Herbal Remedies News
Herbal remedies researched
FRENCH biopharmaceutical group Pharnext is studying the potential for the construction of a herbal medicine factory in Cambodia, as part of a joint venture with local firm Mede Khmer.
Herbal remedies to counter high blood pressure, diabetes and skin conditions are on the cards, according to Moung Sothy, general manager of Mede Khmer.
The companies are now studying the varieties of local plants available and theirsustainability.
“The first step is to select the herbs … maybe one year later we can set up a factory in Cambodia. I believe that it is not long everything will take shape,” he said.
Investment, he said, could reach from US$40 million to $60 million, he added.
“In the past Khmer traditional doctors used physalis subglabrata to cure high blood pressure – but they were not experienced in the terms of science to make sure that whether those kinds of herbs are successfully used.
“We will test scientifically to make sure that those kinds of herbs are effective. We have big labs in China, France and the United States,” Moung Sothy said.
Mom Bun Heng, Minister of Health, said he did not know about the investment plans but welcomed the move.
“Despite the advanced technology, we cannot give up traditional herbs. In the developed countries traditional herbs are still used. Those kinds of traditional herbs are the root of scientific medicines,” he said.
“I don’t know whether this investment will be successful, but the research conducted every day is a useful job for Cambodia,” added Ung Sok Lean, who is deputy director of National Centre for Khmer traditional medicines, an organisation which has been researching herbs with Pharnext Group.
“If they can set up a pharmaceutical factory in Cambodia, the company will distribute those medicines to impoverished people.”
Herbal remedies for glowing skin
While most women choose to resort to expensive cosmetic products in order to get that glowing skin that will turn heads amongst men as well as cause envy amongst the “fairer sex”, the thing is that one does not have to go that far in order to look radiant.
Actually, this can be achieved without having to burn a big hole in your pockets (considering the current conservative scenario that most of us find ourselves in) and what makes this even better is that you don’t have to go very far in finding these items. Yes, you can find almost all of them in your very own kitchen.
So, here is a list of herbal home remedies that one can prepare (if you have the time!) using items that you normally use to prepare your food with:
Herbal Remedy #1: Applying olive oil to your skin can work wonders especially if you are ailing with sunburned skin.
Herbal Remedy #2: Instead of purchasing those costly deodorants that you run out of regularly, mixing vinegar with water in equal amounts can be effective against smelly feet and armpits.
Herbal Remedy #3: If you struggle with dry skin, one can mash avocados and apply them on your face. Wait for 20 minutes and then rinse it off after 20 minutes.
Herbal Remedy #4: Another effective home remedy which works as an excellent face mask is egg yolk mixed with honey. After you make this paste, apply it on your skin and then leave it on for about 20 minutes after which you can rinse it off. This works very well for those who have sensitive skin as well.
Herbal Remedy
#5: Dark circles are another common problem that can be resolved by using herbal remedies as well. And for this, all one has to do is dip cotton pads into a chilled mixture of potato juice and cucumber. Keep this on your eyelids for about 15 to 20 minutes and then gently wash it off.
Homeopaths fury over EU ban on generic “herbal medicines”
Homeopaths across the EU are banding together in a last ditch effort to prevent the EU from enforcing strict regulatory laws governing the sale of herbal medicines across the EU.
The Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive, 2004/24/EC, was established to provide a regulatory approval process for herbal medicines in the European Union (EU), and came into force on 30 April 2004. Previously, there was no formal EU wide authorisation procedure, so each EU member regulated these products as they wished.
Under the new regulations, herbal medicinal products must now obtain prior authorisation before being sold within the EU. Products on the market before this legislation came into force can continue to sell their products until 30 April 2011. As from the 1st of May, all herbal medicinal products must have regulatory authorisation before being sold in any EU state.
Dounne Alexander MBE, founder of a campaign to overturn this ban, said that this ruling: “if left unchallenged, poses the greatest threat imaginable to our health, (including our children & future generations), animal welfare and the environment – but also the survival of many cultural foods, holistic practices, therapists and ‘small’ health businesses. In addition, centuries of ancient wisdom and spiritual beliefs will be written out of the history books and lost forever. With the European Union and UK Government claiming that these Legislations were created to provide greater consumer protection, however, overwhelming evidence shows their true purpose is to assist global population control, power & wealth.”
Ms Alexander is currently promoting an EU wide campaign to obtain 35 million signatures to hand in a petition to the EU parliament to overturn the ban (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/joininghandsinhealth/).
However, the EU regulatory commission denies that the new legislation is aiming at a blanket ban on herbal products.
The Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC), responsible for the authorisation of these types of medicines, said that “The HMPC’s activities aim at assisting the harmonisation of procedures and provisions concerning herbal medicinal products laid down in EU Member States, and further integrating herbal medicinal products in the European regulatory framework.”
“As part of these objectives, the HMPC provides EU Member States and European institutions its scientific opinion on questions relating to herbal medicinal products. The HMPC is composed of scientific experts in the field of herbal medicinal products. It has one member and one alternate member nominated by each of the 27 EU Member States and by each of the EEA-EFTA states Iceland and Norway. The Chair is elected by serving HMPC members.”
“Herbal medicines must be now manufactured under Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) to ensure the quality of the finished product and also demonstrate safety.” added the HMPC.
Currently, the only herbal medicines that are exempted from the provisions of the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive are those unlicensed remedies that are created for a patient following a consultation with a herbalist.
Under the Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive, a company needs to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the herbal medicine through traditional use within the EU for at least 30 years or 15 years within the EU and 30 years outside the EU. There is concern that some herbal remedies of 30 years ago, which are no longer in widespread use, could still be sold but that valid new herbs which cannot meet the 30 year rule may require to be withdrawn from sale. The rule could also mean that it may not be possible to license some traditional herbal medicines which were in common use more than 30 years ago, but have since fallen into disuse.
How herbal remedies can help fight gum disease
Q I regularly suffer from infected gums, and I’m very conscious that when my gums are infected, my breath is bad. Do you have any suggestions?
A Gum infections, or gingivitis, begin when bacteria in the mouth stick to the teeth, forming plaques.
These deposits then cause the gums to become inflamed. Symptoms of this include bad breath and can also be seen when cleaning the teeth – often you will see blood on your toothbrush after brushing.
Left untreated, gingivitis can turn into periodontal disease, whereby the bacteria cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, bone beneath the gums erodes and the teeth become loose. Eventually the teeth will be lost.
This is the commonest cause of tooth loss in adults.
Herbs can be used to treat the infection, but if you have not already done so, go and see your dentist as well.
They can show you how to clean and floss your teeth correctly. It is important not only to clean your teeth thoroughly and regularly, but also to floss your teeth daily too.
In addition to this, try taking 50mg a day of Co-enzyme Q10 – studies have shown it to be helpful in controlling gum disease.
To speed up the healing of gums and to reduce inflammation, rinse the mouth thoroughly with tea made from herbs such as sage or chamomile.
Sage contains antiseptic compounds, so try a mouthwash made by adding two teaspoons of dried sage to a cup of boiling water, leave to stand for 10 minutes, strain and when cool use it to rinse your teeth.
You can make up enough to last a couple of days in one go. Just remember to store the excess tea in your fridge.
Chamomile also contains antiseptic and anti-inflammatory compounds. Again make up a strong tea as before and use it as a mouthwash.
Peppermint, which is normally used as flavouring for toothpaste, is also antibacterial. Again you can make an effective mouthwash in the same way as previously described.
You can make all these teas even more effective by adding a teaspoon of Echinacea tincture to each cup. Echinacea is another effective antibacterial herb.
An easy way to help your gums is to drink green tea, it contains several antibacterial substances.
One final thing to mention, smoking can encourage the development of gum disease, so if you smoke, try to give it up.