Holistic Health Articles and Research Related to Herbal Medicines, Foods and Phytochemicals

Friday, 30 November 2018

Manaku Honey, the Potential Cartilage Repair Functional Food

By Kyle J. Norton

Scientists may have found a golden liquid for the treatment of cartilage damage without inducing any side effects, some studies suggested.

Cartilage is an important structural component placed in the joints of bone with a function to prevent the end of the bone collided from one to another.

Cartilage is a firm tissue but is softer and much more flexible than bone.

Due to the lack of blood vessels connected to the cartilage to supply the chondrocytes with nutrients, repairing the damage of cartilage are more slowly than other tissues.

Cartilage repair is an act is to restore the surface of an joint cartilage. However, how sufficiency of the works is totally depending on the degree of the damage.

In conventional medicine, cartilage damage due to a single injury, or lesion can be repaired successfully. However, with many lesions in one joint, are less likely to benefit from the surgery. cartilage, particularly in older population.

In the article "Articular Cartilage Restoration", the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons wrote, "Many procedures to restore articular cartilage are done arthroscopically" and "Some procedures require the surgeon to have more direct access to the affected area. Longer, open incisions are required. Sometimes it is necessary to address other problems in the joint, such as meniscal or ligament tears when cartilage surgery is done"

Honey is the miraculous product made by bees using nectar from flowers.

The rich golden liquid It is considered one of healthy sweet food for replacing the use of white sugar and artificial sweetener by many people.

With an aim to find the natural ingredient or whole food for the cartilage repair in replacement of that conventional medicine with no side effects, researchers at a number of institutes conducted a joint study to evaluate the nature-derived hydrogels, a promising class of scaffolds for cartilage tissue engineering, mimicking the native cellular microenvironment.

Manuka honey made hydrogels able to inhibit the proliferation of S. aureus and S. epidermidis clinical isolates and no cytotoxic effects were detected on human mesenchymal stem cells seeded on the hydrogels.

Manuka honey initiated a consistent expression of collagen II and high synthesis of
Sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and proteoglycans, thus indicating the formation of the cartilage matrix.

Where Sulfated glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans are considered promising artificial extracellular matrix components to improve the regeneration of tissues, such as cartilage repair.

These results suggested Manuka honey processes a similar action as those of synthetic substances used for the treatment to improve cartilage regeneration.

In order to understand the effect of Manuka honey in cartilage repair, researcher launched a differentiation of the research paper "Antibacterial effectiveness meets improved mechanical properties: Manuka Honey/Gellan Gum composite hydrogels for cartilage repair", Bonifacio et al.

And suggested that before Manuka honey can be used for the treatment of cartilage repair, there are some criteria must be met. you can view them at the sources

Due to the limitation of the study, therefore, further data collection large example size and multi-centers studies performed with human consumption of the whole food during the course of the disease will be necessary to complete the picture of Manuka honey cartilage repair possibilities.

(1) Antibacterial effectiveness meets improved mechanical properties: Manuka honey/gellan gum composite hydrogels for cartilage repair by Bonifacio MA1, Cometa S2, Cochis A3, Gentile P4, Ferreira AM5, Azzimonti B6, Procino G7, Ceci E8, Rimondini L9, De Giglio E10. (PubMed)
(2) Data on Manuka Honey/Gellan Gum composite hydrogels for cartilage repair by Bonifacio MA1, Cometa S2, Cochis A3, Gentile P4, Ferreira AM4, Azzimonti B3,5, Procino G6, Ceci E7, Rimondini L3,5, De Giglio E1. (PubMed)

Herbal Arnica, the Natural Muscle Pain Reliever

By Kyle J. Norton

Herbal Arnica may be used as a natural painkiller in alleviating pain with inducing any side effects, some scientists suggested.

Pain a natural response from the brain caused by intense or damaging stimuli with an aim to protect our body against injury or damage.

Pain can vary greatly such as mild, sharp, severe, and dull. Acute pain is the sensation that lasts for a short period of time.

Chronic pain is pain that lasts longer than 12 weeks. Most cases of chronic pain arise from an initial injury such as back injury or diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia.

There are different types of pain, including

* Nociceptive pain is a normal response to injury of tissues such as skin, muscles, visceral organs, joints, tendons, or bones.

* Neuropathic pain is a type of pain caused by a primary lesion in the somatosensory nervous system

and

* Inflammatory pain is associated with the production of proinflammatory cytokines in response to the acute phase of infection and chronic inflammatory diseases.

Conventional medicine used for the treatment of pain are effective in improving the quality of life of patients. However, long-term use has been known to induce some common fatigue, mental cloudiness, unclear thinking, and mood change and serious cardiovascular issues, sexual dysfunction, side effects

Most common prescription painkillers are the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and
Opioids

Therefore, if you currently taking medication to reduce chronic pain, please make sure you know all the side effects

Arnica is a herbaceous species, genus perennial, belonging to the family Asteraceae, native to Europe and Asia.

The plant has been used in herbal medicine for centuries to treat strains, sprains, and bruises.
Colon Cancer is defined as a condition of the abnormal proliferation of cells in the colon.
Pain is a feeling triggered in the nervous system as a result of often caused by intense or damaging stimuli.

Besides containing contain helenalin as it main ingredient used as an anti-inflammatory agent in herbal medicine, the herbal plant also contains 11,13- dihydrohelenaline, chamissonolid, Sesquiterpene lactone, lignans of the furofuran, dibenzylbutyrolactone, dibenzylbutyrolactol types, pinoresinol, epipinoresinol, phillygenin, matairesinol, nortrachelogenin.

In the finding, the natural topical compound for the treatment revelation of pain and a replacement of conventional a painkiller with little or no side effects, researchers at the Department of Plastic Surgery of Queen Victoria Hospital in West Sussex, examine the herb Arnica montana, in topical formulations used in the traditional medicine for pain relief.

Thirty-seven patients undergoing bilateral endoscopic carpal-tunnel release between June 1998 and January 2000 were included in a double-blind, randomized comparison of Arnica administration versus placebo.

Grip strength, wrist circumference, and perceived pain measured 1 and 2 weeks after surgery. Application of Arnica showed no difference in grip strength or wrist circumference but a significant reduction in pain experienced after 2 weeks compared to placebo.

Dr. Pumpa KL, the lead author at the University of Canberra in the study to reaffirm the use of topical Arnica gel, for the treatment of pain, evaluated the Arnica effect on the inflammation and muscle damage, and in turn, improve performance in well-trained males experiencing delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

The study included twenty well-trained males matched by maximal oxygen uptake (V̇O2 Max) completed a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Topical Arnica was applied to the skin superficial to the quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles immediately after a downhill running protocol designed to induce DOMS.

Topical Arnica group exerted significantly less pain through muscle tenderness and VAS 72 hours post-exercise and did not affect any performance assessments or markers of muscle damage or inflammation.

Furthermore, topical Arnica used immediately after intense eccentric exercise and for the following 96 hours did not have an effect on performance or blood markers.

The doctoral team after taking into account co and confounders said, " (Topical Arnica applications) demonstrate the possibility of providing pain relief three days post-eccentric exercise".

Taken altogether, topical Arnica gel may be considered a functional herb for the prevention and treatment of muscle pain and damage due to over muscle exercises.

Natural Medicine for Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal - The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve Optimal Health And Lose Weight

How To Get Rid Of Eye Floaters
Contrary To Professionals Prediction, Floaters Can Be Cured Naturally

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

Back to Kyle J. Norton Homepage http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca

Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.
References
(1) Use of Arnica to relieve pain after carpal-tunnel release surgery by Jeffrey SL, Belcher HJ. (PubMed)
(2) The effects of topical Arnica on performance, pain, and muscle damage after intense eccentric exercise by Pumpa KL, Fallon KE, Bensoussan A, Papalia S.(PubMed)

Herbal Cat's Claw, The Herbal Remedy That Alleviates Symptoms and Improve Quality of Life In the Osteoarthritis Patients

By Kyle J. Norton

Cat's claw may be the next potential and pharmaceutical target to identify the next single ingredient for the treatment of osteoarthritis, some researchers found.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a type of arthritis characterized by the breaking down of joint cartilage and underlying bone, leading to symptoms of joint pain and stiffness.

Most common causes of osteoarthritis (OA)in the Western world is the most common disease of people with an occupation of repetitive movements of the joints and obesity, the disease which has a strong and negative impact on the weight-bearing joints.

However, injuries to joints that were not healed properly in the younger age such as fracture, and ligament tears can also lead to osteoarthritis.

In response to the question why? people with the same health conditions, some are susceptible to the onset of osteoarthritis, while some others do not. Researchers launched an investigation to examine the mutated genes associated with the risks of osteoarthritis.

In fact, the genetic bases of this disease do not follow the typical patterns of Mendelian inheritance but involving the alterations in multiple genes.

Among genes that have been scanned, genes associated with the collagen type II (COL2A1) coded for structural proteins of the extracellular matrix of the cartilage seem to have an important role to have the osteoarthritic process.

Other genes coded for the structural proteins of the extracellular matrix, some candidates present an increased susceptibility to developing the disease, including COL9A2, COL11A1, COL11A2 or COMP (cartilage oligomeric matrix protein gene).

Dr., the lead author, after taking into account of co and confounders suggested "it seems clear that expression levels in osteoarthritic and healthy patients are different and that genetic inheritance is a factor that should be considered in the near future for diagnosing and treating osteoarthritis" and

"On the other hand, it is important to recognize the interaction between genetic and environmental factors (e.g. obesity, excessive stress on the joint articulation, or the type of occupation) as it can be critical in the clinical expression of the disease".

The finding clearly indicated that genetic mutations inherited from the parents are found to associate with the prevalent risk of the disease.

Cat's claw found in in the tropical jungles of South and Central America, is a genus Uncaria, belonging to the family Rubiaceae.

The plant has been used in traditional medicine over two thousand years as a tonic, contraceptive, anti-inflammatory, and infectious agent, and to treat diarrhea, rheumatic disorders, acne, diabetes, cancer and diseases of the urinary tract, etc..

\
The chemical constituents of Cat's claw include ajmalicine, akuammigine, campesterol, catechin, carboxyl alkyl esters, chlorogenic acid, cinchonain, corynantheine, corynoxeine, daucosterol, epicatechin, harman, hirsuteine, hirsutine, iso-pteropodine, etc.

In the finding, a natural ingredient or whole food similar to those of conventional medicine with no side effects, researchers at the Case Western Reserve University examined the anti-inflammatory activity in a number of botanical plants including cat's claw.

Selected plants in the study include some medicinal fruits and herbs - pomegranate, green tea, cat's claw, devil's claw, ginger, Indian olibanum, turmeric, and bananas.
In the analysis of the pivotal molecular targets involved in inflammation and the joint destruction processed for OA management, researchers found that chemical compounds isolated from herbal Cat' s claw demonstrated a strong effect in ameliorating the symptoms of pain, compared to other medicinal plants and fruits.

After taking into account co and confounders, including the limitation of evidence of studies,, researchers wrote, " Overall, these studies identify and support the use of nutraceuticals to provide symptomatic relief to patients with OA and to be used as adjunct therapy for OA management".

Additionally, in the study to reaffirm the use of the use of nutraceuticals for the treatment of Osteoarthritis, researchers launched an investigation to examine the efficacy of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory dietary supplements.

The searching of the literature on the databases of the MEDLINE (1996 through January 2009), results in a total of 16 clinical studies (11 randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials, three crossover trials, one case-controlled study, and one open-label study) in addition to one meta-analysis and one review article satisfied the guideline and criteria.

Cat's claw used alone or combined with other herbal medicines were effective for the treatment of OA through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Moreover, Dr, Hardin SR in the evaluation of the anti-OA effects of Cat's claw suggested that The mechanism of cat's claw appears to be as an inhibitor of TNF-alpha, an inflammatory cytokine produced in the chronic inflammation by the immune system and antioxidant.

However, further analysis of the nature and processes in osteoarthritis may facilitate and clarify the potential role of cat's claw as a complementary therapy to assist in the reduction of pro-inflammatory mediators and effectors.

Taken altogether, there is no doubt that herbal Cat's claw may be considered a functional herb for the prevention and an adjunct therapy for the treatment of osteoarthritis without inducing any side effects.

Natural Medicine for Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal - The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve Optimal Health And Lose Weight

How To Get Rid Of Eye Floaters
Contrary To Professionals Prediction, Floaters Can Be Cured Naturally

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

Back to Kyle J. Norton Homepage http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca

Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.

References
(1) Current nutraceuticals in the management of osteoarthritis: a review by Akhtar N1, Haqqi TM. (PubMed)
(2) Antioxidants and antiinflammatory dietary supplements for osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis by Rosenbaum CC1, O'Mathúna DP, Chavez M, Shields K.(PubMed)
(3) Cat's claw: an Amazonian vine decreases inflammation in osteoarthritis by Hardin SR.(PubMed)
(4) Genetics in Osteoarthritis by Mercedes Fernández-Moreno, Ignacio Rego, Vanessa Carreira-Garcia, and Francisco J Blanco. (PMC)

Phytochemical Piperine, A Natural Antibiotic Alternative

By Kyle J. Norton

Phytochemical Piperine may be the next natural antibiotics in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases with no side effects, some scientists suggested.

Phytochemicals, the natural chemical constituent or pigmentation found in the outer layer of the plant with a unique function to protect the plants against diseases.

The immune system is the set of cells and their activity against antigens or infectious agents that comprises the body's defense system against diseases.

In bodily damage or injury, such as a cut, the immune system first line of defense white blood cells stimulated the production of proinflammatory cytokines to the site of infection with an aim to defend our body against potential pathogens.

However, in most cases, overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines can cause the death of the nearby healthy cells and improper healing of the wound with the formation of irreversible scars.

In severe cases, some proteins which process duo function as a pro and anti-inflammation response also switch to pro-inflammatory cytokines, leading to overproduction of the pro compared to anti-inflammatory cytokines in the body.

In the "Immunobiology: The Immune System in Health and Disease. 5th edition" that describes the stage of microbial infection wrote, "The process of infection can be broken down into stages, each of which can be blocked by different defense mechanisms. In the first stage, a new host is exposed to infectious particles shed by an infected individual" then " (the micro pathogens are) adhering to the epithelial surface, and then colonizing it, or penetrating it to replicate in the tissues. (However) Many microorganisms are repelled at this stage by innate immunity".

Further explanation of the infectious process, the author wrote, "Only when a microorganism has successfully established a site of infection in the host does disease occur, and little damage will be caused unless the agent is able to spread from the original site of infection or can secrete toxins that can spread to other parts of the body".

These results suggested that by enhancing the immune system through a healthy diet and lifestyle accompanied by moderate exercise, the risk of infectious diseases is decreased substantially.

Piperine is a phytochemical alkaloid in the class of organosulfur compound, found abundantly in white and black pepper, long pepper,...

Dr. Mirza ZM, the lead scientist at the University of Kashmir, in the study to reaffirming the effect of Piperine in risk of bacterial infection launched an investigation to examine the effects of the combination of piperine and mupirocin antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus strains including methicillin-resistant S. aureus.

In the first examination, application of the combination effectively and markedly reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of mupirocin and also lowered the mutation frequency.

The combination also enhanced accumulation and efflux of ethidium bromide from wild-type and mutant (Mup(r)-1) strains, an indication of drug resistance, in the presence of piperine suggested that inhibition of efflux could be a possible exhibition of mupirocin activity by piperine.

Interestingly, in a dermal infection model of mice, the combination of piperine with mupirocin showed a strongly significant compared to vivo efficacy when compared with the commercially available formulation of 2 % mupirocin.

These results only reaffirming the antimicrobial activity when it used alone or combined with other conventional medicine.

Additionally, in the study to further differentiation of the effect of combination use of piperine and other conventional medicine in bacterial straits, researchers found that
* Injection of piperine together with ciprofloxacin not only reduced the minimum inhibitory concentration MIC of ciprofloxacin without reducing the efficacy of the medicine but also prevent the bacterial resistance of ciprofloxacin Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus.

* The antibacterial resistance of piperine was found in the accumulation and decreased efflux of ethidium bromide in the wild-type and mutant (CIPr-1) strains when piperine was presented

Taken altogether, there is no doubt that piperine may be considered functional supplements for the prevention of bacterial infection or combined with conventional medicine for the treatment of bacterial and nonbacterial resistance of infectious diseases.

Natural Medicine for Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal - The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve Optimal Health And Lose Weight

How To Get Rid Of Eye Floaters
Contrary To Professionals Prediction, Floaters Can Be Cured Naturally

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

Back to Kyle J. Norton Homepage http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca

Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma and Bioscience, ISSN 0975-6299.

References
(1) Piperine as an inhibitor of the MdeA efflux pump of Staphylococcus aureus by Mirza ZM, Kumar A, Kalia NP, Zargar A, Khan IA. (PubMed)
(2) Piperine, a phytochemical potentiator of ciprofloxacin against Staphylococcus aureus by Khan IA, Mirza ZM, Kumar A, Verma V, Qazi GN.(PubMed)

Thursday, 29 November 2018

Ginger, the Potent Immune Modulatory Pungent Spice

By Kyle J. Norton

Scientists may have a pungent spice which processes a potential to improve the immune function against infection, some studies suggested.

Depending on the substances that affect the immunomodulatory process, some may improve the immune function by modulating the genes involved immune responses and protect the immune system against toxins or immunotoxic effects such as abnormal allergic reactions, other such as heavy metals can induce opposite effects.

For example, curcumin (diferuloylmethane), found in the spice turmeric and processed anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chemopreventive activities may improve the immune system in the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation and overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines by target the genes associated with programming cell death and anti-inflammatory action and involved in the induction of these immune parameters.

On the other hand, toxic chemicals such as cadmium and lead accumulated in the body can have a negative impact on the immune defense by reducing the viability of both lymphocytes and macrophages was affected by heavy metals in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Additionally, in vitro model, overexpression of lead and cadmium can results in dysregulation of lymphocytes and macrophages in stimulating the production of proinflammatory cytokines.

These results strongly suggested an unhealthy diet high in saturated and trans fat, red meat and processed and lifestyle such as smoking physical inactivity would have a negative impact in the immune system compared to a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables.

Dr. Yehia M, the lead author in the study "Immunomodulatory effects of food". wrote, "There is a strong consensus that nutrition plays a role in modulating immune function and that the immune system needs an adequate supply of nutrients to function properly" and

"The micronutrients most often cited as being important to immune function include vitamins A, C, E, and B6, folate, iron, zinc, and selenium. Other nutrients mentioned as playing a role in immune function include beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A), vitamin B12, and vitamin D" and

" On the other hand, " (Nutrient deficiency induced) over-activation of the immune system can lead to detrimental effects such as chronic inflammation or autoimmune diseases. In persons with allergies, a normally harmless material can be mistaken as an antigen".

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) or ginger root, the second superfood used for thousands of years by mankind, is the genus Zingiber, belonging to the family Zingiberaceae, native to Tamil.

The root has been used in traditional and Chinese medicine to treat dyspepsia, gastroparesis, constipation, edema, difficult urination, colic, etc.

With an aim to find a natural extract or whole food for the mediation of immune activity, researchers at the Lanzhou Medical College analyzed the effect of alcohol extract of Zingben officinale (ginger) rose on immunologic function of mice with the tumor.

Selected mice were orally administrated with the dose of 10 g/kg and 40 g/kg alcohol extract of Zingben officinale rose.

Application of the extract significantly raised the thymus index, spleen index, percentage of phagocytosis, the white blood cells rate of alpha-ANAE+ and titer of IgM of mice.

Where the thymus index and spleen index are the measurements of the immune functions, alpha-ANAE+ are hormones which play a very important role in regulating host immunity,

These results suggested that the alcohol extract of Zingben officinale rose improves significantly the status immunologic function in tumor-bearing mice.

Furthermore, in the evaluated the effect of [6]-gingerol and the pungent constituent of ginger on protoscoleces (PSC) culture, researchers showed that ginger exhibited a concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxic effect against PSC and cyst wall.

Interestingly, ginger was more effective compared to the application of [6]-gingerol.

In co-cultures. both extracts exerted a potential effect in the inhibition of parasites and stimulation of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) which plays a critical role in activating the innate and adaptive immunity against viral, some bacterial and protozoal infections.

More importantly, both extracts also regulated the NO production, a toxic defense molecule against infectious organisms.

In the depth differentiation, researchers suggested that Ginger may act, at least, through the [6]-gingerol in modulating the immune response against Echinococcus granulosus infection.

Taken altogether, ginger with abundant bioactive compounds may have an immune modulatory effect against infection and protect the immune system against toxicity.

Natural Medicine for Fatty Liver And Obesity Reversal - The Revolutionary Findings To Achieve Optimal Health And Lose Weight

How To Get Rid Of Eye Floaters
Contrary To Professionals Prediction, Floaters Can Be Cured Naturally

Ovarian Cysts And PCOS Elimination
Holistic System In Existence That Will Show You How To
Permanently Eliminate All Types of Ovarian Cysts Within 2 Months

Back to Kyle J. Norton Homepage http://kylejnorton.blogspot.ca

Author Biography
Kyle J. Norton (Scholar, Master of Nutrition, All right reserved)
Health article writer and researcher; Over 10.000 articles and research papers have been written and published online, including worldwide health, ezine articles, article base, health blogs, self-growth, best before it's news, the karate GB daily, etc.,.
Named TOP 50 MEDICAL ESSAYS FOR ARTISTS & AUTHORS TO READ by Disilgold.com Named 50 of the best health Tweeters Canada - Huffington Post
Nominated for shorty award over last 4 years
Some articles have been used as references in medical research, such as international journal Pharma ISSN 0975-6299.

Sources
(1) Immunity: plants as effective mediators by Sultan MT1, Butt MS, Qayyum MM, Suleria HA. (PubMed)
(2) [Effect of alcohol extract of Zingben officinale rose on immunologic function of mice with tumor].[Article in Chinese] by Liu H1, Zhu Y. (PubMed)
(3) In vitro anti-hydatic and immunomodulatory effects of ginger and [6]-gingerol by Amri M1, Touil-Boukoffa C. (PubMed)
(4) Immunomodulatory effects of curcumin by Yadav VS1, Mishra KP, Singh DP, Mehrotra S, Singh VK. (PubMed)
(5) The immunomodulatory effect(s) of lead and cadmium on the cells of immune system in vitro by Krocova Z1, Macela A, Kroca M, Hernychova L.(PubMed)
(6) Immunomodulatory effects of food by Yehia M. El-Gamal, Ola A. Elmasry, Dalia H. El-Ghoneimy, Islam M. Soliman

Ginger, the Best in Reducing Risk of Hypertension and Hypertensive Complications

By Kyle J. Norton

Ginger may be considered a functional food for the prevention and treatment of hypertension and hypertension complications, some studies found.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) or ginger root, the second superfood used for thousands of years by mankind, is the genus Zingiber, belonging to the family Zingiberaceae, native to Tamil.

The root has been used in traditional and Chinese medicine to treat dyspepsia, gastroparesis, constipation, edema, difficult urination, colic, etc.

Hypertension of high blood pressure is a chronic condition of abnormally high blood pressure.

It is one of the members of a cluster of metabolic syndrome associated with the onset of cardiovascular disease.

Believe or not, people with high blood pressure are most likely to develop hyperglycemia (Anomally high blood glucose) and hyperlipidemia (abnormally high blood cholesterol).

According to the statistic, approximately 1 in 3 adults in the US has high blood pressure, affecting over 75 million or 32% of the American adults (32%).

Some researchers suggested that high blood pressure can be caused by stress or an underlying condition, such as kidney disease.

However, an unhealthy diet is one of the most common risk factors in the development of the syndrome in the Western world that is caught the attention of many scientists.

Dr. Lydia A. Bazzano, the lead scientist in the study"Dietary Approaches to Prevent Hypertension", wrote, "Changes in diet can lower blood pressure, prevent the development of hypertension, and reduce the risk of hypertension-related complications".

"Dietary strategies for the prevention of hypertension include reducing sodium intake, limiting alcohol consumption, increasing potassium intake, and adopting an overall dietary pattern such as the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet or a Mediterranean diet".

These results clearly suggested that diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grain and less in saturated and trans fat, red meat and processed foods are associated with the reduction of hypertension.

Unmanaged hypertension can lead to heart disease and stroke.

With an aim to find a natural ingredient or formula for the prevention and treatment of high blood pressure, researchers examine the effect of herbal treatment on blood pressure (BP) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

The clinical trial included 204 T2DM patients randomly assigned to four intervention groups receiving 3 g cinnamon, 3 g cardamom, 1 g saffron or 3 g ginger with three glasses of black tea, and one control group consuming only three glasses of tea without any herbals, for 8 weeks.

All medicinal plants exerted a significant effect in lowering the high blood pressure.

Ginger intake affected systolic BP compared to other medical plants intake and control.

After taking into account co and confounders, Dr. Azimi P, the lead author said, "there was no significant difference between the plants in terms of ...... BP".

Additional differentiation of the anti-hypertension effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and turmeric (Curcuma longa), researchers examine the effect of dietary supplementation of these rhizomes in Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (l-NAME) induced hypertensive rats.

The study divided testes animals into seven groups (n = 10): normotensive control rats; induced (l-NAME hypertensive) rats; hypertensive rats treated with atenolol (10 mg/kg/day); normotensive and hypertensive rats treated with 4% supplementation of turmeric or ginger, respectively.

After 14 days of pre-treatment, the animals were induced with hypertension by oral administration of l-NAME (40 mg/kg/day).

Hypertensive rats significant (p < 0.05) showed hypertension-derived complications associated with the platelet hyperactivity, a risk of cardiovascular disease compared to control.

In other words, ginger modulated the blood pressure and inhibited complications of high blood pressure in the initiatiation the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Taken altogether, ginger used alone or combined with other medicinal plants may have a potential effect in reducing the risk of high blood pressure and high blood pressure complication.

However, further data collection large example size and multi-centers studies performed with human consumption of the whole food during the course of the disease will be necessary to complete the picture of herbal ginger anti hypertension possibilities.

Sources
(1) Effect of cinnamon, cardamom, saffron and ginger consumption on bloodpressure and a marker of endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A randomized controlled clinical trial. by Azimi P1,2, Ghiasvand R1,2, Feizi A3, Hosseinzadeh J1,2, Bahreynian M1,2, Hariri M1,2, Khosravi-Boroujeni H. (PubMed)
(2) Dietary Supplementation of Ginger and Turmeric Rhizomes Modulates Platelets Ectonucleotidase and Adenosine Deaminase Activities in Normotensive and Hypertensive Rats by Akinyemi AJ1,2,3, Thomé GR3, Morsch VM3, Bottari NB3, Baldissarelli J3, de Oliveira LS3, Goularte JF4, Belló-Klein A4, Oboh G1, Schetinger MR. (PubMed)
(3) Dietary Approaches to Prevent Hypertension by Lydia A. Bazzano, Torrance Green, Teresa N. Harrison, and Kristi Reynolds. (PMC)

Ginger, the Potential Anti Dementia Functional Spice

By Kyle J. Norton

Scientists may have found a kitchen and pungent for the prevention and treatment of dementia with no side effects, some studies showed.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) or ginger root, the second superfood used for thousands of years by mankind, is the genus Zingiber, belonging to the family Zingiberaceae, native to Tamil.

The root has been used in traditional and Chinese medicine to treat dyspepsia, gastroparesis, constipation, edema, difficult urination, colic, etc.

Dementia is a medical and degenerative disease characterized by the loss of mental ability that is severe enough to interfere with people's every life and Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia in aging people.

About 5-8% of all people over the age of 65 have some form of dementia, and this number doubles every five years above that age.

The common causes of dementia are the progressive death of brain cells.

Epidemiologically, certain risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, excessive alcohol drinking, depression, lack of exercise and head injury are associated with the onset of dementia.

Medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity also affect the onset of the disease.

However, an unhealthy diet, in fact, the common cause of the onset of dementia in the Western world that many scientists are afraid to mention about.

Dr. Martha Clare Morris in the study "Nutrition and risk of dementia: overview and methodological issues" said, "A new diet, called MIND (Mediterranean–DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay), incorporates many elements of the Mediterranean and DASH diets but with modifications that reflect the best evidence for brain neuroprotection" and

The evidence in support of the relation of various nutrients and the Mediterranean diet to dementia has been inconsistent".

These results clearly suggested that if you follow the Western diet you are at a substantially increased risk of dementia.

On the finding the natural ingredient and whole food for the prevention and treatment of dementia, researchers conducted a joint study led by the Kyung Hee University, to examine the effect of ginger chemical compound 6-shogaol in the modification of dementia.

6-shogaol, a bioactive component of ginger, may play an important role as a memory-enhancing and anti-oxidant agent against neurological diseases.

6-Shogaol also p[rocessed anti-neuroinflammatory effects lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced astrocytes (star-shaped glial cell of the central nervous system.) and animal models of Parkinson's disease, LPS-induced inflammation, and transient global ischemia.

Furthermore, application of 6-shogaol demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects against oligomeric forms of the Aβ (AβO) (plaque accumulation) in animal brains, and anti-scopolamine-induced memory impairment.

Moreover, application of 6-shogaol significantly protect the brain neuron against the pathogenic insults and destruction of nearby neurons in intrahippocampal AβO-injected mice and neurons in transmitting chemical and electrical signals throughout the body

More importantly, the chemical compound also elevated the nerve growth factor (NGF) involved in the regulation of growth, maintenance, proliferation, and survival of certain target neurons.

These result suggested that 6-shogaol may play a role in inhibiting glial cell activation and reducing memory impairment in animal models of dementia.

Interestingly, on finding the new chemical compound in ginger with the potential to treat dementia, researchers launched an analysis to fractionate the MeOH extract of I. jiadifengpi and found newly 6 chemical compounds

Compound 1 significantly enhanced neurite outgrowth in primary cell cultures of fetal rat cortical neurons and has the potential significantly to promote differentiation of multipotent neural stem cell line (MEB5 cells) into neurons.

Application of the MeOH extract of the root of Bangle (Z. purpureum) also exhibited neuritogenesis activity in PC12 cells at 25 μg/mL.

Chronic treatment with these compounds enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis in dementia model olfactory bulbectomized (OBX) mice.

At the final report, researchers wrote, "Compounds 5 and 6 had significant NGF-potentiating effects on PC12 cells whereas compound 5 enhanced prevention of amyloid β (Aβ) 42 aggregation".

Taken altogether, ginger with the abundant bioactive compound may be considered a functional food for the prevention and combined with the primary medicine for the treatment of dementia with no side effects.

Sources
(1) 6-Shogaol, an active constituent of ginger, attenuates neuroinflammation and cognitive deficits in animal models of dementia by Moon M1, Kim HG2, Choi JG3, Oh H4, Lee PK5, Ha SK6, Kim SY7, Park Y7, Huh Y8, Oh MS9. (PubMed)
(2) [Search of Neurotrophin-mimic Natural Products for Prevention and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disease].[Article in Japanese] by Kubo M1. (PubMed)
(3) Nutrition and risk of dementia: overview and methodological issues by Martha Clare Morris. (PMC)