How To Overcome Alternative Sore Throat

If your throat feels dry, swollen and painful swallowing, maybe you're experiencing a sore throat. Sore or strep throat is most often caused by viral infections such as colds or flu.
Sore throats usually clear up on its own, although in some cases develop into a serious one. But you need not worry. There are some simple remedies that may be you are trying to do at home, as quoted Healthcastle following:
1. Drinking honeyHoney is believed to cure a sore throat, though until now scientists have not fully understand the workings of these foods. But certainly, honey can inhibit the growth of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. How to use: mix 1-2 tablespoons of honey into a cup of hot water.
2. Gargling with salt waterGargling with salt water can reduce the inflammation of the throat. Why? Because salt can draw water out of the cell membrane, so it is quite effective in reducing swelling and inflammation due to a sore throat. How to use: add half to one teaspoon of salt to a cup of warm water, rinse with water and this mixture at least once every hour.
3. Green teaA research study showed that participants using green tea extract increased immune response because they can release the hormone interferon, which is able to fight the virus. For better results, you can add honey into a cup of green tea.
4. Apple cider vinegarAlthough not able to find scientific evidence about how it works, but many people consider to be effective. How to use: Mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of warm water, then dikumur and swallow.
5. Consider taking vitamin DA study in 2007 found that people taking Vitamin D supplements every day three more chances of experiencing symptoms of colds and flu. In other words, if you take this vitamin, it will improve the immune system and reduced the symptoms of sore throat.
Keep in mind, all of the above should be done before you tengorokan severe pain. When the pain did not improve in three days, it's time for you to consult further with your doctor. [kompas]

Green Tea: Better Health in Old Age

Since the first, green tea has been known to provide many health benefits. This is because green tea contains antioxidants. A recent study in Japan said the older adults who drink green tea regularly may make them more nimble and independent.

Green tea contains specific antioxidants chemicals - especially a compound known as EGCG - that may help prevent cell damage in the body. Even some experts have also studied the effects of green tea in fighting cholesterol to the risk of certain cancers with mixed results.

For this new study, researchers from Japan to observe the extent of the effects of green tea consumption reduces the risk of weakness and physical disability in older adults. Research involving almost 14,000 adults age 65 and older. Results showed that participants who drank more green tea, are less likely to experience or suffer from "functional disability" during the next three years.

Functional disability in this case refers to the problems associated with a person's ability to perform daily activities, such as doing household chores to basic needs such as clothes and toiletries.

Data show that nearly 13 percent of adults who drank less than a glass of green tea a day, at risk of functional problems. While those who drank at least five cups a day, have a lower risk, which amounted to 7 percent.

Researchers explained that green tea lovers generally have a healthy diet - the more the consumption of fish, vegetables and fruit - and have a better education, lower smoking habits. In addition, they also tend to be more socially active and a lot of support from friends and family.

Tomata Yasutake, lead investigator of the Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine says that although the factor-fakor above have been considered, but green tea itself has the ability to reduce the risk of disability is lower. By Yasutake, people who drank at least five cups a day, one-third less likely to develop disabilities than those who drank less than one cup a day. And those who drank an average of three or four cups a day had 25 percent lower risk.

Other studies also mention that the green tea extract can increase leg muscle strength in elderly women. In general, green tea is considered safe when consumed in moderate amounts. But remember, green tea also contains caffeine, which some people may need to be avoided. In addition, green tea also contains small amounts of vitamin K, which means it can interfere with the work of a drug such as warfarin (to prevent blood clotting). [kompas]

Green tea Inhibition Tuberculosis

Two million people worldwide die each year from tuberculosis. World Health Organization (WHO) reported in Indonesia in 2006 found 14.4 million cases of tuberculosis with 38 deaths per 100,000 population. As many as 98 percent of deaths occur in the productive age population.
Although it has been available antituberculosis drugs (TB), TB remains a major global health problem. The causes, characteristics of the bacteria that causes TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is able to evade the human immune system so it is sometimes less effective therapy.

Inconsistent treatment of drug resistance due to mutations causing mycobacteria chromosome so as to avoid the effects of drug action, became an obstacle.

Departing from the condition of these concerns, three semesters VII student of Faculty of Medicine, University of March Solo, namely Afandi Dwi Harmoko, Yasjudan Rastrama, and Trisna Adhy Wijaya, analyzed several studies and concluded that green tea (Camellia sinensis) may be used as adjuvant therapy (supporting) for the existing TB therapies. This is because green tea contains polyphenol compounds that can inhibit the proliferation of mycobacteria, namely epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Each gram contains 30-50 grams of green tea EGCG.

Actually black tea also contains polyphenols EGCG, but not as much as green tea. Black tea production process makes the content of EGCG reduced.

"It's very interesting because in our country there are lots of green tea, but less than optimal utilization of health," Hassanain said Thursday (2/2).

One third of the references used are research students Anand PK, Kaul D, and M Sharma in India in 2006 about the polyphenols in green tea can inhibit proliferation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This research suggests that mycobacteria die after 12 hours of being exposed to EGCG from green tea.

Enhance the immune

According to Hassanain, EGCG has a mechanism as an immunomodulator, which boosts the immune system that can kill mycobacteria as well as lower the immune system that can damage normal cells. The mechanism is not found in anti-TB drugs in use today.

Other benefits of EGCG is an antioxidant that is 10 times more powerful than antioxidant vitamins C and 100 times stronger than vitamin E.

In addition, EGCG can also inhibit the growth of Taco (tryptophan aspartate-containing coat protein) in macrophages. Macrophages are the immune cells that destroy defective cells as well as turn off harmful substances, such as bacteria or viruses. On the other hand, macrophages can not destroy mycobacteria because it is protected by Taco, a protein produced macrophages.

"Taco Mikobakterium use to protect itself so it can not be destroyed by macrophages. EGCG in green tea can inhibit the growth of Taco, "Hassanain said.

For separating EGCG from green tea, according to Yasjudan, can be done with green tea extract with meserasi extraction method, which is soaked in a solvent of chloroform, methanol 95 percent, and ethyl acetate, then take the juice. This method can be extracted without damaging the stability of EGCG.

"We hope there is more research on this, especially the effective dose of EGCG for supportive therapy and its side effects," Hassanain said.

The results of the analysis of the three students who poured in a scientific paper received second prize in the Scientific Writing Contest Student National Medical Scientific Airlangga Writing Competition with the theme "Tropical Infectious Diseases" held in October 2011. [kompas]