www.malaysianherbals.com(40) Chryzantimum கிறிஸ்மஸ் பூ

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Chrysanthemum of Cameron Highland

Chrysanthemum belong to family Asteraceae, which is the second largest family of flowering plants, after the family Orchidaceae.

Chrysanthemum tea (Chinese: 菊花茶; pinyin: júhuā chá) is a flower-based tisane made from chrysanthemum flowers of the speciesChrysanthemum morifolium or Chrysanthemum indicum, which are most popular in East Asia. To prepare the tea, chrysanthemum flowers (usually dried) are steeped in hot water (usually 90 to 95 degrees Celsius after cooling from a boil) in either a teapot, cup, or glass; often rock sugar is also added, and occasionally also wolfberries. The resulting drink is transparent and ranges from pale to bright yellow in color, with a floral aroma. In Chinese tradition, once a pot of chrysanthemum tea has been drunk, hot water is typically added again to the flowers in the pot (producing a tea that is slightly less strong); this process is often repeated several times. Chrysanthemum tea was first drunk during the Song Dynasty (960–1279).^[1


 Chrysanthemum tea acts as a natural coolant and has been talked about in the ancient Chinese medicinal science.  A person will benefit a lot by having Chrysanthemum tea every day.

The Chinese medicinal practice included the use of herbs as a major part of the treatment. The Chinese knew that a soothing cup of warm golden brown Chrysanthemum tea has remarkable health benefits.

Nutritional Information: This is an extremely potent herbal tea. Chrysanthemum tea has high amounts of B carotene which are present in the yellow part and the fruit. The B carotene is converted in Vitamin A in the liver^[1]. This kind of Vitamin A is helpful in treating skin problems and increasing the immunity power. It also helps in postponing the aging process and age related blindness.

Chrysanthemum tea is also a good source of Vitamin Bs like choline, folacin, niacin as well as riboflavin. It also contains Vitamin C which reduces the risks of scurvy and protects theeyes.

Chrysanthemum tea also has minerals like calcium which is important for the teeth and bones, iron which helps in the transportation of oxygen through the blood, magnesium which is required by more than three hundred kinds of bodily functions as well as potassium which is needed for proper cardiovascular functioning and stabilizing the blood pressure.

Chrysanthemum tea also has adenine, amino acids and glycosides.

The health benefits of Chrysanthemum tea: Chrysanthemum tea is not very famous amongst herb enthusiast that is because very few people know about its existence and benefits. Read on to know more about the benefits:

1. Chrysanthemum tea has Vitamin C^[2] in which helps ease heaviness in the head during cold^[3] and provide relief in sinusitis discomfort. This herbal tea also has antiviral properties and helps relieve congestion in the head which may be caused by viral infection. The heaviness in the head could also be caused due to bacterial pathogenic reaction. Chrysanthemum tea is anti spirochetal in nature thus it is really helpful in easing head congestion.

2. Chrysanthemum tea is naturally caffeine free, hence, it is free from all the side effects of caffeine like anxiety, tension, irritation, nervousness and confusion.

3. Chrysanthemum tea is a natural coolant and helps in lowering the temperature of the body when suffering from fever or even heat stroke. This herbal tea is also helpful in treating pimples and acne. It can also treat discomfort of high temperature such as headache, slight toothache and throbbing nerves in the gums.

4. Chrysanthemum tea is good for the detoxification of the liver and for lowering cholesterol^[4] levels.

5. This tea helps in the treatment of coronary artery disease, blocked arteries and even varicose veins.

6. Chrysanthemum tea has stimulating property and helps in alerting the senses and rejuvenating the brain. It stimulates all your senses very quickly and also calms down the nerves.

7. It helps in easing giddiness.

8. Drinking Chrysanthemum tea helps in providing relief in sore throat, redness in the eyes, itchiness in the eyes, dryness in the eyes and dark sport in the eye area.

9. It makes the lungs strong and helps in providing relief in respiratory problems such as shortness of breath.

10. Chrysanthemum tea when taken with lunch or dinner especially with oily foods helps ease digestion.

Preparation: Chrysanthemum tea is obtained from dried chrysanthemum flowers. You can easily make it bye by adding hot water in 3 grams of dried chrysanthemum flowers, let the mix steep for 5 minutes.

References^{^}

liver (herbscancure.com)^{^} Vitamin C (herbscancure.com)^{^} cold (herbscancure.com)^{^}cholesterol (herbscancure.com)^{^} chrysanthemum (technorati.com)^{^} chrysanthemum tea (technorati.com)^{^} herbal tea (technorati.com)<sup>^

Indians are very famous in using the flowers as garlands only.</sup>

Chrysanthemum Tea for Heatiness, Sore Throats, Headaches

October 24, 2007 · Filed under Feel Good Tips, For Good Health · Tagged body heatiness, Cooling Drinks, detoxification, Flower Teas, For Good Health, Natural Remedies, Painful gums, Traditional Chinese Medicine

Good afternoon to all here, 

Other than my usual caffeinated teas, I also have a few types of flower teas that I like to drink for health purposes. My favorite one is the Chrysanthemum Tea and most people here in Malaysia just like to boil the flowers for a few minutes and then add sugar to make it into a drink. It is available at most coffee shops and herbal tea stalls.

The calories are almost zero if you don’t add any sugar or honey into the chrysanthemum tea, and best is, it does not contain any caffeine.

This tea is especially good for those symptoms that we have like sore and throbbing gums, slight toothaches, tension headaches, gummy eyes, because according to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), these signs point to heatiness in our body, and the Chrysanthemum Tea is good for the internal “cooling” of our body. This is recommended whenever we have had too much fried, baked and barbequed foods. Children are often encouraged to drink this once in a while for maintenance of good health.

For me, I like to savour and enjoy this flower tea at home just as I would my usual black and green teas. This “recipe” was taught to me by a TCM expert, and for maintenance of health, you can have this Chrysanthemum Tea once or twice a week. The ingredients are not expensive at all (hehe, my Earl Grey and Chinese Green Teas cost much more) and this tea is so easy to prepare.The ingredients can be found in any Chinese Medical/Herbal Shops in SE Asia or in Chinatowns in the West. Or you can purchase them over the Internet. Later on, I intend to have my own online store and by then, the ingredients for all my recipes here will be readily available. 

Make a pot of this flower tea during those cold rainy or cold wintry days, curl up in your favourite sofa and read your favourite book…..ah, this is just “hygge” (wonderfully relaxing joy) as my Danish sister has taught me! 

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www.malaysianherbals.com--(39) Echinacea Angustifolia

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Latin Name: Echinacea purpurea

Alternate Names: Coneflower, Snakeroot, Black Sampson, Purple Coneflower,

Family: ASTERACEAE

Useful part of the Echinacea herbal plant: rhizome, leaves, seeds, flowers, rhizome,

Echinacea angustifolia (Narrow-leaved purple

 coneflower 

blacksamson echinacea)

Alternative Names:

Echinacea angustifolia; Echinacea pallida; Echinacea purpurea; Purple coneflower

 is a herbaceous plant species in Asteraceae. The 

plants grow 40 to 70 centimetres (16 to 28 in) tall

 with spindle-shaped taproots that are often 

branched. The stems and leaves are moderately to 

densely hairy.

E. angustifolia blooms late spring to mid summer. It

 is found growing in dry prairies and barrens with 

rocky to sandy-clay soils. There are two 

subspecies: E. a. angustifolia is native 

from Saskatchewan and Manitoba in the north

 to New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana in the south,

 while E. a. strigosa has a more limited range 

in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Louisiana.

Many Native American groups used this plant for a 

variety of medicinal purposes, including pain relief 

and relief of colds and toothaches.

References

The Echinacea herbal plant improves your immune system, beginning with tingly sensations in the mouth. Echinacea herbal plant stimulates T cell production in your body, macrophage activity, interferon production and inhibits hyaluronidase, thus making cells less susceptable to viral takeover. Echinacea herbal plant helps regenerate cells that have been damaged. It helps internal gangrene, exhibits some anti-tumor activity, and dilates the peripheral blood vessels.

The name of the Echinacea herbal plant come from the ancient Greek word which is means hedgehog, referring to the sharp pointed bracts of the receptacles. Echinacea herb native to North America, This is a very common and popular herbs in North America and also in Europe. It was used in Native American sweat lodges to help the participants endure extreme temperatures. Echinacea herbal plant was a famous herbal medicine in America beginning of the XX centaury. Overharvesting from the wild is leading to endangerment of the species. This herb has been listed by United Plant Savers as an ‘at risk’ plant, so please avoid buying products harvested from the wild. Only use the cultivated herb.

Keep in your mind: the excessive use of the Echinacea herbal plant can cause dizziness, nausea, excessive salivation and throat irritation. Echinacea herbal plant can be taken every couple of hours during acute infection, but do not use longer than few days.

The main natural herbal remedies of Echinacea: Carminative, Alterative, Vulnerary, Antibacterial, Stimulant, Antifungal, Sialagogue, Anti-inflammatory, Immune Stimulant, Antiseptic, Digestive Tonic, Antitumor, Depurative, Antiviral, Diaphoretic, Astringent,

Main application of the Echinacea medical herb: Flu, Abscess, Urinary Infections, Fever, Acne, Typhoid, Allergies, Tonsillitis, Blood Poisoning, Sore Throat, Boils, Scarlet Fever, Cancer, Measles, Mumps, Candida, Insect Bites, Chickenpox, Herpes, Colds, Gangrene, Eczema,

How can you prepare, eat, drink or buy Echinacea herbal plant: You can make Echinacea herbal tea or buy Echinacea herbal tincture, Echinacea capsules or dried Echinacea herb in any herbal shops, herbal stores or pharmacy.

The most common situation when you can use Echinacea as a herbal medicine: Eczema, Psoriasis, Wounds, Gangrene, Toothache, Gingivitis, Snakebites, Infection, Pyorrhea, Insect Bites,

The most common applications of Echinacea herbal plant: Fresh root of the Echinacea herbal plant is very good against of the alleviate toothaches if you chewed. If you make mouthwash from the Echinacea herbs it is very good for gingivitis and pyorrhea. You can make excellent salves from Echinacea herbs an this herbal plan is also very good for washes and poultices. You can use Echinacea herbal plant if you have venomous bites, such as spider, insect and snake, if your wounds are infected or gangrenous conditions you can use the Echinacea herbal plant in your if you want to make a very good and effective herbal cure..

Flavour of the Echinacea herbal plant: Cool, Bitter, Dry,

The main active agent of the Echinacea herbal plant: phenolics, mucopolycaccharides, betaine, echinacoside, sesquiterenes, echinaceine, polyacetylenes, isobutylmines, inulin, essential oils, linoleic, glycosides, palmetic acids,

The name of Echinacea herbal plant correspond to also three species: Echinacea angustifolia Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea pallida.
  Thanks to herbalcureinfo.com

Echinacea

Overview:

Echinacea is one of the most popular herbs in America today. This Native American medicinal plant called echinacea is  named for the prickly scales in its large conical seed head, which resembles the spines of an angry hedgehog (echinos is Greek for hedgehog).

Archaeologists have found evidence that Native Americans may have used echinacea for more than 400 years to treat infections and wounds and as a general "cure-all." Throughout history people have used echinacea to treat scarlet fever, syphilis, malaria, blood poisoning, and diphtheria. Although this herb was popular during the 18th and 19th centuries, its use began to decline in the United States after the introduction of antibiotics. Echinacea preparations became increasingly popular in Germany throughout the 20th century. In fact, most of the scientific research on echinacea has been conducted in Germany.

Today, people use echinacea to shorten the duration of the common cold and flu and reduce symptoms, such as sore throat (pharyngitis), cough, and fever. Many herbalists also recommend echinacea to help boost the immune system and help the body fight infections.

General Uses

Several laboratory and animal studies suggest that echinacea contains active substances that enhance the activity of the immune system, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and have hormonal, antiviral, and antioxidant effects. For this reason, professional herbalists may recommend echinacea to treat urinary tract infections, vaginal yeast (candida) infections, ear infections (also known as otitis media), athlete's foot, sinusitis, hay fever (also called allergic rhinitis), as well as slow-healing wounds. One study even suggests that echinacea extract exerted an antiviral action on the development of recurrent cold sores triggered by the herpes simplex virus (HSVI) when supplied prior to infection.

Common Cold

Whether or not echinacea helps prevent or treat the common cold remains under debate. Some studies have shown that the herb can make you feel better faster. Others suggest that echinacea has no impact on a cold at all. Several clinical trials have shown that people who take echinacea as soon as they feel sick reduce the severity of their cold and have fewer symptoms than those who do not take the herb. One study of 95 people with early symptoms of cold and flu (such as runny nose, scratchy throat, and fever) found that those who drank several cups of echinacea tea every day for 5 days felt better sooner than those who drank tea without echinacea.

A review of 14 clinical trials found that echinacea reduced the odds of developing a cold by 58% and the duration of a cold by 1 - 4 days. However, some experts dispute these findings claiming that there were several weaknesses in the analyses. Echinacea preparations tested in clinical trials differ greatly. It is important to choose a high quality echinacea supplement. Talk to your health care provider for recommendations.

Plant Description:

Echinacea is a perennial herb native to the midwestern region of North America. It has tall stems, bears single pink or purple flowers, and has a central cone that is usually purple or brown in color. The large cone is actually a seed head with sharp spines that resemble a stiff comb.

What's It Made Of?:

Echinacea contains several chemicals that play a role in its therapeutic effects. These include polysaccharides, glycoproteins, alkamides, volatile oils, and flavonoids.

The chemicals contained in the root differ considerably from those in the upper part of the plant. For example, the roots have high concentrations of volatile oils (odorous compounds) while the above-ground parts of the plant tend to contain more polysaccharides (substances known to trigger the activity of the immune system). The combination of these active substances is responsible for echinacea' s beneficial effects, though research suggests that the above ground portion of Echinacea purpurea is the most effective.

In Germany (where herbs are regulated by the government), the above-ground parts of Echinacea purpurea are approved to treat colds, upper respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, and slow healing wounds. The root of the Echinacea pallida plant is also approved for the treatment of flu-like infections.

Available Forms:

Three species of echinacea are commonly used for medicinal purposes: Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea purpurea. Many echinacea preparations contain one, two, or even all three of these species. Different products use different parts of the echinacea plant. This is why the effectiveness of echinacea may differ from one product to another.

Echinacea (including one, two, or all three species) is available in extracts, tinctures, tablets, capsules, and ointments. It is also available in combination with other immune boosting herbs, vitamins, and minerals.

A study performed by ConsumerLab.com (an independent company that tests the purity of health, wellness, and nutrition products) found that of 11 brands of echinacea purchased for testing, only 4 contained what was stated on their labels. About 10% had no echinacea at all; half were mislabeled as to the species of echinacea in the product; and more than half of the standardized preparations did not contain the labeled amount of active ingredients.

Buy products made by reputable, established companies that distribute their products through trustworthy and knowledgeable establishments. When possible, select products with guaranteed potency or standardized extracts.

How to Take It:

Pediatric

You should work with your child's pediatrician or an herbal practitioner trained in children to determine pediatric dosing.

Use alcohol-free preparations for children.

Adult

For general immune system stimulation, during colds, flu, upper respiratory tract infections, or bladder infections, choose from the following forms and take 3 times a day until you feel better, but not for more than 7 - 10 days:

• 1 - 2 grams dried root or herb, as tea
• 2 - 3 mL of standardized tincture extract
• 6 - 9 mL of expressed juice (succus)
• 300 mg of standardized, powdered extract containing 4% phenolics
• Tincture (1:5): 1 - 3 mL (20 - 90 drops)
• Stabilized fresh extract: 0.75 mL (15 - 23 drops)

Apply creams or ointments for slow-healing wounds as needed.

Precautions:

The use of herbs is a time-honored approach to strengthening the body and treating disease. However, herbs contain active substances that may trigger side effects and interact with other herbs, supplements, or medications. For these reasons, people should take herbs only under the supervision of a health care provider knowledgeable in the field of botanical medicine.

People with tuberculosis, leukemia, diabetes, connective tissue disorders, multiple sclerosis, HIV or AIDS, any autoimmune diseases, or, possibly, liver disorders should not take echinacea. There is some concern that echinacea may reduce the effectiveness of medications that suppress the immune system. For this reason, people receiving organ transplants who must take immunosuppressant medications should avoid this herb. (See "Possible Interactions.")

In rare cases, echinacea may cause allergic reactions, ranging from a mild rash to anaphylaxis (a life-threatening reaction accompanied by throat tightening, shortness of breath, and, possibly, fainting). People with asthma and allergies may be at an increased risk for developing these adverse reactions. People with allergies to plants in the daisy family (compositae) should not take echinacea unless they do so under the supervision of a health care provider.

There has been one report of an individual developing erythema nodosum (a painful skin condition) after taking echinacea to treat the flu.

When taken by mouth, echinacea may cause temporary numbing and tingling on the tongue.

Despite concerns that echinacea may be unsafe for pregnant or breastfeeding women, evidence suggests that the use of echinacea during pregnancy does not increase the risk of birth defects or other pregnancy related health problems. Although not enough research has been done to determine echinacea's safety for pregnancy or breastfeeding, it's advisable to avoid use during pregnancy or breastfeeding until more conclusive studies are conducted.

Don't hesitate to talk to your doctor if you have questions.

Possible Interactions:

If you are taking any of the following medications, you should not use echinacea without first talking to your health care provider:

Econazole -- Echinacea may be useful in combination with econazole, an antifungal agent used to treat yeast infections (such as athlete's foot). When echinacea is used together with econazole, recurrence rates of these infections may be reduced.

Immunosuppressants -- Immunosuppressants refers to a group of medications that are used for two main purposes -- treating cancer and suppressing the immune system following organ transplant so that the new organ is not rejected. Because echinacea can enhance immune function, people should not use the herb with immunosuppressive medications, especially when taken for organ transplant. Thanks to Mary land Medical Centre.

Description
Christmas candle is an evergreen shrub or small tree in frostfree areas, but is often grown as an annual in cooler climes. When it doesn't get frozen back, Christmas candle can get up to 30 ft (10 m) tall and, with its candelabra branching, as much as 15 ft (3 m) across. The huge pinnate leaves are up to 30 in (75 cm) long and composed of 7-14 pairs of large, oblong leaflets, each around 3-8 in (8-20 cm) long and 1-4 in (3-10 cm) wide. The cup shaped flowers are bright yellow, and carried in erect terminal clusters arising from leaf axils. The individual flowers are about an inch (2.5 cm) across. The standard is the longest petal and the other petals are similar to each other. The sepals that protect the flowers before they open are waxy and smooth to the touch. The candle-like flower clusters include open flowers at the bottom and unopened flowers with their waxy coverings at the top. The clusters stand 6-24 in (15-60 cm) tall. The fruit is a straight or slightly curved, winged pod around 4-8 in (11-19 cm) long. Late in the season, the inflorescence will have dry, brown pods at the bottom; green, still ripening pods above that; open flowers above that; and waxy sepal-covered flowers at the top.
Location
Senna (or Cassia) alata hails from the Tropics, including Africa, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, and even tropical America. Such a widespread natural distribution for a single species is very uncommon.
Culture
Light: No surprise here - Christmas candle performs best in full sun.
Moisture: Normal garden soils and moisture suit this tropical shrub quite well. Mature plants are drought resistant.
Hardiness: USDA Zones 10-11. Christmas candle is a tropical shrub that dies as soon as temperatures get near freezing. But in Zones 7,8 and 9 you can grow it as an annual. Just start from seed along with your peppers and tomatoes each spring. It will still get 6-10 ft (2-3 m) tall and begin blooming in October.
Propagation: Christmas candle is easy to start from seed, and you can expect volunteer seedlings to emerge under last year's plants in late spring when soil temperatures warm. However, we recommend starting seeds indoors several weeks before the last frost to give the plants a head start on the season.

This shrub-sized patch of Christmas candle is growing in Zone 8 where it dies back in winter and renews itself each spring.

Usage
If you do not live in a frostfree climate, try growing a few Christmas candles along with castor beans (Ricinus cummunis), banana plants (Musa X paradisiaca), and yuca (Manihot esculenta) to have a little bit of tropical lushness in your temperate zone garden. All these will die to the ground in winter, of course, but they grow so fast (banana returning from its roots, yuca from a cutting, and the others from seed) you will have a tall, robust tropical looking garden by the end of a Zone 7, 8 or 9 summer. In frostfree areas, use Christmas candle in a shrub border or as a specimen plant. The bright yellow flowers attract insects, including butterflies and bees. In my garden, there are almost always some fire ants on the flowers (and even I don't consider that a plus). Christmas candle has a long blooming season, from autumn throughout the winter, or at least until the first frost.
Christmas candle is one source of chrysophanic acid, which is used in medicines that treat certain skin diseases, including ringworm. The compound is believed to have antiviral properties as well.
Features
Senna and Cassia are two genera that are sometimes combined, sometimes not, and contain species that can't seem to decide which genus they should be in. (Or is the botanists who can't decide?) Recent authors list about 260 species of Senna and 535 species of Cassia. Most are tropical, but both genera include a few temperate species.
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www.malaysianherbals.com (38)(Calophyllum inophyllum) புன்னைமரம்

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Calophyllum Inophyllum-----புன்னை மரம்

BINTANGOR PANTAI  in MALAY

Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum)

“The beauty of some plants is that they occur in the folklore and ethnopharmacy of more than one country and so we are able to make comparisons between the ways in which that plant has been used medicinally and culturally.

 Tamanu or Calophyllum inophyllum has proved that its virtues not only withstand the scrutiny of independent traditional use, but also can be proven in modern in vivo studies to be as effective as its legend suggested.”

A.C. Dweck International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002, 24, p1.

Tamanu Oil has been used traditionally in the South Pacific as a local medicine for a variety of purposes. The chemistry is complex and unusual, perhaps helping to explain some of the impressive physiological actions possessed by this plant. One of the many possible reasons for such incredible results and diversity of uses is Tamanu’s unique absorption properties. This enables the oil to reach all three layers of the skin: epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis.

Tamanu oil has been proven to have cicatrizing, antibacterial, anti-neuralgic and anti-inflammatory properties. This combined with it’s unique absorption ability has resulted in Tamanu being used as a treatment for ailments ranging from scars, cuts, burns, rashes, stings, psoriasis, eczema and sores to rheumatism, neuralgia and sciatica.
Containing three classes of lipids: neutral lipids, glycolipids, phospholipids, and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent called calophyllolide.
 The oil also contains a totally new fatty acid called calophyllic acid. Calophyllic acid and a novel antibiotic lactone also present in the oil are responsible for the oil’s amazing cicatrizing power which promotes the formation of new skin tissue. This ability to rapidly regenerate new skin accelerates healing and the growth of healthy skin to such an extent that Tamanu was historically used for amputations and

 leprosy.
In 1918, Tamanu Oil was so powerful in its curative properties that the French Pharmacopoeia conducted research and clinical tests resulting in the use of the oil not only topically, but orally and by injection. However, the use of the oil in Europe virtually disappeared after the late nineteen thirties as laboratories, for financial reasons, tried to use species of Tamanu trees from other countries.
The poor curative properties of this low-grade Tamanu oil gradually destroyed the strong medicinal following establish, sending the product into obscurity. Another factor of particular significance was the inability to stabilize the oil. Pure Tamanu oil, much like highly therapeutic honeys, has a very high crystallization-solidifying point. This can result in a crystallized-solid state, which would have been common in the cooler climates of Europe.

 An important fact to note is that if the oil does not have this characteristic it has either been heat treated or blended. In order to stop this process the oil must be heated to such extreme temperatures that the biochemical and physical properties of the oil change (the enzyme and temperature related actives - which are responsible for the very biological and therapeutic properties Tamanu is used for). Or blended to such a proportion that another oil’s properties dominate, lowering the crystallization-solidifying point. Either treatment would have a significant effect on the oil’s therapeutic benefits.

Like many herbs around the world different varieties of the same species combined with geographic location, climatic conditions and processes result in differing activity levels and thus curative properties.
 Tamanu is no exception. Oil derived from the South Pacific has proven to be superior to other “Tamanu Oils” from around the world as can be seen by scientific analysis and treatment results. With the average Tamanu tree producing around 100kg of fruit per year, from which approximately 10kg of oil can be extracted, the need to produce the highest quality product is critical. The quality of oil from the South Pacific is also differentiated through the harvesting, drying and manufacturing process, which is just as critical as the raw material. Firstly, the time of harvest is critical to ensure the optimal activity level. This is followed by drying methods, and while “traditionally sun dried” has a nostalgic ring to it, Tamanu is no different to 95% of all therapeutic natural products around the world where the sun breaks down and destroys key active compounds.
Therefore, Nature Corp Tamanu nuts are all dried in a temperature controlled oven. The dried nut kernels are then cold-pressed and filtered through a centrifuge creating a one hundred percent pure Tamanu Oil.

Clinical Trial by Beausoleil, C., Lehman, L. et al. Evaluation of the Ability of One Test Product to Improve the Appearane of Scars (2001)
This study evaluated the ability of one test product to improve the appearance of scars. Subjects with visually obvious, aged scars (1 year or more) were utilized for the study. The subjects were restricted from using any moisturizing products on the scarred area for a 7-day pretest period and throughout the 8-week test period. The 0.5-ml aliquots of the product were applied to the scarred area twice a day for 8 consecutive weeks. Product applications were performed by the subjects and recorded on a product application tracking form provided to them. The subjects were evaluated prior to product application (baseline) and each week for 9 weeks at the testing facility. Visual ratings of scar appearance (colour, roughness and degree of difference from surrounding normal skin) and scar size measurements (length and width) were performed. Quantitative measurements of skin colour for melanin (darkness) and haemoglobin (redness) were made on the scarred and adjacent normal skin areas using a Mexameter MX 18. Quantitative measurements of skin hydration were also performed on the same sites. Digital photographs of the scar were taken prior to the product application (baseline) and again at the end of week 8. The subjects completed a self-evaluation questionnaire regarding their scar’s appearance prior to product application (baseline) and again at the end of week 8. The subjects also completed a product questionnaire that assessed their likes and dislikes of the product.

A significant improvement in the appearance of scars after 6 weeks of Tamanu oil use was observed visually. This improvement continued through to week 8 of the study. The overall size of the scars consistently decreased throughout the study. The length of scars was reduced by an average of 0.28 cm, and the width by an average of 0.12cm. Thanks to www.911balsom.com

This unusual carrier oil, cold pressed from the fruit of a shrub that grows in Madagascar, in the South Pacific, in Southern Africa, and in many islands in the Southern Hemisphere is believed to havepain relieving effects,making it useful for rheumatism, arthritis, sciatica, facial neuralgie, etc. Useful for lesions due toherpes and/or shingles(especially with the addition ofRavensara Aromatica Essential Oil.)

புன்னைக்கொட்டை

Some sources recommend it for cellular regeneration, saying it is a powerful healer for burns, cuts, etc. Donna Maria recommends it in mature skincare blends. It may also help with eczema, burns, rashes and insect bites. I have seen it recommended in skincare blends for mature skin, and seen a lot of folks talking about using it to help relieve eczema.thanks www.naturegift.com

KUCHING, Malaysia.(WNL)- Bintangor belongs to the family Guttifarae, which includes the mangosteen. There are over 50 species of Bintangor (C.lanigerum), found mostly in western Sarawak; of this number, two are now known to have medicinal value. To the local population the Bintangor is known mostly as a timber tree of good quality, with an attractively grained wood.

Bintangor grow in the lowland and hill forests; some even thrive on poor, sandy soil. The different types of Bintangor are identified by the structure and veneration of their leaves. The larger kinds of Bintangor can attain a girth of up to 10 feet.

At the beginning of the current project, the research team asks the Forest Department to supply 50 kg of Bintangor resin. The good news is that the healing sap can be obtained without killing the tree; the bad news, as far as Forest Officer Hj. Osman Ismawi was concerned, is that each tree yields less than gram of resin per tapping. Bintangor don’t grow densely; lots of arduous footwork went into collecting the necessary quota of latex.

Besides locating and preserving the valuable tree, Hj. Osman’s team is also collecting seedlings for systematic plantation. Some of the these are planted in groves, others scattered in clearing inside virgin forests. " The Bintangor is a handsome tree!’ the veteran forester says with pride. " Calophyllum, means ‘beautiful leaf’," see how glossy, how delicately veined? It is beautiful!"

KUCHING, Malaysia (WNL)- "AIDS Cure From Sarawak Rainforest!" the headlines trumpeted when the 100-foot Bintangor tree made is debut as a potential natural remedy in the late 1980s: if only thing were that simple!

The Bintangor story starts in 1986. Scientist from the Harvard University Arboretum and The University Of Illinois, Chicago, teamed up with the Forest Department of Sarawak, a Malaysia state on the island of Borneo.

The aim of the study was to interview traditional healers and combs the rainforest for new substances, possibly with tumour-arresting properties; the project was funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the USA.

After several years of jungle bashing, two varieties of Bintangor (Calophyllum lanigerum) were identified as "Posibble HIV-inhibiting" compounds: Calanolide A could be extracted from the leaves and twigs, and Costatolide (also known as Calanolide B) from the latex (sap) of the tree.

This was good news in more ways than one: The world urgently needs new and hopefully better drugs to combat the AIDS pandemics and the Bintangor flourishes even in longed-over forest. Calanolide B is present in the latex which can be sustainably harvested by tapping, without destroying the tree, and Calanolide A, because it is rare, can be recreated synthetically.

In 1993, Calanolide A was approved by the NCI for pre-clinical trails. But there was still a long way to go.

"we know what Calanolide does in the test tube: it inhibits the proliferation of HIV," explains Dr. Tuah J. Jenta, a Malaysia Scientist with a degree in physical chemistry which is actively engaged on the Bintangor project. Educated in the UK, Dr Jenta lectured the University of Sarawak (UNIMAS) for a couple of years, just at the time when the Bintangor wave crested. "The pre-clinical trials were encouraging enough to justify the commencement of clinical trials," he notes.

After the pre-clinical trial MediChem, an 11-year-old biotech firm based in Lemon Illinois, was invited to join in strategies alliance with the state Government of Sarawak based Sarawak MediChem Pharmaceuticals, Inc. was special formed for the purpose of developing and clinically testing Calanolide A, an anti-HIV-inhibiting compound derived from the Bintangor tree.

Calanolide A inhibits HIV by attaching itself to an enzyme that the virus needs to reproduce, disabling the reproduction process. The clinical trials consisted of testing Calanolide A’s safety, according to FDA standards, in normal, healthy volunteers. The tests went well in establishing that the drug is well-tolerated and had no serious side effect, according to Thomas Flavin, a MediChem advisor and architect in the deal.

"They (the Sarawak side) benefit by learning the process and making contacts over here," Michael T. Flavin, president and founder of MediChem, told a business magazine in May 1998.

"The alliance calls for an information and technology exchange.

Sarawak scientist, whose salaries and living expenses are covered by their government, are in Lemont working to develop the potential AIDS drugs.

We benefit because these scientist are highly trained and contribute right away to the project."

The state government of Sarawak provided a required license for MediChem, which will allow the company to develop Calanolide A commercially. The Sarawak Government also helps with financing the project. Should Sarawak MediChem Pharmaceutical’s drug prove marketable, Sarawak and MediChem will split the revenues equally.

Dr. Jenta represents the Sarawak Government’s interest in MediChem. His official designation is "Treasurer," but he takes an informed interest in the research and Developments. Though stationed in Illinois, his work demands frequent trips to Sarawak.

In the USA, the slow process of testing Calanolide A grinds on. Phase IA studies, which have been completed, are designed to define safety limits.

Phase IB has started with the selection of volunteers for actual testing. HIV positive persons are alerted through hospitals, even in the internet. Volunteers are very carefully informed of the potential risks and benefits of the programme designed to control the proliferation of HIV. The company is testing a synthetic form of the compound they found in the Bintangor tree on 32 HIV-positives patients.

The testing lasts six months and is being performed at six research centers across the United States. The test results will shed light on blood concentration and other physiological effects of two daily doses of the drug.

Phase II will assess the therapeutic potential of Calanolide A, and establish how the drug combines with others. Optimum does have to be determined, side effect monitored. "HIV treatment is not a one time dose, like popping a pill for a headache," Dr. Jenta explains, "It’s a long-term exercise. Frankly, there’ insufficient clinical data to say that if you take this drug for 15 years you will be cured; no HIV drug has been around for more then 10 years. HIV mutates all the time, it becomes resistant to standard drugs. There is a need for more, better HIV drugs. The Calanolide programme has a lot of potential."

According to Thomas Flavin, Phase II testing will probably begin in July 1999 and the volunteers will be monitored for six months. If all does well, Calanolide A could be ready for commercial by September 2000. Is there such thing as an HIV preventative? All the drugs now being used aim at preventing the developing of full-blown AIDS in a HIV patient, but none can stop a person from contracting HIV.

Will Calanolide be expensive? The pricing mechanism is dictated by the pharmaceutical companies, and they are frequently criticized for greed. Glaxo, for example, has reduced the cost of its HIV drugs, so other companies may follow suit. The problem is that a new drug may consume millions before it reaches the market, if it ever does. Ten substances may be tested before one is found to be successful; the end user of the one miracle cures pay for the nine duds.

Bintangor researcher has cost millions already, and to date there are no guaranteed results or profit. As Calanolide passes the various tests, Sarawak MediChem exploring the idea of licensing its commercial production to a pharmaceutical giant with a huge manufacturing capacity and marketing network. "The new drug is arousing interest international gatherings like the 12th World Conference on AIDS in Geneva recently," says Dr. Jenta.

"Interested parties can approach us. If there’s potential for commercial partnership, the mechanism mechanisms for facilitating this are in place."

One main objective of the Calanolide A programme is to demonstrate the usefulness of natural products, even if they need to be synthesized for volume. Supplies of Calanolide A from natural resources are insufficient for commercial application. The fact that the drug molecule is reason enough to preserve the forest from which sprang. Both synthetic and natural substances are included in the tests.

Inspired by the Bintangor story, an Australian firm from Melbourne, AMRAD Natural/Pharmaceutical Products, has recently started to look for new medicine in the Sarawak’s jungle. All field exploration has to be done under the auspices of the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, a governmental body which supervises the commercial exploitation of the state’s natural resources.

Source:

By Heidi Munan

The Borneo Post       thanks www.mingtee,edu,my

                     

http://www.sidhhaherbs.blogspot.com