Herbal Remedies for Aching Tooth

I came home yesterday from office with my left hand over my jaw. My tooth was really aching. Probably because it already has a hole in it. I was not in the mood to talk so I just keep quiet. I don't want to take antibiotics or any over-the-counter painrelievers either because it contributes to the weakening of my immune system. My sister told me to have it extracted but I don't think I can do that now. It's a wisdom tooth so definitely it will really really hurt. I don't feel like going to a dentist because the sight of those big pliers freaks me out. So, herbal remedies for aching tooth would be the better solution for me.

To ease my pain, my mama went to the garden to get some Katakataka leaves (commonly called Miracle Plant or Air Plant in English). She pounded one lightly until it became moist with the leaf extract. She put it on my face directly over the aching tooth. Well, I was temporarily relieved because the coolness of the leaf soothed the burning sensation.

Thank God I was able to sleep that night with the pounded Katakataka leaf on my face.

Image from stuartxchange.org

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Vitamin C | Effective Calamansi-SnowBear Menthol Regimen for Chronic Colds

Talking about chronic cold remedies, there are a lot of options available. When I was young, people love to eat SnowBear Menthol Ball candy to temporarily clear their clogged nose and itchy throat brought about by common colds. The menthol and eucalyptus oil present in the candy brings a soothing relief. Stated in its wrapper, the ingredients of the SnowBear candy are: sugar, glucose, menthol, eucalyptus oil and citric acid.

When colds becomes chronic resulting to cough, one effective remedy other than using betel leaf is to eat broiled calamansi. Calamansi is a very good source of vitamin C which helps boast the immune system and helps the body fight infections.

My father has long been suffering from chronic colds due to allergies. Usually his colds is coupled with dry cough. He's a driver so he is very much prone to dust and pollution. My father has runny nose all the time especially during night time. He can't sleep well during bedtime because of too much sneezing and nose blowing.

Recently, a friend of him who had also suffered the same condition as his, advised him to drink boiled calamansi-SnowBear menthol ball candy. Seeing the improvement in his friend's condition, my father considered the advice.

Here's an easy step on how to prepare the effective calamansi-SnowBear menthol regimen for chronic colds.

What you need:

• 7 pcs calamansi, cut into halves
• 2 pcs SnowBear Menthol Ball candy
• 1 cup of water
• clay pot

Steps:

1. Combine all the ingredients into the clay pot. Squeeze the calamansi first before dropping it into the mixture including the seeds and the pulp with the peel.
2. Bring to a boil over medium fire until the SnowBear candy completely dissolves. (The candy serves also as the timer)
3. Once the candy is totally dissolved, remove the pot from fire. Transfer the contents into a cup excluding the calamansi seeds and the pulp.
4. When you think you can stand its hotness without burning your tongue, drink the solution at once. (Tip: Drink the solution straight bottoms up without resting so you won't taste its sourness and a little bitterness. But it's great, you'll feel relieved.)

This is what the result looks like:

Important:

If you don't have stomach upsets, the calamansi-SnowBear menthol regimen is best effective if taken in the morning when you get up on an empty stomach. It will serve as your morning hot drink.

My father has an irritable stomach so he takes it after his breakfast.

The regimen was really effective because after just a single take, my father felt very much relieved. He can now sleep soundly at night.

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Fainting | Ward off fainting

Fainting is a common problem that affect millions of people every year. Fainting, also known as syncope, is a temporary loss of consciousness that occurs when there's not enough oxygen in the blood flow to the brain. One cause can be a sudden drop in your blood pressure.

A new way to ward off fainting is by crossing your legs and squeezing them. Squeezing your legs helps raise the pressure. This way, you could stop yourself from fainting altogether or if not, you will be able to delay passing out for a few minutes.

In case someone other than you is fainting, attempt the following self-care measures (first aid guide):

1. If possible, try to prevent someone who is fainting from hitting the ground.
2. Lay the person down on the ground, face up, and elevate his/her feet 8–12 inches.
3. Loosen any constrictive clothing.
4. Apply a cool, wet compress to the person's forehead.
5. Attempt to keep the person from standing up until fully recovered.

Note:

• If the person vomits while he/she is unconscious, quickly turn him/her to allow the fluid to drain while protecting the person's airway.
• Do not attempt to give an unconscious person anything by mouth.
• Do not shake or slap a person who has fainted to attempt to make him/her regain consciousness.

If the person was injured while fainting, give first aid for any injuries (e.g., bumps, bruises, or cuts) accordingly. Bleeding should be stopped with direct pressure.

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Weight Loss Tips | Foods That Make You Lose Weight

Looking for weight loss tips? Here are foods that make you lose weight:

I've been trying hard to lose weight ever since my waist started to measure at 30". You know it's hard to move swiftly and run when you're body feels so heavy. I've tried a lot from food diets to diet pills, but nothing had showed good results. It just made my size balloon because whenever I stop, I always end up returning to the old habit of eating a lot.

I have a very good appetite for food so dieting works imperfectly to me. Lately, I've thought that maybe it's the choice of the right food to eat. I've been avoiding milk and other dairy products because I suspected it was the culprit. But to my surprise, a study found that milk turns down the tendency of the fat cells to store the day's kilojoules, and increases the amount frittered away as heat. A hard cheese like cheddar will do the same thing, as will yogurt, even the full-fat variety. Contrary to dieter's dogma, dairy products can supercharge almost any diet.

How could a few servings of milk or cheese be such a weighty matter? Calcium likely plays a key role. Look at what the mineral does in the body - not just in the bones, but in blood vessels, where it guides constriction and dilation, and in nerves, where it helps regulate the flow of messages. Calcium is a critical signalling agent helping all sorts of cells figure out what they need to do. Apparently, one type of cell that listens when calcium talks is the fat cell. In studies done in lab dishes, when there's plenty of calcium in the blood, fat cells get the message to stop storing fat and start burning it. When calcium levels are low, the cells hoard fat. "Bottom line, it causes more fat to be made. You get a bigger, fatter fat cell. And lots of bigger, fatter fat cells makes for bigger, fatter people."

Well, since I love milk and I can't stop myself from eating, I might as well try including dairy products in my diet. But of course, the diet should be coupled with exercise like walking to be best effective.

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Snoring | Sleep Apnea

Probably you're a snorer, too that's why you've come across this page trying to find some remedies for snoring otherwise called as sleep apnea. Well, you're not alone.

I myself was born a snorer. For me, it's quite normal but for those who had heard me snore like a ship docking in a port, it's very embarrassing. But what can I do?

My snoring have kept me from enjoying quality times with friends and colleagues particularly during outside activities where I am forced to share a room with them. It's really stressful because I had to wait for them to completely fall asleep before I could close my eyes, so as not to disturb them. There were times I don't feel like joining especially on activities not really required of us.

Some books have suggested a lot of things a snorer can do. Some of these are:

• lose weight
• quit smoking
• avoid alcohol and sedatives
• avoid sleeping on your back with your head facing up

But despite these suggested tips, nothing worked for me. Weight was not an issue because from the day I was born until now, I snore. I don't smoke, don't take alcohol and sedatives, and mostly, even if I sleep on my side, the same volume of snoring can be heard from me.

This snoring things have been bothering me for a very very long time and it really worries me more thinking what would my life be when I'll marry. Certainly, the snoring would eventually annoy my partner.

There are a lot of options available for a snorer including surgery. But for me, I wouldn't consider the knife as an option. It's super scary. There are also snoring devices available in the market ranging from anti-snoring chin strap, anti-snoring pillows, anti-snoring mouthpiece, and even a device called a snore stopper strap to your wrist like a watch. It's up to you to choose from among these options.

Well, if none of the mentioned options work well for you and your purse, here's another option that may guarantee a happy ending: to sleep separately. When I say separately, it means sleeping in separate rooms.

I've read an article about a couple who had both decided to sleep separately primarily because of the snoring. The idea might cause others to raise their brows but the setup was successful for both of them. Even their teenager and younger son understood the arrangement. Here's what the wife said:

" Sleeping and waking on my own schedule was heaven. So was having separate spaces with our things. I could watch TV as late as I wanted. My husband could turn in early and wake up in the wee hours to read. The distance also brought us closer. I used to make myself scarce when he got tired, dreading the moment he shut his eyes, but after the switch we began to say good night with a bona fide tuck-in."

"We feel like university kids, making dates: "Your place or mine?" I'm honoured when he knocks on my door to visit. It means I'm more important than the book he usually had propped on his chest when we shared a bed. I go to his room to listen to jazz and snuggle beside him on his single mattress."

"Without the snoring, I find him fascinating. He's like the man I fell in love with, but more mature."

Well, I'm thinking about considering this kind of setup. Before we'll get married, I'll ask my partner if it would be okay with him. Since I am the snorer, I would be doing him a favor.

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Papaya | Papaya Nutritional Value | Papaya Leaves

Image from stuartxchange.org

The papaya is the fruit of the plant Carica papaya. It is believed to be native to southern Mexico and neighboring central America. It is now present in every tropical and subtropical country like the Philippines.

Not only calcium and iron, the papaya fruit is packed with so much nutritional value like Vitamins A and B. It is also an excellent source of Vitamin C. The parts of the papaya plant is used in many folkloric treatments for cystitis, acne, rheumatic complaints, promotion of menstruation, stomach troubles and worm infestation, among others.

To me, I used the green papaya leaves to soften my hands. I just have 2 bunches of green papaya leaves mixed with rock salt. Then I squeeze the mixture with my hands until it juices and wipe it on my palms until it feels soft. You can try it but don't overdo it. Sometimes, too much will pain your palms.

For more details on the uses of the papaya plant, read from here.

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Longevity | Living a Long and Healthy Life

Many people would like to achieve a ripe old age. The good news is that more and more now have a chance of achieving that ideal. Weakening health problems such as cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis and arthritis can be overcome if one opts to make lifestyle changes. It's never too late so if you want to increase your chances of living a long and healthy life, here are some tips:

1. Weight Lifting

Some studies from Tufts University in Boston confirmed that muscle and bone loss could be stopped and even reversed through weight training. The reduced rate of decline in bone mass helps to slow down the development of osteoporosis and related problems such as increased susceptibility to fractured bones.

2. Walking

A brisk half-hour walk three times a week improves stamina and helps maintain muscle tone and balance. A morning walk at least twice a week reduces the risk of sustaining a fall. Hip fractures in the elderly caused by falls increases the risk of mortality, such as dying of pneumonia after being bedridden for some time.

3. Quit Smoking

Studies have shown that men who quit smoking at 65 can still add up to two years to their life expectancy compared to those who continue to smoke. The risk of serious diseases steadily diminishes and breathing becomes easier. The appetite will increase and one will enjoy better health.


4. Go for nutritious diets

Include in your diet the following:

• dark-green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, taro leaves and lettuce leaves (iron, folate and beta-carotene, calcium)
• sweet potatoes (folate, vitamins A and C, beta-carotene, and fiber)
• papaya, guava, mango, orange and pomelo (vitamin C, iron and fiber)
• soy products such as tofu (protein and flavinoids)
• beans (iron and a high-fiber form of protein)
• whole grains (higher in fiber than refined grains, with more B vitamins, vitamin E, selenium and zinc)
• Nuts (eating them more than five times a week could reduce death rates from heart diseases.
• Salmon, tuna and other cold-water fish (omega-3 fatty acids may reduce or prevent inflammation of the joints due to arthritis and protect older people from degeneration of eyesight.

5. Take a vitamin pill

As people age, their bodies become less efficient at absorbing nutrients, as well as their diets change. Often older people choose soft foods, which may be high in energy and fat but low in fiber and vitamins. So a multivitamin with minerals will help set the balance right, though it's no substitute for a healthy diet because foods contain important components like fiber.

Older people need to boost their intake of calcium as its absorption has been reported to decline with age due to the reduction in gastric acid in the stomach and low intake of vitamin D. Also there is accumulating evidence that they may have a greater need for vitamins B12, B6 and folate due to reduced absorption.

6. Unclog your brain

New research indicates that a low-fat diet can protect your ability to learn and remember.

7. Just enough sleep

While too little sleep can leave you exhausted, too much isn't healthy either. According to University of California, San Diego researchers, people who snoozed eight hours a night had up to 13 percent increased mortality over those who slept seven hours, while those who slept four hours had a risk of death that was as much as 17 percent higher.

8. Challenge your mind

Stimulating mental activities like learning a foreign language, reading a challenging book, playing chess or attending a lecture may keep you mentally alert as you age. Being mentally active will definitely help to prevent and delay the onset of intellectual decline.

9. Keep the faith

More studies indicated that those who went to a temple, mosque or a church were healthier than their non-attending counterparts and tended to live longer.

10. Pick a pet

Seniors who own pets are less likely to be depressed than those who don't, according to a study. Pets can provide companionship, a sense of purpose and even health benefits. Stroking a warm-blooded, furry animal has shown to reduce blood pressure.

11. Stay out of stress

One quality most centenarians share is an ability to not dwell on difficulties. As long as you have food to eat, don't argue with people, and live a peaceful life, you will be happy. Stress provokes a physiological response that's hard on the body. Your body pumps out adrenaline and cortisol, which are meant to help you cope with danger in the short term but which are capable of damaging your immune system, heart and brain when you're constantly keyed up.

12. Reach out and touch someone

If you can't stand to exercise and refuse to swear off fatty foods, a mind game like chess with your friends may be equally beneficial. In a study participated by people aged 65 and up in a range of activities over years, it had been found out that social engagements may add as much to your life span as healthy measures such as cutting cholesterol or lowering blood pressure.

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Ghost Chili | Ghost Pepper

The picture shows a farmer plucking "Bhut Jolokia," also known as "ghost chili" pepper from a field at Changpool, India. Bhut Jolokia, a thumb-sized chili pepper with frightening potency, was recently rated the spiciest chili in the world by Guinness World Records.

Still wanna try this ghost chili pepper? It's used actually as one of the natural remedies but be careful. If you don't want to end up dying, check the video first before you attempt.

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Mesothelioma Patient

Photo credit: www.mesothelioma-picture.com

Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer that is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring silicate mineral with long, thin fibrous crystals used in fire retardant coatings, concrete, bricks, pipes and fireplace cement, heat, fire, and acid resistant gaskets, pipe insulation, ceiling insulation, fireproof drywall, flooring, roofing, lawn furniture, and drywall joint compound. In this disease, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura or the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall, but it may also occur in the peritoneum or the lining of the abdominal cavity, the heart, the pericardium, or tunica vaginalis.

Mesothelioma patients were mostly people who have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos can put a person at risk for developing mesothelioma.

The symptoms that mesothelioma patients experience include shortness of breath due to chest wall pain and general symptoms such as weight loss.

People affected with mesothelioma can claim compensation for health damage by filing lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers and employers who neglected to implement safety measures.

Read more about mesothelioma.

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Fast Weight Loss | Quick Weight Loss Center

Fast weight loss programs just like the others is one of the mostly searched topics in the net. It means that a lot of people are craving to find ways to shed off even a little of those body excesses. Actually, losing weight brings a lot of benefits especially to the body's health. It makes the individual feel better and sometimes, it develops self-esteem.

In Hollywood, Rush Limbaugh's diet had become the latest Hollywood craze. After months of keeping his listeners in the dark, Limbaugh finally revealed Thursday that his secret diet is none other than Quick Weight Loss Center.

The Quick Weight Loss Center offers a comprehensive program of behavior modification and weight reduction, stabilization and maintenance that is professionally supervised for safest results and nutritionally designed to develop proper eating habits. Interested? Then go to www.qwlc.com.

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Dry cough to asthma attack

Dry cough due to climate change especially at night before bedtime is very irritating and stressful for me. Usually, it leads to asthma attack. So before it could turn out bad, I resort to a natural remedy. I prefer it the natural way now because I have bad experiences with using prednisone, an oral, synthetic (man-made) corticosteroid used for suppressing the immune system and inflammation. Actually, there is no cure for asthma yet. Medicines that are available are used only to control the illness.

So every time I feel I could not breath easy and my throat is very itchy, I go for the betel leaf or "buyo-anis" ( in Tagalog). I always use 7 leaves of betel. For the itchy throat, I put 3 leaves on my neck and a cloth is use to wrap it in place. I make sure I wipe it thoroughly without bruising the leaves because it could sometimes cause an allergy on my skin. Then the remaining 4 leaves is used as a rub on my back just above the lung area. I heat the leaves over a medium-burning coal for 3-5 seconds. Afterwhich, I squeeze it with a medicinal oil then I ask my mother to rub it on my back. She will gently massage my lung area for about 5 minutes. Then I can go to sleep soundly.

I have proven this practice to be very effective for me and it's safe because it's natural. No overdosing and no undesirable side effects.

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esophageal cancer

Continuous acid reflux can lead to esophageal cancer if not treated immediately. Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus.

There are various medical procedures that are being done to treat this kind of cancer but if you would not opt to have one, there are herbal remedies that you can resort to as early as possible.

I have posted before some procedures on the preparation of bila-bila grass as treatment for GERD which is the early symptoms of esophageal cancer.

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Miracle Fruit (Calabash Tree)

Calabash Tree "Miracle Fruit"

March 2, 2016 Update:


I've found a post about this calabash tree which could be very informative. It talks about how it could help us heal some of our illnesses and how to prepare the juice of the fruit of calabash tree. Please take extra precautions before taking the juice if you have certain allergies on herbal remedies.

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March 26, 2012 UPDATE:

After a long wait, I finally got the name of this tree from a blogger who commented that this tree plant is called a Calabash Tree. Thanks to him... According to some sources, the fruit, bark and the leaves of this plant is widely used.

Plant Botany:

Small tree growing to a height of 4 to 5 meters with arching branches and close-set clusters of leaves. Leaves are alternate, often fascicled at the nodes, oblanceolate, 5 - 17 cm long, glossy at the upper surface, blunt at the tip and narrowed at the base. Flowers develop from the buds that grow from the main trunk, yellowish and sometimes veined with purple, with a slightly foetid odor, occuring singly or in pairs at the leaf axils, stalked and about 6 cm long, and opens in the evening. The fruit is short-stemmed, rounded, oval or oblong, green or purplish, 15 to 20 cm in diameter.

Uses:

Folkloric
• In India, used as a pectoral, the poulticed pulp applied to the chest.
• In the West Indies, syrup prepared from the pulp used for dysentery and as pectoral.
• In Rio de Janeiro, the alcoholic extract of the not-quite ripe fruit used to relieve constipation
• For erysipelas, the fresh pulp is boiled in water to form a black paste, mixed and boiled with vinegar, spread on linen for dermatologic application.
• The bark is used for mucoid diarrhea.
• Fruit pulp used as laxative and expectorant.
• In the Antilles and Western Africa, fruit pulp macerated in water is considered depurative, cooling and febrifuge, and applied to burns and headaches.
• In West Africa, fruit roasted in ashes is purgative and diuretic.
• In Sumatra, bark decoction used to clean wounds and pounded leaves used as poultice for headaches.
• Internally, leaves used as diuretic.
• In the Antilles, fresh tops and leaves are ground and used as topicals for wounds and as cicatrizant.
• In Venezuela, decoction of bark used for diarrhea. Also, used to treat hematomas and tumors.
• In Costa Rica, used as purgative.
• In Cote-d'Ivoire, used for hypertension because of its diuretic effect.
• In Columbia, used for respiratory afflictions.
• In Vietnam, used as expectorant, antitussive, laxative and stomachic.
• In Haiti, the fruit of Crescentia cujete is part of the herbal mixtures reported in its traditional medicine. In the province of Camaguey in Cuba, is considered a panacea.
• In Panama, where it is called totumo, the fruit is used for diarrhea and stomachaches. Also for respiratory ailments, bronchitis, cough, colds, toothaches. headaches, menstrual irregularities; as laxative, antiinflammatory, febrifuge. The leaves are used for hypertension.
Others
• In some countries, the dried shell of the fruit is used to make bowls and fruit containers, decorated with paintings or carvings.
• Used in making maracas or musical rattle.
• In Brazil, the fibrous lining of the fruit is sometimes used as a substitute for cigarette paper.
• A favorite perch for orchids.

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We had this plant they call "miracle fruit" at home and some people told us that its fruit is used to treat some cancer illnesses.

I had asked a friend of mine what is this fruit and she said it's called a grenadillo or "miracle fruit". I browsed the Internet for pictures labelled as miracle fruit and the result showed a picture of these berry plant. They looked almost the same but they differ on the fruit. The one we had at home has a light green color that's as big as a basketball.

Does anybody know what is the real name of this plant?

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Tuba-Tuba Stems

Tuba-tuba (scientifically known as Jatropha curcas L.) is a drought-resistant perennial shrub with an economic life of up to 35 years and can even extend up to 50 years. Tuba-tuba shrub has a smooth, gray bark which exudes a whitish color, watery latex when cut. The size of the leaves ranges from 6-15 cm in length and width. It sheds leaves in the dry season and rejuvenates during the rainy season.

Tuba-tuba is one of the most promising sources of biofuel today. About 30 percent of the tuba-tuba nut is composed of oil which can be easily processed into fuel that can replace or mixed with petroleum based diesel to save on imported oil and most importantly increase local employment and help the economy to grow.

But tuba-tuba is not only known to be a good future source of biofuel, but it has also been used for quite a long time for health benefits. The leaves of tuba-tuba plant are used as poultices for sprains.

Another health benefit of tuba-tuba is to use its stems to extract excess water from the lungs. Watery lungs when severe requires medical suction which can be very expensive for most people. To save, we resorted to herbal remedies to treat my father's watery lungs. Below are the steps on how to prepare the poultice:

1. Cut two stems of tuba-tuba plant about a foot long.

2. Scrape the outermost thin skin of the plant until a green layer becomes visible. Disregard the scraped skin.

3. Scrape thinly the green and the fibrous white layers of the stem.

4. Divide the output into two and wrap the first half with a leaf of cardava plant.

5. Put it over a burning charcoal to heat. Please do not burn the poultice.

6. After it has been heated for about three to five minutes, combine it with the remaining unheated half mixing it together.

7. Put the mixed poultice evenly on the back right over the lungs area, then put a bandage to keep the poultice in place.

8. It is best to put tuba-tuba poultice before bedtime. You can remove it in the morning.

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Oxidized Apple against Dengue fever

During rainy days, it can't be helped that dengue-causing mosquitoes are everywhere waiting for poor victims especially children. But when things go out of hand, an oxidized apple is a good source that could help for the fast recovery of the patients with dengue fever. Oxidized apples increases blood platelet levels.

Peel an apple and expose it to air for an hour or until its color turns into brown. Then give it to your patient.

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Malunggay juice

When it comes to first aid remedies for wounds and infections, nothing beats the malunggay juice as an antibiotic. I had even used the juice of fresh malunggay leaves to treat my cat's injured leg. The injury was caused by an unknown puncture. I crushed the leaves and squeezed out the malunggay juice and apply it directly over my cat's pus-filled leg everyday at least three times. Anyway, the application can be done as many times as you want to increase the possibility of fast healing and recovery. Every time I put the malunggay juice over his wound, my cat would scream out and bit my hand. I think the juice brought a smarting pain on my cat's leg. I did not bring my cat to a vet because I know it would cause me a lot for the treatment. Instead I use a plant that is available everywhere. In a week, my cat's injured leg had completely healed.

Related Post: Malunggay-Milk Shake

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BILA-BILA (Goosegrass)

My maternal grandparents were both diagnosed with high blood pressures which my mother had also inherited from them. One of the many discomforts my mother always complains is that of her stomach pains which she thinks might be causing her blood pressure to rise.

We have been in the look out for any discomfort she is feeling. We had observed before that after she had eaten her meals, she would complain feeling dizzy. She felt like there is a lump in her throat making her felt like choking. Then her heartbeat goes faster than normal. It looks like her heart is pumping so hard and fast we could even see her chest go up and down making her body shake. We thought it was because of the food that she ate that reacted to her blood pressure.

I was searching into the Internet about medical symptoms similar to hers and found out that what she is actually experiencing was an acid reflux. This is a disease commonly known as Gastrointestinal Reflux Disease or GERD and is also related to heartburn. This is characterized by a cough, burning sensation in the stomach, chest, sore throat, and pain in the gastric region. Often patients with GERD will experience the presence of gastric content returning into the oral cavity (mouth) especially upon lying down at night.

We tried those prescription medicines but it did not work even well on her, instead the drugs gave her unpleasant side effects particularly severe headaches. So we resorted to herbal remedies and gladly we found one that best suits her. This plant is called Bila-Bila in our native tongue or goosegrass in English. This plant is used to cure acid reflux and ulcers. The following are the steps to prepare it:

Steps:

• Wash one whole bila-bila plant with its roots and put in a clay pot.
• Fill it with 2 glasses of water and boil in a low fire until an estimate of one glass of decoction is left.
• Remove from fire and let cool.
• Drink the decoction daily before bedtime until the symptoms subside.

It did very well for my mother. Maybe it will for you, too. But careful analysis and considerations of the ailments should be done before you use herbal plants.

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Tawa Tawa (Euphorbia hirta L.) - How To Prepare Tawa-Tawa Decoction for Dengue Fever

How To Prepare Tawa-Tawa Decoction for Dengue Fever:

• Wash the newly uprooted 15 Tawa Tawa plants and place in a pot with 3 glasses of water.
• Let it boil in a low fire for 10 minutes starting from the time the water begin to boil.
• After boiling it, remove from fire and let cool.
• Drink the tawa tawa decoction as your daily water intake until the symptoms subsided.

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Malunggay-Milk Shake

Here's another way to make your malunggay more delicious and enjoyable to consume: the malunggay-milk shake.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup fresh malunggay leaves, washed
• 2 to 3 tablespoons powdered filled milk
• 2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar (white/brown)
• 2 cups water

Steps:

1. Boil the water in the pan.
2. When the water came to a boil, add the malunggay leaves. Cover the pan and let it simmer for 1 minute. Do not overcook the leaves.
3. After that, remove the pan from the fire.
4. Transfer the contents of the pan into a bowl. Separate the cooked malunggay leaves and set aside to cool. Do not throw the water.
5. Prepare the blender. Once the cooked malunggay leaves and the water had cooled down, put them all in the blender together with the powdered milk and the sugar.
6. Blend until all ingredients are totally liquified. Transfer to a glass and consume at once. Do not store for more that 30 minutes after blending.

Well, for beginners it may not taste the way you wanted it to be but it's really nutritious. My father's dry skin improved and his sagging muscles became tight and firm. His bowel movements became regular every morning. And I got heavier in weight though my vital statistics are the same from 56 kilos to 70 kilos.

Try the malunggay-milk shake now and the results, see for yourself.

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Gotu Kola

The use of natural herbs for the treatment and prevention of diseases and other health disorders have been very much widespread and gaining popularity not only in the Philippines but to other parts of the globe as well.

Medicinal plants and herbs have been used by the ancient world since time immemorial and the practice had been passed down from generations to generations. Recently, with the increasing prices for pharmaceutical drugs plus the other unpleasant side effects that some of these drugs give to the user, the use of alternative medicine has been thought of a lot.

One of these many natural herbs traditionally used for regulating high blood pressure and treating nervous disorders is the Gotu Kola. Gotu Kola is a slender, creeping plant that grows commonly in swampy areas. It is commonly known as Indian pennywort, water pennywort and marsh penny.

I had personally tried using gotu kola leaves when I can't sleep. My mother had planted them at our front yard. Actually, this plant is not that hard to cultivate since it is perrenial and grows fast even on loamy soil. I get two leaves (just two leaves a day), wash it on running water and chew it fresh before sleeping especially at night. The taste is not bad. It's like munching on fresh young guave leaves. I can say it really relaxes the body and mind and you can surely sleep soundly.

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