Call me a cynic, but I’ve been suspicious of alternative therapies like magnetic therapy – or magnotherapy – for ages. Come on, give me a break, how can something like a magnetic bracelet improve your health and alleviate pain? Then recently, when I couldn’t bear to see my sister continue suffering knee pain despite years of taking analgesics, I decided to take a fresh look at –gasp! – magnetic therapy. What I discovered was certainly intriguing.

NASA picture of solar wind streams hitting Earth’s magnetic field

Magnetism is a natural part of life, like water and air. All life, human, animal and plant, comes under the influence of the Earth’s magnetic field. Electromagnetic fields produced by the movement of electro-chemicals (ions) within the body control all physical and mental functions. We are actually bio-electrical beings, comprised of energy.

When an injury occurs and tissue is damaged, positively charged ions converge on the affected area, causing pain and swelling. For healing to take place, the injured site must be restored to its natural negative electromagnetic charge.

Electro-chemicals related to pain and inflammation have to be removed while oxygen and nutrients must be transported to the area. The application of a magnetic field to an injured area – popularly known as magnetic therapy or magnotherapy – helps restore the normal electromagnetic balance. The magnetic field relaxes capillary walls, as well as surrounding muscle and connective tissues, allowing for increased blood flow. More oxygen and nutrients are transferred to the injury site, while pain and inflammatory related electro-chemicals are more efficiently removed.

So why have magnetic bracelets been around for so many years? The wrists have many biologically-active points linked to the internal organs. Think about how acupuncture works. However, not all bracelets are created equal. Cheap ones are invariably made of cheap materials and have no therapeutic value whatsoever. My sister bought a cheap magnetic bracelet some years back and it was completely useless.

After studying various types of magnetic jewelry on the market, one caught my attention. This one incorporated four advanced technologies in one bracelet, Unipolar Neodymium Magnets, Far Infrared Ray Therapy (FIR), Negative Ions and Germanium. These four kinds of technology are designed to work together in a non-invasive approach to produce powerful therapeutic and healing effects. There were several styles for men and women, crafted from stainless steel, with additional gold plating for the ladies’ bracelet, for a durable finish.

If I shared just some of what I learned about the properties and benefits of Unipolar Neodymium Magnets, Far Infrared Rays (FIR), Negative Ions and Germanium here, this post would never end. So I’ll just touch on one technology – Unipolar Neodymium Magnets – for now. The other three technologies will be examined in other posts.

Apparently, NASA uses Neodymium magnets to help prevent bone muscle and muscle loss in astronauts during space flights. Neodymium magnets are also used in MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanning machines and other medical devices such as pacemakers. These magnets are often used in machines made for the health industry. Doctors use pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) for bone growth stimulation to treat broken bones that have not healed correctly. This method, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in the 1970s, can mend bones that have not responded to other treatment. PEMF technology has also been used successfully to treat chronic wounds.

Here’s one to tickle your funny bone: one unusual use for Neodymium magnets is by people who believe that they were abducted by aliens who implanted devices into their ears. Plagued by incessant ringing in their ears, they use Neodymium magnets to disable these alien implants!

Neodymium Magnets exert extremely powerful magnetic fields, stronger than standard magnets. The main two types of material used in magnetic therapy or magnotherapy are Ferrite – sometimes called ceramic magnets – and Neodymium magnets. Ferrite or ceramic magnets: are made of a mixture of iron and barium. They are commonly used for crafts.

Neodymium magnets are a more recent discovery, and are made of iron, boron and the rare earth neodymium, which is why they are also called rare earth magnets. These magnets are very strong in comparison to their mass and, with proper care, hold their strength for many years. Neodymium magnets have 10 times the power of Ferrite magnets.

Unipolar magnets have the north pole on one side and the south pole on the other. Unipolar magnets tend to have greater penetration than bipolar magnets because the polarity is uniform on each side. The magnetic bracelet which aroused my interest uses Unipolar Neodymium Magnets.

Most magnetic therapy products use permanent magnets. Permanent magnets are materials that generate magnetic fields on their own and, with proper usage and care, never lose their strength. Over a period of 10 to 15 years of normal use, a magnet will lose only a tiny fraction of its magnetisation. Magnets can remain magnetised for 100,000 years.

So there you go. Magnetic therapy is basically the application of a magnetic field to an injured area to restore the normal electromagnetic balance in the body. This is supposed to aid healing and promote good health. Obviously, the efficacy of this kind of alternative therapy depends on the quality and intensity of the magnets used. According to medical researchers writing in the British Medical Journal in 2004, “Pain from osteoarthritis of the hip and knee decreases when wearing magnetic bracelets.” Their findings suggested that the benefit of magnetic bracelets was clinically useful, but higher strength magnets (such as Neodymium magnets) seemed to be needed. The magnetic bracelet I eventually chose to give to my sister uses 1,500 Gauss magnets.

In my next post, I’ll cover another technology – Far Infrared Rays – utilised in this particular magnetic bracelet.

Magnetic therapy has been around for thousands of years and many cultures have used magnets for their alleged healing and therapeutic properties, including the Chinese, Indians, Hebrews, Arabs, besides the Egyptians and Greeks.

I’ve been a sceptic of magnetic therapy for years. To be honest, I’ve pooh-pahed many alternative remedies. Then cancer hit, and my mind opened to natural, non-invasive therapies. After all, acupuncture was practised by the Chinese since ancient times, yet it is only in recent years that mainstream Western medicine accepted it as a legitimate form of treatment for various ailments.

So recently, after doing considerable research into the subject of magnetic therapy, I bought a magnetic bracelet for my sister who lives overseas. She’s been suffering from pain in her knees for a long time and I hope the bracelet will help alleviate her pain. She bought a cheap magnetic bracelet for herself some years back and it did absolutely nothing for her.

The one I just gave my dear sister cost considerably more as it incorporates four kinds of technologies into one bracelet – Unipolar Neodymium Magnets, Far Infrared Therapy (FIR), Negative Ions and Germanium. Unipolar Neodymium Magnets – a recent discovery – are rare earth magnets which are 10 times more powerful than magnets commonly used in most magnetic jewelry. My sister’s new NewTeq4 magnetic bracelet uses 1,500 Gauss neodymium magnets. As for the other three technologies, well I’ll write about them another time. It’s late and I have to walk my dog :)

Magnetic therapy has its sceptics as well as its supporters. According to medical researchers reporting in the British Medical Journal in 2004, magnetic bracelets, worn by many for their supposed health benefits, do reduce the pain of osteoarthritis.

The researchers, from the Peninsula Medical School in Plymouth in the United Kingdom, had conducted a study on 194 patients, aged 45 to 80, who had osteoarthritis of the hip or knee. In the randomised controlled trial of magnetic bracelets for relieving pain in osteoarthritis of the hip and knee, patients were either given a standard strength magnetic bracelet, a weak magnetic bracelet or a non-magnetic, dummy bracelet.

The researchers found pain was significantly reduced in the patients wearing the standard magnetic bracelet compared to the dummy one. There was little difference between the weak magnet group and those wearing the dummy magnets after 12 weeks of the study.

Writing in the British Medical Journal, the researchers said: “Pain from osteoarthritis of the hip and knee decreases when wearing magnetic bracelets.” Their magnetic therapy research suggested that the benefit of magnetic bracelets was clinically useful, but higher strength magnets seemed to be needed.

They said: “We cannot be certain whether our data show a specific effect of magnets, a placebo effect, or both. Whatever the mechanism, the benefit from magnetic bracelets seems clinically useful.”

They pointed out that the benefits were in addition to existing treatments and these should not be stopped without the patient speaking to a doctor.

Will the magnetic bracelet I chose for my sister work for her? We’re giving it three months to find out. Fortunately, it was really elegant and expensive-looking, crafted in stainless steel with gold plating. My sister gasped at its beauty when she opened the sleek and stylish gift box. It looked lovely on her wrist, so I don’t think she’ll have any problem wearing it to work everyday. An ordinary piece of costume jewelry would have cost around the same price, so even if this magnetic bracelet turns out not to have any significant therapeutic or healing properties, at least it looks beautiful and will give my sister pleasure for a long time to come. Pat on the back for me!

Amongst safety-conscious consumers, Eliminator is popularly known as an alcohol-free mouthwash which is gentle on sensitive tissue yet tough on bacteria, plague, food film and offensive odors, it really has a host of other uses. I keep discovering new ones all the time. My father-in-law, for instance, is an avid golfer and he keeps Eliminator in a small spray bottle to cool and refresh himself on a hot day, soothe a parched throat, banish offensive body odor as well as treat smelly feet and shoes. My mother-in-law likes to gargle with Eliminator at the first sign of a sore throat. I always use it to treat cuts, bites, stings, sores, wounds and acne. Great stuff!

Here are a few reasons why you should always have Eliminator handy:

1. Dental Health
Ever had bad breath? What about gum problems, plaque, cold sores or ulcers? Eliminator’s minty anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-microbial formula will leave you with a clean, healthy mouth and fresh breath. Gargle with Eliminator after every toothbrushing session. Keep some in a small spray bottle so that you can freshen up wherever you are.

2. Mouth Sores
Mouth sores are caused by many things, including chemotherapy for cancer. Cancer patients undergoing certain types of chemotherapy are advised to use special safe, non-toxic, alcohol-free mouthwashes to prevent mouth sores. Gargling with Eliminator twice a day after brushing with Ultrashine Radiance Toothpaste – another safe and gentle oral hygiene product from Neways – does a great job of keeping mouth sores at bay. Existing mouth sores can also be treated with Eliminator. Stabilized chlorine dioxide, the key ingredient in Eliminator, was actually developed to treat canker sores (also called aphthous ulcers).

3. Sore Throat
Gargle with Eliminator at the first sign of a sore throat. Keep some handy in a small spray bottle so that you can lubricate and treat your sore throat wherever you are.

4. Cuts, Bites, Scratches, Sores, Stings, Burns, Wounds, Exposed Tumors
When treating injuries like these, DON’T use anything harsh, toxic or alcohol-based. Just dab on some gentle, safe, non-toxic and alcohol-free Eliminator. It’s really soothing, and particularly good for treating foul-smelling wounds and even cancerous tumors. Great for debridement (removing dead tissue and other debris) too.

5. Eczema and Rash
Whether it’s for children’s or adult eczema or rash, Eliminator will improve the skin problem. First of all, shower or bathe only with a gentle and safe bath product which is free from any known harmful chemicals and carcinogens, like Neways Refresh bath and shower gel. Towel dry, then spray on or dab Eliminator on the affected areas. Leave it to air-dry for a few minutes. Finish off with Neways Tender Care Lotion. For added healing power, put a few drops of Neways Lavender Essential Oil into the lotion before applying on the skin.

6. Sunburn, Burns and Radiation Burns
Get relief by spraying or dabbing on some soothing and cooling Eliminator on the burnt area. Let it dry for a few minutes. If the skin is not broken, nourish and repair the affected skin with Neways Wrinkle Garde, an Andean rosehip healing oil enriched with Vitamins A, C and E and special essential fatty acids. You’ll be amazed at how well it heals burns and repairs the skin.

7. Acne
Never use anything corrosive or toxic on your skin. Wash your face with a gentle and safe skin cleanser like Neways Extra Gentle cleanser. This effectively removes residue and excess facial oil without harming or irritating your skin. Rinse off and towel dry. Next, dab Eliminator on the acne-prone area. Let it dry naturally for a few minutes. Finally, dab Neways invisible Imperfection Lotion on the acne.

8. Shaving Nicks
Just dab on some cool, soothing, sanitizing Eliminator.

9. After-Shave Lotion
My husband loves to use Eliminator for this purpose, as it’s soothing and feels and smells so fresh.

10. Body Odor
After showering or bathing, spray Eliminator on the armpits and any other areas which you deem necessary. Sportsmen and other people involved in very physical activity should carry Eliminator in a small spray bottle to “touch-up” and refresh themselves when the perspiration gets too offensive.

11. Foot Odor
After washing the feet, towel dry and spray on Eliminator. Let your feet air-dry for a few minutes. Spray Eliminator in your footwear as well, to sanitize them and minimize odors.

12. Head Odor
Some people suffer from smelly scalp, often due to over-perspiration. Children tend to perspire a lot through their heads. Wash the hair with a safe, gentle and non-toxic shampoo like Neways Ultimate or Silken. Towel dry. While hair is still damp, apply Neways Exuberance hair conditioner and massage well through the hair. You can either rinse off Exuberance or leave it on, depending on how dry or frizzy the hair tends to be. Finally, spray Eliminator all over the head, making sure it gets down to the scalp. Comb through the hair.

13. Skin Refresher / Toner
After cleansing your face, wipe with Eliminator for a fresh feeling. Keep a small spray bottle of Eliminator handy when you go out, especially on hot days. A quick mist of Eliminator on the face, neck and arms will cool you down and refresh you.

14. Parched Throats
Besides cooling yourself down with Eliminator on hot days by spraying some on your skin, a couple of squirts of Eliminator into your throat will also help to soothe and relieve parched throats.

15. Sick Bay or Sick Room
Spray or wipe Eliminator on areas like bedding, countertops and other surfaces, or where there have been vomiting or soiling accidents.

16. Refrigerator Odors
After cleaning out the fridge, sanitize and deodorize it by wiping it down inside or spraying with Eliminator.

17. Toys
Keep toys sanitized and smelling clean by spraying Eliminator on them in-between washes.

18. Baby Bottles
Remove sour milk odor and taste by spraying Eliminator inside the bottles after washing. Leave for 10 minutes then rinse out. This is particularly useful when you’re in a strange place and can’t boil the baby bottles to disinfect them, or don’t know for sure how safe the water is.

19. Food and Beverage Containers / Pots
Remove stale odors and tastes by spraying Eliminator inside the containers / jars / bottles / pots after washing. Let dry before storing.

20. Upholstery, Cushions and Bedding
Get rid of odors without using harsh chemicals by spraying with Eliminator. Really handy when travelling or vacationing and staying in strange-smelling places.

21. Outdoor Furniture Cushions
Spraying Eliminator liberally on the cushions helps to prevent mildew and smells.

22. Curtains and Drapes
Remove stale odors by spraying Eliminator liberally.

23. Car Sickness
Eliminator is good for deodorizing areas which have been soiled with vomit, food spills and so on. Clean the area thoroughly first then spray liberally with Eliminator. Gargling with Eliminator will help to freshen the breath of the person who has thrown up and make him / her feel better. Spraying Eliminator on the face and throat will help to make him / her feel fresher and less yuccky. Spraying Eliminator on soiled clothes will also help to remove lingering odors.

24. Air Conditioner Filters
After cleaning the filters, spray liberally with Eliminator to sanitize. Leave to dry before reinstalling.

25. Vaporizers and Mist Units
Add 2-4 tablespoons of Eliminator to the water. Before storing, spray with Eliminator and leave to dry.

26. Cupboards, Luggage and Bags
Get rid of old, stale smells by spraying with Eliminator.

27. Pet Bedding, Cages and Litter Boxes
After cleaning, spray or wipe with Eliminator to sanitize and remove any lingering odors. Eliminator will also help to prevent mildew.

28. Vegetables and Fruits
Stabilized chlorine dioxide, the key ingredient in Eliminator, is used in the food-processing industry for controlling bacteria and mold and sanitizing, so Eliminator is great for keeping your fruits and vegetables fresher for longer. Wash them first, shake or pat dry, then spray with Eliminator. Leave to dry for a few minutes. Wrap with paper towels and store in resealable plastic bags or paper bags before refrigerating.

29. Cutting Boards
Sanitize and remove odors on cutting boards by spraying with Eliminator after washing.

30. Odors on Hands
Eliminate odors on hands, even stinky fish and onion odors, by spraying on Neways Eliminator after washing hands. Leave to dry naturally. No more having to put up with smelly hands after handling seafood and other pungent foods in the kitchen and even the market.

31. Air Freshener
Spray Eliminator liberally into the air to banish smelly odors. Really useful when you’re staying in a strange place.

32. Breath Freshener
Neways Eliminator has so many uses that sometimes people forget that it’s a mouthwash. Keep a small spray bottle of Eliminator handy to keep your breath fresh. Recommended for interviews, important meetings, dates and smoker’s breath.

Buy Neways Eliminator and other safe products at wholesale price here

Ingredients:
1 cup boiled water
1 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

Method:
1. Sterilise a glass jar and lid in boiling water. The jar should be large enough to hold one cup of water.
2. Pour one cup of freshly-boiled water into the glass jar. Add in one teaspoon of sea salt plus half a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. Stir throughly with a very clean metal spoon until the salt and soda are dissolved.
3. Cover the saline solution loosely with the jar lid and leave to cool.
4. Once cool, cap the jar securely and store in the fridge.
5. When the solution is required, pour a little into a separate, clean receptacle, like a bowl. NEVER dip your cotton directly into the main glass jar containing the saline solution.
6. Once the wound cleaning has been completed, pour away any saline solution remaining in the bowl. NEVER pour any residual solution back into the original glass jar.
7. Finish off the wound cleaning by using a clean piece of cotton to dab on a safe, gentle, non-toxic, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-microbial solution like Eliminator. Eliminator’s alcohol-free formula will help to protect the wound as well as deodorize it, reducing offensive odors.
8. Cover the wound with a suitable clean dressing. I like to use a healing salve made of aloe vera, seaweed powder and essential oils spread on clean gauze.

Ingredients
1 cup fresh aloe vera gel cubes
1 teaspoon agar-agar powder (fragrance and coloring free)
Rose hip or lavender oil
Mixing oil (if an oily salve is required for easier removal)

Method

1. Wash an aloe vera leaf. Cut away the tough green skin.
2. Cut the gel portion of the leaf into cubes, sufficient to fill two cups. I like to use a glass measuring jug, which can be put into the microwave.
3. Measure two level teaspoons of agar-agar powder. Set aside.
4. Place the aloe vera cubes into a blender. Blend until it becomes a liquid.
5. Pour a little of the aloe vera liquid back into the microwave-proof jug, enough to make a thick, smooth paste with the agar-agar powder. Stir until well-blended.
6. Add one-quarter of the aloe vera liquid into the paste, stirring constantly to prevent lumps from forming.
7. Put the aloe vera and agar-agar powder mixture into the microwave. Microwave on high until it begins to boil. This step is essential because it helps the mixture to thicken and set. Be careful not to let it boil over.
8. Remove the jug from the microwave. Stir the mixture and then return it to the microwave. Bring it to boil again.
9. Remove the jug from the microwave and gradually pour in the remaining aloe vera liquid, stirring all the way. You should get a thick, syrupy consistency.
10. Set aside to cool. Stir every 10 minutes or so to prevent lumps from forming.
11. When fully-cooled, transfer to containers and keep in the fridge until required. The mixture will become a thick paste in the fridge.

Application
Rose hip and lavender essential oils are reputed to have healing properties. However, they do evaporate quickly. Just before using the aloe vera and seaweed salve, add a few drops of either oil into the portion you intend to use for wound dressing. I usually put five drops of rosehip oil into every two teaspoons of paste used. When I use Neways Lavender Essential Oil, I just use just one or two drops, because the oil is 100% pure and concentrated. When using essential oils of such purity and high-quality, always use it sparingly and never use it concentrated directly on your skin. It must be mixed with something else, like a mixing oil or, in this case, a paste. Blend well (I use a tiny whisk). The oil also helps to minimize sticking. If you need to make an oily salve for easier removal of the dressing, then add a mixing oil as well.

Spread some of the aloe vera-seaweed-oil paste unto clean gauze, then place over the wounds or sores being treated. Make sure the skin surface has been cleaned in advance. I like to clean with saline solution at the start, finishing off with Neways Eliminator which is antiseptic, gentle and helps to reduce odors.

The gauze usually stays in place easily, without the need to use tape, unless the skin surface is very uneven or subject to considerable movement. The wound dressing should be changed daily, or more frequently depending on the condition of the wound or sore. Standing in the shower makes it easier to remove. If the person using this wound dressing cannot stand in the shower, then add Neways’ Mixing Oil into the salve to make it oily for easier removal. Neways’ Mixing Oil is a healing oil made from pure expelled or cold-pressed oils like grapeseed, primrose, apricot kernels and safflower. Buy it here at wholesale price.

Aloe vera plant

Reference to aloe is found in many ancient works like the Bible. One of the first documented users of aloe vera was Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, who lived from 68 to 30 B.C. She is said to have used the gel on her skin as protection from the sun, and to keep her skin youthful.

To extract the aloe vera’s healing gel, simply break or cut off a piece of the aloe vera plant. Some liquid will run out and this can be applied topically. The part of the leaf remaining on the plant will ‘heal’ itself by forming a seal on the cut or broken area, so don’t worry about killing your plant. You can also peel off the tough green skin, including the thorns, and fillet, chop, crush or blend the firm gel-like substance within to use for topical applications, either on its own or mixed with other healing ingredients.

Aloe Vera is a cellular regenerator with anti-bacterial and anti-fungal effects. The gel has been used to heal skin which has been damaged, like first-degree burns. Other uses include soothing sunburn, treating eczema and acne, shrinking warts, lessening the painful effects of shingles, and reducing the symptoms of psoriasis. And, of course, softening and moisturizing dry and rough skin.

Aloe vera gel

The healing properties of aloe vera come from the 18 amino acids it contains. It also has eight enzymes, including Bradykinase which helps to reduce excessive inflammation when aloe vera gel is applied to the skin topically, thereby reducing pain. Other enzymes help digest dead tissues in wounds. Salicylic Acid, an aspirin-like compound, also helps in pain relief. It possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

Glycosides called Saponins form about 3% of the gel in the aloe vera plant. They are soapy substances which provide cleansing and antiseptic activity, and act as anti-microbials against bacteria, viruses, fungi and yeasts.

Lignin, a cellulose-based substance, is another component of aloe vera which acts as a carrier for other elements of this plant. It carries the aloe vera’s soothing properties to damaged skin areas where it strips toxic materials, increases the blood circulation to the area and flushes dead tissue away. Lignin is also keratolytic, meaning it destroys and softens hard skin.

Aloe vera can also be taken orally, but this is another subject for another day. Next, look out for my post on how to use aloe vera in a healing salve for wounds and sores, including cancer tumors which have come to the surface.

Turmeric root and powder

Researchers at the Cork Cancer Research Centre in Ireland treated oesophageal cancer cells with curcumin, a chemical found in turmeric. Within 24 hours the curcumin started to kill cancer cells. The study, which was published in the British Journal of Cancer, reported that the cancer cells also began to digest themselves.

Cancers of the oesophagus take the lives of more than half-a-million people worldwide each year. It is so deadly that five-year survival rates are just 12-31%

Turmeric has traditionally been used for healing by many Asian communities. It is even applied to wounds, sores and rashes to facilitate healing. Currently, it is being tested as a treatment for arthritis and even dementia.

Don’t’ take too long to eat your curry, though. Curcumin loses its anti-cancer properties quickly when ingested. If you prefer to consume curcumin rather than turmeric, Neways powerful antioxidant supplements, Revenol and Cascading Revenol, contain this extract from the turmeric root, as well as White Pine Bark extract, Grape Seed extract, Gingko Leaf extract, and Maritime Pine Bark extract. Cascading Revenol has additional cancer-fighting ingredients like CoQ10.

When a cold sore developed recently, I decided to try a simple kitchen remedy which I had just read about – bicarbonate of soda. I put some of the powder on my fingertip and dabbed it directly on the ulcer. Whoa, did it sting! Tasted very salty too. I reapplied the bicarbonate of soda several times during the day, including just before bedtime.

The next day, the mouth ulcer was still there but it seemed to be healing. I continued applying the baking soda the rest of the day. By the third day, the cold sore didn’t hurt anymore and it was closing up nicely. I stopped using the bicarbonate of soda as the ulcer was almost healed. This is the fastest healing time ever for me for cold sores.

Looks like I won’t be suffering from cold sores anymore. Whoopee!

Actually, the papaya plant has many medicinal purposes. One is as a cancer-fighting agent. Of the 3,000 or so enzymes that have been identified, only two from natural plants and fruits are credited with being able to eat away the fibrous coating, or protein armour, that protects cancer cells. They do this via a process called proteolysis. These specialty enzymes, known as “proteolytic,” or protein eating enzymes, are papain and bromelain. Papain is from the papaya plant while bromelain is from the pineapple.

Steve Hefferon explains on the Health Guidance Web site, “Proteolytic enzymes, also referred to as “proteases,” are enzymes that break down proteins into their smallest elements. If this breakdown of proteins happens in your gut, we call the enzymes ‘digestive’ because they help us digest our food. Systemic proteolytic enzymes, however, have a completely different purpose, so please don’t confuse the two. When taken on an empty stomach, proteolytic enzymes will pass through the stomach or intestine lining and enter the circulatory system. This is why they are called ’systemic’. Once they enter the circulatory system, they circulate throughout the body.”

Every morning, I make a large fresh juice blend with fruits and vegetables like pineapple and papaya, and I consume this on an empty stomach, for more effective absorption. Green papayas are used, skin as well as flesh, for their higher papain content.

Digesting proteins is a role our pancreas performs; this proteolytic property helps to destroy cancer cells. However, as we age, the pancreas finds it harder and harder to do its job. Eating dead food and too much meat protein overworks the pancreas. and not consuming enough raw fruits and vegetables deprives our bodies of the enzymes and other nutrients it needs to keep us healthy.

When one’s pancreas is overloaded and weakened, a malignancy can easily result. The papain enzyme can help a weak pancreas as it is a protein-eater, like your pancreatic enzymes.

Besides helping to digest protein, papain is popular in the treatment of various health conditions. Like bromelain, it has anti-inflammatory properties, so it has been used to help relieve the pain and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, alleviate post-operative swelling, and expedite healing from injuries and wounds. It has also proven effective as a treatment for psoriasis and cold sores caused by Herpes zoster virus, warts and ringworm, and in removing dead tissue from burned skin, a result of its ability to break down proteins. Some countries even use papain to prevent as well as treat malaria.

Back to papaya leaf tea. Doesn’t boiling cause the papaya leaves to lose their enzyme effectiveness? According to conventional belief, enzymes “die” at 114 degrees fahrenheit. However, papain has proven to be an exception, especially in the presence of water, with optimum activity at 150°F – perfect for tea. When used as a meat tenderizer, papain continues to tenderize after cooking – proof that the enzyme’s effectiveness survives high temperatures.

So how do you prepare papaya leaf tea? Here’s a simple recipe:
1) Select healthy-looking leaves, free from pests and fungus. Papaya trees are easily infested with a white growth which looks like bits of cotton wool. Both the leaf and the stem can be used. Try to get leaves which are from mature trees, rather than small, immature trees.

2) Wash the leaves and stems thoroughly of any dirt and pests. Scrubbing the ‘veins’ and ‘arteries’ with a small brush (like a toothbrush) helps.

3) Trim away all damaged-looking parts of the leaves and stems. Cut the leaves and stems into small pieces, so they’ll fit into a pot or saucepan.

4) Bring the water to a boil, then add in the papaya leaves and stems. Simmer for at least 20 minutes. You can turn off the fire after that and let the leaves and stems steep in the water for anything from one to four hours

5) Strain the concoction after it has cooled. Bottle the liquid and store in the fridge. Like ordinary tea, you can add boiling water to the papaya leaves and stems again and let it steep for a second, weaker infusion.

6) The papaya tea will start to ferment after a few days, even in the fridge, so you might want to keep some in the freezer until you’re ready to drink it. I use ice-cream tubs to freeze my tea.

The resultant papaya leaf tea will be a brownish-green colour. Some people dislike the taste but I have no problems with it. If you find it too bitter, just add more water before you drink it. You can even add a sweetener like honey or stevia, if you wish. I like to drink the tea throughout the day. Straight from the fridge, it’s really rather refreshing.

If you can’t get papaya leaves, you can also obtain papain from mature green papaya fruit. Ripe, yellow / orange papayas contain low levels of papain. Use the flesh as well as the skin of the fruit in a juice blend. Pineapple and orange complement papaya beautifully. For an extra-special taste, put in a few drops of vanilla extract. Delicious!

Papaya is sometimes called paw-paw in certain countries. However, the paw-paw is a completely different plant found in North America. Papaya grows in tropical places. Don’t’ get these two mixed up.

Anyone who’s ever suffered serious wounds, ulcers or sores knows how painful wound cleansing and dressing can be. I like to use aloe vera to dress wounds because – besides having a reputation for wound healing – it is soothing, keeps the wound moist, and minimises scarring. Strips or pieces of fresh aloe vera can even be placed into wound cavities before covering with a suitable protective material, such as sterile gauze.

Recently, after some research and experimentation, I developed a home-made aloe vera paste which seems to work rather nicely. Fresh aloe vera tends to exude too much liquid for my liking, while commercial aloe vera gel contains all kinds of chemicals. My home-made wound healing recipe combines two natural ingredients with known healing properties: aloe vera juice and seaweed. Yes, seaweed!

Seaweed has traditionally been used in some cultures for wound healing as well as many other health benefits. In fact, it has even been called the “mariner’s cure”. Today, hospitals use it in calcium alginate wound dressings, which help to absorb exudate, control bleeding and speed up healing. When it comes into contact with fluids, calcium alginate wound dressings swell to form a gel which helps to trap the liquid. The gel also helps to bind bacteria which is subsequently removed when the dressing is changed.

So I got a brainwave some days ago to add natural seaweed to fresh aloe vera juice to make a paste which could be spread onto gauze and placed directly over cavernous wounds. The paste helps to fill the cavities as well as provide a moist, protective, cushioning layer. Although the wound is kept moist, it also stays drier because of the fluid-absorption, or hydrophilic, properties of seaweed. Bacteria, dead tissue and debris is also trapped and retained and eventually disposed of when the dressing is changed, which minimises any foul odor as well as facilitates healing.

The seaweed I use is agar-agar, which can be purchased from supermarkets and health-food stores in either powder form, or as dehydrated seaweed strips. Powdered agar-agar may contain bleach and additives like fragrance and artificial coloring, so read the label very carefully before purchasing it.

Natural agar-agar strips must be dissolved in boiling water over the stove before becoming usable for making jelly (the most common and popular use) or even for adding to the aloe vera juice to make a gel or paste. Agar-agar powder is much easier to use, as all you need to do is add sufficient boiling water to dissolve it. Stir while adding in the boiling water, and keep stirring as it cools. It should form a thick, glue-like consistency. When you achieve this consistency, add in the aloe vera juice spoonful by spoonful, stirring all the while to prevent clumps from forming.

When the mixture starts to thicken, stop stirring, let the aloe vera and seaweed concoction cool, then pour it into a container for storing in the fridge. It will thicken much more as it chills, and may even set into a jelly! Should that happen, add more boiling water to soften and thin out. The consistency I like is similar to a soft paste. The paste will keep for several days in the fridge. It’s so cooling and soothing when you take it straight from the fridge to apply to wounds.

Spread the paste on gauze before placing it over the wound, ulcer or sore. For easier removal of the dressing later, I usually sprinkle some olive oil on the gauze first before spreading on the aloe vera and seaweed paste. Flaxseed oil is another good option as it is supposed to have healing properties. Do note that people who have estrogen-driven cancer may want to avoid using flaxseed as it is high in estrogen.

For serious wounds, always consult a doctor. Certain wounds may have underlying problems which may make them difficult to treat and heal. I mentioned my aloe vera and seaweed wound paste to my oncologist relative while I was developing it. He thought it was an ingenuous idea. It may help those dealing with large wounds or deep, weeping sores and ulcers, such as cancer patients with raw, surface tumors, people with bedsores, and diabetics with ulcerated sores.

Speedy healing!