19/07/2022
Benefits of Turmeric, Layalaya and Ginger
Bioactive compounds are nutrients that promote health in humans. These include common vitamins and minerals, as well as lesser known compounds such as polyphenols and volatile oils.
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TURMERIC
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Curcuminoids such as curcumin are the largest group of bioactive compounds found in turmeric, although it contains hundreds of others, including many essential oils and multiple types of antioxidants.
Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory compound
Inflammation is incredibly important. It helps fight foreign invaders and has a role in repairing damage in your body.
Although acute, short-term inflammation is beneficial, it can be a concern if it becomes chronic and attacks your body’s own tissues.
Scientists now believe that chronic low-level inflammation can play a role in some health conditions and diseases.
Turmeric can increase the antioxidant capacity of the body
Oxidative damage is believed to be one of the mechanisms behind aging and many diseases.
It involves free radicals, highly reactive molecules with unpaired electrons. Free radicals tend to react with important organic substances, such as fatty acids, proteins, or DNA.
The main reason antioxidants are so beneficial is that they protect your body from free radicals.
Curcumin is a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals due to its chemical structure
Arthritis patients respond well to curcumin supplements
Arthritis is a common problem in Western countries. There are several different types of arthritis, most of which involve inflammation in the joints.
Given that curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory compound, it makes sense that it may help with arthritis. In fact, several studies show that there is an association.
In a study in people with rheumatoid arthritis, curcumin was even more effective than an anti-inflammatory drug.
Turmeric — and especially its most active compound, curcumin — have many scientifically proven health benefits, such as the potential to improve heart health and prevent against Alzheimer’s and cancer.
It’s a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It may also help improve symptoms of depression and arthritis.
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GINGER
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Ginger is a flowering plant that originated in Southeast Asia. It’s among the healthiest (and most delicious) spices on the planet.
It belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, and it’s closely related to turmeric, cardamom, and galangal.
The rhizome (underground part of the stem) is the part commonly used as a spice. It’s often called ginger root or, simply, ginger.
Ginger can be used fresh, dried, powdered, or as an oil or juice. It’s a very common ingredient in recipes. It’s sometimes added to processed foods and cosmetics.
Gingerol has powerful medicinal properties
Ginger has a very long history of use in various forms of traditional and alternative medicine. It’s been used to aid digestion, reduce nausea, and help fight the flu and common cold, to name a few of its purposes.
The unique fragrance and flavor of ginger come from its natural oils, the most important of which is gingerol.
Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in ginger. It’s responsible for much of ginger’s medicinal properties.
Gingerol has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, according to research. For instance, it may help reduce oxidative stress, which is the result of having an excess amount of free radicals in the body.
Ginger may play a role in weight loss, according to studies conducted in humans and animals.
A 2019 literature review concluded that ginger supplementation significantly reduced body weight, the waist-hip ratio, and the hip ratio in people with overweight or obesity.
Ginger’s ability to influence weight loss may be related to certain mechanisms, such as its potential to help increase the number of calories burned or reduce inflammation.
Can help with osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common health problem.
It involves degeneration of the joints in the body, leading to symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness.
One literature review found that people who used ginger to treat their OA saw significant reductions in pain and disability.
Ginger may drastically lower blood sugars and improve heart disease risk factors
This area of research is relatively new, but ginger may have powerful anti-diabetic properties.
In a 2015 study of 41 participants with type 2 diabetes, 2 grams of ginger powder per day lowered fasting blood sugar by 12%
A 2016 study of 80 women with obesity found that ginger could also help reduce body mass index (BMI) and blood insulin levels. High blood insulin levels are associated with obesity.
Ginger may help treat chronic indigestion
Chronic indigestion is characterized by recurrent pain and discomfort in the upper part of the stomach.
It’s believed that delayed emptying of the stomach is a major driver of indigestion. Interestingly, ginger has been shown to speed up emptying of the stomach.
May help lower cholesterol levels
High levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol are linked to an increased risk of heart disease.
The foods you eat can have a strong influence on LDL levels.
In a 2018 study of 60 people with hyperlipidemia, the 30 people who received 5 grams of ginger-pasted powder each day saw their LDL (bad) cholesterol levels drop by 17.4% over a 3-month period
Ginger may improve brain function and protect against Alzheimer’s disease
Oxidative stress and chronic inflammation can accelerate the aging process.
They’re believed to be among the key drivers of Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline.
Some animal studies suggest that the antioxidants and bioactive compounds in ginger can inhibit inflammatory responses that occur in the brain.
There’s also some evidence that ginger can help enhance brain function directly.
In a 2012 study of healthy middle-aged women, daily doses of ginger extract were shown to improve reaction time and working memory.
In addition, numerous studies in animals show that ginger can help protect against age-related decline in brain function
Ginger may help fight infections
Gingerol can help lower the risk of infections.
In fact, ginger extract can inhibit the growth of many different types of bacteria.
According to a 2008 study, it’s very effective against the oral bacteria linked to gingivitis and periodontitis. These are both inflammatory gum diseases.
Fresh ginger may also be effective against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a common cause of respiratory infection
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LAYALAYA
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LAYALAYA, CAGOLAYA OR DROVE
Scientific name: Zingiber Zerumbet
Common Name(s): Bitter Ginger, Wild Ginger, Hurricane Flower, Pinecone Ginger, Pinecone Lily, Shampoo Ginger.
Extract from Journal of Polynesian Society. Volume 49 1940 > No. 16"
Fiji plants: their names and uses,
by H. B. Richenda Parham, p 17-80
Layalaya Zingiber zerumbet (Kew) (Scitaminaceae)
The hurricane flower. It is the only wild-ginger in Fiji. Its flowers are small and white; the scales or bracts turn a rich crimson in the hurricane season, and so it gains the English name. It grows in the bush and on hillsides, it is in seed in April; these seeds are often used as a laxative for children. A drink is also made from its roots for colds, indigestion, stomach-ache and bladder-trouble. To make this tea the rhizomes are scraped, crushed, and then boiled thoroughly. It begins to flower in January and goes on flowering for many weeks; its bracts redden in February and March.
Wild Ginger is a clumping perennial that has reed-like stems and is native to tropical Asia. Liking a moist environment, it can be found growing in the wild near rivers, waterfalls and other water sources.
Near the end of its growing season, the flowers emerge from the ground. Starting out as a lime green cone shape. Small blossoms emerge from between the green flower bracts. After flowering, the bracts become a showy shade of red. If harvesting for use as a shampoo, this is the time that a slippery liquid is exuded from the flowers. This liquid has a soapy feeling and a ginger scent.
Its leaves are used as a food wrap that will help keep fish moist while adding the flavor of ginger to the food.
The oils from the rhizome is used in making perfumed soaps and other articles. Ground into a powder, the dried rhizome is used as a perfume.
The Anti-Allergic and Immune Modulation Activities of Z. zerumbet
Although there have been quite a number of studies conducted to study the effectiveness of Z. zerumbet in a broad range of biological activities related to human health, there has been very few reported studies of Z. zerumbet as well as its bioactive compounds focusing on anti-allergy. Increasing levels of allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis (AR), atopic dermatitis, asthma and food allergies in many of the developed countries (Carlsen, 2003) are causing significant health problems, especially in children.
Several patents were filed due to the exceptional anti-allergic activities shown by Z. zerumbet. Among which, a patent by Chaung et al. (2009) provides a method of preparing polar solvent extraction from the root of Z. zerumbet as well as the use of this formulation to prevent or to treat an allergic disorder. Another patent by Lin et al. (2013) provides a method of preparing solvent extracted from the root of Z. zerumbet for treating AR or allergic eczema.
The essential oils from rhizomes of Z. zerumbet have also been shown to contain several beneficial effects such as analgesic activity (Sulaiman et al., 2010), anti-nociceptive activity (Khalid et al., 2011), and anti-microbial activity (Kader et al., 2010).
The rhizome of Z. zerumbet (RZZ), in particular, has been used traditionally as herbal medicine in Asian, Indian, Chinese, and Arabic folklores since ancient times.
Ethnomedicinal/Traditional Uses
Some of the RZZ traditional usages as botanical medicine include the treatment of inflammation, fever, toothache, indigestion, constipation, diarrhea, severe sprains, and to relieve pain, as well as antispasmodic, antirheumatic, and diuretic agents. Other than that, the Malays used the fresh rhizomes as a cure for edema, stomach ache, sores, and loss of appetite while the juice of the boiled rhizomes is used to treat worm infestation in children.
In Thailand, the fresh rhizomes are also used as antiflatulent agent.
Meanwhile, the Chinese macerated the rhizomes in alcohol and use it as a tonic, depurative, or stimulant while the Taiwanese used the plant as an anti-inflammatory adjuvant for stomach ache, sprain, and fever.
In India, the rhizome powder is mixed with ripe Morinda citrifolia for the treatment of severe pain, the cooked and softened rhizome is used to treat toothache, cough, asthma, worms, leprosy, and other skin diseases, and the ground and strained rhizome is mixed with water and drank to treat stomach ache.
The Hawaiians apply the compressed RZZ to sore spots, bruises, and cuts and also used it to treat headaches, toothache, ringworm/other skin disease, achy joints/sprains, stomach-ache. In addition, they also used ashes from burnt Z. zerumbet leaves, which are combined with a mixture of ashes of Schizostachyum glaucifolium, nut sap of Aleurites moluccana, and tuber sap of Z. zerumbet, as a remedy for cuts and bruised skin while the RZZ was mashed with salt and rubbed on the head to treat headaches.
Furthermore, the plant's pine cones are used as an ornamental in gardening, and the milky juice obtained from the pine cones is famously used as a shampoo (Awapuhi Shampoo) in Hawaii.
