苦艾的用途 Brief introduction of Wormwood uses

苦艾是一種味道非常苦澀的植物， 因此而得名。 苦 艾作為藥用草本歷史悠久 。它對於肝臟、膽囊和消化系統都有滋補作用，其活性成分更具有殺菌作用。對於那些消化不良的人仕，艾草具有顯著的舒緩作用。艾草可以增加胃酸和膽汁分泌，改善消化和加強營養物質的吸收。經常服用，可以幫助身體回復健康和充滿活力，對應長期患病後的康復期尤為重要。

苦艾的葉子和花芽可以用作驅蟲劑、抗炎藥、防腐劑、解痙劑、抗腫瘤藥、驅風劑、利膽藥、調經劑、退熱劑、 安眠藥 、興奮劑和健胃藥等， 功效多不勝數。 一般情況下 ， 苦艾會在開花前收割，待曬乾後便可使用。

雖然苦艾有眾多益處， 使用上卻要謹慎，此植物適宜作為短期治療用途，宜服用較低劑量；如有疑問，應在服用前咨詢醫護人員的意見。不建議兒童或孕婦服用。

順勢療法處方也有採用苦艾製作，大多取用苦艾葉。 功能有刺激膽汁和胃液分泌 ，有助治療肝臟和膽囊疾病。

Wormwood is a very bitter plant with a long history of use as a medicinal herb. It is valued especially for its tonic effect on the liver, gallbladder and digestive system, and for its vermicidal activity. It is an extremely useful medicine for those with weak and under-active digestion. It increases stomach acid and bile production, improving digestion and the absorption of nutrients. If taken regularly, helps the body return to full vitality after a prolonged illness.

The leaves and flowering shoots are anthelmintic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitumor, carminative, cholagogue, emmenagogue, febrifuge, hypnotic, stimulant, stomachic and other tonic uses. The plant is harvested as it is coming into flower and then dried for later use.

Use with caution, the plant should be taken internally in small doses for short-term treatment only, preferably under the supervision of a qualified practitioner. It should not be prescribed for children or pregnant women.

A homeopathic remedy is made from the leaves. It is used to stimulate bile and gastric juice production and to treat disorders of the liver and gall bladder.

牛磺酸促進腦細胞再生和改善身體健康 Taurine Boosts Brain Cell Regeneration & Supports Whole-Body Health

牛磺酸促進腦細胞再生和改善身體健康

牛磺酸是“體內最重要的物質之一”。 但隨著年齡的增長，牛磺酸水平逐步下降。

研究發現，牛磺酸可以促進與學習和記憶相關的大腦區域的新細胞形成。

牛磺酸還可以增強神經突起組織的功能，協助腦細胞相互溝通。

過去的研究也表明了牛磺酸能維持和改善以下功能：
- 心血管健康
- 胰島素敏感性
- 免疫系統的調節
- 中樞神經系統的調節
- 肝功能
- 眼睛健康
- 聽力功能

Taurine Boosts Brain Cell Regeneration & Supports Whole-Body Health

Taurine is "one of the most essential substances in the body". But as we age, taurine levels decline.

Research has found that taurine can promote new cell formation in the area of the brain associated with learning and memory.

Taurine also enhances neurites, tiny projections that help brain cells communicate with each other.

Past research has also shown the ability of taurine to maintain and support:
-Cardiovascular health
-Insulin sensitivity
-Modulation of the immune system
-Regulation of the central nervous system
-Liver function
-Eye health
-Hearing function

大蒜與心臟健康 The Garlic bulb and Heart Health

大蒜與心臟健康

世界各地的飲食習慣大多包含大蒜，地中海、中國和中東等地也都如是。大蒜自古以來都有食用和藥用價值。

近年已有多項關於大蒜的研究，發現大蒜能改善心臟病、血壓高、膽固醇高和癌症等等。據美國國立衛生研究院的研究顯示，大蒜也能有效治療糖尿病、花粉症、感冒和流感等不適。

著名草藥學家James A. Duke博士稱大蒜為“能用於任何心臟或循環系統疾病的主要植物。”

大蒜對保護心血管承擔起三個重要作用：它可以降低膽固醇和三酯甘油脂，降血壓和防止動脈粥樣硬化（導致動脈血管閉塞）。

經發酵的老蒜提取物（Aged Garlic Extract）常用於治療慢性冠狀動脈疾病和緩慢鈣化（導致動脈硬化）等問題。一項關於停經後婦女心血管疾病的研究顯示，服用老蒜提取物配合適量運動，對調節低密度膽固醇(俗稱壞膽固醇)有正面作用。

而最近一項為期12週的研究顯示，每日服兩粒老蒜提取物（總共480毫克），能顯著降低收縮壓(或稱爲上壓)數值。

The Garlic bulb and Heart Health

A staple in diets around the world, from the Mediterranean to China and the Middle East, garlic has also been used medicinally since ancient times.

Garlic has been studied for heart disease, blood pressure, cholesterol, and cancer. According to the National Institutes of Health, it’s also been used to treat diabetes, hay fever, colds, and flu.

Herbalist James A. Duke, PhD, calls garlic “our premier plant for virtually any heart or circulatory condition.”

Garlic’s cardiovascular (CV) protection works like threefold armor: it cuts cholesterol and triglycerides, lowers blood pressure, and protects against atherosclerosis (clogged arteries).

Aged garlic extract (AGE) has been used to treat patients with chronic coronary artery disease and to slow calcification (which leads to hardened arteries). In a study of CV disease in postmenopausal women, a program of AGE combined with exercise had a major impact on LDL (bad) cholesterol.

A recent 12-week study showed that two capsules daily (480 mg total) significantly reduced participants’ systolic (top number) blood pressure.

Sources:

“Aged Garlic Extract Reduces Blood Pressure in Hypertensives …,” K. Ried et al., Eur J Clin Nutr, 11/21/12

“Fresh Garlic Extract Induces Growth Arrest … Breast Cancer Cells,” S. Modem et al., Genes Cancer, 2/12

National Institutes of Health, nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus

五款促進血液循環的營養補充劑 Five Supplements for Circulation

1.葡萄籽提取物
臨床研究表明葡萄籽提取物是一種天然血管擴張劑。它有助於血管放鬆，從而改善血液流動。葡萄籽提取物蘊含一種稱為原花青素OPC的天然化合物， 研究證明有助於降低腦氧化應激作用，這有助於保持腦細胞更年輕和更健康。

 2.辣椒
辣椒作為草藥使用已有悠久歷史， 有助舒緩牙痛和頭痛，但它也可以幫助改善血液循環，這要歸功於一種叫做辣椒素的成分。事實上，在你吃辣椒或其營養補充劑的那一刻，它幾乎可以立即改善你的血液流動。

3.銀杏葉
德國醫生喜歡使用銀杏葉來改善患者的血液循環，以及其他多種健康問題。 銀杏葉被認為可以改善記憶力，促進大腦血液循環，以及幫助哮喘患者舒緩症狀。它還能令血液更快地輸送到心臟，甚至可以增強血管彈性。

4. 蜂花粉
許多人服用蜂花粉補充劑來對抗過敏和感冒，但大多數人不知道它也可以幫助循環。蜂花粉含有一種叫做蘆丁的抗氧化劑，可以強化血管，有助於防止血液凝塊，從而導致嚴重的健康問題，甚至死亡。它甚至可以幫助防止動脈硬化。

5. 山楂
眾所周知，山楂有助改善心臟健康，增加血液循環。山楂還可以通過增加心肌健康來改善心律。

Five Supplements for Circulation
1. Grape seed extract
Grape seed extract is known to be a vasodilator. It helps the blood vessels relax, which improves blood flow. Compounds from grape seed extract called oligomeric proanthocyanidins (OPC) have also been shown to help lower brain oxidative stress, which helps keep the brain cells younger and healthier.

2. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper has been used for thousands of years for everything from toothaches to headaches, but it can also help improve circulation, thanks to an ingredient called capsicum. As a matter of fact, the minute you eat cayenne pepper or take a supplement, it improves your blood flow almost instantly.

3. Ginkgo Biloba
German doctors actually use Gingko Biloba to improve their patients’ circulation, along with multiple other health issues. It is thought to improve memory due to increased circulation in the brain, as well as help patients with asthma. It also helps blood get to get the heart faster and even strengthens the blood vessels.

4. Bee Pollen
Many people take bee pollen supplements to combat allergies and colds, but most don’t know that they can also help with circulation. Bee pollen contains an antioxidant called rutin that can strengthen the blood vessels and potentially help prevent blood clots that can lead to serious health problems or even death. It may even help prevent the hardening of your arteries.

5. Hawthorn
Hawthorn has been known to increase circulation by making your heart healthier. Hawthorn may also improve your heart’s rhythm by increasing your heart muscle health.