Masalah Usus

Ia boleh bermula daripada dinding usus yang dipenuhi dengan kekotoran najis yang tersangkut pada dinding usus, lendir dan plag lemak. Kesemua ini merupakan bahan-bahan yang boleh menyebabkan kepada pembentukan sel-sel kanser pada usus.

Dinding usus yang disaluti dengan kekotoran-kekotoran ini juga boleh menghalang penyerapan pemakanan dengan berkesan tetapi menjadi tempat pembiakan parasit dan patogen yang boleh melibatkan kepada masalah-masalah lain seperti pencemaran darah dan keracunan pada keseluran badan.

Antara penyakit-penyakit dan masalah-masalah daripada usus yang kotor adalah:

• Kanser kolon (usus besar)
• Penyakit kulit
• Obesiti
• Kurang berat badan
• Sembelit
• Buasir
• Ketumbuhan pada usus besar
• Cepat tua
• Haid yang tidak normal (pada kaum hawa)
• Jerawat
• Darah tinggi
• Masalah sendi
• Masalah jantung
• Glukoma
• Penyakit hati (liver)
• Kencing manis
• Insomnia

Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Hassk., also known as Taojinniang or Downy Rose Myrtle, is a plant of the Myrtaceae family. The root or ripe fruit of which can be dried and used as medicines. Their Chinese medicinal names are Gangren and Gangrenzi respectively.
There are about 18 species of plants in the Rhodomyrtus genus in the world which are distributed in tropical Asia and Oceania. Only 1 species is found in China and is used as herbal medicine. This species is distributed in Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Southern Hunan and Taiwan, etc., in China; it is also distributed in Indo-China Peninsula, the Philippines, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Indonesia, etc.
“Taojinniang” was first described as a medicine in A Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica. It is recorded in most herbal medicine works of the past, and the medicinal species has remained the same from ancient times to the present day. This species was once stated in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (1977) as the prescribed original plant species of the Chinese medicine Gangren; this species is stated in Criteria of Herbal Drugs in Guangdong Province as the prescribed original plant species of the Chinese medicines Gangren and Gangrenzi. It is mainly produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Taiwan, etc., in China.
The root of Taojinniang mainly contains tannins; the fruit mainly contains flavonoid glycosides. Criteria of Herbal Drugs in Guangdong Province use thin-layer chromatography to control the quality of the medicinal materials.
Pharmacological studies indicate that the root and fruit of Taojinniang have the effects of stopping bleeding and anti-bacteria, etc.
According to folk experience, Gangren has the functions of regulating Qi and relieving pain, eliminating dampness and stopping diarrhoea, eliminating blood stasis and stopping bleeding, and tonifying the kidneys and nourishing the blood; Gangrenzi has the functions of nourishing the blood and stopping bleeding, and astringing the bowel and arresting seminal emissions.

Herbal Preparation from Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa (Kemunting) Extract

Fifteen Causes of Colon Cancer

1.       Age

Age is the number one risk factor for colon cancer. Does that mean that age causes colon cancer? Not directly. It's just that by age age 50, one in four people has polyps. You'll learn more about polyps and their role in #14.

2.       Alcohol

Research has indicated that alcohol increases colorectal cancer risk. Research has also shown that it lowers it, or that it has no effect at all. So which is right? All of it may be. The key appears to be what kind of alcohol you're drinking.

3.       Diabetes

A study published in the journal Gastroenterology found that insulin dependency contributes to colon cancer development. In general, diabetics are up to 40% more likely to develop colon cancer than people who don't have diabetes.

4.       Diet

Diets high in fat and cholesterol (especially from animal sources) have been found to cause colon cancer. Low-fiber diets have also been associated with increased risk, but the research isn't as clear.

5.       Environment

Research has shown that environment can play a big part in colon cancer development. Where you live, who's around you, your occupation, and even when you work may all influence your risk of developing colon cancer.

6.       Ethnicity, Race, and Social Status

Does colorectal cancer afflict everyone equally or are some groups of people more likely to be diagnosed than others? The reasons are varied, but some groups get colorectal cancer more often than others. Ethnicity, race, and social status all play a part.

7.       Family Medical History

Most colon cancer occurs in people with no family history of the disease. But, colon cancer can run in the family. Whether you're at increased risk depends on which family member was diagnosed and at what age.

8.       Gender

You may have heard that men are more likely to get colorectal cancer than women. You may have heard it the other way around, too. Both statements can be true depending on the context.

9.       Genetics

Researchers estimate that about 25% of colon cancer cases have some sort of genetic link. Examples of the most common genetic causes of colon cancer include mutations leading to FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis) and HNPCC (hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer).

10.   Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

Inflammatory bowel disease, often characterized by conditions such as ulcerative colitis and Chron's disease, increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer. In general, the longer a person has had inflammatory bowel disease, the greater his or her chance of developing colorectal cancer.

11.   Lack of Exercise

There's no denying that exercise is good for you. The couch potato in me would like to see a study every once in a while declaring otherwise, but that just doesn't happen. Research has shown that a sedentary lifestyle contributes to colon cancer development.

12.   Obesity

Nobody likes to have the word obese thrown at them. But, obesity is a medical term that indicates someone exceeds their recommended weight, one step beyond simply being overweight. And the answer to the question is yes, obesity does increase colon cancer risk.

13.   Personal Medical History

Your personal medical history can significantly impact your chances of developing colorectal cancer. A medical history that includes polyps, bowel inflammation, or certain cancers is particularly relevant.

14.   Polyps

Virtually all colon cancer develops from adenomatous polyps in the colon, generally referred to simply as colon polyps. A personal or family history of polyps puts you at higher risk for colon cancer.

15.   Smoking

Long-term cigarette smoking causes colon cancer for two main reasons. First, inhaled or swallowed tobacco smoke transports carcinogens to the colon. Second, tobacco use appears to increase polyp size.

Colorectal Cancer

What Is It?

Not including skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer in men and women and the second highest cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Yet, when found early, it is highly curable. This type of cancer occurs when abnormal cells grow in the lining of the large intestine (colon) or rectum. Learn more about who gets colorectal cancer, how it is detected, and what the latest treatments can accomplish.

How It Starts

Colorectal cancers often begin as polyps – benign growths on the interior surface of the colon. The two most common types of intestinal polyps are adenomas and hyperplastic polyps. They develop when there are errors in the way cells grow and repair the lining of the colon. Most polyps remain benign, but some have the potential to turn cancerous. Removing them early prevents colorectal cancer.





Risk Factors You Can't Control

Your risk of colorectal cancer depends on genetics and lifestyle. Factors you can't control include:

• Age – most patients are older than 50
• Polyps or inflammatory bowel disease
• Family history of colorectal cancer
• History of ovarian or breast cancer

Risk Factors You Can Control

Some factors that raise the risk of colorectal cancer are within your control:

• Diet high in red or processed meats, or meats cooked at high temperatures
• Being overweight (excess fat around the waist)
• Exercising too little
• Smoking or drinking alcohol

Colorectal Cancer Warning Signs

There are usually no early warning signs for colorectal cancer. For this reason it's important to get screened. Detecting cancer early means it's more curable. As the disease progresses, patients may notice blood in the stool, abdominal pain, a change in bowel habits (such as constipation or diarrhea), unexplained weight loss, or fatigue. By the time these symptoms appear, tumors tend to be larger and more difficult to treat.

Colorectal Cancer Screening

Because colorectal cancer is stealthy, screenings are the key to early detection. Beginning at age 50, most people should have a colonoscopy every 10 years. This procedure uses a tiny camera to examine the entire colon and rectum. These tests not only find tumors early, but can actually prevent colorectal cancer by removing polyps (shown here).

X-Rays of the Colon (Lower GI)

X-Rays of the colon -- using a chalky liquid known as barium as a contrast agent -- allow your doctor a glimpse at the interior of the colon and rectum, offering another way to detect polyps, tumors, and changes in the intestinal tissue. Shown here is an "apple core" tumor constricting the colon. Like the virtual colonoscopy, any abnormalities that appear on the X-rays will need to be followed up with a conventional colonoscopy.

Diagnosing Colorectal Cancer

If testing reveals a possible tumor, the next step is a biopsy. During a colonoscopy, your doctor will remove polyps and take tissue samples from any parts of the colon that look unusual. This tissue is examined under a microscope to determine whether or not it is cancerous. Shown here is a color-enhanced, magnified view of colon cancer cells.

Staging Colorectal Cancer

If cancer is detected, it will be "staged," a process of finding out how far the cancer has spread. Tumor size may not correlate with the stage of cancer. Staging also enables your doctor to determine what type of treatment you will receive.

• Stage 0 -- Cancer is only in the innermost lining of the colon or rectum.
• Stage I -- Cancer has not spread beyond the inner wall of the colon or rectum.
• Stage II -- Cancer has spread into the muscle layer of the colon or rectum.
• Stage III -- Cancer has spread to one or more lymph nodes in the area.
• Stage IV -- Cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lung, or bones. This stage does NOT depend on how deep the tumor has penetrated or if the disease has spread to the lymph nodes near the tumor.

Colorectal Cancer Survival Rates

The outlook for your recovery depends on the stage of your cancer, with higher stages meaning more serious cancer. The five-year survival rate refers to the percentage of patients who live at least five years after being diagnosed. Stage I has a 74% five-year survival rate while stage IV has a five-year survival rate of only 6%.

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Downy Rose Myrtle)

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Ait.) Hassk., also known as Taojinniang or Downy Rose Myrtle, is a plant of the Myrtaceae family, the root or ripe fruit of which can be dried and used as medicines. Their Chinese medicinal names are Gangren and Gangrenzi respectively.

 “Taojinniang” was first described as a medicine in A Supplement to the Compendium of Materia Medica. It is recorded in most herbal medicine works of the past, and the medicinal species has remained the same from ancient times to the present day. This species was once stated in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (1977) as the prescribed original plant species of the Chinese medicine Gangren; this species is stated in Criteria of Herbal Drugs in Guangdong Province as the prescribed original plant species of the Chinese medicines Gangren and Gangrenzi. It is mainly produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian and Taiwan, etc., in China.

The root of Taojinniang mainly contains tannins; the fruit mainly contains flavonoid glycosides. Criteria of Herbal Drugs in Guangdong Province use thin-layer chromatography to control the quality of the medicinal materials.

Pharmacological studies indicate that the root and fruit of Taojinniang have the effects of stopping bleeding and anti-bacteria, etc.

According to folk experience, Gangren has the functions of regulating Qi and relieving pain, eliminating dampness and stopping diarrhoea, eliminating blood stasis and stopping bleeding, and tonifying the kidneys and nourishing the blood; Gangrenzi has the functions of nourishing the blood and stopping bleeding, and astringing the bowel and arresting seminal emissions.

Rhodomyrtone: a new candidate as natural antibacterial drug from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa.

Rhodomyrtone from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, displayed significant antibacterial activities against Gram-positive bacteria including Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Streptococcus salivarius. Especially noteworthy was the activity against MRSA with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) ranging from 0.39 to 0.78 [micro]g/ml. As shown for S. pyogenes, no surviving cells were detected within 5 and 6 h after treatment with the compound at 8MBC and 4MBC concentrations, respectively. Rhodomyrtone displays no bacteriolytic activity, as determined by measurement of the optical density at 620 nm. A rhodomyrtone killing test with S. mutans using phase contrast microscopy showed that this compound caused a few morphological changes as the treated cells were slightly changed in color and bigger than the control when they were killed. Taken together, the results support the view that rhodomyrtone has a strong bactericidal activity on Gram-positive bacteria, including major pathogens.