Health benefits of Taro that we must know

Taro

Taro is a native of Tahiti, Hawaii, and in tropical countries, especially in Southeast Asia. In the Philippines it is abundantly planted or grown in wild and locally called as Gabi. During holy week Filipinos love to cook Taro used in fasting. Taro is well known, with large leaves that resemble an elephant's ear. In the Philippines there are two 3 famous variety of Taro the native the American and the one called as badjang. Of the 3 mention the native variety is the famous it is well grown and taken care of by the farmer as well as sold at higher price than the American as it is commonly grown in wild, while the bajang has no use because it has a very sticky substance that cannot be eaten.  

Taro is very easy to grown. It's delicious and nutritious compared to other hard-to plant vegetables. It is edible leaf to its corm.

Taro roots

100 grams of taro contains almost 0% fat and cholesterol, and about 112 calories, 11 milligrams sodium, 2 g protein, contains vitamin A, C, E, K, iron, calcium, and many others making it rich in vitamins and minerals.

If we all come together Taro crops can help world hunger. More over 100 million people worldwide are currently eating taro. It grows in moist soils in the humid tropics of many countries. In Philippines Japan, Korea and China, consumes most taro plant and in daily diet with a variety of cakes for cooking the main meal. In some party or celebration taro is always present as it is being used as additive in some menu.

We can plant taro in the garden in the backyard, even in a small container garden. From my childhood time, I planted taro, inherited this from my lolo who planted taro in his farm and backyard.

We can grind taro, potatoes mashed with sugar or other ingredients to suit our taste. We can bake, or you can fry to our taste.

In other country, Taro is roasted, boiled, added to pork, beef or baked and cakes. Compared to potato Taro has a higher proportion of protein, calcium and phosphorus. It is also rich in vitamins A and C. Taro is rich in amylase, which breaks the sugar with the saliva for faster digestion. For people with digestive problems Taro is great. For infants taro flour is used in foods, especially for those with allergies, such as lactose intolerance.

Native

Tooth decay prevention, Taro is also good food.

Today, many crops are affected by pollution. Dioxins, toxins, insecticides, industrial chemicals, pollutants, nuclear radiation, and many others affect our daily diet in our farmland. It is rumored that Taro is a crop free of contaminants. We can taro without fear taro, taro is not affected.

  

Grow Sweet Potato and Lower Hypertension

Most of us love to eat potato I myself love to eat potato too in fact during my high school life we planted potato in our farmland and we enjoy too much during harvest. I have no knowledge what is the health benefit brought by potato upon eating it. I enjoy eat and I love to eat.

Sweet Potato

Planting potatoes is very simple; it is quite simple as other root crops, just simply cut the vine and sow it into the soil. For the next days you will notice that you will see full grown potatoes full of vines and leaves.



Sweet potatoes can lower our high blood pressure, bad cholesterol, and even blood sugar.



Aside from boiling Potato crops for eating Potato leaves can be made salad for our breakfast salad every day. One way of preparing potato salad is cooking vines of potato in microwave oven for 2 minutes and after cooking spray with some sesame seeds and soy sauce as seasoning to make it tastier for our salad. And yes it could be one of the reasons that I maintain normal blood pressure and it's for free.

Sweet Potato Salad

In potato vines you can harvest every 2 to 3 days unlike spinach which planted using seeds and waiting period of two months for harvest though it taste similar to spinach and having comparable nutritional value.



I have friends that like me practice eating potato salad, they conform me that they maintain their blood pressure and lower cholesterol level too. Like me they enjoy eating potatoes too.



By the way you can plant potato in cut plastic bottle either beside your window or door and enjoy free potato salad every morning.



Facts



A serving of sweet potatoes contains 327% of our daily need for vitamin A which is more than any other vegetables.



Sweet potatoes are related to the morning glory family and NOT the family of potato.



When we store sweet potatoes in our refrigerator, they will develop a bad taste as cold temperature will turn the starch to a sugar.



I hope you enjoy reading this article and enjoy eating sweet potatoes.

Health benefits of Lemon grass

Lemon grass abundantly grown in the Philippines it is widely used as spice in Philippine cooking. Lemon grass is locally known to us Filipinos as tanglad (Citronella Grass). The Lemon grass is the number one additive to chicken tinola a famous recipe in cooking chicken. Most of us did not know the health benefits of Lemon grass in this article we discuss some health benefits that we must know.

Lemon grass is beneficial in many ways; continue to know more about the health benefits provided by lemon grass. Lemon grass has antibacterial and antifungal properties which help to deal with lot of health problems. It is the herb which is used in many homes to cope mainly with cough, cold and fever. However, lots of people are unaware that this wonderful herb can provide lots of health benefits.

Health Benefits of Lemon Grass:

• It contains an antibacterial and antifungal properties
• It helps to detoxify the liver, pancreas, kidney, bladder and the digestive tract.
• Helps boost the immune system
• Helps reduce uric acid, cholesterol, excess fats
• It helps alleviates indigestion and gastroenteritis.
• Helps improve the skin by reducing acne and pimples
• It helps tone the muscle and tissues.
• Helps to cope with fever
• Helps battle with cough and cold
• Helps battle with stress
• Makes battle with high blood pressure easier
• It help lowers the cholesterol level
• Will helps to cleanse the body by eliminating toxic substances
• Cleanses other organs of our body including kidney, pancreas, liver, bladder etc.
• Helps to improve the digestive system
• Helps to improve blood circulation
• Helps to cope with excessive fats in body
• Helps to deal with menstrual problems
• Proves beneficial to cope with acne and pimples

How to us Lemon Grass

Lemon grass can be boiled and consumed in tea form it can also included in diet in many forms. Some people make use of lemon grass oil to add its flavour to food. Lemon grass is best when added in flavour along with ginger.

You can also prepare an extraordinary and medicinal drink with lemon grass. Just take few fresh strands of lemon grass, two to three cloves, a small piece of cinnamon stick, and turmeric powder and boil it with milk. After this mixture is properly boiled, drain it and drink it when it cools down to get relief from cough and cold.

This plant can be easily grown in backyard and resistant to different weather condition.

Health benefits of lemons we must know



Lemon Fruit



The origin of Lemon is mystery. Lemon is abundantly grown in South East Asia it has know having antiseptic properties and it was used as an antidote for various poisons. Lemon has a lot of nutritional value that is very good in our body and also in culinary.

Lemon has lot of varieties that came from different places of the world, namely Bush lemon tree, Eureka, Lisbon, Meyer, Ponderosa, Variegated Pink, Verna, Villafranca, Yen Ben and Yuzu.

Below is a compilation of Health Benefits we can get from lemon.

Good for stomach

Lemon can help relieve many digestion problems when mixed with hot water. These include nausea, heartburn and parasites. Due to the digestive qualities of lemon juice, symptoms of indigestion such as heartburn, bloating and belching are relieved. By drinking lemon juice regularly, the bowels are aided in eliminating waste more efficiently. Lemon acts as a blood purifier and as a cleansing agent. The intake of lemon juice can cure constipation. It is even known to help relieve hiccups when consumed as a juice. Lemon juice acts as a liver tonic and helps you digest your food by helping your liver produce more bile. It decreases the amount of phlegm produced by your body. It is also thought to help dissolve gallstones.

Excellent for Skin Care

Lemon, being a natural antiseptic medicine, can participate to cure problems related to skin. Lemon is a vitamin C rich citrus fruit that enhances your beauty, by rejuvenating skin from within and thus bringing a glow on your face. Daily consumption of lemon water can make a huge difference in the appearance of your skin. It acts as an anti-aging remedy and can remove wrinkles and blackheads. Lemon water if applied on the areas of burns can fade the scars. As lemon is a cooling agent, it reduces the burning sensation on the skin.

Aids in Dental Care

Lemon water is used in dental care also. If fresh lemon juice is applied on the areas of toothache, it can assist in getting rid of the pain. The massages of lemon juice on gums can stop gum bleeding. It gives relief from bad smell and other problems related to gums.

Cures Throat Infections
Lemon is an excellent fruit that aids in fighting problems related to throat infections, sore throat and tonsillitis as it has an antibacterial property. For sore throat, dilute one-half lemon juice with one-half water and gargle frequently.

Good for Weight Loss

One of the major health benefits of drinking lemon water is that it paves way for losing weight faster, thus acting as a great weight loss remedy. If a person takes lemon juice mixed with lukewarm water and honey, it can reduce the body weight
as well.

Controls High Blood Pressure

Lemon water works wonders for people having heart problem, owing to its high potassium content. It controls high blood pressure, dizziness, nausea as well as provides relaxation to mind and body. It also reduces mental stress and depression.

Assist in curing Respiratory Disorders

Lemon water assists in curing respiratory problems, along with breathing problems and revives a person suffering from asthma.

Good for treating Rheumatism

Lemon is also a diuretic and hence lemon water can treat rheumatism and arthritis. It helps to flush out bacteria and toxins out of the body.

Reduces Fever

Lemon water can treat a person who is suffering from cold, flu or fever. It helps to break fever by increasing perspiration.

Acts as a blood purifier

The diseases like cholera or malaria can be treated with lemon water as it can act as a blood purifier.

Other known health benefits of Lemon

• Lemon being a citrus fruit fights against infection. It helps in production of WBC's and antibodies in blood which attacks the invading microorganism and prevents infection.

• Lemon is an antioxidant which deactivates the free radicals preventing many dangerous diseases like stroke, cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

• Lemon lowers blood pressure and increases the levels of HDL (good cholesterol).

• Lemon is found to be anti-carcinogenic which lower the rates of colon, prostate, and breast cancer. They prevent faulty metabolism in the cell, which can predispose a cell to becoming carcinogenic. Also blocks the formation of nitrosamines in the gut.

• Lemon juice is said to give a glow to the skin.

• A few drops of lemon juice in hot water is believed to clear the digestive system and purify liver as well.

• The skin of lemon dried under the sun and then ground to make powder can be applied to the hair for a few minutes before bath which relieves head ache and cools the body.

• Applying lemon juice to acne dries the existing ones and prevents from getting more.

• Lemon juice acts as a natural hair lightner and skin bleach which reduces the pigment melanin and prevents the risk of chemical allergic reactions which is common with hair dyes and bleaches.

• Lemon juice is given to relieve gingivitis, stomatitis, and inflammation of the tongue.

• Lemon juice is given to prevent common cold.

• Lemon juice is given to prevent or treat urinary tract infection and gonorrhea.

• Lemon juice is applied to the sites of bites and stings of certain insects to relieve its poison and pain.

• Lemon juice relieves colic pain and gastric problems.

• Lemon juice soothes the dry skin when applied with little glycerin.
• Lemon juice used for marinating seafood or meat kills bacteria and other organisms present in them, thereby prevents many gastro-intestinal tract infections.

• Lemon juice with a pinch of salt (warm) every morning lowers cholesterol levels and brings down your weight.

• Lemon juice is the best drink to prevent dehydration and shock in case of diarrhea.

• Lemon juice can also be used as a mouthwash. It removes plaque, whitens the teeth and strengthens the enamel.

• A table spoon on thick lemon syrup everyday relieves asthma.

• Lemon juice relieves chilblains and itchy skin.

• Gargling lemon juice relieves throat infection and also used as a treatment for diphtheria.

• Lemon juice is an excellent treatment for dandruff and greasy hair.

• Lemon applies over the face removes wrinkles and keeps you young.

• Lemon juice helps to prevent and cure osteoarthritis.

Drink lemon everyday to keep healthy all day.

How to use Baking Soda TO Stop Body Odor Naturally

Baking Soda

Many people suffer bad body odor. Body odor is a result of bacteria multiplying rapidly in the presence of sweat, but sweat itself is almost completely odorless to humans. Individual body odor is influence by genetics, diet and food intake.
Body odor can be reduced or prevented using deodorants, antiperspirants, disinfectants, and soaps with herbs, ointments and baking soda.

As the body odor is associated with hygiene practices it can be change in diet as well as other factors discussed.

Baking soda is one of the simplest and cheapest solutions in body odor. Below are the instructions in using Baking Soda as body odor treatment.

Instructions

Step 1 – DEODORANT

Apply a slightly heavier coat of deodorant than normal. Then, apply baking soda on top of that layer, same with applying baby powder. Do not inhale baking soda. It's not toxic, but any lung contaminate can result in respiratory problems.

Step 2 – BAD BREATH

Purchase toothpaste with baking soda as an ingredient, or try adding baking soda to our toothpaste. We can also mix half a teaspoon of baking soda with our mouthwash and use it to swish and gargle.

Step 3 – HAIR

Hair also produce bad odor. Our hair traps odors and oils produced by our scalp. In fact, more body heat is released through our head than through any other part of our body. These oils not only look bad, but carry an unpleasant odor too.
We try adding a touch of baking powder to our grooming routine. In the shower, after washing and conditioning, lets mix a small amount of baking soda (2 tbs approximately) with enough water to create a paste. The paste is applied to our hair and massage in thoroughly. Allow to sit for 3 minutes, then rinse. Our hair may feel slick even after rinsing. This is because a small amount of baking soda will cling in our hair, helping to absorb odors throughout the day.

Step 4 – SHOES

We are probably aware that baking soda is a common additive to innersoles and other shoe inserts. However, we don't need to purchase the insert to have the same odor fighting effects.
Pour enough baking soda into our shoes to coat the inner sides. Spread the baking soda on all inner sides of the shoe as though we were coating a baking pan with flour. Allow soda several hours to absorb odors. Then, turn shoe upside down over a trash bin and pat with our hand to remove excess powder. Repeat as often as we need to keep up with foot odor.

Step 5 – HAND ODOR

If you are one of many people who find that any odor our hands come in contact with is difficult to wash away, baking soda is the answer. Baking soda is highly effective in removing unpleasant smells like onion and garlic. Simply wet our hands, apply baking soda liberally, scrub, rinse. Odor is gone.

Step 6 – LAUNDRY

Adding baking soda to our laundry will help stop body odor. This method works best with natural fibers like cotton, denim blue jeans, linen.

WASH METHOD ~ Wash clothes as normal with regular detergent, but add 1/4 cup baking soda to the wash.

DRYER METHOD ~ Wash clothes as usual. Moisten a clean washcloth, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Add the washcloth to the load in our dryer. Dry as usual.

This method works best for ongoing prevention of body odor

Step 7 BATH

There are many benefits to adding soaking in a baking soda bath. It will help relieve skin irritation, moisten our skin, relieve itch. It will also help fight odor.
Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to a comfortably warm bath. Soak.

Tips & Warnings

***NOTE*** If you are in a situation where showering is not an option, baking soda can be applied directly to our hair and combed through for a similar effect. Do not mix the baking soda with any water.

- If skin irritation develops, discontinue use of baking soda.

- If you have existing skin conditions, consult our doctor before using baking soda in any of the methods described in this article.
- Do not expose eyes to baking soda.

- Do not inhale baking soda.

10 Reasons Why Sun Is Good for Our Health



Sun



Even from the beginning our ancestors believe that sun give life to earth without it we can't live this planet. But too much exposure to sunlight is a disaster. In short it is depends on how we use it. Below are 10 reasons why Sun is good for our health.

1. The sunlight kills microbes. That's why it is important to put out in the sun carpets, blankets and eiderdowns that cannot be washed regularly. Exposure to the sun confers the skin a bright, healthy look and increased elasticity. A moderately tanned skin is more resistant to infections and sun burning than an untanned one. Many skin diseases (dermatitis) can be controlled and even cured through controlled exposure to the sun. The sun rays are proven to strengthen the immune system.

2. Due to the sun our mood and morals improve. Sunlight helps in cases of chronic or acute depression, by stimulating the synthesis of endorphins (good-feeling hormones). That's why we get depressed in the cold and dark days of the winter.

3. The sun is good against insomnia. Daytime exposure to sunlight increases the melatonin production during the night. This hormone helps regulate the sleep.

4. Under the action of the sunlight, the skin synthesizes vitamin D, which makes possible calcium absorption in the intestine, helping the organism grow strong bones. This way the sun prevents rachitism in both children and adults and osteoporosis in elders.

5. As vitamin D and some related compounds impede the development of some cancer cells, we can say the sun fights off this disease. Regular and controlled exposure to the sun has a preventive effect against cancer of colon, breast, leukemia and lymphomas.

6. Exposure to the sun strengthens the cardiovascular system. Blood circulation is improved; the pulse, arterial pressure, moderately high glycerin and cholesterol levels can be normalized.

7. Sun rays improve liver functioning, being effective in treating jaundice.

8. They help the kidneys with a part of their job, as the sun waves favor the elimination of waste products through the skin, when we sweat.

9. The sun also helps losing weight by increasing the metabolic rate through the stimulation of the thyroid. It also eases symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

10. The sun rays also ease the healing of the swollen joints during peaks of inflammation in cases of arthritis.

I hope you enjoy reading this is so you are free to leave your comments.

How to make Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN)

Many People are advocating Natural Farming. Lot of them is experimenting to gain profit in Natural Farming business. To make it profitable some are making fermented juices for plants and animals for a better yield. In our previous article I have mentioned on How to make Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) as well as Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ). In this article I will try to explain another Fermented Juice, like fermented fruit and plant juices, Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN) is a fermented product that is of great help to natural farming.

Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN) can be to enhance the nutrients of livestock feeds.  Likewise in growing crop production Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN) is commonly used as natural Insect repellant. The Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN) is very much effective in enhancing the Immune system of both plants and animals.

Here is the procedure in making Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN):

Ingredients:

4 kilos of crushed ginger
4 kilos of crushed garlic
3 kilos of muscovado/brown sugar or molasses
10 liters of gin or liquor 30 to 40 proof

Procedure:

1.    Mix the some of the ingredients (4 kg, crushed garlic, 4 kg. crushed ginger and 3 kg muscovado/brown sugar or molasses). Store it inside the jar cover and keep it sealed. After three days, add 10 liters of gin or liquor. Keep the jar sealed again.

Note: See to it that the jar is not fully filled. Leave at least 2 inches unfilled.

2.    Draw off the liquid after 10 days. The first extract is good for animal. Together

3.    with other juices, fermented fruit juice, fermented plant juice, and fish amino acid, Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN) is incorporated in the animal feeds.

4.    After the 2nd procedure, add the same amount of gin taken from the first extraction. For stronger potency fresh or dry chili, neem tree fruit, curry fruit, makabuhay(panyawan in cebuano) and marigold can be added. After 10 days, extract the juice again. The extracted juice for the second time is good for use in growing plants.

5. For the 3rd time, add the same amount of gin taken. After 10 days, extract the liquid again.

The Oriental Herbal Nutrient (OHN) Juice can be mix with other fermented juices and spray on the leaves of the plants and on the soil every week.
It is good for all stages of plant growth. In animal it can be used as feeds additive together with other Fermented Juices.

How to make Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ)

In previous article we had mentioned on How to make Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ) which is called the husband of Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ). In this article we focused in fermenting plant juice to help Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ) produce a better yield in organic Farming.

Use any green colored leaves such as kangkong, kamote, kalabasa, alugbati tops, bambooshoots, malunggay, Banana trunk,stem and blossom, Water Spinach, Bamboo Shoots, Green grasses, Bamboo leaves, Duck Weed, azola and aloe vera and other fast growing plants can also be used. Fresh, juicy, succulent leaves are best. Seaweeds also can be used or whatever edible plants and vegetables you have in your area.

Here is the procedure in making Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ):

• Gather all the material before sunrise or early morning. Do not wash the material but please remove soil.

• Produce 3 kg of material mix of different kinds of materials.

• Mix plant material with 1/2 kg of sugar, coat the plant evenly and gently hand do not crushed.

• Put in a plastic or clay container, and must be at least 3/4 is filled.

• Add weight on top of mixture either big rock or anything heavy.

• Wait 5 hours. Remove weight.

• Sprinkle 1/2 kg of sugar to layer on top of plant material no mixing is needed.

• Cover with paper, tie with string, and keep 7-10 days. It is suggested to write the date on the paper when to harvest.

• After due date drain the liquid and place in plastic bottles always leave about 1/3 of bottle empty.

• After harvesting plant material can be used as animal feed or compost.

• The Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) should have a pleasant smell and sweet, tangy taste. It can be keeps for about one year in cool place and must be not exposed to directly to sunlight.

Warning: Do not tighten bottle lid for 2 weeks wait until tiny bubbles disappears or before bottling to allow gasses to escape and avoid a sticky explosion.
The Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) can be used by spraying directly to the leaves of the plant early morning or afternoon, just add 2 spoons Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) to 10 liters water.

Natural or organic farming is the best way to achieve top quality and harvest with a lesser investment and most of all it help save our mother nature.

How To Make Fermented Fruit Juice

Fermented fruit juice is important in organic farming. It can be used for human, animals and plants. In the Philippines it is commonly used by farmers practicing organic farming. In poultry and livestock it can be used as feed additives.

In making Fermented fruit juice (FFJ), you must prepare some ingredients:

• Any of the following fruits may be used in preparing the fermented fruit juice: ripe banana, mango, papaya, avocado or squash (citrus is not recommended)

• Clay or plastic jar

• Molasses or brown sugar (mascuvado)

• Clean sheet of paper

• String

Procedure

1.    Chop the above mention fruit. Include the skin and the seeds.

2. Put the chopped fruit into the clay jar and mix with one kilo of brown sugar.

3. Cover the mouth of the jar with a clean sheet of paper and tie firmly with a string.
4. Place the jar in a cool and shaded place.

5. Let ferment the mixture for seven days. It will produce  approximately two and a half liters of fermented fruit juice.

How To Use The fermented fruit juice

Just mix two tablespoons of the juice to one liter of water. Spray the resulting mixture directly to the leaves and soil of fruit-bearing trees, or it can be added to animal feeds.

PCHRD develops anti-dengue solution from atis leaves

The fast rising cases of dengue victims and increase in mortality rate strike another headache to our government health officials. Most of dengue victims came from poor families that could hardly buy some mosquito repellant.   I found another article written by Danny O. Calleja  that would greatly help in preventing dengue cases, using the leaves of Atis that is locally available.   "Atis (Anona squamosa), a tropical plant that usually grows spontaneously in the Philippines, aside from bearing fruits of white, sweet, soft, juicy and mild agreeable flavored flesh, also yields leaves where government health researchers found extracts for the formulation of an effective anti-mosquito repellant.   As a result of its latest studies on atis, the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) said it has came out with the Atis Lotion Mosquito Repellent that was formulated using the extracts of its leaves mixed with other locally available materials.   PCHRD, one of the five sectoral councils of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is a partnership-based national body responsible for coordinating and monitoring health research activities in the country. "This mosquito repellent will surely be a great help to the efforts of the government to address the dengue fever-menace currently spreading terror among residents especially school-age children in various parts of the country," Tomas Briñas, the regional director for Bicol of the DOST in announcing here Tuesday the PCHRD discovery.   It is not only against dengue, in fact, but against all mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and filariasis especially in areas of the country where incidence is high.   It also serves as a personal care product used in preventing mosquito bites that cause itchiness, inflammation and discomfort to individuals, he said. The repellent uses a washable, mineral oil - based formulation and its biodegrable since, it is derived from advantage against other well known repellents which are chemical based in formulation.   The Atis Lotion is composed of 10.125 percent mineral oil, 1.02 percent Sodium Carboxymethyl Cellulose, nine percent Propylene Glycol, 0.22 percent Methyl Paraben, 0.135 percent Propyl Paraben, 70 percent water and 10 percent plant extract, Briñas said.   Indeed, atis is considered as among the country's important crops given its various uses not only for food but more for natural medicines.   The leaves, bark and seeds contain alkaloid and chloroplatinate, a group of nitrogen-containing compounds that are physiologically active as poisons or drugs that are used as ingredients for medicines that kill lice, Briñas said. The flesh of the fruit, he said is reported to contain upwards of 10 percent of sugar, mostly glucose at 5.40 percent and some fructose of 3.60 percent. In the Philippines the leaves are applied as a poultice to children with dyspepsia. Crushed seeds with coconut oil are applied on the scalp to rid it of lice. A decoction of the seeds is used as an enema for the children with dyspepsia.   According to Sanyal and Ghose, externally the leaves, the unripe fruit, and the seeds which contain acrid principle possess vermicidal and insecticidal properties.   The crushed seeds, in a paste with water, are applied to the scalp to destroy lice.   The same is used as an abortifacient if applied to the uteri in pregnant women.   The bruised leaves, with salt, make a good cataplasm to induce suppuration and fresh leaves crushed between the fingers and applied to the nostrils cut shorts fits and fainting.   The ripe fruit, bruised and mixed with salt, is applied as a maturant to malignant tumors to hasten suppuration. The unripe fruit is astringent and is given in diarrhea, dysentery and atonic dyspepsia.   The bark, according to Briñas has been reported by Nadkarni as a powerful astringent and tonic to stop diarrhea. The leaves are used as an anthelmintic and its decoction for rheumatic baths to alleviate pain.   For infected insect bites, juice extract after pounding an unripe fruit is applied directly to affected parts three times a day to cure the infection. The seeds are considered a powerful irritant to the conjunctiva while the roots are considered a drastic purgative.   Atis tree is small that grows only three to five meters high. Its leaves are hairy when young, oblong, eight to 15 centimeters long, with a petiole one to 1.5 centimeters long.   Flowers occur singly in the axils of the leaves, about 2.5 cm long, pendulous, three-angled, light green to yellow.   Fruit is large, slightly heart-shaped, six to nine centimeters long, the outside with knobby polygonal tubercles. When ripe, the fruit is light yellowish-green The PCHRD studies also revealed that atis possesses anti-inflammatory properties as it yielded two new cyclic peptides, cyclosquamosin H and I, together with six known cyclic peptides, squamin A, squamin B, cyclosquamosin A, D E and cherimolacyclopeptide B from the seeds. Compound 7 showed an inhibitory effect on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.   Extracts of atis fruit pericarp was also tested for cytotoxic activity against Dalton 's lymphoma cells and HeLa cells.   The chloroform extract was found cytotoxic to the different cell lines tested and suggests the potential for AS fruit pericarp for the development of treatment for cancers.   The PCHRD said atis has an antihyperglycemic effect and alleviated liver and renal damage associated with STZ-induced diabetes mellitus in rats. The diabetic groups treated with aqueous leaf extract were compared with standard glibenclamide.   As hepatoprotective the study on diethylnitrosamine-induced liver injury in Swiss albino mice showed hepatoprotective effect, with improvement in biochemical parameters and confirmation by histopathological studies. The PCHRD also said that the ethanol crude extract of the fruit of atis for antimicrobial activity against some pathogenic microorganisms showed inhibitory activity against S aureus and S pneumoniae.   Results conclude the plant extract may serve as a valuable source of compounds with therapeutic antibiotic potentials.   Likewise, phytochemical study revealed the presence of quercetin in the atis seed extract and the results of the effects of quercetin suggest an involvement of this phytochemical in the mediation of antithyroidal activity, it added."   Source http://positivenewsmedia.net/am2/publish/Health_21/PCHRD_develops_anti-dengue_solution_from_atis_leaves.shtml   #