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Okra another medicinal vegetable
Okra fruit is valued as vegetable, harvested while young and has mucus-like juice that is used to thicken stews (gumbo). Okra is also known for its nutritional value and offers varieties of health benefits

Carob powder as a healthier substitute for cocoa and chocolate foods and drinks
Chocolate has been an obsession for most people. Just a thought of eating a chocolate evokes pleasurable response. But recent awareness to the health effects of eating sweetened chocolates made many look for an alternative sweet without taking so much of the flavor. Carob has taken its popularity as a better and healthier substitute for the sweet chocolate.

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is a plant best known as a natural source of sweeteners. Stevia has long been used by the natives of South America to sweeten their food and as herbal medicine. Stevia has since found its way all throughout America and Europe as a natural alternative to sugar.  Early in the 20th Century, Stevia has gone through a lot of controversy. Some studies suggest that Stevia can cause side effects that include cancer. However, Stevia lately gained popularity when the United States FDA has approved its commercial use in 2008 that begun its wide use as food additive in many food products.

Natural Breast Enlargement
Many Asian women have smaller sized breast and most of them wish they could improve the breast size as well as the breast tone. This is attributed to the notion that women with larger breast size are sexier and has a higher probability to find a mate. There are plenty of breast augmentation supplements that are natural and considered safe. Some claims are nearly miraculous but some may actually offer some positive results.

Silymarin studies have shown liver protective activity against cirrhosis and other toxins that can cause liver damage
Milk thistle or silymarin is a flowering plant valued for beneficial compound called silymarin that is found to offer health benefits to the liver.medicine, complementary medicine)

Ixora Coccinea Linn - Herbal Medicine
it has been identified that the plant contains important phytochemicals that are known to have antioxidative, antibacterial, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, antidiarrhoeal, antinociceptive, antimutagenic, antineoplastic and chemopreventive effects. This analysis suggests the validity of the plant’s folkloric and erthnomedicinal uses(category: alternative medicne, complementary, holistic medicine, natural)

Malvarosa Oil found to have anti cancer and antioxidant properties.
In a study published in “Research Journal of Agriculture and Biological Sciences”, 2009; entitled “Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Citrus reticulate (Petitgrain Mandarin) and Pelargonium grave lens (Geranium) 

Antioxidant Properties of Talong
Studies on talong fruit have identified anthocyanin phytonutrient called nasunin. Nasunin is a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger that can be found in the skin of talong fruit. Nasunin has been found to protect the cell membranes from damage.

Anticancer Properties of Avocado Fruit
it has been found that avocado contains bioactive subtances that include carotenoids, which has cancer preventive properties. In this study the avocado variety “California Haas (Persea americana Mill.)” was the subject of interest because it is the most common variety consumed in the United States..

Blended Medicine: The Best of All Worlds
Author: Michael Castleman, Author of Nature Cures and The Healing Herbs
Excerpt From: Blended Medicine: The Best Choices in Healing

"Mainstream medicine doesn't have all the answers," says Anne Simons, M.D. "Good research shows that for many conditions, alternative therapies and natural cure can help. When I have a cold, I often take echinacea because several studies show that it's an antiviral immune stimulant. I think doctors should prescribe whatever works best and cures the condition. If what works best is a safe alternative treatment, it's fine with me."

Herbs: Plants With The Power To Heal

An estimated 80 percent of the world's population still relies on natural herbs to treat, prevent and cure diseases. In Europe, where physicians of conventional medicine have access to the same high-tech treatments that are available in the United States, patients routinely receive "prescriptions" for natural herbs instead of mainstream pharmaceuticals. In the United States, an estimated 25 percent of pharmaceuticals continue to be derived from natural plant sources.

Scientists around the world depend on natural herbs in developing more potent medicine. Not long ago, experiments with the Pacific yew tree yielded an extract called taxol, which showed effectiveness against advanced breast and ovarian cancer, disease that didn't respond to standard chemotherapy drugs. Today, yew-derived drugs (sold under the brand names Paclitaxel and Taxotere) have become standard treatments to cure breast and ovarian cancers.

From "Alternative" To "Complementary" The Blended Medicine

Of course, many mainstream and conventional physicians are still leery of alternative medicine or natural medicine- and some still call them worthless. But many more have come to realize that their brand of medicine doesn't have a monopoly on the cure and healing and that alternative approaches often are quite valuable. Today's medical rallying cry is "Whatever works best," and many of those promoting blended medicine and holistic medicine have dropped the term altemative in favor of the term complementary. "Complementary says that the therapy do not replace mainstream medicine," Dr Brauer explains. "Rather, they complete it, expanding it to include areas it has undervalued or overlooked - diet, exercise, traditional healing arts, home remedy, natural cure and mind-body therapy." This approach is also known as holistic medicine.

"If I'm involved in a serious auto accident, I want the ambulance to take me to the nearest high-tech trauma center. Mainstream or conventional medicine is definitely the way to go for serious injuries," says Andrew T. Weil, M.D., director of the program in integrative medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. "But say I developed chronic pain as a result of the accident. Beyond narcotics, mainstream and conventional medicine doesn't have much to offer. But several alternative and complementary therapy may help. I might try other holistic approach such as chiropractic, acupuncture, yoga, massage, naturopathy, ayurveda or visualization therapy."

"I'm not opposed to medical technology," adds Deepak Chopra, M.D., creative director and cofounder of the Chopra Center for Well-Being in La Jolla, California. "Technological medicine is unsurpassed in diagnosing disease, providing cure and treatment for serious injuries and as cure to infections. But it does not treat chronic illness - for example, arthritis, diabetes and heart disease - very effectively."

The term alternative medicine is unlikely to disappear in the near future, but complementary and holistic medicine is clearly the coming concept. In late 1996, the National Institutes of Health's Office of Alternative Medicine changed its name to the Office of Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

One reason why more and more conventional and mainstream M.D.'s are open to blended and holistic medicine is that for the first time, mainstream medical journals are publishing studies showing that alternative therapy have real value. (Until recently, most journals published only dire warnings about the dangers of alternative therapies.) Another reason is high-profile advocates with mainstream and conventional medical backgrounds, such as Dr. Weil and Dr. Chopra.

But the people really driving the blending of mainstream, conventional and alternative approaches or the complementary medicine and holistic medicine are those that don't have any initials after their names. They're consumers like you. "People like alternative therapy," says Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council, a natural herbal education and research organization based in Austin, Texas. "No one is being forced to use them. A big - possibly the biggest - reason for their popularity is good word-of-mouth support."

Fibroids: Women's Disease

Fibroid is also known as a uterine leiomyomata or “myoma,”. Fibroid is a lump or growth in the uterus that is not cancerous. Fibroids can be as small as a pea to as large as a basketball. Fibroids are usually round and pinkish in color, and they can grow anywhere inside or on the uterus. While some women have only one fibroid, they typically are present in groups of two or more.

About 30% of women older than 30 years have fibroids, and they usually appear between the ages of 35 and 45.

Uterine fibroids are the most common female pelvic tumor, affecting up to 30% of women. Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that arise from smooth muscle cells within the uterus and can result in symptoms such as pelvic pain, pelvic pressure, urinary frequency, abdominal fullness, infertility and heavy menstrual bleeding. Fibroids can be microscopic and some fibroids may weigh several pounds. While it is unclear what causes fibroids to form, we do know fibroids depend on estrogen to grow and are more common in African-American women.

Treatment options for fibroids vary upon the severity of symptoms, a patient's age and medical history, as well as her desire to maintain fertility. Simple treatment options include monitoring with ultrasound, oral contraceptive pills or hormone injections to control fibroid growth. A myomectomy, or surgical removal of fibroids, can be performed. ysteroscopically, larparoscopically or abdominally. In addition, uterine artery embolization (UAE), performed by an interventional radiologist, is designed to restrict the fibroid's blood supply. The benefit of UAE is avoidance of surgecal removal of fibroids, but long-term results are unknown, as is the affect on future pregnancy.

Ampalaya Herbal Medicine used for the treatment of diabetes, hemorroids, gout, dysentery and others

Akapulko is among herbal medicinal plants used as folkloric treatment for fungal infections, like ringworms, scabies and eczema. Akapulko leaves are also known to be sudorific, diuretic and purgative, used to treat intestinal problems including intestinal parasites. Akapulko is also used to treat bronchitis and asthmaatment of diabetes, hemorroids, gout, dysentery and others

Banaba is used as herbal medicine and is a flowering plant that grows in warm climate. widely used as herbal medicine for diabetes, and weight loss management supplement.

Bawang is a herbal medicine used for its anti-inflamatory, antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. It is also used in the treatment of hypetension, high level of blood cholesterol, as an antioxidant and in the treatment of cancer among others.

Bayabas is a herbal medicine used for treating wounds and other stomach problems

Lagundi is a herbal medicine used for the treatment of asthma and other respiratory ailments.

Tsaang Gubat is a herbal medicine used for the treatment of skin wounds, mouth wash and other ailments..

Malunggay (Moringa Oleifera) known as the miracle tree because of variety of uses. The leaves are highly nutritious, being a significant source of beta-carotene, Vitamin C, protein, iron, and potassium. Believed to have anti cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and other medicinal benefits.Pansit-Pansitan

Makabuhay plant (Tinospora Cordifolia) also popularly known as Indian Guduchi, giloya or Heavenly elixir is a native plant from tropical and subtropical rainforests in the Far East such as in India, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

Oregano is used as herbal remedy for sore throat, asthma, colds, coughs and flu.

Lemon grass also known as Tanglad is used as herbal medicine for skin problems such as athlete's foot, acne, skin infections, ringworms, and many more. Study also shows that it can kill cancer cells.

Vitex agnus castus, a herbal medicine used to correct hormonal disorders in women

Niyon-niyogan, a herbal medicine for expulsion of intestinal worms and parasites.

Yerba buena, a herbal medicine used for body aches, stomachj achees and rheumatism.

Gogo, a climbing vine that is used to treat inflamations and diabetes mellitus. Gogo is also used to treat hair loss ang other other scalp problems.

Guyabano, a medicinal fruit known to have anti-cancer properties also known as Graviola

Caraway is a popular spice used in culinary preparations that possess medicinal benefits for gastrointestinal realted problems

Other Herbs with Health Benefits

Bitter Melon, Banana, Celery, Chicory, Coleus, Cordyceps Sinensis, Cascara Sagrada, Catuaba, Chickweed, Dandelion, Dong qua, Enchinacea, Elderberry, prostate, evening primrose, flaxseed, gingko biloba, glucosamine, ginseng panax, ginseng benefits, goldenseal, green tea, grape seed, hawthorn, hops, horseradish, kava kava, bitter melon, kangkong, kelp, licorice, marijuana, saluyot, stinging nettle, papaya, psyllium, maca, red raspberry, siling labuyo, stinging nettle