Tag: The Times of India

Allium stracheyi

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Botanical Name : Allium stracheyi
Family: Alliaceae
Genus: Allium
Common Name :Jambu
Local Name: Jamboo/Feren

Habitat : E. Asia – Himalayas from Kashmir to western Nepal. Grows wild in the montane to upper subalpine zone.

Description:
Jamboo is a perennial herb; its flowers are of rose in colour It is found in dry temperate and alpine Himalayas. It is being cultivated byshauka community of Uttaranchal in Milam, Darma, Byans and Chaudas valley of Pithoragarh district and Niti and Mana valley of Chamoli district. Leaves and inflorescences are used as seasoning agent. It is very popular in Uttaranchal as a condiment and flavouring agent in dais and soups.

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Bulb.
It is hardy to zone 0. The flowers are hermaphrodite (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by Bees, insects.
The plant prefers light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and requires well-drained soil. The plant prefers acid, neutral and basic (alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It requires moist soil.

Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Flowers; Leaves; Root.

Bulb – raw or cooked. Leaves – raw or cooked. Dried and used as a flavouring. Flowers – raw. Used as a garnish on salads.

Cultivation:
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a sunny position in a light well-drained soil. The bulbs should be planted fairly deeply. Most members of this genus are intolerant of competition from other growing plants. Grows well with most plants, especially roses, carrots, beet and chamomile, but it inhibits the growth of legumes. This plant is a bad companion for alfalfa, each species negatively affecting the other. Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer.

Propagation:
Seed – sow spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle – if you want to produce clumps more quickly then put three plants in each pot. Grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter and plant them out into their permanent positions in spring once they are growing vigorously and are large enough. Division in spring. The plants divide successfully at any time in the growing season, pot up the divisions in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are growing well and then plant them out into their permanent positions.

Medicinal Uses:
Although no specific mention of medicinal uses has been seen for this species, members of this genus are in general very healthy additions to the diet. They contain sulphur compounds (which give them their onion flavour) and when added to the diet on a regular basis they help reduce blood cholesterol levels, act as a tonic to the digestive system and also tonify the circulatory system.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Other Uses:-
Repellent.
The juice of the plant is used as a moth repellent. The whole plant is said to repel insects and moles.

Known Hazards : Although no individual reports regarding this species have been seen, there have been cases of poisoning caused by the consumption, in very large quantities and by some mammals, of certain members of this genus. Dogs seem to be particularly susceptible.
Disclaimer: This information is not meant to be a substitute for professional medical advise or help. It is always best to consult with a Physician about serious health concerns. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purpose.

Resources:
http://server9.web-mania.com/users/pfafardea/database/plants.php?Allium+stracheyi
http://www.bharatbiourja.com/jambo-feren.html
http://vaniindia.org.whbus12.onlyfordemo.com/herbal/plantdir.asp

Tags Alliaceae, Allium, Chamoli district, Char Dham, Distilled beverage, Garden, Haridwar, Hemkund, Himalayas, Nepal, Plant, Rudraprayag, Sikh, Soil, The Times of India, Uttarakhand High Court, Uttaranchal, Uttarkashi

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Laser Therapy May Help Neck Pain

Post author By Mukul
Post date November 14, 2009
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So-called low-level laser therapy (LLLT) entails using a laser‘s light — but not its fiercely concentrated heat — to stimulate tissue repair and ease pain.
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Doctors led by Roberta Chow of the Brain and Mind Research Institute at Australia‘s University of Sydney carried out an overview of 16 randomised trials that put this increasingly popular procedure to the test.

A total of 820 patients were enrolled in the trials, divided into groups that received either the therapy or a lookalike, dummy treatment. In five trials, patients given LLLT were around four times likelier to have reduced pain compared with a placebo, the paper found.

In the 11 other trials, for which there was a detailed analysis of pain symptoms, LLLT patients reported reductions of chronic pain by around 20 points on a scale of 100 points. The pain reduction continued for up to 22 weeks.

LLLT compares favourably with other drugs and other remedies for effectiveness and its side-effects are mild, says the study, which recommends that it be used in combination with an exercise programme.

Why LLLT works, though, is unclear. The authors suggest it could interfere with pathways of inflammation, muscle tiredness and the transmission of pain signals along nerves.

Between 10 and 24 percent of people suffer from chronic neck pain, inflicting a cost running into the hundreds of millions of dollars and highlighting the need for simple but effective treatent, the authors said.

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Source: The Times Of India

Laser Therapy Seems to Relieve Neck Pain (nlm.nih.gov)
Abbott buys pain drug candidate for up to $190M (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
Abbott to Acquire Novel Investigational Biologic to Treat Chronic Pain (worldpharmanews.com)

Tags Alter ego, Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Anger, Apple Inc., Australia, Chronic pain, Diseases & Conditions, Health, India, Inflammation, Laser, Low level laser therapy, The Times of India, Therapy, Times Of India, University of Sydney

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Purple Sweet Potato Can Fight Cancer

Post author By Mukul
Post date July 4, 2009
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A new breed of sweet potato is being touted as the superfood of the future, with experts saying the vegetable may stop people from getting cancer.
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The designer sweet potato, grown for its anti-cancer purple pigment, is also said to contain anti-aging and antioxidant chemicals, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Soyoung Lim, a researcher from Kansas State University, developed the variety of sweet potato with a purple skin and flesh to boost its cancer-fighting properties.

Lim said the colouring contained the chemical anthocyanin, which lowers the risk of cancer and could even slow down some types of the disease. Scientists have found anthocyanin slows down the growth of cancerous cells in colon cancer.

Source: The Times Of India

Tags Ageing, Alzheimer's disease, Amnesia, Anthocyanin, Health, Life extension, Mumbai, Sweet potato, The Daily Telegraph, The Times of India

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Red Apples, Berries Boost Fitness

Post author By Mukul
Post date June 27, 2009
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A new study has shown that a powerful antioxidant commonly found in the skin of red apples, red onions, berries and grapes could increase endurance capacity without regular exercise training.

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Researchers from University of South Carolina‘s Arnold School of Public Health have revealed that fatigue-fighting and health properties of quercetin would have significant implications not only for athletes but also for average adults who battle fatigue and stress daily.

“The natural, biological properties of quercetin that include powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, as well as the ability to boost the immune system and increase mitochondria (the powerhouse of the cell) in muscle and brain is great news for those who often think that they’re too tired to exercise,” said Dr Mark Davis, the study’s lead author and a professor of exercise science.

“While there’s no magic pill to make people get up and move, or to take the place of regular exercise, quercetin may be important in relieving the fatigue that keeps them sedentary and in providing some of the benefits of exercise,” he added.

During the study, the researchers recruited 12 participants, who were randomly assigned to one of two treatments.

Half were given 500 milligrams of quercetin twice a day in Tang for seven days. The other subjects drank Tang with placebos.

They also tested their additional VO2max (maximal oxygen capacity), one of the most important measures of fitness.

The findings revealed that participants who received quercetin had a 13.2 percent increase in endurance and a 3.9 percent increase in VO2max.

“These were statistically significant effects that indicate an important improvement in endurance capacity in a very short time,” Davis said.

“Quercetin supplementation was able to mimic some of the effects of exercise training,” he added.

The study appears in International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism.

Source: The Times Of India

Tags Alcoholic Beverages, Animal product, Antioxidant, Apple Inc., Archbishop, Arnold School, Arson, Bible, Catholic Church in India, Fitness, Health, India, Public health, Specific Substances, The Times of India, Times Of India, University of South Carolina, VO2 max

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Indoor Plants Cut Formaldehyde

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Post date February 20, 2009
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Indoor plants can reduce formaldehyde levels in the air, according to a new study.

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The sources of the toxic gas formaldehyde are building materials including carpeting, curtains, plywood, and adhesives.

As it is emitted, it deteriorates the air quality, which can lead to ‘multiple chemical sensitivity‘ and ‘sick building syndrome‘, medical conditions with symptoms such as allergies, asthma, and headaches.

The prevalence of formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) is greater in new construction.

In the study, lead author Kwang Jin Kim of Korea‘s National Horticultural Research Institute compared the absorption rate of two types of houseplants, Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina) and Fatsia japonica, an evergreen shrub.

During the study, equal amounts of formaldehyde were pumped into containers holding each type of plant in three configurations: whole, roots-only with the leafy portion cut off, and aerial-only, with the below-ground portion sealed off, leaving the stem and leaves exposed.

The results showed the combined total of aerial-only and roots-only portions was similar to the amount removed by whole plants. Complete plants removed approximately 80 percent of the formaldehyde within 4 hours.

Control chambers pumped with the same amount of formaldehyde, but not containing any plant parts, decreased by 7.3 percent during the day and 6.9 percent overnight within 5 hours. As the length of exposure increased, the amount of absorption decreased, which appeared to be due to the reduced concentration of the gas.

Aerial parts of reduced more formaldehyde during the day than at night. This suggests the role played by stomata, tiny slits on the surface of the leaves that are only open during the day.

The portion of formaldehyde that was reduced during the night was most likely absorbed through a thin film on the plant’s surface known as the cuticle. Root zones of ficus removed similar amounts between night and day. However, japonica root zones removed more formaldehyde at night.

Researchers consider micro-organisms living among the soil and root system to be a major contributor to the reduction. Japonica was planted in larger pots than the ficus, which may account for the lower night reduction rate of the latter.

Sources: The Times Of India