August 11, 2010 in Anti Aging by admin

Omega 3 for younger looking skin

Did you know that upping your intake of omega 3 will help your skin look younger AND boost your brain power as you get older?

There are many other benefits to popping a little golden capsule of omega 3 on a daily basis – but those two facts are  probably enough for most of us right there.

Omega 3 is an essential fatty acid and fatty acids are vital for the proper functioning of every cell in your body and that includes your skin.

Omega 3 fatty acids maintain the structure and fluidity of the cell membrane making sure nutrients enter the cell and waste products are removed.

As your body can’t make these fatty acids – it has to constantly replenish them from food intake – hence the label: “essential fatty acids” or EFA.

You probably already know that there are good and not so good fatty acids. Too much saturated fat for example clogs up your cell membranes because these fats remain solid at room temperature.

Diets containing large amounts of saturated fats produce unhealthy cell membranes that are hard and lacking in fluidity.

Omega 3 fatty acids on the other hand are liquid at room temperature which contributes to the fluidity of the cell membrane.

Diets rich in omega 3 fats produce cell membranes with a high degree of fluidity so connections within your brain will be stronger and quicker. Your brain – and consequently your whole body – works better.

Unfortunately the average western diet contains an excess of saturated fat and depleted levels of omega 3 fatty acids. Your mother may have told your that fish was good for the brain – she may not have been able to explain exactly why – but she was right.

Two very important omega 3 fatty acids which you may have seen on supplement labels are EPA and DHA both of which are found in high levels in fish and seafood. So if you’re going to get your essential fatty acids from fish then stick to oily fish like: salmon, halibut, tuna, mackerel, trout, sardines, eel and herring.

White fish is still a great thing to eat of course but it won’t give you the levels of Omega 3 you need.

The effects of a high fish oil diet on the brain is well known nowadays. But using omega 3 as a skin conditioner is less well known.  Omega 3 fatty acids are magic for your skin – keeping skin cells moist and strong  which is an essential element of younger looking skin.

Recent studies have shown that a diet low in essential fatty acids – and that’s around 99% of US citizens – can lead to dry skin and premature wrinkles.

If you’re a smoker – you need to take extra care with your diet.  Smoking damages skin and speeds up premature skin aging so the effect on your skin of a diet low in essential fatty acids will be much worse if you’re a regular smoker.

Boosting your intake of fatty acids will do wonders for the smoothness and radiance of your skin and help you stay wrinkle free for longer.

So – if you want to get younger looking skin AND boost your brain power – add an omega 3 supplement to your anti aging diet.

August 11, 2010 in Education by admin

Garam Bukit

Sabda Rasulullah S.A.W

“Siapa yang memulakan makan dengan memakan secubit garam Allah akan hindarkan 330 jenis penyakit, yang paling kurang adalah gila, kusta, sakit perut dan sakit gigi. Yang bakinya diketahui oleh Allah sahaja”

Garam bukit mengandungi khasiat yang lengkap untuk kesihatan tubuh badan. Apakah benar jika kita terlebih memakan garam akan mengundang sakit? Bagaimana yang dikatakan Rasulullah dengan mengamalkan secubit garam sebelum makan? Apakah rahsia garam yang disebutkan baginda sejak 1400 tahun yang lepas.

Di dalam kitab Kitab Ilmu Perubatan Kesufian-Kitab At-Tibb Al-Rauhi As-Sufi’ (1996), Syeikh Hakim Moinuddin menyentuh tentang khasiat garam. Apakah benar pendapat perubatan moden bahawa memakan garam berlebihan itu membahayakan kesihatan? Beliau menerangkan garam mengandungi 2 unsur, natrium dan klorida. Klorida dalam garam adalah satu-satunya klorida yang boleh digunakan oleh tubuh untuk membuat asid hidroklorik atau jus perut yang merupakan jus penghadaman. Maka sedikit garam sebelum makan dapat menyediakan jus gaster dalam perut sebelum makanan masuk. Amalan ini dapat mempermudah penguraian protein kepada pelbagai enzim dan asid amino dan dialirkan keseluruh tubuh melalui pembersihan ginjal.

Kesan buruk terlalu banyak makan garam disebabkan oleh paras natrium yang tinggi, bukan paras klorida. Orang yang tidak langsung makan garam mungkin mendapat penyakit lain kerana kekurangan jus gaster.

Garam Bukit boleh didapati di :

1. Kopi Performa

August 11, 2010 in Education by admin

Susu Kambing

Susu kambing mempunyai manfaatnya dan khasiat yang lebih tinggi jika dibandingkan dengan susu lembu. Dari segi proses penghadaman, susu kambing lebih mudah dihadamkan kerana molekul lemaknya lebih kecil

Jika dilihat dari khasiatnya, susu kambing tidak kalah dengan susu lembu. Salah satu sebab kurangnya minat untuk mengamalkan minum susu kambing adalah disebabkan tanggapan bahawa ianya boleh menyebabkan darah tinggi dan “panas”. Hakikatnya , susu kambing sebenarnya berfungsi menstabilkan tekanan darah,jantung dan banyak lagi. Tapi berapa peratus kaum muslimin seluruh dunia tahu akan manfaat susu kambing?

Susu kambing sebenarnya mengandungi kandungan gizi yang lengkap dan baik untuk kesihatan. Ianya tidak mengandungi beta-lactoglobulin iaitu penyebab alahan yang boleh menyebabkan asma,masalah pernafasan,radang telinga,infleksi kulit dan ganguan saluran pencernaan.

Susu kambing mempunyai tindak balas alkali yang memberi faedah pada mereka yang mempunyai masalah asid terlalu banyak dalam perut dengan cara menapiskan asid hidroklorik perut dan melindungi membrane mucus di permukaan lapisan perut dari rosak.

Susu Kambing boleh didapati di :

1. Kopi Performa

August 11, 2010 in Education by admin

Cordyceps Penawar Pelbagai Penyakit

Berita Harian ( 21 Feb 2002 ) oleh : Teh Kean Kiat

Cordyceps

Walaupun perubatan moden menjadi pilihan utama, namun masyarakat seluruh dunia tanpa mengira bangsa masih mengamalkan herba dan ramuan tradisional untuk kesihatan tubuh badan. Mereka mengetahui mengenai berbagai faedah daripada amalan ini yang sudah digunakan sejak datuk nenak masing-masing. Cuma bezanya ialah jenis herba yang digunakan.

Bagi masyarakat Cina, sejenis herba yang diamalkan dalam pemakanan iaitu Cordyceps atau carterpillar fungus dikatakan banyak memberi khasiat.

Herba ini banyak ditemui di sekitar Gunung Szechuan dan Qinghai, China serta daerah lain di atas paras 11,000 kaki.
Herba itu juga dikenali sebagai Dong Chong Xia Cao iaitu pada musim sejuk. Ia adalah sejenis kulat dan bertukar menjadi sejenis rumput pada musim panas.

Dulu, ia hanyalah makanan yang hanya mampu dibeli maharaja Cina dan golongan atasan disebabkan kuantitinya yang kurang dan
mahal.

Selepas rumput berwarna perang hitam itu dipetik, ia akan diersihkan dan dikeringkan di bawah matahari sebelum dijual di pasaran tempatan.

Cordyceps mengandungi asid cordycepic, cordycepin, asid amino, asid glutamic, karbohidrat dan vitamin B12.
Presiden Persatuan Tabib Cina Profesional Malaysia, Prof Koh Nang Choong, berkata dalam perubatan Cina, ia adalah sejenis herba yang berkesaan untuk peredaran darah, sistem pernafasan dan kemandulan.

“Cordyceps juga boleh dianggap sebagai tonik kesihatan umum disebabkan keupayaannya meningkatkan daya ketahanan, kekuatan, selera makan dan mengubati penyakit kurang tidur.

“ Ia juga digunakan untuk merewat batuk, radang paru-paru, batuk kering, hidung sensitif dan sakit belakang.

“ Selain itu, ia juga berfungsi untuk menguatkan buah pinggang, paru-paru, meningkatkan penghasilan sel manusia dan merawat penyakit asma, anemia serta tekanan darah tinggi” katanya ketika ditemui di kliniknya di Pudu, ibu negara, baru-baru ini.
Beliau berkata, herba itu sesuai dimakan oleh semua peringkat umur dan tidak akan mendatangkan sebarang kesan sampingan jika kerap digunakan, sebaliknya ia boleh membantu mengurangkan kandungan kolesterol, melambatkan proses penuaan dan boleh mengurangkan keletihan.

Laporan atlit China yang pernah menggunakan Cordyceps sebagai diet tambahan, mereka dikatakan mendapat hasil yang luar biasa apabila berjaya memecahkan rekod dunia dalam acara 10,000 , 3,000 dan 1,500 meter pada Kejohanan Dunia Acara Padang dan Olehraga di Jerman tahun 1993.

Cordyceps boleh didapati di dalam :

1. Kopi Performa

June 24, 2010 in Premature Ejaculation by admin

Research on premature ejaculation

It is one of man’s most common, underestimated sexual problems: Ejaculating earlier than desired. More common than erectile dysfunction, this condition can affect men at any point in their lives, and one in four men experience poor control over ejaculation on a frequent basis.

According to published research, 20-30 percent of men worldwide are commonly affected by premature ejaculation (PE), yet this medical condition remains a taboo subject in virtually every culture. Two presentations at this week’s 99th Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) are helping to increase understanding and discussion of this common male sexual condition.

“Premature ejaculation is a frequent and distinct medical condition that can severely impact quality of life, affecting the physical and emotional well-being of patients and their partners,” says James H. Barada, M.D., urologist at the Center for Male Sexual Health, Albany, NY, and board member of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America (SMSNA). “But most men are reluctant to talk about it with their partners or physicians.”

To address whether renaming the condition would help increase awareness of, and discussion about, premature ejaculation, and reduce the stigma associated with it, the SMSNA has established a Scientific Working Group. The working group undertook a review of recent research and a representative research study, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, L.L.C. At the AUA, Dr. Barada presented the recommendations of the working group.

The working group found that the term premature ejaculation was universally recognized and accurately understood by men with the condition and their partners, and concluded that changing the name may have the opposite effect, resulting in confusion and requiring extensive re-education. In the research study, which included 61 health care professionals, 75 men with premature ejaculation and 48 partners, other terms that also were occasionally used by physicians to describe the condition like “rapid ejaculation,” were not as well understood by the study participants.

Most significantly, the results of the study highlight that the stigma is not associated with the name, but with the condition. The SMSNA Scientific Working Group recommends continued use of the term premature ejaculation to describe the condition, and in a move to minimize the stigma, calls on medical professionals to encourage communication about sexual health and the medical causes of premature ejaculation.

Why is premature ejaculation so stigmatized, considering it is a well-known condition?

Further research reported at the AUA by Andrew R. McCullough, M.D., Director of Male Sexual Health, Fertility and Microsurgery at the New York University Medical Center, suggests that one of the reasons might be the broad impact that premature ejaculation has on many aspects of a man’s life, leaving him with feelings of embarrassment and inadequacy. Dr. McCullough’s analysis shows that men with poor control over ejaculation tend to be less satisfied with sexual intercourse and their sexual relationship, and may suffer more difficulties with sexual anxiety and arousal compared to non-sufferers (P < 0.01).

In the study, men classified with probable premature ejaculation self-reported poor control over ejaculation (50 percent), low satisfaction with sexual intercourse (23 percent), low satisfaction with sexual relationship (30 percent), low interest in actually having sexual intercourse (28 percent), difficulty in becoming sexually aroused (34 percent), and difficulty relaxing during intercourse (31 percent). These findings highlight the negative impact of premature ejaculation on quality of life, sexual performance and enjoyment of sex.

Dr. McCullough states: “Both presentations draw much needed attention to the prevalence and impact of premature ejaculation as well as the importance of open dialogue. These studies highlight that male sexual health encompasses less acknowledged medical conditions, beyond erectile dysfunction.”

The McCullough study analyzed data collected from an on-line survey of 1,158 men above the age of 21 who were in stable (> six months) heterosexual relationships and answered 31 questions regarding overall and sexual health. These included questions about ejaculatory control that were primarily based on DSM-IV premature ejaculation criteria. According to these criteria, 32 percent of surveyed men identified themselves as sufferers, which is consistent with prevalence estimates in the literature. Of these, 189 men identified themselves as “probable” premature ejaculation sufferers, and a further 188 as “possible” sufferers.

Premature ejaculation is defined as persistent or recurrent ejaculation with minimal sexual stimulation before, upon, or shortly after penetration, or before the person wishes, causing distress and embarrassment to one or both partners, potentially affecting sexual relationships and overall well-being.

June 24, 2010 in Premature Ejaculation by admin

Premature Ejaculation – It’s not all in your head

Researchers conduct first large study defining premature ejaculation by stopwatch & patient reported outcomes -

In a four-week study of 1,587 men, researchers report that men who suffer from premature ejaculation (PE) had an average intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) of 1.8 minutes, compared to 7.3 minutes in men who did not. Men with PE and their female partners also had higher ratings for personal distress, interpersonal difficulty with their partner, lack of ejaculation control, and dissatisfaction with sexual intercourse.

This scientific study, appearing in the May issue of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, is the first large epidemiologic study to define patient populations of those with (207) and without (1380) premature ejaculation by measuring average times to ejaculation with stopwatches. This average, or IELT, is defined as the time between the start of vaginal intromission and the start of intravaginal ejaculation.

This study is also one of the first data sets to address the concerns of female partners. Both members of the couples studied were asked to report on a variety of subjective factors. Significant overlap in IELT was observed between the groups who suffered from PE and those without. Thus, the study data suggest IELT may not be sufficient to diagnose PE, and that subjective factors, like lack of control, may also be valid indicators.

“Most people think uni-dimensionally about PE in terms of considering it a disorder of time,” states Stanley E. Althof, Ph.D., corresponding author of the study. “This article demonstrates that subjective factors like sense of control, distress, and sexual satisfaction need to be considered when treating this highly prevalent disorder.”

PE is the most common male sexual dysfunction affecting men and their partners. However, available data suggest that only 1-12% of males self-reporting receive treatment for their dysfunction. According to The Journal of Sexual Medicine editor Irwin Goldstein, most physicians do not inquire about the existence of premature ejaculation when the patient has other sexual complaints or when the partner has orgasmic dysfunction. As seen in this study, premature ejaculation adversely affects sexual satisfaction, and partner distress is a common motivation for afflicted men to seek treatment.

This study is published in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Media wishing to receive a PDF of the article please contact medicalnews@bos.blackwellpublishing.net.

Stanley E. Althof, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychology in the Department of Urology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio and President of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH). Dr. Althof is available for questions and interviews and can be reached at sxa6@po.cwru.edu.

About The Journal of Sexual Medicine

The Journal of Sexual Medicine is the official journal of the International Society for Sexual Medicine and its five regional affiliate societies. The aim of the journal is to publish multidisciplinary basic science and clinical research to define and understand the scientific basis of male and female sexual function and dysfunction. For more information on The Journal of Sexual Medicine, please visit http://jsm.issir.org.

June 24, 2010 in Premature Ejaculation by admin

Pemature Ejaculation: Overview

Introduction
How does ejaculation occur?

Sexual stimulation (physical and/or mental) causes nerves in the penis to send chemical messages to the spinal cord and the brain. Brain chemicals help relay messages of stimulation throughout the brain, while nerve signals from the brain carry these messages to the rest of the body through the spinal cord to the male reproductive organs. When a man reaches a certain level of excitement during this process, chemical and nerve messages sent to the pelvis cause ejaculation. While not completely understood, it is believed that the chemical serotonin plays a major role in this process.

Ejaculation is the release of semen from the penis. Ejaculation involves mainly two phases. The first process through which the components of semen are released from the male reproductive organs (prostate, seminal vesicle, vas deferens) is called emission. During this process semen is deposited into the urethra (urine channel). The second phase (ejaculation proper, evacuation) is a reflex that causes rhythmic contractions of the muscles around the urethra, which propels the semen through the urethra and from the penis.

What are the components of semen?

Semen is the fluid releases from the penis upon ejaculation. Semen is made up of two parts: 1) sperm from the vas deferens and 2) seminal fluid which contains fluid from mainly the prostate gland and seminal vesicles.

Each time a male ejaculates, normally between 50- to 500-million sperm are released. However, they make up only about 2-5% of the volume of semen. The bulk of the semen is composed of the ejaculate fluid portion of semen. Men produce between 1 ml and 5 mls of semen during each ejaculation.

What is premature ejaculation (PE)?

Premature ejaculation is repeated ejaculation in response to minimal stimulation before, at the time of, or shortly after penetration, but before the man wishes it, and over which the man feels he has little or no control. It is important to recognize that premature ejaculation is a subjective diagnosis and totally depends on the satisfaction of the partners.

Epidemiology
How common is PE?

PE is the most common sexual dysfunction reported by men but is still under-diagnosed and under-treated. Estimating the prevalence of PE is difficult since many men do not want to talk about it, while others may not even perceive that they have PE.

However, recent research indicates that 25-30% of men struggle with PE.

PE can happen at any age and its prevalence is consistent across all ages.

Is there variation in incidence between countries?

Global studies consistently report that 20-30% of men experience PE worldwide. This means that PE is experienced at similar rates across the globe.

What is the difference between life-long and acquired PE?

Primary PE refers to men who have experienced this sexual problem since first having sex.

Secondary PE refers to men who had ejeculatory control at some point but began experiencing PE later in life, sometimes even after years of satisfying sex, without explanation.

How does PE affect a man’s psychology?

PE can have a broad impact on many aspects of a man’s life. Men experiencing PE can suffer anxiety, embarrassment, inadequacy, depression, anger and guilt.

PE can cause both personal stress, and stress to a relationship. In one study, men with PE were less satisfied with sexual intercourse and their sexual relationship, and suffered more problems with sexual anxiety and arousal compared to non-sufferers.

Some men with PE have trouble staying in relationships or may be scared to begin new ones.

Does PE affect the partner of the man with PE?

PE is a problem for the couple as a whole. Partners sometimes experience frustration and anger. Also, many couples do not discuss the problem with each other or with friends and family and there can be a breakdown of intimacy between them.

What cause PE ?

Unfortunately, the cause of PE is generally unknown. Historically PE was seen as a psychological disorder, but researchers now suggest that most cases are multi-factorial with a contribution from both psychological and physical factors.

PE is categorized as either primary or secondary.

• Primary PE applies to men who have experienced this sexual problem since they were able to function sexually (post-puberty) essentially since the first time he had sex.
• Secondary PE refers to men who were able to experience an acceptable level of ejaculatory control previously but, inexplicably, began experiencing PE later in life, sometimes even after years of satisfying sex.

Many researchers believe that premature ejaculation, at least in some men, may be due to a chemical imbalance or changes in receptor senseitivity in the brain or spinal cord.

June 2, 2010 in Education by admin

Men Personal Hygiene: Are we sensitive enough?

When it comes to personal hygiene, it is without a doubt that women generally are more concern than men. The evidence is everywhere: you can see more body care products specifically designed for women on the counter shelf in major pharmacies or any local supermarket. But what about men’s personal hygiene? Is it not as important for men as it is for women? The answer is a simple yes. Yet many of us men just haven’t realized how important it is.

Fungal infection or better known as Candidiasis in men’s genital area are caused by the yeast Candida balanitis and is actually quite common in men although it often receive little attention. Infection will cause itchiness, redness and discomfort, including red patchy sores near the head of the penis or on the foreskin, severe itching, or a burning sensation on the genital areas. However, sometimes Candidiasis can occur without any symptoms being noticed, and a more critical form of the symptoms may appear later.

Candida balanitis will cause inflammation of the head of the penis, called Balanitis which has been reported to be caused by improper washing of the genital area, including excessive washing with soap or shower gel, and restriction of soap washing seems to control the symptoms satisfactorily (Briley, 1993). If it is left untreated, it could be as severe as fatal, especially to individual with low immune system whereby the infection could spread throughout the body (systemic).

Besides Candidiasis, many other genital problems in men such as genital warts (caused by human papillomavirus), acute prostititis and epididymitis (both caused by bacterial infections), could be easily prevented with a daily washing routine with a hygiene wash specifically designed for the use on men’s genital area, that have antimicrobial properties which will eliminate the presence of unwanted yeast and bacteria while still be gentle on your skin.

All of these qualities and more can be found in SecretLeaf Men Hygiene Wash, which is exclusively formulated with lemongrass extract (serai wangi) as the key ingredient that has been shown to contain antibacterial and antifungal characteristics (Pattnaik et. al., 1996). It also contains menthol, which provides a cooling sensation and giving you a refreshing feeling all day long, plus lemon extract that acts not only to remove any foul odor but also gives a pleasant scent. Enriched with pure sea cucumber (gamat) extract, SecretLeaf Men Hygiene Wash also gradually will heal presence of scars and restore the skin’s natural suppleness.

References:

Birley, H.D.L., Walker, M.M., Luzzi, G.A., Bell, R., Taylor-Robinson, D., Byrne, M. and Renton, A.M. Clinical features and management of recurrent balanitis; association with atopy and genital washing. Genitourin Med. 1993. 69: 400-403.

Pattnaik, S., Subramanyam,V.R. and Kole, C. Antibacterial and antifungal activity of ten essential oils in vitro. Microbios. 1996. 86(349):237-46.

May 21, 2010 in Education, Paraben by admin

Paraben (parahydroxy benzoate)

Parabens are a class of chemicals widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. These compounds are used primarily for their antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. They can be found in shampoos, commercial moisturizers, shaving gels, personal lubricants, spray tanning solution and toothpaste. They are also used as food additives. The allowed limit in European Unioun (EU) is up to 0.4% for any individual paraben.

Their effectiveness as preservatives, in combination with their low cost, their long history of safe use and the unproven effectiveness of natural alternatives like grapefruit seed extract (GSE) as antimicrobial, probably explains why parabens are so common. They are becoming increasingly controversial, however, and some organizations are against their everyday use.

Some parabens are found naturally in plant sources. For example, methylparaben is found in blueberries. However, all commercially used parabens are synthetically produced, although some are identical to those found in nature.

Studies on effects of parabens in mice indicate that parabens are practically non-toxic. Parabens are rapidly absorbed, metabolized, and excreted. In individuals with normal skin, parabens are, for the most part, non-irritating and does not cause allergic reaction (Soni et. al., 2005). This study also indicates that paraben is not toxic to the genes, and that its structure did not indicate to be cancerous.

Several studies reported results that indirectly support a connection between the presence of parabens and breast cancer. Detection of high levels of parabens in breast tumors and the ability of parabens to mimic estrogen, a hormone involved in breast cancers are the reasons some scientists believe in this theory. Animal studies also reported negative reproductive effects of parabens.

The lead researcher of the UK study, molecular biologist Philippa Darbre, reported that the parabens found in the tumors indicate that they came from something applied to the skin, such as an underarm deodorant, cream or body spray, which explain why up to 60% of all breast tumors are found in just one-fifth of the breast – the upper-outer quadrant, nearest the underarm. A study in 20 human breasts showed that a significant amount of parabens were present, majority as methylparaben. These studies demonstrate that parabens can be found intact in the human breast (Darbre et. al., 2004).

While current studies do not directly connect parabens with tumors, so do the studies that demonstrate that parabens are safe; and the long-term health effects of exposure to parabens are still unknown. To date, the use of parabens in cosmetic is restricted by the European Union, Brazil and Japan. Their use as food additives in EU standard however, is more restricted whereby methyl paraben is classified as dangerous, while the use of propyl paraben is banned altogether.

Reference:

Darbre PD, Aljarrah A, Miller WR, Coldham NG, Sauer MJ, Pope GS. Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumours. J Appl Toxicol. 2004 Jan-Feb;24(1):5-13.

Soni, M. G.; Carabin, I. G.; Burdock, G. A. Safety assessment of esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (parabens). Food and Chemical Toxicology (2005), 43(7), 985-1015.

May 21, 2010 in Education, Gamat (Sea Cucumber) by admin

Gamat (Sea Cucumber)

Sea cucumber, or better known as Gamat has been used as alternative medicine in Malaysia for over 300 years. Traditionally, it is used to treat cuts, sores and inflammation, stomach ulcers or to revitalize the body because of its powerful healing capability. It is often used by mothers who have just given birth as a mean to speed up their healing process, and also help to relief post-surgery pain. Besides being valued for its flavor-enhancing properties, sea cucumber is widely regarded as a stimulant and aphrodisiac, especially in Chinese culture.

This local marine animal can be found mainly in sea floor almost everywhere. Its unique ability to loosen and tighten its body in order for it to maneuver into small space, up to the level where it could liquefy itself and pour into the space, is characterized by the catch collagen that forms their body wall. As a defense mechanism when being attacked, this creature will eject its tubules, and excrete a toxin which can kill any animal in the vicinity. The tubules will grow back as early as one and a half week. This healing property is the main reason it is widely used as traditional healing remedy. It is believed that the sea cucumber contains all the fatty acids necessary to play an active role in tissue repair.

Remarkably, these creatures have the ability to live for months, often up to half a year without feeding, although when they eventually starved, the sea cucumber will slowly shrink as it digests its own body mass to survive.

In China, it is regularly used in Chinese cuisine and commercially sold in dried, powdered form. In Malaysia however, the most common Gamat utilized is from of the species Stichopus horrens and are more famous for its benefits in pharmaceutical industry. Extracts are prepared and made into oil, cream or cosmetics. Some products are intended to be taken internally.

Harvesting and Processing Gamat

Gamat is collected by a technique called ‘trepang’, which include spearing, diving, dredging or simply picking the animals up by hand when they are exposed at low tide. Traditionally, fishers process Gamat by putting them into a wok on low heat without adding water. After the initial cooking, they are transferred into a wok of boiling water where some papaya (Carica papaya) leaves or lime (calcium carbonate) have been added and the mixture is left to boil in order to soften its skin. They are then smoked or sun dried.

Extraction of Gamat is usually done in distilled water. The fatty acid components such as EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) which are the underlying elements for the healing property are also dissolved in the solution. However, different types of solvent used in extraction have been shown to provide better affinity to different types of fatty acids compound found in the extract (Fredalina et. al., 1999). For instance, higher percentage of EPA which is essential for overall mental health, was obtained using PBS (phosphate buffer saline) extraction, while DHA content which helps lower the risk of heart disease, increased when extracted in distilled water. Oleic acid composition that has the benefit of boosting memory also showed better affinity in PBS extraction whereas methanol/ethanol extraction was found to be better in obtaining higher amount of palmitic acid.

Medicinal Property of Gamat

Gamat is cholesterol-free. It is high in protein (55% of dry body weight) and contains 10-16% mucopolysaccharides (substances used for building cartilage) and saponins; it is helpful in reducing arthritic pain and pharmacological studies indicate that the saponins have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties (Dharmananda, undated).

Research carried out by Malaysian scientists indicated that three types of antimicrobial agents were found in H. atra, which exhibited high activity against various types of yeast and fungi, but bacterial species showed resistance against these agents (Ibrahim et. al., 1992). However, some species of Gamat has also been found to have antibacterial property. When being extracted in PBS, the Gamat extract were able to inhibit the growth of all gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria tested (Ridzwan et. al., 1995).

Another attribute it is renowned for is the used of Gamat as a healing agent, which correlates to its ability to act as an analgestic or painkiller. This has been proved by a study showing that the water extract of Gamat body fluid significantly reduce the sensitivity of painful stimuli of mice, making them less susceptible to the abdominal pain triggered by acetic acid uptake (Ridzwan et. al., 2003).  Scientists from the University of Malaya also reported on the painkilling, anti-inflammatory and anti-itching properties of certain Gamat species (Awaluddin, 2001).

Studies carried out by Hawa et. al. (1999) showed that the body fluid of certain types of Gamat demonstrated antioxidant activity marked by the high level of SOD (superoxide mutase) antioxidant. This particular antioxidant is important to counter the damages made by oxygen free radicals formed from normal metabolism and other external factors such as pollution and ultra violet radiation, which could cause premature ageing, cancer and cardiovascular disease.

Conclusion

The extract of Gamat has been incorporated in many cosmetic and health products as Gamat itself is a natural source of Vitamin E, antioxidant and essential fatty acids such as EPA and DHA, possess antimicrobial activity and other numerous benefits. They feed mostly on plankton and are less susceptible to mercury poisoning than fish, and has been certified to be Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) as endorsed by the US Food And Drug Administration (US FDA).

Reference:

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