33 Reasons Why Organic Food Is Better For Us All

(This article is directed from Garden Mandy. Thanks.)

Sure, you’ve heard all the hype about organic food, but there are still skeptics out there who don’t think it matters. They just eat any old thing and then they wonder why they feel so bad all the time and don’t have any energy. Duh. As it turns out, though, organic food isn’t just better for them, it’s better for everybody, and that includes ‘Mr. Environment’ and ‘Mother Earth.’ The skeptics, though, still want a specific reason why organic food is so much better. Well, here are 33 of them.

1. Organic farming is better for the wildlife that are around it.

2. Organic farming is a lot better for the soil in which things are grown.

3. Organic food is better when it comes to animal reproduction.

4. Organic food can help you avoid a stroke

5. Organic food can help you avoid a heart attack

6. Eating organic food can help reduce your risk of cancer.

7. There are more nutrients in organic food.

8. Testing of organic apples show that they are better in virtually every way.

9. Organic crops raises more food faster, so it could feed the world.

10. Organic farming helps protect us from climate change.

11. Even in drought conditions, there are higher yields with organic foods.

12. Organic food is safer because of the lack of dangerous pesticides.

13. Organic farming doesn’t use any chemical herbicides to kill weeds.

14. Organic farming doesn’t use any chemical insecticides to protect their crops.

15. Only natural fertilizers are used at organic farms.

16. Organic farmers treat their animals humanely.

17. Farmers who are organic have clean housing and outdoor areas for animals.

18. On an organic farm, animals are not given growth hormones and antibiotics.

19. There are forty percent more antioxidants in organic vegetables and fruits.

20. There are sixty percent more antioxidants in organic milk.

21. It can make men more virile and increase their sperm count.

22. Children can benefit from organic because they don’t receive so many chemicals during their most formative years.

23. Pregnant women who eat organic can have better pregnancies and healthier babies.

24. Organic foods can guard against hyperactivity.

25. Migraines can be lessened by eating organic foods.

26. Eating organic food can help protect bones against things like osteoporosis.

27. Organic farming replaces all of the minerals lost from the soil, so the new crop of organic plants can have access to them as well.

28. Organic produce doesn’t have the extra water weight that conventional produce does, so you’re just paying for the food, not a bunch of diluted food in water.

29. If you eat organic you can ward off illnesses better and recover faster from the ones that you do get.

30. If you’re older, eating organic can help keep you from losing neurological functions as quickly.

31. Organic food is free of any genetic modifications.

32. There aren’t any hidden costs, like the ones for pesticide removal from drinking water from conventional farming.

33. Organic farms have high standards and are inspected often, so they have to live up to what they say they are doing.

The next time someone chides you for eating organic and wants to know what’s so great about it, you can give them something from this list. Better yet, print it out and hand it to them. Let them pick their favorite reason.

Sources:

http://www.earthfuture.com/earth/Organic%20-%2010%20Reasons.pdf
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/organic-food/NU00255
http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2007/10/organic_food_better_for_you.html
http://www.organicconsumers.org/organic/organic_health_062903.cfm
http://www.soilassociation.org/web/sa/saweb.nsf/Living/10reasons.html

3rd Batch of Photos for the 7th "以茶会友“ Tea Partrd

Photographer: Mr. Yap Chee Keong

自信从自我欣赏开始中里巴人

（此文转载自求医不如求己 真心就是大智慧，谢谢。）

接纳自己的缺点错误，接纳一个不完美的自己，即使自己一闻不名，也仍然有堂堂正正做人处。这是一个人新生的开始。要想让自己更完善，更壮大，更有力量，就先完完全全的接纳自己吧。自己都不接纳自己，指望父母、亲戚、朋友、恋人、夫妻来接纳自己，寻求安全的避风港和知心小屋。只能让你心灰意冷的去感叹世态的炎凉、人情的冷漠。其实，人情自古如此，不冷不热，有冷有热，时冷时热。就看你自己怎么去体会，怎么去把握，怎么去调节这其间的温度了。助强不助弱，是世间的常理，救急不救穷，是人情的规则。知道了‘个中意味’，也就不会去感慨‘人情似纸张张薄了’。

人只有靠自己才能真正摆脱束缚。才能真正体会尊严，才能真正了解人生。很多人梦想有贵人相助，很多人指望有亲朋帮忙。怕自己势单力薄，总想结识权贵，广交朋友。想的是闲时铺路急时用，可往往应了那种俗话：‘有酒有肉皆兄弟，急难何曾见一人’。唐代诗人张九龄，身居宰相高位，曾有这样的感叹：‘可以荐嘉客，奈何阻重深’。就是说，他也总想推荐贤人，使其发达，却往往难以遂愿。因为这就是命运。

你越等着别人帮你，你就越虚弱。帮你的人越高大，你就越矮小。越难以长成。

其实，只要你是个健全的人，你就天生强大。根本不用羡慕别人的富足。

但是人往往总是顾影自怜，觉得自己很倒霉，没有出众的容貌，没有显赫的家庭，没有强壮的身体，没有过人的智慧，简直就是一无是处。似乎这一生若没有六合彩从天而降，没有灰姑娘的浪漫传奇。没有亿万富豪的鼎力相助，也就只能磋砣愁苦，暗淡消沉了。

孔子有个穷学生叫颜回，家里只有一个竹编的饭篓，一个喝水用的木瓢，住在贫民窟里。别人在这种环境下都愁苦不堪，颜回却心中坦然，自得其乐。“一箪食，一瓢饮，在陋巷。人不堪其忧，回也不改其乐。”正所谓‘君子安贫，达人知命’。

颜回的勤勉好学，自古便为人所称道，但讲到安身立命，修身养性，颜回却不是一个可以效仿的榜样。颜回29岁便头发全白，30几岁便募然殒命。按现在的推想可能是劳心过度，加之营养不良造成。人活于世，不管是想要出人头地，叱咤风云，还是只想平平安安，老婆孩子热炕头。身体的健康是最起码的基础。否则，知识再多，学问再大，能力再强，都是无本之末。学道如果不能强身，此道便为无用之道，养生如果不知养心，养的不过是皮毛外表。

生活的道路可以自由选择，但是一定要清楚性命是生存之本，身心是快乐之源。而外界的一切光怪陆离，燕语莺声，不过是山间的浮云，潭中的倒影。可以欣赏玩味，流连驻足，但是别忘了回家的大路。想吃美食，就要有胃口，想爬高山，就要有脚力，有兴致才能享受旅游，有激情才能懂得恋爱。‘秋至满山皆秀色，春来无处不花香’ 有了土壤，种子自然发芽，有了阳光，万物自然生长。我们的身体就是土壤，我们的心灵就是阳光。

但我们的土壤为何总是贫瘠，我们的阳光为何总是遮避。‘天地以万物为刍狗’，老天爷一视同仁，把万物都当成是草编的狗一样，没有偏爱。我们只能自己爱自己，让贫瘠肥沃，让遮避散开。

耕耘你的土壤，你就会有收获，享受你的阳光，你就会有快乐，别总是把眼光放在别人的田地。总以为别人的阳光更温暖。也别总去给别人当帮工，让自己的土地荒芜。

其实，只是一念之差，你欣赏自己，你就会微笑，镜子里的你就会瞬间变得漂亮。

学会欣赏自己，就是自信的开始。

2ND Batch of Photos for the 7th "以茶会友“ Tea Party

Photographers: Mr. Yap Chee Keong

NATURAL HEALERHow Dr Wu rid himself of cancer with a vegetarian dietBy: Anjira Assavanonda

(We received this article via an e-mail.)

At the age of 30, Chinese doctor Tom Wu was diagnosed with advanced stages of lung cancer, and was told he had only a few months to live. However, Dr Wu, who recently spoke with Mylife, has already reached 70 years old, and to our surprise, he still looks like a young and healthy man in his 50s. Not only has he survived, but the doctor has maintained a healthy life. The cancer is all gone, and he said he's never caught a cold or other illness for 40 years. He has stopped going for blood tests. "My body and feelings tell me I'm well, that I'm truly in good health," says Dr Wu. His secret lies in the power of natural healing. Dr Wu always says that no wonder drug can cure diseases. But our own internal healing power, our immune system, can. And what can strengthen our immune system are simple foods from Mother Nature, and a healthy lifestyle.

In his view, diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease can be overcome by changing the diet. Dr Wu says people get sick because they eat the wrong foods. Fried food, for example, causes blockage in the arteries, bad circulation, cholesterol, and heart disease. "Instead of taking a cholesterol lowering drug, I would urge them to stop eating greasy food. My suggestion is to eat clean food, which is high in phytochemicals," he says. Phytochemicals are natural cleansing agents that will help rid plaque from your arteries. They come from natural foods such as vegetables, fruits with their seeds, and common garden herbs. Phytochemicals will nourish the body's cells so they can fight against any foreign substances that invade your body.Dr Wu's outstanding contributions to the development of natural medicine earned him the "World Famous Doctor Award" from the UN in 2001, and the "Best Wellness Doctor of the World" award from India's World Wellness Open University in March.

The secrets of how he won the fight against lung cancer and maintains a healthy body are revealed in his first book, Dr Wu's Principle of Natural Cures, which has recently been translated from its original Chinese version into a Thai edition, Thammachart Chuay Chewit, published by Nanmeebooks Publications. It was launched in Thailand in March. Dr Wu says what's written in the book is unique and easy to understand because "the author is both the doctor and the patient himself". All the ideas and guidelines suggested in the book come from his own experience as well as what he has learned from his patients.

Dr Wu turns to natural medicine. Dr Wu had first studied Western medicine in France, and then furthered his education in alternative therapy, earning a doctorate degree. The turning point arrived when he was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 30. Modern medicine gave him no hope; it was too late to remove the damaged parts of the lung. The cancer had already spread to other organs, and the doctor told him he had only a few months left.

In his despair, Dr Wu picked up the Bible and prayed to God. Then the Bible fell to the floor, and he read the page it opened to carefully. The chapter talked about the days God created the Earth and everything needed for human beings. Then he created Adam and Eve, and told both of them that plants, vegetables and seeded fruits growing on Earth have been provided for them
to eat.

"I thought about what I had eaten in the past - meat, fish, fried and grilled food, sweet cake, but God simply wanted us to eat vegetables and sour fruits. I was confused and doubted whether I would become weak if I ate too many vegetables and less meat," says Dr Wu. Yet he decided to follow the Bible's guidance. He ate a lot of vegetables and fruits, drank clean water, and completely adjusted his lifestyle - his sleeping, breathing and exercise habits. Nine months later, he went for a check-up, and surprisingly no cancer cells were detected. He advised people in his family and in the neighbourhood about his discovery, and studied natural medicine until he received a doctorate degree in naturopathy and nutrition from the US. Dr Wu has been a frequent speaker at worldwide forums, spreading his knowledge on natural cures and the use of organic food. He advises people to use the most simple foods in the most natural way in order to fight illnesses and maintain good health.

Dr Wu's secrets to good health Published: 7/05/2009 at 12:00 AM Newspaper section: Mylife. The human body has the power to heal itself. The immune system has a self-defence mechanism to block and destroy bacteria or viruses that invade our bodies, while the self-healing mechanism will get us back on the road to recovery. When you have a cold and take medicine, the medication may kill the virus but your immune system will not fully function, and its efficiency will decrease. As a result, your body will be more vulnerable to germs. Dr Wu's principle is to strengthen the immune system, and avoid medication as much as possible. In his book, he offers the following guidelines to good health:

1. Have at least three bowel movements a day.
Other health experts may advise one bowel movement a day, but Dr Wu says that's not enough. You need three to four bowel movements a day in order to excrete all the accumulated faeces from your intestine. Your liver will not be overburdened and it also helps reduce cholesterol in your body.

2. Drink at least three glasses of fruit or vegetable smoothies each day.
This is a way to ingest enough phytochemicals to strengthen the body's cells and immune system. Use not only the flesh, but also the skin and seeds of fruits and vegetables to make smoothies, as they are rich in phytochemicals. Most of the fruit seeds have small amounts of cyanide which kill bacteria and viruses without damaging the body. Actually the recommended smoothie diet is six glasses a day, two in the morning, one before lunch, two more in the afternoon, and one more before dinner. However, if that's too much, you may start with three glasses a day. Use a high powered blender (at least three horsepower) as it can release phytochemicals from the fibre. It's best to choose sour fruits like green or red apples, grapes, pineapples, kiwi and lime.

3. Sunbathe 30 minutes daily.
We often hear that the Sun's UV rays will damage our skin, and many people apply sunblock before going out. But Dr Wu says the opposite. He says the UV rays will help convert cholesterol underneath the skin into vitamin A which helps moisten the skin and prevent skin cancer, and also vitamin D that helps prevent colds, osteoporosis, and certain kinds of cancer. "Therefore, use the Sun. Expose yourself to sunlight about one-half hour a day, at noon or another appropriate time based on your local climate. The Sun will make you healthier," says Dr Wu.

4. Exercise 30 minutes a day.
Don't exercise for more than 30 minutes. If you go beyond that, your body will be overworked. "If you do it more than half an hour, that will become labour, not exercise. Your heart and your body will be working too hard," he says.

5. Shower with hot, then cold water.
Try an alternating cold and hot water shower: Three minutes of hot water followed by 30 seconds of cold water, then repeat twice more. This process will bring a rush of blood and energy to your body. It helps increase your immune system, blood circulation, and metabolism.

6. Drink a lot of water, in the correct way.
How much water you need to drink each day depends on your specific situation. If your office is air-conditioned, drinking six glasses of water a day is enough. If your work involves lots of walking, you have to drink 8-10 glasses a day. If you work under the hot sun, then 10-12 glasses of water are required. The way you drink is also important. The correct way is to sip it little by little, to give your body cells time to absorb the water. If you drink the whole glass down at once, your cells can't absorb it all, and the water will be excreted as urine.

7. Eat according to your blood type.
Your blood type determines what you should eat. Eating the wrong foods will make you sick. People with blood type O have to eat a certain amount of meat. If they eat only vegetables for a long time, their body won't absorb all the substances they need to strengthen their immune system. The recommended diet for this group is 75% vegetables, 10% fruits, 10% meat, seafood and goat's milk (avoid cow's milk), and 5% grains. People with blood type A, however should avoid milk and meat, while increasing grains and fruits. People with blood type B should also avoid meat, while those with blood type AB should avoid chicken and beef.

8. Eat according to your biological clock.
Every human being has a biological clock that tells us when to eat, sleep, and wake up. If you don't follow your biological clock, the organs will lose their balance. Toxins and wastes won't be excreted from your body, and soon you'll get sick.

According to Dr Wu, the biological clock is divided into three phases.

From 4am to noon is the time for bowel movements, so in the morning you should eat foods with lots of fibre. Fruit and vegetable smoothies are recommended.

From noon to 8pm, your body will absorb food so lunch is the most important meal. A vegetable salad with grains is recommended. Fish or boiled eggs can be added to your lunch. Avoid meat at dinner as the amino acids in the meat will disturb your sleep. Try to finish dinner by 6pm.

From 8pm to 4am, the nutrients and energy from food will be distributed throughout your body organs. The golden time for your sleep is between 10pm and 2am, as your immune and self-healing system will function at its best.

1st Batch of Photos for the 7th "以茶会友“ Tea Party

Photographer: Yap Chee Keong

听着流行乐打坐中里巴人

(此文转载自求医不如求己 真心就是大智慧，谢谢。）

一说打坐，人们通常会联想起修炼的高僧，道长，或者什么武林大师。

崇敬之心一起，打坐这个本来自得其乐，类似舞蹈般的健身游戏，就显得庄严而枯燥了。再加上担心走火入魔，就更不敢去体验尝试了。

打坐您可以正襟危坐，也可以手舞足蹈，可以缄默无语，也可以哼着小调。可以置心一处，也可以浮想联翩，可以意守丹田，也可以内观脏腑。可以回味余香，也可以静听肠鸣。可以修心冥想，也可以练腿拉筋。总之，没有一定之规。打坐，不是打个木桩，然后把你捆在上面坐着。（佛家比喻为‘枯木禅’）。打坐，打的是鼓乐，坐的是浮云。随机变化，妙趣横生。

打坐的好处真是太多，但不知是谁给设了个高高的门坎，大家全都望而却步。

打坐可以帮你找到腿上的哪根经络不通，打坐时，很多人腿盘不上，有的因为筋骨僵硬，有的因为关节酸痛，这些就是经络不通的地方。你就边打坐，边在不通的经络上拔罐，按摩，刮痧，敲打。很快，你就可随意的把腿盘上了，什么金刚坐，如意坐，迦趺坐，想怎么坐怎么坐。虽然，打坐不是为了坐，可是你连坐都坐不好，谁有兴趣去打呢？

通过打坐，你就知道瑜伽怎么练了，依此通经络的方法，很多高难的动作也可以很快学会而且韧带不受损伤。

打坐最能增强人的自信，因为当你稳稳当当，威然盘腿而坐的时候，你就体会到了什么是自尊，什么是从容，什么是大将风度。这时，还用别人给你自信吗？

打坐最能获得灵感，你不用绞尽脑汁去思索，你不用惮心竭虑去探求。一切都是不经意，不期然，象流星倏然入怀，象灯火瞬间照亮。大家还记得动画片‘一休的故事’吧。一休小和尚一遇难解的问题，不是皱着眉头苦思冥想，也不是去书本中寻找答案。而是静静的打打坐。答案自然就有了。很多人觉得这是夸张的故事，其实，这才是真真确确的方法。

打坐最方便简单，不分场地（有人追求风水道场），不分时间（有人刻意子午吉时），不分男女老幼，病弱强壮。因为，个人有个人的打法，个人有个人的目标。只要，打坐打的高兴，打的放松，打的自然，打的随意。就找到了打坐的真谛。打坐只是个方法，是个阶梯，是个玩具。

别想着要从打坐来成仙得道，只是借此找到活生生的真实感觉，你就不用担心走火入魔。

只有不知变通，一根筋的人，才会一条路走到黑，才会走火入魔。

当有人告诉你，这个不行，那个不行，总之是光靠你自己不行，只能区区求助于人，只能俯身拜师求道，受人教诲，再苦苦修行几十年，我劝您，别听他的。真的，没什么不行。除了你自己真的相信你不行。

打坐是自我学习，自我修炼，自我回归，自我提升的捷径。同时，打坐又是自我感动，自我陶醉，自我抒发，自我宣泄的出口。打坐是一种环境，一种氛围，是一亩田原，一片天空。

我们自身百药齐全，我们自己万灵俱备，我们衣食无缺，能量无穷，每个人都应该活得象个国王，才不负苍天对我们的恩赐。

25 Cancer Symptoms Men Are Most Likely to Ignore

By Melanie Haiken, Caring.com senior editor

Annual checkups and tests such as colonoscopies and PSA assays are important, but it's not a good idea to rely on tests alone to protect you from cancer. It's just as important to listen to your body and notice anything that's different, odd, or unexplainable. (You should also listen to those close to you, such as a wife or partner, because others sometimes notice things we're unaware of—or don't want to admit.) You don't want to join the ranks of cancer patients who realize too late that symptoms they'd noticed for a long time could have sounded the alarm earlier, when cancer was easier to cure.

Here, some signs of cancer that are commonly overlooked:

1. Upset stomach or stomachache
One of the first signs colon cancer patients remember experiencing when they look back is unexplained stomach aches. Those with pancreatic cancer describe a dull ache that feels like it's pressing inward. Many liver cancer patients say they went in complaining of stomach cramps and upset stomachs so frequently that their doctors thought they had ulcers. Liver cancer patients and those with leukemia can experience abdominal pain resulting from an enlarged spleen, which may feel like an ache on the lower left side.

If you have a stomachache that you can't attribute to a digestive problem or that doesn't go away, ask your doctor to order an ultrasound. Finding a liver or pancreatic tumor early can make all the difference in treatment.

2. Chronic "acid stomach" or feeling full after a small meal
The most common early sign of stomach cancer is pain in the upper or middle abdomen that feels like gas or heartburn. It may be aggravated by eating, so that you feel full when you haven't actually eaten much. What's particularly confusing is that the pain can be relieved by antacids, confirming your conclusion that it was caused by acid in the stomach, when it's more than that. An unexplained pain or ache in lower right side can be the first sign of liver cancer, known as one of the "silent killers." Feeling full after a small meal is a common sign of liver cancer as well.

If you have frequent bouts of acid stomach, an unexplained abdominal ache, or a full feeling after meals even when you're eating less than normal, call your doctor.

3. Unexplained weight loss
If you notice the pounds coming off and you haven't made changes to your diet or exercise regime, it's important to find out why. Unexplained weight loss can be an early sign of colon and other digestive cancers; it can also be a sign of cancer that's spread to the liver, affecting your appetite and the ability of your body to rid itself of waste.

4. Jaundice
Pancreatic cancer, another one of the "silent killers," is often discovered when someone notices jaundice and asks the doctor to do a battery of tests. Jaundice is most commonly thought of as a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, but darker-than-normal urine that's not the result of dehydration is also a sign. Clay-colored stools are another little-known sign of jaundice. Oddly, jaundice can also cause itching, because the bile salts in the bloodstream cause the skin to itch. Some people with pancreatic cancer say they noticed the itching before they noticed the jaundice itself.

5. Wheezing or shortness of breath
One of the first signs lung cancer patients remember noticing when they look back is the inability to catch their breath. "I couldn't even walk to my car without wheezing; I thought I had asthma, but how come I didn't have it before?" is how one man described it. Shortness of breath, chest pain, or spitting blood are also signs of testicular cancer that's spread to the lungs.
6. Chronic cough or chest pain
Several types of cancer, including leukemia and lung tumors, can cause symptoms that mimic a bad cough or bronchitis. One way to tell the difference: The problems persist, or go away and come back again in a repeating cycle. Some lung cancer patients report chest pain that extends up into the shoulder or down the arm.

7. Frequent fevers or infections
These can be signs of leukemia, a cancer of the blood cells that starts in the bone marrow. Leukemia causes the marrow to produce abnormal white blood cells, which crowd out healthy white cells, sapping the body's infection-fighting capabilities. Doctors sometimes catch leukemia in older adults only after the patient has been in a number of times complaining of fever, achiness, and flu-like symptoms over an extended period of time.

8. Difficulty swallowing
Most commonly associated with esophageal or throat cancer, having trouble swallowing is sometimes one of the first signs of lung cancer, too. Men diagnosed with esophageal cancer look back and remember a feeling of pressure and soreness when swallowing that didn't go away the way a cold or flu would have. Consult your doctor also if you have a frequent feeling of needing to clear your throat or that food is stuck in your chest; either of these can signal a narrowing of the esophagus that could mean the presence of a tumor.

9. Chronic heartburn
If you just ate half a pizza, heartburn is expected. But if you have frequent episodes of heartburn or a constant low-level feeling of pain in the chest after eating, call your doctor and ask to be screened for esophageal cancer. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)—a condition in which stomach acid rises into the esophagus, causing heartburn and an acidic taste in the throat—can trigger a condition called Barrett's esophagus, which can be a precursor of esophageal cancer.

10. Swelling of facial features
Some patients with lung cancer report that they noticed puffiness, swelling, or redness in the face. The explanation for this is that small cell lung tumors commonly block blood vessels in the chest, preventing blood from flowing freely from the head and face.

11. Swollen lymph nodes or lumps on the neck, underarm, or groin
Enlarged lymph nodes indicate changes in the lymphatic system, which can be a sign of cancer. For example, a lump or an enlarged lymph node in the neck or underarm is sometimes a sign of thyroid, head, or throat cancer. A painless lump on the neck, underarm, or groin can be an early sign of leukemia.

12. Excessive bruising or bleeding that doesn't stop
This symptom usually suggests something abnormal happening with the platelets and red blood cells, which can be a sign of leukemia. One man with leukemia noticed that his gums bled when he brushed his teeth; another described bruising in strange places, such as on his fingers and hands. The explanation: Over time, leukemia cells crowd out red blood cells and platelets, impairing the blood's ability to carry oxygen and clot.

13. Weakness and fatigue
"I had to stop halfway across the yard and sit down when I was mowing the lawn," said one man when describing the fatigue that led to his discovery of pancreatic cancer. Generalized fatigue and weakness is a symptom of so many different kinds of cancer (and other ills) that you'll need to look at it in combination with other symptoms. But any time you feel exhausted without explanation and it doesn't respond to getting more sleep, talk to your doctor.

14. Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
"I thought it was hemorrhoids" is one of the most common statements doctors hear when diagnosing colorectal cancer. Blood in the toilet alone is reason to call your doctor and schedule a colonoscopy. Another sign of blood in the stool many people miss is stools that are darker in color.
15. Bowel problems
Constipation, diarrhea, and changes in stools can all be signs of cancer. As with many other cancer symptoms, the way to tell if this is cause for concern is if it goes on for more than a few days without a clear cause, such as flu or food poisoning. People diagnosed with colon cancer say they noticed more frequent stools, as well as a feeling that their bowels weren't emptying completely. One of the early signs of pancreatic cancer is fatty stools, which can be recognized as frequent, large stools that are paler than normal and smelly. This is a sign that your body's not absorbing your food normally, and it should be brought to your doctor's attention.

16. Difficulty urinating or changes in flow
Hands-down, the most common early sign of prostate cancer is a feeling of not being able to start peeing once you're set to go. Many men also report having a hard time stopping the flow of urine, a flow that starts and stops, or a stream that's weaker than normal. Any of these symptoms is reason to call your doctor for an exam and a screening test for prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

17. Pain or burning during urination
This symptom can also indicate a urinary tract infection or sexually transmitted disease, of course, but in any case it warrants an immediate trip to the doctor. This symptom is often combined with the feeling that you need to go more often, particularly at night. These same symptoms can also indicate inflammation or infection in the prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia, the name for what happens when the prostate grows bigger and blocks the flow of urine. However, you need to get checked out to tell the difference.

18. Blood in urine or semen
Men are often warned about blood in the urine, but they may not realize that blood in semen is also a danger sign for prostate cancer. Blood in the urine or semen isn't always visible as blood; urine may just be a pink, dark red, or smoky brown color, while blood in the semen may just look like a pinkish streak.

19. Erection problems
As prostate cancer progresses, another very common sign is difficulty getting or sustaining an erection. This can be a difficult subject to talk about, but it's important to bring it to your doctor's attention. It could be a sign of sexual dysfunction with another cause, of course, but it's a reason to have an exam and a PSA test.

20. Pain, aching, or heaviness in the groin, hips, thighs, or abdomen
One sign of prostate cancer is frequent pain in the hips, upper thighs, or the lowest part of the back. Men with testicular cancer report noticing a heavy, aching feeling low in the belly or abdomen, or in the scrotum or testicles themselves. They sometimes describe it as a feeling of downward pulling or as a generalized ache throughout the groin area. Prostate cancer that has spread to the lymph nodes often makes itself known as discomfort in the pelvis or swelling in the legs.

21. Testicular swelling or lump
The lumps that indicate testicular cancer are nearly always painless. It's also common for a testicle to be enlarged or swollen, but lacking any specific lump that you can see or feel. Some men report feeling discomfort from the enlargement, but not an outright pain.

22. Unexplained back pain
Back pain can mean all sorts of things, of course—most often pulled muscles or disc problems. But unexplained, persistent back pain can be an early sign of cancer as well, so get it checked out. Pain in the lower back and hips can be a sign of prostate cancer, while pain in the upper back can signal lung cancer. A pain in the upper abdomen and back is one of the few early signs of pancreatic cancer.

23. Scaly or painful nipple or chest, nipple discharge
Men do get breast cancer; they also get a condition called gynecomastia, which is a benign lump in the breast area. Breast cancer is usually detected as a lump, but if it's spreading inward it can also cause chest pain. Other signs of breast cancer include patches of red, scaly, or dimpled skin or changes to the nipple such as turning inward or leaking fluid. Bring any lump, swelling, or skin or nipple problem, or any chest pain, to your doctor's attention.

24. A sore or skin lump that doesn't heal, becomes crusty, or bleeds easily
Most of us know to watch moles for changes that might indicate skin cancer. But other signs, such as small waxy lumps or dry scaly patches, are easier to miss. Familiarize yourself with the different types of skin cancer—melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma—and be vigilant about checking skin all over the body for odd-looking growths or spots.

25. Changes in nails
Unexplained changes to the fingernails can be a sign of several types of cancer. A brown or black streak or dot under the nail can indicate skin cancer, while newly discovered "clubbing," which means enlargement of the ends of the fingers, with nails that curve down over the tips, can be a sign of lung cancer. Pale or white nails can be an indication that your liver is not functioning properly, sometimes a sign of liver cancer

智慧使人谦虚

这故事写得很好，忍不住要和大家分享。

何谓“智慧”，就是能够放下自我，像故事里的梅子一样：世界上的很多事情是說不清楚的。

在一家醫學院學習的梅子居然和她的另外5位寢友到了同一所醫院實習。

因為她們學習的專業相同，她們都被安排在婦產科實習。

在學校能夠一起學習生活，實習又能夠在一起，這讓6姐妹非常歡喜。

但沒有多久，一個問題殘酷地擺到6姐妹面前，這所醫院最後只能留用其中一人。

能夠留在這所省內最高等級的醫院是6姐妹的共同渴望，但她們不得不面對「有你無我，有我無你」的殘酷競爭與淘汰。

臨近畢業的日子越來越近，6姐妹的較量也越來越激烈， 但她們始終相互激勵著，相互祝福著。

院方為了確定哪一名被留用，舉行了一次考核，結果出來了，面對同樣出色的6姐妹，院方一時也不知道該如何取捨。

但現實是，院方只能夠留用一人。

6姐妹中，開始有人表示自己家在外省，更喜歡畢業後能夠回到家鄉；有的人乾脆說家鄉的小縣城已經有醫院同意接收她……美麗的謊言感動著一個又一個人。

這天，6姐妹都突然接到一個相同的緊急通知，一名待產婦就要生產，醫院需要立刻前往她家中救治。

6姐妹急匆匆地上了急救車。

一名副院長、一名主任醫生、6名實習醫生、 2名護士同時去搶救一名待產婦，如此隆重的陣勢讓6姐妹都感覺到一種前所未有的緊張。

有人悄悄地問院長，是什麼樣的人物，需要這樣興師動眾？

院長簡單地解釋道：「這名產婦的身分和情況都有些特殊，讓你們都來，也是想讓你們都不要錯過這個機會，你們可都要認真觀察學習。」

車內一片沉寂。

待產婦家很偏僻，急救車左拐右拐終於到達時，待產婦已經折騰得滿頭汗水。

醫護人員七手八腳把待產婦抬上急救車後，發現了一個問題， 車上已經人挨人，待產婦的丈夫上不來了。

人們知道，待產婦到達醫院進行搶救，是不能沒有親屬在身邊辦理一些相關手續的。

人們都下意識地看向副院長，副院長低頭為待產婦檢查著，頭都未抬地說道：「快開車！」

所有人都怔住了。不知道該如何是好。

這時候，梅子突然跳下了車，示意待產婦的丈夫上車。

急救車風馳電掣地開往醫院，等梅子氣喘吁吁趕回到醫院的時候，已經是半小時後了。

在醫院門口，她被參加急救的副院長攔住了，副院長問她：「 這麼難得的學習機會，你為什麼跳下了車？」

梅子擦著額頭的汗水回答道：「車上有那麼多醫生、護士，缺少我不會影響搶救的。但沒有病人家屬，可能會給搶救帶來必要的影響。」

3天後，院方的留用結果出來了，梅子成為幸運者。

院長說出了理由：「3天前的那一場急救是一場意外的測試。將來無論你們走到哪裡，無論從事什麼職業，都應該記住一句話，天使能夠飛翔，是因為把自己看得很輕。」

相信嗎！人如果能拋卻自我，拋卻世間所有負擔與束縛， 也同樣的會很輕；也同樣的?能夠飛翔；現在做不到是因為不相信！是因為還有強大的自我！

看完真是令人省思，一個無心善念，如得一個真心機會，不求為己，但求助人，天使因看輕自己而會飛，何其深意.....。

智慧，使人謙虛；無知，使人驕傲。

(We received this article via an e-mail.)

20 Cancer Symptoms Women Are Most Likely to Ignore

By Melanie Haiken, Caring.com senior editor


Routine tests like pap smears and mammograms are important, but don't rely on tests alone to protect you from cancer. It's just as important to listen to your body and notice anything that's different, odd, or unexplainable. You don't want to join the ranks of cancer patients who realize too late that symptoms they'd noticed for a long time could have sounded the alarm earlier, when cancer was easier to cure.

Here, some signs that are commonly overlooked:

1. Wheezing or shortness of breath
One of the first signs lung cancer patients remember noticing when they look back is the inability to catch their breath. "I couldn't even walk across the yard without wheezing; I thought I had asthma, but how come I didn't have it before?" is how one woman described it.

2. Chronic cough or chest pain
Several types of cancer, including leukemia and lung tumors, can cause symptoms that mimic a bad cough or bronchitis. One way to tell the difference: The problems persist, or go away and come back again in a repeating cycle. Some lung cancer patients report chest pain that extends up into the shoulder or down the arm.

3. Frequent fevers or infections
These can be signs of leukemia, a cancer of the blood cells that starts in the bone marrow. Leukemia causes the marrow to produce abnormal white blood cells, which crowd out healthy white cells, sapping the body's infection-fighting capabilities. Often, doctors finally catch leukemia in older adults after the patient has been in a number of times complaining of fever, achiness, and flu-like symptoms over an extended period of time.

4. Difficulty swallowing
Most commonly associated with esophageal or throat cancer, having trouble swallowing is sometimes one of the first signs of lung cancer, too.

5. Swollen lymph nodes or lumps on the neck, underarm, or groin
Enlarged lymph nodes indicate changes in the lymphatic system, which can be a sign of cancer. For example, a lump or an enlarged lymph node under the arm is sometimes a sign of breast cancer. A painless lump on the neck, underarm, or groin can be an early sign of leukemia.

6. Excessive bruising or bleeding that doesn't stop
This symptom usually suggests something abnormal happening with the platelets and red blood cells, which can be a sign of leukemia. One woman with leukemia described bruising in strange places, such as on her fingers and hands, as well as red spots on her face, neck, and chest. Another noticed bleeding gums. The explanation: Over time, leukemia cells crowd out red blood cells and platelets, impairing the blood's ability to carry oxygen and clot.

7. Weakness and fatigue
"I kept having to sit down at work, and one night I was too tired to drive home," said one woman in describing the fatigue that led her to discover she had leukemia. Generalized fatigue and weakness is a symptom of so many different kinds of cancer that you'll need to look at it in combination with other symptoms. But any time you feel exhausted without explanation and it doesn't respond to getting more sleep, talk to your doctor.

8. Bloating or abdominal weight gain—the "my jeans don't fit" syndrome
While this might sound too common a phenomenon to be considered a cancer symptom, consider this: Women diagnosed with ovarian cancer overwhelmingly report that unexplained abdominal bloating that came on fairly suddenly and continued on and off over a long period of time (as opposed to for a few days each month with PMS) is one of the main ways they knew something was wrong.

9. Feeling full and unable to eat
This is another tip-off to ovarian cancer; women say they have no appetite and can't eat, even when they haven't eaten for some time. Any woman who experiences noticeable bloating or weight gain numerous times (the diagnostic criteria is more than 13 times over the period of a month)—especially if it's accompanied by pelvic pain or feeling overly full—should call her doctor and ask for a pelvic ultrasound.

10. Pelvic or abdominal pain
Taken by itself, pelvic pain can mean a lot of things. In fact, because it's a common symptom of fibroids, ovarian cysts, and other reproductive tract disorders, doctors don't always think of cancer when you describe pelvic pain. Make sure your doctor looks at all possible explanations and does a full exam, since pain and cramping in the pelvis and abdomen can go hand in hand with the bloating that often signals ovarian cancer. Leukemia can also cause abdominal pain resulting from an enlarged spleen.

11. Rectal bleeding or blood in stool
"I thought it was hemorrhoids" is one of the most common things doctors hear when diagnosing colorectal cancer. Blood in the toilet alone is reason to call your doctor and schedule a colonoscopy.

12. Unexplained weight loss
If you notice the pounds coming off and you haven't made changes to your diet or exercise regime, you need to ask why. Weight loss is an early sign of colon and other digestive cancers; it's also a sign of cancer that's spread to the liver, affecting your appetite and the ability of your body to rid itself of wastes.

13. Upset stomach or stomachache
As simple as it sounds, a good old-fashioned bellyache is what tipped off a number of lucky folks, whose doctors ordered ultrasounds and discovered early that they had tumors on their livers. Stomach cramps or frequent upset stomachs may indicate colorectal cancer; many cancer patients say their doctors thought they had ulcers.

14. A red, sore, or swollen breast
Everyone knows to check for lumps in the breasts, but too often overlooked are symptoms closer to the surface, which can indicate inflammatory breast cancer. Some women described noticing cellulite-like dimpled skin on an area of the breast. Others noticed that a breast felt swollen, hot, or irritated. Red or purplish discoloration is also cause for concern. Call your doctor about any unexplained changes to your breasts.

15. Nipple changes
One of the most common changes women remember noticing before being diagnosed with breast cancer is a nipple that began to appear flattened, inverted, or turned sideways. "My nipple started looking like it was turned inside out," said one woman. In addition, inflammatory breast cancer also causes nipple problems, such as itchy, scaly, or crusty skin on the nipple— so take any nipple changes seriously.

16. Unusually heavy or painful periods or bleeding between periods
Many women reported this as the tip-off to endometrial or uterine cancer. Unfortunately, many women also said their doctors weren't responsive, overlooking or misdiagnosing their complaints as normal perimenopause. Ask for a transvaginal ultrasound if you suspect something more than routine heavy periods.

17. Swelling of facial features
Some patients with lung cancer report noticing puffiness, swelling, or redness in the face. The explanation for this is that small cell lung tumors commonly block blood vessels in the chest, preventing blood from flowing freely from the head and face.

18. A sore or skin lump that doesn't heal, becomes crusty, or bleeds easily
Most of us know to watch moles for changes that might indicate skin cancer. But other signs, such as small waxy lumps or dry scaly patches, are easier to miss. Familiarize yourself with the different types of skin cancer—melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma—and be vigilant about checking skin all over the body for odd-looking growths or spots.

19. Changes in nails
Unexplained changes to the fingernails can be a sign of several types of cancer. A brown or black streak or dot under the nail can indicate skin cancer, while newly discovered "clubbing"— enlargement of the ends of the fingers, with nails that curve down over the tips—can be a sign of lung cancer. Pale or white nails can be an indication that your liver is not functioning properly, sometimes a sign of liver cancer.

20. Pain in the back or lower right side
As vague as this sounds, many cancer patients say this was the first sign of liver cancer, known as one of the "silent killers" (another is ovarian cancer). Breast cancer is also often diagnosed via back pain, which can occur when a breast tumor presses backward into the chest, or when the cancer spreads to the spine or ribs.

出生一张纸

出生一张纸，开始一辈子；
毕业一张纸，奋斗一辈子；
婚姻一张纸，折磨一辈子；
做官一张纸，斗争一辈子；
金钱一张纸，辛苦一辈子；
荣誉一张纸，虚名一辈子；
看病一张纸，痛苦一辈子；
悼词一张纸，了结一辈子；
淡化这些纸，明白一辈子；
忘了这些纸，快乐一辈子!

这周是世界好友周，如果你愿意，请把这条信息发给你所有的。也包括我......看有多少人会回发给你。

当大部分人都在关注你飞得高不高时，只有少部分人关心你飞得累不累，这就是友情。

再忙，也要照顾好自己，朋友虽不常联系，却一直惦念。

天凉时记着多穿衣！世界好友周快乐！

少喝奶茶、不吃刚烤好的面包，远离正在充电的电源。

白天多喝水，晚上少喝茶，一天不喝多于两杯的咖啡。

少吃油多的食物，最佳睡眠为晚上十点至早上六点。

晚上五点后少吃大餐，每天喝酒不超过一杯。

不用冷水服胶囊，睡前半小时服药忌立刻躺下。

睡眠不足八小时人会变笨，有午睡习惯的人不易老。

手机电池剩一格时不要打电话，剩一格时辐射是平时的一千倍。

要用左耳接电话，用右耳会直接伤害到大脑。

一个中心：一切以健康为中心。

2009新概念

两个基本点：遇事潇洒一点，看世糊涂一点。

三个忘记：
忘记年龄，忘记过去，忘记恩怨。

四个拥有：
无论你有多弱或多强，一定要
拥有真正爱你的人，
拥有知心的朋友，
拥有向上的事业，
拥有温暖的住所。

五个要：
要唱，要跳，要俏，要笑，要苗条。

六个不能:
不能饿了才吃，
不能渴了才喝，
不能困了才睡，
不能累了才歇，
不能病了才检查，
不能老了再后悔。

12 simple ways to supercharge your brainby Jay White

Have you ever felt exasperated when you bumped into someone at the store but absolutely couldn't remember their name? Sure, it happens to all of us.

Despite being the strongest computer on the planet, our brains do lapse. It's hard to blame them really. As humans, we spend much of or existence stuffing our brains with stuff.

No matter how powerful our brains are, they need recuperation time to be kept in shape. Think of it as a tune up for your brain. Skipping brain maintenance is as silly as the person wandering the parking garage because they forgot where they parked. Is that you? Are you that person? If so, fear not; we are all that person at some point.

Now I am not a brain surgeon and I am not going to suggest you do anything surgical or dangerous. I am however an astute student of human behavior so I always look for simple ways to super charge my brain.

Here are some things you can begin doing as soon as today to begin the great brain tune up:

Eat Almonds
Almond is believed to improve memory. If a combination of almond oil and milk is taken together before going to bed or after getting up at morning, it strengthens our memory power. Almond milk is prepared by crushing the almonds without the outer cover and adding water and sugar to it.

Drink Apple Juice
Research from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) indicates that apple juice increases the production of the essential neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain, resulting in an increased memory power.

Sleep well
Research indicates that the long-term memory is consolidated during sleep by replaying the images of the experiences of the day. These repeated playbacks program the subconscious mind to store these images and other related information.

Enjoy simple Pleasures
Stress drains our brainpower. A stress-ridden mind consumes much of our memory resources to leave us with a feeble mind. Make a habit to engage yourself in few simple pleasures everyday to dissolve stress from your mind. Some of these simple pleasures are good for your mind, body and soul.

• Enjoy music you love
• Play with your children
• Appreciate others
• Run few miles a day, bike or swim
• Start a blog
• Take a yoga class or Total Wellness routine

Exercise your mind
Just as physical exercise is essential for a strong body, mental exercise is equally essential for a sharp and agile mind. Have you noticed that children have far superior brainpower than an adult does? Children have playful minds. A playful mind exhibits superior memory power. Engage in some of the activities that require your mind to remain active and playful.

• Play scrabble or crossword puzzle
• Volunteer
• Interact with others
• Start a new hobby such as blogging, reading, painting, bird watching
• Learn new skill or a foreign language

Practice Yoga or Meditation
Yoga or Meditation relives stress. Stress is a known memory buster. With less stress, lower blood pressure, slower respiration, slower metabolism, and released muscle tension follows. All of these factors contribute significantly towards increases in our brainpower.

Reduce Sugar intake
Sugar is a non-food. It’s a form of carbohydrate that offers illusionary energy, only to cause a downhill slump once the initial burst has been worn off. Excess intake of sugar results in neurotic symptoms. Excess sugar is known to cause claustrophobia, memory loss and other neurotic disorders. Eat food without adding sugar. Stay away from sweet drinks or excess consumption of caffeine with sugar.

Eat whole wheat
The whole wheat germs contain lecithin. Lecithin helps ease the problem of the hardening of the arteries, which often impairs brain functioning.

Eat a light meal at night
A heavy meal at night causes tossing and turning and a prolonged emotional stress while at sleep. It’s wise to eat heavy meal during the day when our body is in motion to consume the heavy in-take. Eating a light meal with some fruits allows us to sleep well. A good night sleep strengthens our brainpower.

Develop imagination
Greeks mastered the principle of imagination and association to memorize everything. This technique requires one to develop a vivid and colorful imagination that can be linked to a known object. If you involve all your senses - touching, feeling, smelling, hearing and seeing in the imagination process, you can remember greater details of the event.

Control your temper
Bleached food, excess of starch or excess of white bread can lead to nerve grating effect. This results in a violent and some time depressive behavior. Eat fresh vegetables. Drink lots of water and meditate or practice yoga to relieve these toxic emotions of temper and stressful mood swings.

Take Vitamin B-complex
Vitamin B-complex strengthens memory power. Eat food and vegetables high in Vitamin B-complex. Stay away from the starch food or white bread, which depletes the Vitamin B-complex necessary for a healthy mind.

I don't believe these are that tough. If you find yourself increasing stumped, give a couple of these a try.

Written by Shilpan Patel of Success Soul and cross-posted from Dumb Little Man, a web site that provides tips for life that will save you money, increase your productivity, or simply keep you sane.

(We received this article via an e-mail. The same article can also be found at SHINE.)

丹顶鹤简介

（此文转载自黑龙江频道。）

丹顶鹤(英文名Red-crowned crane)---长寿的象征，国家一级保护动物。也叫仙鹤、白鹤(其实白鹤是另一种鹤属鸟类)、鴜鷜，中国古籍文献中对丹顶鹤有许多称谓，如《尔雅翼》中称其为仙禽，《本草纲目》中称其为胎禽。丹顶鹤是鹤类中的一种，因头顶有红肉冠而得名。它是东亚地区所特有的鸟种，因体态优雅、颜色分明，在这一地区的文化中具有吉祥、忠贞、长寿的寓意。

　　目名中 鹤行目

　　目名拉 Gruiformes

　　科名拉 Gruidae

　　中文名 丹顶鹤

　　拉丁名 Grus japonensis

　　英文名 Red-crowned Crane

　　别名 仙鹤

　　分布：

　　丹顶鹤繁殖地在中国的三江平原的松嫩平原、苏联的远东和日本等地。它在中国东南沿海各地及长江下游、朝鲜海湾、日本等地越冬。历史上丹顶鹤的分布区比现在要大得多，越冬地更为往南，可至福建、台湾、海南等地。由于这种鸟在文化种的特殊地位，地方志书中一直有着详细的记载，为研究它的古代分布提供了翔实的资料。

　　文化意义：

　　其实，传说中的仙鹤，就是丹顶鹤，它是生活在沼泽或浅水地带的一种大型涉禽，常被人冠以“湿地之神”的美称。它与生长在高山丘陵中的松树毫无缘份。

　　东亚地区的居民，用丹顶鹤象征幸福、吉祥、长寿和忠贞。在各国的文学和美术作品中屡有出现，殷商时代的墓葬中，就有鹤的形象出现在雕塑中。春秋战国时期的青铜器钟，鹤体造型的礼器就已出现。道教中丹顶鹤飘逸的形象已成为长寿、成仙的象征。

　　目前，中国国家林业局已经把丹顶鹤作为唯一的国鸟候选鸟上报国务院。

　　鹤是栖息于沼泽地的鸟，把它绘在松树上，从科学的观点看，是一个笑话。当然从文化意义上看，则另当别论。

　　鹤是卵生的，古时有人以它为仙禽，就说成是胎生的(见鲍照《舞鹤赋》)。但鹤胎生说法的错误早就被人洞晓了。《墨客挥犀录》有一段记载说：“刘渊材迂阔好怪，尝蓄两鹤。客至，夸曰：‘此仙禽也，凡禽卵生，此禽胎生。’语未卒，园丁报曰：‘鹤夜半生一卵。’渊材呵曰：‘敢谤鹤耶！’未几延颈伏地，复诞一卵。渊材叹曰：‘鹤亦败道，吾乃为刘禹锡嘉话所误。’”

絞股藍

絞股藍，又名五葉蔘、七葉膽，日本稱之甘蔓茶，屬葫蘆科多年生蔓草植物，長於山間陰濕的地方，分布於大陸雲南省，日本的九州及北海道亦有生長。味甘、無毒，皂甘的化學結構與人參類似，有“南方人蔘”之譽，在日本被譽為“福音草”。明朝《農政全書》記載七葉膽為救飢食物，《全國中草藥匯編》記載七葉膽是一種極佳之「食藥同源」的天然保健食品。声称具有降血脂、降血糖、抑制腫瘤細胞繁殖、抗胃潰瘍、消除疲勞和鎮靜等作用。

What is Jiaogulan?

Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum), is a plant that grows wild in China, as well as many other countries throughout Asia. In China, it has been used for many years as a medicinal and energizing tea in the local regions where it grows. Jiaogulan is sometimes called "Southern Ginseng", since it grows in south central China and because of its similarity to ginseng in chemical composition and function. It is also praised as Xiancao, "Immortality" Herb, because it grows wild and has many health-giving qualities and anti-aging effects.

In the late 1970s, Japanese scientists began discovering jiaogulan's illness-prevention and therapeutic qualities. What they uncovered was an herb very similar in quality to ginseng, yet in some ways superior. They found jiaogulan to function as both an adaptogenic herb and as an antioxidant herb, containing many health-giving saponins (chemical compounds having a soapy characteristic), as well as trace minerals, amino acids, proteins, and vitamins.

Jiaogulan contains a large quantity of these saponins, known also as gypenosides. The structure of the gypenosides is very similar to the panaxosides (also known as ginsenosides) found in ginseng. There are four times as many saponins in jiaogulan as there is in ginseng. Some of those saponins are identical to the panaxosides in ginseng and some of them turn into panaxosides when taken into the body. This results in a greater number of saponins than ginseng, which may translate into a more powerful regulatory effect on a number of bodily systems; like blood pressure, the reproductive system, the digestive system, the immune system, mental functions and more. ^{1, 2}

Scientific research studies in China have shown that jiaogulan decreases cholesterol by improving the liver's ability to send sugar and carbohydrates to the muscles for conversion to energy instead of turning the sugar into triglycerides which the body stores as fat. ³ It lowers LDL's (bad cholesterol) while raising HDL's (good cholesterol). It improves fat metabolism, reduces blood fat levels and depresses lipid peroxide and fat sediment in the blood vessels. ⁴

While it is great for rectifying high cholesterol and obesity problems, it can also improve and strengthen the digestion, allowing an underweight person to increase absorption of nutrients and gain weight in the form of lean muscle mass. This regulatory effect on bodily functions is the hallmark of an adaptogen. ⁵

A study at Guiyang Medical College in China has shown that a jiaogulan recipe increased strength and endurance in the body. Considering the above statements overall, jiaogulan becomes the perfect herb for anyone who wants to improve their competitive edge in any field of athletic performance. ⁶

Adaptogenic functions of jiaogulan are demonstrated in its biphasic effects on brain functions, which energize or calm the system depending upon the body’s need. ⁷ Jiaogulan also aids the regulation of hormonal functions in both men and women. The healthy maintenance of these physiological actions plays a major role in the body's ability to cope with stress. ⁸ Jiaogulan has also shown its effectiveness, in clinical research studies, in helping the body resist depression of the immune system and other stress-related symptoms. It increases the production of Lymphocytes, Phagocytes and serum IgG, but not to an excess. ⁹

Jiaogulan has also demonstrated anti-inflammatory activities through its many saponins. ¹⁰ Jiaogulan also helps the body to resist depression of the immune system and other stress-related symptoms. ^{11, 12} Furthermore there are other clinical research studies, which indicate jiaogulan's ability to reduce tumor size. ^13,14 It can even lower high blood pressure. ¹⁵

In China jiaogulan is praised as the “Herb of Immortality,” due to its many health giving qualities and anti-aging effects....

Footnotes

1. Song, W.M., et al. “Comparison of the adaptogenic effects of jiaogulan and ginseng.” Zhong Cao Yao. Chinese. 1992; 23(3):136.

2. Wei, Y., et al. “The effect of gypenosides to raise White Blood Count.” Zhong Cao Yao. Chinese. 1993; 24, 7, 382.

3. Kimura, Y., et al. “Effects of crude saponins of Gynostemma pentaphyllum on lipid metabolism.” Shoyakugaku Zasshi. Japanese. 1983 (Rec’d 1984); 37(3):272-275.

4. Yu, C. “Therapeutic effect of tablet gypenosides on 32 patients with hyperlipaemia.” Hu Bei Zhong Yi Za Zhi. Chinese. 1993; 15(3):21.

5. Zhou, S., et al. “Pharmacological study on the adaptogenic function of jiaogulan and jiaogulan compound.” Zhong Cao Yao. Chinese. 1990; 21(7):313.

6. Zhou, Ying-Na, et al. “Effects of a gypenosides-containing tonic on the pulmonary function in exercise workload.” Journal of Guiyang Medical College.1993; 8(4):261.

7. Zhang, Yi-Qun, et al. “Immediate effects of a gypenosides-containing tonic on the echocardiography of healthy persons of various ages.” Journal of Guiyang Medical College. 1993; 18(4):261.

8. Zhou, Ying-Na, et al. Influence of kiwifruit/jiaogulan recipe on the lung function and exercise endurance under exercise workload. Journal of Guiyang Medical College. 1993; 18(4):256.

9. Liu, Jialiu, et al. Overall health-strengthening effects of a gypenosides-containing tonic in middle aged and aged persons. Journal of Guiyang Medical College. 1993; (3):146.

10. Li, Lin, et al. Protective Effect of Gypenosides Against Oxidative Stress in Phagocytes, Vascular Endothelial Cells and Liver Microsomes. Loma Linda University, Calif. Cancer Biotherapy. 1993; 8(3):263-272.

11. Hou, J., et al. Effects of Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino on the immunological function of cancer patients. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. (K9K). 1991; 11(1):47-52

12. Qian, Hao, et al. Protective effect of jiaogulan on cellular immunity of patients with primary long cancer treated with radiotherapy plus chemotherapy. Acta Academiae Medicinae Shanghai. 1995; 22(5):363-366.

13. Han, M.Q., et al. Effects of 24 Chinese medicinal herbs on nucleic acid, protein and cell cycle of human lung adenocarcinoma cell. Chung Kuo Chung His I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih (BIF). Chinese. 1995 Mar; 15(3):147-9.

14. Wu, J.L., et al. Influence of gypenosides on thrombosis and synthesis of TXA2 and PGF1a. Zhong Yao Yao Li Yu Lin Chuang. Chinese. 1991; 7(2):39.

15. Lu, G.H., et al. Comparative study on anti-hypertensive effect of Gypenosides, Ginseng and Indapamide in patients with essential hypertension. Guizhou Medical Journal. Chinese. 1996; 20:1.