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Vinegar for a Longer and Happier Life By Shomatsu Osada As soon as you take vinegar (or citric acid, as a powder), it starts to eliminate fatigue.  You can notice this in only two hours. You can confirm this.  If you look at your urine two hours after you take vinegar, and you will find it to be more clear.  Or, if you are unwilling to look at it closely, examine it with a piece of pH test paper (litmus paper).  Before you take vinegar, the pH test paper will show that your urine is acidic, due to fatigue-creating substances in your body.  Two hours after you take vinegar, the test paper will show more alkaline.  These results mean that the previous fatigue substances were decreased or removed by taking the vinegar. The liver dissolves the poisonous matters which were made in our body, so we must always keep it working well.  Meat, fish, eggs, coconut oil, greens, and other nourishing foods as well as vinegar act like medicines for the liver. Krebs' Theory The theory of Dr. Krebs, a British scientist, explains how vinegar can eliminate fatigue.  He was awarded the Nobel Prize for proving this theory in 1953.  Through it, he explains clearly how food is changed into energy, or burned, in the body of almost all animals including human beings and bacteria.  He also  explains what fatigue is and how it can be eliminated. I owe this knowledge about the relation between vinegar and fatigue to the late Doctor of Pharmacology and Professor Emeritus, Shichiro Akitani of Tokyo University.  He was fascinated by this subject and found clues to solve these problems during the World War II.  Though a busy man, he took every opportunity to recommend people take as much vinegar as possible. Even if lactic acid, one of the substances causing fatigue, is created in your body, it will soon disappear if the Citric Acid Cycle is working well.  Oxaloacetic acid plays a crucial role for the Cycle to work well.  But citric and other acids are changed to it eventually.  Therefore, it is important that you take an adequate amount of these acids so that the Cycle works well. Pyroracemic acid (pyruvic acid) is a toxic substance which paralyzes nerves.  Lactic acid makes the blood acidic and stiffens muscles. Dr. Lipman, an American scientist, contributed greatly to clarifying how ATP was created.  Drs. Krebs and Lipman were awarded Nobel prizes for their contribution in 1953. As for the details of the creation of ATP, researchers are making efforts to clarify them at present. Digestion means decomposing starch into glucose;  protein is converted into the twenty or more kinds of amino acids which make up protein;  and fat is changed into glycerine and fatty acids in our bodies. The food we consume is eventually burned, or changed into a substance called ATP (adenocine triphosphate) which can give out heat easily.  Almost all of the starch, protein, and fat we take in are consumed in our bodies to generate heat, although they are also used to repair our body when needed.  The Krebs’ theory explains the process called the "Citric Acid Cycle," where ATP is usually produced. Almost all of the food you eat is changed first into citric acid, then into aconitic, isocitric, alpha-ketoglutaric, and four other kinds of acids in your mitochondria.  In the course of this change, these acids reduce in quantity.  The lost portion of the quantity is used to produce heat (ATP), carbon dioxide (discharged through exhalation), and water (discharged through urine and sweat).  Such change and production is caused by specific enzymes in the mitochondria. If this process involving eight acids works smoothly, the causes of fatigue, namely, pyroracemic (pyruvic) and lactic acids, will not be produced.  Then the muscles will be soft, blood will be alkalescent as is normal, and urine will be clear. On the other hand, if you overwork mentally or physically, or your meals are unreasonable, or if they lack in vinegar in particular, this process does not work efficiently.  Instead, it produces pyroracemic acid and lactic acid (which is composed by combining hydrogen with pyroracemic acid).  These substances are accumulated in the muscles and cause pain and fatigue. If lactic acid is accumulated in your muscles at 0.24 - 0.40% of body fluids, you will feel fatigue;  you will be slow to respond to stimulus, and more liable to cause mistakes or accidents.  Accumulations of lactic and pyroracemic acids cause this fatigue.  The more of these that are present, the greater your fatigue.  Fatigue deprives you of vitality.  If you work in such a condition, you cannot work efficiently and will be more error-prone.  You also might experience cramping, because pyroracemic acid can paralyze the nerves.  Sometimes you may experience a cramp or stiff shoulders.  All the stiffness of the body, including death rigor, is caused by lactic acid. "Nothing is more important than vinegar for normalizing blood." -- Shomatsu Osada It is very important for health to keep blood and other body fluids alkaline.  Two of the greatest causes which make them acidic are pyroracemic and lactic acids.  The condition of body where the blood and other body fluids are acid is called acidosis.  If your body is in acidosis, enzymes in the body cannot work well, preventing muscles from moving quickly and making you uncomfortable, touchy, and irritable.  You will also be liable to be easily defeated by bacteria, molds, or viruses.  Thus, you will be experience problem after problem. You can overcome the troubles caused by such acids by means of your mental power and training.  For example, when everything is going well with you, you will not get tired.  When you fight with an enemy in a life-or-death battle, you will win the victory if you fight with a greater fighting spirit.  Thus, if your mental power is strong, you can fight even when tired. If you are suffering from a disease, your will to fight against the disease is the most important factor for recovery.  In this case, however, proper medical care is assumed. Training is important as well.  A trained person can work without causing an error, even if several times more pyroracemic and lactic acids are present in his body than that of the untrained.  But our trained expert still has a limit on his vitality, and will be much more tired after the work in proportion to his effort. Vinegar Can Eliminate Fatigue You will not be tired if pyroracemic and lactic acids are not accumulated in your body.  You can eliminate fatigue by burning and consuming the pyroracemic and lactic acids already present.  For this purpose, you have to make the citric acid cycle work well, which is the process where each one of eight acids is changed to another in turn, as mentioned earlier. The oxaloacetic acid plays the most important role for a smooth work of this cycle.  It would be the most desirable if we could supply the cycle this acid for its good work.  But this acid cannot be used as medicine for that purpose because it is oxidized easily.  Some substitutes for it can be chosen to act as the medicine of fatigue.  These are the seven acids which work in the citric acid cycle with the oxaloacetic acid, asparagine, and glutamic acid from which those seven acids are composed, and acetic acid, which is the original form of fatty acids. Acetic acid can eliminate fatigue, because it is changed to citric acid by combining with oxaloacetic acid with the help of CoEnzyme A and ATP (adensosine triphosphate). Why is it that the oxaloacetic acid plays the most important role in the citric acid cycle?  It is because this acid has the capability of decarbonation or drawing out carbon dioxide from other substances.  This is essential for the citric acid cycle as well as over fourteen other chemical reactions in our body. Dr. Virtanen, a Finnish scientist, studied oxaloacetic acid extensively and was awarded a Nobel prize in 1945 for his "Study on Oxaloacetic Acid."  His work and the importance of this acid were not known to the world, however, possibly because of the social unrest after the end of World War II.  Even our National Diet Library, the greatest library in Japan, has no treatises written by him. Stress theory and the adrenal cortical hormone Many know about the stress theory established by Dr. Hans Selye, a Canadian scientist. It is commonly understood that stress is a distortion which occurs in our daily life.  Its true meaning is wider than that, and includes all the things which threaten our life and make us uncomfortable:  factors such a hotness, coldness, injuries, invasion of disease-causing germs, and pollution, including noise, exhausted gases, etc.  If we are defeated by stress, it is said, we have gastric hyperacidity, peptic and duodenal ulcers, high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, and other diseases. As this definition of stress shows clearly, we are surrounded by stresses every day and night.  So it is quite natural that we are sometimes defeated by them and fall ill.  The work of the adrenal glands became widely known by popular press for the stress theory. Located above our kidneys, the central part and the first layer of its cortex secrete adrenaline and mineral hormone respectively, the second cortex secrets saccharine hormone which is usually called cortisone, and its third layer secretes male and female hormones.  These three secretions, called the adrenal cortical hormone collectively, are essential to protect the life of any animal from stress. However, if a stress is too great or lasts too long, or if too little hormones are secreted hormones, we may be defeated by a stress and fall ill.  In such a case, we have to block the stress by diverting ourselves or taking a rest, or to stimulate the adrenals to secrete the hormone by taking vinegar and other nutritious foods.  If not, the illness will worsen until death, if the adrenal glands stop working. You see now the importance of the adrenal cortical hormone and its necessity for supporting our life.  This hormone is made from vinegar, acetic acid.  The Nobel Prize in 1964 was awarded for this discovery. More on Fatigue Can we work without fatigue for our life, if only we take vinegar sufficiently?  No.  We cannot entirely prevent fatigue, because we can not fully supply oxygen through our lungs to our blood.  That system brings the oxygen to muscles, which lose ATP rapidly and require more oxygen to produce ATP continuously.  This miraculous system is not perfectly efficient.  The citric acid cycle works in hundreds of mitochondria in each cell, and the process of change of the acids progresses at a speed of 2 - 3 cycles a second.  If we take any of the acids which reduce fatigue, the citric acid cycle works better.  This can dissolve the lactic and pyroracemic acids in only about two hours. However, the more tired we are, the more acid we need to take to eliminate such fatigue.  Lactic acid, one of the main causes of fatigue, is combined with muscles and produces protein lactate, which stiffens them.  This protein lactate cannot be eliminated easily in a short time.  However, if we take three cups of vinegar water (10 gr. powder) every day, we can get rid of obstinate stiff shoulders completely and recover our agile and flexible body in three or four days.  The power of this vinegar is remarkable. The stiff muscles in our back and shoulders make us depressed and unpleasant.  This disease is said to be peculiar to the Japanese.  We have not found any medicine for it so far except some plasters which have little effect.  With vinegar, you need not suffer from it anymore. You needn’t hate cholesterol Hardening of arteries is a horrible disease, and is very difficult to cure.  Many people fear its cause, namely, cholesterol, maybe by the influence of advertisements.  Concern is reasonable, but you should not fear it. Your body has lots of cholesterol and it plays an important role.  It is one of the most important components of blood.  When you are in danger, cholesterol takes your adrenal hormones to the right places.  When you lack vitality, it is also changed into sexual hormones and sent where needed. So how does cholesterol harden our arteries?  The late Professor Takio Shimamoto of Tokyo Medical and Dental University published the results of his research on this problem and drew great attention.  According to him, if much adrenaline is secreted as in excessive anger, anxiety, or coldness, or if we need too much cholesterol to move the frequent adrenal hormones through the artery wall, it will cause the wall to harden. The popularization of vinegar is important for people and countries Why is it that vinegar has such a great effect?  I think it is because vinegar was basic to the origin of life.  It continues to give great vitality to life. Glucose, which is the most important sugar contained in celluloses and fibers, originated from the simplest form of organic acid, which is produced by a plant with chlorophyll.  When helped by sun, water, and carbon dioxide, it goes through a process similar to the citric acid cycle working in reverse.  However, animals burn all the food they take in by changing it to eight acids.  Moreover, one of the important routes through which animals’ bodies are formed involves alpha-ketoglutaric acid, one of the eight acids making up the citric acid cycle. Some misunderstandings about vinegar It is true that vinegar makes your body acidic? Even the late Dr. Tan Katase, who is well-known for his achievements in the field of calcium medicine and his establishment of "acid-base equilibrium in blood" theory, writes in one of his books:  "Taking vinegar may cause acidosis and abnormal discharge of calcium.  Therefore vinegar is unfavorable food."  (Medicine of Calcium, p. 87). His opinion, however, is a great misunderstanding, at least for the effect of acetic acid which eliminates fatigue.  Acetic acid is not an acid food, it is an alkaline food.  Moreover, it has a very strong effect in alkalizing blood.  In two hours it will dissolve only lactic and pyroracemic acids, which are the main causes of acidic blood.  Usually, we Japanese don’t take a lot of vinegar or food containing much cholesterol, such as eggs and meat.  Therefore, many of us have blood cholesterol levels that are below standard.  It is such people who are attacked by horrible diseases like cerebral hemorrhages and heart disease most frequently.  Eggs and meat contain a lot of proteins and fat of good quality.  If we lack such food, our body tissues will become poor -- lacking in resiliency, fragile, and liable to bleed. The lack of cholesterol in blood, combined with the lack of intake of vinegar, makes us liable to be defeated by various stresses.  The lack in the intake of vinegar is liable to cause the acidification of blood.  In such conditions, we will easily get angry at trifles, which means that a lot of adrenaline will be secreted frequently. Vinegar is a source of good taste, because the more our bodies need some food, the more we like the taste. It is said usually that water has no taste.  But cool water tastes good, while the water cooled after it was boiled does not.  The former tastes good because it is acidified by taking in more carbonic acid from air than hot water, and the coolness itself contributes to its good taste in addition.  Whereas the latter does not, because it is alkalized and contains no carbonic acid, with bacteria beginning to propagate. Japanese sake tastes good because it contains citric, succinic, and fumaric acids, which are three of the eight acids which eliminate fatigue.  The more of these acids sake contains, the better it tastes, the more full-bodied it is, and the better its quality is.  Carbonic acid (H2CO3) is a compound of carbon dioxide with water, and it differs from sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) or baking soda, although these are sometimes confused with each other. Sour taste is the taste of acid and the hydrogen atom at the same time.  Acetic acid is decomposed in our body into hydrogen atom (H+) and acetyl (CH3CO-), which is alkaline.  Both are indispensable for activating enzymes that play important roles, as mentioned earlier.  The words "acid food" and "alkaline food" are used only in Japan.  They have no scientific basis.  The acidity or alkalinity of food means that of ashes obtained after it was burned in a test tube.  On the other hand, the acidity or alkalinity of blood results from the sum total of many elements such as heredity, disease, climate, etc.  It has little relation to the acid or alkaline food. Of course, Dr. Katase’s theory is a very excellent one.  The necessity to keep blood alkaline, which was emphasized in the theory, is growing more important, as the secret of life is clarified.  The main cause that will acidify blood is not acid ashes obtained after a substance was burned completely in a test tube, but acid products obtained after it was burned in our body.  This is a great difference. Is it true that vinegar harms persons who suffer from gastric hyperacidity or duodenal ulcer? Some investigations into heartburn have demonstrated that heartburn can occur to a person who has lost all of his stomach through surgery, or who has gastric juices which contain little or no acid.  Moreover, some people can have heartburn even if they drank alkaline water, or just a lot of water. Thus, heartburn is caused not only by excessive secretion of gastric juice, but also such diseases as esophagitis or gastritis, or when a person who is in highly nervous or frustrated state drinks a lot of water hastily. If you have peptic or duodenal ulcers, you should start taking citric acid by drinking a little at first, increasing its volume little by little.  You can distinguish these two diseases by the pain they cause:  the peptic ulcer causes pain half or one hour after you ate food, while the duodenal ulcer hurts before you eat food in most cases. Why take more acid when your gastric juice contains too much hydrochloric acid already?  You needn’t worry;  because citric acid is the most effective means to normalize the autonomic nerve, which is out of order due to stress caused by mental and physical overwork, and is a major cause of the peptic ulcer.  You have to also take measures against the stress by resting your body and brain, or by recreation, as well as to take plenty of animal food and greens which are necessary to repair the wound. Is it true that vinegar causes abnormal discharge of calcium, and harms your teeth and bones? No, it is not true.  It may be natural that such a theory would have been accepted in the time before biochemistry was developed.  I hope such a theory has not caused any ill effects for some people who believe it even today.  Calcium is certainly one of the main components of bones and teeth.  It has to be acidified entirely in the stomach before its absorption, and can only be absorbed through the duodenum and the upper small intestine before it loses its acidity. What will happen then, if the gastric juices were not secreted sufficiently or were lacking in acidity?  The intestine juice, which is alkaline due to the sodium bicarbonate contained in the pancreatic juice, alkalizes the calcium quickly.  Calcium particles, which are assembled together when alkalized, then form larger particles which cannot pass through the tiny holes of the intestine wall.  Accordingly, they are only discharged with feces.  As we get older, the secretion of gastric juices decrease. If you lack gastric juice, you will also lack calcium, and you will be liable to have diarrhea because of insufficient sterilization of food by the chlorine contained in gastric juices.  Moreover, Vitamins B1 and C will be destroyed by the alkalinity in the intestine.  Thus, you cannot maintain your health. However, the citric and acetic acids which eliminate fatigue can help you.  If you take these acids properly, you can make up the insufficient gastric juice.  These acids, or vinegar, never discharge calcium abnormally;  on the contrary, they prevent such abnormality.  They help the gastric juice to sterilize all the food we take and protect the absorption of vitamins B1 and C perfectly. In addition, the lack of gastric juice prevents the absorption of iron, which is shown by the red color of blood and sometimes causes anemia. Is it enough if only we take citric acid or vinegar sufficiently? Among all the medicines and food, only citric acid and vinegar can eliminate fatigue, normalize blood, and reinforce the spontaneous healing power to prevent and cure a disease.  But these do not make up our body, so it is quite important to ask, "what, and how much food" should you take at your daily meals, because "to eat is to live," as is said commonly. Please give priority to taking fish, meat, or eggs.  Sometimes I participate in group tours, and I see many people eat only sake and little hors d’ oeuvres at dinner.  They drink sake, which contains only of 15% of alcohol with a small cup.  Such a small quantity of sake may cause them no harm.  But many of them eat several cups of rice and little ham or other protein sources at the next breakfast.  I really feel regrettable to see such a habit and poor knowledge of dietics.  As long as such a habit continues, Japan will continue to be a country of small people. How to take vinegar Vinegar is not admitted as an officially approved medicine with many legislative controls;  it is just a food substance.  It is not expensive, makes your food tasty if used properly, and has no dangers or worries about its use.  Though it has such an excellent power, it cannot display such power if you take only a little of it because you don’t like its sourness.  If you expect it to work, never fail to take at least 10 grams powder in 1-2 liters of water every day.  If you don’t like the sourness, you needn’t take vinegar itself;  you can drink it with sugar, honey, or baking soda to reduce its sourness. There are considerably many people who don’t like vinegar even today, maybe due to the calcium theory or fears of becoming acid.  People who don’t like vinegar may be concerned about injury if they take as at least as much as 10 grams of powder in 1-2 liters of water every day.  They need not worry.  Vinegar has only good effects. There are some people who believe that citric acid has a form of a block like sugar candy.  Citric acid has such a form in citric anhydride, which is stale and contains no crystal water.  Though it has the same power as the fresh one, it is a little more insoluble and sour than vinegar.  (Citric anhydride is denser than the usual citric acid by 7%). To take citric acid, please put its proper amount on the middle of the tongue and swallow it with a lot of water, or keep it with water your mouth for a few seconds until it is mingled with and dissolved in the water, then swallow it.  If you practice, you can swallow 5 gm. in one gulp with no difficulty.  If you want to take a lot of citric acid to cure a disease, you can take it in this way.  But if you have a weak constitution, you may feel sick if you take it in this way.  In this case, start by taking a little amount of it or its water solution. Medical benefits of vinegar I said earlier you can notice the effect of vinegar only two hours after you take it.  If you have any heart disease, however, you may be relieved by taking citric acid almost immediately.  The blood of a person who has a heart disease lacks oxygen, and it contains the accumulation of lactic and pyroracemic acids which cause fatigue, changing its color to black and making it viscous.  If this person takes citric acid, it begins to burn such substances immediately and increase the blood’s capacity to absorb oxygen.  This is why citric acid is good for heart disease. In Tales of Common Soldiers, which was written to give instructions to common soldiers several hundred years ago, the statement is found:  "As long as you live, treasure one ume pickle daily, and don't forget its value."  The more we know about citric acid, the more deeply we recognize this value.  I have been captivated by citric acid since I first found out about it twenty years ago, and began to drink and promote it.  It is quite natural, because citric acid is the origin of life.  Citric acid eliminates fatigue, normalizes body fluids, and reinforces the power of spontaneous healing. The excellent effects of tachibanas, ume pickles, Chinese citrons, and lemons have been known since long ago.  Their essence is, we can say, citric acid.  We can find the articles about it in the Japanese Pharmaceutical Codex, one of the achievements of advanced medical science.  However, although citric acid has such a great power to prevent and cure diseases, some people, who should promote citric acid, seem to hide its wonderful power.  Maybe it is because citric acid is too inexpensive for them. The Japanese Pharmaceutical Codex was established by the government according to the Pharmaceutical Law.  It specifies the standards concerning the quality, power, and purity of medicines used for medical treatment.  It is accompanied by a commentary book, which explains the metabolism, effects, application, and side effects of the medicines included in the Codex. Under the article of citric acid in the Commentaries to the Japanese Pharmaceutical Codex (C), the 10th version (the latest version), p. 647, we can find the following statement:  "The effects of vinegar on a hangover and feeling sick from drinking have been known for centuries.  If you are liable to be drunk very easily, please take vinegar or citric acid before, during, and after your drink.  You will not feel sick even if you drank sake to some extent, and will sober up soon without being drunk.  Feeling sick from drinking is caused by accumulated acetaldehyde, which is the residual substance after alcohol was broken down in the liver." Vinegar is a medicine for causal treatment, which intends to cure diseases by strengthening the body itself.  It differs entirely from medicines for symptomatic treatment, such as the painkillers and narcotics that are used by many physical practitioners.  These medicines do not cure a disease, as they cannot eliminate its cause.  So you cannot expect to cure a disease two hours after you took vinegar. Citric acid Citric acid is a pure Japanese word;  citric means "lemon" both in Japanese and Chinese.  Here, I will introduce to you various ways to take it.  I hope that as many people as possible will take as much vinegar as possible.  It does not matter if it is cooking vinegar, rice vinegar, or citric acid, just take it often so that you will not be tired nor fall ill. Citric acid consists of small white grains which are soluble easily in water and have no smell.  If you try tasting it, you will be surprised by its sourness.  If you dilute it with water properly, its sourness changes into a fresh and a most tasty drink. The power of various acids are compared to each other based on the common yardstick of hydrochloric acid, which is the main component of gastric juices, specified as 1.  Acetic acid has the power 1/60 of hydrochloric acid, while citric acid is 1/3 of acetic acid, or 1/180 of hydrochloric acid.  So it is classified scientifically as one of the weaker acids, having no power to cause a burn.  About 540 cc. of vinegar is equivalent to 5 gm., or a full spoon, of citric acid. Notes: "Salt" mentioned above means a substance produced by neutralizing an acid substance with an alkaline one.  If you find it difficult to take citric acid itself for its sourness, you may take instead citric acid salts, produced mainly by neutralizing citric acid with sodium bicarbonate or calcium. Cooking vinegar, which is thin acetic acid, has the same effects as citric acid.  I omit its explanation here because it is not included in the Codex. "Effects:  This item has the effects of local astringency and stimulation.  It is discharged through exhalation after it was changed to carbon dioxide without exerting any pharmaceutical effects, except in case of high dosage.  Accordingly, the dosage of salts leads body fluids and urine to alkalescence.  Citric acid salts have the effect of coagulating the blood. "Application:  This item is used for the materials of various drugs in the form of powder or water solution to give them freshness and good taste.  The sourness of 4 gm. of this item is equivalent to that of one big lemon.  Lemonade of citric acid is applied for indigestion, thirstiness, lost appetite, and gastric anacidity.  It is applied to clean perspiring feet (concentration: 1-5%), and tongue cancer (concentration: 0.8%), and as a plaster for diphtheria (concentration: 1-3%).  It is used as material for sodium citrate.  Many other medicines are made from it." Testimonial "I am forty years old and am presently a housewife.  Since last May I have been taking one teaspoon of tsukarezu after meals three times daily.  From July to December of the same year I have been taking citric acid which my sister who lives in Tokyo has been sending me. "Before beginning the daily regimen of your tsukarezu I had been suffering from high blood pressure, stiff shoulders, dizziness, and ringing in the ears.  But after two months of tsukarezu, I experienced gradual relief from all the problems, with the exception of the ringing in my ears.  Listlessness and fatigue also went away.  Even housework has became a pleasure now that it is easier for me to do.  It is unfortunate, however, that the ringing in my ears has not gotten better.  It has now been three and a half years since the ringing began.  I will continue taking tsukarezu and believe that it will cure the ringing, too." If any medicine or food which has the same effect as citric acid were to be found other than citric acid and thin acetic acid, it will be approved officially as a medicine.  It is quite natural, if we consider the importance of acid-base equilibrium mentioned below.  If the temperature around us rises or falls only a little, our bodies are upset, sweat, or sneeze, giving us a warning to wear more clothes.  This is because we need to keep our body temperature constant so that various enzymes can help chemical reactions to work well in our body.  Acid-base equilibrium is also no less important than keeping our body temperature constant.  It offers the ground for the so-called acid-alkaline food theory. Acid means a substance that gives off protons (one of electric particles) in a water solution, while base (we call it alkaline, if dissolved in water), receives protons.  It is said that the activity of our body is a complicated aggregation of the work of enzymes, which amount to more than three thousand types.  The enzymes work by giving off or receiving electric particles (quantum biology deals with these phenomena which are difficult to clarify;  however, it is in an early stage yet).  Some of them require an acid environment for their activities, and other require an alkaline one, adding to the complication. pH is the unit of acidity and alkalinity.  Its neutral value is 7.0.  Our blood must keep its alkalescence at pH 7.4 on the average throughout the body, or we cannot live.  In fact, if the pH of the blood is slightly acid at pH 7.0, or over-alkaline at 7.7, for over two to three hours, we will die (Guyton: Physiology, p. 420).  Though deep breathing is good for health, you should not continue it too long, because it may cause over-alkalinity. After we take an exercise a little intensely, we pant for breath.  Sufficient oxygen was not supplied during such intense exercise.  It led to insufficient oxidization and the production of a lot of lactic acid, which is the fatigue substance, making blood and body fluids acid.  Thus we pant for breath to bring in more oxygen and to discharge carbonic acid in the body, to ease the over-acidity as soon as possible.  We need to take in oxygen to cause the citric acid cycle to work well, reduce the acidification of the body, and to get energy (ATP) from the lactic acid, which still contains much energy. However, just this breathing is not sufficient to eliminate the acid substances produced in the body.  Liver and kidneys also make further efforts to burn and discharge such substances separately, leading urine to high acidity.  With all such efforts, some of the lactic acid may remain in the body.  If it remains in the shoulder muscles, we will have stiff shoulders.  If it remains throughout the body, according to my hypothesis, we will have essential hypertension. Lactic acid, combined with muscles, stiffens them.  After a person dies, it is produced in a great amount in their body and it temporarily stiffens the body like a rock.  This is called death rigor (rigor mortis).  Though many cells are alive, even in such a condition without oxygen, they exist by the anaerobic cycle of glycolosis, which produces a lot of lactic acid. "I told the doctor (a Spaniard) who treated me before that I was taking citric acid, and he praised it for its benefits to the body.  The doctor suggested an injection to cure the ringing in my ears.  However, since each injection costs four thousand yen and up to thirty would be required, the high cost of this treatment as well as my hatred for injections made me refuse the treatment.  Although the ringing in both ears is unfortunate and uncomfortable, I am putting my hopes on a complete cure by citric acid, which has no ill effects." -- Yoshiko Tojo Conclusion When the body keeps a pH of 7.4, it has the best power of spontaneous healing.  It protects itself, preventing us from falling ill, and heals our illness, if we have any.  Our body cannot eliminate entirely the fatigue caused by various stresses, making body fluids acid, making us feel sick and liable to fall ill, and preventing a disease from recovery.  The only thing that can resolve such problems is citric acid.  You will understand now why I call it "medicine given by gods." If you take it, it never fails to begin to eliminate fatigue (and works quickly).  It is burned and disappears completely after two hours, with no side effects.  In addition, it has a sweet flavor.  It is the sweetest acid which refreshes our spirit and body, it is the essence of the full-bodied sake, and its water solution added by sugar is lemonade.  It used to be expensive because it was produced by extracting it from lemon of Chinese citrons.  It is not expensive today, because it is produced by fermentation of inexpensive starch.  It is regrettable, however, that there are some people who know the excellent power of citric acid but hesitate to propagate it, because "it is too inexpensive." 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All about the Apple Cider

Benefits of Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar

Home > Family > Health > Articles  > Benefits of Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar People do some pretty strange things at different times, even when it comes to their health. When we get a cough we will sometimes drink that crazy Buckleys stuff, “it tastes awful, but it works.” When we get a head cold our grandmother will tell us to place our head over a boiling pot of water with a towel over our heads. In order to try and stay healthy people have tried plenty of different things. Including fruit juice concoctions, magic powders, pills, exercises, diet fads, and the list goes on and on. These crazy acts include many home remedies and scientific proven tonics that people use to keep themselves healthy or to cure what ails them. Some of these methods are actually very interesting. They often involve exotic fruits and other foods that can taste very good. And they can sometimes involve having people try some new exercises that are a lot of fun. However, there are a number of ways of trying to stay healthy out there that just do not seem like they would be any fun at all. One of these involves the apparently very popular idea of drinking apple cider vinegar. Through my research it seems to me that this old time remedy actually can cure and fight more ailments than any other folk remedy.
Whenever we used to hear the old tale of “An apple a day keeps the doctor away”, whoever told us this was not kidding around. The truth of the matter is that apples are near the top of the list when it comes to health-giving fruits out there. The reason for this is the fact that they contain a bountiful amount of nutritious properties including: potassium, sodium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, sulphur, silicon, fluorine, iron, chlorine, and many other trace elements. Believe it or not all of these same health increasing properties are found in good old pure apple cider vinegar.

One of the main benefits of apple cider vinegar is the fact that it is very effective in detoxicating both the blood stream and various organs in the body. Aspects of apple cider vinegar act, therefore, as a purifier where this drink has the ability to break down fatty mucous and phlegm deposits in the body. In turn, apple cider vinegar therefore promotes the healthy functioning of the body’s vital organs by preventing your urine from becoming excessively alkaline. The organs it assists include the kidneys, bladder, liver, etc. Apple cider vinegar also assists the blood by oxidating it, which prevents the blood from becoming too viscous (thick) and can results in putting more pressure on the heart and blood vessels, raising the blood pressure. This magic vinegar also assists in digestion and it helps to neutralize any toxic substance that enters the body. In cases of food, apple cider vinegar taken before meals can often neutralize any harmful substances that might be hidden in the food preventing things like diarrhoea.
One key ingredient of apple cider vinegar is potassium. One great benefit of apple cider vinegar is the fact that it has a great potent supply of this element as potassium is involved in many of the bodies processes from preventing runny noses, to being essential to the normal growth of the body, to being important for the replacement of worn out tissues that rely on this mineral, to assisting the soft tissues as calcium does bones and teeth.
In all honesty the taste of apple cider vinegar would have to be its greatest downfall. As long as you can get over the influence it has on your palate the benefits of drinking apple cider vinegar seem to be unlimited including the different ailments they have been recorded as curing or helping to cure over the years. A list of these follows: allergies, arthritis, asthma, coughs, diarrhea, dizziness, fatigue, food poisoning, gas, gout, hair loss, headaches, heartburn, hiccups, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, insomnia, menstruation, nail problems, nervousness, nose bleeds, obesity, shingles, and sore throats just to name a few. The list is much more extensive than this. So next time you suffer from one of these annoyances try out apple cider vinegar for yourself and see what you discover.

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Backyard Fitness

Backyard Fitness

edema and what herbs to take

Edema

Related Items: Bloating, Fluid Retention, Water Retention

Introduction
Checklist
Symptoms
Treatments
Dietary changes
Lifestyle changes
Supplements
Herbs
References
Abnormal accumulation of fluid beneath the skin is known as edema. This leads to a puffy appearance, often to a limb, most commonly a leg.

There are many causes of edema. In some cases, the underlying problem (for example, congestive heart failure or preeclampsia of pregnancy) must be medically treated in order for the edema to resolve. In other cases (such as chronic venous insufficiency, edema following minor trauma, or lymphedema resulting from damage to lymphatic vessels caused by surgery and other medical treatments), it is possible with both conventional and natural approaches to focus specifically on the edema. Unless edema is clearly due to minor trauma, it should never be treated until the underlying cause has been properly diagnosed by a healthcare professional. The discussion below deals only with situations in which it is safe to focus on the edema itself and not the underlying cause.

Checklist for Edema (Water Retention)

Rating Nutritional Supplements Herbs
Flavonoids (courmarin, hydroxyethylrutosides)

Flavonoids (diosmin and hesperidin combination)

Selenium (for lymphedema)

Flavonoids (quercetin)
Cleavers

Corn silk

Dandelion (leaves)

Goldenrod

Horse chestnut

Horsetail

Juniper

See also: Homeopathic Remedies for Edema
Reliable and relatively consistent scientific data showing a substantial health benefit.
Contradictory, insufficient, or preliminary studies suggesting a health benefit or minimal health benefit.
For an herb, supported by traditional use but minimal or no scientific evidence. For a supplement, little scientific support and/or minimal health benefit.

What are the symptoms of edema?
People with edema may notice that a ring on their finger feels tighter than in the past, or they might have difficulty in putting on shoes, especially toward the end of the day. They may also notice a puffiness of the face around the eyes, or in the feet, ankles, and legs. When edema is present, pressure on the skin, such as from the elastic band on socks, may leave an indentation that is slow to disappear. Edema of the abdomen, called ascites, may be a sign of serious underlying disease and must be immediately evaluated by a doctor.

Medical treatments for edema
Over the counter diuretics containing ammonium chloride and caffeine (Aqua-Ban®) may be used to relieve symptoms related to edema or water retention when taken five to six days before menses. More severe edematous conditions require medical attention.

Treatment of edema with prescription medications is limited to the use of diuretics, commonly referred to as “water pills.” Agents often used include the thiazide diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL®), indapamide (Lozol®), and metolazone (Zaroxolyn®); loop diuretics including furosemide (Lasix®), bumetanide (Bumex®), and torsemide (Demadex®); and potassium-sparing diuretics, such as spironolactone (Aldactone®), triamterene (Dyazide®, Maxzide®), and amiloride (Midamor®).

Commonly, treatment consists of managing the underlying condition, which may include inadequate nutrition; liver, heart, and kidney disease; or obstruction of blood or lymph flow. In some cases, a salt-restricted diet may be recommended.

Dietary changes that may be helpful for edema
High salt intake should be avoided, as it tends to lead to water retention and may worsen edema in some people. A controlled trial found that a low-salt diet (less than 2,100 mg sodium per day) resulted in reduced water retention after two months in a group of women with unexplained edema.1

Lifestyle changes that may be helpful for edema
If the edema is affecting one limb, the limb should be kept elevated whenever possible. This allows fluid to drain more effectively from the congested area. To decrease fluid buildup in the legs, people should avoid sitting or standing for long periods of time without moving.

Nutritional supplements that may be helpful for edema
Several double-blind trials2 3 4 5 have found that 400 mg per day of coumarin, a flavonoid found in a variety of herbs, can improve many types of edema, including lymphedema after surgery. However, a large double-blind trial detected no benefit using 200 mg coumarin twice daily for six months in women who had arm edema after mastectomy (surgical breast removal).6 (Coumarin should not be confused with the anticlotting drug Coumadin®.)

A group of semi-synthetic flavonoids, known as hydroxyethylrutosides are also beneficial for some types of edema.7 One double-blind trial found that 2 grams per day of hydroxyethylrutosides reduced ankle and foot edema in people with venous disorders after four weeks.8 Another double-blind trial found that 3 grams per day of hydroxyethylrutosides significantly reduced lymphedema of the arm or leg and lessened the associated uncomfortable symptoms.9

A combination of the flavonoids diosmin (900 mg per day) and hesperidin (100 mg per day) has been investigated for the treatment of a variety of venous circulation disorders.10 However, in a double-blind trial, this combination was not effective for lymphedema caused by breast cancer treatments.11

In a preliminary study, individuals with lymphedema of the arm or head-and-neck region were treated with approximately 230 mcg of selenium per day, in the form of sodium selenite, for four to six weeks. A quality-of-life assessment showed an improvement of 59%, and the circumference of the edematous arm was reduced in 10 of 12 cases.12

Because coumarin, hydroxyethylrutosides, and diosmin are not widely available in the United States, other flavonoids, such as quercetin, rutin, or anthocyanosides (from bilberry), have been substituted by doctors in an attempt to obtain similar benefits. The effect of these other flavonoids against edema has not been well studied. Also, optimal amounts are not known. However, in one study, quercetin in amounts of 30–50 mg per day corrected abnormal capillary permeability (leakiness),13 an effect that might improve edema. A similar effect has been reported with rutin at 20 mg three times per day.14 Doctors often recommend 80–160 mg of a standardized extract of bilberry, three times per day.

Whereas vitamin B6 is sometimes recommended for reducing edema, no research has investigated its effectiveness.


Are there any side effects or interactions with edema?

Refer to the individual supplement for information about any side effects or interactions.

Herbs that may be helpful for edema
A double-blind trial found that a formula containing butcher’s broom extract, the flavonoid hesperidin, and vitamin C, which is used in Europe to treat venous and lymphatic system disorders, was superior to placebo for reducing lymphedema.15 The amount of butcher’s broom extract typically used is 150 mg two or three times per day.

Herbs that stimulate the kidneys were traditionally used to reduce edema. Herbal diuretics do not work the same way that drugs do, thus it is unclear whether such herbs would be effective for this purpose. Goldenrod (Solidago cnadensis) is considered one of the strongest herbal diuretics.16 Animal studies show, at very high amounts (2 grams per 2.2 pounds of body weight), that dandelion leaves possess diuretic effects that may be comparable to the prescription diuretic furosemide (Lasix®).17 Human clinical trials have not been completed to confirm these results. Corn silk (Zea mays) has also long been used as a diuretic, though a human study did not find that it increased urine output.18 Thus, diuretic herbs are not yet well supported for use in reducing edema.

Aescin, isolated from horse chestnut seed, has been shown to effectively reduce post-surgical edema in preliminary trials.19 20 A form of aescin that is injected into the bloodstream is often used but only under the supervision of a qualified healthcare professional.

Horsetail has a diuretic (urine flow increasing) action that accounts for its traditional use in reducing mild edema. Although there is no clinical research that yet supports its use for people with edema, the German government has approved horsetail for this use. The volatile oils in juniper cause an increase in urine volume and in this way can theoretically lessen edema;21 however, there is no clinical research that yet supports its use for people with edema.

Cleavers is one of numerous plants considered in ancient times to act as a diuretic.22 It was therefore used to relieve edema and to promote urine formation during bladder infections.

A new supplement and some weight loss plan

I have bought some new paint.. and to my surprise.. I was able to get into a size 16 I was surprised.. I have added another supplement to my agenda which supports the adrenal glands... It is product is by ARUVED( ayurveda ) my doctor didn't tell me he had his products on the shelf.. but I have. seems to have found them which now, i don't have to travel all the way to bellveiw.. Huh.. I'm happy about that. ashwagandha is the name of this herb.. I will be posting more about what it can do for the body..
So i did weigh myself finally and now I am weighing at 219.. yes.. I'm happy about this ... It would be nice to wear a dress size of 12,13,14 yes.. that would be my ideal..
Another topic..i have notice edema in my body.. so.. I will be doing research on the and what to do for this..
I am also hoping to get my teeth cleaned and finish dental work.. I need a lot of work done on my teeth .. I have had nightmare work done on my teeth.. some have literally sent me to the hospital.. Just a thought . I miss want to check out University of Washington.. Dental assisting. Maybe I could get some help with a lower cost. I will need to check this out.

LOTUS SEED: FOOD AND MEDICINE

by Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon

The lotus (Nelumbo nucifera; see Figure 1) is a fresh-water plant that grows in semitropical climates. It originated in India and was brought to other countries, ranging from Egypt to China, about 2,000 years ago. It is cultivated extensively in Southeast Asia (mostly in China), primarily for food, with much smaller amounts for herbal medicine. All parts of the plant are utilized, but the primary reason for its current widespread cultivation is to collect the rhizomes (sometimes referred to as roots) and seeds. The whole plant is harvested in late summer when the seeds have matured.

The rhizomes are a food used extensively in China and Japan, sold whole or in cut pieces, fresh, frozen, or canned. They are consumed as a vegetable, usually fried or cooked in soups. Japan is one of the primary users of the rhizomes, representing about 1% of all vegetables consumed there. Japan grows its own lotus but still has to import 18,000 tons of lotus rhizome each year, of which China provides 15,000 tons.

Lotus seeds (lianzi) are a major product of southern China, though production figures are not available. There is substantially less weight of the dried seeds per plant than the weight of the fresh rhizomes, so the total production quantities may be on the order of a few thousand tons. Additionally, lotus leaves are used as a flavoring and a wrapper for rice preparations in making dim sum; the plumules (large seed cases) are dried for use as decorations. Lotus stems are used in preparing salads and the dried flowers are used in cooked dishes, such as Mandarin Duck and Lotus Flowers; the fresh flowers are a common decoration. The bitter lotus embryos within the seeds, and the lotus stamens are primarily used as medicines rather than foods.

LOTUS SEED AS FOOD
The seeds are roasted or candied for eating directly; made into a paste for producing sauces and cake fillings (in mid-Autumn it is customary to serve "moon cakes" which have a filling made of lotus seeds and walnuts); and cooked in soups, usually with chicken or beans. An example of the latter is a soup presented at banquets for newlyweds, made with red beans and lotus seeds. Red beans (hongdou) represent strength, while lotus seeds (lianzi) symbolize the newlyweds being blessed with a child each year. The soup is also presented at the New Year's festival.

Red Bean and Lotus Seed Soup
14-ounce package red beans (also known as adzuki beans)
1.5 ounces lotus seeds
1 piece dried tangerine skin, soaked in hot water 10 minutes until soft
3/4 cup brown sugar
In a large pot, combine 7 cups cold water, red beans, lotus seeds and tangerine skin. Bring to a boil over high heat, reduce heat and simmer, covered, with pot lid slightly ajar, for 1 and 1/4 hours to 1 and 1/2 hours or until beans become tender. When beans are tender and open, and lotus seeds soften, add sugar; stir. Turn off the heat, pour into a heated tureen and serve. Makes 6 servings. Because the soup is sweet, it is also served as a desert. Another desert preparation is:

Cream Lotus Seed Soup
8 ounces lotus seeds
8 ounce can of crushed pineapple
4 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup of sugar
8 maraschino cherries
Soak the lotus seeds in water overnight; combine drained lotus seeds and 3 cups water and bring to boil over medium heat for 15 minutes; remove from heat and drain. Smash the cooked lotus seeds in a blender and pour the resulting paste into a big bowl. Dissolve the cornstarch in four tablespoons of water, pour into a small cup and set aside. Bring 6 cups of water to a boil over medium heat in a non-stick pot, then add the sugar, salt, pineapple, and lotus paste. Return to a boil and mix in the cornstarch liquid. Stir constantly until smooth and thickened. Reduce the heat and simmer for one minute. Remove from heat, pour into a large bowl, place pieces of the cherries on the top and serve hot. Makes 6 servings.

Yet another example is this one with lotus and longan:

Sweet Lotus Seed Soup Dessert
9 ounces lotus seeds
3.5 ounces longan
3 ounces rock sugar
½ tsp bicarbonate soda
Put dried lotus seeds into a basin. Put just enough cold water to cover the lotus seeds and add bicarbonate of soda. Set aside for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. Drain, then wash thoroughly. Bring 5 cups of water to a boil. Add soaked lotus seeds and cook until the seeds turn soft. Add dried longan and rock sugar. Simmer until longan turns soft and sugar dissolves. Serve this dessert either hot or cold. In Asia, this mixture is flavored with pandan leaves (two leaves are added during the last few minutes of simmering the longan and sugar).

NUTRITIONAL VALUE
Lotus seeds have been analyzed to determine their nutritional value. In 100 grams (yielding about 350 calories of energy), there are 63-68 grams carbohydrate (mostly starch), 17-18 grams of protein, and only 1.9-2.5 grams fat; the remainder is water (about 13%), and minerals (mainly sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphorus). As a protein source, lotus seeds are relatively good, with a one ounce serving (of dried seeds) providing 5 grams. The seeds are low in fiber and not a good source of vitamins. All the recipes given above are very low in fat, but high in carbohydrates.

MEDICINAL USES OF LOTUS SEED AND OTHER LOTUS PLANT PARTS
Lotus seeds are classified as astringents, being sweet and neutral, and benefiting the spleen, kidney, and heart. The sweet taste and nourishing qualities of the seed are responsible for the benefit to the spleen; this helps stop diarrhea associated with qi deficiency. The astringent quality helps prevent loss of kidney essence, so the seeds are used to treat weak sexual function in men and leukorrhea in women. The seed also has calming properties that alleviate restlessness, palpitations, and insomnia (more so in the whole seed with embryo). The medicinal dosage is 6-15 grams when it is combined with other herbs that have similar applications and double that when used as the main ingredient (the amount in the bean and lotus soup is about 7 grams per serving and in the cream lotus soup and sweet lotus desert about 37-40 grams per serving).

As an example of a therapy for diarrhea, one ounce of lotus seed is soaked in warm water for a few hours, then an adequate amount of rock sugar is added (to taste), and the mixture is simmered until the lotus seeds are well done. To this thick soup a cup of tea-made by steeping 5 g of black tea in boiling water-is added to yield the medicinal food. Traditional herb formulas for diarrhea are described in the next section.

Inside the seed there is a green embryo that is quite bitter; it is usually removed before the seed is provided as a food product. The embryo (lianzixin; heart of the lotus seed), is classified as bitter and cold and benefiting the heart; it dispels pathogenic heat from the heart to treat fidgets and spontaneous bleeding due to heat. The bitter components are isoquinoline alkaloids with sedative and antispasmodic effects. The alkaloids dilate blood vessels and thereby reduce blood pressure. Small amounts of the alkaloids are found in the seeds with embryo removed, and these may contribute an antispasmodic action for the intestines, helping to alleviate diarrhea.

The lotus leaves (heye) are also bitter, but neutral, and are said to benefit the stomach, spleen, and liver. They are used for treatment of summer heat syndrome and dampness accumulation; they also contain the lotus alkaloids with hypotensive effect. Lotus leaf has become popular for lowering blood lipids and treating fatty liver; it is commonly combined with crataegus, which promotes blood circulation and lowers blood fats, for that purpose. Lotus stems (hegeng) are used medicinally in the same way as the leaves for treatment of summer heat and are used also to treat tightness in the chest due to obstruction of qi circulation.

Lotus stamen (lianxu) is sweet, astringent, and neutral, benefiting the heart and kidney; it is mainly used for preventing discharge, such as treatment of leukorrhea or for frequent urination. It contains flavonoids and a small amount of alkaloids. Lotus nodes, the rhizome nodes (oujie), are astringent and neutral, benefiting the liver, lung, and stomach. They are mostly used to control bleeding. All the parts of the lotus have some antihemorrhagic effect, but the rhizome nodes are relied upon for that purpose specifically. The active component for reducing bleeding is not yet established, though quercetin and other flavonoids may play a role by improving capillary wall strength. By charcoaling the lotus plant parts, as is sometimes done, a hemostatic effect is assured, as charcoal itself has this effect (it promotes blood coagulation).

TRADITIONAL FORMULAS WITH LOTUS SEEDS
There are some well-known traditional formulas relying on lotus seeds as an important component. The best known is Sheng Ling Baizhu San (Ginseng and Atractylodes Combination), which is comprised of lotus seed, ginseng, hoelen, atractylodes, licorice, coix, dolichos, dioscorea, cardamon, atractylodes, and platycodon. The herbs tonify the spleen and aid circulation of moisture. The formula is indicated for weak digestion with chronic diarrhea. First described in the Hejiju Fang (1110 A.D.), Shen Ling Baizhu San has been made into a popular patent remedy.

Another lotus seed formula is Qipi Tang (Lotus and Citrus Combination), which is also a therapy for weak digestion leading to diarrhea. The formula contains lotus seed, ginseng, atractylodes, hoelen, licorice, alisma, dioscorea, citrus, and crataegus. All the ingredients are used to improve digestion and aid circulation of moisture to alleviate diarrhea. The formula Sishen Tang (Four Wonders Decoction; also called Dioscorea Combination) is made with lotus seed, dioscorea, hoelen, euryale (a seed from a relative of lotus), and coix. It is used for indigestion and diarrhea, and is considered a mild sedative.

A formula using lotus seed for a different application is Qingxin Lianzi Yin (Clear the Heart Lotus Seed Drink; or simply, Lotus Seed Combination), comprised of lotus seed, ginseng, astragalus, ophiopogon, plantago seed, lycium bark, hoelen, scute, and licorice. It is used for urinary disorders, including urinary stones, kidney inflammation, and urinary tract infection; it is also used for disorders of the reproductive organs, such as prostatitis and leukorrhea. The formula addresses a combination of dampness accumulation (ginseng, astragalus, lotus seed, hoelen, and licorice tonify the spleen to aid moisture circulation; plantago seed and hoelen drain excess moisture) and heat (lycium bark, scute, and ophiopogon clear heat, and are selected for persons of weaker constitution). The damp-heat syndrome leads to tenderness, swelling, and pain in the lower abdomen, urinary irregularity, and discharge of fluids.

Another astringent formula is Jinsuo Gujing Wan (Pill of Golden Lock; also called Lotus Stamen Formula), comprised of lotus stamen and lotus seed, dragon bone, oyster shell, tribulus, and euryale. All the ingredients have some astringent properties. Its basic function is to restrain (like a lock) any further loss of essence due to disease or aging. It is often used for urinary disorders, especially frequent urination and turbid urine. Jinsuo Gujing Wan, first described in Yifang Jijie (Analytic Collection of Medical Formulas, by Wang Ang, 1682), has been made into a popular patent remedy.

March 2002





Figure 1: Nelumbo nucifera.