Temulawak

JohnBarron Lesson from the Miracle

2008-08-15T05:10:00.000+07:00

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SAMBILOTO (Andrographis paniculata)

2008-08-14T20:48:00.003+07:00

The Secret to overcoming the Silent Epidemic that’s destroying your Health
What Is It?

Andrographis paniculata is known in Indonesia as Sambiloto which is the name used in Jamu - Indonesian traditional medicine - and will be used throughout this article. It is also known commonly as "King of Bitters," and is a member of the plant family Acanthaceae. The plant is an annual. It is branched, erect growing up to 1 meter in height. The leaves and stems of the plant are used to extract the active phytochemicals. It grows abundantly in southeastern Asia: Indonesia, India (and Sri Lanka), Pakistan and it is cultivated extensively in China and Thailand. It grows best in the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world.
It is normally grown from seeds, and is ubiquitous in its native areas: it grows in forest areas, and along roads and in villages. Because of its well-known medicinal properties, in Indonesia it is also commonly cultivated. It grows easily in all types of soil. In fact, it grows in poor soil types where almost no other plant can be cultivated.

The primary medicinal component of Andrographis is andrographolide. It has a very bitter taste, is a colorless crystalline in appearance, and is called a "diterpene lactone". The other medicinal chemicals are also bitter principles: diterpenoids viz. deoxyandrographolide, -19ß-D-glucoside, and neo-andrographolide, all of which have been isolated from the leaves. Besides the related bitters mentioned, other active components include 14-deoxy-11,12- didehydroandrographolide (andrographlide D), homoandrographolide, andrographan, andrographon, andrographosterin, and stigmasterol - the last of which was isolated from an Astrographis preparation. The leaves contain the highest amount of andrographolide (2.39%), the most medicinally active phytochemical in the plant, while the seeds contain the lowest.

What Is It Used For?

Sambiloto has been used for centuries in Asia and continues to be used today in Indonesia as a medicinal herb, to treat gastro-intestinal tract and upper respiratory infections, fever, herpes, sore throat, and a variety of other chronic and infectious diseases. It is found in several different medical traditions including Indian Ayurvedic medicine. As a preventive of heart attack, the powerful effect of “clot busting” is a significant benefit, especially for people in stressful occupations and those who are overweight, have little exercise, and are generally followers of the “Western Lifestyle”.

Some practitioners have suggested a daily dose of aspirin for this purpose, but information is steadily accumulating about the serious negative side effects of such a drug regime. Macular degeneration (blindness), cataracts, gastro intestinal bleeding and even increased incidence of strokes and heart attacks as a result of asprin taking are now documented in authoritative Journals like the British Medical Journal and Opthalmology .

In traditional Chinese medicine it is an important "cold property" herb, used to rid the body of heat, as in fevers, and to dispel toxins from the body. This anti-inflammatory property is one of the major reasons for its inclusion in the Tree of Wellness arsenal of preventive plant extracts. This alone is a major benefit in protecting against Western “Lifestyle diseases”. In Scandinavian countries, it is still commonly used to prevent and treat common colds.
Research conducted since the '80's has confirmed that Sambiloto, properly administered, is a broad spectrum herb and has a surprisingly wide range of pharmacological effects, some of them extremely beneficial:

Analgesic: pain killer.
Anti-hyperglycaemic: has a blood glucose lowering effect.
Anti-inflammatory: reduces swelling and cuts down exudation from capillaries,anti-inflammatory action probably mediated, in part, by adrenal function.
Antibacterial: fights bacterial activity, although Sambiloto appears to have weak direct antibacterial action, it has remarkably beneficial effect in reducing diarrhea and symptoms arising from bacterial infections.
Antimalarial: prophylactic properties prevent infection and parasite multiplication in the blood stream.
Antihepatotoxic: eliminates liver toxins, such as products of alcohol consumption.
Antipiretic: fever reducer - both in humans and animals, caused by multiple infections or by toxins.
Antithrombotic: blood clot preventative. This is where the prevention of heart attack comes in. Antiviral: inhibits viral activity. Inhibits HIV replication.
Antioxidant: operates against free radicals.
Cancerolytic: fights, even kills, cancer cells.
Cardioprotective: protects heart muscles.
Choleretic: alters the properties and increases the flow of bile.
Depurative: cleans and purifies the system, particularly the blood.
Expectorant: promotes clearance of mucus from the respiratory system.
Hepatoprotective: protects the liver and gall bladder.
Hypoglycemic: blood sugar reducer, protective against diabetes.Immune Enhancer: increases white cell phagocytosis, inhibits HIV-1 replication, and improves CD4+ and T lymphocyte counts.
Thrombolytic: blood clot eliminator.
Vermicidal: kills intestinal worms.

But it is primarily for the magnificent heart and cardio vascular protectant properties, and its anti inflammatory qualities that the Tree of Wellness has included Sambiloto in its cabinet of the five best herbs in the world for followers of the Western Lifestyle. It also shows strong Liver protection and healing properties (hepatoprotective and antihepatotoxic), which adds to the protection given by Curcuma, another Tree of Wellness best herb. These liver benefits are particularly valuable for people who consume alcohol on a regular basis.

BENEFITS

Cardiovascular Benefits – Prevents Heart Attack and Thrombosis
Hardening of the arteries, a buildup of plaque (made up of calcium and fats) on the blood vessel walls, seems to be a result of the Western lifestyle. It is often associated with high fat diets, high cholesterol, and a variety of other risk factors. Many of these factors, like the stress that many of us experience every day, seem to be unavoidable. Often, a piece of the artery wall plaque breaks off, forms a clot, and this results in an artery being blocked.
As a result, our hospitals are full of patients undergoing surgery for cardiovascular procedures. The standard techniques are angioplasty and bypass surgery. Both of these are often a result of a cardiac emergency, from which many people die. Those who are lucky enough to survive, or who detect the growing blockages before it’s too late may need urgent surgical intervention to save their lives.
Angioplasty is used to clear blocked blood vessels (usually arteries). A balloon is inserted into the artery and then inflated to clear away fatty deposits, widen the artery, and improve blood flow. The second treatment for coronary artery obstructions is bypass surgery. A new vein taken from another part of the body, from an animal, or a synthetic, replaces the obstructed artery. Today, angioplasty and bypass surgery are routine, with about 800,000 such procedures done in the United States each year. But unfortunately these treatments are not a cure-all. With angioplasty, restricted blood flow recurs in 30 percent of patients within six months; 50 percent of patients will require a repeat procedure. Many of these patients eventually require bypass surgery, which is successful in only 50 to 65% of cases.
Clot-dissolving drugs used in the emergency treatment of heart attacks appear to be as effective as angioplasty and may prevent some of the heart attacks or strokes that occur within one month of angioplasty. The process of blood clotting in the body is not yet fully understood. There is a delicate balance between the clotting necessary to achieve healing and processes that will cause abnormal and unwanted clotting.
Some research to understand the signals involved in bleeding and blood vessel development is focused on making use of signal transduction technology, which has been shown to be the mechanism of the active ingredients of Sambiloto. This is the key to its protective mechanism. It has been demonstrated that extracts of Sambiloto can increase the time it takes for blood clots to form, which decreases the risk of subsequent closing of blood vessels seen after angioplasty procedures. This has been shown in studies with laboratory animals (Reference 24).
In 80 to 90% of patients with destroyed heart muscle resulting from an acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), clots are found in the heart shortly after the beginning of symptoms. When heart muscle is deprived of its blood supply, and therefore of oxygen, the tissue dies. Physicians believe that the best treatment is to limit the size of the myocardial infarction (the area of tissue damage) in order to preserve the pump function of the heart. Agents that dissolve the clots and increase blood flow through the blocked artery are constantly being sought. Sambiloto is being further researched to confirm its potential to be a part of the conventional medical treatment in such cases.
Researchers in China have demonstrated that Sambiloto extract given to laboratory dogs one hour after development of heart attack decreased the damage that occurred to the heart muscle (Reference 12). This damage occurs after the blood supply is restored to the muscle. This is due to a sudden influx of oxygen (which produces free radicals that damage tissue) and abnormally high amounts of calcium. The researchers also found that further clotting was reduced, damage to heart muscle was reduced, and the healing process was enhanced.

Anti-Hypertensive (High Blood Pressure)
Another way to prevent cardiovascular disease is to correct high blood pressure. Researchers have reported that an extract of Sambiloto produced antihypertensive (blood pressure lowering) effects (reference 26). The extract was given intravenously to hypertensive rats. Noradrenaline, a hormone secreted by the brain, acts to constrict blood vessels and increase heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels. Sambiloto extract inhibited the increase in blood pressure that is caused by noradrenaline. Researchers believe that Sambiloto has this antihypertensive effect because it relaxes the smooth muscle in the walls of blood vessels. This relaxation prevents the blood vessel from constricting and limiting blood flow to the heart, brain, and other organs in the body. Sambiloto keeps blood, and therefore oxygen, flowing to the brain. Diminished blood flow to the brain can cause short-term memory loss, ringing in the ears, dizziness, headaches, depression, and impaired mental performance. The effects of the Sambiloto are produced without toxicity, making this miracle herb a great option that was identified as one of the arsenal of capsules for inclusion in the Tree of Wellness daily regime.
Liver & Gallbladder ProtectionSambiloto’s four related medicinal compounds were tested for a protective effect against liver toxicity (hepatotoxicity) produced in mice by giving them carbon tetrachloride (a cleaning solvent), alcohol, or other toxic chemicals (Reference 14, 16). These chemicals damage the liver by causing lipid peroxidation. This is a process whereby free radicals produced by the chemical attack and destroy cellular membranes that surround liver cells. When the Sambiloto compounds were given to animals in two separate trials three days before the toxic chemicals, there was a significant protective effect in the liver. This effect was attributed to the antioxidant ability of the Sambiloto compounds. This is a significant finding for followers of the Western lifestyle, which often involves high consumption of alcohol, which is a liver toxin with serious consequences taken over the long term.In another study, andrographolide from Sambiloty was shown to produce a significant increase in bile flow (Reference 32) . Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder and aids in digestion. When a chemical, paracetamol, was given to animals pretreated with Sambiloto, the usual decrease in bile production seen with this chemical was prevented. In this case Sambiloto was more potent than Silymarin, another similar but inferior herb.
Infective hepatitis is an acute inflammatory condition of the liver. It is often followed by liver cirrhosis and may progress to a coma and death. In Indonesia, there is much anecdotal evidence to confirm that Sambiloto is an effective cure for Hepatitis, particularly when taken in combination with Curcuma, another of the Tree of Wellness products (see www.treeofwellness.com) Other indications of effectiveness of Sambiloto included improvement in liver function tests, and many recorded cases of hepatitis cures in Indonesian literature.
The andrographolides present in Sambiloto are potent stimulators of gallbladder function. In animal experiments, those that received andrographolides for seven consecutive days showed an increase in bile flow, bile salts, and bile acids. These increases are beneficial and result in enhanced gallbladder function. Use of Sambiloto is therefore likely to decrease the probability of gallstone formation and also aid fat digestion. The andrographolides also prevented decreases in the amount of bile that are caused by acetaminophen toxicity (Reference 33).
Immunological Benefits: Cancer
Studies using laboratory animal models have shown that Sambiloto is a potent stimulator of the immune system in two ways:
(1) Antigen-specific response: antibodies are made to counteract invading microbes, and
(2) Nonspecific immune response: macrophage cells scavenge and destroy invaders. Sambiloto activates both responses - making it effective against a variety of infectious and cancer-causing agents.
The mechanisms of effective treatment from Sambiloto are rooted in its effects in boosting immunity. Cancer results when cells do not respond to signals that are intended to limit growth. When cells develop normally, at each stage of development the cells become more specialized in order to be able to perform the duties of that particular cell. For example, cells that will make insulin will develop the cellular machinery to do so. When cancer upsets normal development, cells do not mature -- they more closely resemble immature body cells. The more they resemble immature cells, the more unfavorable the outcome: the cancer grows and spreads (metastasizes) more rapidly.
Sambiloto has been shown to cause cancer cell maturity or differentiation, thus breaking the cancer proliferation. In addition Sambiloto extracts have also been shown to be cytotoxic (cell-killing) against cancer cells in laboratory work. This cancer cell-killing ability was demonstrated against human epidermoid carcinoma (squamous cell carcinoma) of the skin lining of the nasopharynx and against lymphocytic leukemia cells (Reference 13,14). It was the andrographolide component that was found to have the cancer cell-killing ability. This ability to kill cancer cells was superior to the levels of the effectiveness recommended by the National Cancer Institute for a cytotoxic substance.
There is no doubt that Sambiloto has strong anti-cancer virtues, another protectant quality for the Tree of Wellness beneficiaries.
Anti-Oxidant and Antihyperglycaemic (Blood Sugar) Benefits
Studies conducted in Singapore in 2000 showed Sambiloto to be an effective anti-oxidant in laboratory animal trials (Reference 20). It was also shown by the same work to be anti-hyperglycaemic in diabetic animals, and important sugar regulating effect. More recent research in China (in 2002) has also shown that Sambiloto prevents formation of oxygen radicals in an inflammatory response in laboratory animals .
Scavenging of free radicals, the powerful effect we are looking for was confirmed in some research in USA, also in 2002

Screening of antihyperglycaemic activity in of several herbs in Malaysia in 2004 showed that Sambiloto produced significant reduction in blood concentrations of sugar, and the most significant results of the herbs screened (Reference 7). This is a magnificent confirmation of the anti-diabetic properties of Sambiloto.Anti HIV
Work has continued to show strong promise as a treatment for HIV infection. As early as 1991, Sambiloto was shown in some laboratory testing in California, USA to be effective in preventing HIV virus from reproducing (Reference 11). In 2000 work with human volunteers in Washington USA showed that the bodies natural defense mechanisms were enhanced when Sambiloto was administered, in the absence of the retroviral drugs usually used in HIV patients. The patients showed no increase in HIV virus during the trial, indicating that the virus was unable to multiply (Reference 21).
More research is continuing, but we believe, in line with the antiviral benefits that Sambiloto has shown in trials and over hundreds of years in traditional medicine records, that it will prove to be a valuable inclusion in the fight against AIDS.
Anti-fertility Sambiloto has clear anti-fertility as well as pregnancy-terminating effects in larger amounts. In India, where Sambiloto is used for common ailments such as diarrhea, fever, and other digestive disorders, it is recommended that the herb be used only for short-term treatment. This is due to the content of compounds that are contraceptive in nature. In Indonesia, there is no such restriction, and the effect may not be noted in the dosage rates that are used, which is also the case in the Tree of wellness dosage rates. They are likely to be too small to have this negative effect.
To determine the actual effects on fertility, studies were done in male rats. In one study, it was found that Sambiloto, given as dry leaf powder (105 mg. of powder/kg body weight) each day for 60 days, stopped spermatogenesis (development and maturation of sperm cells) (Reference 29). That dosage is the equivalent of 105 capsules per day of Tree of Wellness Sambiloto extract, when the recommended dosage rate is 1 capsule per day. We do not believe that the proper dosage would have any marked effect.
The authors of the study done on the rats concluded that the observations suggested an antispermatogenic (sperm production blocking) or antiandrogenic (blocking effects of sex hormones known as androgens) ability of the plant. It should be noted that many herbal extracts have effects on reproductive functions and thus should not be used during pregnancy

Known Mechanisms of Action

Sambiloto (Andrographis paniculata) has been extensive studied, most of it in the last half of the 20th century, and much of it concentrating on Sambiloto’s pharmacological composition, safety, efficacy, and mechanisms of action. A good deal of this research has centered around a screening technique called signal transduction technology - probably best explained in a seminal work by Jean Barilla, M.S.

”One of the criticisms made by the conventional medical and scientific community regarding dietary supplements is that their development and use have been based on folklore, not science. Using signal transduction technology to investigate the effect on a botanical or other nutrition supplement on the cell-level processes of cells is good science. This approach will legitimize the nutritional approach to the prevention and treatment of disease and speed the process of development of new and more effective supplements. Importantly, this technology avoids the use of animal testing, which often lasts for years before a supplement is approved for human use; not using animals is an additional benefit those who consider animal testing to be inhumane. In addition to saving time and animals, this technology reduces the costs involved in getting a supplement to market - a saving which will be passed on to consumers.

“Using signal transduction technology, extracts of Andrographis paniculata (Sambiloto) have been found to counteract interference with the cell cycle. Such interference is the basis for the development of cancer or infection with viruses such as HIV. Andrographolides are thought to enhance immune system functions such as production of white blood cells (scavengers of bacteria and other foreign matter), release of interferon, and activity of the lymph system. Interferon is a protein (called a cytokine) made by cells in response to viruses. It is a potent antiviral agent and is also antiproliferative (stops the reproduction of viruses).
The lymph system is an important part of the immune system. Briefly, it is another circulatory system (like the vascular system) that carries a fluid, the lymph. The lymph carries away the by-products of cellular metabolism and also acts as a shuttle for invading bacteria and viruses, taking them to the lymph nodes where the white blood cells (lymphocytes) destroy them. Sambiloto, a superb immune system enhancer, is even more effective when combined with immune stimulators, such as the herb Meniran (another of the Tree of Wellness daily 4). The theory behind the mechanism of operation also confirms that Andrographolides are also likely to be useful in conventional cancer therapy after suitable scientific confirmation.
Several studies have looked at the disposition of andrographolide in various organs of the body (Reference 37). Biodistribution experiments have been done in experimental animals. Following injection of radioactively labeled andrographolide, this compound appears to be widely distributed in the body. High concentrations are noted in the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and other organs with high blood flow, including the colon, spleen, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Andrographolide appears to have a relatively short half-life of approximately two hours.
The term "half-life" refers to the time when the concentration of the compound in the body is half of what it originally was when it entered the body. This is what is left after the compound has been metabolized (broken down), changed into other forms (called metabolites), and excreted by one of several routes (urine, feces, exhaled air, sweat, or other body excretions). Compounds with short half-lives need to be given often since they do not stay in the body for long. Andrographolides are excreted fairly rapidly from the body via the urine and gastrointestinal tract. In some studies, 80 percent of the administered dose of andrographolide is removed from the body within eight hours, with excretion rates of more than 90 percent of the compound within forty-eight hours. A daily dose is needed for effectiveness.
The wide tissue and organ distribution and the immune-stimulating and regulatory actions of Sambiloto make it an ideal candidate in the prevention and treatment of many diseases and conditions. It is a valuable component in the protective shield that comprises the Tree of Wellness Golden Lifestyle Pack of 5 Herbs.Side Effects and Contra-indications
As noted above, Sambiloto has been shown to have anti-fertility effects. This includes abortionant properties. That is it can abort pregnancy. We recommend all women avoid its use during pregnancy as a precaution. In almost every other respect Sambiloto has an extremely low toxicity.
In traditional Jamu systems of healing in Indonesian, Sambiloto has long been perceived as very safe. In Chinese medicine, and in Thailand and India, it has always been seen as safe. Although trial and error in humans may not be considered scientific, it is a way of determining whether a substance is effective or harmful. The traditional understanding of cultures which have used it over centuries, is that it is very safe. When scientists began to investigate the safety of Sambiloto, formal toxicological studies in animal models and in animal and human clinical trials confirmed that andrographolide and other Sambiloto compounds have very low toxicity.
Research over many years has confirmed this extremely low toxicity. In mice that received oral extracts of Sambiloto extract (10 g/kg body weight) once a day for seven days, none of the mice died. This very high amount did produce decreased activity and general lethargy. Heart, kidney, liver, and spleen were found to be normal in these animals. This would be the equivalent of 1000 Tree of Wellness capsules per day for a 50Kg person! (Reference 27).
Even intravenous injections of 10mg/Kg in rabbits produced nothing abnormal. Liver enzyme tests and heart, liver, kidney, and spleen were normal in these animals (Reference 28)
Overall, evidence to date confirms that andrographolides are naturally occurring compounds with low toxicity.
On rare occasions, dizziness and heart palpitations have been reported by people who use Sambiloto. As with all herbs, some people will have an allergic reaction to Sambiloto. The allergic reactions associated with allergic reactions ranging from minor skin rashes to more serious sicknesses. The obvious solution in these rare cases is to avoid its use.
The other side effect, as discussed above, is antifertility (Reference 10).
Single Herb
You may have noticed that the Tree of Wellness products contain only one herb in each capsule. This is unlike many of our competitors who mix a number of herbs and chemicals to produce a cocktail that they hope will be effective. We do not believe this is the best approach. We want the most powerful effect to protect your health. The amount of active ingredients in mixed preparations must be reduced in each capsule to make room for the others, and the reduced dosage of the primary herb is often so low as to be ineffective.
Also, mixing many herbs often results in a diminishing of the power of each one as they may be antagonistic in their action. We believe the best approach is to provide a small selection of pure herbal extracts, each in a separate capsule, taken daily. Only those with no antagonistic action in their release and phyto-activity are included.
And by the way, all Tree of Wellness products are contained in transparent capsules that are made of 100% natural gelatine. Why? Because there is now conclusive proof that some of the dyes used in colored capsules are carcinogenic. We want to stop you from getting cancer, not cause you to get it!
Sambiloto is one of the magnificent 5. Herbs packed in 5 separate capsules of pure 100% natural plant extract, especially selected by the Tree of Wellness for you to preserve your life against the threats imposed by our Western lifestyle.Can you afford to take the risk of having your life cut short?

Source : http://www.treeofwellness.com/sambiloto/sambiloto.html

Khasiat Temulawak

2008-08-14T18:55:00.003+07:00

Hampir tiap menit, kita dibombardir oleh iklan obat-obatan suplemen di televisi. Mulai dari yang produk impor sampai yang tradisional. Semua dijanjikan aman untuk dikonsumsi. Obat-obatan macam ini tak lain merupakan adopsi dari suplemen impor yang banyak dipajang di apotik dan toko obat ternama. Masyarakat seolah tersihir oleh produk-produk pabrik itu dan tanpa pikir panjang menghabiskan banyak dana untuk membelinya. Tidak heran, sebab trend-nya sekarang adalah herbal medicine, yakni memanfaatkan tanaman tradisional sebagai obat. Padahal akan lebih baik lagi apabila kita mengonsumsi tanaman itu langsung dari racikan sendiri. Selain lebih murah, keamanannya bisa dikontrol.Bagi masyarakat di pulau Jawa, nama temulawak pasti tidak asing lagi. Di daerah Jawa Tengah, tanaman bernama Latin Curcuma xanthorhiza Roxb ini dikenal sebagai minuman eksotik dengan cita rasa khas. Dengan mencampurkan tanaman bersama gula dan kunyit, lalu diseduh dengan air panas akan menghasilkan sebuah rasa tersendiri.Masyarakat Jawa Tengah biasanya memberikan ramuan ini kepada anak-anak yang susah makan, sebab disinyalir ramuan temulawak dapat meningkatkan nafsu makan. Bahkan dipercaya juga sebagai jamu yang memperlambat proses penuaan, menghilangkan flek hitam di wajah serta menjaga kelenturan tubuh. Perempuan sehabis melahirkan disarankan meminumnya, begitu menurut kepercayaan masyarakat Jawa.Secara klinis, khasiat tumbuhan asli Indonesia ini bisa dipertanggungjawabkan kebenarannya. Temulawak memiliki kandungan minyak atsiri yang memang membangkitkan selera makan, membersihkan perut dan memperlancar ASI.Lebih dari itu, menurut seorang guru besar Universitas Padjajaran (UNPAD), berdasar hasil penelitian, ekstrak temulawak sangat manjur untuk pengobatan penyakit hati . Di samping itu, juga sudah terbukti bisa menurunkan kadar kolesterol dalam darah dan sel hati. Semua khasiat itu adalah berkat adanya kandungan kurkumin, yakni zat yang berguna untuk menjaga dan menyehatkan hati atau lever atau istilah medisnya hepatoprotektor. Tidak heran, sebab komposisi kimia dari rimpang temulawak adalah protein pati sebesar 29-30 persen, kurkumin satu sampai dua persen dan minyak atsirinya antara 6 hingga 10 persen.Penggunaan temulawak pada prinsipnya sama dengan kunyit maupun kencur, yaitu diparut dan diambil airnya. Sedikit ada beberapa penambahan komponen untuk penyakit tertentu. Pada gangguan ginjal untuk satu rimpang temulawak, ditambahkan segenggam daun kumis kucing dan segenggam daun meniran dengan empat gelas air, direbus sampai tinggal setengahnya. Diminum tiga kali sehari. Untuk menambah nafsu makan bisa dicampur juga dengan rimpang lengkuas. Sedang untuk memperbaiki rasa bisa ditambah gula aren, asem atau jeruk nipis sesuai selera.Temulawak adalah tumbuhan asli Indonesia tetapi penyebarannya hanya terbatas di Jawa, Maluku, dan Kalimantan. Mereka merupakan tumbuhan semak tak berbatang. Mulai dari pangkalnya sudah memunculkan tangkai daun yang panjang berdiri tegak. Tinggi tanaman antara 2 sampai 2,5 meter. Daunnya bundar panjang, mirip daun pisang. Pelepah daunnya saling menutupi membentuk batang.Tumbuhan yang patinya mudah dicerna ini dapat tumbuh baik di dataran rendah hingga ketinggian 750 meter di atas permukaan laut. Dapat dipanen setelah berusia 8-12 bulan, daunnya telah menguning dan kelihatan hampir mati. Umbi akan muncul dari pangkal batang, warnanya kuning tua atau coklat muda, panjangnya sampai 15 sentimeter dan bergaris tengah 6 sentimeter. Baunya harum dan rasanya pahit agak pedas. Kalau kita sudah tahu manfaat dari minuman eksotis ini, lalu untuk apa bingung-bingung mencari obat suplemen yang mahal?

Source : Sinar Harapan

Virus Hepatitis itu Telah Hilang Berkat Gamat

2008-08-14T18:25:00.001+07:00

Wiwiek Ady Pramesti tidak pernah menyangka kesibukannya bekerja mendatangkan penderitaan. Awalnya ia menganggap nyeri ulu hati yang beberapa kali menyerang adalah penyakit biasa. Makanya wanita bertubuh jangkung itu tak pernah memeriksakannya ke dokter. Toh hanya dengan mengkonsumsi obat-obatan yang dijual bebas di apotek, penderitaannya bisa diatasi.
Suatu sore di pertengahan Maret 1997, Wiwiek tengah mengikuti rapat perusahaan. Tiba-tiba ibu 1 anak itu menelungkupkan kedua tangan ke bagian ulu hati. Ulu hati sakit sekali serasa dicabik-cabik, kenang Wiwiek. Tak hanya itu, tubuh Wiwiek menjadi lemas disertai perut mual-mual, kembung, demam, nyeri sendi, dan bengkak pada perut kanan atas semakin menjadi-jadi. Oleh teman-teman sekantornya segera ia dilarikan ke rumahsakit terdekat di Surabaya, Jawa Timur.
Betapa kagetnya Wiwiek ketika ahli medis memvonis dirinya mengidap Hepatitis-B. Hal itu terbukti seminggu kemudian timbul gejala utama hepatitis-B: bagian putih pada mata dan kulit seluruh tubuh tampak menguning, serta air seni berwarna seperti teh.
Coba herbal
Rawat inap selama sebulan penuh terpaksa dijalani Wiwiek. Obat-obatan yang diresepkan dokter pun harus ditelannya. Demi mempercepat kesembuhan, Wiwiek rutin melakukan terapi. Sayang, hasilnya belum maksimal. Rasa lelah, letih, dan lesu kerap menyambanginya. Meski kurang efektif dan menimbulkan efek samping, ibu kelahiran 22 April 1957 itu tidak bisa menolak asupan obat dokter. Jika tidak, risiko sering mual-mual, menggigil, dan pegal-pegal harus diterimanya.
Namun, lama-kelamaan Wiwiek bosan mengasup obat-obatan yang berefek mual sampai lemas itu. Dalam kebimbangan, ia memutuskan mencari kesembuhan lewat jalur alternatif. Pijat refleksi dari ahli di Desa Banyuwangi, Jawa Timur, menjadi pilihan pertama. Seminggu 3 kali ia rutin bertandang ke Banyuwangi.
Ibarat melempar kelereng ke dasar danau, perlahan gelombangnya menghilang. Namun, kelereng masih tetap berada di dalamnya. Sama halnya dengan usaha Wiwiek memulihkan kesehatan. Setelah dipijat, kondisi tubuh menjadi prima. Tubuh jadi tegar, tapi virusnya masih ada di dalam, tuturnya. Belakangan ia terpikat pada ramuan herbal yang ditawarkan teman sekantornya. Ramuan dalam bentuk serbuk itu berasal dari rimpang temulawak. Temulawak direbus dalam dua gelas air sampai mendidih dan tinggal satu gelas. Rebusan temulawak di minum 3 gelas per hari. Hasilnya, dari bulan ke bulan ia merasakan perubahan. Kesehatannya meningkat drastis. Daya tahan tubuhnya membaik, tapi virus hepatitis enggan minggat dari tubuh.

Berkat gamat

Berdampingan dengan penyakit memang bukan pilihan menyenangkan. Sembilan tahun sebagai carier hepatitis dijalani Wiwiek. Selama itu pula hidupnya serasa tak berarti. Oleh karena itu, Wiwiek selalu berusaha mencari kesembuhan. Suatu ketika di penghujung September 2005 ia berjumpa dengan rekan lamanya di Semarang. Dari sanalah perkenalannya dengan gamat-sebutan teripang di Malaysia-berawal. Sejak itu Wiwiek mengkonsumsi gamat secara rutin.
Wiwiek yakin pilihannya kali itu tak meleset. Ia meneguk gamat 1-2 sendok makan 3 kali sehari tanpa didampingi konsumsi obat lain. Dalam hitungan minggu kondisi tubuhnya bertambah prima. Semangat beraktivitas terasa meluap-luap. Awal Mei 2006, noktah cerah kesembuhan mulai tampak di mata wanita 49 tahun itu. Hasil tes SGPT (Serum Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase) normal di kisaran 15-17 IU dan SGOT (Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase) pun beranjak stabil di angka 17-20 IU.
Demikian pula tes virus/antivirus. Virus hepatitis dalam tubuhnya dinyatakan negatif alias telah musnah. Kurang yakin, tes laboratorium di lain tempat pun dilakoni. Serasa mendapat keajaiban, hasil serupa Wiwiek dapatkan. Pantas bila konsumsi gamat tetap saja dilakukan sebagai wujud syukur.

Diresepkan dokter

Kisah kesembuhan Wiwiek Ady Pramesti itu sebuah keniscayaan. Dokter Hariadi yang dihubungi Trubus menjelaskan kandungan kolagen pada teripang memiliki kemampuan menyembuhkan hepatitis-B dengan cepat. Hal itu disebabkan teripang mampu melakukan regenerasi sel secara singkat. Menurut dokter lulusan Fakultas Kedokteran, Universitas Diponegoro itu, gamat merupakan suplemen organik. Oleh karena itu, penyerapan dalam tubuh pun berlangsung lebih baik dan tidak menimbulkan efek samping.
Hal senada dijelaskan dr Merlyn di Surabaya. Hepatitis disebabkan oleh virus yang dalam jangka waktu 6 bulan sejak terinfeksi menjadi akut. Bila dibiarkan hingga 6 bulan berikutnya menjadi kronis. Virus masuk ke dalam sel hati dan secara bertahap merusak sel hepar itu. Gamat membantu memperbaiki fungsi hati secara tidak langsung. Apalagi ditunjang dengan makanan bergizi dan istirahat cukup, menjadikan perkembangbiakan virus dapat dicegah.
Jadi, bila ada obat yang bisa menghambat proses replikasi virus sangat disarankan, ucap Merlyn. Selama ini dunia medis mengenal interferon yang berfungsi memperbaiki hati. Meski di lapangan interferon sanggup mengurangi penderitaan akibat hepatitis-B sebanyak 40%, tapi kemampuannya memusnahkan virus masih kecil.
Khasiat gamat memang luar biasa. Kandungan hewan laut fi lum Echinodermata itu efektif mencegah kehadiran atau bahkan memusnahkan virus patogen. Berbagai pemeriksaan dokter itu menguatkan bukti empiris khasiat gamat menumpas virus hepatitis yang dialami Wiwiek Ady Pramesti. Pantas jika para dokter itu sepakat untuk meresepkannya. Lantunan kesembuhan para penderita hepatitis pun seakan menemukan sandaran baru, si penyembuh ajaib dari teripang jeli.

Source : Trubus 2006

E Book Pemanfaatan Temulawak

2008-08-14T18:03:00.003+07:00

TEMULAWAK
(Curcuma xanthorrhiza ROXB)

Temulawak merupakan tanaman obat berupa tumbuhan rumpun berbatang semu. Di daerah Jawa Barat temulawak disebut sebagai koneng gede sedangkan di Madura disebut sebagai temu lobak. Kawasan Indo-Malaysia merupakan tempat dari mana temulawak ini menyebar ke seluruh dunia. Saat ini tanaman ini selain di Asia Tenggara dapat ditemui pula di Cina, IndoCina, Bardabos, India, Jepang, Korea, di Amerika Serikat dan Beberapa negara Eropa. 2.

URAIAN TANAMAN

Divisi : Spermatophyta
Sub divisi : Angiospermae
Kelas : Monocotyledonae
Ordo : Zingiberales
Keluarga : Zingiberaceae
Genus : Curcuma
Spesies : Curcuma xanthorrhiza ROXB.

Lebih lengkap silahkan Klik Disini

What should I do to take care of myself if I have hepatitis C?

2008-08-14T17:54:00.000+07:00

Make sure you have received an accurate diagnosis. Hepatitis C can be diagnosed reliably only through sophisticated blood tests used in conventional medicineMedicine as practiced by holders of M.D. (medical doctor) or D.O. (doctor of osteopathy) degrees and by their allied health professionals such as physical therapists, psychologists, and registered nurses.
See your health care provider regularly.
Discuss treatment options with your provider. Ask any questions you have to make sure you understand any treatment and possible side effects. Follow her recommendations for any changes to your diet and/or lifestyle.
Tell your provider about any herbal supplementsA type of dietary supplement that contains herbs, either alone or in mixtures., other dietary supplements, or medications (whether prescription or over-the-counter) that you are using or considering. This is important for your safety. Even if your provider does not know about the actions or interactions of an herbal supplement or other CAM treatment, he can access the most current medical guidance.
Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B. Infection with hepatitis C does not prevent a person from becoming infected with other types of hepatitis; if this happens, it can be serious, even life-threatening.
Be an informed consumer. Seek high-quality, science-based information on any CAM modality that you are using or considering.

Source : http://nccam.nih.gov/health/hepatitisc/

Quick Facts About Hepatitis C

2008-08-14T17:52:00.000+07:00

Hepatitis C is the most common bloodborne infection in the United States. About 35,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year.
Hepatitis C is transmitted primarily when an infected person's blood comes into contact with the blood of a noninfected person.
People who are at the highest risk for HCV infection are those who have used or experimented with injection drugs; received a blood transfusion, blood product, or organ transplant before July 1992; worked in health care and had a needlestick accident involving HCV-infected blood; or had multiple sex partners.
A risk exists but is low (1 to 5 percent) for babies born to a mother with hepatitis C and for people who are in a monogamous sexual relationship with someone with hepatitis C; who have had other sexually transmitted diseases; who have had tattooing or body piercing done with unsterilized tools; or who have used cocaine intranasally (i.e., "snorted" it).
Hepatitis C is not spread through sneezing, coughing, kissing, hugging, food or water, or casual contact.
People who are newly infected have what is called acute hepatitis C. For about 15 to 40 percent of this group, the infection is short-term, goes away, and does not return. Others develop chronic (or long-lasting) hepatitis C, in which the virus stays in the liver, replicates itself, and injures the liver over time.
Among people with chronic hepatitis C, most show no symptoms for up to 20 to 30 years; some have mild symptoms; and some have more serious symptoms.
Chronic hepatitis C can cause liver disease, cirrhosis (scarring of the liver), liver cancer, and liver failure. However, persons who have been diagnosed with hepatitis C need to know that serious illness or death from the disease is by no means inevitable--especially if they take proper care of themselves and get the health care they need.

Source : http://nccam.nih.gov/health/hepatitisc/

Herbal treatments for hepatitis

2008-08-14T17:47:00.001+07:00

Introduction

Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver, and is usually but not always the result of a virus. Most of the publicity we hear these days concerns the spread of Hepatitis C. In fact hepatitis can be caused by alcohol and chemicals as well as many different viruses. Most of the cases of viral hepatitis in Australia are classified as types A, B or C. Types A and B were discovered over 20 years ago but type C (HVC) was discovered as recently as 1988. HVC is now considered to be the most prevalent type in Australia. Over 1500 cases have been notified in the Hunter Valley alone, where it is 10 times more prevalent than the HIV virus. There are at least 6 known strains of HVC and a mixture of strains may occur in an infected person.
While it is known that HVC is spread by blood, through such agents as hypodermic needles, blood transfusions (before 1990) and through cuts and scratches, almost half infected patients don't know the source of the infection. The disease is further complicated since carriers can take up to 20 years before aquiring liver damage, and many cases remain symptomless. In fact cases of clinically acute hepatitis are relatively rare. The long duration between infection and illness represents an opportunity for the individual to seek alternative or complementary treatments, and to adopt lifestyle and dietary changes which will enhance liver performance and overall health status.
Whatever the cause of the hepatitis its treatment will follow similar principles, whichever system of medicine is used. In many Asian countries there have been treatments available within their traditional healing systems for centuries. The Chinese (T.C.M.) and Indian (Ayurvedic) pharmacopoeias contain numerous references to specific medicines and formulas, usually used in conjunction with other techniques such as acupuncture and dietary therapy. Presently a clinical trial is underway using a Chinese herbal formula with HVC patients at the John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle, under its director of gastroenterology Professor Bob Batey. The results are eagerly awaited. When it comes to western medicine there is very little on offer for hepatitis sufferers, apart from blood tests and biopsies. The only treatment available is interferon, which is very expensive (up to $5000 for a course), ineffective in many cases, and has possible side effects including headaches, depression and flu-like symptoms.
This article reviews the treatment of hepatitis using western, Chinese and Ayurvedic herbs, and offers some dietary advice and sources of support and information about this much feared and misunderstood condition.

PRINCIPLES FOR TREATMENT OF LIVER DISORDERS.

The liver is clearly one of the largest and most important organs in our bodies, and it is not suprising therefore that inflammation of the organ can lead to numerous unpleasant symptoms and loss of vitality. In the long term it can cause liver cirrhosis and death. However most carriers of the disease will experience less severe symptoms including pain around the liver, nausea, anorexia and fatigue. Digestion of fats is impaired and alcohol cannot be tolerated. The first indication is often jaundiced skin and dark urine- these signs can be confirmed by a blood test that measures levels of the enzyme ALT (alanine aminotransferase) which are elevated in acute hepatitis, but are often normal in chronic cases. Blood tests also reveal the presence of antibodies to specific viruses. Any person suspecting they may have hepatitis should immediately seek a medical diagnosis- the earlier the detection of the disease the more successful subsequent treatment is likely to be.
The presence of blood abnormalities, ie. raised liver enzymes and presence of viral anti-bodies, point to two ways in which herbal treatments can be of assistance. Firstly there are a number of herbal remedies which protect liver cells from damage by poisons and viruses, and there are ample published reports of animal studies and clinical trials which have demonstrated an ability of a herb to lower levels of liver enzymes (including ALT) in affected individuals. Some of these studies are listed in the bibliography. A medicine with the ability to protect liver cells in this way is referred to as a hepatoprotective. In a recent article in the Australian Journal of Medical Herbalism (email: ajmh.hunterlink.net.au) I identified 26 common herbs for which hepatoprotective properties have been demonstrated in controlled studies.
The second means by which herbal remedies can be of help is in supporting the immune systems efforts to fight off the virus. In some cases (eg. Phyllanthus) specific antiviral properties have been demonstrated. In other cases (eg. Echinacea) the action is non-specific and involves a boost to the whole immune system.
It must be pointed out that herbal treatments are not designed for acute stages of hepatitis. In this case bed rest and low fat diet, along with gentle herbal diaphoretics such as elderflowers (Sambucus nigra) and catnip (Nepeta cataria) are the limit of treatment recommended. The more widespread and longer lasting chronic stages of hepatitis lend themselves to treatments with herbal remedies and other natural therapies. Herbalists believe strongly in the need for bitter compounds as foods and medicines in order to stimulate production of gastric juices and bile from the liver. Herbs which stimulate bile flow are known as choleretics, while those that stimulate excretion of bile from the gall bladder are known as cholagogues. Many herbs have both properties and these are extremely useful in correcting digestive disorders in general, and for helping detoxify the liver in particular. Herbs with these properties include gentian (Gentiana lutea), wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and horehound (Marrubium vulgare). Traditional compounds such as the well-known Swedish Bitters have similar effects.
I have found the use of herbal decoctions to be of great assistance in hepatitis cases. Although less concentrated than fluid extracts and tinctures they have the advantage of being free of alcoholic solvents, an important consideration in any liver disorder. Some people will object to the taste, however the bitterness is an important aspect of the treatment as noted above. Ingestion of herbal tablets and capsules does not give this effect.

DIETARY PRINCIPLES

There is no doubting the importance of low fat diets for hepatitis sufferers. One of the main roles of bile (which the liver manufactures) is to break down fats so the body can absorb them, as well as to convert fat soluable toxins and wastes into water soluable compounds the body can eliminate. These functions are severely impaired when the liver is inflammed so that avoidance of fatty foods is a way of resting the liver. Foods to be avoided or taken in moderation are full fat dairy protects, fried foods, red meats and vegetable oils. A dessertspoon of olive oil on a daily basis can be of benefit so long as it is well tolerated. Its digestibility is assisted by combining with lemon juice. Protein intake on the other hand is necessary to assist the liver in the process of cell regeneration. White meats (fish and chicken) are preferred to red meats for their lower fat content, while vegetable proteins are best taken in combinations of pulses (beans, peas, lentils, tofu) with wholgrains such as rice, wheat and barley.
Just as bitter herbs are prescribed to correct liver sluggishness, so are bitter foods added to the diet to improve digestive function. Wild greens such as dandelion, plantain and dock leaves can be added to meals and sandwiches, or cultivated greens such as chicory and endive. In traditional Asian systems of healing there is also emphasis placed on balancing the five tastes- sweet, salty, sour, bitter and pungent (hot). It is unwise to have an excess or deficiency of these flavours in the diet. There are also several foods and spices which are known to have hepatoprotective properties. These include the globe artichoke which can be easily cultivated, both for their leaves which are used in medicines, and their edible and delicious hearts. Spices containing hepatoprotective compounds are turmeric, garlic and black pepper.

Source : http://www.henriettesherbal.com/articles/hepatit.html#treatment-principles

Cirrhosis

2008-08-14T17:40:00.000+07:00

Cirrhosis is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when scarring damages the liver. This scarring (also called fibrosis) replaces healthy tissue and prevents the liver from working normally. Cirrhosis usually develops after years of liver inflammation.
The major causes of cirrhosis are usually from drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over many years or having certain forms of viral hepatitis (mainly hepatitis B or C). There are several other causes of cirrhosis that are less common such as Primary bilary cirrhosis, Autoimmune hepatitis, inherited diseases (i.e. - Wilson's disease, cystic fibrosis, or hemochromatosis). Other less common causes of cirrhosis may include severe reactions to prescribed medications, prolonged exposure to poisons in the environment, having a condition called alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency (rare), having a condition where too much fat is stored in the liver (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis - NASH for short), or having a long-term biliary tract disease (such as sclerosing cholangitis). NASH is increasingly common and may be the underlying cause of many cases of cirrhosis for which the cause is unknown.
As cirrhosis develops, scar tissue surrounds normal liver cells, making the tissue bumpy, or nodular. This nodular liver tissue can block the bile ducts or make them swollen, which can cause bile to back up in the liver and bloodstream.
Scar tissue also may block blood flow through the liver. Obstruction of blood flow can cause the veins that bring blood to the liver to become larger and may lead to high blood pressure in the veins that flow from the intestines to the liver (portal hypertension).
A person may not have symptoms early in the course of cirrhosis. In many cases, symptoms develop only after the disease progresses. Once scar tissue forms in the liver, it cannot be repaired. Treatment includes avoiding substances that may further damage the liver and treating any symptoms and complications. Liver transplantation may be considered once symptoms progress. Symptoms may include fluid buildup in the legs, fatigue, yellowing in the skin, itching, profuse nosebleeds, redness of the palms, and abdominal pain.
People who have cirrhosis may be at increased risk for developing gallstones. The more severe the liver disease, the higher risk a person has of developing gallstones. Cirrhosis also increases risk of developing liver cancer, mainly hepatocellular carcinoma, regardless of the cause of the cirrhosis.

http://www.dr-ren.com/hepcinfo.htm#A4

Hepatitis C

2008-08-14T17:34:00.002+07:00

Hepatitis C is a serious contagious disease of the liver that is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). Hepatitis C and its implications were identified only recently. There still is much to learn about the disease, the virus that causes it, and the treatment options, both conventional and alternative. What many people do not realize is that there is a relationship between hepatitis C and the HIV epidemic.
About three million Americans are infected with HIV, the human immune virus, and many of them do not even know they have it. Other forms of viral hepatitis usually resolve without treatment. But 85 percent of the people with HIV develop long-lasting hepatitis C. Most people infected with HCV show no symptoms for up to 20 to 30 years. During that time, though, the infection may be slowly damaging the person's liver.
The effects of hepatitis C can be debilitating. They can include: sudden hearing loss; anemia and other forms of low-blood-cell counts; headaches; heart, eye, liver or kidney problems; and disorders of the mind, including depression.
The virus can be found in a number of organs of the body. The infection is spread mainly by contact with the blood of an infected person. Once a person is infected, the body's disease-fighting immune system cannot combat the virus very well.
Most people with chronic hepatitis C develop long-term liver disease, which interferes with the liver's ability to work properly. Some patients eventually develop cirrhosis -- a scarring of the liver; some get liver cancer; and some even die from liver disease.

Source : http://www.dr-ren.com/hepcinfo.htm#A4

Hepatitis B

2008-08-14T17:31:00.000+07:00

The hepatitis B virus is spread from one person to another through body fluids, including blood, semen, and vaginal fluids (including menstrual blood). The virus can be passed from a mother to her newborn baby during delivery (perinatal transmission). However, most people in the United States acquire HBV infection as adolescents or adults.
Short-term (acute) infection usually goes away on its own without treatment. Some people have no symptoms. Most people who develop symptoms feel better in 2 to 3 weeks and recover completely after 4 to 8 weeks. Other people may take longer to recover. Long-term (chronic) infection occurs when the hepatitis B virus continues to be present in a person's liver and blood for 6 months or more. Chronic infection can lead to serious liver diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer.
Chronic infection develops in up to 90% of children infected at birth, in 30% of children infected between the ages of 1 and 5, and in about 6% of those infected after age 5.

Source : http://www.dr-ren.com/hepcinfo.htm#A4

Hepatitis A

2008-08-14T17:30:00.001+07:00

Hepatitis A is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It is one of the most widely reported diseases that is preventable by a vaccine. Other viruses can cause hepatitis, most commonly the hepatitis B and C viruses. However, hepatitis has many causes, including certain medications, long-term alcohol use, and exposure to certain industrial chemicals. Viral hepatitis can be spread from one person to another, but the other types of hepatitis cannot.
The Hepatitis A virus is spread mainly by oral contact with stool containing the virus. If contaminated stool gets into the water or food supply, the virus may infect anyone who drinks the water or eats the food. This is how most people around the world become infected with hepatitis A.
In the United States, most people become infected through contact with a household member who has the virus (such as when changing a diaper) or a sex partner who is infected. Sometimes large groups of people become infected after eating in a restaurant. This usually happens when an employee with the virus prepares food after not washing his or her hands well after using the bathroom. Outbreaks may also occur in day care centers and other facilities which involve close contact.
In rare cases, hepatitis A can be spread through sexual contact or contact with blood from a person who has the virus circulating in his or her bloodstream. The virus is present in the blood before symptoms appear. Transmission through blood transfusions, while possible, seldom occurs.
People infected with hepatitis A may develop symptoms of fatigue, fever, muscle soreness, headaches, nausea, and/or jaundice. Symptoms usually last about 2 weeks. You can spread the virus to other people for at least 2 weeks before symptoms develop.
HAV infection does not cause long-term illness or chronic liver damage. More than 99% of people recover. However, in very rare cases a severe, rapidly progressing liver infection called fulminant hepatitis can occur. This may lead to an urgent need for liver transplantation. Fulminant hepatitis causes death in some people.

Source : http://www.dr-ren.com/hepcinfo.htm#A4

Temulawak obat Hepatitis

2007-11-10T22:21:00.000+07:00

Dari Empiris Sampai Uji Klinis

Kandungan Curcuma xanthorhiza rox, kurkumin, mengandung sejuta manfaat untuk perbaikan kesehatan.

Indonesia sebagai negara tropis yang dikenal dengan the second mega biodiversity, dibanjiri oleh tanaman yang diketahui secara empiris atau penelitian berkhasiat obat. Salah satunya adalah temulawak yang termasuk dalam keluarga jahe (zingiberaceae). Temulawak (Curcuma xanthorhiza roxb) merupakan tanaman obat asli Indonesia. Meski demikian, penyebaran tanaman yang kondang dengan sebutan curcuma javanica ini, hanya terbatas di pulau Jawa, Maluku, dan Kalimantan. Temulawak tumbuh sebagai semak tak berbatang. Mulai dari pangkalnya sudah memunculkan tangkai daun yang panjang berdiri tegak. Tinggi tanaman antara 2 sampai 2,5 meter. Daunnya bundar panjang, mirip daun pisang. Pelepah daunnya saling menutupi membentuk batang.
Tumbuhan yang patinya mudah dicerna ini dapat tumbuh baik di dataran rendah hingga ketinggian 750 meter di atas permukaan laut. Temulawak dapat dipanen setelah berusia 8-12 bulan, saat daunnya telah menguning dan kelihatan hampir mati. Umbi akan muncul dari pangkal batang, warnanya kuning tua atau coklat muda, panjangnya sampai 15 sentimeter dan berdiameter 6 sentimeter. Baunya harum dan rasanya pahit agak pedas.

Manfaat temulawak untuk kesehatan, sebenarnya telah lama diketahui secara empiris dan pengalaman turun-menurun dari nenek moyang. Sejak dulu temulawak digunakan sebagai obat penurun panas, merangsang nafsu makan, mengobati sakit kuning, diare, mag, perut kembung, dan pegal-pegal. Terakhir juga diketahui temulawak bisa menurunkan lemak darah, menghambat penggumpalan darah sebagai antioksidan, dan memelihara kesehatan dengan meningkatkan daya imun. Beberapa manfaat tersebut kemudian akhirnya terbukti secara klinis. Melihat manfaat temulawak yang se-abrek ini, tak ayal lagi pemerintah mencanangkan ”gerakan nasional minum temulawak” sejak 2 tahun silam.

Bantu Hati Hantam Toksin

Daging buah (rimpang) temulawak mengandung beberapa senyawa kimia, antara lain minyak atsiri fellandrean dan turmerol, kamfer, glukosida, foluymetik karbinol, dan kurkumin. Kurkumin diketahui sebagai kandungan yang banyak memberi manfaat, terutama sebagai anti hepototoksik dan antioksidan.

Bagaimana mekanisme kurkumin sebenarnya dalam menyelamatkan “lambang romantisme” ini masih belum jelas. Namun sebuah studi pada hewan percobaan melaporkan, kurkumin secara kuat menghambat enzim cytochrome 4501A1/1A2 di hati. Enzim ini merupakan isoenzim yang terlibat dalam bioaktivasi beberapa toksin termasuk benzo[a]pyrene. Kurkumin ditemukan juga mencegah pembentukan ikatan kovalen antara cytochrome P450 dan DNA. Dan, peneliti menyimpulkan bahwa kurkumin bisa saja menghambat karsinogenesis oleh kimiawi dengan memodulasi fungsi P450.
Selain itu, kurkumin ditemukan juga menawarkan proteksi hati terhadap toksisitas alkohol. Efek ini terbukti pada sebuah studi yang dilakukan pada tikus yang diinduksi dengan etanol 25%. Tikus yang memperoleh kurkumin 80 mg/kg BB mengalami penurunan kadar enzim hati dan produk reaktif asam tiobarbiturat. Di samping itu, sebuah studi lainnya juga menunjukkan, kurkumin menurunkan kerusakan hati melalui pengurangan peroksidasi lipid. Hal ini diamati pada tikus yang hatinya telah diinduksi dengan zat besi. Masih berdasarkan studi pra klinis, kurkumin dilaporkan juga meningkatkan aktifitas glutathione-S-transferase. Enzim ini sangat penting dalam proses detoksifikasi.
Uji Klinis Kurkumin

Sebuah uji klinis yang tidak begitu besar telah dilakukan di Tanah Air untuk melihat manfaat kurkumin dalam memperbaiki fungsi hati. Studi ini melibatkan sekitar 38 pasien gangguan hati atau memiliki nilai SGPT dan SGOT di atas normal dari 5 area (Bogor, Bandung, Semarang, Solo, Surabaya, Palembang dan Jakarta). Pasien diberikan gabungan kurkumin 25 mg, essential phospholipid 100 mg, dan vitamin E 100 mg. Studi ini menggunakan metoda seeding trial atau tanpa pembanding. Pengamatan dilakukan oleh sekitar 20 peneliti dalam periode Juli-Desember 1998.

Adapun parameter yang digunakan adalah nilai SGPT dan SGOT. SGPT merupakan enzim yang diproduksi oleh hepatocytes, jenis sel yang banyak terdapat di liver. Kadar SGPT dalam darah akan meningkat seiring dengan kerusakan pada sel hepatocytes yang bisa terjadi karena infeksi virus hepatitis, alkohol, obat-obat yang menginduksi terjadinya kerusakan hepatocytes, dan sebab lain seperti adanya shok atau keracunan obat.
Nilai SGPT yang dianggap normal adalah 0 – 35 unit per liter (u/l). Peningkatan nilai SGPT 50 kali dari normal menandakan rendahnya aliran darah pada hati, hepatitis, atau kerusakan sel hati yang disebabkan oleh obat/senyawa kimia seperti CCl4. Peningkatan nilai SGPT ringan sampai sedang dapat disebabkan oleh adanya hepatitis, sirosis, kanker pada hati dan alkohol. Terkadang pada sirosis hanya terjadi peningkatan nilai SGPT 2-4 kali dari nilai normal.

Sementara SGOT banyak dijumpai pada organ jantung, hati, otot rangka, pankreas, paru-paru, sel darah merah dan sel otak. Saat sel organ tersebut mengalami kerusakan, maka SGOT akan dilepaskan dalam darah. Alhasil saat pengukuran akan terlihat korelasi besarnya atau tingkat keparahan sel yang terjadi. Nilai normal SGOT berkisar dari 3 - 45 unit per liter (u/l). Peningkatan nilai SGOT ini dapat disebabkan oleh adanya hepatitis C. Pada hepatitis akut, peningkatan bisa terjadi hingga 20 kali nilai normalnya.

Hasil studi menunjukkan, berdasarkan perhitungan statistik, terjadi penurunan nilai SGOT dan SGPT yang signifikan. Setelah 14 hari terapi, penurunan nilai SGOT dari total pasien mencapai hingga 2,89 kali, sedangkan untuk SGPT mencapai 3,28 kali dibandingkan sebelum pengobatan. Hasil yang tidak berbeda jauh juga ditemukan pada individu yang menderita hepatitis dan non hepatitis. Pasien hepatitis mengalami penurunan SGOT sebanyak 3,48 kali dan SGPT sebanyak 3,82 kali, dibandingkan sebelum pengobatan. Sedang pada individu non hepatitis, terjadi penurunan SGOT sekitar 1,91 kali dan SGPT sebanyak 2,15 kali.

Menggali Manfaat Lain

Hingga kini, telah banyak studi yang dilakukan untuk mencoba mereguk manfaat lain dari umbi berharga ini. Studi yang tengah gencar dilakukan adalah untuk melihat manfaat kurkumin sebagai antitumor guna mengobati penyakit kanker. Sejumlah laporan menunjukkan, kurkumoid termasuk kurkumin memiliki aktivitas kemopreventif dan kuratif melawan kanker. Studi tersebut umumnya dilakukan pada hewan percobaan dengan rute pemberian berbeda dan diuji dengan sistem in vitro. Namun sedikit studi juga telah mulai dilakukan belakangan ini pada manusia.
Manfaat lain yang juga tengah diincar dari kurkumin adalah penghambatan replikasi human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Sebuah studi menunjukkan, kurkumin menghambat tahap fusion sel virus pada siklus replikasi HIV. Berbagai studi terus dilakukan untuk mencari titik terang. Jika semua terbukti secara klinis, maka tanaman yang mengandung kurkumin akan semakin kaya manfaat. Dan Indonesia tentu akan turut berbahagia, karena tanaman itu adalah asli dari Bumi Pertiwi.
(Arnita)
Seperti tercetak di Majalah Farmacia Edisi November 2006

Temulawak

2007-11-10T18:46:00.000+07:00

Yups, mungkin kamu bakalan bertanya tanya, mengapa sih aku memilih tema ini..

Temulawak adalah salah satu jenis tanaman rimpang yang sering dipake para " Mbok jamu" sebagai salah satu andalan dalam ramuan jamunya..

Philosophinya *ciyeeh...* ini blog bertujuan seperti temulawak, jadi obat penawar penyakit hati. Cuman kalo temulawak ngobatin hati yang bener-bener liver, ini blog mudah mudahan bisa jadi penawar hati yang lagi sakit karena duka n lara..wuiih..*philosoper bgt!!*

Yah..tapi blog ini ga bakalan terlalu saklek dalam topik topik yang mo diangkat, diawal-awal sih paling juga curhatnya penulis hehehe...

Yang jelas topik yang umum-umum aja deh, bisa humor, lagu, review dari karya seni atau apa gitu..

ok friend...selamat menikmati...