Phytochemical Health Dictionary

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Phytochemical: From 1 Different Sources

n. one of a large group of non-nutritive compounds made by plants that have an effect on health. They include *antioxidants, flavonoids, flavanols, flavanones, isoflavones, anthocyanins, carotenoids, polyphenols, phenolic acids, phyto-oestogens, and others.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Amazing Health Benefits Of Carrots

1. Beta carotene: Carrots are a rich source of this powerful antioxidant, which, among other vital uses, can be converted into vitamin A in the body to help maintain healthy skin. 2. Digestion: Carrots increase saliva and supply essential minerals, vitamins and enzymes that aid in digestion. Eating carrots regularly may help prevent gastric ulcers and other digestive disorders. 3. Alkaline elements: Carrots are rich in alkaline elements, which purify and revitalize the blood while balancing the acid/alkaline ratio of the body. 4. Potassium: Carrots are a good source of potassium, which can help maintain healthy sodium levels in the body, thereby helping to reduce elevated blood pressure levels. 5. Dental Health: Carrots kill harmful germs in the mouth and help prevent tooth decay. 6. Wounds: Raw or grated carrots can be used to help heal wounds, cuts and inflammation. 7. Phytonutrients: Among the many beneficial phytochemicals that carrots contain is a phytonutrient called falcarinol, which may reduce the risk of colon cancer and help promote overall colon health. 8. Carotenoids: Carrots are rich in carotenoids, which our bodies can use to help regulate blood sugar. 9. Fiber: Carrots are high in soluble fiber, which may reduce cholesterol by binding the LDL form (the kind we don’t want) and increasing the HDL form (the kind our body needs) to help reduce blood clots and prevent heart disease. 10. Eyes, hair, nails and more! The nutrients in carrots can improve the health of your eyes, skin, hair, nails and more through helping to detoxify your system and build new cells! 11. Improves vision There’s some truth in the old wisdom that carrots are good for your eyes. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the liver. Vitamin A is transformed in the retina, to rhodopsin, a purple pigment necessary for night vision. Beta-carotene has also been shown to protect against macular degeneration and senile cataracts. A study found that people who eat large amounts of beta-carotene had a 40 percent lower risk of macular degeneration than those who consumed little. 12. Helps prevent cancer Studies have shown carrots reduce the risk of lung cancer, breast cancer and colon cancer. Falcarinol is a natural pesticide produced by the carrot that protects its roots from fungal diseases. Carrots are one of the only common sources of this compound. A study showed 1/3 lower cancer risk by carrot-eating rats. 13. Slows down aging The high level of beta-carotene in carrots acts as an antioxidant to cell damage done to the body through regular metabolism. It help slows down the aging of cells. 14. Promotes healthier skin Vitamin A and antioxidants protect the skin from sun damage. Deficiencies of vitamin A cause dryness to the skin, hair and nails. Vitamin A prevents premature wrinkling, acne, dry skin, pigmentation, blemishes and uneven skin tone. 15. Helps prevent infection Carrots are known by herbalists to prevent infection. They can be used on cuts—shredded raw or boiled and mashed. 16. Promotes healthier skin (from the outside) Carrots are used as an inexpensive and very convenient facial mask. Just mix grated carrot with a bit of honey. See the full recipe here: carrot face mask. 17. Prevents heart disease Studies show that diets high in carotenoids are associated with a lower risk of heart disease. Carrots have not only beta-carotene but also alpha-carotene and lutein. The regular consumption of carrots also reduces cholesterol levels because the soluble fibers in carrots bind with bile acids. 18. Cleanses the body Vitamin A assists the liver in flushing out the toxins from the body. It reduces the bile and fat in the liver. The fiber present in carrots helps clean out the colon and hasten waste movement. 19. Protects teeth and gums It’s all in the crunch! Carrots clean your teeth and mouth. They scrape off plaque and food particles just like toothbrushes or toothpaste. Carrots stimulate gums and trigger a lot of saliva, which, being alkaline, balances out the acid-forming, cavity-forming bacteria. The minerals in carrots prevent tooth damage. 20. Prevents stroke From all the above benefits it’s no surprise that in a Harvard University study, people who ate five or more carrots a week were less likely to suffer a stroke than those who ate only one carrot a month or less.... amazing health benefits of carrots

Jagua

Genipap (Genipa americana).

Plant Part Used: Fruit.

Dominican Medicinal Uses: Fruit: juice or cold water extract, for high blood pressure, infection, inflammation, kidney ailments, blood purification, diuretic, headache, vaginal infection, menopausal symptoms, menstrual disorders, prevention of cysts, fibroids and tumors.

Safety: The fruit is widely consumed in tropical regions.

Laboratory & Preclinical Data: Phytochemical: anti-tumor (identified active compounds in leaves and fruit).

* See entry for Jagua in “Part 3: Dominican Medicinal Plant Profiles” of this book for more information, including references.... jagua

Antioxidant

n. a substance capable of neutralizing oxygen free radicals – the highly active and damaging atoms and chemical groups produced by normal metabolic processes, by various disease processes, and by poisons, radiation, smoking, and other agencies. Antioxidants occur naturally in the body and in certain foods and beverages; they may also be ingested in the form of supplements. They include *vitamin C (ascorbic acid), *vitamin E (tocopherols), and ?-*carotene. See also phytochemical.... antioxidant

Discover Oregon Grape Root Tea

If you want to try a special type of herbal tea, there’s Oregon grape root tea! It has a slightly bitter taste, but that shouldn’t discourage you. It also has plenty of health benefits which are bound to keep you healthy. Read to find out more about Oregon grape root tea! About Oregon Grape Root Tea Oregon grape root tea is made from the root of the Oregon grape. The plant is an evergreen shrub which grows along the North American west coast. The plant can grow up to 5m tall. The leaves are similar to those of holly, and the stems and twigs are thick and corky. The flowers are yellow-colored and bloom in late spring. The fruits are small, purplish-black, with a dusty appearance, and they contain large seeds. The Oregon grape is in no way related to normal grapes. The name of the tree comes from the similarity of its berries to the grapes’ berries. Constituents of Oregon Grape Root Tea It is not surprising that the root is used to make Oregon grape root tea. The root is actually the part of the tea which contains the most active constituents. A cup of Oregon grape root tea contains many alkaloids (berberine) and phytochemicals, as well as tannins. How to prepare Oregon Grape Root Tea It isn’t difficult to make a cup of Oregon grape root tea. Place one teaspoon of dried root in a cup filled with boiling water. Let it steep for about 10-15 minutes. Once the steeping time ends, remove the dried herbs from the cup. If Oregon grape root tea is too bitter for your taste, you can add honey or sugar to sweeten it. Oregon Grape Root Tea Benefits Thanks to its important constituents, Oregon grape root tea brings you many health benefits. First of all, Oregon grape root tea is used in the treatment for dyspepsia (indigestion) and diarrhea, and it helps you fight intestinal parasites. It also increases the speed to the flow of bile, which makes it useful in the treatment for gallbladder pain, gallstones, hepatitis, and jaundice. The alkaloids found in Oregon grape root tea help treat typhoid, tuberculosis in its early stage, and various digestive disorders. It can even help with small problems, such as stomach cramps and abdominal pains. It also works as a potential anti-carcinogenic, speeding up the recovery from chemotherapy and radiation therapies. Oregon grape root teacan work as a lymphatic and liver stimulating blood cleanser. It is good for your liver as it helps release stacked away iron from the liver into the blood stream. It might also help you fight tumors in the bladder and colon. Oregon grape root tea can help you even when it’s applied topically. It is useful when treating psoriasis, eczema, athlete’s foot, acne, and other fungal infections. It also helps in easing inflammation, irritation, and itching of the skin. Oregon Grape Root Tea Side Effects First, it’s not recommended that you drink Oregon grape root tea if you are pregnant. If you do, it might cause uterine contractions. It is also best that you not consume Oregon grape root tea if you’ve gotchronic gastrointestinal irritation or inflammation. It will only worsen the symptoms. Be careful with how much Oregon grape root tea you drink. Don’t have more than six cups of tea a day, and don’t drink for more than 7 consecutive days. If you drink too much Oregon grape root tea, you’ll get the following symptoms: headaches, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, dizziness, and irregular heartbeats. Even if it has a slightly bitter taste, Oregon grape root tea shouldn’t be forgotten. Its many health benefits can help you, if needed.... discover oregon grape root tea

Extract

The Exeter Traditional Medicines, Pharmacology and Chemistry Project. An expert data- base system that integrates on a cumulative basis annotated information about the chemistry, pharmacology and therapeutics of medicinal plants and their constituents from a range of sources. The conventional phytochemical literature, often exhaustively searched and assessed, is augmented by evidence from the areas of clinical pharmacology and ethnopharmacology, and the personal and recorded experience of practicing phytotherapists and herbalists. The material is entered into a knowledge base which is programmed to provide intelligent integration and weighting of the data. Director: Simon Y. Mills MA FNIMH, Centre of Complementary Health Studies, University of Exeter, Devon EX4 4PU. ... extract

Dorado Azul

Hyptis suaveolens

FAMILY: Lamiaceae

SYNONYMS: Mesosphaerum suaveolens, mint weed, bush mint, bush tea, pignut, chan, wild spikenard.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: An erect, annual herb up to 3 metres high, belonging to the mint family, with a hollow stem, and bearing purple-blue lipped flowers and dark brown, shield-shaped fruits. The oval leaves, which are wrinkled along the edge and pointed, have a strong mint-like aroma when crushed; the taproot is white or brown. It is a very well known pseudo-cereal plant in the Latin America region.

DISTRIBUTION: A native of tropical America, growing in warm and semi-warm regions, commonly found in the rain forests of Ecuador, as well as in the Caribbean and Hawaii; it has also been naturalized in Australia since the mid-nineteenth century. This herb is commonly found alongside roadsides and watercourses and is considered a weed in many tropical areas around the world, especially because the plant can be invasive.

OTHER SPECIES: The mint family is generally known to produce the most variation in essential oil composition and therefore there are many chemotypes of H. suaveolens. Ocotea essential oil from the flowers of the Ocotea quixos tree, which is native to the deep Amazon, is another species found in South America, which yields a little-known essential oil sharing many of phytochemical properties and functions of H. suaveolens.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: Dorado Azul has been used by many indigenous cultures in India, Nigeria and elsewhere for hundreds of years to treat bacterial infections, diarrhoea, tumours, skin diseases, gastro-intestinal disorders and as a natural mosquito repellent and pesticide. The herb has also traditionally been used for the treatment of asthma, hormonal balance (oestrogen), inflammation, muscular aches and pains and for wound healing.

Today the essential oil of Dorado Azul is recognized largely for its role in treating respiratory conditions and in supporting the sinuses and lungs, much like mint and eucalyptus. In addition to its respiratory benefits, Dorado Azul oil is also proving to be a very effective ingredient in essential oil blends that repel insects and pests. Indeed, recent studies have confirmed it is effective as a natural crop and grain insecticide. A study in 1999 revealed that the oil was effective against both gram positive (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus) and negative (E. coli, Pseudomonas spp.) bacterial strains; as well as Candida albicans. A further study exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Micrococcus luteus respectively.

ACTIONS: Analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, insecticidal, anti-infectious, expectorant, immune stimulant.

EXTRACTION: Essential oil distilled from the stems, leaves and flowers.

CHARACTERISTICS: The essential oil is a reddish liquid with a fresh-herbaceous odour. It blends well with peppermint, eucalyptus, ravintsara, tea tree, myrtle, balsam and spice oils.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Main constituents are sabinene (16.5 per cent), trans-?-bergamotene and ?-caryophyllene (19.8 per cent), terpinen-4-ol (9.6 per cent) and ?-pinene (8.6 per cent). Another study (using a different chemotype) reported sabinene (30 per cent), terpinen-4-ol (11.4 per cent), terpinolene (5.6 per cent), 1,8-cineole (5.2 per cent), ?-pinene (4.4 per cent) and ?-terpinene (4.2 per cent).

SAFETY DATA: No reported contra-indications: however since there are many variable chemotypes of this oil, the safety data will depend on the specific chemical make-up of the individual oil.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE

Skin Care: Infected skin conditions.

Circulation Muscles And Joints: Arthritic and rheumatoid-type pain, circulatory stimulant, muscular aches and pains.

Digestive System: Indigestion, candida and other intestinal tract problems.

Respiratory System: Asthma, bronchitis, colds, coughs, ’flu, sinus congestion, allergic reactions that cause constriction and compromised breathing.

Immune System: Tonic.

Nervous System: Nervous debility.

OTHER USES: ‘Chan’ is commonly used locally as a refreshing, healthy drink, which is made by leaving the seeds to soak in water and refrigerating the mix.... dorado azul


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