The Wonder Herb for Diabetes, Heart Diseases, Blood Pressure & More

SERPENTINA

Indian snakeroot

Medicinal Plant

Description

Rauvolfia serpentina, the Indian snakeroot, devil pepper, or serpentine wood, is a species of flower in the milkweed family Apocynaceae. It is native to the Indian subcontinent and East Asia. Rauvolfia is a perennial undershrub widely distributed in India in the sub-Himalayan regions up to 1,000 metres. Source:Wikipedia

Scientific name: Rauvolfia serpentina

Family: Apocynaceae

Order: Gentianales

Kingdom: Plantae

Rauwolfia (Rauwolfia serpentina), also spelled ravolphia, is a medicinal plant in the milkweed family. The root of the plant is ground into a powder or sold in tablets or capsules. It is a compound commonly used in Asian medicine, which includes traditional Ayurvedic medicine native to India.

The Wonder Herb for Diabetes, Heart Diseases, Weight Loss & More

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This plant, Serpentina is widely popular today in the Philippines. This plant brings a lot of health benefits. One of the chemicals in Serpentina is the same as a prescription called reserpine, an indole alkaloid, antipsychotic, and antihypertensive that has been used for the control of high blood pressure, relief of psychotic symptoms and etc. It also labelled as “King of Bitters” because of its extremely bitter taste.
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BENEFITS

ANALGESIC – pain killer

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY – reduces swelling

ANTIBACTERIAL – has a remarkable effect in reducing diarrhea and other bacterial infections

ANTIMALARIAL – helps prevent parasite infection and multiplication in the blood stream

ANTIHEPATOTOXIC AND HEPATOPROTECTIVE – eliminates liver toxins and protects liver and gall bladder

ANTIPYRETIC – reduces fever

ANTITHROMBOTIC – blood clot prevention. Helps prevent heart attack.

ANTIVIRAL – inhibits viral activity including HIV (further studies are being made)

ANTIOXIDANT – fights free radicals

CARDIOPOTECTIVE – protects heart muscles

CHOLERETIC – increases the flow of bile

CONSTIPATION

DEPURATIVE – cleans the system especially the blood stream

EXPECTORANT – releases mucus in the respiratory system

HYPOGLYCEMIC – lowers blood sugar and protect against diabetes

IMMUNE ENHANCER – increases immune system

JOINT PAINS

SPASMS IN THE LEGS due to poor circulation

TROUBLE  SLEEPING (insomnia)

NERVOUSNESS, anxiety, insomnia and certain mental diseases: it can depress the central nervous system. It was shown to decrease episodes of agitation, excitement, hallucinations, and withdrawal symptoms.

MENTAL DISORDERS such as schizophenia

THYROID- Serpentina is good for thyroid: Serpentina root extract may ameliorate T4-induced thyrotoxicosis with little or no hepatotoxic effects. It is therefore suggested that this plant extract might be considered for the treatment of hyperthyroidism.

ANTIVENOM or antitoxin for animal bites

PROMOTE UTERINE CONTRACTIONS 

GOOD for  THE LIVER

To reap all these benefits, our common healing practice is to eat five (5) big leaves of fresh Serpentina or six (6) small leaves, thrice (3x) a day. 

It may also be taken as tea but the infused leaves should be eaten as well three (3x) a day. 

You may start with a few leaves as it takes a while to get used to it.

Despite all its virtues, there should be some caution in taking Serpentina, especially, among the following:

1. Should not be taken by patients taking aspirin or any blood thinner medication since Serpentina is also a blood thinner.

2. Pregnant and lactating mothers should avoid this since Serpentina is an abortifacient. While there is no actual study on adverse effects on lactating mothers, it is better not to risk.

3. Individuals with Auto-immune diseases like multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, etc. should avoid taking this.

If Serpentina is taken regularly and continuously, it is important to note also that it should be limited to only three (3) months for adults and one (1) month for children, whether in capsule or fresh form. It has side effects like swollen lymph glands, serious allergic reactions and elevation of liver enzymes. Too much of everything is unsafe.

What is the side effect of serpentina?


It contains chemicals that have been shown to cause low blood pressure and slow heart rate. Long-term use can cause depression. Other possible side effects of Indian snakeroot include nasal congestion, changes in appetite and weight, nightmares, drowsiness, and loose stools.

When should I take serpentina?


The typical dose is 600 mg/day, taken about 1 hour before bedtime. Since the use of rauwolfia results in a decrease of monoamine activity, those who take this compound should be monitored for the possible onset of depressive symptoms.

Food and alcohol interactions

You can take serpentina with or without food. If you experience an upset stomach, taking this medication with meals may prevent discomfort. In addition, it is important to drink plenty of water.

Do not take serpentina with alcohol. Taking these together may increase CNS depression. Signs and symptoms of CNS depression include drowsiness, sedation, slowed heart and breathing rate, and inability to make decisions.

Banana: Uses and Its Health Benefits

"Of all trees, only banana have a heart."

"Sa lahat ng puno, saging lang ang may puso.

Scientific Name: Musa sapientum

Common Name; Saging, Kela, Platano, Cavendish, Fen ba jiao

According to Wikipedia, banana may have probably originated from the tropics of America especially southern Mexico where it was first cultivated and was later propagated in other tropical and sub-tropical countries in the continents of America, Australia, Africa and Asia. Description: Banana is commonly mistaken as a tree but it is actually a large perennial flowering herb with leaf sheaths that form trunk-like pseudostems that grows from a corm. Banana can grow up to 7 meters in height that has about 8 - 12 spirally arranged leaves that are up to 2.7 meters long and 0.6 meter wide.
The banana fruits develop from the heart, in a hanging cluster made up of tiers (hands), up to 20 fruit to a tier that ripen in 60 to 90 days after the first flower appeared.


Uses

Food: The ripe fruit of banana is used in many ways in the human diet—from simply being peeled and eaten to being sliced and served in fruit cups and salads, sandwiches, custards and gelatins; being mashed and flavored to ice cream, bread, muffins, and cream pies.

Banana puree is used as infant food, flavors to cake, pie, ice cream, cheesecake, doughnuts, milk shakes and many other products. It is also used for canning  with applesauce, and is combined with peanut butter as a spread. Banana nectar is prepared from banana puree.
Sliced ripe bananas, canned in syrup are used  in frozen tarts, pies, gelatins and other products.

The tree can be used as ornamental plants or for fiber. Banana fibers can be used as natural absorbent, bio – remediation agent for bacteria in natural water purifier, for mushroom production, they are also used in making of handicrafts, quality paper cards, tea bags, string thread, high quality fabric material, paper for currency notes and good rope for tying purpose.

Banana leaves are widely used as plates and for lining cooking pits and for wrapping food for cooking or storage. A section of leaf often serves as an eye-shade. In Latin America, it is a common practice during rains to hold a banana leaf by the petiole, upside-down, over one's back as an "umbrella" or "raincoat". The leaves of the 'Fehi' banana are used for thatching, packing, and cigarette wrappers. The pseudostems have been fastened together as rafts.

In the Philippines, the Pinatubo Negritos cut off a banana plant close to the ground, make a hollow in the top of the stump, which then fills with watery sap drunk as an emergency thirst quencher. Central Americans obtain the sap of the red banana in the same manner and take it as an aphrodisiac. It is also woven into a thin, transparent fabric called "agna" which is the principal material in some regions for women's blouses and men's shirts. It is also used for making handkerchiefs. In Ceylon, it is fashioned into soles for inexpensive shoes and used for floor coverings.

Medicinal Uses: All parts of the banana plant have medicinal applications: the flowers in bronchitis and dysentery and on ulcers; cooked flowers are given to diabetics; the astringent plant sap in cases of hysteria, epilepsy, leprosy, fevers, hemorrhages, acute dysentery and diarrhea, and it is applied on hemorrhoids, insect and other stings and bites; young leaves are placed as poultices on burns and other skin afflictions; the astringent ashes of the unripe peel and of the leaves are taken in dysentery and diarrhea and used for treating malignant ulcers; the roots are administered in digestive disorders, dysentery and other ailments; banana seed mucilage is given in cases of catarrh and diarrhea in India. Antifungal and antibiotic principles are found in the peel and pulp of fully ripe bananas. The antibiotic acts against Mycobacteria. A fungicide in the peel and pulp of green fruits is active against a fungus disease of tomato plants. Norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin are also present in the ripe peel and pulp. The first two elevate blood pressure; serotonin inhibits gastric secretion and stimulates the smooth muscle of the intestines. The young leaves are also used to lower fever, because of its cooling properties.


Banana is a very versatile plant where all of its parts provides its respective health benefits as used in traditional herbal medicine.

Health Benefits from Banana fruit

• Banana being rich in fibers, has long been used as demulcent and laxative to improve bowel movement.
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• Banana is used to treat biliousness and heartburn
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• Banana is used to promote lymphatic flow and to stimulate the detoxifying functions of the liver.
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• Banana is used to prevent scurvy
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• Banana is included in diet to help restore health and strength.
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• The flour made from green bananas is used for dyspepsia and flatulence.
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• Ripe bananas combined with tamarind and salt are used to treat dysentery and diarrhea.

Banana trunk and leaf juice health benefits

• Banana juice is used as an astringent
• Banana juice is used as styptic to control bleeding.
• Banana is used to treat fever
• Banana is used as emmenagogue to help menstrual flow.
• The mucilage of the trunk is used to promote hair growth.
• The juice of the trunk is also used for dysentery and diarrhea

Banana leaves and roots health benefits

• Banana young leaves are used as dressings for skin wounds to treat inflammation.
• Banana leaves are used as a cool application for headaches.
• The powdered roots of banana are used to treat anemia and cachexia
• Banana seeds used to treat inflammation of the mucus membrane of the nose and throat
• The mucilage from tender roots is used to check hemorrhage in genitalia and air passages.
• The sap of the roots are used as enema for diarrhea.

Health Benefits from Banana Flower

• The cooked flowers are used to treat diabetes
• The cooked flowers are also used to treat heart burn
• Sap from the flowers are used to treat earaches       

sources: wikipedia; medicalhealthguide