ANN NICOLE B.

BANGIBAN Ginkgo Biloba

BSN-III(B)

The action of the herb is due to the many chemical substances contained in the leaves. It is mainly used as a memory and concentration enhancer due to better blood circulation in the brain. It can a treatment for cases of hearing and memory loss, in treating tuberculosis, gonorrhea, stomach pains, skin diseases, leucorrhea, angina pectoralis, dysenteries, high blood tension, vertigo and anxiety. It helps in cases of asthma and bronchitis because of the contained flavonoids and it also contains an inhibitor that reduces blood clots. It can be used to treat blood pressure problems. (http://www.liveandfeel.com/medicinalplants/ginkgo_biloba.htm) I have heard a lot about this plant called by many as the tree of life because of its many medicinal properties and which had been used mostly as memory and concentration enhancers. It comes in forms of supplements and a lot more. This plant is rarely found here in the Philippines but because of its benefits for health many has already been using it for experimentation for new products. One that I use is the Bear brand milk containing it.

Aloe Vera
It toughens up the immune system owing to the 23 peptides contained by the aloe plant, it accelerates and regulates the metabolism, purifies the human body from toxins, bringing about a feeling of calm. Moreover, aloe vera has an antiseptic effect (by destroying bacterias, viruses and fungi), disinfectant capabilities and can also stimulate the cell-renewing process. Aloe vera has proved its efficiency from the simplest allergies to the treatment of wounds and skin infections and even to its usage in alleviating more serious afflictions. A l0t more diseases are treated like asthma, arthritis, gingivitis, bronchitis, pharyngitis, intestinal inflamations, constipations, obesity, sprains, muscle strains and cutaneous inflamations. (http://www.liveandfeel.com/medicinalplants/ginkgo_biloba.html). Aloe vera according to what Ive heard is most widely used in the cosmetic industry especially for good hair growth. The most oftenly used substance from this herb is the thick viscious liquid found in the interior of the leaves. Also, a lot of people I know use it for burns because of its cooling effect.

Onion
The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the use of onions for the treatment of poor appetite and to prevent atherosclerosis. Onion extracts are recognized by WHO for providing relief in the treatment of coughs and colds, asthma and bronchitis. They are a very rich source of fructo-oligosaccharides. These oligomers stimulate the growth of healthy bifidobacteria and suppress the growth of potentially harmful bacteria in the colon. Internally, the onion is an energizer. It is also useful for edemas, cirrhosis, pleurisy, and it has antiseptic features. Externernally, it is an active remedy for stomatitis, aphtha as it has a powerful effect on staphylococcus. (http://www.vegetarian-nutrition.info/updates/onions.php) Onion can be used in a lot of way and is cheap. My parents mostly use onion with their dishes to lower blood glucose levels. Several servings of onion each week are sufficient to lower risk of cancer. It is a herb both used for cooking and medicinal value. As a medicine, they preferred eating it raw because through boiling it loses a large part of its main actions.

Celery
It strengthens the immunologic system and at the same time makes the body more resistant against new diseases. This plant has diuretic properties and dichloridic effects which are useful in renal afflictions. Celery is consumed as a diuretic and laxative by those who have urinary retentions or suffer from kidney illnesses. Diets based on celery have energizing and fortifying effects on the body due to the stimulation of the renal glands, reduction of the stress hormone and decreasing of the heart rate. It is also an expectorant, emollient (effective against bronchitis), it adjusts hormonal dysfunctions (dysmenorrhea, infertility, disorders caused by menopause, various forms of acne, allergic dermatosis) and cicatrizing (good for wounds, scratches, ulcerations). (http://www.liveandfeel.com/medicinalplants/celery.html). In our family, we mostly used this plant as ingredient when cooking different dishes because of its spicing effect. We also add this when making vegetable salad due to its effect on losing weight. Also, celery keeps its therapeutic properties the best when it is consumed raw.