Alam dan Manusia

A Trace Mineral With Many Important Funtions
(The Sun/SunViva/HealthyLiving/Wednesday, June 20, 2001 /pg9)

Selenium is a trace mineral that is required by our body in very small amounts. Yet without it, we would be at risk of heart disease and cancer.

Selenium is found in foods such as, Brazil nuts, walnuts, organ meats, seafood, brewer's yeast, wheat germ and vegetables such as broccoli, mushrooms, cabbage, onions and garlic. If these foods are part of your diet, you can be assured that you are not missing out on the benefits of selenium.


Why do we need selenium?

Selenium is a vital mineral that helps protect our cells from the damaging effects of free radicals. It is essential for the formation of an important antioxidant enzyme called glutathione peroxidase, and is synergistically a nutritional partner of vitamin E.

It is also important for the immune system by stimulating the lymphocytes to produce more antibodies and phagocytes to eat up foreign and harmful invaders such as bacteria and viruses. It plays a vital role in the synthesis of the active thyroid hormone in the thyroid gland.


What are the benefits of selenium?

Lowers heart disease
Selenium lowers the risk of heart disease by preventing blood platelets from sticking together, thus reducing the incidence of heart attacks and stroke.

Flushes heavy metals
Together with glutathione peroxidase, selenium acts by binding with toxic heavy metals such as mercury, lead and cadmium through a process called chelation and flushing them out of the body through urine.

Cancer-prevention
Selenium may help to prevent cancer. Studies done worldwide have shown that people living in countries with the highest concentration of selenium in food, water and soil have the lowest rates of cancers.

Boosts immunity
Selenium helps to strengthen the immune system. It could be touted as a powerful weapon in the fight against AIDS, which is caused by the HIV virus. The virus also causes a depletion of selenium in the body, and the depleted level of selenium switches the virus into a high rate of replication causing full-blown AIDS.

Protects against cataracts
Selenium may help to protect the eye against free radical damage, which is a root cause of cataracts.

Relieves rheumatoid arthritis
As for rheumatoid arthritis, selenium helps to fight the free radicals that promote inflammation and degrade cartilage and collagen in joints.


How much selenium do I need?

For men and women above the age of 19, the recommended dietary allowance is 55mcg. The requirements may increase to 60mcg and 70mcg respectively for pregnant women and women who are lactating.

Do note that the recommended dietary allowance provides the minimal level of essential nutrients to prevent deficiency diseases as well as to act as a guideline for the average population group. The adult daily supplement range is usually between 100-200mcg.


What happens if I take too much selenium?

When taking supplements, it is best to stick to the recommended guidelines, unless of course you are under the orders of a doctor. Excessively high dosage of selenium - exceeding 1000mcg per day - for a continuous period could lead to toxicity.

The early signs of selenium toxicity include fatigue, irritability and dry hair. Prolonged exposure to selenium could lead to garlic breath, dry skin and hair, brittle nails, nausea, vomiting and diminished sensations or paralysis.


What are the signs of selenium deficiency?

Your body could be experiencing severe muscle pain and wasting of muscles. In serious cases, you may not be able to walk.

You may also encounter heart problems. Selenium deficiency is linked to Keshan Disease, resulting in enlarged heart and heart failure.


Why are you not getting enough selenium?

Low selenium content in foods
The amount of selenium in plant foods depends on the content of selenium in the soil. Low selenium content in the soil causes low selenium content in the plants, thus eating those plants would not provide the recommended level of selenium needed by the body.

Parenteral nutrition
People whose digestive systems are not functioning and are on total parenteral nutrition, in which nutrients are fed through the intravenous line.

Absorption disorder
Those with gastrointestinal problems could be lacking in selenium due to the intestines' inability to absorb the mineral.

If you think your diet is not providing you with sufficient amounts of selenium, consult your pharmacist or doctor on the usage of selenium supplements. Don't deprive your body of the health benefits selenium can provide.


Source: www.nutriplus.com.my

Alfalfa as an Herbal Medication Throughout History

For more then 1,500 years alfalfa has been used in herbal medicine. As early as 490. B.C. its use is recorded in Roman records. The following are early known uses of alfalfa for medicinal purposes.

* The ancient Chinese used it to treat digestive problems, such as ulcers, and to stimulate the appetite. It was often prescribed by traditional physicians of the time.
* Ayurvedic physicians in ancient India used it as a treatment for ulcers, fluid retention and arthritis pain.
* The Spanish brought alfalfa to the colonies in the 1700s where early settlers used it for the treatment of arthritis, cancer and boils. They also used it for treating scurvy and for bowel and urinary problems. Early pioneer women used alfalfa to bring on menstruation.
* Native American Indians used alfalfa to promote blood clotting and treat jaundice.
* Herbalists of the 1800s used a tonic made from alfalfa to treat indigestion, anemia and dyspepsia. They also used it for those that experienced a loss of appetite or assimilated nutrients poorly.

Parts used

Leaves

*The leaves are harvested up to five times every growing season, just as the plant starts to
flower..
*They are used to make tinctures and dry or liquid extracts


Constituents

Alfalfa ia an excellent source of dietary nutrients for the boby
Including protein, calcium and vitamins. It also contains saponins, which dissolve fats,
coumarins, phenols, tannins and unsaturated fatty acids. Alfalfa is rich in phytoestrogens
that mimic the action of the female hormone, estrogen.


Medicinal uses

Due to its estrogenic effects, alfalfa regulates periods, and stimulates milk-flow in
breastfeeding women. Experiments carried out by clinical nutritionists in 1982 showed that
eating alfalfa helped to ported monkeys that were on high cholesterol diet from
atherosclerosis. They also proved the effectiveness of alfalfa in decreasing blood
cholesterol levels.

In 1990 researchers in Northern Ireland showed that alfalfa affects the metabolism of
glucose and, like coriander, eucalyptus and juniper, it also reduces excessive thirst and
blood sugar levels.
Alfalfa’s fortifying effects are well known and, due to its ability to stimulate the
appetite, the plant is often given to induce weight gain and also as restorative during
convalescence.Alfafa can help to reduce exhaustion and nervous agitation. In India, alfalfa
is used in poultices to tread boils, in Colombia it is used to treat coughs. It may
Have a therapeutic effect on gastric ulcers, and has been used in the treatment of kidney
stones.

ALFALFA

Alfafa ialah sejenis tumbuhan herba yang dikenali sebagai Medicago Sativa. Boleh hidup anatara 5 – 12 tahun. Tumbuh setinggi 2 – 3 kaki. Mempunyai bunga berwarna ungu/biru. Alfalfa ditemui oleh orang Arab sebelum tahun 700 S.M. Ditanam di Iran dan seterusnya dibawa ke Amerika Selatan dan tersebar ke seluruh rantau tersebut. Di Asia ia sudah pun lama ditanam dan digunakan sebagai bahan ubatan dan pemakanan. Di Benua Amerika, Afrika, Asia Barat, India, China dan Australia alfalfa sangat popular. Alfalfa mempunyai keunikan tersendiri. Akarnya menjangkau dari 30 – 100 kaki ke dalam tanah. Ini membolehkan ia menyerap nutrien dan galian dalam kuantiti yang banyak sekali gus menjadikannya amat berkhasiat. Kandungan Alfalfa Alfalfa mengandungi nutrien berkualiti tinggi dalam bentuk yang mudah dihadam dan diserap oleh tubuh. Bahagian yang sering digunakan bunga, daun, pucuk, dan akar. Kandungan aktif yang telah ditemui termasuklah klorofil, octacosanol, vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E. K dan U. Ia juga sebagai sumber protein, kalsium, potassium, klorin, sodium, magnesium dan zink yang tinggi. Ia juga mengandungi asid tolik, florin, electrolytes, isoflarones, serat, beta karotin, saponins, sterols, cumarins, alkaloids(stachyrine), anti-oksidan(tricin) dan phytoestrogen. Daun alfalfa mengandungi 8 jenis essential asid amino dan 10 jenis non-essential asid amino. Frank Bower (Bapa Alfalfa) mendapati tumbuhan ini mengandugi enzim penting yang baik untuk penghadaman protein, lemak, kanji dan gula. Saintist Soviat Union telah membuat percubaan klinikal kepada pesakit gastric dan ulser usus, hasilnya 80% dapati diubati menakala 20% telah bertambah baik. Pengeluaran tenaga dan protein per ekar oleh alfalfa melebihi apa yang boleh dikeluarkan oleh jagung serta lain-lain tumbuhan. Orang Arab mengenali alfalfa sebagai “BAPA SEGALA MAKANAN”. Manakala orang China memanggilnya “RAJA SEGALA HERBA”. Is juga dianggap sebagai “Ratu” makanan ternakan. Di mana didapati alfalfa tumbuh ia menandakan tanah kawasan berkenaan subur kerana ia dapat menghasilkan nitrogen yang banyak. Oleh yang demikian alfalfa adalah sesuai diambil sebagai ubatan dan makanan yang amat berkhasiat. KEHEBATAN DAN KEISTIMEWAAN ALFALFA Menambah tenaga dan stamina Merawat masalah prostat Merendahkan tahap kolestrol Menghadamkan protein, lemak, kanji dan gula Mengawal dan merawat masalah kencing Merawat ulser peptic dan usus Pembinaan semula badan selepas sakit serius dan berpanjangan Membantu mereka dalam proses pemulihan dadah dan alkohol Masalah kedatangan Haid Mengawal pendarahan Mencuci hati dan saluran darah Merangsang fungsi kelenjar Penawar buasir Merawat demam Melegakan alahan awal mengandung Meneutralkan asid Pengyah toksik Menormalkan darah Mengawal rabun Merawat jangkitan kulat Menguat dan menyihatkan gigi Menyekat pembiakkan virus seperti harpes simplex Merawat gastric Membuang air berlebihan dalam badan Merangsang selera Merawat Gout Melegakan masalah usus Merawat Urthritis Mencegah jangkitan Melegakan keletihan dan susah tidur Merangsang fungsi hormon Pendemah luka Merawat penyakit kurang darah Menambahkan hasil susu Merawat saluran kencing KAJIAN DIMALAYSIA Kjian makmal telah mendapati bahawa Alfalfa yang ditanam diladang (utara) mengandungi 3% Asid Aspartik. Fungsinya ialah untuk :- Mengnyah amonia Menolong melindungi sistem saraf pusat. (central nervous system) Merawat keletihan Meningkatkan stamina dan ketahanan. Ia juga mengandungi 1.4 % Lysin dan 1 % arginie dan fungsinya adalah untuk:- Menguatkan imuniti badan Melawan penyakit kanser dengan menghalang pertumbuhan tumor Membina otot dan membakar lemak dengan merangsang glan pituatari untuk meningkatkan pengeluaran hormon Menolong menyembuhkan kecederaan / luka akibat kebakaran dan lain-lain Meningkat kandungan sperma untuk lelaki Mencuci hati dan mengnyah keracunan

CHAMOMILE Jerman-Matricaria recutita

Chamomile atau Chamomile Jerman adalah sejenis dari keluargabunga matahari. Tanaman ini boleh ditemui di seluruh kawasan Eropah dan Asia yang memiliki 4 musim. Chamomile juga telah tersebar luas di Amerika Utara dan Australia. Chamomile memerlukan tanah yang terbuka untuk dapat tumbuh, biasanya tumbuh secara liar di pinggir jalan, tempat penampungan sampah, atau di ladang-ladang. Tanaman chamomile dapat tumbuh setinggi 15 sampai 60 cm. Daunnya yang panjang dan kecil berkelompok dua atau tiga daun dalam satu tangkai

.

Kegunaan:

Chamomile dapat digunakan untuk menyembuhkan sakit perut, radang pada usus, dan sebagai penenang terutama untuk insomnia.

Kajian terkini yang dilakukan terhadap tikus ujian yang menderita diabetis oleh para Saintis Inggeris dan Jepun menunjukkan tikus yang diberikan ekstrak chamomile selama 21 hari, kadar glukosa dalam darahnya menurun drastik dibandingkan tikus yang tidak diberi chamomile.

kegunaan lain (english) :

It is used as a mild sedative. It is nervine and sedative especially suited to teething children and those who have been in a highly emotional state over a long period of time.

Chamomile flowers are used in alternative medicine as an anodyne, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, nervine, stomachic, tonic, vasodilatory. The anti-inflammatory properties make it good for rheumatism, arthritis, and other painful swellings. Additional uses in herbal medicine include an antispasmodic for intestinal and menstrual cramps, relieving gas pains, and a very mild but efficient laxative. Milder tea in large doses is given throughout the day for fevers, sore throats, the aches and pains due to colds, flu, and allergies.

Source : Wikipedia, Altnature

By MIKE STOBBE,AP Medical Writer AP - Wednesday, December 10

ATLANTA - Cancer will overtake heart disease as the world's top killer by 2010, part of a trend that should more than double global cancer cases and deaths by 2030, international health experts said in a report released Tuesday. Rising tobacco use in developing countries is believed to be a huge reason for the shift, particularly in China and India, where 40 percent of the world's smokers now live.

So is better diagnosing of cancer, along with the downward trend in infectious diseases that used to be the world's leading killers.

Cancer diagnoses around the world have steadily been rising and are expected to hit 12 million this year. Global cancer deaths are expected to reach 7 million, according to the new report by the World Health Organization.

An annual rise of 1 percent in cases and deaths is expected _ with even larger increases in China, Russia and India. That means new cancer cases will likely mushroom to 27 million annually by 2030, with deaths hitting 17 million.

Underlying all this is an expected expansion of the world's population _ there will be more people around to get cancer.

By 2030, there could be 75 million people living with cancer around the world, a number that many health care systems are not equipped to handle.

"This is going to present an amazing problem at every level in every society worldwide," said Peter Boyle, director of the WHO's International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Boyle spoke at a news conference with officials from the American Cancer Society, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the National Cancer Institute of Mexico.

The "unprecedented" gathering of organizations is an attempt to draw attention to the global threat of cancer, which isn't recognized as a major, growing health problem in some developing countries.

"Where you live shouldn't determine whether you live," said Hala Moddelmog, Komen's chief executive.

The organizations are calling on governments to act, asking the U.S. to help fund cervical cancer vaccinations and to ratify an international tobacco control treaty.

Concerned about smoking's impact on cancer rates in developing countries in the decades to come, the American Cancer Society also announced it will provide a smoking cessation counseling service in India.

"If we take action, we can keep the numbers from going where they would otherwise go," said John Seffrin, the cancer society's chief executive officer.

Other groups are also voicing support for more action.

"Cancer is one of the greatest untold health crises of the developing world," said Dr. Douglas Blayney, president-elect of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.

"Few are aware that cancer already kills more people in poor countries than HIV, malaria and tuberculosis combined. And if current smoking trends continue, the problem will get significantly worse," he said in a written statement.

___

On the Net:

The WHO's IARC

The American Cancer Society

Do'a Mohon diberi Kemudahan



Artinya: "Ya Tuhan kami, berikanlah rahmat kepada kami dari sisi-Mu dan sempurnakanlah bagi kami petunjuk yang lurus dalam urusan kami ini." (QS. Al-Kahfi: 10).

Penjelasan:
Doa diatas baik sekali dibaca oleh para pejuang muda yang menegakkan agama Allah agar mendapatkan keberhasilan dan kesuksesan. Karena doa tersebut adalah doa yang dibaca pemuda Ashh�b al-Kahfi, yakni sekelompok pemuda yang beriman kepada Allah Swt. hingga mendapatkan petunjuk yang sempurna dari sisi-Nya. Doa ini dibaca oleh mereka ketika akan masuk gua sebagai persembunyiannya untuk menyelamatkan agama yang hak, agama yang mereka pegangi dari fitnah-fitnah dan orang-orang zhalim. Dan Allah Swt. mengabulkan doa mereka Kisah Ashh�bu al-Kahfi dapat dibaca dalam Surah Al-Kahfi dari ayat 9-26


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