Vitamin A and Your Eyesight

Vitamin A and Your Eyesight.  The benefits of Vitamin A is good for your eyes in 3 major ways: helps prevent night blindness, prevents cataracts (like Vitamin C) and helps to preserve eyesight. Let’s go over how Vitamin A & beta carotene benefits each one...

For Night Blindness... your retinas are light-sensitive cells that have a large amount of Vitamin A stored in it. And within your retinas you have a thing called rods and cones. Rods and cones allow you to see black & white and colors, respectively. The rods are specifically used for night vision.

Without getting too scientific, rods use the combination of a special protein called opsin and a specific form of Vitamin A (called retinal) in order to function properly. Without the Vitamin A portion... the rods would not work properly and you won’t be able to see that well in dark or in dim lighting. This is especially true as you get older.

The next one is about Cataracts. Cataracts form when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy... making it very difficult to see. Cataracts used to be one of the leading causes of blindness.

But a better way to prevent this from happening (and avoiding the surgery to fix it) is having a diet rich in carotenoids... especially beta carotene.

The antioxidant power of beta carotene wipes out the free radicals before they damage the lens.

Vitamin C is also helpful in preventing cataracts. So combining these 2 will definitely help to prevent cataracts.

And lastly is helping to preserve your eyesight. As you grow older there is a thing called Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) which causes some vision loss. AMD is one of the leading causes of blindness in people older than 65. And about 31% of Americans 75 and older has it.

One study suggests that eating just one serving of a food high in Vitamin A or beta carotene can reduce the chances of AMD by almost half! A few other carotenoids (i.e. Lutein and zeaxanthin) are also helpful in preserving your eyesight as you get older.

So if you like your eyes and want to keep them healthy for a long time... it’s best to include Vitamin A and beta carotene in your diet. Getting at least 10,000 to 15,000IU per day.


Vitamin A, Cancer & Your Heart So this may be a touchy/difficult subject to discuss... but let’s do it anyway! So far there’s strong evidence that shows that the benefits of Vitamin A and beta carotene (mostly beta carotene) can decrease your chances of certain cancers, heart disease & stroke.

Before we talk about cancer, something interesting you should know. If you’re a smoker, do not take Vitamin A or beta carotene supplements. Studies have shown that taking these supplements can actually increase your chance of getting lung cancer. Studies are still being done but stay away from Vitamin A. Taking Vitamin C is a better solution for smokers (and so is quitting smoking!!)

But other studies show a diet that includes whole food or supplemental Vitamin A and beta carotene can help prevent the chances of colorectal and prostate cancer. And may even fight off breast cancer but more studies are being done on this one.

As far as your heart is concerned... one major study involving female nurses shows the ones who got their beta carotene from foods had about 20% fewer heart attacks than those who didn’t. The nurses got their beta carotene from foods, not supplements. The verdict is still out on beta carotene supplements & heart health.

But I will say taking some form of Vitamin A and beta carotene supplement is much better than taking nothing at all.


Anything Else? Yes! Here are a few other lesser-known benefits of Vitamin A worth knowing.

Vitamin A helps in the creation of important proteins used throughout your body. This is important because your muscles are made from proteins and proteins also affect your genes.

Speaking of proteins, Vitamin A benefits pregnant & nursing mothers. The retinoic acid form aids in protein and growth hormone development for the developing fetus. They also help in forming the heart, eyes, limbs and ears.


Warning: Excess vitamin A during pregnancy is a big no-no. Talk to your doctor first before you decide on supplementing with Vitamin A.

They also aid in red blood cell formation and help to transport iron to your blood cells. This translates to more oxygen and oxygen is very beneficial for your body.

It also may help you in preventing Type 2 diabetes.

Now that we talked about all those benefits let’s go over how much you need per day.




How Much Vitamin A Do You Need? To get the full benefits of Vitamin A, get at least 10,000 to 15,000IU per day. And it’s good to get both the preformed version (which comes from animal sources such as eggs, liver, poultry & dairy) and from carotenes (these come from plant sources).

This may seem like a lot but it really isn’t.

1 large egg has around 320IU of preformed Vitamin A while 1 medium carrot has about 8,000IU of beta carotene.

I definitely recommend food sources of Vitamin A... leaning more towards getting them from plant sources.

And if you decide on taking a Vitamin A supplement then be aware that one with mixed carotenoids is best. But most of the supplements (especially multi-vitamins) come in a mixed form of retinyl palmitate or acetate & beta carotene. This works as well.But the important thing is getting at least 10,000 to 15,000IU per day to get the full benefits of Vitamin A.






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The Benefits of Vitamin A

The Benefits of Vitamin A. There’s more to the benefits of Vitamin A than it being a very beneficial antioxidant for you. The Vitamin A benefits help in numerous bodily functions... from keeping your skin healthy to fighting off infection & disease (including cancer). And you should take at least 10,000 to 15,000IU a day.

Let’s go over some of the benefits of Vitamin A.

Vitamin A as an Antioxidant

Yes, one of the Vitamin A benefits is that it acts as an antioxidant. But it’s not exactly Vitamin A that’s acting as the antioxidant... it’s the carotenes. Let me explain.

Carotenes (i.e. beta carotene, alpha carotene) are the precursor of Vitamin A and are found in plant sources (i.e. carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin).

And the human body has 2 functions for carotenes... turn it into Vitamin A or turn it into an antioxidant.

About 40% of carotenes are converted to Vitamin A while 60% functions as powerful antioxidants.

This is good for you because your body will turn carotenes to Vitamin A only if your body needs it. The rest will circulate through your blood as antioxidants. This is helpful because there are some issues with Vitamin A overdose and toxicity. No need to really worry about that with carotenes.

And there are many types of carotenes that act as great antioxidants (i.e. alpha & beta carotene, lycopene). Carotenes specifically fight off the singlet oxygen free radical.

Another important thing to consider is only carotenes, like beta carotene, have antioxidant powers. The Vitamin A that comes from animal sources do not possess the same antioxidant powers as beta carotene.

The “carotene-version” of Vitamin A acts as a powerful antioxidant and you get carotenes mostly from plant sources.

Anti-Infection

One of the other main benefits of Vitamin A is their anti-infection powers. Picture this... think of an army of soldiers. There’s the frontline, the backline and everything else in between.

Now think of your body.

The frontline is your skin & the outer parts of your various tissues and organs. The backline are the more sensitive and crucial organs (i.e. brain, heart). Vitamin A helps to make that frontline stronger with growth and repair.

How does it do this?

Without getting too scientific... the frontline I mentioned that’s your skin & outer barrier is technically called “epithelial tissue.” And this frontline/epithelial tissue is mostly made of fat. And the structure of Vitamin A causes it to be a fat-soluble vitamin that benefits these fatty tissues.

And to go a little further, the frontline/epithelial tissues include your skin, the outer layer of your eyes, mouth, nose, throat, digestive tract and urinary tract. This frontline is your body’s first line of defense against disease, infection and free radicals.

Also, Vitamin A helps to strengthen the mucous membranes of your body. And the mucous membranes are another frontline defense for your body against infection.

Vitamin A is very important for keeping your frontline barriers such as the skin, eyes, nose, throat, lungs, digestive tract & urinary tract strong. This will help you fight off and protect you against infection.

Immunity Booster

We spoke on the anti-infective benefits of Vitamin A & the antioxidant properties. Another benefits of Vitamin A may also help to boost your immune system. Vitamin A plays a role in the development of lymphocytes. These are the cells of your immune system that fight off bacteria and disease. More research is being done to support this claim but a few examples to consider:• Treating measles and respiratory infections – especially helpful for children.

• Viral infections

• May help AIDS patients or anyone whose immune system is depressed by boosting their immune cells.

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Benefits of cloves

Benefits of cloves. (Eugenia aromatica OK, Syzygium aromaticum synonymous with L.)This tree can be more than 20m high and can be hundreds of years old.  

Dense branches and leaves. The leaves are pointed-oval. Its length is about 10cm and 3cm wide. flowers clustered tip-end of the branch. Taken and dried flower buds until dark brown. Spicy fragrance, in addition to the drug is also widely used for cooking spices and herbs clove cigarettes. In addition to the flower petals, leaves are also used in treatment.

Cloves are included in the tribe: Myrtaceae

Ingredients and benefits: clove bud contains a number of essential oils, are also a number of chemical compounds such as eugenin, oleanolat acid, galatanat acid, vanillin.He is considered warm, local pain relief, help remove the wind, anti bacterial scent, eliminate stomach cramps.

According to WHO (World Health Organization), clove including medicinal plants of the world's most widely used (in the form of balsam, clove oil, etc.)Uses:

   1. Toothache:Method I: some clove leaves washed, brewed with boiling water, then crushed. Squeeze in a cloth, wet the cotton with the liquid, stuffed into the cavities of the sick.Method II: drops of clove oil to the cotton and stuffed into the cavities of the sick. Do not be repeated before 8 hours and do not use more than 2 days because it can damage the teeth.

   2. Bad Breath:5 clove washed, brewed with ½ cup water. Allow to cool. The water used to rinse out his mouth.3. Nausea:Herbs can be drunk while warm no.2 for nausea medication.

   4. Menstrual pain:2 clove, coriander 7, measuring 2 cm turmeric, peeled, washed, 1 flat teaspoon grated nutmeg. All boiled with 1 cup of water until the water a half. Strain and drink warm water.

5. Whooping Cough:

5 clove, 10 pieces of betel leaf, a piece of Chinese cinnamon washed size 5 cm, 1 teaspoon grated nutmeg flat, boiled with 1 L of water until the water a half. Drunk several times a day.

6. Fever due to Malaria:

3 clove, 4 slices of ginger, 5 plants meniran its root, a piece of Chinese cinnamon size of 5 cm, all washable. Boil the water until the water glass and a half.

7. Cough:

10 clove, 10 pieces of betel leaf, nutmeg fruit of a nutmeg. All washed. Crushed nutmeg. Boil 3 cups of water until the water by half. Allow to cool. Drink 3 times a day @ 4 tablespoons. (Children half enough). Every time you add a feeling of drinking lemon juice of 1 orange slice.

8. Blacken the eyebrows:

5 cloves dried, roasted and then mashed. 5 out of hazelnut oil is burned up, then the oil is taken. Mix the hazelnut oil with subtle clove. Apply every evening on the eyebrows.

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Benefits of plant science black.

Benefits of plant science black. Name turmeric: Curcuma aeruginosa. Roxb.

Local name: Intersection moaned (Malay), koneng hideung (Sunda), Intersection ireng (Java), temo sloping(Madura), guests leteng (Napier), and retrieval lotong (Bugis)

Efficacy for the treatment of
 
1) Skin diseases (scabies, rashes, ulcers, etc.)

Intersection of rhizome black fingers crushed and mixed with coconut oil, then set up as a poultice and placed on the sick. It would be better if the skin disease patients also drink boiled water or herbal black gathering. How to make the following sebegai boiled water. Take finger-sized roots. Boil a glass of water to boil. Strain and drink while warm.

2) Increase of appetite
 
Rhizome is grated and squeezed aimya drunk.

3) Other Benefits
 
Rhizome of black gathering in Indo China is used as a laxative drug heartburn and wind. In Indonesia, gathering black is widely used to treat diseases by steeping in a drink, for example, new mothers meet the herbal medicine black as a blood purifier.



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Health Benefits of Soursop (Guyabano)

Health Benefits of Soursop (Guyabano).  If you haven’t tasted soursop, then you don’t know what you’re missing. Its heart-shaped green spiky exterior may probably don’t look appetizing. 

But when you eat its luscious creamy white flesh, your taste buds will feast on the delicious combination of strawberry and pineapple with sour citrus notes contrasting with an underlying rich flavor reminiscent of coconut or banana. In the Philippines, it is believed to be good against internal parasites. Plants for health. But whether it’s effective or not, the many nutrients its loaded with has so many health promoting goodness to offer.

For every cup (225 g) of pulp, here’s how nutritious it is.  

1. Prevents UTI (Vitamin C-77% DV)


Soursop is an excellent source of vitamin C, a nutrient which increases the acidity level of urine, resulting in decreased number of harmful bacteria that may be present in the urinary tract. Other high vitamin C fruits include guava, kiwifruit, papaya and strawberries.

2. Prevents constipation (Fiber-30% DV)

Before you reach for laxatives to treat your constipation, you might first want to try eating fiber-rich fruits like soursop. Avocados and papayas are also helpful. Fiber also aids in weight loss and lowers the risk of colon problems.

3. Prevents leg cramps (Potassium-18% DV)

It contains half the potassium in bananas. Lack of potassium, together with magnesium, calcium and sodium (also known as electrolytes) in the body can cause muscle weakness and cramping.

image by I LikE Plants!/Flickr

4. Prevents water retention (Magnesium-12% DV)

Women who experience water retention before their monthly period would benefit from the soursop’s rich magnesium content. It may help alleviate this annoying premenstrual symptom.

5. Helps the body produce energy (Thiamin-11% DV)

Feeling a little tired? Eat soursop! It can supply the body a good amount of thiamin, the B vitamin which is needed in aerobic energy production, the process when oxygen is used to help convert sugar into usable energy.

6. Keeps bones healthy (Copper-10% DV)

It is loaded with the trace mineral copper. Calcium contributes only about 25% to the prevention of bone loss as magnesium, manganese, zinc and copper are also equally crucial for healthy bones. Zinc and copper boost the effectiveness of vitamin D, which promotes the absorption of calcium.

7. Boosts good cholesterol levels (Niacin-10%)

Worried about your cholesterol? Fresh fruits and veggies are the perfect choice! Soursop is a good source of niacin, a vitamin which studies show has significant benefits on levels of HDL, the good cholesterol.

8. Prevents pregnancy complications (Folate-8% DV)

This spiky fruit contains folate. Studies have proven that folate intake during pregnancy prevents deficiency in pregnant women. A lack of this mineral during pregnancy may contribute to birth defects and pregnancy loss.

9. Helps prevent anemia (Iron-8% DV)

It can provide iron which prevents the common blood disorder anemia – a condition in which the blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells. RBC is responsible for the distribution of oxygen to the body tissues, giving the body energy.

10. Helps prevent migraines (Riboflavin-7% DV)

Headache? Try soursop! It has riboflavin. Several studies have shown that high riboflavin intake helps prevent migraines.

Soursop is one of the top fruits high in sugar. Eating too much may also contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease due to its very high concentration of annonacin.

* Nutrient data source: USDA

The Health Benefits of Herbs

The Health Benefits of Herbs - Lemon Balm


Lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis ), is a member of the mint family. It's other names include Balm mint, Bee balm, Blue balm, Garden balm, Honey plant and Sweet balm and has for centuries been considered a "calming" herb.


Lemon balm was used in the Middle Ages to reduce stress and anxiety, promote sleep, improve appetite, and ease pain and discomfort associated with digestion (including flatulence and bloating as well as colic).


Even earlier than this, lemon balm was steeped in wine to lift the spirits, help heal wounds, and treat venomous insect bites and stings.

Today, lemon balm is often combined with other calming herbs, such as valerian, camomile, and hops, in soothing, relaxing teas to enhance the overall relaxing effect. It has some other medicinal uses too as follows:


Insomnia and anxiety


Studies have found that lemon balm when combined with other calming herbs (such as valerian, hops, chamomile) helps to reduce anxiety and promote sleep.


Very few studies have investigated the safety and effectiveness of lemon balm on its own, except for topical use.


In one recent study of people with minor sleep disorders, those who took an herbal combination of valerian and lemon balm reported sleeping much better than those who took a placebo. It is not clear from these studies, however, whether lemon balm itself (or the combined action of lemon balm and valerian) is responsible for these sleep-inducing effects.


In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 18 healthy volunteers received two separate single doses of a standardized lemon balm extract (300 mg and 600 mg) or placebo for 7 days. The 600 mg dose of lemon balm increased mood and significantly increased calmness and alertness.


Herpes


Some studies have suggested that topical ointments containing lemon balm may assist in healing lip sores associated with the herpes simplex virus (HSV).


A study was carried out with 116 people with HSV and those who applied lemon balm cream to their lip sores experienced significant improvement in redness and swelling after only 2 days. However, other symptoms such as pain and scabbing did not improve. Both the patients and their doctors did report that the lemon balm ointment was very effective. Several animal studies also support the value of topical lemon balm for herpes lesions.


Other Uses


There have been few rigorous scientific studies conducted on lemon balm. However, many health care professionals suggest that it is beneficial for a variety of health problems. These include Alzheimer's disease, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), indigestion, gas, insomnia and hyperthyroidism.


Experimental laboratory studies also suggest lemon balm does have antioxidant as well as anti-HIV properties. However further studies are needed to confirm these findings.


The Health Benefits of Herbs Garlic
Garlic is one of those plants that have been used for healing almost as long as man has walked this Earth. It's pungent aroma when used in cooking is unmistakable and the "garlic breath" that goes with eating food prepared with the bulb is the bane of many a train or bus commuter who has not eaten it!


As a healing herb, garlic is really one of the best all-rounders there is in the plant kingdom. It is antiseptic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal, meaning that it can be used in one way or another to heal or cure almost any ailment.


How to Use Garlic


If you have one, throw away your garlic press. That may make life easy, but pressing garlic like that destroys some of its health giving properties and the rest are thrown in the bin. Fresh garlic should always be chopped and the whole clove used raw.


Cooking or frying also destroys most of the health giving benefits of garlic, although if you like to use it that way, bu all means fry some, but retain the bulk of the chopped garlic to sprinkle on food raw just before you serve it up.

Or chop it up and sprinkle into salads to give them a healthy taste boost!


The Health Benefits of Garlic


As a blood cleanser, garlic is second to none! It is a powerful tool in the battle against high (bad LDL) cholesterol levels, and mopping up triglycerides as well as helping to remove plaque build up on artery walls. It boosts production of both red and white blood cells too, so is doubly useful for the old sangria!



Plants for Maintaining Your Correct Weight

The subject of weight maintenance is a huge subject all to itself and there are many very good, informative resources online, so to go into details on how and which plants can aid weight loss here would need a lens (or twenty) all of its own!

But I can send you off to a resource that I have a vested interest in, and one that is growing as we speak into an authoritative knowledge base that will be covering alternative weight loss methods as well as main-stream ones.

Where can you find this budding gem of knowledge? There is a highly informative website that provides a lot of useful information for maintaining a healthy weight and fitness level at: Health. It is building right now as a website and blog, so informative content is being continuously added to it, meaning it will never be a finished site, but a fluid font of knowledge that will continue to grow as more and more information is learned about this mammoth subject.

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Plants for Health

Plants for Health is a useful lens if you want some information on what certain herbs and spices can do in the way of enhancing a meal or helping to cure a certain ailment, or act to help improve your overall level of health and wellbeing.

There are so many uses for so many of these wonderful herb groups and species that can either be found growing in your garden or in fields that it would take several volumes of collected individual lenses to do it any justice.

So this lens will provide the information that I have personally gathered over the years of some of the more commonly found varieties to at least give you an insight into what is available and easily accessible to most people around the world.

The Health Benefits of Herbs SAGE

SAGE

There are many herbs that have health giving and healing properties, but one of the best known of the healing herbs is sage.

It's latin name, salvia means to save or to heal, so it can be seen that the healing properties of sage have been known for millenia. Sage oil contains the chemical substances alpha- and beta-thujone, camphor and cineole as well as rosmarinic acid, tannins, and flavonoids.

Here are just some of the incredible properties of sage:

1. Memory Booster.

A 1993 study at the Universities of Newcastle and Northumbria found that test subjects given sage oil tablets performed much better in a "word recall test" than those given a placebo. From this study. experts believe the active ingredient in sage may boost levels of certain chemicals that help transmit messages around the brain.

In 1597 the herbalist John Gerard is quoted as saying that it was "singularly good for the head and quickeneth the nerves and memory."

It is possible that sage could help patients affected by Alzheimer's disease. In many cases of Alzheimer's there is a drop in the same brain chemical boosted by sage in experiments.

2. Cancer

Sage also has antioxidant properties, making it a good natural weapon in the fight against cancer causing free radicals in the body.

3. Arthritis

Its anti-inflammatory properties go some way to helping alleviate the painful swelling around the joints in arthritis sufferers.

4. Sore Throats

Sage contains powerful anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties making it a popular natural gargle still commonly used in parts of Europe in place of commercially available treatments. It is also used as a refreshing and tonic herbal tea to fight against coughs, colds and influenza.

5. Wounds

Sage has also been used in connection with sprains, swelling, ulcers, and bleeding, again thanks to its anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties as well as its styptic ability in helping to stop bleeding.

So sage is a wonderful all rounder and one of the top healing herbs used as alternative cures. Keep some in your garden as the plant is a hardy perennial which will grow well in almost any type of soil.

The Health Benefits of Herbs Rosemary

Terry Didcott

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant evergreen needle-like leaves. It is native to the Mediterranean region and is actually a member of the mint family (Lamiaceae), which includes many other herbs.

The plant contains some tannic acid, together with a resin, a bitter principle and a volatile oil. The main constituents of this oil are Borneol, bornyl acetate and other esters, a camphor similar to myrtle, cineol, pinene and camphene. It is colourless, with the odour of Rosemary and a warm camphoraceous taste. The main adulterants of oil of Rosemary are oil of turpentine and petroleum.

As a healing and tonic herb, Rosemary has a long had a reputation for improving memory.

In hair-lotions, rosemary is well known for its effect in stimulating the hair-bulbs to renewed activity and allegedly preventing premature baldness. An infusion of the dried leaves and flowers combined with borax and used cold, makes one of the best hairwashes known. It forms an effective natural remedy for the prevention of scurf and dandruff.

Oil of Rosemary can be added to liniments as a fragrant stimulant. Known as Hungary Water, this was also considered very effective against gout in the hands and feet when rubbed in vigorously. As one of the effective and natural remedies for gout, rosemary oil is one of the more reliable and effective treatments as it also stimulates blood flow to the area, which is important for clearing away the crystallised uric acid deposits in the joints.

Rosemary Wine is made from white wine poured onto chopped up sprigs of green Rosemary and then strained off after a few days. When this is taken in small quantities, it acts as a quieting cordial to a weak heart that is subject to palpitation. It is also attributed with relieving dropsy by stimulating the kidneys.

The young tops, leaves and flowers can be infused to make Rosemary Tea. This when taken warm is a good remedy for headaches, colic, colds and nervous diseases. It can also relieve nervous depression and act as as an antispasmodic.

The Health Benefits of Herbs Thyme

Thyme (thymus vulgaris), is commonly known by several different names: cooking thyme, English thyme, French thyme, or winter thyme. It is just one of 350 species of the genus Thymus.

Often known as the "herb of courage", garden thyme can be grown indoors or out. As a plant in the herb border, thyme is a shrubby perennial with small, oval, narrow, grey-green leaves, long, woody, branched stems, and sturdy roots. Thyme blooms in mid-summer with lavender-pink flowers that occur in small clusters. These flowers attract bees and the honey they produce is highly valued. The leaves are highly aromatic. Leaves, stems, and flowers may all be eaten.

As a culinary herb the leaves (fresh or dried), alone or combined with parsley and bay leaves to make a bouquet garni, add a distinctive aromatic flavouring to meats, poultry, stews, sauces and stuffings.

As a healing herb, much is made of the volatile oil that is produced from thyme. This is extracted by steam distillation from the the flowering tops and leaves of the herb. Thyme has an intensely hot antiseptic smell with a spicy overtone.

It is said that thyme oil provides a protective barrier for body, mind and spirit against a broad spectrum of ailments. These include virus, bacteria and fungus attacks.

One of nature's most potent anti-microbials and a powerful stimulant, thyme's ability to support and protect the immune system is unequaled by other aromatic oils.

Thyme oil is also an excellent disinfectant, antiseptic and expectorant that's highly regarded in aromatherapy for protection against infectious disease.

There is strong evidence to suggest that diffusion of thyme into the atmosphere may be beneficial for the treatment and relief of symptoms of bronchitis, pneumonia, sinusitis, cough, colds and flu and as a natural asthma treatment.

Thyme oil works by stimulating the formation of white blood cells and boosts your lymphatic system for aiding the oxygenation of cellular tissue for removal of toxic wastes during illness.

Thyme contains thymol, a warming immunostimulant and powerful antibacterial agent which has been researched for its effectiveness in treating harmful mouth bacteria.

Thyme may also be an effective treatment for thrush (candida albicans overgrowth in the mouth) and gingivitis.

CAUTION: Thyme oil is a skin irritant, so avoid during pregnancy or in cases with a diagnosed seizure disorder, high-blood pressure, or hyperthyroidism. Always consult your doctor first.

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Benefits of cinnamon plant

Benefits of plants. Benefits of cinnamon plant . we return to the herbal, to deal with increasingly soaring drug prices. With herbs always healthy always. Herbal without any side effects with the risk that small sanyat than chemical drugs. Back kealam around, to create a healthy life always.

Konan herbal medicine is only spread from the mouth of the mouth. Indeed, herbal healing takes time but the risk is small, while the chemical drug with a rapid recovery but subsequent health risk if too much mengomsumsi. For safer use of herbal medicine that is around us. one example is all around us herbal cinnamon, topics to be discussed this time.

Cinnamon is a spice in the form of bark are commonly used Indonesian society in everyday life. Besides as a flavor enhancer and a cake-making, since he had known for a variety of properties. Do not stop there, also cinnamon, it has become part of the raw materials in herbal medicine and beauty industry.

Cinnamon 
Chemical properties of cinnamon is warm, spicy, fragrant, and slightly sweet. Meanwhile, among other chemical content of essential oil, safrole, sinamadehide, eugenol, tannin, resin, calcium oksanat, and tanning substances. This plant is suitable cultivated in the tropics with annual rainfall 2000-3000 mm per year with high air kelembahan and a short dry season

He can grow well in areas up to 2,000 meters altitude above sea level. From the results of research conducted by the Research Institute for Spices and Medicinal Plants located in Monaco Lembang garden experiment, suggesting that the amount and quality of cinnamon bark strongly influenced factors of plant spacing, fertilization, plant age when harvested, and how to harvest it.

Harvest the best way by paring the skin without cutting down the tree. Because votes can give hope that good in terms of production and plant functions as a preservative soil and water. In addition, to support the greening program without reducing its value as an export commodity.,When mixed with cinnamon, cooking, will add a fresh and delicious cuisine.  

However, the provision of cinnamon in the dish should be the correct amount. For example, for cooking soup, mix the cinnamon sticks about 5 cm to one liter of liquid material. For bread, cakes or anything else, simply add at least a teaspoon of cinnamon powder.

Typically, the flavor and aroma of cinnamon powder sharper than cinnamon sticks. However, cinnamon powder can not survive long because of cinnamon powder can easily be damaged and be bland aroma of cinnamon.

Property 
According to an expert on herbal medicine, Prof. Hembing Wijayakusuma, cinnamon efficacious drug for gout, high blood pressure, heartburn, no appetite, headache (Vertigo), colds, diarrhea, flatulence, vomiting, gernia, constipation, asthma, ulcers, urinary pain, and others. In addition, cinnamon has pharmacological effects that are needed in medicine.  

Bark, leaves, and roots can be used as an antirheumatic drug, peluruh sweat (diaphoretik), laxative fart (Carminative), increased appetite (Istomachica), and relieve pain.

Here are some of the properties of cinnamon herb:
 
   1. To treat high blood pressure: Take two fingers of cinnamon, 10 grams trengguli acid, 10 grams kencur, sena leaves 15 grams and 20 grams of sage leaves. Then, boil with 500 cc of water to the remaining 200 cc. The water is filtered and drunk while warm. Other recipes: 1 finger cinnamon, 10 grams trengguli acid, 60 grams of corn, and 30 grams of celery leaves, boiled with 600 cc of water to the remaining 200 cc. The water is filtered and dinimum while warm.

   2. For uric acid: take the thumb of cinnamon, 5 grams of nutmeg, cardamom 5 grains, 5 grains clove, 200 grams of red sweet potatoes, 10 grains of pepper, ginger and 15 grams of red. Herbs are boiled with 1500 cc of water, and allow it to remaining 500 cc. Then filtered and add 200 cc of liquid milk and drinking water. Another recipe: Seibu ring finger, 15 grams of red ginger, 5 grams of nutmeg, cardamom 5 egg, 5 egg cloves and bay leaves 4 duck bill. Boil these ingredients with 600 cc of water until the water remaining 300 cc. After that, the cooking water is filtered and drunk.

   3. To overcome flatulence and colds: Take 5 grams of cinnamon, 10 grams of ginger, 5 grains clove, pulasari 5 grams, 5 grams of fennel, 5 grams of nutmeg, and brown sugar to taste. Herbs are boiled in 800 cc of water and leave it to the remaining 450 cc. Then filtered and drunk while warm, 150 cc. Do it three times a day.

   4. For drugs mag: boil 10 grams of cinnamon with 200 cc of water and allow it to remain 100 cc, then filtered and drunk while warm.

   5. To treat diarrhea: Take 5 grams of cinnamon and 5 pieces of guava leaves. Herbs are boiled with 600 cc of water and leave until remaining 300 cc. Water mixture is filtered and added sugar to taste, then taken twice a day, 150 cc.

Indeed, when compared to modern chemical drugs, traditional medicine is believed to be relatively safe. At least, Prof. Hembing Wijayakusuma prove the efficacy of cinnamon reliable.

Revealing patient safety issues and medical errors are goals of Facebook page set up by ProPublica

Photo by iStockphoto.com/selimaksan

Interested in creating a venue for those who have been harmed while undergoing medical treatments, ProPublica, the nonprofit, investigative news organization, has set up a Facebook page on the issue.

"Group members have already shared stories of personal disability or the death of a loved one due to surgical mistakes, becoming infected with deadly drug-resistant bacteria and dental mishaps — including cases they claim were not properly addressed by health care providers," Daniel Victor and Marshall Allen report. The page will be moderated by Victor and Olga Pierce.

The page is also open to doctors, nurses, regulators, health-care executives and others interested in discussing medical errors, their causes and solutions. Question-and-answer sessions with experts will be posted, along with links to the latest reports and policy proposals. (Read more)

School nurses in Fayette cut as public-health dollars shrink

Takirah Sleet, 7, and school nurse Michelle Marra assess her
lunch to manage Takirah's diabetes. (H-L photo by Pablo Alcala)

As public health and education dollars shrink, school nurses are caught in the middle. The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department is among those scaling back its school-nurse program due to cuts, even as "more students with greater medical needs are appearing in classrooms," reports Mary Meehan for the Lexington Herald-Leader.

The cuts and the need present a difficult scenario: "In order to be educated, a student has to be healthy. How do you make that happen?" asked Mary Burch, president of the Kentucky School Nurse Association.

Schools nurses are not mandated in Kentucky, and the way school districts address the issue varies widely. Some districts use a nurse consultant to train school staff. The National Association of School Nurses recommends one school nurse for every 750 students. With 40,000 students, Fayette County falls short of meeting that level of care. The Fayette County school board helps to increase funding to keep nurses in place. About $600,000 would need to be reallocated. (Read more)

HPV-linked cancers on rise, more prevalent in Kentucky

The human papillomavirus, which is generally blamed for causing cervical cancer, is being linked to the formation of several other kinds of cancer, and Kentuckians are getting these diseases in unusually high numbers, reports Laura Ungar of The Courier-Journal.

HPV is being linked to cancers of the vagina, vulva, penis, anus and lung, as well as the head and neck. "It's turning out to be a pretty bad actor ... an extensive health problem," said Dr. Daniel Metzinger, a gynecological oncologist with University of Louisville Physicians.

Kentucky's rates for HPV-related cancer are among the highest in the country. Part of the reason may be that smoking is a risk factor and Kentucky has the nation's highest smoking rate, Ungar reports. "I'm seeing more of it for sure," said Metzinger. "It used to be a disease we'd see in older people. Now, we see it in younger and younger people."

One way to protect against the virus is to be immunized with the HPV vaccine. A federal committee recommends vaccinating 11- and 12-year-old girls through to women up to age 26. Boys and men should also be immunized from age 11 to age 21. The immunization must occur before the patient is sexually active, since HPV is sexually transmitted.

In 2010, just 49 percent of adolescent girls nationwide received at least the first of the vaccine's three doses, and only a third had gotten all three, which are required for full effectiveness. In Kentucky that year, only 25 percent of adolescent females had gotten the first dose, and fewer than 11 percent have received all three doses, according to Cervical Cancer-Free Kentucky.

National Cancer Institute numbers show more than half of sexually active people are infected with HPV at some point. Usually, it goes away on its own within a few years. "But it can also set the stage for cancer," Ungar reports. "Across the nation, about 26,000 new cancers attributed to HPV occur each year, with 18,000 in women and 8,000 in men." (Read more)

Health-care costs are a serious problem, nine of 10 adults say

Nearly nine of 10 American adults say the cost of health care is a serious problem (chart) and about two-thirds of the general public believe that cost has gone up in the last five years.

These are the results of a poll released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Harvard School of Public Health and National Public Radio.

The poll asked additional questions of Americans who said they have had a serious illness, medical condition, injury or disability in the past year. More than 40 percent said the cost of their medical care caused a "very serious" (20 percent) or "somewhat serious" (23 percent) problem for their or their family's finances.

"The rising cost of medical care affects everyone, but people who have been unwell know firsthand that an illness or injury can mean financial hardship or ruin," said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president and CEO of the RWJF. "These findings confirm how thinly individuals and families have been stretched. Having access to high-quality, affordable, comprehensive health coverage is crucial, but we know that even with insurance, rising health care costs leave many Americans with the burden of higher out-of-pocket spending." (Read more)

HBO's 'Weight of the Nation' examines the obesity epidemic

A compelling four-part documentary delving into the obesity epidemic sweeping the country is being aired on HBO and can be watched free by clicking here. A reporter wanting to write a series of stories on the issue would find "weight of the Nation" a good reference.

The program is divided into four parts. The first segment, "Consequences," looks at the scope of the epidemic and the ramifications of being overweight or obese. "Choices" looks at the science behind how to lose weight, how to maintain weight loss and prevent weight gain. The third part, "Children in Crisis," looks at how the problem is affecting American children, exploring the decline of physical activity, school lunch, the demise of school recess and how marketing of unhealthy food targets children. The final segment, "Challenges," looks at the major forces driving obesity, including agriculture, economics, evolutionary biology, food marketing, racial and socioeconomic disparities, physical inactivity, American food culture, and the influence of the food and beverage industries.

The documentary is on a detailed website that answers questions that range from "What is obesity?" to "How do I know if I'm overweight or obese?"

The project is a presentation of HBO and the Institute of Medicine in association with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, with support from the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation and health insurer Kaiser Permanente.

Five kinds of fruit, together whitening skin and anti-allergy

Apple:

In addition, Apple performance is mild, can be used as natural mask, you can also slice outside layer. For oily skin, 1/3 apple mashed, spreads in the surface 15 minutes, then wash, use chilled water wash, can soften the cuticle, so that the balance of oil secretion. 

Kiwi:

Its vitamin C and vitamin E is not only pretty skin, but also has antioxidant, effective whitening the skin and eliminate freckles and acne while enhancing the skin anti-aging ability. In addition, kiwi fruit is rich in minerals, to form a narrow film on the hair surface, not only make the hair from dirty air pollution and also make the hair moister. As can insist that drinking a glass of kiwi juice every day for hair growth is excellent. 

Tomatoes:

It is rich in acidic juice can help you balance the skin PH value. Skin is black and rough tomato apply to the face, stay about 15 minutes then rinse with water to remove fruit facial dead skin go a long way. The tomatoes are also rich in vitamin C, fruits and vegetables, tomato juice, mixed a small honey and rub in the face, after over ten minutes to tidy every day insistence whitening. 

Orange:

In addition, the organic acids contained in the orange fruits can increase skin elasticity, every day orange peel fruit facial fine lines start to fade. 

Lemon:

Dandruff more, mixed with lemon juice olive oil massage on the scalp for half an hour after washing, the effect is excellent. In addition, lemon fruit contains lots of acid parts, can soften the cuticles, remove dead skin and promote skin metabolism. Take a little teaspoon of lemon juice mixed a spoonful of yogurt and a spoonful of honey, gently in the knees, elbows and heels Ministry of friction of about ten minutes then rinse with warm water, long-term adherence can make the skin soft and shiny.

Coconut: The Tree of Life

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 Coconut: The Tree of Life. known as the coconut tree has many uses, ranging from the root to the tip (leaf), of non-culinary and culinary / food, and industrial products to medicinal products. For many countries in the world, this plant is referred to as the "Tree of Life".Botanic name: Cocos nuciferaFamily: Palmae, palm family (also known as the 'Arecaceae')

Coconut plants (trees) 

High coconut trees can reach 15 to 30 meters on the plantation. Circle the trunk with grated / goretan former old leaves have fallen. The top part of the stem in crowned with flower-shaped leaves of a rose.Leaf.  Feather-shaped palm leaf which is divided into sheets so much. The length of the leaves can reach 7 meters containing 250 sheets. Coconut leaves can be made into a woven mat, woven and used for roofing.

Interest . Male and female flowers grow on the same plant with flowering branches. Flower color is pale yellow with a length of approximately 1 cm. The flowering stem sap is tapped to be taken.

Coconut . Coconuts oval and covered with a smooth skin-colored bright green, bright orange or ivory colors. Under the crust there is a thick layer of fiber used for fiber. The next layer is the shell of the seed that has the three characteristics of the 'eye'. Shell can be used to make charcoal and utensils. The inside of the shell covered with a white coating that can be eaten, the so-called meat or fruit kopra.Daging was also made into a chemical product, industry and medicine. Fluid in the hole is called coconut water coconut seed. When the seeds germinate, the new stem will emerge from one of his shell.

Coconut is the only species on the type of Cocos.Coconut - production and trade Palm tree called the 'tree of life' because of its variety. This plant is grown and developed in tropical regions for fiber and fuel, but also best known as a food ingredient. These plants are also included in the seventh most important vegetable oils in the world.

Cultivation  Plantations are usually made by planting seeds. First of all the seeds are placed in the beds of the first places to germinate until the leaves open. After that, seedlings grown on land with a neat line.

Harvest and Processing  The first flowers will appear starting in year two up to seven, depending on the development of plants and coconuts can be harvested a year later. Coconut is the most important part of the palms and plants are usually harvested by climber-climbers and a superb coconut palm bunches by cutting old.

Fallen fruit collected at the bottom or can be taken from the trunk with a knife blade of bamboo tied in coconut panjang.Tanaman be productive fruitful for 50 to 100 years, although the best results is between 10 to 20 years.

Coconuts are harvested and then stored until the fibers are completely dry. Then removed from the shell of coconut fibers by way of plug and then in turn on a sharp-pointed iron is plugged firmly into the ground. These fibers are used for making coir. For the coconut flour, coconut milk, oil and other processed forms, halved coconut shell with a large knife / ax then the meat is separated or removed.  

Oils made from copra is the dried coconut meat and then be milled to make cake or oil for cosmetic products, industry and medicine. This material is a source of lauric acid which is used to create a common detergents such as soap, although faced with increasing competition from other oils in the world market. Shell is used to create any kind of utensils, containers, carving and charcoal to be used for combustion or filtration (filtration).


Trade / Industry Use of Coconut
 Coconut oil Coconut oil is also used as daily household needs, such as soap, cosmetics and shampoo. This is because the fatty acids contained in coconut oil makes a good solution for deterjen.Minyak coconut cream and fatty acids which are anti-microbial and is a mixture of so-called 'sucrose cocoate', which serves to moisten. This oil is used for skin treatments to relieve inflammation such as eczema and psioriasis. Cream for the scalp and shampoo contains coconut oil, including substance Capasal Cocois ® and ®. Cocoatejuga sucrose added in the pharmaceutical preparation as it can help the body absorb certain types of drugs.

Coconut milk Coconut water is a well-known type of beverage, which is taken from the ripe fruit, nutritious and contain sugars, vitamin E, amino acids and minerals.  

Coconut water is also an antioxidant.Coconut is not harmful to health, but the use of palm oil on an ongoing basis with a large amount of oil is not recommended because it contains saturated fat associated with heart disease. Soap made from coconut materials can cause skin irritation in people who are sensitive to this material.

Food A researcher in the 16th century to appreciate the goodness of coconut with the writing "as we have bread, wine, oil and vinegar, and of everything that comes only from one (juice) coconut tree". Coconut is actually the main ingredient of the cuisine of Southeast Asia. Ranging from sweets, syrup until the curry, soup diet, fruit and other parts, which can be consumed.Coconut milk and coconut cream is made by pouring hot water into the fresh coconut meat is already ground and squeezed to remove liquid.

Coconut milk or cream can be added to water to create different viscosity for sweets, cake flavor foods and products. Coconut milk gives a unique texture that taste like cream when used on rice, soup and curry food. Coconut milk and cream sold in powder form and in cans. In stores in the UK most are sold in cans.

The process of making coconut flour is washed, steamed, shredded and then dried to be used in sweets, cakes, be pelezat food and for snacks. Oil used for cooking, the manufacture of margarine, ice cream and sweets.  

Coconut oil can be processed by using fresh coconut meat or often by squeezing dry coconut, known as copra. Copra is made by drying the ball slowly, then his skin peeled back from the whole coconut. Ball copra is used for sweets on dish preparation for religious ceremonies. Water from the coconut fruit tastes sweet and is currently commercially tapped and then preserved a drink

.Palm heart and sap  As with other types of palm, coconut palm heart of it delicious. Heart of palm is soft textured dipuncak stems, also known as cabbage palm (Palm cabbage). Coconut palms produce one of the toughest palm heart, which can reach up to 12 kg.  

The sweet sap, which is called 'toddy tapped from the trunks of the unopened flower. To collect the sap, the stem base hit with a hammer and made a small hole or slit in the skin that covers the flower stalks. The container is placed under a slit or hole to accommodate the fluid out. This sap can be boiled to add palm sugar delicacy.

Palm sugar is fermented into wine containing alcohol which can then be distilled into liquor called 'arrack'. Palm wine is produced as a byproduct of the coconut vinegar.

Craft Coconut trees produce materials such as wood fiber and used in a variety of handicrafts in Southeast Asia. Of rope and footwear, to brush and container / bowl, some of these products are traditionally made and used in daily life in Southeast Asia. Other products preferred by the tourists or exported abroad.

Fiber Coir is a fiber that results from peeling out of coconuts. The fibers are soaked in water before the fibers are separated. Then the fiber is tied into the roll is called coir.

Coconut coir is traditionally used to make fishing nets and a bond for the frame of the house. Fiber is not too swell when soaked in water, coconut fiber ropes because it was used to bind and block the gap between the boards of the hull. Marco Polo used coir to attach or bind to the boards in shipbuilding. The best quality fiber used to make mats, rugs and carpets. Lower quality is used for making ropes, brushes and doormats for daily use in western countries, namely, to rub the feet.

Leaves, stems and fruit   The leaves of the coconut tree to be made of traditional woven baskets, fans, hats and mats / pads. Palm leaves have been used to roof a house and a broom. Coconut tree trunk can be used to make furniture, tableware and for building. The hard coconut shell is formed perfectly to make a drink, spoon, soup spoon, pipe tobacco, and rubber latex penghidang salad bowls to placemats. Palm trunks can also be carved for decorative products such as photo frames.

Adapted from 'Plant Cultures' - www.plantcultures.org