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Showing posts from October, 2016

What if you're bitten by a snake...but all you have is a garlic...

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What if you're bitten by a snake...but all you have is a garlic...

By: Arlene Gentallan


        Now that's a grim fate folks. But what if it happens! What if you're bitten by a snake but all you have is a garlic!

        I've just heard that garlic has been used as a home remedy against snake bite. But hey, does this thing really works? And how do you even use a garlic?



        I've done some research...lo and behold, in India, garlic is one of their many medicinal herbs against snake bite...


India

        People from  Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal uses many herbal plants including garlic as a home remedy for snake bite. To use garlic as an alternative treatment for snake bite, they crush garlic bulb and ingest it.

        Another way they use garlic as an alternative medicine to snake bite is to grind it's bulb together with the roots of Indian sarsaparilla (Hemidesmus indicus), then apply it topically on the bitten site.

        Source: International Journal …
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Kidney stone formation: Acid vs Alkaline

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Acidic vs Alkaline Urine: What promotes kidney stone formation?

By: Arlene Gentallan


        The kidney filters the blood, removing unwanted wastes, excess water and minerals. Kidney stones form when theses minerals and wastes hardens and forms a compact mass in the kidneys. Kidney stone sizes can vary from minute to large.

        A urine's acidity or alkalinity significantly affects formation of a specific kind of stone.



Acidic vs. Alkaline & Types of kidney stones

        An acidic pH promotes the formation of uric acid and cystine kidney stones, while an alkaline pH promotes deposits of calcium and struvite stones.



Alkaline (pH above 7): Calcium & Struvite kidney stones

1. Calcium stones is the most common form of kidney stone. It forms from calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate. Risks for developing calium stones includes a high oxalate intake in the diet, vitamin D deficiency which causes dimineralization of bones, and parathyroid disorder which causes blood calcium leve…
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10 Common Diseases healed by Garlic

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10 Medicinal use of Garlic

By: Arlene Gentallan


        Garlic (Allium sativum) has long been used to treat various health problems. It's medicinal property has been recognized by civilizations such as the Chinese, Egyptians, Indians, and Sumerians.

Do note that garlic and onion can cause heartburn! So don't take in an empty stomach.



1. Lead poisoning

        A study by Kianoush, Balali-Mood, Mousavi, et al. has shown that garlic is as effective as the medicine "d-Penicillamissne" in treating mild to moderate cases of lead poisoning, but with considerably lesser side effects.

        Their study involves 117 individuals who were exposed to lead due to the nature of their work. They were split into two groups. One group were treated with garlic containing 1200mg allicin trice a day, while the other group were given the medicine d-penicillamine 250 mg trice a day. Treatment was done for 4 weeks which resulted in a significant decrease in blood concentration of lead.



2. Hy…
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A leftover Onion is Deadly?

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Botulism: Don't keep Onion leftover

By: Arlene Gentallan


Onion has a number of important health benefits, but don't ever keep an already sliced leftover of this pungent vegetable. Leftover onions are not safe! Even sauteed onions left at room temperature for prolong periods can be fatal!

        Hold it right there! Suppose I only need half an onion for my recipe. So I cut an onion into half, cook one half, while I store the other half on the shelf / refrigerator. You mean to say that's fatal?



The facts

Sauteed Onion

        In the year 1983, 28 people were afflicted with botulism after eating patty-melt sandwich containing sauteed onions. Botulism toxin were isolated in the sandwich wrapper.

        Among those 28 individuals, one died 6 months later in the hospital, while 12 others required mechanical ventilation to support their breathing.



Here's another case...

Garlic-infused oil

        In 1989, 3 people were afflicted with botulism after eating garlic bread made from …
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Is coffee an insect repellent?

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Coffee: The mosquito repellent

By: Arlene Gentallan


        Coffee is incredible both in aroma and taste, doesn't really make sense why something will hate it...but oh well, makes it more versatile.



Mosquitoes

        If you haven't yet realize, let me point out that "mosquito is a dangerous animal." It kills more than a million people in the world each year according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

        Seriously, you don't want any of these insects staying at your house, or roaming anywhere near you home.



Coffee: The mosquito repellent

        A study by Satho, Dieng, Ahmad, et al, shows that the mosquito specie Aedes albopictus were repelled by coffee. Female mosquitoes avoid laying their eggs in water containing high concentration of coffee.

        The study also shows that if a female  did lay it's egg in water containing coffee, their eggs will have a less likelihood of hatching, so reproduction of adult mosquito decreases.



What is Aedes albopi…
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How to promote Cartilage growth in Joints

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How to promote Cartilage growth in Joints

By: Arlene Gentallan



        Generally, an adult person has 206 bones. Movement is possible because joints--a point where two are more bones form connection.

        One of the indispensable feature of a joint is a cartilage, a smooth whitish layer that covers and cushions bone ends in joints. Cartilage prevents bone ends from rubbing against each other and can absorb incredible amount of compression pressure.

        Although an excellent shock-absorber, cartilage has it's own limit.

        Cartilage lacks blood supply, making cartilage repair poor.

        Overtime, cartilage damage accumulates from such factors such as:
AgingPysical traumaOveruse of jointObesity Related article: Osteoarthritis


...this leads to pain, and limitation of movement.



5 Ways to Increase Cartilage growth in Joints

1. Exercise

        Since cartilage lacks blood supply, nutrients and substances necessary to repair it can not easily be brought into it. Joint movemen…
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Does Rosemary induce Abortion?

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Does Rosemary induce Abortion?

By: Arlene Gentallan



        Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a popular spice. Renowned for it's aroma and taste. But there are certain claims you need to know before anything else. "Does rosemary really induce abortion?" What does research says about it?



What research says

        A study involving rats by Lemonica, Damasceno, and di-Stasi, shows that ingesting rosemary extract may impede implantation. (Implantation refers to the attachment of the fertilized egg to the inner wall of the uterus.) However, it's intake does not seem to interfere with the normal development of the baby following implantation.

        The above research fails to show that rosemary have abortifacient effect to pregnant mother, however further studies are still needed to debunk the claim. You may be disappointed to know that rosemary's association with abortion is a poortly researched topic.



What the expert says

        According to WebMd, while pregnan…
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8 Amazing things about Rosemary

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8 Health Benefits of Rosemary

By: Arlene Gentallan



        You might think of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) as something you stuck in your dishes to taste, but this ancient symbol of remembrance has a rich history embracing both legends and reality. Rosemary's history brings forth images of Greek goddess Aphrodite, and Christian's Virgin Mary.

        In ancient times, rosemary is present in the most important life events such as weddings and funerals. It is believe to ward off evil spirit and nightmares. Ehem, rosemary has such an amazing fragrant that it has been used in ancient times to cover up the stench of rotting corpse.


Did you know: Rosemary comes from the latin "ros marinus" which translates to "dew of the sea."

1. Memory Booster

        Research has confirmed that this "ancient symbol of remembrance" actually does help you remember. Even it's smell can enhance memory and improve learning.



2. Uplifts the mood & Relieves stress

…
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