Chinese Plant Ingredient Eases Chronic Pain

People with long term, low intensity pain found that there is a lack of analgesics for them. Most of the drugs only work against immediate or inflammatory pain. 

"We have good pain medications for acute pain: codeine or morphine, for example," Olivier Civelli, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, said.  

"We have pain medication for inflammatory pain, such as aspirin or acetaminophen. We do not have good medications for chronic pain.”

Now, a good news for these people.

Researchers have discovered a natural ingredient in an ancient Chinese plant that relieves chronic pain, including backache. 

The compound comes from the roots of the flowering Corydalis herb, a member of the poppy family. The Chinese have used it for centuries to treat pain. 

The Corydalis plant is grown primarily in central eastern China. For thousands of years, people in the Asian country have harvested the plant’s roots or tubers, ground them up and boiled them in vinegar.  The concoction, often processed into a tea, was given to treat pain.  

Although it is effective in easing all types of pain, including temporary and inflammatory joint pain, it has its greatest benefit in treating long-term nagging pain.

Researchers found that dehydrocorybulbine (DHCB), an agent isolated from the root of the plant, had a positive effect on the three primary types of human pain — acute, inflammatory, and chronic/neuropathic pain. And DHCB appears to be both effective and non-addictive in the treatment of persistent pain.

Magic of Baking Soda – how it can treat Cancers

Baking soda (scientific name: Sodium Bicarbonate) was confirmed in its inhibition of cancer cell growth. And so it is not only less expensive but also safer and effective.

The way to do it is to mix baking soda (one that is edible) with organic dark brown sugar in the ratio of 1:1 in warm water and take it orally.

The reason why it works is because cancer cell growth requires a lot of glucose for energy. Due to increased glucose metabolism, H+ production and excretion are generally increased in cancers. This, combined with poor perfusion, results in an acidic extracellular pH in malignant tumors (pH = 6.5 - 6.9) compared to normal tissue under physiologic conditions (pH = 7.2 - 7.4).

As extracellular pH of tumors is highly acidic, it results in acid diffusion into the surrounding stroma.

Thus the tumor cells create an acidic environment that is non-toxic to the malignant cells but, through its negative effects on normal cells and tissue, promotes local invasion. The propensity of cancers to invade adjacent normal tissues contributes significantly to local tumor growth and formation of metastases, which are largely responsible for tumor-associated morbidity and mortality. The regions of highest tumor invasion correspond to areas of lowest pH. Tumor invasion does not occur into regions with normal or near-normal pH.

When baking soda mixed with sugar, it attracts the cancer cells to go in, But as the pH of baking soda is alkaline (pH=8.3), it inhibits the cancer cell growth. The presence of sodium bicarbonate is sufficient to increase peritumoral pH and inhibit tumor growth and local invasion.

The great advantage to using bicarbonate orally (reinforced by strong magnesium and bicarbonate baths) is that one can dose during all the waking hours and receive a full course of treatment in about ten days.

Health Benefits Of Broccoli

Broccoli is one of the cruciferous vegetables which provide us with a lot of health benefits.

 

In recent years, three components found in broccoli have captured many people’s attention - indole-3-carbinol (I3C), sulforaphane and beta-carotene.

 

I3C is a chemical which boosts DNA repair in cells and it appears to block the growth of cancer cells in such area as breast and prostate.

 

Sulforaphane in broccoli, also an anti-cancer compound, helps increase the level of enzymes to block the growth of cancer but boiling broccoli reduces its levels with losses of 20–30% after five minutes, 40–50% after ten minutes and 77% after thirty minutes.

 

Regarding beta-carotene in broccoli, it would transform into vitamin A in our body and together with vitamin K, broccoli helps solve our vitamin D deficiency epidemic.  
Besides, the potassium in broccoli aids those battling high blood pressure, while a large amount of calcium helps combat osteoporosis.

 

The vegetable is also fiber-rich, which enhances the gastrointestinal tract to move. The fiber-related components in broccoli bind the bile acids in the digestive tract and make it easier for bile acids to be excreted, resulting in lowering the cholesterol levels.

 

Broccoli is a particularly rich source of a flavonoid called kaempferol, which has the ability to lessen the impact of allergy-related substances on our body. This kaempferol connection helps explain the unique anti-inflammatory benefits of broccoli.

 

Additionally, the health benefits of broccoli have been linked to preventing and controlling the following: Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, calcium deficiencies, stomach and colon cancer, malignant tumors, lung cancer, heart disease, arthritis and even the aging process as it is high in vitamin C which is an effective antioxidant that destroys free radicals (responsible for weakening the defense of cells).

Health properties of Black seeds and Chia seeds

Black seeds

The seeds of a flowering plant, Nigella Sativa, have been prized for their healing properties since time immemorial.  While frequently referred to as Roman coriander, black sesame, black cumin, black caraway and onion seed, it is known today primarily as black seed.  

 

Many health benefits of black seeds have been thoroughly confirmed in the biomedical literature.

 

In fact, there are over 40 health conditions that may be benefited from the use of the herb, including over 20 distinct pharmacological actions it expresses, such as:Analgesic (Pain-Killing), Anti-Bacterial, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-Ulcer, Anti-Cholinergic, Anti-Fungal, Anti-Hypertensive,  Antioxidant, Antispasmodic, Antiviral, Bronchodilator, Gluconeogenesis Inhibitor (Anti-Diabetic),  Hepatoprotective (Liver Protecting), Hypotensive, Insulin Sensitizing, Interferon Inducer,  Leukotriene Antagonist, Renoprotective (Kidney Protecting), Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Inhibitor.

These pharmacological actions are only a subset of a far wider number of beneficial properties intrinsic to the black seeds. Some of the most compelling applications include:

Type 2 Diabetes: Two grams of black seeds a day resulted in reduced fasting glucose and decreased insulin resistance.

Helicobacter Pylori Infection:Black seeds possess clinically useful anti- Helicobacter pylori activity, comparable to triple eradication therapy. 

Epilepsy: Black seeds were traditionally known to have anticonvulsive properties.

 

High Blood pressure: The daily use of 100 and 200 mg of black seed extract, twice daily, for 2 months, was found to have a blood pressure-lowering effect in patients with mild hypertension.

 

Asthma: Thymoquinone, one of the main active constituents within black seeds, is superior to the drug fluticasone in an animal model of asthma. The boiled water extracts of black seeds have relatively potent antiasthmatic effect on asthmatic airways. 

 

Acute tonsillopharyngitis: Black seed capsules (in combination with Phyllanthus niruri) have been found to significantly alleviate throat pain, and reduce the need for pain-killers, in human subjects.

 

Chemical Weapons Injury: A randomized, placebo-controlled human study of chemical weapons injured patients found that boiled water extracts of black seeds reduced respiratory symptoms, chest wheezing, and pulmonary function test values, as well as reduced the need for drug treatment.

 

Colon Cancer: black seed extract compares favorably to the chemoagent 5-fluoruracil in the suppression of colon cancer growth, without observable side effects.

 

MRSA: Black seeds have anti-bacterial activity against clinical isolates of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

 

Opiate Addiction/Withdrawal: A study on 35 opiate addicts found black seeds as an effective therapy in long-term treatment of opioid dependence.

 

Chia seeds

The same as black seeds with long time medical history, Chia seeds have been used as a food and raw material for medicines since as early as 3500 B.C. For centuries, chia seeds were a staple in the diets of tribes, now becoming one of best weight loss foods as people feel full after eating it.

 

According to the USDA, one ounce (28 gram) serving of chia seeds contains 9 grams of fat, 5 milligrams of sodium, 11 grams of dietary fiber and 4 grams of protein. The seeds have 18% of the recommended daily intake of calcium, 27% phosphorus and 30% manganese, similar in nutrient content to other edible seeds such as flax or sesame.

 

Chia seeds are regarded as super food. Its omega-3 fatty acid content is the highest among plants, while containing a lot of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and amino acids at the same time.

 

When we compare its nutrient content with other foods, we get surprising results: 

Calcium: 13-354 times as that of wheat, rice, barley, oats and corn, and five times as that of milk. 

Phosphorus: 2-12 times as that of wheat, rice, barley, oats and corn and 12 times as that of milk.

 

Magnesium: 15 times of broccoli.

Potassium: 1.6-9 times of wheat, rice, barley, oats and corn, 2 times of bananas, 4.6 times of milk.

Iron: More than 6 times of spinach, 1.8 times of lentils and 2.4 times of beef liver.

 

Antioxidant capacity: three times of blueberries.

 

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

  The proverb "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" may just be true as found by research findings.

  Apple peels contain many nutrients. For example, they contain ursolic acid which increases skeletal muscle and brown fat and decreases white fat, obesity, glucose intolerance and fatty liver disease.

 Apple peels are a source of various phytochemicals and possible antioxidant activity in vitro. The predominant phenolic phytochemicals in apples are quercetin, epicatechin, and procyanidin B2.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a typical apple serving weighs 242 grams and contains 126 calories with significant dietary fiber and vitamin C content.

And preliminary research suggests that apples may reduce the risk of colon cancer, prostate cancer, lung and other cancers.For example, researchers at Cornell University have identified several compounds—triterpenoids—in apple peel that have potent anti-growth activities against cancer cells in the liver, colon and breast. Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute in the U.S. has recommended a high fibre intake to reduce the risk of colorectal cancer while the American Association for Cancer Research found that the consumption of flavonol-rich apples could help reduce the risk of developing pancreatic cancer by up to 23 per cent. 

In addition, in a study by Briggs ADM, Mizdrak A, Scarborough P. published in BMJ, a medical journal, to compare the estimated effects of statin drug treatment on vascular disease (in the United Kingdom, the only drug class recommended for primary prevention at a population level is the hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, or statins, for cardiovascular disease prevention at the population level ) with those of an apple per day in people over age 50, it was found that, assuming a 70% compliance rate, prescribing statins to 22.8 million people in the UK over age 50 would result in an estimated 9,400 fewer vascular deaths annually, compared with 8,500 fewer annual vascular deaths for an apple per day.

Why eating apples is so effective in preventing cardiovascular disease is due to the phenolic compound found in apple peels, which can prevent the cholesterol that gets into our system from solidifying on the artery walls. When plaque builds inside the arteries, it reduces blood flow to our heart, leading to cardiovascular disease.

The estimated side-effects arising from such widespread statin use include 1,200 excess cases of myopathy, 200 cases of rhabdomyolysis and 12,300 cases of diabetes.

Thus the study authors concluded that, both nutritional and pharmaceutical approaches to the prevention of vascular disease may have the potential to reduce UK mortality significantly. With similar reductions in mortality, a 150 year old health promotion message is able to match modern medicine and is likely to have fewer side effects.

Merry Christmas!

Diet and lifestyles on Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of age-related memory loss and cognitive impairment, accounting for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases. It is incurable, debilitating and invariably fatal, ranking as the sixth leading cause of death in the US today.

 

When comparing the levels of beta-amyloid (a type of protein) in blood in old and young people, it was found that elderly people had higher beta-amyloid concentrations in both their plasma and red blood cells compared to younger people. It is believed that beta-amyloid inhibits the ability of red blood cells to deliver oxygen to the brain, in part by inducing oxidative damage to cell membranes.

However, when elderly people supplemented their daily diet with astaxanthin, there were significant reductions in red blood cell beta-amyloid concentrations. This suggests astaxanthin may have therapeutic potential for Alzheimer's prevention.

 

Then, what is astaxanthin?

 

Astaxanthin is classified as a xanthophyll, which is a carotenoid pigment and can be found in microalgae, yeast, salmon, trout, krill, shrimp, crayfish, crustaceans, and the feathers of some birds. Haematococcus pluvialis, a green microalga, is one of the richest sources of natural astaxanthin,

 

Astaxanthin is most commonly used as an antioxidant and may be beneficial in decreasing the risks of certain chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Astaxanthin may also be effective in carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, muscle strength and endurance, high cholesterol (LDL oxidation), musculoskeletal injuries and male infertility.

 

Besides diet, other lifestyles also have effect. Researchers at the University of Bristol looked at the effects of smoking, body mass, physical activity, diet and alcohol consumption over a 30 year period in 2,235 men aged 45-59 years for the study.

 

They defined healthy behaviors as non-smoking, BMI of 18 to under 25, consumption of 3-4 serving of fruits and vegetables per day, regular exercise, and low alcohol intake.

 

In the study, it was found that those who practiced four or five of these healthy behaviors had a 60% lower risk of dementia and 70% fewer cases of diabetes, heart disease and stroke compared to those who practiced none of them.

 

For cognitive impairment, regular exercise was the most significant behavioral factor, with subjects who got regular exercise reducing their risk of impairment by 36%.