The Holly is the botanical species Ilex aquifolium of the Aquifoliaceae family. It is a pyramidal shrub 5 to 15 meters high (can reach 25 meters) native to central and southern Europe, although its boundaries were extended to areas of North Africa and the western part of China. It grows in woodlands and wetlands. It is a plant widely used in Europe to make the floral decorations of the holidays. It is believed that this custom comes from the Romans, who used this plant in the festivities of Saturnalia . This custom was later adopted by Christians. Interestingly, the Druids of other parts of Europe also used as a present to the spirits of the forest. In medicine, the part used is the leaves and berries to a lesser extent the cortex.
Composition chemistry. Contains routine, Ilex and ursolic acid, bitter principles, pigments, traces of theobromine and 10% resin. The berries contain glycosides of pelargonidin, and cyanidin pelargonina.
pharmacological activity. leaves an effect diaphoretic (promotes sweating) and diuretic (stimulates the production of urine). Due to this effect exerts a febrifuge (fever stops) and tonic. The berries have a completely different action, its use can be dangerous. Vomit and are purgative .
Therapeutic indications. holly leaves are used in the treatment of influenza and catarrh of the respiratory processes. The medicinal use of the berries is null, it is often used as purgatives in indigestion, food poisoning and gastrointestinal processes.
Unwanted effects and contraindications. The medicinal use of holly is not dangerous. Berries should not be consumed because, as noted above their danger is high, in some cases causes fatal gastroenteritis.
administration and dosage forms. is consumed as a tea leaf to 5%, two or three cups a day, in powder form 4 to 15 grams daily, and the mother tincture 25 drops per dose.
Green Tea May Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk Drink green tea may reduce the risk of advanced prostate cancer, according to a study by Japanese researchers from the National Cancer Center.
This study says that men who drink five or more cups of green tea a day may reduce the risk of developing prostate cancer compared with those who drank less than one cup a day.
"This does not mean that people who drink green tea are guaranteed to have a lower risk of advanced prostate cancer, "said Norie Kurahashi, a Japanese scientist who participated in the study. He also said that while they are still presenting their findings, the study points to the hope that drinking green tea reduces the final half the chances of developing prostate cancer.
Prostate cancer is much less common among Asian men than among Westerners, and this may be partly due to the effects of high consumption of green tea in Asia says the study.
However, further studies are needed to confirm the preventive effects green tea on prostate cancer, including well-designed clinical trials.
In the study, published in American Journal of Epidemiology , collected data on 50,000 men between the ages of 40 and 69 years in a period of up to 14 years from 1990.
But in contrast to this study, Cancer Research UK the UK has published on its website that a study of nearly 20,000 Japanese men published in the British Journal of Cancer in 2006 found no link between the Green tea and prostate cancer.
Sales Pharmacy Natural Products for Cold soar this year pharmacy sales of natural products to treat flus and colds has increased by 24.5% in 2007, according to the latest report notes Phytotherapy Research Center (INFITA) developed from data of Nielsen.
Until last month were dispensed in pharmacies around the country more than 236,000 products produced with natur ales ( propolis and echinacea , mostly) to try and alleviate cold symptoms and flu, compared with 178,000 the same period last year . "The trend increasingly to natural products sold in pharmacies, explains this increase, especially in diseases such as colds and flu for which no curative treatment with synthetic drugs, "said Concha Navarro, Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Granada and president infit. The strongest growth is for the preparations of echinacea a plant used to strengthen the immune system, whose use has increased by 25% compared to data from the previous year, in which was a slight decrease compared to 2005 . Between January and November 2007 were dispensed Echinacea 142,000 units in English pharmacies, compared with 107,000 in 2006. The combination of the activity of various components such as phenolic compounds s (chicory acid, echinacoside, flavonoids), polysaccharides and alkylamides among others, empower various groups of cells in the human defense system making an echinacea plant more effective against colds and flu. This is evidenced by the latest study at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Hartford Hospital, in the United States, published in the journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, last June, which found that echinacea can reduce by 58 percent the rate chance of catching cold.
For his part, propolis, a natural substance extracted by bees from the buds of trees, continues to increase its fuel consumption and has become one of the preferred substance for the co nsumidores to relieve symptoms of respiratory diseases typical of winter, an increase of a quarter from the data collected in 2006 (from 70,000 to 93,500 units). Its composition, rich in flavonoids, phenolic compounds (tannins and phenolic acids), phytosterols, vitamins, minerals and linoleic acid, it becomes a product with antimicrobial capacity, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory and antioxidant, as has been demonstrated in recent studies god. It also acts against Staphylococcus aureus, the germ common in respiratory infections, and against a broad spectrum of bacteria, viruses and fungi. Use individually or in combination with the properties of honey, helps prevent and relieve disease, viral or bacterial such as flu and colds. Therefore, propolis today has become one of the most popular natural products in pharmacies.
Another bee products sale most popular drug these days is the real jelly , recommended to provide the energy needed by children and adolescents, especially when temperatures drop too much. This product herbal medicines is a fluid substance that bees produce to feed the larvae from the hive. Royal jelly is created in the pharyngeal glands of insects from honey, nectar and water they collect from abroad, mixing with saliva, hormones and vitamins in it. Among other compounds containing sugars, proteins, lipids and ash. It is a valuable source of vitamins of group B. For their properties, is a tonic for recovering from a cold.
Reishi The name Reishi mushroom is known to Ganoderma lucidum (Polyporaceae), but also often include the species Ganoderma japonicum . The reishi is a fungus that grows on the trunks of various trees, especially conifers. It has been used for over 2,000 years in Chinese medicine, which was considered the greatest curative medicine. Course is still widely used today. The medicinal part is the fruiting bodies (mushrooms whole).
chemical composition. Contains triterpenoids, such as acids and other ganoderic. It also contains polysaccharides (45%) consisting of glucans and arabinosiglucanos and ganoderanos called peptidoglycan. Minerals (germanium, calcium, iron and phosphorus), vitam inas (B, C and D) and oleic acid.
pharmacological activity.
- immune system: The reishi is an important immunostimulant, enhances cytokine production by macrophages and T lymphocytes and increased levels of interleukins IL-1, IL- 2 and IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha and gamma interferon release. To produce immunostimulation is very useful to prevent tumors .
- circulatory system: the reishi is a hypotensive , lowers blood pressure by inhibiting angiotensin converting enzyme. Also lowers levels of blood sugar (hypoglycemic ), and is also lipid.
- Liver: serves as protector of h IGAD against infections such as hepatitis (related to the release of interferon) and fibrotic liver, as well as normalizing the hepatic activity, decreased levels of liver enzymes like AST, ALT, AST, LDH and alkaline phosphatase.
- Other : antiviral properties, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antitumor ... In China Traditional Medicine as well as cleanser is recommended for neurological disorders very different (neurasthenia, senile dementia, Alzheimer's disease), cardiovascular (heart fatigue, prevention of myocardial infarction), as adaptogen, invigorating and antioxidant.
Therapeutic. The reishi is indicated for the treatment of patients with acute and chronic hepatitis, as an adjuvant in cancer treatment and processes that occur with immunodeficiencies such as HIV, tuberculosis and opioid abuse. In viral infections, bacterial and fungal infections by strengthening the immune system. Also in allergic and inflammatory processes, and as a liver protectant. Used as an assistant in the treatment of diabetes.
Unwanted effects and contraindications. Because of their pharmacological effects, reishi can change l glycemia and consequently the response of oral hypoglycemic agents, so it must be administered with caution in diabetic patients.
administration and dosage forms. should be administered orally, 6 to 12 g of drug per day in 3 divided doses. In post-herpetic neuralgia is to strongly increase the dose, reaching up to 36-72 g of drug per day.
