Is Medicated Bath Effective?

We want our life to be easy and convenient. I still can recall when I was a child, I ran happily home towards my mum just by telling her that there was a supermarket name “Convenient Store” newly opened right near to my house. For me as a kid, I could buy junks and sweets whenever I feel like having it at ease. But I didn’t realize that by having all these “goodies”, would cost my health.

We, especially me, love conveniences and most of time, take our wealth – i,e, “health” for granted. We want things to be as easy as possible. For instance, nowadays, Microwave, has  been an essential in every modern household. But let me asked one question, though we could save some time from the hassle of cooking for our meals, how much these food from the microwave could be detrimental to our health?

I love the phrase “back to the Basic”, back to the routine of what the old folks have done during ages ago, isn’t that more beneficial to our health? Hence, don’t opt for a “short-cut” when comes to our health.

Different bathing forms may relieve exterior syndromes by means of diaphoresis, remove wind and dampness, promote qi flow and blood circulation, relax muscles and tendons, activate collaterals, regulate yin and yang, and inspire enthusiasm, etc. respectively. Bathing forms are numerous, such as hot spring bath, hot water bath, sunbath, seawater bath, sauna, cold water bath, medicated bath, mud bath, sand bath and forestry bath. Because of limited space, this section only introduces the TCM characteristics of Medicated Bath.

Medicated bath – that formulated from herbs and plants

Medicated liquid with a certain concentration is used to bathe or soak the whole body. In this way, the active principles of the drugs can exert direct effects on the region of pathological changes to destroy bacteria, kill pain, check itching and relieve inflammation. Meanwhile, by means of skin absorption, the active principles enter blood circulation to reach every tissue and organ of the human body, and to bring the therapeutic effects into full play.

The mechanism of life cultivation and rehabilitation with medicated bath

Medicated bath, like hot spring bath, hot water bath and sauna, can make skin blood vessels dilated and congested, accelerate metabolism and strengthen syringadenous excretion to promote profuse sweating and discharge of metabolite and toxin. Heat can reduce the excitability of nervous system to produce tranquilization and to be beneficial to sleeping, too. The heat of water can reduce muscular tension to relieve muscular pain and spasm as well. Moreover, the drugs in the medicated liquid reach the body directly. Therefore, it can produce a pharmacological action which does not exist in other bathing therapies.

Medicated bath may be applicable to the rehabilitation of hypertension, local soft tissue injury, neurosis, rheumatic arthritis, rhematoid arthritis, lumbago, pain of legs, ischias, sequelae of cerebrovascular accident, obesity, psoriasis, and skin itching, etc.

Direction

Cook the medicine into a hot boiling water i.e. 100℃ for at least 15mins. Then, decoct the herbs and plants into decoction. Next, mix the decoction with bathing water. The temperature of the water is about 35 to 40℃. The bathing lasts 15 to 20 minutes each time, once a day or once every other day. It is advisable to take the medicated bath after noon or in the evening according to the person’s physical conditions. After bathing, wipe the body drily with a towel. Then, cover the body with a quilt and lie in bed peacefully for a while. However, be cautious not to select the drugs which irritate and corrode the skin; old, very young and seriously sick patients should be nursed to avoid accidents; medicated bath is not advisable in the case of skin injury, excessive starvation, overfeeding, menstrual period and pregnant stage.

Those who are interested, please kindly contact flkhong@mac.com for more information.

The Best Food - Pineapple

The pineapple is a member of the bromeliad family. It is extremely rare that bromeliads produce edible fruit. The pineapple is the only available edible bromeliad today. It is a multiple fruit. One pineapple is actually made up of dozens of individual floweret’s that grow together to form the entire fruit. Each scale on a pineapple is evidence of a separate flower.

Pineapples stop ripening the minute they are picked. No special way of storing them will help ripen them further. Color is relatively unimportant in determining ripeness.

Choose your pineapple by smell. If it smells fresh, tropical and sweet, it will be a good fruit. The more scales on the pineapple, the sweeter and juicier the taste. After you cut off the top, you can plant it. It should grow much like a sweet potato will. This delicious fruit is not only sweet and tropical; it also offers many benefits to our health.

Pineapple is a remarkable fruit. We find it enjoyable because of its lush, sweet and exotic flavor, but it may also be one of the most healthful foods available today. If we take a more detailed look at it, we will find that pineapple is valuable for easing indigestion, arthritis or sinusitis. The juice has an anathematic effect; it helps get rid of intestinal worms.

Let’s look at how pineapple affects other conditions.

Pineapple is high in manganese, a mineral that is critical to development of strong bones and connective tissue.

A cup of fresh pineapple will give you nearly 75% of the recommended daily amount. It is particularly helpful to older adults, whose bones tend to become brittle with age.

Bromeliad, a proteolysis enzyme, is the key to pineapple’s value. Proteolysis means “breaks down protein”, which is why pineapple is known to be a digestive aid. It helps the body digest proteins more efficiently.

Bromeliad is also considered an effective anti-inflammatory. Regular ingestion of at least one half cup of fresh pineapple daily is purported to relieve painful joints common to osteoarthritis. It produces mild pain relief. In Germany, bromeliad is approved as a post-injury medication because it is thought to reduce inflammation and swelling. Orange juice is a popular liquid for those suffering from a cold because it is high in Vitamin C. Fresh pineapple is not only high in this vitamin, but because of the Bromeliad, it has the ability to reduce mucous in the throat. If you have a cold with a productive cough, add pineapple to your diet.

It is commonly used in Europe as a post-operative measure to cut mucous after certain sinus and throat operations.

Those individuals who eat fresh pineapple daily report fewer sinus problems related to allergies. In and of itself, pineapple has a very low risk for allergies.

Pineapple is also known to discourage blood clot development. This makes it a valuable dietary addition for frequent fliers and others who may be at risk for blood clots.

An old folk remedy for morning sickness is fresh pineapple juice.

It really works! Fresh juice and some nuts first thing in the morning often make a difference. It’s also good for healthier mouth. The fresh juice discourages plague growth.

Hence, include Pineapple as part of daily diet from today onwards.