Month: March 2014

Illegal Ripening of Fruits Exposes Millions of Kenyans to Cancer

Dr. Mahesh Zagade, Food Commissioner, Maharashtra state, Food and Drug Administration, India

In an investigation in Kenya and India, writer Kiprotich Koros, discovers how corrupt businessmen use cancer-causing chemicals to ripen fruits. Officials now warn millions of people risk early grave by eating fruits laced with these chemicals.

An investigations in the past one month has unearthed rampant use of calcium carbide – an artificial ripening agent – by unscrupulous traders and supermarkets in Nairobi and Mombasa.

The chemical is used to hasten ripening of bananas, mangoes and apples for sale to millions of Kenyans. The chemical uniformly ripens fruits making them desirable to customers.

Samples taken from three leading supermarkets and groceries in Nairobi and Mombasa tested positive for the poisonous chemical used for welding and for making plastics.

Wholesale traders in big fruit markets in Gikomba, Nairobi, Marikiti and Kongowea in Mombasa are using the chemical secretly.

Fruit adulterated with calcium carbide may also be finding their way to Kenya from other parts of the world as there are no laws governing its use. The Pesticide Product Control Board (PPCB), Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Government Chemist and Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) are unable to test for the chemical as they did not have the necessary equipment or protocols.

Despite the serious health risks it poses, it is not listed by the Pesticides Control Products Board (PCPB) as a banned substance.

Some of the mangoes, bananas, oranges and apples in the Kenyan market are imported from Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Egypt and as a far as India where calcium carbide use is rampant.

This raises major public health concerns with the steep rise of cancer cases in the country over the past few years.

Cancer is the third killer disease in Kenya. According to the Nairobi Cancer Registry, 38,544 new cancer cases were diagnosed in 2012 with 26,941 deaths occuring in the same year.

Source: All Africa

Wider Waistline May Mean Shorter Lifespan: Study

Having a big belly means big trouble when it comes to your health, researchers warn.

They analyzed data from 11 studies that included more than 600,000 people worldwide and found that people with large waist circumferences were at increased risk of dying younger and dying from conditions such as heart disease, lung problems and cancer.

Men with waists of 43 inches or more had a 50 percent higher risk of death than those with waists less than 35 inches. This equated to a three-year lower life expectancy after age 40, according to the study.

Women with waists of 37 inches or more had an 80 percent higher risk of death than those with waists of 27 inches or less, which equated to a five-year lower life expectancy after age 40.
The larger the waist, the greater the risk, the researchers said. For every 2 inches of increased waist circumference, the risk of death increased 7 percent in men and 9 percent in women, according to the study, which was published in the March issue of the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

Although the review found an association between larger waist size and risk of death at a younger age, it didn’t prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

The link between a big belly and increased risk of death was seen even among people whose body-mass index (BMI) was within the healthy range, the researchers found. BMI is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight.

“BMI is not a perfect measure,” study lead author Dr. James Cerhan, an epidemiologist at the Mayo Clinic, said in a journal news release. “It doesn’t discriminate lean mass from fat mass, and it also doesn’t say anything about where your weight is located. We worry about that because extra fat in your belly has a metabolic profile that is associated with diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.”

When assessing patients, doctors need to consider both waist size and BMI.

“The primary goal should be preventing both a high BMI and a large waist circumference,” Cerhan said. “For those patients who have a large waist, trimming down even a few inches — through exercise and diet — could have important health benefits.”

Source: Web md

New antibiotic discovered for multi-resistant tuberculosis

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Researchers from EPFL (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne) and the AN Bach Institute in Moscow have discovered a new and extremely promising antibiotic for tuberculosis, especially effective against multi-resistant strains of the disease, which are on the rise in Eastern Europe. The drug, developed as a European FP7 project, has proven very effective against the disease.

In an article published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, the researchers show that, when combined with other drugs, the new antibiotic, called ‘PBTZ169’, can take down even the most resistant strains of tuberculosis bacteria.

Following the publication, the researchers formed the IM4TB Foundation on their campus. Supported by EPFL, the foundation aims to bring the new treatment to the market. This unusual step was taken because traditionally, technology transfer from academia to the pharmaceutical industry doesn’t work well with tuberculosis: development costs are too high and the affected countries are often barely able to maintain their own healthcare infrastructures.

With the IM4TB Foundation, EPFL intends to pick up the slack in the limitations of the industrial model. “The development of antibiotics is increasingly expensive and the countries most affected by tuberculosis are still emergent,” says Benoit Lechartier, co-author of the PBTZ169 study. “The recent closure of the AstraZeneca research centre in India illustrates the extent to which it is difficult for the pharmaceutical industry to invest in infectious diseases.”

Human trials in 2015

Located on the EPFL campus, the IM4TB Foundation plans to move onto human trials within a year, in collaboration with the University of Lausanne Hospitals (CHUV).

PBTZ169 shows much promise. It attacks the bacterium’s strong point – the cell wall, which forms an impenetrable shield against antibiotics and the patient’s immune system. “Our molecule makes the bacterium literally burst open,” explains Stewart Cole, director of the study and head of EPFL’s Global Health Institute.

A cheap but formidable weapon against resistant strains

The researchers showed that PBTZ169 is extremely effective in tri-therapy, where it is combined with a standard drug, pyrazinamide, and a more recent one, bedaquiline – and both these drugs have already been approved by the EU and the FDA for multi-resistant strains. “This could be the winning strategy,” says Cole. “These molecules attack different targets in the bacterium. By combining them, we drastically reduce the risk that it will mutate into more resistant forms.”

As a treatment, PBTZ169 has many advantages. It is not expensive to produce, since it is relatively easy to synthesize. Initial tests have shown good compatibility with other anti-tuberculosis treatments and it is expected to be equally compatible with antiretrovirals used to treat AIDS, as HIV-positive individuals are particularly vulnerable to tuberculosis, and cases of cross-infection are on the rise.

This molecule is the culmination of many years of research. The preliminary versions were formidable in the laboratory, where they decimated bacteria in culture. However, their effectiveness in vivo was limited. New technologies like structural biology enabled researchers to redesign the molecule so that it could be more rapidly absorbed. “Thus we were able to improve its pharmacodynamics,” explains Cole. “Tuberculosis is often wrongly considered a disease of the past, but in order to fight it, we needed to employ 21st century technologies.”

More than 1.5 million deaths per year

Tuberculosis still kills more than 1.5 million people every year. It is uncommon in Europe, although certain countries such as the Ukraine are experiencing a resurgence of patients infected with multi-resistant strains. The EU is leading a programme that aims to eliminate the disease. The research team at EPFL that developed PBTZ169 received funding from the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Commission, in the framework of an international collaboration.

Source: India Medical Times

Exercise advised for lymphoedema after breast cancer

Women who suffer swelling following breast cancer treatment should be encouraged to exercise, say experts.

New National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance says exercise will not make the problem worse and could improve well-being.

One in five people treated for breast cancer will go on to develop lymphoedema in their arm, hand, fingers or chest.

It is a long-term condition that can lead to pain and loss of mobility.

The new NICE guidance, which is subject to consultation, says doctors and nurses should discuss with patients how exercise may improve their quality of life.

They should also stress that the current evidence shows “exercise does not prevent, cause or worsen lymphoedema”.

Clearing ‘confusion’
Many people with breast cancer go on to develop lymphoedema in their arm or chest following surgical or radiotherapy treatment.

It occurs when the body’s lymphatic system becomes damaged and is unable to drain fluid in the normal way.

Prof Mark Baker, director of the NICE centre for clinical practice, said: “For breast cancer patients, lymphoedema may occur as a result of treatment – such as surgery or radiotherapy – or cancer cells blocking the lymph system.

“Some people may be cautious of taking up exercise as they may think it could make their lymphoedema worse or bring it about in the first place.

“Our proposed new recommendations should clear up any confusion relating to the role that exercise can play for people with or at risk of this condition.”

Jackie Harris, clinical nurse specialist at Breast Cancer Care, said lymphoedema can severely restrict movement and impact lives.

“Lymphoedema can be controlled but will never go away and we know that regular exercise has many benefits for those living with or at risk of lymphoedema,” she said.

“Regular movement in everyday life or work can help keep joints supple and aids lymph drainage and extra exercises can also be useful if swelling restricts movement of the arm.”

Source; BBC news

3-year-old cracks cellphone password, saves pregnant mom

It’s been a milestone week for the Lynch family of Weymouth, Mass.: Their 3-year-old daughter was honored for getting urgent medical care last month for her pregnant mother, and within hours, the family welcomed a healthy baby girl.

On Feb. 10, Kevin Lynch awoke with a severe stomach bug and drove himself to the emergency room at about 2 a.m. Later that morning, while he was still at the hospital, his wife, Tiffany Lynch, also fell ill while home with their daughters, Aryanna, 3, and, Camryn, 1.

Eight months pregnant and feeling extremely dizzy, Tiffany, 33, tumbled off the couch and fell unconscious for an estimated 20 minutes, Kevin Lynch recalled Thursday. Doctors believe she suffered a seizure brought on by severe dehydration, he said.

Aryanna sprang into action, knowing just who to call: Tiffany’s cousin, Kristine Munnis, a relative so close the Lynch girls call her “auntie.” But Aryanna had to leave a message.

“‘Auntie, call me. Mommy’s not waking up. I need you,’” went the plea, Kevin said. Munnis got the message, called 911 and returned Aryanna’s call. Dressed up as Snow White, the little girl unbolted the door to let paramedics inside, staying calm and minding her baby sister all the while, Kevin said, adding that Tiffany was hospitalized for three days.

“She’s definitely our little rock star,” Kevin said of Aryanna. “She’s just a hero all around. I don’t want to think what would have happened if she wasn’t there.”

The Lynches, who don’t have a landline phone, were all the more amazed because they had never taught Aryanna the password to Tiffany’s cellphone, which is entered by drawing a picture on the screen. But somehow, Aryanna unlocked it.

“She’s such a sponge,” said Kevin, 34. “She’s such a smart kid. I think she’s seen my wife using the phone she just memorized it, and when she needed to know it, she just knew what to do.”

Aryanna unlocked the phone, got to the phone book and found Munnis’ photo that was linked to her phone number. “That was the key,” Kevin said.

On Wednesday afternoon, Aryanna, who turns 4 next month, was honored at the Weymouth police station with a citation from the mayor and a safety officer’s award from the police department, along with a scholarship from a preschool and a basket of toys.

“It’s remarkable what she did to save her mother’s life,” Weymouth police Capt. Richard Fuller said in an interview. “The outcome could have been tragic.”

And early Thursday, the Lynches were back at the hospital, where Tiffany gave birth to Ashlynn-Lee, the couple’s third child. Kevin says they are both doing well; Tiffany was not available for an interview, but is “beyond proud” of Aryanna, her husband said.

Though the effect that smartphones and tablets have on young children continues to be studied, it is clear that such devices can be beneficial in the hands of young children in emergencies.

Source: Today

 

7 ‘women’s‘ diseases men should watch out for

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Due to variations in genes, anatomy, and hormone levels, some diseases conflict women some-more mostly than men, and vice-versa. However, meditative of diseases that women are some-more disposed to as “women’s diseases” can leave group exposed to critical health problems.

Here are 7 supposed “women’s diseases” that can also strike men. If we knowledge symptoms, don’t let your gender stop we from removing treatment.

1. Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis reduces a firmness of bone, creation it some-more exposed to fractures. One in 3 women are during risk, though so are one in 5 men. Women knowledge fast bone detriment following menopause, though by 65 to 70 years old, group remove bone mass during about a same rate.

Kidney and thyroid problems, vitamin D deficiency, and lengthened bearing to steroids, cancer therapies, and anti-convulsants put we some-more during risk. You might not have symptoms, so ask your alloy for a bone firmness test.

2. Breast Cancer
Women get breast cancer some-more mostly than group since they have some-more breast tissue. Although usually about one percent of all breast cancers impact men, investigate shows that occurrence is on a rise. Men frequency mind a warning signs, so a cancer is authorised to develop. Therefore, group typically don’t tarry as prolonged as women once a diagnosis is finally made.

If you’re over 50, of African-American descent, or obese, you’re some-more during risk. Watch for any surprising lumps or skin abnormalities in a chest.

3. Thyroid Problems
The thyroid is a tiny gland that rests in a center of a reduce neck, where it produces hormones to control metabolism. If it produces too much, hyperthyroidism results. Symptoms include:

  • fatigue
  • weight gain
  • forgetfulness
  • dry, counterfeit skin and hair

If a thyroid doesn’t furnish adequate hormones, hypothyroidism results. Symptoms include:

  • irritability
  • muscle weakness
  • sleep disturbances

Women are 5 to 8 times some-more expected to have some form of thyroid illness than men, though group can still be affected.

4. Eating Disorders
As some-more group feel a vigour to be skinny and demeanour good, some-more are descending plant to eating disorders. Only 10 to 15 percent of people with anorexia or bulimia are male, though a effects can be equally devastating. Men also are reduction expected to find treatment, withdrawal them some-more during risk for complications such as:

  • heart problems
  • bone loss
  • organ failure
  • death

Athletes, portly boys, group with gender issues, and those who are concerned or have captious personalities are some-more during risk.

5. Bladder Infections
Bladder infections are most some-more common in women, though group can get them, too— quite group with an lengthened prostate, kidney stones, or an aberrant squeezing of a urethra. Treatment involves antibiotics and is typically really effective, though group need to be wakeful of a symptoms.

They include:

  • frequent urination
  • cloudy urine or bloody urine
  • a clever titillate to urinate
  • a blazing or rawness prodigy during urination
  • low-grade fever

6. Depression
Women are dual times some-more expected than group to be diagnosed with depression, though that might be since their symptoms are different. Women might feel unhappy and cry some-more often, since group are some-more expected to uncover anger, irritation, frustration, and discouragement.

Men might spin to drugs or alcohol, or rivet in unsure behavior. They are also some-more expected to finish self-murder if they try it. Because of these differences, many group go undiagnosed. Without treatment, basin is expected to worsen.

7. Lupus
About 90 percent of those diagnosed with lupus are women, though this autoimmune commotion can also strike men. Symptoms include:

  • joint flourishing and pain
  • muscle weakness
  • extreme fatigue
  • unexplained fever
  • hair loss
  • leg swelling
  • eye puffiness
  • mouth sores
  • swollen glands
  • butterfly-shaped red unreasonable opposite a overpass of a nose and cheeks

The illness is treated likewise in both genders. Your alloy might disremember it since it is singular in men. If we have symptoms, ask for testing.

Always Check with Your Doctor
Studies uncover that group are reduction expected than women to demeanour after their health. They’re 25 percent reduction expected to have visited their alloy in a past year, and roughly 40 percent some-more expected to have skipped endorsed health screenings. They’re also 1.5 times some-more expected to die from heart disease, cancer, and respiratory diseases, and they die an normal of 5 years progressing than women.

If you’re not feeling right, check with your doctor. By removing a treatments we need, we can kick a odds.

Source: Health Medcine Network

 

5 Surprising Health Benefits of Beer

Find out why having an occasional brew can be great for your health.

How a Brew Can Be Good For You
There might be nothing more relaxing than a brewski after long day of work or at a weekend gathering with family and friends. And when temperatures soar, pouring a tall, cold one can provide satisfying relief from the heat. But these days, drinking a beer a day isn’t just a way chill out or serve as a social lubricator. Research shows that moderate drinkers, whether it’s beer or another alcoholic beverage such as red wine may actually live longer than heavy drinkers and non-drinkers. The key word is moderation – that means one drink a day for women and one or two for men . So when you sit down for a pint this St. Patrick’s Day, remember these five reasons why this tipple is helping your health.

Heart Health and Beer
If you drink dark beer, you’re in luck. Beer, especially of the dark variety, is a source of soluble fiber because of the barley from which beer is made. Fiber helps lower LDL or “bad” blood cholesterol. And beer increases your HDL or “good” cholesterol, which helps reduce coronary heart disease risk. Beer alone won’t help your cholesterol: Darker beers can have up to 3.5 grams of soluble fiber, but you’ll need about 5 grams a day to lower LDL by 5 percent. As an added benefit, the hops and malt provide heart-healthy antioxidants. Keep in mind that the heart health benefits are mainly seen in middle-aged men and women. Drinking in your 30s won’t help prevent a heart attack in your 50s. Find out how drinking affects your RealAge.

Avoid the Beer Belly
Too many brewskis contribute to the proverbial pot belly, but drinking just one a day can actually help by stemming inflammation that contributes to obesity, according to Michael Roizen, MD. The bitter compounds from hops activate substances (called PPARs) that have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Raise a Glass to Your Kidneys
Compounds in hops, which are used to make beer, slow the release of calcium in bones, which contributes to kidney stones in men. Have a glass a day to help keep painful kidney stones away.

Try a Beer Bath to Soothe Skin
Bet you didn’t know that beer is a natural remedy for your skin. Adding two cups of beer to a warm bath can actually help with psoriasis and other skin conditions thanks to the hops, according to Mehmet Oz, MD . Light some candles, pour your favorite brew and relax with these extra suds, but also note that drinking beer has been linked to psoriasis flare-ups.
Boost Your Bone Health With a Brew
Keep your bones strong with a cold one. The bone-building secret in beer is silicon, a chemical that stimulates collagen production. What’s collagen got to do with it? Collagen is a protein that increases the density in your bones and keeps joints more flexible. Drink hoppy beers or ones with malted barley to get the biggest bone benefits and help prevent osteoporosis.
Source: Yahoo shine

 

Cutting and self-harm: Is your kid doing it?

When you think about cutting – one form of self harm – what likely comes to your mind is an emotionally unstable teenage girl who cuts her forearms with razor blades. However, self-injurious behavior can be much more subtle, and in turn, much more difficult to detect and address. That’s why it’s so important to know how and why it happens and where you can find help.

What is cutting and self harm?

Self harm is intentionally harming oneself, oftentimes with the objective of alleviating suffering. Examples of self harm include cutting the skin with objects, scratching the skin, picking wounds so they can’t heal, biting or burning oneself, and more harmful instances that include hitting one’s head or breaking bones. Of the many types of self harm, cutting is the most common. It damages the skin or other tissues, it is rarely associated with suicide attempts, and it is socially unacceptable. People who cut themselves may attempt to hide the marks or scars, and they may give false explanations for how they occurred (e.g., being scratched by a pet). Teens use many different items to cut (e.g., razor blades, scissors, pens, bottle tops, etc.), and it occurs in a variety of body locations (e.g., arms, legs, genital area, abdomen, etc.).

Who is most likely to cut?
Young people of all ethnicities, ages, and income levels intentionally harm themselves. Cutting is most common among adolescent, Caucasian females who come from intact, middle- to upper-class families. Self-injurious behavior oftentimes begins during middle school, and young people are often introduced to it through peer groups and media outlets (e.g., music, television, internet, etc.).

How common is it?
Approximately one out of every eight people engages in some form of self harm, and currently, it’s more widespread than it has been in prior decades. Among people who have mental illnesses, it is more common, affecting approximately one out of every four people.

Why do people intentionally injure themselves?
It is unclear why people cut themselves; some explanations include impulsivity, a way to distract from personal pain, feelings of control and peer pressure. If a person is cutting or engaging in any other form of self harm, a mental health professional should be consulted. Professionals will use interview techniques to identify reasons why it may be occurring and to provide interventions for effective treatment.

What are the risk factors and signs to watch for?
It is important to remember that each adolescent who cuts is different and not all start or continue for the same reason. In addition, some individuals who cut may not show any of the warning signs. If you believe or know that your child is cutting, it is important to seek professional assistance to assess the reasons why the cutting is occurring and to begin appropriate treatment. Here are some risk factors and signs that have been associated with cutting among adolescents:

Risk Factors

  • Knowledge that friends or acquaintances are cutting
  • Difficulty expressing feelings
  • Extreme emotional reactions to minor occurrences (anger or sorrow)
  • Stressful family events (divorce, death, conflict)
  • Loss of a friend, boyfriend/girlfriend, or social status
  • Negative body image
  • Lack of coping skills
  • Depression

Signs

  • Wearing long sleeves during warm weather
  • Wearing thick wristbands that are never removed
  • Unexplained marks on body
  • Secretive or elusive behavior
  • Spending lengthy periods of time alone
  • Items that could be used for cutting (knives, scissors, safety pins, razors) are missing

What should you do?

If you become aware that your child is engaging in self-injurious acts, remember that it is fairly common. Though it is often frightening for parents, the majority of teens who cut themselves do not intend to inflict serious injury or to cause death. If the injury appears to pose potential medical risks, contact emergency medical services immediately. If the injury doesn’t appear to pose immediate medical risks, remain calm and nonjudgmental, contact your child’s pediatrician to discuss the concerns, and ask for a referral to a trained mental health professional who has experience in this area.

Source : Parenting

 

Which expired foods are okay to eat?

Grocery shoppers beware: It’s likely that a few of the items in your cart should have been removed from the shelves because they were past the expiration date.

But chances are you won’t know that because in most states expiration dates aren’t required, and where dating is mandatory it is inconsistent and confusing.

And that’s just for the highly perishable items like poultry and dairy products. You may need a guidebook to decipher the expiration code on a can of beans, but according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, no such book exists.

Community volunteers working with the University of Southern California found that the problem is particularly acute in lower income, inner city areas, where they found at least one expired product on every third visit to the market.
And on 18 percent of their visits to the store, they found at least three expired poultry, beef and dairy items.

Researcher: Expired Food ‘More Widespread Than I Had Thought’

But they also found expired items when they visited stores far beyond their neighborhoods, including other states and the posh suburbs along the beaches to the west of Los Angeles.

“It’s an issue that is more widely distributed than I had thought,” LaVonna Lewis, a professor in USC’s school of policy, planning and development, said in an interview.

For the past decade Lewis has been working with about 90 volunteers from the non-profit Community Health Councils, Inc., in a program designed to get local people involved in monitoring food suppliers in their area.

The volunteers have found that South Central Los Angeles, which is predominately black, is served mostly by smaller mom and pop stores and fast food restaurants in sharp contrast to the wealthier areas to the west.

But five supermarket chains also have a smattering of stores in the poorer part of town, and when the volunteers turned their attention to those stores they were in for a surprise.

Are Expired Foods Harmful?

Expired foods were found on nearly half the visits to some of those supermarkets, which have not been named because the researchers are still compiling the data for publication in a journal.

But this isn’t limited to minority communities in southern California. Inspectors from Westchester County’s Department of Consumer Protection found hundreds of expired items when they visited stores in that New York county earlier this year, and some of the items had been expired for more than 31 days. And that, according to health officials there, could be dangerous.

Is it a big deal? Yes, and no.

Lewis said that when her volunteers began keeping track of expired foods they were doing so in the expectation that the foods were unsafe.

“But we’ve been talking with some food science people and nutrition people and they are telling us it’s a quality issue not a safety issue, except for infants and pregnant women and people who may have some kind of auto-immune disease,” she said.

That appears to be the consensus among food scientists, although there does not seem to be a lot of research backing it up. The USDA, for example, maintains that an expired product should still be “safe,” but it may not taste as good.

Source: abc news

Get rid of unwanted facial hair — naturally!

Facial hair – especially hair on the upper lip – can be very embarrassing. On a daily basis a number of women search for that one elusive method to get rid of unwanted hair permanently, but all the methods of depilation present today have a number of side effects and not to mention can be quite painful. So if you are looking to get rid of that annoying hair, here is a simple and painless natural remedy for you – Kuppaimeni leaves.

Kuppaimeni leaves also known as the Indian Nettle is a great way to get rid of unwanted hair. The leaves are anthelmintic, expectorant, emetic, anodyne, hypnotic, antimicrobial , antiparasitic and wound healing properties, this leaf is also the perfect remedy for unwanted hair. The leaf has properties that permeate the skin and gradually thins the hair that grows out, causing them to fall out. Eventually this hair stops growing leading to a hair free upper lip

Here is how you can get rid of the unwanted hair:

Take a few leaves of the plant, wash them well and grind them. Now, add a teaspoon of fresh turmeric (kasturi manjal) to the mix. Mix this well and apply the paste on the area where you would like to get rid of hair, leave it on for a few hours and wash it off later. This tip is best done just before you go to bed, where you can remove the pack the next morning.

Remember that this remedy works over time and you must continue to apply the paste everyday for it to completely get rid of all the hair.

Where you can find kuppaimeni leaves:

The plant is easy to buy and maintain. A number of herbal plant sellers are available who can deliver the plant right to your doorstep. If you cannot find the fresh leaves, powdered leaves are also available at natural medicine stores.

Source: Health