Wednesday, July 29, 2009

JUS DURIAN BELANDA

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RAMUAN MANDIAN IBU BERSALIN


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PEPANGGIL


NAMA HERBA : Pepanggil
NAMA SAINTIFIK : Clerodendron Paniculatum

BOTANI :
Bunga pepanggil cantik dan menarik. Bunganya bergugus serta bertingkat-tingkat berwarna merah hampir serupa dengan bunga semarak api. Bezanya ia tidak mempunyai janggut panjang. Daunnya lebar berbentuk 3 layang dan bertangkai panjang. Daunnya warna hijau tua berkilat.Urat daunnya ada yang bertemu dan ada yang tidak. Tumbuh meliar di kawasan redup berketinggian 6 – 8 kaki.

KEGUNAAN:
Daunnya digunakan sebagai pelapik bagi melegakan senak perut. Ubat cuci perut anak yang kecacingan.

Monday, July 27, 2009

CEMPEDAK




LOCAL NAME OF FRUIT: Cempedak
Scientific name: Artocarpus champeden
Medicinal purposes:
Scientists from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) discovered that the humble cempedak (artocarpus champeden) can cure diabetes and can also control activation of cancer cells.USM’s Technology Industry Department lecturer Dr Noor Aziah Abdul Aziz said cempedak flour contains a starch that produces propionic acid, adding that the acid causes the starch to remain indigestible, thus fermenting bacteria and weakening cancer cells. It also changes the oxidation process. She also said that the fruit also has high fibre content, contains vitamin A and minerals and is an anti-oxidant.

Monday, July 20, 2009

FIG



When I was at the market on Sunday morning, I overheard one of the vegetable sellers recommending the fig to one of her regular customers who said that she had a bad cough. According to the vegetable seller, the fig was a wonder fruit that has curative properties for a number of illnesses. Well, I do know that figs are good for health and have planted the tree in the school Fruit Garden as can be seen in the first picture above. I decided to check up on the medicinal benefits of the fruit and here is what I found out.

Fig - Natural Benefits and Curative Properties

Botanical Name :: Ficus carica
Indian Name :: Anjee

Natural Benefits and Curative Properties
Many medicinal virtues have been ascribed to the fig. It is considered a restorative food which helps in quick recovery after prolonged illness. It removes physical and mental exertion and endows the body with renewed vigor and strength. It is an excellent tonic for the weak people who suffer cracks in lips tongue and mouth.

Constipation :- Taken either fresh or dried, the fig is regarded as a dependable laxative on account of its large cellulose content and its tough skin. The tiny seeds in the fruit possess the property of stimulating peristaltic or wave like movements of intestines which facilitates easy evacuation of faeces and keeps the alimentary canal clean.

Piles :- Owing to its laxative property, the fig is an excellent remedy for piles. Two or three dried figs should be soaked in cold water in a glass of enamelware in the night after cleaning them thoroughly with hot water. They should be taken next morning. Figs should be taken similarly in the evening. This will remove straining at stools and thus prevent the protrusion of the anus. The piles will be cured with regular use of figs in this manner for three or four weeks.

Asthma :- Figs are considered beneficial in the treatment of asthma. Phlegmatic cases of cough and asthma are treated with success by their use. It gives comfort to the patient by draining of the phlegm.Sexual Weakness :- Figs can be beneficially used in the treatment of sexual debility. They can be supplemented by other dry fruits like almonds and dry dates along with butter. Their use has proved effective in such cases.

Corns :- For corns of long duration, the milky juice of green figs helps to soften them. The milk has a mild necrotic action.

Precautions
Figs should be washed thoroughly before use. The skin of the dry fruit being tough, the soaked fig is easy to digest. It is, however, essential to take the water along with the fruit as much of the nutrients come out into the water.

Source: http://www.best-home-remedies.com/herbal_medicine/fruits/fig.htm

By the way, I found out that fig juice when drunk daily could act as a cancer preventive.

Friday, July 17, 2009

KUNDANG OR KEMIOR

This is the kundang fruit which can easily be bought in the markets in Kelantan and Kedah. Its scientific name is Bouea oppositifolia which is in the same genus and the family (Anacardiaceae) as the renghas.

Kundang is also known as Kemior which is a type of plant which has sap. To those with sensitive skin, the sap might cause rashes. The fruit resembles a small mango. The fruit can taste either sweet or sour. It is used as an appetiser. It is usually eaten with its skin. The flesh is fibrous like the mango. When ripe, the fruit is watery.
MALAY TRANSLATION
Ini merupakan buah kundang yang mudah dibeli dari pasar-pasar di negeri Kelantan dan Kedah. Nama saintifiknya ialah Bouea oppositifolia, satu genus dan famili (Anarcardiaceae) dengan renghas.
Kundang juga dikenali sebagai Kemior. Kemior merupakan sejenis tumbuhan yang pokoknya mempunyai getah yang boleh menyebabkan keradangan sekiranya terkena pada kulit. Buahnya seperti buah mempelam kecil. Rasanya manis hingga masam, sebagai pemecah selera. Ia biasanya dimakan bersama dengan kulitnya, isinya mempunyai serat yang tinggi seperti buah mangga.
Rujukan: http://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pokok_Buah_Kundang

Thursday, July 16, 2009

BUNGA NENAS KERANG BESAR





To promote the use of herbs for health, the library teachers and the librarians would make and sell herbal drinks each Wednesday. One of the herbs that was promoted today was the Bunga Kerang Nenas besar. At first my students thought that I had boiled cockles (kerang) with pineapples (nenas) to come up with the drink. No! No! No! No! I did not do that. Instead there really is a plant called Kerang Nenas. There is the large flowering type which I used to boil the herbal drink and a smaller decorative type.

Here is more information about the nenas kerang.

Malay Name: Bunga Nenas Kerang Besar, Bunga Kerang Besar, Reo Ungu Besar, Larger Rheo,
Ham Kak Fa (Cantonese).
Family: COMMELINACEAE
Scientific Name: Rheo discolor (L'Herit.) Hance, Rheo spathacea (Swartz) Stearn, Tradescantia spathacea Swartz

Medicinal uses:
The Thai use the fresh leaves for treatment of sore throat, cough, for quenching thirst, and it is externally used as anti inflammatory medication . The Chinese use the fresh flowers and flower bracs by boiling them as soup (usually with pork) or a drink (with brown sugar), for reducing body heatiness, relieving sore throat, and heaty cough.
Source: http://flora-ma.tripod.com/mc/cmrdw01a.htm

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Go Guava For Beautiful Skin And Hair


Guava (Psidium guajava), the humble looking fruit in pink to yellow-white colors, is the all-purpose fruit for combating various maladies like colon and prostate cancer, reducing high pressure, diabetes, bad cholesterol and scurvy.
The fruit with its high dose of Vitamin C is great for healthy eyes and heart. Guava jelly is a great source of multi-vitamins helps keep skin gleaming clean, taut and reduces the appearance of fine lines. The high fiber content in Guava acts as an excellent detoxifier by aiding smooth passage of stools, thus preventing constipation. The Guava fruit and its leaves have bacterial staving and disinfecting properties, thus helping combat stomach upsets like dysentery and diarrhea. Its astringent properties are helpful for maintaining healthy gums.
Many suffer from dull, flaky skin that tend to aggravate to broken veins, dry patches and sore skin and eventual premature skin wrinkling. A regular application of a paste of guava and honey applied to the affected area and left for about half an hour will prove very remedial to this problem.
An effective guava paste -based face blend involves apricot oil, sandalwood powder, vitamin A & E, lemongrass extract, guava extract and passionflower oil when massaged for about 20-30 minutes into the face, on a regular basis helps prevent premature aging, heals and soothes skin with effective regeneration and revitalisation. Guava is effective for skin whitening, thus, natural bleach for the skin.
Guava is great for dazzling, glossy hair locks and great for thin, chemical-treated hair. A blend of extracts of passion fruit, guava, dried orange powder and honey acts as a great hair pack that removes frizz and provides the hair deep conditioning with its high vitamin and anti-oxidant properties.
Powdered form or the extract of guava along with aloe Vera helps heal prickly heat symptoms in children and adults. People who suffered allergic reactions like eczema and psoriasis experienced significant relief with topical application of guava extract or dried guava leaves.
A potent guava-based face cleanser that involves a blend of extracts of guava, kiwi and camomile with a tablespoon of Aloe Vera gel and a few drops of Palm oil and Orange oil acts as a natural skin decongestant, improves tautness and helps cells regeneration.
For an effectual guava-based toner, try the blend of guava extract, aloe Vera gel, Witch Hazel, Camomile extract, Collagen, coral seaweed and Panthenol, acts as a mild astringent and maintains optimal skin health.
Guavas extract with a mix of butcher’s broom extract is an effectual anti-obesity cream.
Source: http://www.zippy-health.com/guava-fruit-facts-go-guava-for-beautiful-skin-and-hair/

RED SETAWAR HALIA



Common name: Setawar, Penawar Padang, Setengteng, Tawar, Tawar-Tawar, Teng.
Scientific name: Costus speciosus (Koenig) Smith
Family: Zingiberaceae
Medicinal :
  • The roots are used for making tonic.
  • The roots are also useful to treat fever.
  • The rhizome which is rich in starch can be used as an ingredient for cooking.
  • The whole plant is boiled for a decoction to bathe patients with high fever and for smallpox.
  • The stem scrapings for leprous skin.
  • The juice of the rhizome is purgative.
  • The Malays attribute the plant with magical properties: drives away spirits causing illness.
References:

AYAM EMAS (Cibotium barometz)

Ini adalah pokok Ayam Emas atau Golden Chicken dalam Bahasa Inggeris. Ia juga dikenali sebagai Pakis Monyet, Pakis Emas, Pakis Sun Go Kong dan juga Pakis Hanuman. Nyata pokok ini dapat namanya dari bentuk dan bulunya yang merupai monyet.
Semasa kecil, ibu saya pernah memberitahu yang bulu pokok ini boleh digunakan untuk menghentikan darah.
English translation
This is the Ayam Emas (Bahasa Melayu) or Golden Chicken plant. It is also known as Pakis Monyet, Pakis Emas, Pakis Sun Go Kong and also Pakis Hanuman. It is obvious that this plant got its name from its shape and also the colour of the fur which resembles that of a monkey.
When I was a child, my mum told me that the fur of the tree could be used to stop bleeding.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

EMAS COTEK


Nama Tempatan: Mas cotek, Emas Cotek, Secotek Mas, Rusty-leafed Bush Fig, Mistletoe Fig, Cherry Banyan
Nama Saintifik: Ficus deltoidea
Famili: Moraceae

Khasiat
Tumbuhan herba ini mampu merawat dan mengekalkan tahap kesihatan, termasuk meningkatkan tenaga, membaiki peredaran darah, mengecutkan rahim dan merawat paru–paru berair, darah tinggi, kencing manis, lemah jantung serta cirit – birit.

Cara menggunakan
  1. Untuk perubatan pokok ini berkesan untuk menyembuh dan membetulkan kerosakan urat saraf dengan cara mengeringkan 2-3 helai daunnya (campuran antara pokok jantan dan betina) dan direbus dengan 3 cawan air hingga tinggal secawan. Minum airnya bila suam.

  2. Mas Cotek boleh digunakan untuk mengembalikan rahim kekedudukan asal dan mengecutkan rahim untuk perempuan baru lepas bersalin. Ia juga boleh digunakan untuk mengubat paru-paru berair.

  3. Buahnya juga boleh dimakan untuk menyihatkan badan sebanyak 3-5 biji sehari

Monday, July 6, 2009

POKOK PULIH DARA

Nama tempatan: Pulih Dara
Kegunaan/Khasiat: Digunakan wanita selepas salin untuk mengecutkan rahim. Rebus seluruh pokok dan mandi.

LIDAH NAGA


Nama tempatan: Lidah Naga
Kegunaan/Khasiat:
Untuk merawat penyakit kanser rebus daun dan minum.

PINK GUAVA

Pink Guava juice which has been packaged
My boys posing in front of barrels of processed guava juice puree


The school library committee of my school went to the Golden Hope Pink Guava Plantation in Sitiawan for a study trip. The Public Relations officer told us that pink guavas (or jambu batu merah in the Malay language) are good for health.
Here is the information that I got from her:
  1. Guavas are a very rich source of vitamin C . One guava contains more vitamin C than a typical citrus fruit – the rind contains over five times more vitamin C than an orange.
  2. They also contain high amounts of calcium – which is unusual in a fruit.
    A fresh guava fruit is also a valuable source of vitamin A and B, nicotinic acid, phosphorous, potassium, iron, folate and is high in fibre.
  3. Guavas are also low in fat and calories, with only about 25 calories per fruit.The guava fruit is said to help lower cholesterol, protect your heart and is good for your immune system.