Family: Euphorbiaceae
Genus: Croton
Species: lechieri, salutaris, palanostigma
Synonyms: Croton draco
Common Names: Sangre de grado
Sangre de drago, dragon’s blood
drago, sangue de drago, sangue de agua
Part Used: Bark, resin/sap

Some Main Uses:

1. kills cancer cells
2. reverses heart disease
3. heals wounds
4. stops bleeding
5. prevents tumor growth
6. kills bacteria
7. stops mutations
8. kills germs

Grows abundantly in the rainforests of the Amazon in South America. Usages: pain control, relief from skin irritations, wound healing, stomachhand bowel ailments. Has extraordinary anti-inflammatory and antibiotic qualities. Controls gastrointestinal issues from chronic diarrhea and inflammatory bowel disease to gastrointestinal cancer. Later research confirmed the extract’s ability to control throat and lung irritations. Known for their positive effects on cancer, heart disease and tumor growth.

Locals of Moomy city on Socotra island use the Dracaena resin as a sort of cure-all, using it for such things as general wound healing, a coagulant (though this is ill-advised with commercial products, as the Daemonorops species acts as an anti-coagulant and it is usually unknown what species the dragon’s blood came from), curing diarrhea, lowering fevers, dysentery diseases, taken internally for ulcers in the mouth, throat, intestines and stomach, as well as an antiviral for respiratory viruses, stomach viruses and for such skin disorders as eczema. It was also used in medieval ritual magic and alchemy. Not native to North America, some of the plants have been brought over in recent years and have become naturalized.

In folk medicine, dragon’s blood is used externally as a wash to promote healing of wounds and to stop bleeding. It is used internally for chest pains, post-partum bleeding, internal traumas and menstrual irregularities.

Homeostasis (from Greek: ὅμος, hómos, “similar”; and ιστημι, histēmi, “standing still”; defined by Walter Bradford Cannon in 1929 + 1932 is the property of a system, either open or closed, that regulates its internal environment and tends to maintain a stable, constant condition. Typically used to refer to a living organism, the concept came from that of milieu interieur that was created by Claude Bernard and published in 1865. Multiple dynamic equilibrium adjustment and regulation mechanisms make homeostasis possible.

Dragon’s blood is a bright red resin that is obtained from different species of a number of distinct plant genera: Croton, Dracaena, Daemonorops, Calamus rotang and Pterocarpus.

List of botanical sources for Dragon’s blood

    • Calamus rotang L.
    • Croton draconoides Müll. Arg.
    • Croton draco Schltdl. & Cham.
    • Croton lechleri Müll. Arg.
    • Croton urucurana Baill.
    • Croton xalapensis Kunth
    • Daemonorops draco Blume
    • Daemonorops didymophylla Becc.
    • Daemonorops micranthus Becc.
    • Daemonorops motleyi Becc.
    • Daemonorops rubra (Reinw. ex Blume) Mart.
    • Daemonorops propinquus Becc.
    • Dracaena cinnabari Balf.f.
    • Dracaena cochinchinensis Hort. ex Baker
    • Dracaena draco (L.) L.
    • Pterocarpus officinalis Jacq.

MACA

Source: http://www.rain-tree.com/maca.htm

Maca is a Peruvian root vegetable used both as food and medicine. It is sometimes called “Peruvian ginseng,” not because the plants have any botanical relationship, but because their traditional uses are somewhat similar. Traditionally, maca has been said to increase energy and stamina, and enhance both fertility and sex drive in men and women.

root

Scientific classification
Kingdom:        Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order:        Brassicales
Family:        Brassicaceae
Genus:        Lepidium
Species:        L. meyenii
Binomial name
Lepidium meyenii
Walp

Uses:

1. is nutritious
2. increases energy
3. balances body systems
4. increases fertility

Synonyms
Lepidium peruvianum

Lepidium meyenii or maca or nagarmooth is an herbaceous biennial plant or annual plant (some sources say a perennial plant) native to the high Andes of Bolivia and Peru. It is grown for its fleshy hypocotyl (actually a fused hypocotyl and taproot), which is used as a root vegetable and a medicinal herb. Its Spanish and Quechua names include maca-maca, maino, ayak chichira, and ayak willku.

Botanical characteristics

The plant is considered a member of the species Lepidium meyenii, first observed and designated by Gerhard Walpers in 1843. In studying different specimens since the late 1960s, most botanists now consider the widely cultivated maca of today to be a newer domesticated species, L. peruvianum. This more recent designation was made by Dr. Gloria Chacon. The Latin name recognized by the USDA continues to be Lepidium meyenii, however most contemporary botanists employ the name “peruvianum” and consider it most accurate to describe the species”. The growth habit, size, and proportions of maca are roughly similar to those of the radish and the turnip, to which it is related. The green, fragrant tops are short and lie along the ground. The thin frilly leaves are born in a rosette at the soil surface, and are continuously renewed from the center as the outer leaves die. The off-white, self-fertile flowers are borne on a central raceme, and are followed by 4-5 mm siliculate fruits, each containing two small (2-2.5 mm) reddish-gray ovoid seeds. The seeds, which are the plant’s only means of reproduction, germinate within five days given good conditions. The seeds have no dormancy, as maca’s native habitat remains harsh year-round.

Maca is the only member of its genus with a fleshy hypocotyl, which is fused with the taproot to form a rough inverted-pear-shaped body. Maca does vary greatly in the size and shape of the root, which can be triangular, flattened circular, spherical or rectangular, the latter of which forms the largest roots. Maca hypocotyls can be gold/cream, red, purple, black and green. Each is considered a genetically unique variety, as seeds of the parent plants grow to have roots of the same color. Recently, specific color strains have been exclusively propagated to ascertain their different nutritional and therapeutic properties. Cream colored roots are the most widely grown and are favored in Peru for their enhanced sweetness and size. Black maca is considered the strongest in energy-promoting properties, being both sweet and slightly bitter in taste. Red maca is also becoming popular with many people, and has been clinically shown to reduce prostate size in rats. These three ecotypes are the most commonly grown and exported.

Maca is traditionally grown at altitudes of approximately 4,100–4,500 metres (13,000–15,000 ft) elevation. It grows well only in cold climates with relatively poor agricultural soils, habitats where few other crops can be grown. Like many cruciferous root vegetables, maca can exhaust soils that are not well tended. Nearly all maca cultivation in Peru is carried out organically, as there are few pests naturally occurring at such high altitudes, and maca itself is seldom attacked. Maca is sometimes interplanted with potatoes, as it is known to maca farmers that the plant itself naturally repels most root crop pests. Maca croplands are fertilized mainly with sheep and alpaca manure, and are often rested for a period of years to rebuild nutrients in the soils. 8–10 months elapse between sowing and maturity for harvest. The yield for a cultivated hectare is approximately 5 tons. Maca is typically dried for further processing, which yields about 1.5 tons total. Although maca has been cultivated outside the Andes, it is not yet clear whether it develops the same active constituents or potency. Hypocotyls grown from Peruvian seeds form with difficulty at low elevations, in greenhouses or in warm climates. Seeds obtained from Bolivian maca, which is native to lower altitudes, are more easily grown under such conditions .

For approximately 2,000 years, maca has been an important traditional food and medicinal plant in its limited growing region, where it is well-known and celebrated. It is regarded as a highly nutritious, energy-imbuing food, and as a medicine that enhances strength, endurance and also acts as an aphrodisiac. During Spanish colonization maca was used as currency.

In addition to sugars and proteins, maca contains uridine, malic acid and its benzoyl derivative, and the glucosinolates, glucotropaeolin and m-meth-oxyglucotropaeolin. The methanol extract of maca tuber also contained (1R, 3S)-1-methyltetrahydro-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, a molecule which is reported to exert many activities on the central nervous system. The nutritional value of dried maca root is high, similar to cereal grains such as rice and wheat. It contains 60% carbohydrates, 10% protein, 8.5% dietary fiber, and 2.2% fats. Maca is rich in essential minerals, especially selenium, calcium, magnesium, and iron, and includes fatty acids including linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and oleic acids, and 19 amino acids, as well as polysaccharides. Maca’s reported beneficial effects for sexual function could be due to its high concentration of proteins and vital nutrients, though maca contains a chemical called p-methoxybenzyl isothiocyanate, which reputedly has aphrodisiac properties.

Maca has been harvested and used by humans in the Andean Mountains for centuries. Contrary to frequent claims that maca’s cultivation was common in what is today Peru and Bolivia, it has been shown that until the late 1980s, maca has only been cultivated in a limited area around Lake Junin, in Central Peru. Historically, maca was often traded for lowland tropical food staples, such as corn, rice, maniot (tapioca roots), quinoa and papaya. It was also used as a form of payment of Spanish imperial taxes. It is often cited that maca was eaten by Inca imperial warriors before battles. Their legendary strength was allegedly imparted by the preparatory consumption of copious amounts of maca, fueling formidable warriors. After a city was conquered, the women had to be protected from the Inca warriors, as they became ambitiously virile from eating such quantities of maca. This is of course an appealing endorsement for the masculine angle of maca’s recent marketing campaign. Whether or not this oft repeated historical use is actually true has yet to be determined. Those who have studied maca’s history have not been able to locate formal mention of this particular use.

Gelatinized maca is many fold stronger than powdered root, and is employed for mainly for therapeutic, medicinal and supplement purposes. It can also be used like maca flour. There is also freeze-dried maca juice, which is a juice squeezed from the macerated fresh root, and subsequently freeze-dried.

Small-scale clinical trials performed in men have shown that maca extracts can heighten libido and improve semen quality, though no studies have been performed on men with sexual dysfunction or infertility. Maca does not affect sex hormone levels in humans, and has not been shown to act on hormones directly. It has been presumed that maca’s hormone-normalizing effects may be due to the root’s unique nutritional profile, which provides optimum levels of nutrients utilized by the body’s endocrine system. In addition, maca has been shown to increase mating behavior in male mice and rats.

Maca is considered a medicinal herb in Norway, and is not legal without a prescription.

Principal Proposed Uses   -   Male Sexual Dysfunction
Other Proposed Uses
Adaptogen(Fighting Stress); Benign Prostate Enlargement (BPH); Diabetes; Fatigue; Female Infertility; Female Sexual Dysfunction; Hypertension; Male Infertility; Osteoarthritis

What is Maca Used for Today?  

There are two published human trials on maca, performed by a single research group.

In one small 12-week, double-blind , placebo-controlled study, use of maca at 1,500 mg or 3,000 mg increased male libido. While this was an interesting finding, the study did not report benefits in male sexual function, just desire. Since loss of sexual function (eg, impotence) is a more common problem in men than loss of sexual desire, these results do not justify the widespread claim that maca has been shown to act like a kind of herbal Viagra.

Other animal studies hint that maca might offer benefits for prostate enlargement , stress , diabetes , and high blood pressure . However, this evidence is as yet too weak to justify any claims regarding maca and these conditions.

One human trial evaluated a combination of maca and cat’s claw for osteoarthritis, but because it failed to include a placebo group, its results mean little.

CAT’S CLAW

Source: http://www.rain-tree.com/catclaw.htm

Uncaria tomentosa (popularly known in English as Cat’s Claw, in Spanish as Uña de Gato or as Indian name Vilcacora) is a woody vine found in the tropical jungles of South and Central America, which derives its name from its claw-shaped thorns. It is used as an alternative medicine in the treatment of a variety of ailments.

Biology

Uncaria tomentosa is a liana deriving its name from hook-like thorns that resemble the claws of a cat. U. tomentosa can grow up to 30m tall, climbing by means of these thorns. The leaves are elliptic with a smooth edge, and grow in opposite whorls of two. Cat’s claw is indigenous to the Amazon rainforest, with its habitat being restricted primarily to the tropical areas of South and Central America. There are two species of Cat’s Claw, Uncaria tomentosa and Uncaria guianensis, each having different properties and uses. The two are frequently confused but U. tomentosa is the more heavily researched for medicinal use and immune modulation, while U. guianensis may be more useful for osteoarthritis. U. tomentosa is further divided into two chemotypes with different properties and active compounds, a fact ignored by most manufacturers that can have significant implications on both its use as an alternative medicine and in clinical trials to prove or disprove its efficacy.

Family: Rubiaceae
Genus: Uncaria
Species: tomentosa
Synonyms: Uncaria surinamensis, Nauclea aculeata, N. tomentosa, Ourouparia tomentosa
Common Names: Cat’s claw, uña de gato, paraguayo, garabato, garbato casha, samento, toroñ, tambor huasca, uña huasca, uña de gavilan, hawk’s claw, saventaro
Parts Used: Vine bark, root

• stimulates immune system
• relieves pain
• reduces inflammation
• kills viruses
• protects cells
• detoxifies
• fights free radicals
• cleanses blood
• cleanses bowel
• increases urination
• kills cancer cells
• lowers blood pressure
• kill leukemia cells
• reduces cholesterol
• tones and balances
• decreases depression

U. tomentosa is used in nootropic drugs, as well as in treatment of cancer and HIV infection. It contains several alkaloids that are responsible for its overall medical effects, as well as tannins and various phytochemicals. The chemotype of the plant determines the dominant type of alkaloid it produces, and thus its properties in vivo. One chemotype has roots which produce mostly the pentacyclic alkaloids that are responsible for the immune-strengthening effects desired by most consumers. The second chemotype produces tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids known as rhynchophylline and isorhynchophylline which counteract the immune-strengthening actions of the pentacyclic alkaloids, reduces the speed and force of the heart’s contraction, and in high doses produce ataxia, lack of coordination and sedative effects. Since U. tomentosa comes in at least these two different chemotypes, without chemical testing it is impossible to know which chemical compounds will predominate in a plant collected randomly from a natural setting.

Some ingredients appear to act as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer agents. As an herbal treatment, Cat’s Claw is used to treat intestinal ailments such as Crohn’s disease, gastric ulcers and tumors, parasites, colitis, gastritis, diverticulitis and leaky bowel syndrome, while manufacturers claim that U. tomentosa can also be used in the treatment of AIDS in combination with AZT, the treatment and prevention of arthritis and rheumatism, diabetes, PMS, chronic fatigue syndrome, prostate conditions,
 immune modulation, Lyme disease and systemic lupus erythematosus. A 2005 review of the scholarly literature on Cat’s Claw indicates there is supporting evidence toward its use in treating cancer, inflammation, viral infection and vascular conditions, and for its use as an immunostimulant, antioxidant, antibacterial and CNS-related agent.

It has also been shown to be a powerful MAO-B inhibitor. The indigenous peoples of South and Central America have used U. tomentosa for medicinal purposes for two thousand years or more, It is often added to Ayahuasca. Researchers have investigated the use of the plant by the Asháninka tribe of Peru, who use the plant as a general health tonic, contraceptive, anti-inflammatory agent for the gastrointestinal tract, and as a treatment for diarrhea, rheumatic disorders, acne, diabetes, cancer and diseases of the urinary tract. In Brazilian traditional medicine it is used against dengue to reduce inflammation and DOES NOT prevent dengue.

Individuals allergic to plants in the Rubiaceae family and different species of Uncaria may be more likely to have allergic reactions to Cat’s Claw. Reactions can include itching, rash and allergic inflammation of the kidneys. In one documented case, kidney failure occurred in a patient with Lupus erythematosus but it is not known if this was due to an allergic reaction or another cause.

There are other plants which are known as cat’s claw (or uña de gato) in Mexico and Latin America; however, they are entirely different plants, belonging to neither the Uncaria genus, nor to the Rubiaceae family. Some of the Mexican uña de gato varieties are known to have toxic properties.

NONI

What is Tahitian Noni

• Noni has been used for 2000 years in Polynesia for its amazing health benefits.
• Noni is one of the most important natural health discoveries in recent decades.
• Tahitian Noni is a natural fruit juice dietary supplement made from the noni plant (morinda citrifolia).
• Researchers have found that noni targets several systems in the body and works at the cellular level to produce phenomenal health results in many people.
• Tahitian Noni is a network marketing product from Morinda which provides an outstanding opportunity to have your own business as an Independent Morinda distributor.

The fruit of the noni (morinda citrifolia) plant is treasured throughout Polynesia for its unique benefits. It has been used to promote healthy living for thousands of years by peoples of the islands of the South Pacific. In our awakened understanding of the importance of natural answers to a healthier life, Tahitian Noni is perhaps the most important discovery in years.

The island group known as Tahiti is considered the source of the finest noni fruit in the world. The noni plant flourishes in the lush and unspoiled islands of French Polynesia (the best known is Tahiti). It is from this tropical island paradise that Morinda Tahitian Noni juice originates, harvested by native folk who have long benefited from its amazing qualities.

Morinda's Tahitian Noni dietary supplement is prepared from the morinda citrifolia fruit and is freshly harvested, processed and packaged with careful supervision throughout. It contains no preservatives so the product you receive is as pure as the paradise it originates from.

SCIENTIFIC STUDIES

Scientists have studied the noni plant for decades hoping to unlock the secrets of its tremendous impact on the body. In study after study, researchers have discovered scientifically what the traditional Polynesian healers have always known. It works! Studies show noni's potential to regulate proper cell function. It is rare to find a pure product so comprehensive in its benefits and so rich in scientific validation. For example, here are some research studies that show noni's potential to enhance health.

How Noni Works - The Xeronine Factor

Dr. Ralph Heinicke pioneered the study of the alkaloid xeronine, which is abundant in the noni fruit. Dr. Heinicke's work has lead to the understanding of why noni has such a tremendous impact on the human body. The compounds in noni actually work at the cellular level to increase cell function.

Noni delivers an alkaloid to the body in a precursor form called Pro-Xeronine. From this point on, the human body does the rest by changing Pro-Xeronine into Xeronine. Xeronine is an alkaloid that only the body can produce. Xeronine activates enzymes to help cells function properly. By saturating the body with noni juice, and increasing the production of Xeronine, our bodies become more able to achieve and maintain an optimum level of good health. Compounds within noni actually increase the ability of cells within the body to absorb and utilize nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. Evidence indicates that Tahitian Noni juice is the most abundant and potent source of Pro-Xeronine in the world.

Dr. Ralph Heinicke, Ph.D. tells us "I have devoted much of my life to the study of this unique substance that I have named "Xeronine." I am convinced of the tremendous benefits achieved by furnishing the body with a proper supply of this material.

Cancer Studies

In a report to the 83rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, in May 1992, the noni fruit was shown to significantly prolong the life of mice which had been implanted with Lewis lung carcinoma cells. The conclusion was that the noni fruit seemed to retard tumor growth in mice by stimulating the immune system. The research theorized that the compounds within the noni juice have the ability to stimulate the activity of T-Cells within the immune system. The immune system response may be the key to understanding why the juice has been used for centuries for such a wide variety of health challenges.

In separate studies, noni was shown to have a more significant impact on arresting the growth of implanted Cancerous RAS cells in lab animals when compared with 500 other healthful plant compounds.

Morinda citrifolia, commonly known as great morinda, Indian mulberry, Mengkudu (Malaysia), beach mulberry, Tahitian noni, cheese fruit or noni (from Hawaiian) is a tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae. Morinda citrifolia is native to Southeast Asia but has been extensively spread throughout the Indian subcontinent, Pacific islands, French Polynesia, Puerto Rico and recently the Dominican Republic. Tahiti remains the most prominent growing location.

Growing habitats
Noni Flower

Noni grows in shady forests as well as on open rocky or sandy shores. It reaches maturity in about 18 months and then yields between 4–8 kilograms (8.8–18 lb) of fruit every month throughout the year. It is tolerant of saline soils, drought conditions, and secondary soils. It is therefore found in a wide variety of habitats: volcanic terrains, lava-strewn coasts, and clearings or limestone outcrops. It can grow up to 9 metres (30 ft) tall, and has large, simple, dark green, shiny and deeply veined leaves.

The plant flowers and fruits all year round and produces a small white flower. The fruit is a multiple fruit that has a pungent odor when ripening, and is hence also known as cheese fruit or even vomit fruit. It is oval and reaches 4–7 centimetres (1.6–2.8 in) in size. At first green, the fruit turns yellow then almost white as it ripens. It contains many seeds. It is sometimes called starvation fruit. Despite its strong smell and bitter taste, the fruit is nevertheless eaten as a famine food and, in some Pacific islands, even a staple food, either raw or cooked. Southeast Asians and Australian Aborigines consume the fruit raw with salt or cook it with curry. The seeds are edible when roasted.

The noni is especially attractive to weaver ants, which make nests out of the leaves of the tree. These ants protect the plant from some plant-parasitic insects. The smell of the fruit also attracts fruit bats, which aid in dispersing the seeds.

Noni fruit in Honolulu

Noni fruit powder is high in carbohydrates and dietary fiber. According to the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, a 100g sample of the powder contains 71% carbohydrate and 36% fiber. The sample also contained 5.2% protein and 1.2% fat.

When noni juice alone is analyzed and compared to pulp powder, only vitamin C is retained at a high level, 33.65mg per 100g of juice.

Although the most significant nutrient feature of noni pulp powder or juice is its high vitamin C content, noni fruit juice provides only about half the vitamin C of a raw navel orange. Sodium levels in the noni juice blend (about 3% of DRI)[4] are multiples of those in an orange. Although the potassium content appears relatively high for noni, this total is only about 3% of the Recommended Dietary Allowance and so would not be considered excessive. Noni juice is otherwise similar in micronutrient content to a raw orange.

Noni fruit contains a number of phytochemicals, including lignans, oligo- and polysaccharides, flavonoids, iridoids, fatty acids, scopoletin, catechin, beta-sitosterol, damnacanthal, and alkaloids. Although these substances have been studied for bioactivity, current research does not conclude anything about their effects on human health.

Laboratory experiments demonstrated that dietary noni juice increased physical endurance in mice.

Noni was explored unsuccessfully by medical researchers for possible use in treating cancer.

In Hawaii, ripe fruits are applied to draw out pus from an infected boil. The green fruit, leaves and the root/rhizome have traditionally been used to treat menstrual cramps and irregularities, among other symptoms, while the root has also been used to treat urinary difficulties.

There have been recent applications for the use of oil from noni seeds. Noni seed oil is abundant in linoleic acid that may have useful properties when applied topically on skin, e.g., anti-inflammation, acne reduction, moisture retention.

In Surinam and some other countries, the tree serves as a wind-break, as support for vines and as shade for coffee trees.

LYCOPENE (Trace Amounts)

Lycopene is a bright red carotenoid pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits & vegetables, such as red carrots, watermelons and papayas (but not strawberries or cherries).

LUTEIN (Trace Amounts)

Lutein (pronounced /luːtiːən /,luːtiːn/; from Latin luteus meaning "yellow") is one of over 600 known naturally occurring carotenoids. Found in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale, lutein is employed by organisms as an antioxidant and for blue light absorption. Lutein is present in the plant as fatty-acid ester, with one or two fatty acids bound to the two hydroxyl-groups. Saponification of lutein esters yields lutein in approximately a 1:2 molar ratio. Lutein is also found in egg yolks, animal fats and the corpus luteum. Lutein is a lipophilic molecule and is generally insoluble in water. The presence of the long chromophore of conjugated double bonds (polyene chain) provides the distinctive light-absorbing properties. The polyene chain is susceptible to oxidative degradation by light or heat and is chemically unstable in acids.

OMEGA-3 FATTY ACIDS (Trace Amounts)

Omega 3 fatty acids (popularly referred to as ω−3 fatty acids or omega-3 fatty acids) are a family of unsaturated fatty acids that have in common a final carbon–carbon double bond in the omega-3 position; that is, the third bond from the methyl end of the fatty acid.

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Jane Davis
AliveWithNutrazon.com
jane14@earthlink.net
(650) 280-0219

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