Ginger - an Anti-inflammatory Activity Herb

Scientific interest in zingiber was aroused during the 1980s and early 1990s based on traditional herbal usage for arthritis and migraine (Srivastava and Mustafa, 1989 and 1992; Mustafa and Srivastava, 1990). Authors speculated that activity was due to inhibition of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase, with an action similar to aspirin. Note that Bloyer describes fever-lowering properties for ginger. Inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase, as well as modification of other mediators of inflammation has been demonstrated with the use of ginger or its constituents in animal trials.

A study of fifty-six patients with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, or muscular discomfort showed that three to seven grams of powdered ginger a day was effective in reducing pain, discomfort, and swelling. Twenty-eight patients had rheumatoid arthritis, eighteen had osteoarthritis, and ten had muscular discomfort. The researchers were investigating reports from Ayurvedic and Unani Tibb medicine that ginger was useful in inflammatory diseases. Among the arthritis patients, more than three-quarters experienced varying degrees of relief in pain and swelling. All the patients with muscular discomfort experienced relief in pain. None of the patients reported adverse effects during the period of ginger consumption, which ranged from three to thirty months. The researchers speculate that ginger acts through inhibition of prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis.

We don?t usually report on brief research articles on our front page. We've made this exception because of the tremendous potential health benefits of this research. More than two hundred pharmaceutical drugs ranging from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID), corticosteroids, gold salts, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, methotrexate, and cyclosporine are used to treat arthritis. Not one of the drugs has been found safe; all produce mild to serious side-effects, and NSAID cause more than ten thousand fatalities a year in the U.S. alone from gastrointestinal bleeding, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Ginger, on the other hand, is "generally regarded as safe" by the FDA for consumption as food. This study, of course, calls for larger controlled trials before the efficacy of ginger is proven to the satisfaction of public health regulators. Don?t wait for that to prescribe it for your patients who have arthritis or who are on anti-arthritic drugs. Your patient will let you know soon enough if it is not effective. Even if it is only partially effective it may help patients reduce the dosage or the frequency of the more dangerous medications. Furthermore, the warming effects of ginger may help prevent injury to the gut wall by the NSAID.

The only contraindication we know of to doses of ginger in this range, as taught in Traditional Chinese Medicine, is pregnancy. However, lower doses, one gram a day and under, have been found both safe and effective for morning sickness.

Herbal remedies for Antihistaminic and Anti-influenza

Actually, since long time ago, nature has given solution for several human diseases. Because it is not practice enough, although it more save, that natural medicine has hauled by synthetic medicine. But together with dispread of synthetic medicine side effects, natural medicine, now being glanced again.

Several synthetic medicines have scaled off, as doctor and pharmacist knowledge increase of synthetic medicines side effect. One newest news, a indication that there are several antihistaminic and anti-influenza medicines that have circulated to the market and being infatuated by people, obviously can increase blood pressure and causes stroke for long term usage. Because there are some chemical compounds which in America and Singapore they have been banned, like phenyl propanolamine and PPA. The medicine with PPA user get complicated dilemma between scientific reality and experience. That medicine is good and being sold freely, but it is dangerous.

But don’t be worry, there is a better and more save solution being offered by nature. Several proofs show that since ancient centuries, human being can cure many diseases by take advantage of some herbs. Unfortunately it ingredient/recipes are not being documented enough. We have loss many of them. But we have to be grateful because some are still exist until now.

Influenza

Influenza for example, commonly it has indications like, headache, rheumatic, perspired, fever with cough and cold. So that symptom have been recoverable, and then in medicating, we must find herbs that have benefit as analgesic, antipyretic, roboransia (body fresher), and stomachic.

It’s not difficult to get that herbs around us. You can find it in your garden, yard and field. Some of them are:

• Analgesic Sembung leaf (Blumea balsamifera), papaya leaf (carica papaya), clove (Syzygiumaromaticum), turmeric rhizome (Curcuma domestica) and kencur rhizome (Kaempferia galangal).


• Antipyretic Cardamon fruit (Amomum cardamomum), Star fruit (Averrhoa carambola), Belimbing wuluh (Averrhoa bilimbi), Bangle rhizome (Zingiber cassumunar), gelatin/cincau leaf (Cyclea barbata) and Cocor bebek leaf (Kalanchole pinnata).


• stomachic Celery leaf (Apium graveolens), Sambiloto leaf (Andrographis paniculata), temulawak rhizome (Curcum xanthorriza), gelatin/cincau leaf (Cyclea barbata) and Bitter melon/Momordica fruit (Momordica charantia).


• Roboransia Prickly spinach leaf (Amaranthus spinosus) Kencur rhizome (Kaempheria galangal), Mengkudu fruit (Morinda citrifolia), and Bitter melon/Momordica fruit (Momordica charantia).

Cough

To cure cough, as a first step, we have to find herbs that has benefit to kill kuman (antiseptic), anti-inflammation, expectorant, hypnotic and analgesic. Some of them are:

• Antiseptic sembung leaf (Blumea balsamifera), papaya leaf (carica papaya), ketumbar (Coriandum sativum) and pomegranate bark (Punica granatum).
• Expectorant. Sambiloto leaf (Andrographis paniculata), Temulawak rhizome (Curcum xanthorriza), Wungu leaf (Grapthophyllum pictum), and cardamom fruit (Amomum cardamomum)
• Hypnotic Kangkung leaf (Ipomoea aquatica), Nutmeg fruit (Myristica fragrans), and Wati leaf (Piper methysticum)


• Analgesic Poko leaf (Mentha arvensis) and Kelor/ Merunggai leaf (Moringa oleifera).

Ofcorus by consume that herbs above, medical not fast as when you drink synthetic medicines. It need more times patience, regularity and also a proportional composition in usage. But, relatively, traditional herbal medicines are more save, especially from negative effect of usage. So why not try it?

Table 1. Herbal for Cough Medicine

Herb	Usage	Indication
Carrot (Daucus carota)	Rasp and press carrot, add ¾ glass of boiled water, drink it twice a day	protein, carbohydrate, Vitamin A, Glutation, Beta carotene.
Men kudu (Morinda Citrifolia)	press men kudu and citrus, add 2 glasses of hot water, filter it and drink tree times a day.	Morin don, Morin din, metal, acetyl, capril acid, soranyidiol
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)	roasted and bruised a ginger, boil it with fennel, cinnamon, clove and palm sugar. Filter and drink it tree times a day, 4 tablespoon for adult and 2 tablespoon for kid.	gingerol, volatile oil, esin, starch and sugar.
Citrus (Citrus aurantifolia)	mix citrus extract with honey and drink it	citrate acid, amino acid, volatile oil, vitamin B1
Aloe Vera	cut aloe vera in small pieces, and then mix with honey, drink it tree times a day, one teaspoon	aloin, barbaloin, isobarbaloin, betabarbaloin, resin
Saga (Abrus precatorius)	Boil saga leaf, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, pulasari, onion, and sugar, filter it and drink it tree times a day, 10 tablespoon for adult, and a tablespoon for kids.	saponin, glisirisin, abrin, and flavonoid.
Sembung (Blumea balsamifera)	Slice sembung leaf and Caraway leaf, boil them with clove, kemukus, fennel, cinnamon, and cardamom with 3 glasses of water until it left over 2 ½ glasses. Drink it tree times a day, 8 tablespoon for adult, and 1-5 tablespoon for kid	tannin, glycoside, volatile oil
Betel vine (Piper betle)	5 betel vines leaves, cardamom, cinnamon, clove and Kemukus being boiled. Drink it tree times a day, 8 tablespoon for adult, and 1-5 tablespoon for kid	Volatile oil, glycoside, tannin.
Belimbing Wuluh (Averrhoa bilimbi)	Boil a full hand of belimbing wuluh flowers and sugar with a glass of water, until it left over ½ glass. Drink it in the morning and afternoon	oksalat acid and kalium
Meniran (Phyllanthus niruri)	3-7 complete meniran tree being pound softly. Boil with 3 tablespoon of water. Add it with a tablespoon of honey. Drink it all at once	kalium, mineral, filantin, and resin.
Kencur (Kaempferia galangal)	Kencur being chewed	camphor, borneol, cineol, alcohol

Table 2. Herbal for Influenza Medicine

Herb	Usage	Indication
Lempuyang (Zingiber aromaticum)	Lempuyang, ginger, turmeric, lengkuas and palm sugar being pounded and boiled. Drink it tree times a day.	Xerumbon, humulena, limonena
Ginger (Zingiber officinale)	ginger being chewed, add to a glass of strong tea. Add egg yolk, palm sugar, and citrus extract. Drink it all at once when still warm.	volatile oil, gingerol, resin, starch
Cardamom fruit (Amomum cardamomum)	cardamom fruit, cinnamon, betel vine and sugar being boiled with a glass of water, drink it tree times a day.	terpineol, terpynyl, acetate, cineol, borneol, chamfer.
Citrus (Citrus aurantifolia)	citrus being roasted, and pressed. Add it extract with ½ teaspoon of eucalyptus oil, and Gambier. Mix and drink it regularly.	limonene, linalin acetate, geranil acetate, fellandren and citrate
Antanan (Centella asiatica)	a full hand of antanan leaves being pounded to get it extract, add a little salt, and drink it	valarin, heteroside, pectin, resin, volatile oil.
Kamboja Flower (Plumeria acuminata)	boil kamboja flower in earthen cooking pot, add its water with palm sugar. Mix and drink it.	triterpenoid amyrin, lupeol, resin.
Sembung (Blumea balsamifera)	a full hand of sembung leaf being boiled with a glass of water, add sugar and honey, and then drink it.	tannin, glycoside, volatile oil
Coconut (Cocos nucifera)	rasp coconut and kencur (Kaempferia galangal, add a water and press it. Drink once a day.	calories, askorbat acid, vitamin C.
Carrot (Daucus carota)	rasp carrot, add piterceli and pounded jeruk bali. Get it extract and drink it.	protein, carbohydrate, vitamin A, glutathione, beta carotene.
Kencur (Kaempferia galangal)	Kencur and 2 kemukus leaves being pounded add a vew of water. Apply it around nose	camphor, borneol, cineol, alcohol

Herbal for Breast Cancer, Cure It with Tapak Dara (Catharanthus roseus)

Causal factor of breast cancer still unclear until now. According to Walter H. Lewis on Medical Botany, there are some factors that playing role on breast cancer growth: hormonal breakdown (especially estrogen on woman), seriously injured, post birthing treatment failure, fibrocystic tumor infection, and virus trouble on mammary gland.

Preventing and Treatments to breast cancer trough tumor lifting, chemotherapy or radiotherapy are restrained. Not long, cancer will show up again. It not surprise if patients then trying to alternative treatment using herbal therapy. The last way is really helping patients and push some etnobotany and pharmacology research.

Research started in 1938, using COLCHIUM AUTUMNALE that contain of alkaloid colchicines as object. But etnobotany study done in some places, Tapak Dara (Catharanthus roseus), showed good result. For example, Eli Lilly, Svoboda, Noble, and Beer from one of Western University laboratory, Ontario, that has done test for several times with positive result. From it research, Tapak Dara plant can be used as cancer cell demolisher.

According to that Canadian analyst, some alkaloid compound from Tapak dara (Catharanthus roseus), extract can reduce white corpuscle/phabocy – especially inside protoplasm (granule) . That extract also pressed spinal cord/bone marrow activity of leukemia patient.

Tapak Dara, why its good to demolish breast cancer

According to in vitro observation, active compound influence of Tapak Dara (Catharanthus roseus), to against white corpuscle/phabocy is an extraordinary thing. That compound are also good to block growth of tumor circulation system. By tecnologi development, tapak Dara(Catharanthus roseus), has significant role on vinblastine and vincristine product commercialization, as an anti-cancer chemotherapy compound.

Tapak Dara (Catharanthus roseus) belonging to Apocynaceae family. In Medicinal and Poisonous Plants I reported by H. Sutarno and Radjiman (1999), beside vinblastine and vincristine, Tapak Dara also contain of alkaloid derivative like vindesine and vinorelbine. That two first compound are antimitotics compound that its activity depend to gland and nerve by block spiral cell to multiple. This both cells experience normal cell nucleus splitting that multiply becoming a cancer cells. By inducsion process, that cancer cell multiply and spread to the system around it, as a bump (metaphase). So it good to be used to cure breast cancer too.

Vinblastine used as a leukemia medical material. Vincristine as an medical material for acute leukemia, bubonic, bronchial cancer, nephroblastomas, intraductal carcinoma, and rhabdomysarcoma.

Vindesine is a semi synthetic compound derived from vinblastine used in acute lymphatic leukemia treatment, especially on child. Also used in lymphomas treatment that usually difficult to be recovered. Used by patient with skin pigment tumor (melanomas).

Vinorelbine (noranhydrovinblastine) produced by anhydrovinblastine as a medicine to block glad and nerve splitting.

Reported, total alkaloid contents in Tapak Dara leaf about 0.70 – 0.82%. to get 50 mg of
Vincristine and 2 g of vinblastine, it need 1 ton of dried leaves. While in whole of tapak Dara plant contains 0.2 – 1%.

Some several main compounds can be used to cure other diseases, like leurisine and vindoline that used as insulin substitute, because these reduce hypoglycemia on diabetic patient. Ajmalicine is a medical material of blood stream stimulant to brain and whole body system.

Materials

22 Tapak Dara leaves
1 Fennel (Feoniculum vulgare)
Wood skin of pulasari plant (Alyxia reinwardti)

How to make it

Wash finely whole materials, then boil them with 3 glasses of water. Add palm sugar as much as needed, let it until boiled, and the water left over a half. After it cool off, filter it and drink it tree times a day (morning, noon, and at night) each a haft of glass.

Evenly, patient will recover after consumed this ingredient for a month.

Fennel and pulasari are herbs that are contains of anethol and kumarin compound. Both alkaloid compounds be used to improve taste and as a scented substance in medicine, jamu, spice, toothpaste industry etc. while kumarin compound has benefit as mouth sores medicine, gastric strengthener and gastric cramped (K. Heyne, 1987)

In chemotherapy, the usage of vinblastine medicine has impact in white corpuscle/phabocy reduction (leucoenia) with various grades and will be normal in 1 – 2 weeks after medicine usage has stopped. Effect to red cell and platelet is very small. There for in normal body condition, you must be careful with some dosages. The side effect of vinblastine poisonous is corpuscle/phabocy reduction (leucoenia) that being produced by backbone marrow.

If nerve is being poisoned, you must restrict in vincristine medicine usage. But after using vindesine medicine, nerve poisoning and marrow pressure are not harder then if you use both vincristine and vinblastine medicines. If that four medicines being used, will effect to blood coagulant forces reduction (thrombocytopaenia) and baldness (alopecia). It is better if you consult it with your doctor before.

Comersial product of vinblastine and vincristine in medical trade, popular with name vincaleukoblastine sulfate (vinblastine sulfate, VBL, Velban) and leurocristine sulfate (vincristine sulfate, VCR, Oncovin).

Breast cancer can infect to both woman or man. But don't worry, tapak dara will be its natural solution.

Traditional Herbal Remedies for Your Baby!

Have a baby is a happines for every parents. But there is a time when your baby get ill, like diarrea, abscess or caugh. Do you know that you can get first aid from your kitchen? here they are:

Young Coconut water & coffee
Being used as diarrhea and vomiting, because young coconut water contain of a lot of kalium mineral, which is throw up quiet a lot when your child get diarrhea and vomiting. No dosage for this ingredient, depend your child need. Mix it with a tip of teaspoon of coffee.

Brotowali (tinospora krispa)
For outer use, has benefit to cure wound and itchiness because of scabies. The making, 2-3 fingers of brotowali stick, cut it in small pieces, boil with 6 glasses of water. After it boiled, let it for about 30 minutes. Filter it and use it to cure wound and itchiness.

Citrus
As an expectorant and a caught medicine for children. The making, mix a tablespoon of citrus extract, 3 tablespoon of pure honey, 5 tablespoon of drinking water, and then steam it for about 30 minutes. Dosage: for baby between 6 mount -1 year old : twice a day, 1/2 teaspoon; children between 1-3 years old : twice a day; children between 4-5 years old : 1 1/2 teaspoon, twice a day.

Other way, cut a citrus, press to get it extract, put it to a glass/cup. Add sweet soy sauce, mix them. Dosage for children, 1 teaspoon, tree times day.

Potato
To cure abscess. The making, rasp potato and press it. Apply its extract and the rasp of fresh potato to abscess 3-4 times a day. This ingredient also good to be applied into skin rash that is caused by a prickly heat or miliaria, because potato has a cooler characteristic.

Bangle (Zingiber cassumunar Roxb.)
Used as a tranquilizer for baby and children that often troublesome at night, apply this banglai segal rasp on your child’s forehead and body.

Olive Oil
To cure scalp crust or baby cradle crap, about 1-2 times a day, apply into scalp.

Aloe Vera
To cure burn injury of your baby or child. The making, apply aloe Vera meal to injured skin.

Papaya Leaf
Has benefit to push desire for food, cure malaria disease, fever, scurvy and stomach ache convulsive. The making, a young papaya leaf being pounded, pressed and filtered to get its extract, and then drink it.

Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb)
to push a food appetite of your children. The making, 150 grams of Temulawak, 50 grams of fresh turmeric being peeled, and cut up thinly, soaked in 500 cc of cotton in closed bottle for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, this ingredient has ready to be used. Dosage, 1 tablespoon of this ingredient being with 1/2 cup of warm water, drink it in the morning and afternoon.

Greater Galingale herb/Kencur
To relieve cough on children. The making, 5 grams of fresh greater galingale being wash finely, rasped and then add with 2 tablespoon of drinking water and mix it. After it being filtered, add with 1 tablespoon of pure honey. Give it 2-3 times a day.

Fennel (Feoniculum vulgare)
fennel tea being used to relieve colic on baby or painfulness that caused by tooth presence.

For intestinal or stomach gas medicine and colic disease, take 1 tablespoon of fennel tea, dissolved with 1 cup of hot water, mix it finely. After it become cooler, this ingredient can. Dosage depends to their age.

Herbal Ingredient for Early Ejaculation Problem

Ingredient:

50 g candlenuts

• 10 g corianders


• 2 tablespoon of pure honey


• 1/4 kg tenderloin of billy goat

How to make:

Roast candlenut until it getting oily, and then pound it softly. Pour a glass of boiling water on this candlenut powder, add honey and coriander. Roast tenderloin of billy goat half done and it that with first ingredients, tree times a week

Warning:

This ingredient is not for hypertension patient. Please do not eat this if you have a high blood pressure.