A simple and affordable remedy for mild diarrhea

The next time you suffer from mild diarrhea, reach out for a cup of green tea.

I discovered its 'constipating' qualities over a decade ago when I used to take a daily cup of green tea first thing in the morning.

It took me a while to discover the actual cause of my constipation then, as I pored over my dietary habits. I consumed sufficient fibre, exercised regularly and kept to a 'potty schedule'. It wasn't long before suspicion fell on the morning cup of green tea I'd been taking for health reasons.

After switching to regular milk tea for breakfast, and only drinking green tea after lunch and dinner, I discovered that the constipation went away for good.

As to why the timing of the green tea mattered, it could be due to the fact that I usually clear my bowels at night (the constipating effects of green tea could have delayed the 'train schedule', so to speak).

In any case, it was good to know that green tea had a constipating effect on me: I drink a cup or two whenever I have mild diarrhea (for food poisoning, see a doctor!)

I've also discovered that not every kind of green tea worked just as well.

Generally, the more astringent variety of Japanese green tea seemed to work better at stopping diarrhea. As a rule of thumb, those that leave a green powdery residue at the bottom of the cup is ideal, i.e. those 'cheap' stock Japanese green tea they serve in most sushi places.

The irony is that the more expensive green tea variety (Lung Jing 龙井, Gyokuro 玉露, Bi Luo Chun 碧螺春, etc), those with clear broth, doesn't seem to work as well as the cheap ones.

For this reason, I'm assuming the constipating effects could be due to the powdered green tea residue. Perhaps it has more of certain catechins (the antioxidants found in green tea: EGCG, EGC, ECG, EC, GC and C) and tannins (found in all kinds of teas).

Or is it due to the catechins' effects on dietary lipids?  (In vitro and in vivo studies indicate that green tea or catechins inhibit the intestinal absorption of dietary lipids.)

I wonder.

Remember to always take green tea after meals if you have a weak tummy; it can cause gastric pains or nausea in some people. (Avoid drinking green tea together with medication as it can inhibit/bind certain medicines/minerals, especially iron.) Incidentally, drinking green tea with vitamin C can boost the absorption of antioxidants.

Also, if it's your first cup of green tea, you might want to take a few sips first to see what kind of effect it has on you; some folks may get diarrhea or feel nauseous, but the effects usually go away once your body gets used to it. Note that green tea contains caffeine too, so watch out if you're sensitive to caffeine.

For antibiotic-related diarrhea, read about my experience with probiotics here.



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Outbreak of Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 in Australia

Is anyone surprised Tamiflu-resistant H1N1 has emerged in Australia?

Like antibiotics, modern anti-virals can lose their punch over time. While patient non-compliance is to blame for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, viruses work differently.

Mutant H1N1 viruses evade Tamiflu through a single genetic change known as the H275Y mutation which prevents the medicine from clinging to neuraminidase, enabling the pathogen to spread.

Do these mutant viruses come about because people don't comply with the prescribed course of anti-virals? Or do they happen anyway as more and more people take anti-virals?

Should doctors reserve Tamiflu (Oseltamivir) only for people with very severe cases of flu? Would that help stop the genetic mutation of H1N1 virus?

Regular flu shots, exercise, good nutrition and herbal formulas form a much better anti-flu regimen. Herbal formulas such as 'Jin Hua Qing Gan 金花清感' , when taken at the first signs of flu (coughing, sore throat, mild chills, rapid pulse) often helps the body clear the infection.

In fact, 'Jin Hua Qing Gan 金花清感' was in the limelight recently for being as effective as Tamiflu in alleviating symptoms caused by H1N1. It's a combination of two well-known herbal formulas known as 'Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang' (麻杏石甘汤) and 'Yin Qiao San' (银翘散) respectively.

For those who want to know the formula composition:

'Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang' (麻杏石甘汤) - Traditionally used for asthma and other lung conditions:
Ma Huang (Ephedra) 麻黄 12 grams
Shi Gao (Gypsum) 石膏 48 grams
Xing Ren (Apricot Seed) 杏仁 18 grams
Zhi Gan Cao (Honey Fried Licorice Root) 炙甘草 6 grams


'Yin Qiao San' (银翘散) - Traditionally used for colds and flu:
Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower) 金银花 9 - 15 grams
Lian Qiao (Forsythia Fruit) 连翘 9 - 15 grams
Jie Geng (Platycodon Root) 桔梗 3 - 6 grams
Niu Bang Zi (Great Burdock Fruit) 牛旁子 9 - 12 grams
Bo He (Field Mint, Mentha) 薄荷 3 - 6 grams
Dan Dou Chi (Prepared Soybean) 淡豆敕 3 - 6 grams
Jing Jie (Schizonepeta Bud or Stem) 荆芥 6 - 9 grams
Dan Zhu Ye (Lophatherum Stem and Leaves) 淡竹叶 3 - 6 grams
Lu Gen (Reed Rhizome) 芦根 15 - 30 grams
Gan Cao (Licorice Root) 甘草 3 - 6 grams

For those who prefer anti-virals, Relenza is still effective against the mutant strain, according to the WHO.

But for how much longer is anyone's guess.

Nutty semen

The title may sound strange, but apparently it's possible to develop reactions to allergens from your sex partner.

A 20-year-old woman documented to be allergic to Brazil nuts broke out in hives and wheezed after having sex with her boyfriend.

The guy, who loves Brazil nuts, took great measures to brush his teeth, clean his fingernails, and even take a bath prior to coitus to protect his girlfriend from all traces of Brazil nuts. 

Suspecting the lady is allergic to the guy's seminal fluids, doctors ordered specialised allergy tests for the lady: skin prick tests (no pun intended) with the boyfriend's semen before and after nut consumption.

The results confirmed that somehow, the offending allergens from the Brazil nuts had found its way into his, *ahem*, nuts. All in the span of a few hours.

So watch out gals and guys. If you have a food allergy, watch your partner's diet closely before that romp in the hay. 

(The last I read, the couple are not together anymore. Did the guy choose Brazil nuts over the girl? We'll never know.)

Superbug invasion? Call the cop(per)!

It's said that the ancient Egyptians used copper to sterilise wounds and even disinfect water. 

Now, more than 4,000 years later, modern researchers are verifying what the Egyptians knew.

They found that copper surfaces could kill bacteria on contact just after a minute's exposure. 
So efficient is the red metal at eradicating microbes, even the dreaded MRSA superbug - the bane of hospitals worldwide - is no match for copper's lethal punch.

For this reason alone, it's been suggested that hospitals could use copper as a tool to reduce hospital-acquired infections from antibiotic-resistant bacteria. And because the effect doesn't wear off, it's relatively inexpensive to implement across vast areas of hospitals.

Copper appears to be safe on humans because experiments demonstrate that it kills bacteria not by damaging its DNA. (Note that only dry copper surfaces possess anti-bacterial properties, not wet ones.)

I wonder if we'd observe the same effects by rubbing our hands on copper surfaces. Would any traces of copper rub off and kill bacteria on the hands? If it did, we could all wear copper bracelets and give it a good rub to clean our hands instead of having to wash with soap and water.  


Sources: http://www.antimicrobialcopper.com/uk/scientific-proof/scientific-references.aspx

Afraid of the runs while you're on antibiotics? This might help

I've always had gastric issues. A few visits to a gastroenterologist confirmed that I had psychosomatic-related gastric problems, ie, I was too 'wired'. And having a hypochondriac streak didn't help. 


During a gastroscopy (where the doctor passes a tube with a small camera down your throat to view your stomach), he discovered that I had H. pylori, a potentially harmful but common bacteria (it's said that half the population carries it). 


While usually benign, H. pylori is known to cause gastric cancer in a small percentage of people. And so the doctor recommended that I undergo 'Triple Therapy', a 2-week course of proton pump inhibitors (Omeprazole) coupled with two antibiotics (clarithromycin and amoxicillin). 


Knowing how my gut usually react to antibiotics, I did some research over the Internet. There were a few positive but inconclusive studies about probiotics - friendly bacteria (Lactobacillus) and friendly yeast (Saccharomyces boulardii - found naturally on lychee skin) having a beneficial effect. With nothing to lose, I ordered some online and took the probiotics a few hours apart from medication. 


Either the natural flora in my gut has strengthened through years of regular probiotics (I take Culturelle every now and then), or the combo of Lactobacillus and S. boulardii hit the nail. I didn't have diarrhea at all! 


Anyway, another gastroscope confirmed that the H. pylori has been eliminated from my tummy. Which goes to show that the probiotics didn't interfere with the antibiotics. 


If it worked for me, it just might work for you. But do seek medical advice before you take my word for it. 


I'm a human guinea pig. 


;)

Processed red meats associated with stroke and diabetes

Love sausages, hams, pepperoni and bologna? A recent Swedish study - the largest to date - once again confirms that people who eat more processed red meats (but not fresh red meat) have a higher risk of getting a stroke.

What's particularly startling is that those who ate the most processed meat also had a healthier diet, consuming more fruit, vegetables, and whole grains. In other words, the processed red meats even had the power to negate the positive effects of a healthier diet.

This is not the first time preserved red meats have been implicated: other studies have also linked its consumption to Type II diabetes and heart disease.

In one study, researchers found that just 50 grams of processed meat daily (approximately one hot dog or two strips of bacon) was enough to up the risk of developing Type II diabetes by a whopping 51%! In comparison, consuming 100 grams of unprocessed red meat increased the risk of developing Type II diabetes by only 19%. The good news is that by substituting one serving of nuts, low-fat dairy, and whole grains per day for one serving of red meat, you can reduce your Type II diabetes risk by up to 35%.

So watch you eat folks. Processed red meats are actually common these days in Singapore than you think, especially baked stuff (sausage bread rolls, pizzas), so you may want to be mindful when choosing your meals.

Here are some processed red meats I can think of:

• Sausage/Hot dog
• Ham
• Bacon
• Pepperoni
• Bologna
• Spam/Luncheon meat
• Corned beef

Moderation is the key to good health, so an occasional serving or two per week shouldn't do much harm.


Related posts:
White fruit supremacy
More evidence chocolate lowers stroke risk
Magnesium may lower stroke risk
Flavanones in citrus fruits may lower stroke risk
Trans fat increases stroke risk in postmenopausal women

A trusted remedy for mild gastric flu

Whenever I come down with early symptoms of gastric flu (tiredness, diarrhea, cough/running nose) I reach for my Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Wan 藿香正气丸. If the symptoms are not due to food poisoning, I usually feel better after just two doses. For this reason, I always keep a bottle in my fridge. Just in case.

Personally, I feel that this amazing formula works better than anything the doctor prescribes. And no wonder: it's been around for almost a thousand years! According to records, the formula was listed in the 'Imperial Grace Formula' of the Tai Ping era 1078 to 1085AD, Northern Song (Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang). And, get this: it's traditionally used to treat cholera!

Here's a quick look at the formula:
Cang Zhu 苍术 (Atractylodes)
Guang Huo Xiang 广藿香 (Patchouli)
Hou Po 厚朴 (Magnolia Bark)
Fu Ling 茯苓 (Poria)
Da Fu Pi 大腹皮 (Areca Peel)
Ban Xia 半夏 (Pinellia)
Zi Su Ye 紫苏叶 (Perilla)
Chen Pi 陈皮 (Tangerine Peel)
Ji Geng 桔梗 (Platycodon)
Bai Zhi 白芷 (Angelica Root)
Sheng Jiang 生姜 (Ginger)
Da Zao 大枣 (Jujube)
Gan Cao 甘草 (Licorice)

Those who are TCM trained will know that the first few ingredients remove/transform 'damp', while the rest 'release the exterior' and 'regulate qi' (hence the name Zhen Qi 正气). Don't you just love the way TCM explains how a formula works? It's so...poetic. Whatever works I guess. 
 
I have had mild diarrhea for the past two days, coupled with a feeling of general malaise and stuffy nose. Sure signs that I need this formula. So I popped the pungent pills last night and again in the morning. Voila! I feel much better now.

I know I can always trust a thousand year old remedy.

TCM formula relieves mild H1N1 cases (Swine Flu) as well as Oseltamivir

A news article about H1N1 caught my attention today.

It was reported that a herbal therapy consisting of two well-known TCM formulas, 'Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang' (麻杏石甘汤) and 'Yin Qiao San' (银翘散) have been shown to be as effective as Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) in alleviating symptoms caused by H1N1.

Researchers studied 410 Chinese adults with H1N1. Those who took the TCM formula reduced their fever after 16 hours, as opposed to 26 hours in patients in a control group.

What's interesting is that as far back as December 2009, there was already mention of this formula combo by Beijing medical officials, who termed it 'Jin Hua Qing Gan' (金花清感). According to an archived article, the formula was 'developed and tested at several Western and traditional medical institutes in Beijing' for over six months.

A caveat: the formula only treats mild cases of H1N1.

For those interested in the exact components of this formula, here's the breakdown:

'Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang' (麻杏石甘汤)

• Ma Huang (Ephedra) 麻黄 12 grams
• Shi Gao (Gypsum) 石膏 48 grams
• Xing Ren (Apricot Seed) 杏仁 18 grams
• Zhi Gan Cao (Honey Fried Licorice Root) 炙甘草 6 grams

'Yin Qiao San' (银翘散)

• Jin Yin Hua (Honeysuckle Flower) 金银花 9 - 15 grams
• Lian Qiao (Forsythia Fruit) 连翘 9 - 15 grams
• Jie Geng (Platycodon Root) 桔梗 3 - 6 grams
• Niu Bang Zi (Great Burdock Fruit) 牛旁子 9 - 12 grams
• Bo He (Field Mint, Mentha) 薄荷 3 - 6 grams
• Dan Dou Chi (Prepared Soybean) 淡豆敕 3 - 6 grams
• Jing Jie (Schizonepeta Bud or Stem) 荆芥 6 - 9 grams
• Dan Zhu Ye(Lophatherum Stem and Leaves) 淡竹叶 3 - 6 grams
• Lu Gen (Reed Rhizome) 芦根 15 - 30 grams
• Gan Cao (Licorice Root) 甘草 3 - 6 grams

Of interest is also how H1N1 is treated according to TCM principles: It's thought to spread from the Lung (fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat; treated by Ma Huang, Xing Ren, Shi Gao, Gan Cao) and the Stomach (this flu strain is known to cause diarrhea; formula of choice - Huo Xiang Zheng Qi 藿香正气, and then into the Blood system (high fever, irritability and respiratory problems).