to prescribe it for skin troubles such as tuberculosis of the skin, and then various cancers considered hopeless by his colleagues. He believed that tumours occur because the affected tissues or organs do not have enough potassium in them, leading to the infiltration of sodium. In this condition, the cell adapts itself from an oxidative (oxygen using) lifestyle to a fermentative one in which oxygen is not required.

    Papain, pawpaw seeds and pineapple peel

    Is Sunday Papa Danson still out there… and listening? Has he heard? Of papain tablets? Pawpaw seeds, like the leaves, sap of the unripe fruit and skin are medicinal. So is the peel of the pineapple. Both are rich in papain, a chemical substance which resembles Pepsin, an enzymes found in the stomach which helps us to digest proteins. Papain tablets, sold for the digestion of proteins and elimination of dangerous protein molecules foreign to the body, such as those of germs (typhoid e.t.c) are, made from pawpaw extracts from pawpaw (carica papaya) sources.

    Many people need Papain because their bodies no longer produce enough pepsin in the stomach or other protein-digesting enzymes in the Pancreases and intestine. Such people may not have enough hydrochloric acid in their stomachs to induce the production of pepsin. Such people are, therefore unlikely to be able to efficiently digest meat (beef) or even fish and milk. Such people may complain that they have heart burn when they eat beans or other protein-rich foods. Such people may end up with food overstaying in the stomach. And this may cause food to become rotten in the stomach. Germs visit rotten food and may cause such damage to stomach tissue we call peptic ulcer. In this case, delayed digestion in the stomach makes the stomach over acidic.

    Trying to heal such acidic stomach with acid-blocking antacid tablets or drinks may worsen the situation. In other cases, incomplete digestion of protein either in the stomach or intestine may cause protein slidges in the system which may cause allergies and related problems.

    To top it this week, let’s listen to Dr. Paul Haider’s 10 amazing health benefits of papaye seeds:

    “ONE: Liver Disease. Papaye seeds contain vital nutrients that help heal cirrhosis of the liver. Take five or six papaye seeds and grind them all or crush them and take them with juice, especially lime juice. Do this every day for 30 days. And some people have amazing results healing liver cirrhosis with papaye seeds.

    “TWO: Detoxin. Eating just a little small amount of papaye seeds can detox the liver. Eat a small amount every day.

    “THREE: Antibacterial. A small amount of papaye seeds also kill bacterial such as E.coli, Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and poisoning gases.

    “FOUR: Viral Infection. Papaye seeds also work as a good antiviral agent helping heal viral infection, papaye seeds have been used extensively in Costa Rica for dengin fever infections.

    “FIVE. Cancer. Papaye seeds contain agent that stop the growth of cancer cells and tumours. Papaye seeds contain Isothiocyanate which work well for colon, breath, lung, leukemia and prostate cancer.

    “SIX. Parasites. Papaye seeds contain an alkaloid. ‘Carpaine’ that kills intestinal worms and amoelia parasite. And papaye fruits help to break down protein and, this, make the Gastro Intestinal Tract a hostile place for parasites to live. Studies show that drinking papaye seed juice for seven days helped children in Nigeria get rid of parasites at the time.

    “SEVEN: Fertility. Research shows that eating papaye seeds can greatly reduce sperm production without affecting libido.  Taking a teaspoon of papaye seed daily for three months seem to work well. Studies with rats and monkeys showed no sperm production after taking papaye seed for 90 days without side effects. And when papaye seeds were removed from the diet, fertility came back to normal. And women in Asia used the sap of the papaye sap and the grape fruit to prevent pregnancy. And many people make a papaye seed and pulp smoothie with approximately a teaspoon of seeds in each smoothie which seems to work well for male fertility. Of course, there is no money in natural products so research has stopped. But that does not mean it is not effective.

    “EIGHT: Anti-inflammatory. Papaye seeds are anti-inflammatory, making them great for arthritis, joint diseases, swelling, pain, and redness.

    “NINE: Pepper substitute. Some people dry papaye seeds and grind them in their pepper grinder. They are peppery in flavour with a little bit of bitterness. But once you get used to the flavour, they are a nice substitute for pepper.

    “TEN: Kidney disease. At the University of Karachi, they found that papaye seeds can be used for treating kidney disease and preventing herbal failure, and works especially great for poisoning related kidney disease.”

    Sunday, Papa Danson, let’s call it a day.