Bitter Leaf, Scent Leaf Can Help Cure Diabetes - Experts

One discovery being backed by science is that bitter leaf and scent leaf combined with normal routine diabetes medications drastically reduce sugar levels in people with diabetes.

In a new study, researchers found that the combination of these extracts with normal routine medications had better sugar level control when compared with only routine medication usage. Aside this, the use of two herbs also seemed to mitigate some symptoms of diabetes.

The study indicated that patients on both bitter leaf and scent leaf extracts had better blood sugar control when compared with those that had only one extract administered or those that served as controls and didn’t receive the extracts.

For the study, a total of 38 diabetic patients were enrolled within the Rumuepirikom community in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State for the study done over a four-week duration

Disease duration in each patient was roughly estimated from the time the disease was clinically diagnosed by medical personnel and all the patients had some basic investigations carried out before the commencement of the study.

Each patient was assigned to one of six groups based on age of onset of the disease, disease duration in the individual and the severity of the disease in the patient.

Their daily fasting blood sugar levels were monitored and extracts of both leaves daily obtained naturally by water extraction were administered to them accordingly.

Some groups had the extracts administered alone; some had the extracts given alongside their routine anti-diabetic medication while some served as control.

The 2018 study, published in the International Journal of Chemistry and Chemical Processes, involved Udeh Winifred and Mene Alexander at the University of Port Harcourt.

The study showed that patients on both Bitter leaf and scent leaf extracts combined had better  blood sugar control when compared with those that had only one extract administered solely or those that served as control and didn’t receive the extracts at all.

Patients that received doses of single extracts alone also had better controlled sugar level results than those who did not receive extracts at all. Also, patients who took the extracts alongside their routine medication had better sugar level control than those who took their medications alone without the extracts.

Bitter leaf is one of the most widely consumed leaf vegetables. The leaves, with a sweet and bitter taste, are sold fresh or dried, and are a typical ingredient in melon soup.

Bitter leaf is well known as a medicinal plant with several uses attributed to it, including treatment for diabetes, fever reduction, and recently a non-pharmaceutical solution to persistent fever, headache and joint pain associated with AIDS. Its roots have been used for relief from gingivitis and toothache due to its proven antimicrobial activity.

Scent leaf, locally called daidoya in Hausa, Efinrin in Yoruba and  Ntonng in Ibibio has a range of culinary and medicinal applications including the treatment of stomach ache, diarrhoea, chronic dysentery and vomiting. Its squeezed leaves are applied on the skin for treating skin diseases and ringworm.

Diabetes is a widespread disorder affecting the blood sugar and insulin levels in the body. Managing the long-term consequences and complications of diabetes is as much of a challenge as the disease itself.

There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is where the pancreas produces no insulin. Type 2 diabetes is more common. With type 2, the body either does not produce enough insulin or produces insulin that the body does not use properly.

There are many treatment options for people with type 2 diabetes. Growing research, however, suggests that some herbs and supplements could be combined with more traditional methods to find relief from many type 2 diabetes symptoms.

In fact, because certain herbs, vitamins and supplements may interact with diabetes medications (including insulin) and increase their hypoglycemic effects, it is often argued that use of natural therapies could reduce blood sugars to dangerously low levels and raise the risk of other diabetes complications.

Moreover, plant-based therapies that have been shown in some studies to have anti-diabetic properties include aloe vera, bitter melon, ginger and okra.

Preliminary research suggests that intake of aloe vera juice can help improve blood glucose levels and may therefore be useful in treating people with diabetes.

Researchers from the University of Sydney, Australia, found that extracts from Buderim Ginger (Australian grown ginger) rich in gingerols – the major active component of ginger rhizome – can increase uptake of glucose into muscle cells without using insulin, and may therefore assist in the management of high blood sugar levels.

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How To Achieve Effective Vaccination Against Liver, Cervical Cancers - Expert

A health expert, Dr Lai Ogunbiyi,  has called for urgent  commencement of national immunisation of Nigerians against the scourge of liver cancer and cervical cancer in Nigeria. 

Ogunbiyi, who is the Managing Director, Signal Health Nigeria Ltd., said  despite the availability of effective preventive vaccines, liver cancer and cervical cancer continue to kill Nigerians. 

Liver cancer, caused by Hepatitis B virus is the number two killer in Nigeria after malaria. Hepatitis B virus is about 100 times more infectious than HIV and is predominantly transmitted via sexual contact.  

However, because it is present in all bodily fluids and has an inherent high infection rate compared to other viruses, it can also be transmitted casually such as via coughing or kissing, mother to child at birth and by close contact or proximity to an infected individual. 

Ogunbiyi said 28 Nigerians die of liver cancer everyday, that is, more than one person an hour. “Liver cancer caused by Hepatitis B virus can be completely and effectively prevented by vaccines. 

The vaccination regimen usually calls for three vaccinations given at time intervals of   0, 1 month and 6 months. Efficacy of prevention is usually in the 99 percent range. 

Noting the demography of infection in Lagos State  presents a unique challenge, he said the infection rate in surgeons and emergency room madicals technicians exceeds the average infection rate of Lagos state. 

“As a resultt of the work these professional do, they  present a major source of spreading the virus in Lagos State and will require particular attention with respect ot a state immunisation programme. 

Arguing for the national vaccination drive, Ogunbiyi said it is generally recommended that the populace should be vaccinated starting with firstline responders such as the police, solders, firemen, healthcare professionals before progressing to the rest of the population. 

Further, Ogunbiyi said cervical cancer is a concern primarily caused by sexual transmission of the Human Papilloma virus (HPV) and unfortunately, Nigeria ranks 1st in deaths from cervical cancer in the 24 countries that constitute North and West Africa and is10th in the world.

 “Conservatively, about 30 women die of cervical cancer everyday in Nigeria. Cervical cancer currently affects 23.7 percent of girls and women between the ages of 15 – 44 years. It is projected to increase to 62 percent in Nigeria over the next 10-15 years. 

“Highly effective vaccines have been developed for the prevention of cervical cancer. A most effective strategy for prevention requires cervical cancer vaccination in routine annual immunisation programmes to ensure extensive coverage of the population over time."

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Home Management Of Rheumatoid Arthritis

If you have rheumatoid arthritis, you can take steps at home to manage your pain and stay active. Pay attention to your pain. Change your activity level or how you do a task to avoid making your pain worse.

Change position often. When writing, doing crafts or driving, release your grip every 10 to 15 minutes. 

When watching television or using the computer, get up and move around every 30 minutes. Look for tools and utensils designed for people with arthritis. 

Products such as anti-vibration gloves and large-diameter pens and kitchen utensils can reduce the pain caused by gripping or pinching movements. Conserve energy. 

Balance periods of rest and activity during the day. Work at a steady, moderate pace with frequent short breaks. Stop and rest before you become too tired or sore. 

Soaking your hands or feet in warm or cool water may help relieve joint pain and stiffness. Get enough sleep, eat a healthy diet and be as physically active as you can. 

If you are overweight, even a modest amount of weight loss can ease pressure on your joints. If you smoke, ask your doctor to help you quit. 

For more ideas about how to manage your joint pain, talk with a health expert.

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World Food Day: NAFDAC Decries Poor Handling Of Foods By Producers

As the World marked this year’s World Food Safety Day yesterday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has decried poor handling of foods in Nigeria by producers and sellers, saying the populace and consumers are being exposed unduly to health risks from contaminants.

At a briefing to mark the Day in Lagos with the theme: “Food Safety, Everyone’s Business”, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Dr. Christianah Adeyeye, also disclosed that the World Health Organisation, WHO’s, report showed that an estimated 600 million cases of food borne diseases occur annually while children under age five carry 40 percent of the burden of the disease with 125,000 deaths every year.

Adeyeye said in Nigeria, there had been reoccurring food safety issues as well as emerging issues including artificial ripening of fruits using unapproved agents such as calcium carbide which she said, could have deleterious effects on health when such fruits are consumed.

“Unauthorised chemicals such as dichlorvos for storage of grains and other agricultural produce by unauthorised persons could lead to contamination of the stored products.  

Implicated in this practice also are exporters and dealers of agricultural commodities who spray hazardous pesticides on produce during storage to prevent damage by pests at the cost of human lives and public health.  

All these among other poor practices unduly expose the populace to health risk from these contaminants.” Continuing, she listed other food safety challenges in the country to include; display of food products in the sun which could produce harmful by products such as benzene in soft drinks, poor transportation, and use of non-food grade packaging materials amongst others.

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How To Reduce Your Liver Cancer Risk

While it’s not always possible to prevent liver cancer, you can reduce your risk by being vaccinated against hepatitis B, being tested for hepatitis C, practising safe sex, and limiting your consumption of alcohol.

Hepatitis B can be transferred from mother to baby during childbirth or breastfeeding, often resulting in a chronic infection. 

What many people do not realise is that it is relatively easy to contract the hepatitis B virus, unlike viruses such as HIV. 

Simply sharing a toothbrush or having small cuts on your hand and touching a doorknob with a trace amount of blood from someone with hepatitis B is enough to contract the infection.

People who become infected with the hepatitis B virus are often not ill when they acquired it and may otherwise be unaware of the infection until it does substantial damage. 

If you have a family history of people who had liver disease, get tested for the disease. The consistent use of condoms can greatly reduce your risk. 

If you have hepatitis B, you should advise your partner so that he or she can get vaccinated. Cut down on your number of sex partners. Limit processed foods and red meats. 

If you are a smoker, now is the time to quit. Don’t share injection needles and syringes.

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What You Need To Know About Sunscreen

Article From Penelope Andersan

Allow us to demystify everything you need to know about protecting your skin from the sun, just in time for summer vacation.

Sun protection is like eating your vegetables. We know it is good for our health, but we don't always know exactly why and, not to mention, how to properly use it. What exactly are UV rays and what does SPF really mean anyway? Allow us to demystify everything you need to know about protecting your skin from the sun.

What Are UV Rays?

Ultraviolet Rays (UV rays) are potentially harmful rays that are emitted from the sun. While there are actually many types of UV rays, we are most concerned with UVA and UVB rays since they are correlated with skin cancers.

All sunscreens protect against UVB rays because they are the main cause of sunburns and skin cancers. However, UVA rays can also contribute to skin cancer and premature aging. That's why it is important to choose products that are “broad spectrum," which means they protect against both UVA and UVB rays.

What Does SPF Mean?

Sun Protection Factor (SPF) comes into play because it measures how long the sunscreen will protect you from UVB rays (but not UVA rays). According to the American Cancer Society, you should choose an SPF of 30 or higher. In fact, the FDA has issued a requirement that anything containing SPF 15 or lower needs to have a warning label similar to non-broad spectrum sunscreen. The higher the SPF number, the more protection it offers. However, keep in mind that as the SPF number increases, its efficacy is only marginally better. For example, SPF 15 filters out about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 filters out about 97%, SPF 50 filters out about 98%, and SPF 100 about 99%. Currently, there is no sunscreen that offers 100% protection.

How Does Sunscreen Work?

Before we dive in, let’s clarify: sunscreen and sunblock are not the same. As the name implies, sunblock actually blocks UV rays from reaching the skin whereas sunscreen does not. Instead, sunscreen absorbs the UV rays when they reach the skin. The differences in sunscreen and sunblock lie in the ingredients. Sunblock is typically made from mineral ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Sunscreen, on the other hand, is made from chemical ingredients like benzophenones (oxybenzone), cinnamates (octylmethyl cinnamate and cinoxate), sulisobenzone, and salicylates.

Choosing The Best Sunscreen For You

The right sunscreen for you is the sunscreen you will use. According to New York dermatologist Julie Russak, MD, “There is no real SPF number to determine whether a sunscreen is right for you, though we usually recommend at least SPF 50. I always convey to my patients that even if you apply SPF 50 but do not apply enough of it, it is not as effective. There’s a significant drop-off in your perceived SPF coverage when applying less than the recommended amount."

For your body, the FDA recommends applying a full shot glass-worth of sunscreen. "In reality, none of us do this and thus rarely apply the right amount of SPF," says Dr. Russak. "Based on this fact, I ultimately recommend patients use the highest SPF available because you will most likely be applying less than the amount recommended."

According to the AAD, most people only apply 25 to 50% of the recommended amount of sunscreen. It is important to apply to the tops of your lips, feet, neck, ears, and top of head (if you have thinner hair) and to reapply every two hours or more often if swimming or sweating.

Dr. Russak also advises to be mindful of environmental factors that can contribute to how quickly you burn, like the altitude (the closer to the sun, the stronger the rays).

You also need to remember that water resistant sunscreen is not the same as water proof. A truly waterproof and sweatproof sunscreen has yet to be developed. Water resistant products cannot last a whole day and need to be reapplied at least every two hours. While water resistant sunscreen can last up to 80 minutes while sweating or swimming, it can easily come off from the water or even be rubbed off when drying yourself with a towel.

What Sunscreen Ingredients Should We Look For?

Dr. Russak recommends using a broad spectrum mineral-based sunblock containing zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. "Mineral sunscreen is the best SPF for everybody," she says, as it typically can contain less preservatives and other fillers and can cause less irritation (which makes them perfect for sensitive skin).

"For the face, use a lighter mineral SPF intended specifically for facial use, which will blend easier," she says. "For the body, I recommend a mineral SPF in a spray form, especially for kids. I like Elta Md AERO for the body, it sprays white and you can see it on the skin. Kids can see it as they apply it, and so can I, before it blends into the skin and becomes invisible.”

What About People With Fair Skin?

“People with fair skin have a higher risk of developing cancerous and precancerous lesions and should seek more shade than most. It’s crucial for someone with fair skin to apply broad spectrum SPF more often and avoid the sun when it’s strongest (from 12-3 PM)," says Dr. Russak.

What About People With Dark Skin Types?

“Those with dark skin often think they do not need SPF, or at least not as much, but this is absolutely not true," says Dr. Russak. "People with dark skin are just as vulnerable to developing cancerous and precancerous lesions. I often encounter patients of darker complexions who avoid sunscreen altogether because they fear they’ll look ashy or white post-application. What they may not know is not all sunscreens are made the same, and there are great options offering an invisible or a more universal finish such as, Revision Intellishade.”

What Is The Proper Way To Apply Sunscreen When Wearing Makeup?

“In the summer, I recommend applying sunscreen at home before leaving the house," says Dr. Russak. "Apply on clean, dry skin and before putting on any makeup. Let the sunscreen absorb a little on the skin, while it forms a protective layer. Then, layer on the makeup on top of it.”

Why Is Sunscreen So Important?

About 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to UV rays from sunlight. And while UVA and UVB rays are directly linked to cancer, a lot of cases are preventable. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, daily use of an SPF can cut the risk of developing melanoma in half. In addition to cancer, UVA and UVB rays are also directly correlated with skin aging. The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that an estimated 90% of skin aging is caused by the sun.

Furthermore, sunscreen plays an important role in post-surgery healing. Because sunlight can cause darkening and discoloration around a scar, it is more critical than ever to wear sunscreen to help scars heal as properly as possible.

Wearing sunscreen every day, not just at the beach or beside the pool, is essential to our overall health. The sun emits harmful UV rays year-round and even on cloudy days. In fact, snow, sand, and water can actually reflect the sun’s rays, making the need for sunscreen even stronger. And remember that sunscreens are designed to have a shelf-life of three years. If you have a bottle of sunscreen that it is past its expiration date, it is no longer effective and should be thrown out.

Always remember that sun exposure and UVA/UVB rays are directly linked to skin cancer, premature aging, and discoloration of scars, so the most important thing for skin care and your overall health is consistent and complete broad spectrum sun protection.

Penelope Andersan is from the Content Partnerships Team of The AEDITION, an online publication created by new, aesthetic enhancement platform AEDIT. AEDIT is a next-generation, go-to source for anyone looking to continue or begin their medial aesthetic journey.

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