tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44882729813877355132017-02-22T17:55:49.102-08:00PhilAsian HerbsHERBS AND PLANTS IN THE PHILIPPINES AND ASIAFILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-48199789765317373922016-04-24T22:03:00.000-07:002017-02-22T17:24:58.277-08:00Rooftop Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5mrGbbDZ1I/Vx2gpWJI5lI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/2xY5ux_2smMsLuPOQAaZEfKDfD_-rUw_wCKgB/s1600/10492054_783699294994675_5319066761256773476_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y5mrGbbDZ1I/Vx2gpWJI5lI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/2xY5ux_2smMsLuPOQAaZEfKDfD_-rUw_wCKgB/s320/10492054_783699294994675_5319066761256773476_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({ google_ad_client: "ca-pub-5016199513066232", enable_page_level_ads: true }); </script>Rooftops are usually where you put extra or unused furnishings to make more room for your living or bedroom spaces. But they are actually ideal for gardens--because they're open areas that get more sunlight, air, and dew. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">And you may even make use of the extra or unused furnishings for your gardens. Old sofas are often made of wood you can re-use to build earthen pot platforms of pedestals. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This rooftop garden on the left made use of old window grills and mesh wire fences to enclose spaces and provide structures for vines to crawl on. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This vegetable plant on the left is <i>upo</i> (some say the English term for it is "sitting vegetable. Amusing.). The <i>upo</i> fruit is rich in fiber and vitamins and minerals. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Another ideal vegetable crop to grow on the rooftop is okra because it needs enough sunlight. You </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EMGNMwNNb9I/Vx2eWGairnI/AAAAAAAAEUA/nMK7QCTOVK4Q5sikqyH4awf3EpmmgHRuACKgB/s1600/10552597_783699291661342_6776017753769216475_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EMGNMwNNb9I/Vx2eWGairnI/AAAAAAAAEUA/nMK7QCTOVK4Q5sikqyH4awf3EpmmgHRuACKgB/s320/10552597_783699291661342_6776017753769216475_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>can simply use large empty tin or plastic cans filled with good soil to plant them in. My friend used discarded water buckets to plant okras, cabbages and tomatoes.<br /><br />He added that he even planted a moringa tree in a larger water bucket, and it seems to be working. He also plants smaller vegetables like onion spring in smaller plastic containers derived from cut plastic bottles.<br /><br />The important thing is to make sure the containers hold enough soil and that the soil is replaced every month with new soil revitalized through composting, which he also does on his rooftop.<br /><br />Rooftop gardens make gardening possible even in crowded places in the city. In fact, it gives a challenging twist to gardening because you have to make your imagination really work.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-82077900526970371632015-01-27T22:34:00.002-08:002017-02-22T17:25:25.099-08:00Malunggay: Why Almost Every Health Drink Claims to Have Moringa Extract<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wtHd-EjDF-M/VMiCYtRpqDI/AAAAAAAADa4/DZKVLNg3Th0/s1600/Malunggay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wtHd-EjDF-M/VMiCYtRpqDI/AAAAAAAADa4/DZKVLNg3Th0/s1600/Malunggay.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="_ZR irc_hol" data-href="http://www.philippines.hvu.nl/vegetables1.htm" data-ved="0CAYQjB0" href="https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAYQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philippines.hvu.nl%2Fvegetables1.htm&ei=JYLIVNn0E8G1mwW4qYCICg&bvm=bv.84607526,d.dGY&psig=AFQjCNFZzDofAqNxcvwZo5GPSThK7zWFWA&ust=1422513030846763" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2); background-color: #f1f1f1; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><span style="color: black;">www.philippines.hvu.nl</span></span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({ google_ad_client: "ca-pub-5016199513066232", enable_page_level_ads: true }); </script>They're all claiming to have <i>malunggay</i> or <i>moringa</i> extracts--well, almost all health drink sold in the market today. They realize how powerful this tropical plant is for health and healing and is in fact among the herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia acclaimed by the Philippine Senate as a "Miracle Tree" due to the health benefits derived from the whole plant.<br /><br />Senate Bill 2099 introduced by Senator Cynthia Villar established the so-called <i>Malunggay</i> industry in the country, realizing its lucrativeness since it has both nutrition and healing values. It can be sold as it is--in raw green leafy form with its edible elongated seedy and fibrous fruit, or in supplement form.<br /><br />The Senate document further says how malunggay is rich with Vitamins A and C, protein, calcium, potassium, and zinc, among many others, which are all essential for the health of both children and adults. The roots and seeds are usable for seasoning and alternative first aid remedy for certain ailments like cough, fever, and respiratory illnesses, to name a few. The grounded leaves can be mixed with flour and other food preparations as added nutrition. It is a versatile green leafy vegetable.<br /><br />The oil produced from this plant is said to be almost comparable to olive oil and is great for cooking and mixing in salads. Mixing the leaves in souped dishes or simply taking the capsule supplement greatly enhances lactation for mothers and supplies essential antioxidants for our bodies. Because malunggay also has anti-microbial and anti-aging qualities, the extract is sometimes used for skin care products and cosmetics. It reportedly also has anti-diabetic and anti-tumor properties, especially when the malunggay is taken in tea form.<br /><br />However, moringa oleifera or malunggay is not a toxin neutralizer. A lot of harmful "health" products out there--especially the so-called "energy" drinks rich in sugars and caffeine and passed off as health or sports drinks, add in malunggay extracts to give their brands a good image. But the small moringa content in them cannot neutralize the harmful effect of sugars and caffeine you get from drinking them. Instead, what small extract of moringa you get from them is easily negated by their rich sugar and caffeine contents.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kB1PxCNB-G4/VMiCxFEpWjI/AAAAAAAADbA/9qJ6f3l3TLs/s1600/img_5818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kB1PxCNB-G4/VMiCxFEpWjI/AAAAAAAADbA/9qJ6f3l3TLs/s1600/img_5818.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="_ZR irc_hol" data-href="http://imgkid.com/dahon-ng-kalabasa.shtml" data-ved="0CAYQjB0" href="https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAYQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimgkid.com%2Fdahon-ng-kalabasa.shtml&ei=j4LIVPGQEoW8mgXProKADw&bvm=bv.84607526,d.dGY&psig=AFQjCNFZzDofAqNxcvwZo5GPSThK7zWFWA&ust=1422513030846763" jsaction="mousedown:irc.rl;keydown:irc.rlk" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2); background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #7d7d7d; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;">imgkid.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table>If you want to get real health benefits from drinks that contain moringa, choose sugar and caffeine free drinks that also have no chemical content in them. Better yet, just mix moringa tea into your favorite freshly squeezed all-natural fruit drink you made yourself. That's a guarantee you get nothing but purely healthy benefits.<br /><br />In summary, here are some of malunggay's health benefits:<br /><br /><ul><li>It is anti-cancer: containing benzyl isothiocyanate that is said to possess anti-cancer properties and provides protection from chemotherapy.</li><li>It is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal: contains <span style="background-color: #f8f8f8;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>pterygospermin</i> known to have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. </span></span></li><li><span style="background-color: #f8f8f8;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Effective for fighting malnutrition: it is rich in essential vitamins and minerals plus antioxidants. And the best thing is, it is easily grown in the tropics requiring almost zero maintenance. Since malnutrition in third world countries are mostly in the tropics, malunggay makes an ideal strategy to fight it. </span></span></li><li><span style="background-color: #f8f8f8;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It is anti-inflammatory: it can help alleviate chronic inflammation in rheumatism, joint pains, and arthritis. </span></span></li><li><span style="background-color: #f8f8f8;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Improves sex life naturally: it is believed to have aphrodisiac effects that improves your sex life.</span></span></li><li><span style="background-color: #f8f8f8;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The leaves enhance proper and regular bowel movement: prevents constipation.</span></span></li><li><span style="background-color: #f8f8f8;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Good for overall health. If you are sick with anything, eating malunggay or drinking its tea extract is always good for you.</span></span></li><li><span style="background-color: #f8f8f8;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Last but not least, the leaves and fruit make delicious and healthy food menus affordable to even marginalized people. </span></span></li></ul>FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-52501763880674899172015-01-09T21:03:00.002-08:002017-02-22T17:35:54.397-08:00Gulasiman: Boholano Superb Herb<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aa8EFsfQtoQ/VLCrZxnn6qI/AAAAAAAADP0/OCkj4tprcMk/s1600/Portulaca_sativa_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aa8EFsfQtoQ/VLCrZxnn6qI/AAAAAAAADP0/OCkj4tprcMk/s1600/Portulaca_sativa_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portulaca_oleracea</td></tr></tbody></table><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({ google_ad_client: "ca-pub-5016199513066232", enable_page_level_ads: true }); </script>The Tagalogs call it <i>Golasiman</i>, the Bikolanos <i>Alusiman</i>, and in Pangasinan <i>Kantataba</i>. In English it's Purslane. But I'd rather use its Boholano name now, which is <i>Gulasiman</i>, simply because I haven't featured an herb from Bohol. It has a lot of uses, from medicinal, to herbal, to culinary. That's why I call it a super herb.<br /><br />It has flesh green and oblong leaves, about 1 to 2 centimeters long, and yellow flowers. Overall, the herb is purplish, which hints of anthocyanin content, which is a powerful antioxidant that makes plants purple and powerfully nutritious. That is true with Gulasiman.<br /><br />Look how nutritious it is: it is reportedly rich in Vitamins A, B, B2 and C. It has a-tocopherol (a type of Vitamin E), nicotinic acid (Vitamin B3 or Niacin), and B-carotene (a precursor to Vitamin A and believed by some to be anti-cancer and promotes eye health). It is also rich in minerals like calcium and iron, glutathione, fatty acids (like omega-3), aspartic and glutamic acids, flavonoids, alkaloids (remember the term "alkaline"?), saponins (foamy), and urea (essential for metabolizing compounds with nitrogen content).<br /><br />As a healing herb, the leaves are said to be effective against tumors, bruises, swellings, erysipelas, and gout. They are also used for washing or cleaning skin diseases like eczema, burns, cuts, and other wounds for an anti-hemorrhagic effect. The juice is reportedly good for dysmenorrhea, dysentery, dysuria, and expelling worms as vermifuge, with anthelmintic benefits. Seeds may be used as a diuretic.<br /><br />Gulasiman is also said to be effective for treating poisonous snake bites, whooping cough and even tubercolosis. It has anti-ulcer, anti-diabetes, and anti-tumor properties.<br /><br />Some folks mix it raw with vegetable salads.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-48461154819744515302015-01-08T18:23:00.001-08:002017-02-22T17:26:43.643-08:00Why Papaya is More Than a Colorful Dessert<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3FohFeWGDrQ/VK87cmaHBGI/AAAAAAAADPU/EAYzoeU6-Dc/s1600/Papaya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3FohFeWGDrQ/VK87cmaHBGI/AAAAAAAADPU/EAYzoeU6-Dc/s1600/Papaya.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="_ZR irc_hol" data-href="http://www.greennfreshbasket.com/?product=papaya" data-ved="0CAYQjB0" href="https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAYQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.greennfreshbasket.com%2F%3Fproduct%3Dpapaya&ei=pzqvVICHKpDM8gXwg4C4Dg&bvm=bv.83339334,d.dGc&psig=AFQjCNFHh-wz8dSa5IysBWzfNgv4MjV3dA&ust=1420856350355942" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2); background-color: #f1f1f1; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><span style="color: black;">www.greennfreshbasket.com</span></span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><script async="" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script><script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({ google_ad_client: "ca-pub-5016199513066232", enable_page_level_ads: true }); </script>Papaya is often a favorite "filler" fruit. If you prepare fruit salad and wonder what else to put in or feel that it lacks something brightly colored, you add in papaya chunks. You may also want to put some thick consistency to your milk or fruit sauce so you add in slices of papaya. I remember loving a natural fruit salad served to us (no cream, milk, or sugar) that tasted strangely "creamy." Then I found out it had overripe papaya sauce in it.<br /><br />I wonder why there still isn't any papaya flavored ice cream?<br /><br />Papaya is definitely tropical, abundantly growing in the Philippines and neighboring Asian countries like Malaysia, Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka. Go to any province in the Philippines and you're sure to find papaya trees, even in fruit. When I was young, my friends and I would pick raw, green papaya and slice them up and soak them in vinegar and salt. We ate that as some kind of a pickle-snack as we told each other stories under some shaded tree after classes.<br /><br />Ripe papaya is good as both dessert and cooking ingredient. It is made into a sauce, pickle, or preserved as a fruit jam or marmalade. Filipinos also love mixing it in soup menus like <i>Tinola</i> or <i>nilaga.</i> It is rich in Vitamins A and C, as well as antioxidants, especially the seeds which are also potential ingredients of nutraceuticals. Papaya has immuno-stimulating properties and the seeds can be used in treating gastrointestinal infections and even have anthelmintic activity.<br /><br />Experts say the fruit with its seeds have bacteriostatic activities that aid intestinal pathogens while papaya leaves are said to relieve asthmatic symptoms, amoebic dysentery, and even fever. The leaf extract has vasodilation benefits and together with the antioxidant found there is said to help reduce heart problems. The papaya aqueous extract is believed to help heal burns as it did in a test involving rats that suffered burns.<br /><br />Finally, ripe papaya is rich in dietary fibers and is a favorite delicious remedy for constipation in the Philippines. Here's a tip--choose one that is very soft to the touch but not too overripe as to be rotten. This has lots of fibers (aside from Vitamins A and C--yellow fruits are Vitamin A fruits, remember?) and is very good for smooth bowel management.<br /><br />In the Philippines, you get a choice between oblong or small rounded papaya varieties. The small and rounded type is usually sweeter and richer in flavor. Papayas in this country also come in either yellow insides or red insides, with seeds or seedless. As for me, among herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia that bear edible fruits, I prefer those with seeds.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-73430748777012070302015-01-08T03:08:00.002-08:002017-02-22T17:36:32.175-08:00Anyone Remembers Sabila?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w21EYr5qqCU/VK5kCSdj4FI/AAAAAAAADPE/unVLvlTznvI/s1600/aloe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w21EYr5qqCU/VK5kCSdj4FI/AAAAAAAADPE/unVLvlTznvI/s1600/aloe.jpg" width="255" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="_ZR irc_hol" data-href="http://lawiswisorganics.wordpress.com/2011/05/20/aloe-vera-o-sabila/" data-ved="0CAYQjB0" href="https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAYQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Flawiswisorganics.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F05%2F20%2Faloe-vera-o-sabila%2F&ei=42OuVOqOFYa7mQW4m4LoDw&bvm=bv.83134100,d.dGY&psig=AFQjCNE4W4mrOWjhMg3aKU9SJmzz4GRH9w&ust=1420801378497501" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2); background-color: #f1f1f1; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: left;"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;"><span style="color: black;">lawiswisorganics.wordpress.com</span></span></a></td></tr></tbody></table>My grandma made sure she had a lot of it on her doorsteps. They were usually in small clay pots--about 6 inches in diameter--and she religiously watered it daily until it grew more stems. She called it <i>Sabila</i>. Later, after college, I learned that it was <i>aloe vera</i>. Much later, I learned that it has anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and regenerative properties--definitely among herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia that captured my attention!<br /><br />No wonder my grandma always picked a stem, squeezed the thick sap out, and applied that on my head daily. I used to have a lot of bald spots on my head due to scars from boil wounds. The boils would pop up and create wounds that would result to scars where hair refused to grow. But with my grandma's persistence and patience, the scar marks gradually grew hair so that eventually, my head had no more bald spots. In fact, healthy hair started growing on it.<br /><br />Lots of men my age have balding heads but mine has full hair. It's probably still a result of my grandma's years of applying<i> sabila</i> on my head. My mom later picked up where my grandma left of. She grew <i>sabila</i> or aloe vera, too, on clay pots and empty cans and we continued applying it on our heads to grow hair better. It is also said to be a good remedy for skin burns, dandruff and falling hair. Gently massage the scalp (or affected skin part) with it regularly and see results after some weeks. In some parts of the Middle East, it is said to be used for diabetes.<br /><br />My grandma and mom (and now my sister-in-law) also used it as ornamental plants. They look like green tentacles jutting out of the clay pot, like an octopus trapped in a clay pot. You can easily pick a tentacle or stem and use that on your skin. Just make sure the plant is safe from cat urine, or else you might suffer infection rather than cure. The <i>sabila </i>sap feels extra cool and soothing, though sticky. Let it stay there overnight and then wash it off the next day. The plant will keep on growing new stems if watered right. It doesn't need a lot of water--just enough per day. Don't drown it.<br /><br />Well, some people mix it with their drinks for cleansing, but I don't know how they do it. Sabila is said to have digestive, immune, and some heart health benefits, but beware of its diarrhea side effect. It can make your stool too soft or even watery if taken in the wrong measure. I'd rather just apply it topically.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-8352587444317022392015-01-06T17:11:00.001-08:002017-02-22T17:36:17.785-08:00Dissecting Pito-Pito Contents: What's In It That Makes It Potent?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hZ2CZQSfAV0/VKyHvxR14xI/AAAAAAAADO0/gtSA1uvxoxg/s1600/pito-pito-tea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hZ2CZQSfAV0/VKyHvxR14xI/AAAAAAAADO0/gtSA1uvxoxg/s1600/pito-pito-tea.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a class="_ZR irc_hol" data-href="http://mdwincorp.com/tag/pito-pito-tea/" data-ved="0CAYQjB0" href="https://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAYQjB0&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmdwincorp.com%2Ftag%2Fpito-pito-tea%2F&ei=noesVPCEE4_-8QW104LgBw&bvm=bv.83134100,d.dGc&psig=AFQjCNGwCeIDVmpjCv_8XNTBySMzRwcM7g&ust=1420679450274637" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2); background-color: #f1f1f1; color: #7d7d7d; cursor: pointer; font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-overflow: ellipsis; unicode-bidi: -webkit-isolate;">mdwincorp.com</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table>Pito-Pito herbal teas have been in the Philippine market and stayed popular there through the years. That should tell us something about its effectiveness. When I go to popular drug stores I always see them in shelves in the herbal department and customers are often found in that area surveying them. If you ask them about taking herbals, they'd say they're looking for something that would augment or be a good substitute for their maintenance medicines.<br /><br />If you were to ask me, never get rid of your regular medical check ups and maintenance medicines. Herbals are good but they often work better with medicines and vice versa. And do consult with your medical doctor about the herbal drinks you take.<br /><br />Anyway, let's see what's inside <i>Pito-Pito--</i>whatever herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia found in it<i>--</i>that make people positively claim it's effectiveness.<br /><br /><b>Alagao Leaves</b><br /><br />These leaves are said to be ideal for getting rid of phlegm during cough and colds. They are also used for relieving fever, bronchitis, and stomach aches like gas pains. The crushed leaves together with coconut oil can be applied on the abdomen for added relief. The fresh leaves is said to be also applied for treating vaginal irrigation. Having cardiac troubles? Chewing its roots is said to offer remedy.<br /><br /><b>Anis Seeds</b><br /><br />The seeds have a lot of alternative medicinal applications. Often, they are used as a <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">emmenagogue (encouraging menstruation)</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">and</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">a</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial";"> </span>diuretic. They are also applied to relieve fevers and intestinal deworming. (With deworming, it's easy to see why health is improved with Pito-Pito. If you get rid fo parasites like worms, your body absorbs more nutrients from food. See?) It can also be used for increasing milk in mothers and libido health in adults.<br /><br /><b>Banaba Leaves</b><br /><br />Some medical doctors believe the banaba fruit is a better option, but the leaves may do. It is popular in the Philippines as a diuretic. If you want toxins out of your system, try banaba tea. Moreover, some herbalists say it is also good as a purgative, good for stomach ailments, and even good for diabetes. Experts say a boiled concoction of old leaves and the dried fruit, taken 4 to 6 cups a day, is perfect for diabetes. The old leaves and old fruits are said to have effective glucose lowering results. The tea is said to also help alleviate loose bowel movement, constipation, and fevers. Best of all, it is said to help treat kidney problems and get rid of bladder or kidney stones.<br /><br /><b>Guava (Bayabas) Leaves</b><br /><br />For topical applications, the boiled leaves are perfect for healing and drying up wounds. As tea component, the leaves, together with the tree bark, is good for treating diarrhea. Also said to be good for prolapsus ani in kids. The rootbark can alleviate swollen gums if the water used for boiling it is cooled and gargled. The leaves helps treat jaundice and guava extract is said to be good for epilepsy and chorea.<br /><br /><b>Mango Leaves </b><br /><br />Boiling the young mango leaves are said to be ideal for treating cough, asthma loss of voice, aphonia, dysentery, and even diabetes. The dried flowers made into tea are good for diarrhea and urethritis.<br /><br /><b>Pandan Leaves</b><br /><br />The leaves are supposed to be ideal for stimulating urination (and thus detoxification and cleansing), treat headache, and lessen arthritis pain and stomach spasms.<br /><br />Now, more or less we see why <i>Pito-Pito</i> has healing effects and seems to be an all-cure.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-25088535136267410662015-01-06T14:54:00.003-08:002017-02-22T17:36:47.287-08:00Pito-Pito Herbal Tea: Local Tonic Cure-All?<div style="text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FZw5oFjQe9Y/VKxnXSWdq9I/AAAAAAAADOo/2FnERcgivd8/s1600/photos.demandstudios.com-getty-article-223-132-104523152_XS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FZw5oFjQe9Y/VKxnXSWdq9I/AAAAAAAADOo/2FnERcgivd8/s1600/photos.demandstudios.com-getty-article-223-132-104523152_XS.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">livestrong.com</td></tr></tbody></table>I've been hearing of the effectiveness of concocting 7 herbal ingredients to treat ailments with since I was a kid. As far as I can remember, it was popularized by Ernie Baron, then among the renown herbalists promoting herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia, and also a popular radio health commentator for the masses.<br /><br /><i>Pito-Pito,</i> or Seven-Seven literally, is a blend of any seven herbal ingredients and may vary from seeds, leaves, roots, to tree barks or any plant or tree part. It is often used as a poultice or decoction plus other folkloric alternative applications for fever, cough, colds, headache, asthma, migraine, stomach pains and troubles, diarrhea, and others.<br /><br />Different herbal contents are used, usually those easily available in a locality and the nature by which it is used. Seven this and seven that. For instance, 7 leaves of alagaw, 7 leaves of native guava (<i>bayabas</i>), 7 leaves of banaba, 7 leaves of pandan, and 7 of mangga. These are boiled together in water for 30 minutes, with perhaps a teaspoon or half of silantro and anis. The brew is strained and used as a herbal tea treatment.<br /><br />Other concocters smoke the leaves and dry them (others just plain dry them) and later pound them to tiny bits, making them fit for tea bags and applied as that--commercial tea drink.<br /><br /><b>Why Seven?</b><br /><br />Why 7 leaves of this and that? Well, accordingly, the number 7 being widely believed as a perfect number, is said to be just the right amount of anything in local herbal tradition. Some say it is God's number. Seven measures are supposed to make a herbal concoction effective and balance the formulation, making it applicable to various ailments.<br /><br />Commercially, some manufacturers substitute some native ingredients with herbal medicinal contents like Gotu-Kola or Centella Asiatica. Others use pineapple and kaimito (star apple) leaves for wild-crafted usage. Other producers, wanting to be unique for better marketing purposes, add more ingredients for a Siyam-Siyam (Nine-Nine) herbal tea, making the stronger potency more appealing to people who want to get well sooner and for those who have more serious diseases.<br /><br />How effective are these concocted teas? No formal clinical studies are yet available, but it is a popular notion among herbalists how leaves, seeds, roots and stems of certain plants, when boiled together, produce reactions that form herbal tonics ideal for cures. And a lot of testimonies on their healing effects abound locally.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-12008514489716915472014-11-26T01:43:00.001-08:002017-02-22T17:27:47.997-08:00How to Do Aquaponics<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i3MB0ecPM7U/VHWfm0TOquI/AAAAAAAADKs/lcNSlbWgqaA/s1600/aquaponics-diagram-b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i3MB0ecPM7U/VHWfm0TOquI/AAAAAAAADKs/lcNSlbWgqaA/s1600/aquaponics-diagram-b.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="irc_ho" dir="ltr" style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 16px; margin-right: -2px; overflow: hidden; padding-right: 2px; text-decoration: none; text-overflow: ellipsis;"><a class="_ZR irc_hol" data-ved="0CAcQjB0" href="http://www.google.com.ph/url?sa=i&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjB0&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdigbyhall120.wordpress.com%2F2013%2F07%2F18%2Faquaponics-fish-from-the-roof%2F&ei=a591VJCqMMyLuwTFrYHYAQ&psig=AFQjCNFiZCzhmzlnDmsvQIIZAaxT7e4IkQ&ust=1417081068141475" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.2); font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 16px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;">d</a>igbyhall120.wordpress.com</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Ever heard of aquaponics? It's probably the best when caring for plants and herbs in the Philippines and Asia. It's the latest revolutionary gardening and agricultural development since hydroponics. I have a neighbor, Rolly, who is into aquaponics and manages to grow organic herbs and vegetables and fish.<br /><br />He has lettuce and tomato plants in this box he made where water continuously flows. The water comes from his aquarium nearby and even in the box where his plants are "planted on water" small fish roam around. First, the roaming fish was to prevent mosquitoes from breeding there, he said. Now, the water just goes through a cycle, in and out, so it's really water saving. You just have to add water from time to time to replace water lost due to evaporation.<br /><br />The vegetables are fed organic fertilizer coming from the aquarium and mostly fish-produce like ammonia, nitrates and minerals. These are all-natural and keep plants in tiptop shape. Vegetables result to bigger sizes, more delicious taste, and even having more nutrition. It' been tested even in big farms in the US. You can do aquaponics in small gardens in your rooftop, terrace, or backyard as the system is also doable in big farms.<br /><br />There is a proper technology for all this an you can get that technology though <i>Aquaponics 4 You</i>. This e-book gives you details on how to make your own aquaponics system even in the small space you have at home, or in your farm. You can raise both your fish and vegetables and link them in a synergistic relationship--each benefiting and empowering the other.<br /><br />To further understand this system, there are <a href="http://5c1502m7ozlqn2-7rjqd29v1wy.hop.clickbank.net/" target="_blank"><b>more info details found on the product page of Aquaponics 4 You</b></a>. Start producing your own organic vegetables right in your backyard or even in your garden terrace. That's zero chemical and zero pesticides for the vegetables you put on your family diner table!FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-28513355088282267162014-11-25T20:28:00.004-08:002017-02-22T17:37:07.876-08:00Balbas ni Hudas [Judas' Beard]<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n1kfTLVVS3s/VHVVzSNzlHI/AAAAAAAADKc/ISeiPUz5AGc/s1600/532756_3103841357879_203911247_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-n1kfTLVVS3s/VHVVzSNzlHI/AAAAAAAADKc/ISeiPUz5AGc/s1600/532756_3103841357879_203911247_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My youngest looking sad amid hanging<br />tentacles of Balbas ni Hudas.</td></tr></tbody></table>Did you know there's a spreading vine named after the traitor, Judas Iscariot? Balbas ni Hudas or Judas' Beard is an ornamental plant that more and more folks in Agbanawag, Nueva Ecija are getting fond of. It's a hanging plant with long, thin tentacles looking like string beans as its "fruit." I asked folks in Agbanawag what special use the "fruit" has and they just looked at me blankly and agape, then finally saying it's just for a yard decor.<br /><br />Balbas ni Hudas--definitely among the unique plants and herbs in the Philippines and Asia--well, perhaps not an herb--yet. Who knows, there may be healing benefits discovered from the vine in the future!<br /><br />They like having the plant hanging on rooftops or above swimming pools as a shed against sunlight and to produce a jungle or wild life effect. It can be ideal for your greenhouse or backyard garden to act like sun screen or perhaps in your veranda or terrace.<br /><br />I'm surprise that nothing is said or displayed on Google about Balbas ni Hudas and this is probably the first time this ornamental plant is featured online.<br /><br />During another visit to Agbanawag, I asked folks there why the name "Balbas ni Hudas"? Even the old folks there weren't sure why the plant was named thus. They just grew up in the place knowing it to be called that. But one ventured further. He said it's been called that since old folks there started associating the verse, "Judas hanged himself," with the hanging plant and mentioned something about the plant figuring in one Lenten community play.<br /><br />Whatever.<br /><br />I always see it as a perfect natural curtain for partitioning gardens or yards.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-37002022583698710082014-07-20T18:55:00.005-07:002017-02-22T17:28:07.165-08:00Organic Lifestyle: Never Burn Dried Leaves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSl76WaXhL0/U8xwyapOVeI/AAAAAAAACyw/kPzCkLzGr6c/s1600/935198_722075437823728_1897746084_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OSl76WaXhL0/U8xwyapOVeI/AAAAAAAACyw/kPzCkLzGr6c/s1600/935198_722075437823728_1897746084_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Never, never burn dried leaves or branches. Never throw them away for the garbage trucks to collect. The principle in organic gardening is, everything derived from the soil must return to the soil. The moment you get rid of dried leaves or cut off branches by burning or throwing them, you subtract something from the soil. That's less soil nutrient. Nature needs to recycle itself for sustenance. You need to give back to nature what you took out of it.<br /><br />The best way to get rid of dried leaves is to compost it and reuse it as soil--put the compost back to the earth. How about large branches of trees? Well, you may have other uses for them. But the leaves and stems and small branches should go back to the soil. Anyway, composting is easy--just gather all the leaves, fruits, small branches together in a hole in the ground and let them all rot there for 1 or 2 months. Then they turn into a powerful organic fertilizer. Better if they produce earthworms.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2mhn0IEznZ0/U8xy3LfU-dI/AAAAAAAACy8/YnwsYfqATso/s1600/10259343_738182056213066_8996378909686259892_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2mhn0IEznZ0/U8xy3LfU-dI/AAAAAAAACy8/YnwsYfqATso/s1600/10259343_738182056213066_8996378909686259892_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Talking of earthworms, I remember one time seeing some pineapple farmers in Tagaytay killing off earthworms, believing with all their hearts that the worms destroyed their pineapple. We explained to them the importance of earthworms in maintaining soil health, and how virus and bacteria were what really destroyed their pineapples. They looked at us as though we were talking Martian language.<br /><br />Anyway, earthworms only get into root crops when bacteria or virus start boring holes into them, producing crevices in root crops where earthworms sometimes sneak in. Then, they get blamed for it. If you see earthworms, make a culture of them and use their feces as organic fertilizer. That's what grew the vegetables you see in the pictures here.<br /><br />Notice the ampalaya (bitter melon) on the upper right. No insect damage and no need to wrap the fruit up to protect from pests. Organic gardening does that--shoo insects and pests away with zero-chemical pesticides. And look at the leaves and stems--all healthy with a natural green hue. I can't wait for the leaves and stems to be cooked in a sauteed mongo recipe!FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-80960528541548489672014-07-20T18:16:00.001-07:002017-02-22T17:28:40.902-08:00Start Your Rooftop Organic Vegetable Garden<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6_MFb0SZjqI/U8xo0oNBj8I/AAAAAAAACyM/FqxQATeNq0A/s1600/1964782_722074924490446_496758161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6_MFb0SZjqI/U8xo0oNBj8I/AAAAAAAACyM/FqxQATeNq0A/s1600/1964782_722074924490446_496758161_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Junior's organic tomato on his<br />rooftop garden.</td></tr></tbody></table>My bible disciple, Junior, started his rooftop organic vegetable garden about two years ago. Living in a densely populated part of the Bicutan suburbs, he dreamed of having his own vegetable garden someday, even an entire farm. Then he attended our company's organic farming seminar (when I was still connected with the company) and heard some tips from me on home organic vegetable gardening.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1xTbm1XmYlk/U8xpGuP2fsI/AAAAAAAACyU/73dc-ct08uY/s1600/10426238_783699271661344_7182254193384524024_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1xTbm1XmYlk/U8xpGuP2fsI/AAAAAAAACyU/73dc-ct08uY/s1600/10426238_783699271661344_7182254193384524024_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Healthy looking white squash<br />or <i>upo </i>grown from his rooftop<i>.</i></td></tr></tbody></table>He started his organic garden and today he regularly harvests home grown organic vegetables. It produces so much that he sells and sometimes even gives them away. How did he start? Having no vacant area in his property to get soil from, he gathered vegetable peels and rejects and made a compost of them in a container. Soon, it rot and turned into something like soil. He placed it in containers and planted vegetables in them.<br /><br />He also grew worms from the rotting vegetables and raised them. Their feces or stools became powerful fertilizers which he used to grow the vegetables. Everything was healthy organic. And the beauty of it all was that everything was easy to do. Just produce the "veggie soil," containers, and veggie seeds. Plant and then water them daily, plus the "veggie worm" fertilizer. Presto! You have a productive home rooftop organic vegetable garden!<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ch8nj_WuJNY/U8xppdZOUxI/AAAAAAAACyg/uHFOIub3dyE/s1600/10552597_783699291661342_6776017753769216475_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ch8nj_WuJNY/U8xppdZOUxI/AAAAAAAACyg/uHFOIub3dyE/s1600/10552597_783699291661342_6776017753769216475_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reddish organic Okra grown from<br />his rooftop.</td></tr></tbody></table>If you don't have a rooftop, then place it in your garage or a small corner in your yard where there is enough sunlight. Construct stair-shelves where you can place the containers on and save space. If you use your garage, make sure enough sunlight reaches there. If not, then start a morning and afternoon ritual--put the plants (in containers) where there is sunlight and then return them to the garage after--early mornings (6 or 7 am) and late afternoons (4 or 5 pm).<br /><br />Just look at the reddish organic okra on the right. My guess is that it's probably rich in the antioxidant anthocyanin, which produces the bright colors in plants. Scientists say brightly colored fruits and veggies have anthocyanin.<br /><br />Junior noticed something interesting--no pests to harm the plants, leaves or fruit. A farming expert I know once said that organic plants released plant chemicals that insects hated. So, let's all go back to organic farming.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-50338297994344105402014-06-26T20:37:00.001-07:002017-02-22T17:35:25.383-08:00Abutra: Yellow Seed Moonseed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QSWQTpveoaM/U6zm4a_ikKI/AAAAAAAACtc/IwUOIjcqOSE/s1600/AbutraPD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QSWQTpveoaM/U6zm4a_ikKI/AAAAAAAACtc/IwUOIjcqOSE/s1600/AbutraPD.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Whenever I ventured into the woods as a boy scout I always saw this vine-like plant with scary-looking stems (like a giant octopus tentacle) and which often crawled up big trees. Today, in one of researches on herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia, I came across it and found that is named Abutra.<br /><br />Accordingly, it is often used in this country as a germicide but actually, folks acquainted with it use it in the following ways.<br /><br /><b>Abutra Extract:</b> the wine or essence resulting from boiling the wood is used for cleaning wounds, skin itches, and even for tropical ulcers. The extract is also for getting a febrifuge (or anti-fever) and stomachic (pro-appetite and digestion) effects. Abutra essence coming from the stems and roots can also be an anti-fever tonic and can increase menstrual flow.<br /><br />A caution though, because this extract is also used by some for abortion. Tonics in bottles with the abutra stems and roots displayed in them used to be sold in sidewalks along a popular church in Manila. It's been banned today, but accordingly, dried abutra stems are still sold there in secret.<br /><br />In some portions of Zambales, abutra is used as an expectorant, especially in bronchial illnesses. In Malaya, the extract is said to be ingested to remedy jaundice and indigestion and as an anthelmintic medicine for deworming, particularly parasite worms.<br /><br />When burned, the smoke is used as an inhalant for problems in the nose and mouth. Abutra is allegedly even used as an anti-diabetes remedy in Indo-China. Somewhere in East Asia, it is among traditional alternative medicines taken as a tonic for skin abscesses and jaundice. Some other folks use it as a tonic for dysentery and malaria.<br /><br />Of course, PhilAsian Herbs blog doesn't recommend you take the abutra tonic or extract for the above mentioned ailments at once. Consult with a competent alternative medicine practitioner first, or better yet, with a licensed medical doctor adept in alternative medicine.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-20688938538567024432014-06-25T17:05:00.001-07:002017-02-22T17:29:29.502-08:00Wild Betel Leaf for Energy, Relieving Asthma, Plus More<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ejFbnw6Vww0/U6tjvkzUV6I/AAAAAAAACs4/tgxBk_mhnJc/s1600/daunku.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ejFbnw6Vww0/U6tjvkzUV6I/AAAAAAAACs4/tgxBk_mhnJc/s1600/daunku.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>Interesting how you can cook beef <i>langonisa</i>-style using plant leaf for wrapping the meat. In Vietnam they do this with the Wild Betel Leaf or what they call <i>lalot</i>. For a different kind of "sausage" try this herb leaf with your meat. I would like to taste this one of these days.<br /><br />The leaf is ordinary looking, but once used in wrapping meat and cooked, the <i>piper sarmentosum</i> aroma can wake up the appetite and make your mouth clamoring to eat. The cooked "sausage" looks very much like fried langonisa.<br /><br /><b>Health Benefits of Betel Leaf</b><br /><br />First, betel leaf is aromatic, increasing your appetite for food. That's healthy, especially if the food recipe you use it with is a healthy vegan recipe. The leaf has a clove-like aroma that makes it ideal for cooking. Cloves are derived from an Indonesian tree.<br /><br />Second, betel leaves have anti-bacterial properties and mild stimulant effect. They can induce euphoria or a feeling of well being. They are also said to be anti-fungal and ideal for good digestion. The leaves can also be used as an expectorant and an aphrodisiac.<br /><br />Thus, betel leaf can be chewed and the juice is good to relieve asthma and cold. They reportedly do this in Indonesia. Warming it with some mustard oil and applied topically on the chest can relieve folks having breathing difficulties.<br /><br />It's a pain reliever as well. Mix the juice with hot oil and apply topically to the pain area. Betel leaf extract can also be used for getting extra energy and relieve nervous exhaustion. In animals, the herb was found to up T3 levels and lower T4 levels in thyroid patients.<br /><br />If you have unpleasant body odor you want to get rid of, try betel leaf.<br /><br />But the betel nut shouldn't be eaten because studies have shown it to be cancerous. So, just to play it safe, consult a herbal nutrition expert about using betel leaf for health and cooking, as well as other herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-73439673455727354702014-06-25T04:53:00.003-07:002017-02-22T17:30:29.852-08:00Easy Veggie Plant Bottle Containers and Shelf IdeasIn an article before this one, I shared about how my bible disciple was able to grow organic vegetables right on his rooftop even if he had no backyard or soil to do it with. He collected lots of plastic bottles and sawed them off in half and did various designs of veggie pots with them, similar to the pics I show below.<br /><br />I also want to show you how my late mom did her plant shelves to save space in our small side yard by showing you similar pics.<br /><br /><b>Veggie Plant Bottle Containers</b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4KhiCFCnGN0/U6qx_PxXg2I/AAAAAAAACrM/4X9XIThS2hM/s1600/03052012-018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4KhiCFCnGN0/U6qx_PxXg2I/AAAAAAAACrM/4X9XIThS2hM/s1600/03052012-018.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Okay, let's start with the veggie plastic bottle containers. All you need is, well, collect softdrink plastic bottles and gallons, a sharp cutter or pair of scissors, and nylon string or wires. Cut the plastic softdrink bottles as show on the picture on the left. You can use both halfs to plant vegetables in.<br /><br />You may cut the plastic bottle with a cutter first to provide a small initial slice, and then insert the scissors to use it for completing the cut. This makes the work safer.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPQP5enSl10/U6qykeQsTKI/AAAAAAAACrU/VhwGQ36Hcvw/s1600/step1_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cPQP5enSl10/U6qykeQsTKI/AAAAAAAACrU/VhwGQ36Hcvw/s1600/step1_0.jpg" width="171" /></a></div>It would be hard to cut the bottle directly with a pair of scissors like in the figure shown on the left. The scissors would likely slide against the smooth surface of the plastic bottle without cutting it.<br /><br />So, do it initially with a sharp cutter to create a sliced cut where you can insert the pair of scissors.<br /><br />Then, you can fill up the half bottles with your organic "soil" (made of pulverized rotten vegetable stuff) and plant your vegetables there.<br /><br />See example pictures below.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2sThG5sc01Y/U6qz7yOJWZI/AAAAAAAACrg/STgpNka609o/s1600/plastmasovi-butilki-idei-17-82026-500x0-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2sThG5sc01Y/U6qz7yOJWZI/AAAAAAAACrg/STgpNka609o/s1600/plastmasovi-butilki-idei-17-82026-500x0-2014.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vegetables in plastic<br />gallons with a square<br />hole on one side.</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mbt_uw8Gv_U/U6q0Iv3lWKI/AAAAAAAACro/9vHozs3IKdI/s1600/blog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Mbt_uw8Gv_U/U6q0Iv3lWKI/AAAAAAAACro/9vHozs3IKdI/s1600/blog2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How bottles cut in half<br />can serve as vegetable<br />or orchid container.<b> </b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My mom solved her space problem when she wanted to have plants at our small side yard. She had a 5-layer wooden plant shelf constructed like stair steps--with risers and treads--and placed the earthen pots on the treads. See example below.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7QvGzjFsXU/U6q2il4j5GI/AAAAAAAACr4/OOSQSHOQCiE/s1600/tiered-plant-stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-w7QvGzjFsXU/U6q2il4j5GI/AAAAAAAACr4/OOSQSHOQCiE/s1600/tiered-plant-stand.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below are other examples:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TCWCySAO6OE/U6q39ugmaSI/AAAAAAAACsI/uHLNZVdL8RE/s1600/2756076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TCWCySAO6OE/U6q39ugmaSI/AAAAAAAACsI/uHLNZVdL8RE/s1600/2756076.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lon3A_TUuag/U6q4POmbIjI/AAAAAAAACsY/bq6zOzWUQOk/s1600/frame-plant-stand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lon3A_TUuag/U6q4POmbIjI/AAAAAAAACsY/bq6zOzWUQOk/s1600/frame-plant-stand.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-68790631719730228472014-06-25T04:08:00.003-07:002017-02-22T17:30:50.997-08:00Simple Organic Fertilizer You Can Easily Make<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00IUK91G6/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00IUK91G6&linkCode=as2&tag=lowlyonhubpa-20&linkId=T4W4JUJ2DGUIZYTJ" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ik_aHNQ33Io/U6tmCJoPqMI/AAAAAAAACtM/CHIorKErTFs/s1600/51OF8yp3HLL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></div>One of my bible disciples is a home garden buff. He has no backyard or front yard to do this but he has a rooftop. He placed lots of sawed off plastic bottles there and discarded pails and planted vegetables on them--onions, carrots, radish, eggplants, tomatoes, okra, alugbati, and amplaya, to name a few.<br /><br />However, because they live in a part of Bicutan where soil is not readily available, he made use of discarded vegetables as his "soil." He said he learned the composting procedure from me, and this was how he did it.<br /><br />He collected all parts of vegetables that were discarded during cooking--peels, stems, dried leaves, soft seeds, and even leftover cooked vegetables. He put them in a container and let them rot for weeks until they were easy to crush. He pulverized them as much as possible and then that became "soil." He placed them in the sawed off plastic bottles and discarded pails and planted vegetables on them.<br /><br />They grew well and bore good fruit, and because they were grown with nothing but rotten vegetables and water, they were organic. He gave me some onion springs, ampalaya, eggplants, and okra and my wife cooked <i>"bulanlang"</i> with them and they tasted sweet.<br /><br />You don't need a back or front yard for gardening. You can do it in a portion of your garage or a rooftop if you have one. If you don't have soil available, it also isn't a problem. Just do what my bible disciple did. You can now grow your own organic vegetables the easiest way and start eating organic veggies grown straight from your own garden.<br /><br />And we all know how much higher organic vegetables cost compared to those grown with chemical fertilizers.<br /><br />So now you know how easy it is to grow organic plants and herbs in the Philippines!FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-91956149669133698202014-04-13T21:10:00.001-07:002017-02-22T17:32:11.770-08:00Oregano Phlegm Expectorant<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1931078297/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1931078297&linkCode=as2&tag=lowlyonhubpa-20" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5MMqHu_QC-k/U0te-fPXJaI/AAAAAAAACSE/fWZT8cI1VFc/s1600/51Xl5MgCRDL._SY344_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" width="217" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click image for more!</td></tr></tbody></table>They easily grow on pots and gardens. They spread as shrubs but if you help them stand up with stick supports they can also stand erect. I thought they were just ornamental plants my grandma and sister-in-law grew in cans and plastic vessels in our backyard. Oregano is among common herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia. But at the time, when I was in grade school, I didn't know it was an herbal tea for getting rid of phlegm. Until one day when I was pestered by a stubborn cough.<br /><br />Synthetic cough medicines didn't work and my terrible cough was already punishing me, causing me sleepless nights. Have you ever had such cough, the kind that kept you growling like a dog every few seconds that you almost couldn't breathe? It was like that. And I was desperately looking for a remedy. So I tried what my grandma and in-law suggested--oregano tea. They almost forced their oregano phlegm expectorant formula to me.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WS3APW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000WS3APW&linkCode=as2&tag=lowlyonhubpa-20" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yuy-az0pHmI/U0tfaUd0iLI/AAAAAAAACSM/ImK7n6IReP8/s1600/71jXXt1N18L._SL1500_.jpg" width="89" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click image for more!</td></tr></tbody></table>What they did was to simply pick oregano leaves, wash them clean, and boil them. Then they made me drink the tea. And it worked. A few days after my cough subsided. It was a miracle! And I felt strong after. My strength recovered.<br /><br />With infants, what my in-law does is wash the leaves clean and ground them using a pestle and a mortar. Then she squeezed the juice and made babies and kids drink it pure. That made them throw up phlegm. Amazing. She does it with babies 1 or 2 years and older. She claims it was even what cured her grand kids' asthma. Once the kids showed signs of an asthma attack, she prepared the concoction, that made the kids throw up, and the attack was gone.<br /><br />But before you try this, get the approval of your doctor.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-13758177033107939122014-04-04T02:25:00.002-07:002017-02-22T17:31:26.913-08:00Aratilis Health Benefits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NdeltkwMIiw/Uz56fO9U8XI/AAAAAAAACRI/Ypk-ABgQhnI/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NdeltkwMIiw/Uz56fO9U8XI/AAAAAAAACRI/Ypk-ABgQhnI/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had </span>my first taste of the small cherry-like, red Aratilis fruit in grade 4. We were new in Project 8, Quezon City and I was making new friends with the kids in the neighborhood. One of them, Efren, had a big Aratilis tree in front of their house where big humming bees frequented, sucking the nectar of Aratilis flower. It was my first time to see bees and the Aratilis fruit.<br /><br />The soft red ripe fruit is the size of a small marble and oozed with sweet syrupy sap. We discovered that it was more delicious eaten after being cooled in the fridge or after being soaked in ice. I wonder why no one juiced it or made it into ice cream. Anyway, when I spent vacation in La Loma, Quezon City, I saw more Aratilis trees inside the cemetery where the fruit seemed more glowing red than anywhere.<br /><br />Later, an Aratilis tree grew up in our backyard. It's like a weed that easily thrives anywhere. Birds love eating the fruit which has some soft tiny seeds in them, and that makes the tree grow up almost everywhere. Thus, I was enjoying plenty of ripe Aratilis fruits in no time--and bees also began lurking in our backyard.<br /><br />And do you know what health benefits Aratilis carried?<br /><br />1. Fights bacteria. It has anti-bacterial properties that can be compared to standard antibiotics, according to one study. It also seems to have a stronger polar antibacterial compound.<br /><br />2. It has flavonone contents.<br /><br />3. It has anti-inflammatory properties.<br /><br />4. It has cytotoxic flavonoids for anti-cancer properties, including the leaves and stems.<br /><br />5. The leaf extract has heart protective properties.<br /><br />6. The fruit has antioxidants, like flavonoids.<br /><br />In addition, the Aratilis tree bark can be made into a rope and the trunk provides durable lumber. It's definitely among herbs and plants in the Philippine and Asia that give lots of benefits.<br /><br />I believe Aratilis has more health benefits than what's already known about it. I specifically refer to the deep red or purple color of the fruit's skin, which probably is rich in powerful antioxidants, even anthocyanin. And why don't they explore the possibilities of making healthy drinks out of Aritilis, even health supplements and dessert recipes?FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-86863595164526856412014-04-03T03:43:00.004-07:002017-02-22T17:37:36.536-08:00Kick Out Ailments with These Ordinary Herbs<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J48QHBA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00J48QHBA&linkCode=as2&tag=lowlyonhubpa-20" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J48QHBA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00J48QHBA&linkCode=as2&tag=lowlyonhubpa-20" border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ju9C3plmBnU/Uz06-TtICbI/AAAAAAAACQ8/_ZndcnO8L8w/s1600/51nBOrfaQLL._BO2%252C204%252C203%252C200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big%252CTopRight%252C0%252C-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4%252CBottomRight%252C1%252C22_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click image for more details.</td></tr></tbody></table>Believe it or not, most times you don't need to go to a doctor or take medicines to get rid of common ailments. All you need is an ordinary herb often found in gardens to kick out ailments like the common cold, cough, fever, tooth aches, headaches, stomach aches, sprains, stiff muscles, joint pains, itches, skin allergies and irritations, cuts, pimples and acne, and the like. And here are some examples:<br /><br /><b>Boiled Guava Leaves</b><br /><br />Did you know that so many skin problems can be remedied by simply washing them with the warm broth from boiled guava leaves? Problems like wounds, boils, and open sores, especially those irritated by germs. When I was small, I often got open sores from ruptured boils infected by germs because I played a lot on the ground. All we did was boil newly sprouted guava leaves and wash the wound with it. The sore healed after a few days.<br /><br /><b>Pressed Garlic</b><br /><br />Pressed garlic was a good remedy for toothaches when I was a kid, especially those caused by cavities. We pressed it and chose a small chunk just enough to fit the cavity. In seconds, the pain was gone. The hot sensation deadened the pain and later acted like an anesthesia, numbing the gums and affected tooth. Well, you just have to stand the smell that sticks in your mouth a long time.<br /><br />Pressed garlic also worked well to lower blood pressure. If your BP shoots up and you run out of maintenance or remedy medicine, try swallowing pieces of garlic while waiting for someone to buy your meds or while on your way to your doctor. <br /><br /><b>Spring Onions and Kinchay</b><br /><br />Spring onions and kinchay, when boiled and eaten, quickly lower blood pressure. If you can eat them raw, then so much the better. If regularly mixed with your food, they can normalize blood pressure. They're also good for detoxification.<br /><br /><b>Ginger</b><br /><br />Crush ginger and place in clean cloth to wrap around stiff muscles. I used to have stiff neck which made me skip school for days. What we did was to wrap it around my neck using clean cloths. The cool sensation quickly relieved the pain. Boiled ginger tea is also an effective first aid for coughs and sore throats. Or, if you can, eat slices of it raw for a quick sore throat relief. A lot of herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia are practical for quick and cheap remedies.<br /><br />More simple herbal cures for common ailments are found in the book displayed above. It will be worth keeping handy in your home near the medicine cabinet for quick pain or sickness reliefs and first aid measures. But then, always see your doctor for ailments, especially if they persist a few days after applying the herbal first aid. Herbal first aids are good while medicine or medical help is still on the way.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-70626838762774378462014-03-22T02:19:00.003-07:002017-02-22T17:37:50.125-08:00Breast Cancer Herb Remedy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRkEWwKm1Co/Uy1UjMncF9I/AAAAAAAACO8/-KIIDYTZEUM/s1600/Copy+of+Abaniko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRkEWwKm1Co/Uy1UjMncF9I/AAAAAAAACO8/-KIIDYTZEUM/s1600/Copy+of+Abaniko.jpg" width="274" /></a></div>It's called <i>Abaniko</i> in Filipino. <i>Abaniko</i> is a traditional manual fan you hold with your hand and sway to stir air and beat a hot day. But this <i>Abaniko</i> herb, named after the fan, is said to beat breast cancer, among other ailments. It is cultivated in warm countries like the Philippines as an ornamental plant and is said to be a native of Southeastern Asia.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wdxGQL-58fc/Uy1VJVemhgI/AAAAAAAACPA/ShRktxPwSzo/s1600/fan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wdxGQL-58fc/Uy1VJVemhgI/AAAAAAAACPA/ShRktxPwSzo/s1600/fan.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><br />The leaves are erect, long and pointed but the flower petals look like small abanikos. However, I can imagine how the leaves can be made into native abaniko fans as shown in the picture on the left.<br /><br />The Rhizome in the plant is said to be a good expectorant and powerful for blood and liver detox and remedying pulmonary problems, though acrid and bitter in taste. Aside from this, <i>Abaniko</i> is also found to have isolates that promote stimulatory activity to fight breast cancer in humans. Thus, it is said to be anti-proliferative adn anti-cancer.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-e5nCNbjY8/Uy1VbgAguJI/AAAAAAAACPM/_jDoA0CxIMk/s1600/Abaniko.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-e5nCNbjY8/Uy1VbgAguJI/AAAAAAAACPM/_jDoA0CxIMk/s1600/Abaniko.jpg" width="121" /></a></div><br />It is also said to prevent prostate cancer by inhibiting its proliferation. Moreover, it has antioxidative and hepatoprotective or liver protection properties. Plus, it was found to possess anti-diabetic and anti-tumor benefits.<br /><br />My grandma once told me that vegetables or tea from leaves that tasted bitter meant they had potent curing benefits, like amplaya leaves. Abaniko has a stronger bitter taste, and it comes to no surprise that it has powerful healing properties. But do ask your doctor before taking Abaniko tea, or at least verify with your nutritionist.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-36761742794608477162014-03-18T16:16:00.001-07:002017-02-22T17:38:10.429-08:00Cilantro: For Toxic Metal Detox<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LA3DQ6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001LA3DQ6&linkCode=as2&tag=lowlyonhubpa-20" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LA3DQ6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B001LA3DQ6&linkCode=as2&tag=lowlyonhubpa-20" border="0" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m_F2hr0Zcuk/UyjTgX_silI/AAAAAAAACOY/5sFsi8y452Q/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click the image for more.</td></tr></tbody></table>I love that subtle flavor cilantro lends food dishes that gives them a unique taste your tongue pursues after, pretty much like how <i>kinchay</i>--another favorite herb of mine--affects food. But cilantro or <i>kulantro</i> [in Tagalog] does more than just improve food flavor--it's a powerful toxic metal detox herb.<br /><br />It is said to be a Mexican herb, but through centuries of being a regular feature of vegetable markets in the Philippines, it has become among herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia used in some household kitchens in the country--and restaurants and eateries, as well. When I see chopped cilantro in pancit, for instance, I feel my appetite go up higher levels.<br /><br /><b>Super Detox </b><br /><br />And as I've said, it's good for detoxifying heavy metals from your system. With the kind of food preparation popular today, we often get heavy metals from our food, especially those cooked in aluminum or those with some lead or mercury contents. If you're cooking food with aluminum utensils, you better take more cilantro into your system. Heavy metal particles go straight to the brain and may cause dementia, among other diseases, say experts.<br /><br />But cilantro has plant chemical compounds that bind to metal toxins and cause them to loosen from tissues they have affected. Then they get flushed out of the system for good, says Dr Edward Group, Global Healing Center CEO. Again, if you need to detox heavy metals from your body, consult with a medical doctor about it, along with eating cilantro or taking cilantro juice.<br /><br />To juice it, simply blend to gather at least six cups consumed evenly during a week's period. Do it every week. At first, mix the fresh cilantro puree to your other fresh, blended fruit or vegetable juices. Then gradually try taking pure cilantro juice.<br /><br />Now, some folks can't take cilantro smell or taste. Remedy that by mixing in ripe banana or papaya [which are good and healthy smell or taste neutralizers] or a green leafy veggie that agrees with your taste buds. As for me, I just love cilantro. In fact, I often look for it in pancit, chopped suey, and other sauteed vegetable dishes. I love the crunch and oozing-juice sensation when my teeth chew them. If no cilantro is present, celery is a good substitute.<br /><br /><b>Other Health Benefits</b><br /><br />Cilantro is also said to help calm down anxiety, detox and cleanse the small intestine, promote eye health [especially help in alleviating macular degeneration], detox infections like UTI, rich in Vitamin K for bone health, help remedy anemia, and contain antioxidants kaempferol, epigenin, rhamnetin, and quercetin for an overall immune system boost.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-44034068331944941332014-03-15T23:02:00.001-07:002015-01-08T18:57:39.522-08:00Zero Caffeine Talbos-ng-Kamote Tea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LWghi1US7_s/UyVAN_DorVI/AAAAAAAACN4/-hYlhJh0xV8/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LWghi1US7_s/UyVAN_DorVI/AAAAAAAACN4/-hYlhJh0xV8/s1600/Presentation1.jpg" height="365" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>You want a zero caffeine healthy tea from a deep green leafy tropical vegetable? Then try my <i>talbos-ng-kamote tea</i>. It's cheap here in Manila and so easy to prepare. A bundle of talbos ng kamote is only about $0.01 or P5.00. Thoroughly wash the leaves and stems and boil in very small amount of water--just enough to cook the veggies on steam.<br /><br />As soon as the pot or kettle emits steam, turn off the fire and pour the remaining broth in a cup and drink when warm. You may use the leaves and tender stems as salad with chopped fresh onions, tomatoes, and a sprinkling of organic vinegar. I take the tea for a wonderful detox and refreshing warm tea beverage. It tastes better when mixed with broth from boiled okra. You should try it!<br /><br />We all know of the health benefits of camote tops or <i>talbos ng kamote.</i> In summary, it is rich in antioxidants like polyphenolics that fight oxidative stress that causes cardiovascular diseases and cancer. It's also rich in micro nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, to name some. Well, to simplify, all the health benefits of green leafy vegetables are present in camote tops.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S_SUwxuFurY/UyU-Sj3HMiI/AAAAAAAACNg/xO4mINzK1E0/s1600/camote-tops-salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-S_SUwxuFurY/UyU-Sj3HMiI/AAAAAAAACNg/xO4mINzK1E0/s1600/camote-tops-salad.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>But how about the broth or tea? There are people who claim that <i>talbos-ng-kamote</i> tea can cure dengue or very high fever caused by a virus from mosquitos that carry it. I haven't tried it with dengue patients--and I always say people sick with anything should first consult their medical doctors before taking alternative medicine--but I won't be surprised if indeed it cured the viral disease.<br /><br />However, also remember that certain plant nutrients like antioxidants and vitamins are affected negatively when boiled. I recommend that you boil camote leaves with as little water as possible (and for shorter periods as possible--like 1 minute or less), just enough to create steam for cooking the leaves and for leaving enough broth for your <i>talbos-ng-kamote</i> tea for a zero-caffeine refreshing beverage.<br /><br />In my case, I find the tea helpful in improving my blood chemistry results, particularly my uric acid test and cholesterol.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-54965899624979812202014-03-15T20:37:00.000-07:002015-01-08T18:56:45.700-08:00Anti-Hypertensive Medicinal Leaves <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VbzSGCUFsxU/UyUaoIO4giI/AAAAAAAACNE/-rmHn0oJovc/s1600/Abang-Abang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VbzSGCUFsxU/UyUaoIO4giI/AAAAAAAACNE/-rmHn0oJovc/s1600/Abang-Abang.jpg" height="320" width="173" /></a></div>This tree is commonly found in the Philippines, especially where there are thickets and patches of forests found in low hills or even on plains. Abang-Abang, the anti-hypertensive medicinal leaves, is considered a wild tree that easily proliferates in the tropics, so it's reportedly also available in Taiwan and Thailand. But it's more abundant in the Philippines.<br /><br />Its leaves are reported to powerfully help alleviate hypertension which is said to be the number one cause of death in the world. So, if you're hypertensive and you want an effective herbal medicine, try taking organic Abang-Abang tea. Organic because this tree grows anywhere in this country without any need for chemical fertilization pest control.<br /><br />And you might want to go visit the Philippines for an Abang-Abang tea spree for a hypertension and other ailment relief, or else perhaps plan to live there for good? If this PhilAsian herb gets commercialized and packed in tea bags or sachets and exported to your country, it may cost you some. But as among ordinary herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia, you get it for free!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KPK8PElJCDM/UyUbA1QYwsI/AAAAAAAACNI/hygKWeg1y7U/s1600/Copy+of+Abang-Abang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KPK8PElJCDM/UyUbA1QYwsI/AAAAAAAACNI/hygKWeg1y7U/s1600/Copy+of+Abang-Abang.jpg" height="190" width="200" /></a></div><br />But Abang-Abang is not just anti-hypertensive. It does a lot more medicinally. Some folks even use it as an anti-epilepsy herb through its anti-convulsant properties and so-called neuro-behavioral effects. It also has anti-tumor and anti-inflammation benefits, which makes it also applicable as an anti-cancer herb. Cancers have to do with tumor growths and inflammation.<br /><br /><b>Antioxidant and Flavonoid Rich</b><br /><br />These anti-hypertensive medicinal leaves are found to be rich in antioxidants and flavonoids. Abang-Abang is said to have three hydrophylic flavonoids that has tremendous free-radical scavenging benefits that make Abang-Abang tea a powerful concoction for fighting free-radical and oxidative damage. This damage is what wreaks havoc on the immune system, making your body susceptible to deadly diseases like cancer. But with this anti-hypertensive medicinal leaves, you get an immune system boost to fight said diseases!FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-76034356053136580632013-08-25T21:53:00.001-07:002017-02-22T17:38:45.230-08:00An Effective and Proven Weight Loss Fruit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_fI0zju4GTs/UhrfULzAtJI/AAAAAAAABYY/oSG41EYLvA4/s1600/142407592_14121280ee7c0af5ad7cac940af71b0957bb65311cea6d8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_fI0zju4GTs/UhrfULzAtJI/AAAAAAAABYY/oSG41EYLvA4/s200/142407592_14121280ee7c0af5ad7cac940af71b0957bb65311cea6d8.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>I discovered this amazing fruit recently! It took off 5 pounds from me in a week, and 10 pounds from my wife in 2 weeks! It's called a plum, pickled plum to be exact. So I researched on it and found that [as expected] plums are naturally rich in dietary fibers. Not just that, it also has natural vitamins and antioxidants. That explained my added high-energy experience! It's supposedly an effective and proven weight loss fruit!<br /><br /><b>Fermented and Dried Plums</b><br /><br />I love eating dried plums called prunes. I buy them from any supermarket and they are definitely effective as a natural purgative. I love the taste, too, and I also love its thick juice form. But fermented plums are altogether different. I had a taste of it about 2 weeks ago and it was awesome! Plums are said to grow in cold places, not in the tropics, but I featured these plums here on my PhilAsian Herbs blog because these fermented plums I'm talking of come from Singapore..and partly from China. Well, here's the story.<br /><br />My former boss, Roman, asked me to try the plums he's been taking to lose weight. He said it took off 5 inches from his waist! Hmm, I was kinda doubtful and curious. A 5-inch waist width decrease? Come on! He said he wanted my wife to especially try it, she being a bit flabby at the sides. So, okay. We tried this so-called effective and proven weight loss fruit.<br /><br /><b>Fermented Food is Powerful!</b><br /><br />And indeed, my wife lost weight fast! I did, too. So I researched on this particular kind of fermented plums and saw how it was effective for health and weight loss. To start with, any food fermented becomes more powerful in nutrition and health effects. They become rich in microorganism or good bacteria and the action of good bacteria with food enhances its nutritional value, like in the case of plums. This is also more apparent with teas. Fermented teas become more powerful in antioxidants, like in the case of fermented Oolong, black, and Pu Er teas.<br /><br /><b>Colon Health</b><br /><br />Fermented food is perfect for digestive health, especially colon health. Colon health depends on the health of microflora through good bacteria growth. With colon health comes regular disposal of human waste. And if no putrefying food is present in the colon [ascending, descending, and transverse colon], then no toxins and poisons and heavy metals stay there to react with bad bacteria. No disease can develop that way. Remember that diseases, especially cancer cells, live in highly acidic environment.<br /><br />And with colon health comes easy and quick assimilation of food nutrients into your body. Which explains why I felt more energized after eating the fermented plums. And these plums are especially fermented with green tea and Pu Er tea extracts for fat burning and fat blocking effects, respectively. They are an effective and proven weight loss fruit. You should try it. <b><a href="http://www.nodietslim.webs.com/" target="_blank">To try it, see this site!</a></b>FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-49894022397154117222013-08-25T21:16:00.000-07:002017-02-22T17:39:06.172-08:00Neem or Nim, It's a Wonder Herb<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i0gqDU60dXE/UhrV9eDP5nI/AAAAAAAABYA/GblPoEpg8mI/s1600/TheManyWondersoftheNeemTree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i0gqDU60dXE/UhrV9eDP5nI/AAAAAAAABYA/GblPoEpg8mI/s200/TheManyWondersoftheNeemTree.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>My officemate, Tony, brought this cluster of strange looking leaves that looked like Marijuana. He said it was from the Neem tree that had grown tall in his backyard at his place in San Miguel, Bulcan. He brought it because another officemate, Inna, told us it had powerful health and healing effects! It was supposed to be a wonder herb.<br /><br />So we tried it out. Inna had 3 stems with leaves boiled in 6 cups of water. She said per stem means boiling it in 2 cups of water for better, more powerful results. After some minutes, she was back with the Neem tea and we started sipping from our cups. How did it taste?<br /><br /><b>I Thought There was an Earthquake!</b><br /><br />At first [the first split-second], I thought it tasted just like any tea. Well, it kinda tasted like that the first 1/16th second. But the aftertaste was awful! <span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>BAM!</b></span> I thought there was an earthquake or something. It was terribly bitter! My goodness! It almost rocked me off my chair! But there was something in the bitterness that I thought I should feature it on PhilAsian Herbs at once!<br /><br />The split-second taste of bitterness was quickly gone, but it told you that something good was on its way to your overall health. It told you of powerfully good things to come! I looked it up in Google and a site told me Neem or Nim leaves made into tea was very good for almost all kind of ailments, mild and deadly. In India, it is a cure-all plant that remedied ailments from ordinary cold and cough and flu to cancers, diabetes, heart diseases and the like. It even solved hair lice problems.<br /><br />The only problem was its biting bitter taste.<br /><br />I remember my dad telling us that any food naturally bitter in taste like bitter melon or <i>ampalaya</i> was ideal for stomach health. Today, they're saying that bitter veggies are good for treating diabetes. I guess the same goes for the Neem or Nim leaves made into tea.<br /><br />Neem is said to be originally from India but somehow several trees found its way to other tropical countries like the Philippines. Tess, also my officemate, said it became part of the government's tree-planting project back in the Martial Law years when tree planting became a big hit especially with government employees. Now, it's abundantly growing near government buildings especially those along the Elliptical Road in Quezon City, she said.<br /><br /><b>How Did It Work for Us?</b><br /><br />How did the Neem or Nim tea work for us? Well, the wonder herb made Tony's farting prowess more pronounced when he got home that night. He said his fart started firing out like machine gun fire.And we all know how regular farting is the start of good digestive health. Later, he claimed it gave him smooth and quite productive bowel movement [not LBM though]that he emerged out of the toilet a different man! Meaning, his belly really felt lighter as if he could fly.<br /><br />Inna said she felt lots better and more energized. Her daughter used it for her head lice and saw them drop dead like they had an epidemic. Neem or Nim tea is also said to be ideal for deworming, repelling mosquitoes and other insects, a natural pesticide in agriculture, and also for weight loss! You can also use it for getting rid of acne and pimples.<br /><br />Me? I felt so energized!<br /><br />I ordered more of the leaves so I can drink the tea now and then at home. A word of precaution though: researchers say don't drink too much of it because it may have adverse effects to your liver. So just drink once or twice a week, just a half cup each time; just enough to give your health a good boost. It's definitely among herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia that should continue to proliferate.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4488272981387735513.post-37786037189252235902013-07-11T16:29:00.000-07:002015-01-08T18:49:33.388-08:00How Do You "Drink" Papaya Leaves?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bav4923hx9E/Ud8_UiJl9jI/AAAAAAAABSE/IKjxYchoLiE/s1600/papaya-leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bav4923hx9E/Ud8_UiJl9jI/AAAAAAAABSE/IKjxYchoLiE/s320/papaya-leaf.jpg" height="166" width="320" /></a></div>I keep hearing how you should "drink papaya leaves" when you have this or that ailment. Drink papaya leaves? I can't imagine how. Just how do you "drink" papaya leaves? How do you gulp down your throat those big green leaves?<br /><br />Papaya leaves are considered medicinal herbs and plants in the Philippines and Asia. Rural folks in the Philippines make natural teas from them primarily as a herbal relief from stomach problems like indigestion, dyspepsia, and acid reflux among others. So, how do you "drink" papaya leaves and get the stomach health benefits and other healing goodness?<br /><br /><b>Make a Tea </b><br /><br />Brewed tea is often the best way. Some old folks in the Philippines dry the leaves under the sun, crush the leaves afterwards, boil them in water, and there they have brewed tea of papaya leaves. Some are braver and simply boil fresh papaya leaves in water, saying you get more health benefits that way.<br /><br />There are a few I have heard who simply soak the leaves overnight in water and drink that. I would recommend boiling them first, fresh or dried leaves, because the leaves are exposed to the elements and simply washing them and soaking them in water may not be safe.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004VGJIFC/ref=as_li_tf_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004VGJIFC&linkCode=as2&tag=lowlyonhubpa-20" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iO7fzAuiDHs/Ud8_1lL-h9I/AAAAAAAABSM/y5b1TzaKXUo/s1600/515g09uK2VL._SL160_.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b>Wonder Papain</b><br /><br />The secret is all in the phytochemical called <i>Papain</i>. And among its wonders are relief for prostate problems (imagine that?), normalizing blood sugar, reducing tumor size, deworming, anti-infection, and even relief for slip discs. Lately, many claim it's a cure for dengue fever, but experts say it remains to be seen.<br /><br />You may find ready-made papaya tea in tea bags sold commercially (they're doing that today with almost every kind of leaves), and that's convenient. But be careful with what preservatives they may come in with. So it's much better to make your own papaya tea. And remember to boil them when asked how do you drink papaya leaves--and you don't drink the leaves. You make a tea of them.FILMartialArts PlusMorehttps://plus.google.com/106252236554779168864noreply@blogger.com0