Discover A Natural Antibiotic

Pau D’Arco, also known as Lapacho, is native to the Amazon rainforest, the bark of the Pau D’Arco tree has been used in traditional medicine by indigenous people for centuries. Traditionally, the bark of this tree was used to reduce inflammation, ease arthritic pain, and clear up infections. It has also been used as a dye for textiles. Indigenous tribes have been using this herb to treat a variety of ailments such as malaria, anemia, colitis, respiratory illness, coughs, colds, yeast and fungal infections, fever, arthritis, circulatory problems, skin issues, etc. Many studies have shown its amazing health benefits and it may be the answer to antibiotic resistance. Pau D’Arco processes many medicinal properties including antifungal, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anti-parasitic properties. Pau D' Arco is rich in certain compounds such as flavonoids, benzenoids, minerals, and antioxidants, especially its high content of quinoids, such as anthraquinones, furanonaphthoquinones, lapachones, and naphthoquinones. These specific compounds are responsible for the numerous health benefits of the plant. Clinical studies suggest that pau d’arco’s main active compounds, lapachol and β-lapachone, are responsible for the bark’s anti-cancer activities. 

Here are some amazing health benefits of Pau D’Arco.

• Supports a healthy microbial balance.
• Reduces inflammation and relieves arthritic pain.
• Fights against fungal infections such as candida.
• Boosts immunity and prevents cancers.
• Detoxifies the body and promotes weight loss.

The easiest way to take Pau d’Arco is in a tea. They are widely available in health stores and online. However, the active compounds in Pau D’Arco may be less bioavailable when made into a tea because they do not disperse well in water. Here are a few ways to enjoy this medicinal herb.

• Tea: Add 2 teaspoons of bark to 4 cups of boiling water. Allow to steep for 20 minutes, then leave it to cool down. When it is cool, strain the tea and drink it in small amounts throughout the day. You can also use the liquid to cleanse the skin or as a vaginal flush for candida or yeast infections.
• Spray: Pau D’Arco is also available as an oral spray in the mouth. It is believed to have excellent uptake this way. 

Precautions: Pregnant or breastfeeding women are not advised to take Pau D’Arco. Those who have blood thinning issues or preparing for surgical procedures are also not recommended to take Pau d’Arco because it is known to thin the blood. 

Please check the popular health posts in 2023 here.

Wheel of Health for 2024 Based on TCM

The Wheel of Health is based on the ancient wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Let’s break it down to each month.

January - Preservation
This is the time to nourish the Ying energy in your body. It is a good idea to dress warm outside to prevent a cold/flu. It is important to keep your head, neck, hands, and feet warm in the cold weather.
 
Diet: Eat more foods with a warm nature such as stews and soups. Dark color foods such as black beans, sesame seeds, and chestnuts are very tonic to the kidneys.
 
February – Raise the Yang Energy
 
When everything comes back to life in spring, you should get up early and be physically active. After the beginning of spring, the weather can still be dry, therefore, hydration daily is very important. In early spring, the weather changes drastically, from warm to cold, so you should not take off your winter clothes too quickly, especially the elderly and those with weak immunity should be more conservative and keep warm outside.

Diet: The diet should incorporate some spicy, sweet, and warm foods.  Eat more foods with a sweet nature, such as dates, yams, leeks, spinach, etc. Less sour taste foods such as tomatoes. The sour taste enters the liver and has astringent properties, which is not conducive to boosting the rising of the Yang energy and the release of liver energy. Sun Simiao, the king of Chinese medicine in the Tang Dynasty, said: "In spring, it is better to reduce sourness and increase sweetness to nourish the spleen." Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the spleen and stomach meridians work together. The energy in the liver meridian rises in spring, and excessive energy in the liver meridian can affect the energy flow in the spleen meridian. Therefore, in spring, you should eat more foods with a sweet nature and less sour taste foods, which nourish the spleen meridian. Eat more foods that help release the Yang energy, such as onions, parsley, cilantro, leeks, etc.

To learn more, please check my recent video.

What Can Methylene Blue Do to Your Health?

Methylene blue is a synthetic chemical compound in the medical field and other fields. It has been used as a therapeutic medicine for a variety of purposes throughout history. It was first synthesized in 1876 by Heinrich Caro, a German chemist, and was originally used as a dye for textiles. This dye has been used in treating various health conditions and is known for its versatility and effectiveness in its applications. In the early 20th century, methylene blue was used as an antimalarial drug. During World War I, it was used to treat gas gangrene in soldiers. It was also used to treat urinary tract infections and methemoglobinemia, a condition in which the blood cannot carry oxygen effectively.

Methylene blue works by acting as a redox agent, meaning that it can act as both an oxidizing and reducing agent. Depending on the conditions, this allows it to act as an electron donor or acceptor. Methylene blue therapy has also been shown to have a positive effect on the function of mitochondria, which are the energy-producing organelles in cells. By improving the function of mitochondria, methylene blue can help improve the overall cellular health of the body. One of the most well-known uses of methylene blue is for methemoglobinemia, a condition in which the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is reduced. Methylene blue acts as a reducing agent and helps to convert methemoglobin back to hemoglobin, allowing the blood to carry oxygen more effectively. In addition, methylene blue has also been used to treat cyanide poisoning, as it can help detoxify cyanide and improve the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.

Methylene blue is also used as a diagnostic tool in various medical procedures. For example, it has been used to visualize the urinary tract during cystoscopy and to identify bladder cancer cells. It has also been used to treat conditions such as jaundice in combination with light therapy, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. The primary ways that methylene blue benefits the body are its role as a nitric oxide inhibitor and an estrogen antagonist. It helps improve thyroid function and increase the metabolic rate and overall energy production. You may not be aware that REDOX (reduction-oxidation) reactions are vital to the electron transport chain (ETC). The ETC allows mitochondria to pump protons out of the mitochondria and generate ATP. Methylene blue makes REDOX reactions more efficient because it can accept and donate electrons. This increases ATP and energy production.

Here are some amazing health benefits of methylene blue.

• A blood-brain barrier-permeable antioxidant that can cross the blood-brain barrier and act as an antioxidant in the brain.
• Supports mitochondrial functions and boosts energy production.
• Improves memories and helps treat Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
• Helps relieve depression, emotional traumas, and PTSD.
• Provides antibacterial and antiviral properties that help treat urinary tract infections and sepsis.

 
Regarding the dosage of pharmaceutical-grade methylene blue, 0.5–2 milligrams daily per kilogram of body weight is a common dose. Adverse effects of methylene blue can come from chemical impurities, so it’s important to use only pharmaceutical-grade methylene blue. Methylene Blue transforms from an antioxidant to an oxidant at excessive dosages, so less is more with this one. Larger doses may also harm your gut bacteria, and it is not recommended if you have high blood pressure.

You can check more information on how the Redox Signaling molecules work here. 

7 Golden Pits to Boost Your Health and Detoxification

Did you know that there are seven pits in the body called the Golden Pits in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)? These areas are often located in the conjunction points between joints and tendons. Regular stimulation of these areas with your hands can help detoxify the body, reduce fatigue, release blockage in the meridians, and improve your health in many ways. Let’s dive into it.

The Lumbar Triangle

The lumbar triangles are the two hollows in the waist on the back, located on both sides of the connection between the buttocks and the lumbar vertebrae. The most important place in the lumbar triangle is the "Lumbar Eye Acupoint", which is located right on the lumbar triangle. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the waist on the back is the temple of the kidney meridian, which governs the Qi or energy. Regular massage on the Lumbar Triangle can not only relieve lower back pain but also help regulate menstruation and relieve pain caused by energy blockage in the spine. Especially for people who stay in an environment with A/C all year round, regular massage of the Lumbar Eye Acupoint on both sides of the waist can enhance energy flow in the kidney meridian and prevent arthritis and chronic pain later on.

How to do it? Make fists with both hands, press the Lumbar Eye Spot with your thumb joints, rotate and massage 30-50 times until the spot is sore, then rub this spot on both sides with your palms up and down with moderate pressure, and rub quickly until the waist becomes warm. You can also use your fists to tap the Lumbar Eye Acupoint with light pressure. Repeat the tapping 15-30 times around the lumbar triangle regularly. The best time to perform this exercise is in the evening between 7 pm to 9 pm when the energy is peaking in the kidney meridian.

To learn more, please check my recent video.