Sunday, November 18, 2012

www.malaysianherbals.com- (46)DURIAN- THE KING OF FRUITS



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DURIAN-- OUR COUNTRY'S GIFT OF GOD

The durian is grown intensively and commercially for its fruit only in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.
  In India, there are no large orchards or commercial plantings of Durian, but for some trees in and around Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu) and West Coast. 

The durian is a seasonal fruit, unlike some other non-seasonal tropical fruits such as the papaya, which are available throughout the year. In Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, the season for durians is typically from June to August, which coincides with that of the mangosteen. Prices of durians are relatively high as compared with other fruits. For example, in Singapore, the strong demand for high quality cultivars such as the D24, Sultan, and Mao Shan Wang has resulted in typical retail prices of between S$8 to S$15 (US$5 to US$10) per kilogram of whole fruit. With an average weight of about 1.5 kilograms (3.3 lb), a durian fruit would therefore cost about S$12 to S$22 (US$8 to US$15). The edible portion of the fruit, known as the aril and usually referred to as the "flesh" or "pulp", only accounts for about 15-30% of the mass of the entire fruit. Many consumers in Singapore are nevertheless quite willing to spend up to around S$75 (US$50) in a single purchase of about half a dozen of the favoured fruit to be shared by family members.
In-season durians can be found in mainstream Japanese supermarkets, while in the West they are sold mainly by Asian markets.

[edit]Flavour and odour

Durian tree begins to bear fruits within 5 to 7 years. Trees grow up to 50 metre tall. Grafted clones about 20 metres. Young tree bears about 50 fruits. Mature tree between 15 and 25 year old have as many as 100 or more.


The fruit takes about 16 weeks to develop.  A 50 year old tree can produce between 200 and 400 fruits during good season. If dry season is too short or absent altogether (raining season) it may occasionally not bear fruit for 1 to 2 years.


Young trees do not need excessive amount of fertilizers as the roots system is not elaborate enough to absorb excess nutrients. Durian trees need high amount of Potassium, Magnesium, Manganese and copper.


Prunning of branches lower than 2 meters from ground in young budded trees can reduce i
nfection.





Nutritional and medicinal

Durian (Durio zibethinus)
Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz)
Energy615 kJ (147 kcal)
Carbohydrates27.09 g
Dietary fiber3.8 g
Fat5.33 g
Protein1.47 g
Water65g
Vitamin C19.7 mg (24%)
Potassium436 mg (9%)
Edible parts only, raw or frozen.
Refuse: 68% (Shell and seeds)
Source: USDA Nutrient database[53]
Percentages are relative to
US recommendations for adults.
Durian fruit contains a high amount of sugarvitamin Cpotassium, and the serotonergic amino acid tryptophan, and is a good source of carbohydratesproteins, and fats. It is recommended as a good source of raw fats by several raw food advocates, while others classify it as a high-glycemic food, recommending to minimise its consumption.
In Malaysia, a decoction of the leaves and roots used to be prescribed as an antipyretic. The leaf juice is applied on the head of a fever patient. The most complete description of the medicinal use of the durian as remedies for fevers is a Malay prescription, collected by Burkill and Haniff in 1930. It instructs the reader to boil the roots of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis with the roots of Durio zibethinus,Nephelium longanNephelium mutabile and Artocarpus integrifolia, and drink the decoction or use it as a poultice.
In the 1920s, Durian Fruit Products, Inc., of New York City launched a product called "Dur-India" as a health food supplement, selling atUS$9 for a dozen bottles, each containing 63 tablets. The tablets allegedly contained durian and a species of the genus Allium from India and vitamin E. The company promoted the supplement saying that it provides "more concentrated healthful energy in food form than any other product the world affords"



Customs and beliefs

Southeast Asian traditional beliefs, as well as traditional Chinese medicine, consider the durian fruit to have warming properties liable to cause excessive sweating. The traditional method to counteract this is to pour water into the empty shell of the fruit after the pulp has been consumed and drink it.An alternative method is to eat the durian in accompaniment with mangosteen, which is considered to have cooling properties.

 Pregnant women or people with high blood pressure are traditionally advised not to consume durian.


Another common local belief is that the durian is harmful when eaten with coffee or alcoholic beverages.

 The latter belief can be traced back at least to the 18th century whenRumphius stated that one should not drink alcohol after eating durians as it will cause indigestion and bad breath. In 1929, J. D. Gimlette wrote in his Malay Poisons and Charm Cures that the durian fruit must not be eaten with brandy. In 1981, J. R. Croft wrote in his Bombacaceae: In Handbooks of the Flora of Papua New Guinea that "a feeling of morbidity" often follows the consumption of alcohol too soon after eating durian. Several medical investigations on the validity of this belief have been conducted with varying conclusions, though a study by the University of Tsukuba finds the fruit's high sulphur content caused the body to inhibit the activity of aldehyde dehydrogenase, causing a 70% reduction of the ability to clear toxins from the body.
The Javanese believe durian to have aphrodisiac qualities, and impose a set of rules on what may or may not be consumed with it or shortly thereafter.

 A saying in Indonesian,durian jatuh sarung naik, meaning "the durian falls and the sarong comes up", refers to this belief. The warnings against the supposed lecherous quality of this fruit soon spread to the West—the Swedenborgian philosopher Herman Vetterling commented on so-called "erotic properties" of the durian in the early 20th century.
RED DURIAN
Even westeners are crazy for Durians.


A durian falling on a person's head can cause serious injuries








 because it is heavy, armed with sharp thorns, and can fall from a significant height. Wearing a hardhat is recommended when collecting the fruit. Alfred Russel Wallace writes that death rarely ensues from it, because the copious effusion of blood prevents the inflammation which might otherwise take place. A common saying is that a durian has eyes and can see where it is falling because the fruit allegedly never falls during daylight hours when people may be hurt. A saying in Indonesian, ketiban durian runtuh, which translates to "getting a fallen durian", means receiving an unexpected luck or fortune.[66] Nevertheless, signs warning people not to linger under durian trees are found in Indonesia.
A
A naturally spineless variety of durian growing wild in Davao, Philippines, was discovered in the 1960s; fruits borne from these seeds also lacked spines. Since the bases of the scales develop into spines as the fruit matures, sometimes spineless durians are produced artificially by scraping scales off immature fruits.[4] In Malaysia, a spinesless durian clone D172 is registered by Agriculture Department on 17 Jun 1989. It was called "Durian Botak" (Bald Durian).[14] In Indonesia, Professor Ir Sumeru Ashari MagrSc PhD, Head of Durian Research Centre, Universitas Brawijaya reported spinesless durian from Kasembon, Malang. Another cultivar is from Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia.,
Other than humans, animals such as Sumatran elephants are known to consume durian. Curiously, carnivorous Sumatran tiger are also known to consume durian occasionally.[70]The strong odour of the fallen fruits in the jungle probably attracted the tiger to inspect the fruit and lick it.[71]

[edit]Cultural influence


Singapore's Esplanade building, nicknamed "The Durian"
The durian is commonly known as the "King of the Fruits", a label that can be attributed to its formidable look and overpowering odour. In its native southeastern Asia, the durian is an everyday food and portrayed in the local media in accordance with the cultural perception it has in the region. The durian symbolised the subjective nature of ugliness and beauty in Hong Kong director Fruit Chan's2000 film Durian Durian (榴槤飄飄, lau lin piu piu), and was a nickname for the reckless but lovable protagonist of the eponymous Singaporean TV comedy Durian King played by Adrian Pang. Likewise, the oddly shaped Esplanade building in Singapore is often called "The Durian" by locals, and "The Big Durian" is the nickname of JakartaIndonesia.
One of the names Thailand contributed to the list of storm names for Western North Pacific tropical cyclones was 'Durian', which was retired after the second storm of this name in 2006. Being a fruit much loved by a variety of wild beasts, the durian sometimes signifies the long-forgotten animalistic aspect of humans, as in the legend of Orang Mawas, the Malaysian version of Bigfoot, and Orang Pendek, its Sumatran version, both of which have been claimed to feast on durians. Thanks WIKIPEDIA

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Wil

Saturday, November 17, 2012

www.malaysianherbals.com- (45) SENNA ALATA -ACAPULCO வண்டுகடி செடி

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                                                வண்டுகடி செடி
ACALPULCO-            VANDU KADI CHEDI
 SENNA ALATA
Commonly known as: candle bush, candlesticks, large-leafletted eglandular senna, ringworm shrub • Hindi: एड़गज ergaj, प्रपुन्नाड prapunnad • Kannada: ಸೀಮೆ ಅಗಸೆ sime agase • Malayalam: puzhukkadittakara •Marathi: शिमई अगसे shimai agase • Sanskrit: एडगजः edagaja, प्रपुनाल prapunal, उरभ्रः urabhrh, उरणक्षकः uranakshaka • Tamil: சீமையகத்தி cimai-y-akatti, வண்டுகொல்லி vantu-kolli • Telugu: అవిచిచెట్టు avicicettu, మెట్టతామర metta-tamara, సీమ అవిసె siima avise, తంటెము tantemu • Urdu: ايڙگج ergaj

Native to: tropical South America (the Amazon rainforest); naturalised elsewhere in tropics




Akapulko or Acapulco in English is a shrub found throughout the Philippines and Malaysia. It is known under various names in different regions in the country. Locals call the plantkatanda, andadasi, and palochina in Tagalog, Ilocos and in the Visayas regions, and In Malaysia it is called Vandu kadi  chedi, respectively.
 The shrub belongs to the family of Leguminosae, and grows about one to two meters tall. It has thick branches and the leaves are embraced with 8 to 20 leaflets that are oblong-elliptical in shape. The flowers of the Akapulko have oblong sepals, and its fruits are tetragonal, which are also winged and glabrous. A medicinal herb that contains chrysophanic acid, a fungicide used to treat fungal infections, like ringworms, scabies, and eczema. Akapulko also contains saponin, a laxative that is useful in expelling intestinal parasites.
The primary part used for herbal purposes are the leaves, although the roots and flowers are also used for certain preparations with medicinal value. The extracts from the Akapulko plant is commonly used as an ingredient for lotions, soaps, and shampoos.
Benefits & 

Treatment of Akapulko
  • External Use:
    • Treatment of skin diseases:
    • Tinea infections, insect bites, ringworms, eczema, scabies and itchiness.
  • Mouthwash in stomatitis
  • Internal use:
    • Expectorant for bronchitis and dyspnoea
  • Alleviation of asthma symptoms
  • Used as diuretic and purgative
  • For cough & fever
  • As a laxative to expel intestinal parasites and other stomach problems.
Note: A strong decoction of Akapulko leaves is an abortifacient. Pregnant women should not take decoction of the leaves or any part of this plant.

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 Cassiaalata 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.
Christmas candle
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.


Preparation & Use
  • For external use, pound the leaves of the Akapulko plant, squeeze the juice and apply on affected areas.
  • As the expectorant for bronchitis and dyspnoea, drink decoction (soak and boil for 10 to 15 minutes) of Akapulko leaves. The same preparation may be used as a mouthwash, stringent, and wash for eczema.
  • As laxative, cut the plant parts (roots, flowers, and the leaves) into a manageable size then prepare a decoction Note: The decoction looses its potency if not used for a long time. Dispose leftovers after one day.
  • The pounded leaves of Akapulko has purgative functions, specifically against ringworms.
It should be noted that the pounded leaves of this plant may be applied thinly on the affected part twice a day. Marked improvement may be expected after two to three weeks of continuous application to the affected area(s) where the prepared Akapulko leaves were applied.

Saturday, August 4, 2012

wwwmalaysianherbals.com-Tea Tree –(44 ) டீ மரம்

History and extraction


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Tea Tree – டீ மரம்  Melaleuca alternifolia

The indigenous Bundjalung people of eastern Australia use “tea trees” as a traditional
 medicine by inhaling the oils from the crushed leaves to treat coughs and colds
They also sprinkle leaves on wounds, after which a poultice is applied. In addition, tea tree leaves are soaked to make an infusion to treat sore throats or skin ailments.
Use of the oil itself, as opposed to the unextracted plant material, did not become common practice until researcher Arthur Penfold published the first reports of its antimicrobial activity in a series of papers in the 1920s and 1930s. In evaluating the antimicrobial activity of M. alternifolia, tea tree oil was rated as 11 times more active than phenol.

Tea tree oil is toxic

when swallowed and itshould



The commercial tea tree oil industry was born after the medicinal properties of the oil were first reported by Penfold in the 1920s. It was produced from natural bush stands of M. alternifolia that produced oil with the appropriate chemotype. The plant material was hand cut and often distilled on the spot in makeshift, mobile, wood-fired bush stills.

Tea tree oil should never be taken internally. For colds and other respiratory illnesses, the oil is added to a vaporizer so that the mist can be inhaled. Drops of the oil can be added to bath water. The oil is sometimes mixed in water as a mouthwash.

Tea tree oil, or melaleuca oil, is a pale yellow colour to nearly colorless and clear essential oil with a fresh camphoraceous odor It is taken from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia, which is native to the northeast coast of New South WalesAustralia. Tea tree oil should not be confused with tea oil, the sweet seasoning and cooking oil from pressed seeds of the tea plant Camellia sinensis(beverage tea), or the tea oil plant Camellia oleifera.


Production ebbed after World War II, as demand for the oil declined, presumably due to the development of effectiveantibiotics and the waning image of natural products. Interest in the oil was rekindled in the 1970s as part of the general renaissance of interest in natural products. Commercial plantations were established in the 1970s and 1980s, which led to mechanization and large-scale production of a consistent essential oil product
Among over 98 compounds contained in the oil, terpinen-4-ol is responsible for most of the antimicrobial activity.

Composition

Tea tree oil composition,
as per ISO 4730 (2004)
ComponentConcentration
terpinen-4-ol30–48%
γ-terpinene10–28%
α-terpinene5–13%
1,8-Cineole0–15%
α-terpinolene1.5–5%
α-terpineol1.5–8%
α-pinene1–6%
p-cymene0.5–8%
Tea tree oil has been scientifically investigated only recently. Some sources suggest beneficial medical properties when applied topically, includingantiviraantibacterialantifungal, and antiseptic qualities. It also has beneficial cosmetic properties.
Tea tree oil is active against Staphylococcus aureus, including MRSA Tea tree oil is less successful for application in the nose.] Also, there is clinical evidence that topical dermatological preparations containing tea tree oil may be more effective than conventional antibiotics in preventing transmission of CA-MRSA
Recent studies support a role for the topical application of tea tree oil in skin care and for the treatment of various diseases and conditions. Tea tree oil appears to be effective against bacteriavirusesfungal infectionsmites such as scabies, and lice such as head lice. A 2008 study of in vitrotoxicity showed a tea tree oil preparation was more effective against head lice than permethrin, a popular pharmaceutical remedy
In the treatment of moderate common acnetopical application of 5% tea tree oil has shown an effect comparable to 5% benzoyl peroxide. Albeit with slower onset of action, patients who use tea tree oil experience fewer side effects than those that use benzoyl peroxide treatments.
Tea tree oil is a known antifungal agent, effective in vitro against multiple dermatophytes found on the skin.[14] In vivoshampoo with 5% tea tree oil has been shown to be an effective treatment for dandruff due to its ability to treat Malassezia furfur, the most common cause of the condition
One clinical study found that 100% tea tree oil administered topically, combined with debridement, was comparable to clotrimazole in effectiveness against onychomycosis, the most frequent cause of nail disease.[16]
The effectiveness of topical tea tree oil preparations for the treatment of the yeast infection Candidiasis is supported by its ability to kill Candida in vitro.
There is some very limited research that has shown that tea tree oil may have topical antiviral activity, especially against the herpes virus (cold sores), chicken poxshingles, blisters, etc
One study has shown a 5% tea tree oil solution to be more effective than commercial medications against the scabies mite in an in vitro situation.

[edit]In aquarium fish

Diluted solutions of tea tree oil are often used as a remedy to treat bacterial and fungal infections in aquarium fish. Common brand names are Melafix and Bettafix. Melafix is a stronger concentration and Bettafix is a lower concentration that makes it harder to overdose smaller fish, especially bettas. It is most commonly used to promote fin and tissue regrowth, but is also effective in treating other conditions, such as fin rot or velvet. The remedy is used mostly on betta fish,] but can also be used with other aquarium fish, other than goldfish.

Safety

According to the American Cancer Society: "Tea tree oil is toxic when swallowed. It has been reported to cause drowsiness, confusion, hallucinations, coma, unsteadiness, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach upset, blood cell abnormalities, and severe rashes. It should be kept away from pets and children." Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) when medicinal quality, has been used successfully without problems of toxicity when taken internally under a qualified physicians directions. According to the LD50 g/kg charts, a person who weighs 70 kg (approx 154 lb) and is not allergic to tea tree oil would have to ingest 148 ml approx 5 oz) for it to be lethal. (See the book : Aromatherapy for Health Professionals, Price & Price, Foreword by HRH Prince of Wales, Third Edition)
A small number of people experience allergic contact dermatitis as a reaction to dermal contact with tea tree oil. In an Italian study of 725 consecutive patients, patients were patch tested with undiluted, 1%, and 0.1% tea tree oil. For undiluted tea tree oil, nearly 6% of the patients observed positive reactions of skin irritation. Only 1 of 725 patients observed a positive reaction of skin irritation with the 1% dilution. None of the 725 patients observed adverse reactions with the 0.1% dilution. Allergic reactions may be due to the various oxidation products that are formed by exposure of the oil to light and/or air
External application of tea tree oil undiluted and/or at inappropriate high doses has been associated with toxicity, including death, in cats and other animals, due to ingestion during grooming.[
A highly disputed case study reported in The New England Journal of Medicine concluded that repeated topical exposure of lavender and tea tree oils may have caused prepubertalgynecomastia in three young boys.[28] The study involved just three individuals and found lavender to be the only common ingredient used by the boys in the study. While all three cases involved the use of products containing lavender oil as an ingredient, only one boy also used products containing tea tree oil. In all cases, the prepubertal gynecomastia reversed after several months. Researchers have noted that estrogenic or antiandrogenic activities have also been reported for some other commonly used essential oils, as well as some foods such as almonds and peanuts.[28] Others have cast doubt on the conclusions of the article and dismissed the study as having used "poor methodology". The research has been most criticized for making medically related conclusions about tea tree oil based on a single individual, while outside factors were more likely to have caused the condition. Critics of the study note that millions of people use products containing tea tree oil on a regular basis and there has never been another documented relation of tea tree oil and gynecomastia before or after this study was published
If used in concentrations below 4% or particularly below 0.25%, tea tree oil may fail to kill bacteria and create selection pressure, which may result in them becoming less sensitive to tea tree oil and even some antibiotics in vitro.
Undiluted tea tree oil can cause some hearing loss when used in the ears of animals; however, a 2% concentration has not been shown to have any lasting effect. It is not known whether the same is true for humans.Thanks wikipedea

[edit]
20 Great Ways to Use Tea Tree Oil
For Health
1. Use a dab to treat acne.
2. An anti-fungal for treating Athlete’s Foot, eczema, various yeast infections, etc.
3. An antiseptic to be used on cuts and burns.
4. An anti-viral: it may lessen the symptoms of colds and flu. Try using a few drops in the bath.
5. Add to a vaporizer to loosen chest congestion.
6. Add a small amount to shampoo to destroy head lice.
7. A small amount added to your bath can help with persistent body odor.
8. Treating sinus infection.
9. For dandruff and dry scalp.
10. In the form of aromatherapy, tea tree oil is used to treat colds, persistent coughs, acne, toothaches, and sunburn.
For Cleaning
11. To create an all-purpose cleaner, combine 2 teaspoons of tea tree oil in 2 cups of water in a spray bottle.
12. Another version would be 14 ounces of water with 1 ounce of Murphy’s oil soap and 10 drops of tea tree oil.
13. Mix the above solution with kosher salt to scrub bathtub and bathroom tiles.
14. Add a few drops to dishwasher dispenser, then fill with a green dishwashing soap.
15. A few drops added to each load of laundry leave your clothes smelling cleaner.
16. Control mold with a tea tree oil/water spray.
17. Remove mustiness with that same tea tree oil/water spray.
18. To keep germs at bay, spray it on high chairs, car seats, and other high traffic spots.
19. 15 drops in a quart of water can be an effective insect repellent.
2
0Be sure to take some with you when hiking and camping to put directly on insect bites or blisters.
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