The black walnut tree, also known as the American walnut, is native to North America. Trees range in height from 70-150 feet and have a diameter of 2-4 feet. The compound leaves are between 1 and 2 feet long. This tree is prized for its beautiful wood and the tasty nuts which are avidly harvested in the autumn. The tree has large, pinnately compound leaves, 12 to 24 inches long with 15 to 23 leaflets. The leaf stems are covered with fine hairs, but are smoother than butternut. The fruit is a large, rounded, brownish black nut with a hard, thick, finely ridged shell enclosing a rich, oily kernel. The nut is black and ridged with the kernel having a high-quality taste. The kernel is edible and highly nutritious. The nut is enclosed in a solid, non-splitting husk, and is borne on the tree singly or in pairs.

Medicinal uses and health benefits of black walnut

Black walnut is considered to be an antiseptic, a germicide, a parasitic, and a laxative. Black walnut hull does indeed help with a variety of health conditions from ridding the body of intestinal parasites and tapeworms to reducing constipation and healing skin conditions like acne, canker sores, psoriasis, and other fungal infections. Black walnut has been used as external applications for a variety of skin complaints including ringworm, jock itch , athlete’s foot, psoriasis, blisters, eczema, scabbing pruritus, varicose ulcers, and even syphilis sores. Black walnut oxygenates the blood to kill parasites. Black walnut extracts can be taken internally for ailments such as gout, rheumatism, glandular disturbances, worms, and parasites. Black Walnut oxygenates the blood to kill parasites. It is used to help balance sugar levels. It also is able to burn up excessive toxins and fatty materials. The decoction has also been used as an effective vermifuge. The fruit is useful for promoting strength and weight gain. The husk is chewed for colic and use as a poultice for inflammation. The decoction has also been used as an effective vermifuge.

The black walnut hull contains a number of active ingredients, including omega-3 fatty acids called alpha linolenic acid (ALA), sterols, tannins and iodine. A high intake of ALA is protective against heart attack. Sterols are naturally occurring plant compounds that are chemically similar to cholesterol. Sterols may play chemoprotecive and cardioprotective roles. Tannins is antibacterial, anticancer, antidiarrheic, antihepatotoxic, chelator, antihypertensive, antitumor, cancer preventive, antiulcer. Iodine is widely used as an antiseptic in medicine. It works by attaching itself to the pathogenic bacteria and thereby killing them. Black walnut shells are very rich in vitamin C, and beta-carotene, B1, B2, and B6 are found in the leaves.

Also called: RLS

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) causes a powerful urge to move your legs. Your legs become uncomfortable when you are lying down or sitting. Some people describe it as a creeping, crawling, tingling or burning sensation. Moving makes your legs feel better, but not for long.

In most cases, there is no known cause for RLS. In other cases, RLS is caused by a disease or condition, such as anemia or pregnancy. Some medicines can also cause temporary RLS. Caffeine, tobacco and alcohol may make symptoms worse.

Lifestyle changes, such as regular sleep habits, relaxation techniques and moderate exercise during the day can help. If those don’t work, medicines may reduce the symptoms of RLS.

Cutting Caffeine Won’t Quiet Ringing in the Ears

LONDON - If you suffer from ringing in the ears, imbibing caffeine won’t make it worse, and giving up caffeinated beverages won’t make it better, new research from the UK shows.

There’s a widespread belief that kicking caffeine can help ease ringing in the ears, also called tinnitus. In fact, doctors may recommend caffeine restriction for patients with tinnitus, despite the lack of scientific evidence for any benefit.

Given that the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, including headache, nausea, and irritability, are quite similar to those that accompany tinnitus, “it stood to reason that it might actually make things worse, at least in the short term,” said Dr. Lindsay St. Claire of the Centre for Hearing and Balance Studies at the University of Bristol.

To investigate, St. Claire and her colleagues recruited 66 tinnitus sufferers who consumed at least 150 milligrams of caffeine daily, or the equivalent of about three 12-ounce servings of soda. Coffee can contain anywhere from around 50 to 160 milligrams caffeine per 5-ounce serving, while tea’s caffeine content can range from 25 to 110 milligrams per 5-ounce serving.

Over a 30-day period, half of the study participants kept up their normal caffeine consumption, and then went through a “phased withdrawal” in which the researchers gradually reduced the caffeine content of the beverages study participants drank.

The other half went through this withdrawal first, and then went back to their normal intake.

Study participants didn’t know which group they were in, and St. Claire and her team purposely made withdrawal relatively gradual, both so people wouldn’t suffer severe withdrawal symptoms, and so that they wouldn’t be able to tell which group they’d been assigned to based on their symptoms.

The researchers found that the amount of caffeine a person consumed had no effect on the severity of tinnitus. But people did experience significant caffeine withdrawal symptoms, including headache and nausea.

“There was no way it appeared worth their while to go through (caffeine withdrawal), because there was no improvement in their tinnitus,” St. Claire said.

While there is no cure for tinnitus, which becomes more common as people age, there are therapies that can help people cope with the condition, St. Claire added. These include cognitive behavioral therapy and even listening to sounds that can mask the ringing in one’s ears, for example the sound of running water.

“There are lots and lots of ways that people with tinnitus can be helped,” she said, “but there’s no sort of magic pill at the moment.”

SOURCE: International Journal of Audiology, January 2010.

WILMINGTON -  Based on more than 50 experiments with mice, scientists have mapped out the basic steps taken by a particular set of white blood cells in setting the pace for recovery after serious lung injury.

The white blood cells are called regulatory T-cells, or Tregs for short, and their best known function is to keep the body’s immune system from attacking its own healthy tissues.

“Our study results are the critical first leads in finding treatments for a clinical condition that until now has had none, despite its high mortality,” says study senior investigator Landon King, Johns Hopkins University.

“When a patient develops acute lung injury, we want the critical care medicine team to be able to do more than just stabilize the patient on a ventilator,” said King.

King says the study opens the door to a new field in research and development of drugs that either speeds up the post-injury activation of Tregs, or supplements levels of Tregs in people who may be relatively lymphocyte deficient from either lung disease or chemotherapy. Lymphocyte is the technical term for a type of white blood cell.

Some 200,000 Americans suffer some form of sudden, acute lung injury (ALI) each year, in which inflammation spreads across both lungs, making breathing difficult and starving the body of much-needed oxygen.

Among them are people with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by infection, the most severe form of ALI. Also included are burn victims, people with chest injuries from car accidents, and cancer patients who have had adverse reactions to donated platelets from blood transfusion.

Almost all people with ALI require breathing assistance from mechanical ventilators, and nearly 75,000 die each year.

The study was published online in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

Other names: dehydroepiandrosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone that’s produced by the adrenal glands. The body converts DHEA to male and female sex hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone.

DHEA levels typically peak by the time people are in their 20s and decline with age, which is why there has been considerable interest in DHEA and its role in aging. In fact, DHEA supplements have been touted as an anti-aging hormone because lower levels of DHEA have been reported in some people with type 2 diabetes, breast cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, AIDS, adrenal insufficiency, kidney disease and anorexia. Certain medications may also deplete DHEA, such as corticosteroids, insulin, opiates and danazol.

DHEA is manufactured naturally in the body, but DHEA supplements can also be made in a laboratory from a substance called diosgenin, found in soybeans and wild yam. Wild yam cream and supplements are often promoted as being a natural source of DHEA, but the body can’t convert wild yam to DHEA on its own — the conversion must be done in a laboratory.

DHEA supplements were taken off the U.S. market in 1985 because of concerns about false claims regarding its benefits. It became available only by prescription but was reintroduced as a nutritional supplement after the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act was passed in 1994.

Why Do People Use DHEA Supplements

DHEA is used as an “anti-aging” hormone and for conditions in which DHEA levels have been found to be low, however, there are very few large, well-designed human studies showing that it’s effective.

    * Aging

      The gradual decline in the body’s DHEA levels correlate with loss of muscle mass, decreased bone density, and a decline in immune function. A study by Mayo Clinic researchers, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, looked at the effect of DHEA supplements on markers of aging, such as muscle mass, muscle strength, fat mass, peak endurance and glucose tolerance in older men and women.

      The study involved 87 men and 57 women. At the end of the two-year study, participants showed no significant change in any of the markers. It’s one of the largest and longest studies on DHEA and human aging to date.

    * Depression

      Clinical trials examining the effect of DHEA for depression suggest that DHEA temporarily improves symptoms of depression compared to a placebo. For example, a study sponsored by the National Institute of Mental Health investigated the use of DHEA by 46 people between the ages of 40 and 65 with major or minor depression. They took DHEA for six weeks (90 mg a day for three weeks followed by 450 mg a day for three weeks) or a placebo.

      Twenty three people improved while taking DHEA, compared to 13 who responded while taking the placebo. After six weeks, 14 out of 15 people taking the placebo were still depressed, compared to eight out of 14 people taking DHEA.

      Studies on lasting mood changes, however, have had inconsistent results. More research is needed before DHEA should be used for depression, however, because the long-term effects aren’t known.

    * Menopause

      One small study found that 25 mg a day of DHEA may reduce symptoms of menopause. Levels of other hormones were affected, however, which may have adverse effects.

    * Obesity

      In animal studies, DHEA has shown some promise in reducing genetic or diet-induced obesity. A study funded by the National Institutes of Health looked at the effect of DHEA (50 mg a day) compared to a placebo for weight loss in 56 overweight adults between the ages of 65 and 78. At the end of the six month study, people taking DHEA lost an average of two pounds compared to the people taking the placebo, who gained just over one pound.

      Although overall weight loss was minimal, results were more promising when fat loss around the abdomen was assessed. After six months, women taking DHEA lost 10% of their abdominal fat and men lost 7%.

      A large study involving 942 men in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study looked at men between the ages of 40 and 70, first in 1987 to 1989 and then again in 1995 to 1997. Researchers found that fat around the abdomen (called central obesity) was associated with lower DHEA levels.

      Although these are promising preliminary results, until we have more research on the safety and effectiveness of DHEA, researchers recommend trying other, more proven methods for weight loss.

    * Osteoporosis

      Supplementation with DHEA has been studied to increase bone density. It is usually taken by mouth or applied as a cream to the inner thigh. DHEA hasn’t been found to be helpful for younger women and men. Some evidence sugests it might be helpful for osteoporosis in older women. More research is needed.

    * Sexual Dysfunction

      Studies on the use of DHEA for erectile dysfunction in men and sexual function in men and women have been inconsistent. A one-year study involving 280 men and women found that 50 mg a day of DHEA improved libido in women over 70 but not in younger women or men. Other studies have been mixed — most have been too small to be meaningful or the treatment duration has been too short.

    * Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

      Scientific evidence indicates that DHEA may enhance mental function and increase bone mass in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease affecting connective tissue. In fact, synthetic DHEA called prasterone (Prestara) is under investigation for the treatment of this condition and the prevention of loss of bone mineral density. The FDA has granted orphan drug status for the prevention of loss of bone mineral density in SLE patients taking corticosteroids.

    * Adrenal Insufficiency

      Adrenal insufficiency is a condition involving low levels of adrenal gland hormones. Several studies suggest DHEA supplements may improve well-being, quality of life, and sex drive in people with adrenal insufficiency. In 2003, prasterone (Fidelin) received orphan drug status for adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency can only be diagnosed by a doctor. It can be a medical emergency and should be properly diagnosed and treated by a qualified health professional.

    * Other Conditions DHEA has also been explored for many other conditions, such as:

      Alzheimer’s disease

      Chronic fatigue syndrome

      Crohn’s disease

      Heart disease

      Schizophrenia

      Sjogren’s syndrome

DHEA Side Effects and Safety

DHEA is a hormone, so it should only be used under the supervision of a qualified health practitioner. Pregnant or nursing women or children should not use DHEA. There have been no studies on the long-term safety of DHEA.

One of the more common side effects of DHEA supplements is acne. Other side effects include abdominal pain, hair loss, insomnia, nasal congestion, fatigue, oily skin, rapid or irregular heartbeats, or heart palpitations.

DHEA supplements may alter liver function, so people with liver disease shouldn’t use DHEA. People with mood disorders such as depression should only use DHEA under the supervision of their health-care provider, as DHEA supplementation may worsen mood. High levels of the body’s natural DHEA has been associated with psychotic disorders, so people with or at risk for psychotic disorders shouldn’t use DHEA unless under the supervision of their health-care provider.

Since DHEA supplements may influence the production of male and female hormones, acne, greasy skin, facial hair growth, hair loss, weight gain around the waist, a deepening of the voice and other signs of masculinization may occur in women. Men may develop high blood pressure, male pattern baldness, aggressiveness, breast enlargement (gynecomastia), breast tenderness and shrinkage of the testicles.

DHEA supplements may also affect the levels of other hormones, such as insulin and thyroid hormone, and affect cholesterol levels. People with diabetes or hyperglycemia, high cholesterol, thyroid disorders, Cushing’s disease or other hormonal disorders should be particularly cautious.

DHEA supplements may alter the levels estrogen and testosterone, which can theoretically increase the risk of hormone-sensitive cancers such as breast, prostate and ovarian cancer. It’s also not known whether DHEA supplements may inhibit the body’s ability to make DHEA.

People taking DHEA supplements may be more likely to develop blood clots, so people with clotting disorders, heart disease and those with a history of stroke should avoid DHEA supplements.

Possible Drug Interactions

Theoretically, DHEA supplements may interfere with the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin) and prochlorperazine (Compazine).

DHEA supplements may increase the effects of the following medications:

    * AZT (Zidovudine) — HIV medication

    * Barbiturates — medications for sleep disorders

    * Cisplatic — cancer medication

    * Estrogen and oral contraceptives

    * Testosterone

    * Benzodiazepines, such as triazolam (Halcion), alprazolam and dizaepam for anxiety and sleeping disorders

DHEA may interact in unpredicatable ways with the following drugs:

    * Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, beclomethasone (Beconase, Vancenase), dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, prescribed for inflammatory conditions such as arthritis, asthma and skin infections.

    * Insulin

    * Lithium

    * Prescription drugs that are broken down by the same liver enzymes, such as: allergy medication such as fexofenadine (Allegra), antifungal drugs such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral), cancer medications such as etoposide (VePesid), paclitaxel (Taxol), vinblastine, or vincristine, cholesterol medications, such as lovastatin, and oral contraceptives.

Propolis is resinous substance bees collect from tree buds. Bee propolis contains antioxidants called flavonoids, which are thought to be the active ingredients.

Propolis is available many forms, including tablet, capsule, ointment, powder, extract, cream, lotion and other cosmetics. It’s available as a nutritional supplement in health food stores and online. It is also found in small quantities in honey.

Why Do People Use Bee Propolis?

Propolis has a long history of use as a natural remedy for wound infection and other illnesses. Preliminary studies suggest it may be active against bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms when applied topically.

Side Effects

Propolis shouldn’t be applied to the eye area. Repeated use of propolis may make people more prone to developing allergies..

BARCELONA — Overweight and obese kids as young as 12 are showing early signs of heart disease, warn Spanish researchers.

During a study, scientists in Barcelona analysed 80 obese and overweight kids with an average age of 12 and compared them with 60 lean youngsters.

They found that larger kids had higher cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as more signs of pre-diabetes.

The researchers are now looking into “endothelial dysfunction” - a thickening of the arteries associated with heart problems.

By studying how easily the forearm relaxes, scientists are able to monitor the degree of the dysfunction.

They discovered the overweight and obese children had a similar level of the condition to adults with chronic heart disease.

“Endothelium-dependent relaxation of forearm arteries is already impaired by the same as in adults with chronic heart failure, and this in our 12-year old obese children,” the Scotsman quoted the researchers as saying.

“Primary or secondary prevention strategies starting early in childhood should aim at reversing current increase in childhood obesity.

“These strategies can be initiated at home and in preschool institutions, schools or after-school care services to influence diet and physical activity in the entire children population. However, further research needs to explore the most effective strategies to prevent and treat obesity.

“Already in early childhood, overweight and obesity are associated with the risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels,” they added.

The findings were presented at European Society of Cardiology. (ANI)

DALLAS -  Asthmatics can improve their conditions by changing the way they breathe, say experts.

Thomas Ritz and Alicia Meuret, from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, have developed a four-week program to teach asthmatics how to better control their condition with the help of new breathing techniques.

During an attack, sufferers tend to hyperventilate, breathing fast and deep against constricted airways to fight an overwhelming feeling of oxygen deprivation.

Unfortunately, this makes the problem worse by lowering the body’s carbon dioxide levels, which restricts blood flow to the brain and can further irritate already hypersensitive bronchial passages.

Patients who “overbreathe” on a sustained basis risk chronic CO2 deficiencies that make them even more vulnerable to future attacks.

Rescue medications that relieve asthma symptoms do nothing to correct breathing difficulties associated with hyperventilation.

As part of a four week program, Ritz and Meuret use their biofeedback-based Capnometry-Assisted Respiratory Training (CART) to teach asthma patients to normalize and reverse chronic overbreathing.

A hand-held device called a capnometer measures the amount of CO2 exhaled. Using this device, patients learn how to breathe more slowly, shallowly and regularly.

Ritz said that CART techniques could have a positive impact on quality of asthma treatment even as they reduce the need for acute care.

“The research shows that this kind of respiratory therapy can limit both the severity and frequency of asthma attacks. That means fewer doctor visits and less frequent use of rescue medications, with the associated savings of both time and money,” he said

“The training gives patients new ways to deal with acute symptoms, and that helps them to feel more in control,” said Meuret.

BEIJING - Chinese scientists have found that the roots of a plant have powerful natural substances that can kill the H1N1 virus.

Researchers Fang-Rong Chang and Yang-Chang Wu identified chemicals in the extracts of the “Dung of the Devil” plant, which were more effective against the H1N1 virus than the antiviral drug currently available for the flu.

The report was published in the Sept. 25 issue of ACS’ Journal of Natural Products.

The plant biologically called ferula assa-foetida, is found in Iran, Afghanistan and mainland China.

The authors say: “Overall, the present study has determined that sesquiterpene coumarins from F. assa-foetida may serve as promising lead components for new drug development against influenza A (H1N1) viral infection.”

The plant was also used as a remedy during the1918 Spanish flu that took a toll of nearly 100 million lives.

However, the antiviral capacity of the plant was not fully confirmed until now.

PARIS - It sounds painful, but shockwave therapy may be an effective treatment for men who suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), according to a small study showcased here at the European Society for Sexual Medicine.

Focused shockwaves, generated by a special machine, is an established method of breaking up kidney stones. In patients with heart disease, shockwave therapy is being increasingly used to grow blood vessels.

“If the therapy can work in the small vessels of the heart, we felt that it might work in the penis because most patients with erectile dysfunction have vascular (blood vessel) problems,” Dr. Yoram Vardi, from Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, Israel, told Reuters Health.

Vardi and colleagues tested their low-intensity shockwave protocol in 20 men with mild or moderate ED caused by reduced blood flow in the penis.

All of the men underwent a three-week course of two weekly treatment sessions and a second identical round of shockwave therapy starting three weeks later. During each treatment session, low-energy shockwave therapy was applied to different areas of the penis for a few minutes.

Erectile function, assessed at the time of enrollment and four weeks after the end of treatment, improved significantly in 15 of the men, Vardi and colleagues found.

There were no side effects related to the treatment.

Although not presented at the meeting, six-month follow-up data show that 12 of the 15 patients who significantly improved with treatment said they no longer needed to use Viagra or a similar agent to treat their ED.

While drugs like Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis are “extremely effective at treating ED, they only provide functional improvement,” Vardi noted. Shockwave therapy “could potentially be useful to most ED patients,” the researcher said.

GEMS doctors often recommend the amino acid L-Arginine as a natural remedy for ED.

DETROIT - Treating second-degree burns with a nano-emulsion lotion sharply curbs bacterial growth that otherwise can jeopardise recovery.

Experiments show that it reduced bacterial growth a thousandfold compared to control animals receiving no treatment or a placebo.

The lotion also showed a similar reduction when compared to a topical anti-microbial agent commonly used in people with burns.

Plastic surgeons used the nano-emulsion to treat partial thickness (second degree) burns over 20 percent of the body.

The nano-emulsion shows promise in overcoming the limitations of current creams used in burns treatment, which aren’t able to penetrate skin to kill sub-surface bacteria, says Mark R. Hemmila, associate professor of surgery at the University of Michigan Medical School (UMMS), who led the study.

The nano-emulsion is made of soybean oil, alcohol, water and detergents emulsified into droplets less than 400 nanometres in diameter. It has proved effective at killing a variety of bacteria, fungi and viruses in previous research.

Before the burn treatment can be tested in people, further laboratory studies are needed to examine its effects on the overall healing process, says an UMMS release.

The patented nanoemulsion technology is licensed by U-M to NanoBio Corporation.

These findings were presented at the Interscience Conference for Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy.

Herbs have been a part of the healthcare system of various cultures across the world for centuries. Sages in ancient India used various roots and herbs as medicines, which they doled out to people with healing philosophies. This ancient science is in fact known as Ayurveda, and is still prevalent in India.

The Chinese have been using herbs for the past 4,000 years to enhance their physical prowess and mental wellbeing. Most of the cultures across the world have used herbs in some form or the other to cure and prevent diseases. But even after all these years, and after the invention of a plethora of pills, people still turn to herbs as a form of alternative medicine and rely on its healing properties.

Herbs are plants with certain chemicals as well as savory and aromatic properties that can be used for curing and preventing diseases. All sorts of ailments like hypertension, cardiac problems, asthma, stress, joint pain, and respiratory problems can be cured with the right combination of herbs and a healthy lifestyle and food habits.

Herbs are also used in beauty and hair treatments. Visit a salon or a hair and skin clinic and you’re sure to find an array of interesting herbal products that promise to cure all your hair and skin-related problems. Many of these herbal concoctions can even be made at home in your kitchen. With herbs, you can cure yourself naturally, without having to worry about any side effects.

Owing to the high efficacy, coupled with the near absence of side effects, it is not surprising that many patients today prefer alternative treatments. Many health care professionals and researchers also recommend herbal treatments, if not as a cure, then at least as complimentary medication. Moreover herbal remedies are a lot more cost effective and easy to come by since many of them are common cooking ingredients.

If you’re down with a cold pluck some Holy Basil leaves and brew them into a tangy and healing concoction with a teaspoonful of peppercorn, crushed ginger and a dab of honey. If it’s a blood purifier you’re looking for munch on some Margo leaves and add a dash of turmeric to your meals.

Mint leaves can also be chewed on to act as a body coolant. The healing powers of herbs seem limitless, with solutions offered for almost every condition or ailment that you could experience. Moreover herbs can provide simple, effective, and inexpensive remedies. You can find the solution to most of your health problems within your garden itself.

Examples of natural herbs and their medicinal properties:

There are plenty of medicinal herbs that cure and prevent diseases, and nurture and nourish.

Here are a few of the most common herbs that you will find in almost any kitchen -

Garlic Herb: A natural antibiotic, this herb protects the body from bacteria and controls cholesterol levels. Good for blood circulation, the ubiquitous garlic protects the body from cardiac problems.

Mint Herb: Cooling and tangy, mint cures digestive problems and is used as an expectorant.

Chamomile Herb: This herb is used to treat a plethora of problems - from indigestion and stomach cramping, to bloating and all sorts of skin problems, chamomile is one potent herb. Chamomile is even used for treating anxiety attacks, chest colds and insomnia.

HONG KONG - Chinese herbal remedies and medicines such as ginger, garlic, ginseng, and others have become quite common in Western culture. Many of us have assimilated these traditional Chinese herbal remedies into our daily lives in an effort to promote better health and well-being.

But there are  many lesser known Chinese herbal remedies that are still undergoing testing and research to determine their healthful properties, despite the fact that they have been used by the Chinese for thousands of years.

Corydalis is one such herb that is said to have a number of healthy benefits. Traditionally used to bring pain relief, Corydalis is also said to help prevent cardiovascular disease and strokes. Studies have also proven the herb to have an effect on lowering blood pressure and relieving the symptoms of heart arrhythmia. It has also been utilized as a cure for insomnia in traditional Chinese medicine, and to treat stomach ulcers. Scientists are very interested in Corydalis, as a number of healthful properties are still being discovered.

Reishi mushrooms are used as a Chinese herbal remedy to treat a variety of ailments, including fatigue and weakness, helping to revive the body with energy. Reishi mushrooms have been shown to contain a number of useful compounds that may help with lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, and reducing the risk of coronary disease. Other healthful properties may also include benefits for individuals suffering from diabetes and hepatitis B. Reishi is consumed either as a dried mushroom or in a tea.

Most westerners know of licorice as a tasty candy, but the licorice plant has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years and plays a number of useful parts as an herbal remedy. Proven to help fight against infection and aid in digestion, acting as a soothing aid in  the stomach, intestines, and urinary tracts, it also provides relief from ulcers, sore throats, and coughs and canker sores.

 The healthful properties of licorice stem from its high amount of anti-inflammatory compounds and antioxidants. Licorice is used to treat many other ailments in Chinese medicine, and its healthy properties and benefits are still being studied extensively.

Dong quai is a member of the celery family and its root is used as a medicinal herb beneficial to women. In traditional chinese medicine, it has been used to treat painful menstruation and other related ailments in women, and cardiovascular disease in both men and women. Dong quai is usually combined with other herbs to help with other ailments and afflictions, such as anemia.

 The root of the Astragalus plant has been utilized in a tonic to help cure fevers, fatigue, the common cold and cough, and is said to help strengthen the immune system. The various flavanoids found in the root of Astragalus are being studied to determine their effects on cancer prevention and other diseases, such as viral hepatitis. It is normally taken as a tincture or with tea.

The berries of the Ligustrum shrub have been used for a variety of benefits in traditional Chinese medicine, specifically for strengthening the immune system and treating infections. Other useful properties may include cancer prevention, though studies have yet to prove this.

The medicinal properties of the bupleurum plant are mainly focused in the roots, and have been used for thousands of years to treat a number of ailments. Used on its own or as an ingredient in a powerful herbal formula known as sho-saiko-to, bupleurum root is said to be able to treat infection, liver disease, hemorrhoids, and other afflictions. The root contains anti-inflammatory properties and may also aid in treating hepatitis and even epilepsy.

GLASGOW -  Improved home ventilation that dehumidifies the air may make it easier for people with asthma to breathe at night, hint findings of a small study from the United Kingdom.

In theory, lowering indoor humidity should lower concentrations of moisture-loving dust mites - a major trigger for asthma-related breathing problems.

To test this, Dr. Neil C. Thomson, at the University of Glasgow, and colleagues measured breathing patterns over 12 months in 119 men and women who were about 42 years old on average and had asthma for 9 to 30 years.

Specialists retrofitted each home with a humidity-lowering ventilation system. They also steam-cleaned carpets, and replaced mattress covers and bedding, to clear dust mites.

In half the homes the ventilation systems actively exchanged indoor and outdoor air. In the other “control group” half, the systems had operational motors but non-operational fans to help ensure the groups remained “blinded” to what was actually happening, the researchers report in the journal Allergy.

Thomson’s team found no overall difference in dust mite concentrations between the homes with and without a working ventilation system.

Also, their comparison of morning breathing tests done at the start of the study and again at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, showed no difference between those living with or without operational ventilation.

However, participants living in homes with working ventilation systems showed an overall significant improvement in evening breathing tests, while those with non-working systems worsened in these tests.

BEVERLY HILLS - Resveratrol is certainly the powerhouse of what nutritional supplements can offer with a mind-boggling cornucopia of across-the-board, high-end benefits to improve health dramatically. Yet these remarkable benefits have been somewhat elusive owing to extremely limited bioavailability when resveratrol is taken orally. Not only has it been difficult to enhance its solubility and increase absorption owing to acids and digestive enzymes in the stomach, intestines, and liver but it has also been a challenge to inhibit resveratrols metabolism to other substances and sustain high plasma levels. Moreover, delivering them in adequate amounts to the most important tissue targets has been virtually unachievable.  Until now.

Nanospheres are about to change all that, because they embrace and embody state-of-the-art nutrient-delivery technology that can defeat the pitfalls of the oral delivery route.

A product of nanotechnology, as the name implies, nanospheres are very small particles, measured in nanometers (nm), or billionths of a meter. These particles, with dimensions in the range from 1 to 1000 nm, are now burgeoning into the field of drug- and nutrient-delivery systems with diameters as small as 50 nm or even lower. The ones starting to show particularly great efficacy are made of natural lipids, in which lipophilic compounds, such as resveratrol and curcuminoids, can readily dissolve. Their purpose is to improve the bioavailability of such compounds by exploiting their own special size range and unique properties.

Long under development, nanospheres typically consist of a central, spherical core of a natural, plant-based lipid, such as a solid triglyceride (fat), encased by a shell consisting of a natural phospholipid, such as phosphatidylcholine. The latter acts as an emulsifying agent during the production process; thereafter it serves a protective function, its chemical properties playing a vital role in stabilizing the nanospheres in their aqueous environment.

Resveratrol dissolves into the lipids as the nanospheres form during the fabrication process; it winds up being dissolved primarily in the core or in the shell. There, it’s protected from its environment until the nanospheres are destroyed by lipases, which are enzymes that break down fats into fatty acids and glycerol. The resveratrol  is then released.

Obesity treatment using Lime Juice-Honey

Fasting on lime juice-honey water is highly beneficial in the treatment of obesity. In this mode of treatment, one teaspoon of fresh honey should be mixed with the juice of half a lime in a glass of lukewarm water and taken at regular intervals.

Obesity treatment using Trifala

Trifala, an herbal combination of amalaki, bibbitaki, and haritaki is good for losing weight.

Obesity treatment using Jujube

The leaves of jujube or Indian plum are another valuable remedy for obesity. A handful of leaves should be soaked overnight in water and this water should be taken in the morning, preferably on an empty stomach. This treatment should be continued for at least one month to achieve beneficial results.

Obesity treatment using Cabbage

Cabbage is considered to be an excellent home remedy for obesity. Recent research has revealed that a valuable chemical called tartaric acid is present in this vegetable which inhibits the conversion of sugar and other carbohydrates into fat. Hence, it is of great value in weight reduction. Substituting a meal with cabbage salad would be the simplest way to stay slim.

Obesity treatment using Tomato

One or two ripe tomatoes taken early morning as a substitute for breakfast, for a couple of months, are considered a safe method of weight reduction. They also supply the food elements essential to preserve health.

Obesity treatment using Finger Millet

Finger millet is an ideal food for the obese, because its digestion is slow and due to this, the carbohydrates take a longer time to get absorbed. By eating preparations made of finger millet, the constant desire to eat is curbed, thus reducing the daily calorie intake. At the same time, finger millet supplies an abundant quantity of calcium, phosphorus, iron, Vitamin B1 and B2 and prevents malnutrition in spite of restricted food.

BUENOS AIRES - An international team of researchers have found that brains of patients in vegetative and minimally conscious state still appears to have the ability to learn.

The team hopes that the finding will lead to a simple test that will enable practitioners to assess the patient’s consciousness without the need of imaging.

During the study, the researchers from University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, the University of Cambridge, UK and the Institute of Cognitive Neurology, Argentina used the classical Pavlonian conditioning to test the responsiveness of patients in vegetative state.

The researchers played a tone immediately prior to blowing air into a patient’s eye.

After some time training, they found that the patients would start blinking when the tone played but before the air puff to the eye.

However, this was not seen in the control subjects, volunteers who had been under anaesthesia.This test will hopefully become a useful, simple tool to test for consciousness without the need for imaging or instructions,” Nature magazine quoted lead author Dr Tristan Bekinschtein, from the University of Cambridge’s Wolfson Brain Imaging Unit, as saying.

“Additionally, this research suggests that if the patient shows learning, then they are likely to recover to some degree,” Bekinschtein added.

The findings appear in the online edition of Nature Neuroscience.