Health Benefits of Papaya

Papaya is a pear shaped tropical fruit and can be as long as 7 to 20 inches. This fruit is available in the market throughout the year, but most abundant during the summer.

Health Benefits of Papaya :

• Papaya contains the digestive enzyme papain that is why it is valuable for aiding digestion.
• The ripe fruit is easily digestible and prevents constipation.
• It is shown in a study that this fruit when taken alone for 3 days has a beneficial tonic effect in the stomach and intestines.
• Papaya juice helps in relieving infections of the colon and can help break down pus and mucus.

• May help prevent cancer in organs and glands with epithelial tissue (ripe papaya).
• Prevents nausea (includes morning sickness and motion sickness). Taken 230cc. Of papaya juice or pineapple juice.
• Slices of green fruits rubbed over meat and boiled with tough meat, make the meat more tender.
• The seeds are antihelmintic, for expelling worms and they are given with honey. Chew and swallow two teaspoonful of seeds after each principal meal (three times a day).
  
  XKD5QVYT2ST7

Herbal Remedies for Diarrhea

Diarrhea results when the fluid contents of your small intestines are rushed through the large intestines. In this effect, it causes watery stool. The main function of the large intestine is to reabsorb water and minerals. However, in the attack of diarrhea, there is no time for this so-called reabsorption. Often, an intestinal infection or food poisoning causes diarrhea. It is due to the toxins brought by the infection impairing water absorption. Also, nervous emotions and stress can trigger diarrhea.

Common signs and symptoms of diarrhea include cramping in the lower abdomen, severe pain or spasms in the same area, loose stool, weakness, lack of bowel control in the young and elderly, nausea, and sometimes fever.

Typical treatments for diarrhea include drinking lots of fluids to avoid dehydration, applying heat on the abdomen, over-the-counter pain relievers and herbal or home remedies.

(Anona squamosa L.) Atis is the Philippine name for sweetsop or sugar apple. It is a small tree that bears an edible fruit with white sweet flesh and black seeds. For the treatment of diarrhea, the bark of the atis tree is made into a decoction and drunk.

(Zingiber officinalis) Ginger is considered one of the powerful herbs known for their many medicinal and cooking uses. It is effective and safe in the treatment of diarrhea, especially among children. Ginger tea, whether from powdered ginger or from ginger extracts added to boiling water, treats diarrhea and loose bowels. Drinking several cups a day improves bowel movement and the symptoms associated with diarrhea.

(Psidium guajava) Guava is a small tree that is one of the popular therapeutic plants in the Philippines. The guava leaves, bark and fruit are often used for medicinal purposes. Boil fresh guava leaves for 15 minutes and strain the decoction. When cooled, drink a cup or two every 4 hours to ease diarrhea.

(Citrus micracarpa) Calamansi is also known as Chinese orange in English and is a native fruit plant in the Philippines. It is fairly sour and highly rich in Vitamin C. It is popular for seasoning food, flavoring and making juice. Medicinal benefits include relief for cough and sore throat. It is also used as a topical application for itching and as a bleaching agent. For diarrhea, drink calamansi juice mixed with sugared water in between meals.

Herbal Remedies for Fever

The human body typically has a core body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Beyond that, the person has pyrexia or, in common language, fever. A fever often is a result of an underlying illness or abnormal condition. Microbial infections, dehydration, overexertion, allergic and toxic reactions and other factors cause the abnormal increase in body temperature. It is the body’s immune response to defend and ward off further bacterial or viral invasions. It is said that the body tries to raise the body core temperature to keep microbial infections down.

However, the inconvenience brought by a fever is sometimes unavoidable. People treat the fever to be able to get on with school, work and chores. For temperatures less than 38.9°C (102°F) among children and adults, fluid intake is often the best treatment. But for temperatures above that, doctors usually prescribe medications. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen and other analgesics are often the medicines taken to decrease the symptoms of fever. Additionally, there are natural and herbal alternatives to these typical meds. The table below gives a listing of herbal fever remedies.

(Vitex negundo L) lagundi is recognized as an effective expectorant, it is also known to bring down fevers. It is a common herbal plant found in the Philippines. The dried or fresh lagundi leaves are boiled. Drinking this will provide fever relief.

(Zingiber officinalis) Ginger is regarded as one of the powerful herbs known for many medicinal and cooking uses. It is effective and safe in the treatment of colds and flu especially among children. Ginger tea, whether from powdered ginger or from ginger extracts added to boiling water, reduces pyrexia and at the same time relieves colds. Drinking several cups a day should cure a fever.

(Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) In the Philippines, gumamela is a common ornamental flower. Yet, it has medicinal properties for the treatment of fever and other common respiratory illnesses. You can use dried or fresh gumamela flowers and/or leaves added to boiling water. Once cool enough to drink, you can take in several cups.

(Mentha x piperita) In the Philippines, peppermint is also known as yerba buena. It is an herb from the mint family globally known for its healing properties including fever reduction. Peppermint decoction, usually using dried leaves, is a known analgesic and should be taken hot to break the fever.

Herbal Remedies for Cough

Coughs are often common symptoms caused by many factors. It can result from a bacterial or viral spread, or can be due to an underlying condition. The seriousness of a cough depends on the amount and color of sputum, the frequency and the duration of the coughing episodes. Cough syrups are abundantly available in the market today. But the controversy of their effectiveness troubles a lot of consumers. Understandably, most cough syrups do have sedative side effects that can affect your daily activities. Although the drug provides coughing relief, the use of these over-the-counter drugs should be observed carefully especially when given to children.

Having a Cough

Cough medications come in different classes: antitussiives, expectorants, mucolytics, and suppressants. Antitussives are specially formulated to prevent the coughing action. Expectorants contribute to the expulsion of phlegm from the airway passages. Mucolytics are intended to unclog the respiratory passages by “melting” the mucus and phlegm. Suppressants act on coughs by suppressing the coughing reflex.

A natural way to treat common coughs is to take herbal meds. Although some people frown on its use, studies and testimonials from other users have found herbal medicine effective for the treatment and relief of coughing episodes. Still, precaution should be practiced, and you should get advice from medical experts to check if you bear allergies to these herbs. Here are the commonly used herbs for coughs:

(Premna odorata) The alagaw is a herbal plant from the Philippines that is used to loosen phlegm and relieve coughs. Fresh alagaw leaves with sugar for taste are boiled in water. Drinking this concoction will relieve coughing.

(Echinacea angustifolia/E. pallida/E. purpurea) This is a highly recommendable herb for colds, cough and flu especially for those who reside in North America and Europe. This herb alleviates cough in tincture form.

(Eucalyptus globules) The essential oil found in eucalyptus acts to loosen the phlegm within the air passages. Inhaling eucalyptus vapors can help treat coughs. It is recommended to use fresh leaves in teas or gargles to soothe irritated throats brought by coughs. Also, ointments containing this herb can be applied to chest area to relieve congestion.

(Vitex negundo L) Lagundi is recognized as an effective expectorant. It is a common herbal plant found in the Philippines. The dried or fresh lagundi leaves are boiled. Drinking this concoction will yield cough and asthma relief.

Herbal Remedies for Colds

Common colds often are caused by viral infections. They are considered common because of their infectious state whereby the rhinovirus is easily spread from one individual to another. Also, there are more than 100 strains of the virus, making anybody susceptible to any of the common cold viruses. The transfer of infection is caused by sneezing and coughing in public, such that the contaminated droplets come in contact with the possible victim. The best treatment is always prevention.

Allergens can also cause sneezing attacks. This kind of cold is not the infectious type and treatment is usually based on keeping away from the cause of allergy and to take antihistamines. These cold symptoms are not caused by a viral infection.

Be sure to maintain good hygiene, to get enough rest and to boost your immune system with Vitamin C. Otherwise, you will get the virus easily. Signs and symptoms of the common colds include red, watery eyes, sneezing, runny nose, sometimes coupled with fever, headaches and coughs.

Regardless of what causes your colds, medications focus on the relief of the runny nose and the inconvenience the illness brings. You don’t need to take antiviral drugs. Herbal alternatives can be a great option in addition to rest and fluid intake. The common herbal remedies for the common colds are tabulated below.

Herb Description, Treatment & Procedures

(Echinacea angustifolia/E. pallida/E. purpurea) This is a highly recommendable herb for colds, cough and flu especially for those who reside in North America and Europe. This herb is noted to activate the body’s resistance to infection. This herb alleviates colds more effectively in its liquid form over the tablet or capsule forms.

(Allium sativum) Garlic is more helpful in suppressing high blood pressure. However, garlic has medicinal properties for the treatment of colds. Because of its powerful antibiotic property, garlic can be used to cure the common cold maximally by taking it raw or drinking its juice.

(Zingiber officinalis) Ginger is considered one of the powerful herbs known for many medicinal and cooking uses. It is effective and safe in the treatment of colds and flu, especially among children. Ginger tea, whether using powdered ginger or adding ginger extracts to boiling water, is the best home remedy for colds. Drinking several cups a day can quickly relieve you of the cold symptoms.

(Eleutherococcus senticosus) There are many ginseng varieties all over the world, but their medicinal effect is more or less the same. It is popular in the relief of common colds. Often, the roots and leaves of the plant are used. Nowadays, ginseng is readily available in herbal stores or drugstores. Making and drinking ginseng tea is the most effective treatment for colds.

(Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) In the Philippines, gumamela is a common ornamental flower. Yet, it has medicinal properties for the treatment of common respiratory illnesses like colds. You can use dried or fresh gumamela flowers and/or leaves added to boiling water to make a decoction. Once cool enough to drink, you can take in several cups.