Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. 

Nombre Oficial
Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

Familia
Fabaceae
(= Papilionaceae)

Nombre Popular
Regaliz

Historia
El nombre Glycyrrhiza deriva del griego glykys "dulce" y rhiza "raíz". En la antigüedad el nombre fue latinizado y modificado a "liquiritia". En alemán, "lakritze", "licorice" o "liquorice" en inglés, "réglisse" en francés y regaliz en castellano.
Glabra del Latín glaber, que significa "blando", refiriéndose a las suaves cáscaras.
La planta de regaliz ya era conocida y utilizada por la medicina China hace más de 2.800 años A.C. y en el Tíbet donde formaba parte de la medicina clásica tibetana. En la tumba del faraón egipcio Tutankamon (1.350 a.C.) se encontraron indicaciones curativas sobre los beneficios de la raíz de regaliz. El uso del regaliz en preparados para aliviar infecciones de garganta y bronquiales está documentado desde el 2.000 a.C. En la Edad Media el regaliz se cultivaba de forma extensa en Europa Central. Hoy en día quedan todavía algunos herederos de los antiguos cultivos del siglo pasado.
En Europa la droga fue utilizada sólo como expectorante; no fue hasta la década de los 50 que el regaliz fue indicado también para los problemas estomacales.
Dioscórides, habla en su farmacología del regaliz, y de los beneficios de su jugo en caso de ronquera, ardor de estómago, trastornos pectorales y renales. La Abadesa Hildegard von Bingen también describía el regaliz como: "...concede al hombre claridad en la voz, siempre se puede comer, relaja la mente, aclara la vista y prepara el estómago para la digestión".


Características Botánicas
Arbusto vivaz de la familia de la leguminosa, con rizoma muy largo, ramificado, cilíndrico, rastrero y pardusco; el tallo que puede medir hasta 2 metros. Cada año salen tallos nuevos y consistentes. Sus hojas son alternas y con pecíolo hinchado y se dividen en foliolos ovales, enteros y un poco viscosos. Las flores son violetas y se disponen en espigas, cuyo largo pendúculo nace en la base de las hojas y aparecen entre mayo y julio. Sus frutos son vainas de hasta 2,5 cm. de largo y la raíz se recoge en otoño.


 

Hábitat
El regaliz es originario de Asia Menor y de Cáucaso. Se encuentra en la cuenca Mediterránea, en los Balcanes y en oriente Medio. Se cría en tierras profundas y mayormente arcillosas y ribereñas. A menudo invade los cultivos de tal manera que resulta muy difícil extirparlas.
En España es común en la cuenca del Ebro, del Tajo y del Jarama.
Las raíces se recolectan en otoño en plantas de 3 años, se cortan en trozos de unos 20 cm., se lavan y se ponen a secar en lugares secos y bien aireados


Modo de empleo

Para preparar la tintura madre, las finas láminas son maceradas en alcohol. Debido a su sabor dulce, el regaliz es utilizado como agente aromático en medicamentos de gusto desagradable y contra las nauseas.

Turmeric: A powerful medicine

Turmeric (Curcuma longa), the bright yellow of the spice rainbow, is a powerful medicine that has long been used in the Chinese and Indian systems of medicine as an anti-inflammatory agent to treat a wide variety of conditions, including flatulence, jaundice, menstrual difficulties, bloody urine, hemorrhage, toothache and more.

Turmeric is high in curcumin, a substance with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Most studies used turmeric extracts that are standardized to include large amounts of curcumin.
Turmeric may be the most effective nutritional supplement in existence.
Many high quality studies show that it has major benefits for your body and brain.

Turmeric Contains Bioactive Compounds With Powerful Medicinal Properties
Turmeric is the spice that gives curry its yellow color.
It has been used in India for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb.

Here are the top 10 evidence-based health benefits of turmeric.

1. Turmeric Contains Bioactive Compounds With Powerful Medicinal Properties

Recently, science has started to back up what the Indians have known for a long time… it really does contain compounds with medicinal properties .

These compounds are called curcuminoids, the most important of which is curcumin.
Curcumin is the main active ingredient in turmeric. It has powerful anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant.

Most of the studies on this herb are using turmeric extracts that contain mostly curcumin itself, with dosages usually exceeding 1 gram per day. It would be very difficult to reach these levels just using the turmeric spice in your foods.

Therefore, if you want to experience the full effects, then you need to take an extract that contains significant amounts of curcumin.

Unfortunately, curcumin is poorly absorbed into the bloodstream. It helps to consume black pepper with it, which contains piperine… a natural substance that enhances the absorption of curcumin by 2000% (3).
Curcumin is also fat soluble, so it may be a good idea to take it with a fatty meal.


2. Curcumin is a Natural Anti-Inflammatory CompoundIt helps the body fight foreign invaders and also has a role in repairing damage.

Curcumin is strongly anti-inflammatory, it is so powerful that it matches the effectiveness of some anti-inflammatory drugs (7).


3. Turmeric Dramatically Increases The Antioxidant Capacity of The Body

Curcumin happens to be a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals due to its chemical structure (15, 16).
But curcumin also boosts the activity of the body’s own antioxidant enzymes (17, 18,19).
In that way, curcumin delivers a one-two punch against free radicals. It blocks them directly, then stimulates the body’s own antioxidant mechanisms.
Curcumin has powerful antioxidant effects. It neutralizes free radicals on its own, then stimulates the body’s own antioxidant enzymes.


4. Curcumin Boosts Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Linked to Improved Brain Function and a Lower Risk of Brain Diseases 

Curcumin boosts levels of the brain hormone BDNF, which increases the growth of new neurons and fights various degenerative processes in the brain.


5. Curcumin Leads to Various Improvements That Should Lower Your Risk of Heart 

DiseaseCurcumin may help reverse many steps in the heart disease process (28).

Perhaps the main benefit of curcumin when it comes to heart disease, is improving the function of the endothelium, which is the lining of the blood vessels.

In one study, 121 patients who were undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery were randomized to either placebo or 4 grams of curcumin per day, a few days before and after the surgery.
The curcumin group had a 65% decreased risk of experiencing a heart attack in the hospital (32).

Curcumin has beneficial effects on several factors known to play a role in heart disease. It improves the function of the endothelium and is a potent anti-inflammatory agent and antioxidant.

6. Turmeric Can Help Prevent (And Perhaps Even Treat) Cancer

Cancer is a terrible disease, characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells.Researchers have been studying curcumin as a beneficial herb in cancer treatment. It can affect cancer growth, development and spread at the molecular level (34).
Studies have shown that it can reduce angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels in tumors), metastasis (spread of cancer), as well as contributing to the death of cancerous cells (35).

There is some evidence that it may help prevent cancer from occurring in the first place, especially cancers of the digestive system (like colorectal cancer).
Curcumin leads to several changes on the molecular level that may help prevent and perhaps even treat cancer.

7. Curcumin May be Useful in Preventing and Treating Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease in the world and a leading cause of dementia.Unfo rtunately, no good treatment is available for Alzheimer’s yet.

Therefore, preventing it from showing up in the first place is of utmost importance.
There may be good news on the horizon, because curcumin has been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier (39).
It is known that inflammation and oxidative damage play a role in Alzheimer’s disease. As we know, curcumin has beneficial effects on both (40).
But one key feature of Alzheimer’s disease is a buildup of protein tangles called Amyloid plaques. Studies show that curcumin can help clear these plaques (41).
Whether curcumin can really slow down or even reverse the progression of Alzheimer’s disease needs to be studied properly (42).
Bottom Line: Curcumin can cross the blood-brain barrier and has been shown to lead to various improvements in the pathological process of Alzheimer’s disease.

8. Arthritis Patients Respond Very Well to Curcumin Supplementation

Given that curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory, it makes sense that it could help with arthritis. Several studies show this to be true.

In a study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, curcumin was even more effective than an anti-inflammatory drug (43).
Many other studies have looked at the effects of curcumin on arthritis and noted improvements in various symptoms (44, 45).
Many studies show that curcumin can help treat symptoms of arthritis and is in some cases more effective than anti-inflammatory drugs.

9. Studies Show That Curcumin Has Incredible Benefits Against Depression

Curcumin has shown some promise in treating depression.

In a controlled trial, 60 patients were randomized into three groups (46).
One group took prozac, another group took a gram of curcumin and the third group took both prozac and curcumin.
After 6 weeks, curcumin had led to improvements that were similar to prozac. The group that took both prozac and curcumin fared best.
According to this (small) study, curcumin is as effective as an antidepressant.

There is also some evidence that curcumin can boost the brain neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine (48, 49).

10. Curcumin May Help Delay Ageing and Fight Age-Related Chronic Diseases

If curcumin can really help prevent heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s… then this would have obvious benefits for longevity.

For this reason, curcumin has become very popular as an anti-aging supplement (50).
But given that oxidation and inflammation are believed to play a role in ageing, curcumin may have effects that go way beyond just prevention of disease (51).

Natural Treatments for Hypothyroidism

Spirulina

Hypothyroidism is a disorder caused due to inadequate production of thyroid hormone, in comparison to the normal body requirements. In this condition, the thyroid gland is said to be 'underactive'. Insufficient thyroid hormone results into slowing down of the overall body metabolism. Hypothyroidism affects both men and women, but women are eight times more susceptible. People of all ages can be affected by this disorder and over 5 million Americans have this disorder. Hypothyroid people are susceptible to cancers, heart disorders, and infections. Severe hypothyroidism in adults is called 'Myxedema' and in children it is called 'Cretinism'.

However, hypothyroidism is a treatable disorder and various simple and effective natural treatment options are available.

-Bladderwrack: Bladderwrack or fucus vesiculosus is a natural treatment for hypothyroidism and has proven to reduce the symptoms of the condition. It is actually a seaweed (a type of brown algae), found in several oceans across the globe. Bladderwrack is rich in iodine content, thereby proving to be an effective thyroid stimulant. It is seen to reduce the size of the thyroid gland during goiter and also restores its functioning. A person suffering from it can take a 600 mg Bladderwrack capsule with water 1-3 times a day.

-Black Cohosh: Black cohosh also called Actaea racemosa or Cimicifuga racemosa is a perennial plant of the buttercup family and is a native of North America. It is sold as a dietary supplement in the market and is seen to be effective in treating hypothyroidism. As black cohosh aids in balancing the estrogen levels in the body, it is quite useful to treat thyroid problems in females.

-Nettle: Another natural herb used for treating hypothyroidism is the nettle. This herb is found naturally in the temperate regions and is high in iodine. Since iodine deficiency is one of the main causes of hypothyroidism, this herb is beneficial to treat the condition.

-Irish Moss: Irish moss, also known as pearl moss, is a dried leaf-like structure of Chondrus crispus (a northern seaweed). It is found growing in the midst of submerged rocks, off the coast of France and Ireland. This is available in the form of Irish moss supplements and is believed to nourish the thyroid gland.

-Spirulina: These are free-floating, filamentous, cyanobacteria that are cultivated across the globe and used as dietary supplements for humans. It is available in flake, tablet and even powder form. It is believed that spirulina is quite effective for treatment.

-Black Walnut: Black walnuts are rich in organic iodine. Organic iodine is crucial for strengthening and nourishing of the thyroid gland. Thus, black walnuts are considered to be an effective remedy for the treatment of hypothyroidism.

-Extra Virgin Coconut Oil: Extra virgin coconut oil is known to support and stimulate the functioning of the thyroid gland. Coconut oil consists of lauric acid, which possesses thyroid stimulating properties. Extra virgin coconut oil is more effective, as compared to regular coconut oil and is very stable. The oil can be either added to the food while cooking or a spoonful can be ingested as a supplement.

Pill Systems: Natural ingredients combined together to help maintain the functioning of the thyroid gland are available in the form of pill systems. A thyroid supplement called 'thyromine' is used to increase production, thereby combating hypothyroidism. Thyromine supplements are made from natural and herbal ingredients, such as Nori (seaweed rich in iodine) and thyroid bovine powder (maintains functioning of endocrine system).

-Supplement Intake: Another simple method to treat hypothyroidism naturally, is by taking supplements. Iodine plays a crucial role in the production of thyroid hormone and zinc and selenium also aid in the hormone production process. Vitamin D is seen to act as a binding agent in the initial stages of thyroid hormone. Vitamin E plays the role of a sustaining device by converting T4 into T4 hormones (deiodinase enzymes). Thus, taking iodine, selenium, zinc and vitamin E supplements are quite helpful in treating hypothyroidism.

-Follow a Thyroid Diet: The consumption of sea food, shellfish and organic vegetables and fruits, rich in iodine content has proven beneficial in overcoming iodine deficiency. It is better to eat small meals rather than three large meals. Non-starchy fruits and vegetables and low-fat proteins should be consumed. Sugary and starchy food items like, pasta, desserts, sodas, white bread, rice, etc. must be avoided completely. An intake of at least 64 ounces of non-fluoridated water is necessary.

-Exercise in the form of a daily half hour walk, also proves beneficial to reduce low thyroid problems. Before consuming any herbal supplements, ensure that you consult an experienced herbalist. Do not try out any treatment, without taking the doctor into confidence.

Read more at  http://www.buzzle.com/articles/natural-treatments-for-hypothyroidism.html

The Dark Side Of Kale (And How To Eat Around It)

Moderation is the key. "In terms of human research, studies suggesting a strong link between cruciferous vegetables and thyroid disease are limited. Type "raw cruciferous vegetables" and "thyroid" into the ncbi database and you'll find one incident from 1945 when a Chinese woman who ate 3.3 pounds of raw bok choy daily for several months and suffered myxedema. The vast majority of the research supports the consumption of cruciferous vegetables to prevent thyroid cancer".

Now you can read this article in the following link:

http://commonhealth.wbur.org/2014/01/the-dark-side-of-kale-and-how-to-eat-around-it

What Happens When You Pee in the Pool?

What Happens When You Pee in the Pool?
April 26, 2014 |

By Dr. Mercola

One in five Americans admit they have peed in a pool, and among Olympic swimmers, the practice is so widespread that a former US National team member said nearly 100 percent of competitive swimmers pee in the pool… regularly.1

Swimming in a urine-contaminated pool is certainly not the most pleasant thought, but is it really so bad?

Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps doesn't think so, and famously said that "chlorine kills it [urine]," making peeing in the pool a non-issue. But it's not the urine itself that you need to worry about.

Urine is virtually sterile when it leaves your body, so it doesn't pose the risk of causing illness the way fecal matter in a pool does. In fact, urine is a valuable source of nutrients that is now being used as an effective and natural fertilizer.

So it's not the urine that is the problem… it's what happens when urine mixes with pool chemicals, including chlorine, that is catching researchers' attention.
Peeing in the Pool Creates a Chemical Warfare Agent

Highly toxic disinfection byproducts (DBPs) form from reactions between pool disinfectants and organic matter, including hair, skin, sweat, dirt and… urine. In a new study, researchers mixed uric acid from human urine with chlorine and found it creates two DBPs: cyanogen chloride (CNCl) and trichloramine (NCl3).2

The former, CNCI, is classified as a chemical warfare agent and is a known toxicant to your lungs, heart, and central nervous system. NCl3 is linked to lung damage.

As for how dangerous this is, practically speaking, the researchers found that, in a worst-case scenario, urine in a pool might lead to about 30 parts per billion (ppb) of cyanogen chloride, which is well below the 70 ppb used as the maximum cyanogen concentration allowed in drinking water, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).3

Cyanogen chloride leads to coma, convulsions and death only at much higher levels (about 2,500 ppb), an amount that would be difficult, and probably impossible, to generate in a typical swimming pool from urination alone.4 This doesn't mean that smaller doses are "safe," however, as DBPs have been linked to serious health problems at levels found in swimming pools.

According to the study researchers, since urinating in a pool introduces uric acid that will lead to the formation of a poison when it interacts with chlorine, it should be avoided:

" …uric acid chlorination may account for a large fraction of CNCl formation in swimming pools. Moreover, given that uric acid introduction to pools is attributable to urination, a voluntary action for most swimmers, these findings indicate important benefits to pool water and air chemistry that could result from improved hygiene habits on the part of swimmers."
Spending Just 40 Minutes in a Chlorinated Pool May Lead to DNA Damage

If you've ever wondered if the chlorine in a swimming pool poses a health risk, you'll find it unsettling to know that the DBPs created by chlorine reactions are far more dangerous. In fact, when researchers measured evidence of genotoxic (DNA damage that may lead to cancer) and respiratory effects on swimmers who swam in a chlorinated pool for just 40 minutes, they found:5
Increased micronuclei in blood lymphocytes, which are associated with cancer risk
Urine mutagenicity, a biomarker of exposure to genotoxic agents
An increase in serum CC16, which suggests an increase in lung epithelium permeability

Adding chlorine to a swimming pool results in the formation of hundreds of DBPs because of the organic matter in the water. The researchers found that total concentrations of four DBPs (trihalomethanes (THMs)) were seven times higher in exhaled breath after swimming than they were before. They noted:

"Our findings support potential genotoxic effects of exposure to DBPs from swimming pools. The positive health effects gained by swimming could be increased by reducing the potential health risks of pool water."
DBPs in Swimming Pools Are Linked to Cancer

It's known that trihalomethanes (THMs), one of the most common DBPs, are Cancer Group B carcinogens, meaning they've been shown to cause cancer in laboratory animals. They've also been linked to reproductive problems in both animals and humans, such as spontaneous abortion, stillbirths, and congenital malformations, even at lower levels.

It's not only swimming pools that are problematic, as DBPs also exist in chlorinated drinking water. Ingesting chlorinated water with levels of DBPs common in many industrialized countries has been linked to an increased risk of bladder cancer.6

However, when researchers also looked at exposure to DBPs through your skin and via inhalation (such as occurs while showering, bathing and swimming in pools), it was found to be an even greater risk than drinking water.7

Furthermore, people who frequent swimming pools have an increased risk of bladder cancer compared to those who do not,8 and DBPs have even been suggested as partially responsible for the increased risk of melanoma cancer among swimmers.9

According to one study published in the Journal of Environmental Sciences,10 the cancer risk of DBPs (in this case THMs) from various routes in descending order was:
Skin exposure while swimming
Gastrointestinal exposure from tap water intake
Skin exposure to tap water
Gastrointestinal exposure while swimming

The cancer risk from skin exposure while swimming comprised over 94 percent of the total cancer risk resulting from being exposed to THMs! The authors even went so far as to conclude that swimming in a chlorinated pool presents "an unacceptable cancer risk."
DBPs Pose Risks of Allergies, Asthma, and Other Health Problems

Most public pools are overloaded with chlorine, as the well-intentioned people who maintain public pools overly shock them with chlorine to make sure bacteria and other organisms get snuffed out quickly. But even the swimming pool in your backyard could be toxic if you treat it with chlorine – even if you know no one is using it to pee in.

Remember, any organic matter – including hair, skin, sweat, and dirt – can react with chlorine to create DBPs. So if you use chlorine, it's going to be virtually impossible to avoid some exposure. Many studies have pointed out the health risks associated with swimming in chlorinated water, and many of these are related to toxic DBPs:
Swimming instructors are more than twice as likely to suffer frequently from sinusitis or sore throat, and more than three times as likely to have chronic colds, than pool workers with less DBP exposure, such as catering employees or receptionists.11
Compared to the general population, pool workers with high levels of exposure were at a 40 percent greater risk for tightness of the chest and were over 700 percent more likely to suffer breathlessness while walking.12
DBPs may cause weakening of your immune system, disruptions to your central nervous system, damaging effects to your cardiovascular system, unhealthy functioning of your renal system and harmful impacts to your respiratory system.
Should You Avoid Swimming Pools?

The risk of DBP exposure from swimming pools is real, but it doesn't necessarily mean you have to give up swimming. Swimming in an ocean is an excellent alternative, as is swimming in a lake or other natural body of water. You can also find a way to keep your pool clean from bacteria, algae, and other organisms without the use of dangerous chemicals, such as choosing a saltwater pool.

One of the best solutions is NOT to chlorinate your pool and just use a maintenance "shock" treatment every five or six days, which will kill the algae buildup. The shock treatment volatilizes in about 24-48 hours and gives you a several-day window in which you can safely use your pool. You can also reduce the amount of organic material you bring into the pool, and thereby the amount of DBPs created, by showering prior to entering and teaching your children not to urinate in the water. You can also use ozone, which also oxidatively destroys the pool pathogens and lowers the need for chlorine.

This will be difficult if you're visiting a public swimming pool or waterpark, however. Surveys show that 35 percent of Americans say they do not shower prior to entering a pool. Finally, because DBPs exist in all chlorinated water, I recommend installing water filters that remove chlorine for both your shower/bath and your kitchen tap.

TOXIC PROTEIN

Beyond human cruelty against animals, the toxic food Industry is selling poison toxic protein.

Please watch and share. Do not watch in front any children.

The terrible life and horrible death of these animals, does not produce just meat for us to eat, but a toxic, poison protein. We are eating poison and is killing us.

The United States Department of Agriculture is aware of this. Why are they ignoring this? because it is a corrupt and toxic food industry feeding us.

"The protein nitrification process begins with arginine, an amino acid that is present in the diet and circulates in the bloodstream. If significant stress is present, more arginine is transported into cells by a specific transporter. This is one of the body's initial attempts to fight harmful consequences of stress.”

This research is part of Food Animal The United States Department of Agriculture http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/ar/archive/jan02/animal0102.htm

Why are we sick?

Post by ‎Ya'bad City - Palestine مدينة يعبد - فلسطين‎.