During the navigational years of our ancestors across the Pacific Ocean, from Vaihi (Hawaii) to Tonga (South) and other islands of the South Pacific, several lessons were learned. Those lessons were immortalized into what Tongans now called Paloveape. Matemate ‘a liku is one of the Tongan paloveape which teaches us important lessons from long ago, yet its application, still applies to us now as we struggle to stay healthy. Matemate a liku means that even though the liku looks calm, it is not a good idea to go near it because big waves do come without warnings which can sweep you off your feet and crush you against the reefs or the rocks, leading to much pain and even death. In our time, we must not eat the types of food that will contribute or exacerbate the development of high blood pressure. Though those food may seems harmless at first but over time it will bring the big waves that our ancestors warned us about which will bring mayhem to our hearts, kidneys, capillaries and other vital organs of our bodies. One of the big waves that we need to avoid in our lives is toto ma’olunga which will lead to pa kalava if we do not bring it under control.
Toto ma’olunga has joined diabetes and gout diseases as the foremost enemies of Polynesians. The causes of high blood pressure can be as big as the islands of Kao mo Tofua but I would like to discuss only a few factors here that are considered relevant to us and by no means the list exhausted. First, the excessive use of salt in our diet does contribute to the development of high blood pressure either directly or indirectly. Salt is good since it contains iodine which is another essential element that we must have in our diet to avoid other diseases such as goiter. However, excessive use of salt contributes to the imbalance of the electrolytes and water in our bodies which will affect our normal metabolic physiology over time. In the end, it will contribute to high blood pressure. Please go easy on the salt and if possible do without it or find an alternative spice to flavor your food with.
‘Uluaki, kainga tau fakasi’isi’i mu’a hono ngaue’aki ‘a e masima ‘i he’etau ma’u me’atokoni (tapu ange he mo hou’eiki). ‘Oku lelei ‘a e masima he ‘oku ‘i ai ‘a e iotaini pea ‘oku ne hanga ‘o fakahaofi kitautolu mei he ngaahi mahaki kehe. Ka neongo ia ka fu’u lahi leva, pe too tu’a ‘a hono ngaue’aki ‘a e masima pea ‘e kovi leva ia ki he’etau moui. Ko e taha foki ‘eni ‘o e ngaahi me’a ‘oku ne fakatupu ‘a e toto ma’olunga kapau te tau ta’etokanga ki ai.
Second, we tend to eat a lot or too much of the “fatty foods.” For example, a lot of us eat chicken’s meat together with its skin because it has some type of a “special taste” according to some. But, the danger lies in the accumulations of the so called unhealthy fatty acids and cholesterol from those skins which will be deposited around our blood vessels and our heart. The deposited fats and cholesterol are hard to get rid off as we get older and they will lessen the diameter of your blood vessels. This is like turning your tap water outside and squeezing the tip of the hose, the water pressure will increase. The lesser the diameter of your blood vessels for the blood to travel, the higher your blood pressure will become and eventually, the big waves of high blood pressure will hit you like a brick without any warnings. The result is death in most cases. For those who do not have high blood pressure, take the skin and fat off the beef and chicken meat, cook them well and eat with lots of vegetables. For those of you who have high blood pressure, do not eat chicken meat with its skin at all or the pig’s skin (kili’i puaka tunu) though it may taste good. Please see your physician regularly to avoid the pitfalls of high blood pressure and work towards a healthier lifestyle so that you can enjoy what life has to offer.
Ua, ko e lahi pe totu’a ‘a ‘etau kai e ngaahi me’akai ko ia ‘oku fu’u ngako. Ko e taimi ‘e ni’ihi ‘o ku tau haka ‘a e moa pea mo hono kili he ‘oku “ifo makehe” tokua ki ha fa’ahing ‘e ni’ihi. ‘Oku totonu ketau to’o ‘a e kili ‘o e moaa pea mo e ngaahi ngako ko ia ‘oku kei pipiki ki he kanomate (kau ai pea mo e kili ‘o e puaka tunu) pea tau toki haka leva ke moho lelei. Haka ‘a e ngaahi vesitapolo ‘i ha vai kuo lili ‘i ha ngaahi miniti si’isi’i pe kae oua ‘e haka ke fu’u moho. ‘Oku lelei ma’u pe ke kai e kakano’i manu pea mo ha ngaahi vesitapolo ke tau moui lelei ma’u pe. Tau faka’ehi’ehi ma’u pe mei he toto ma’olunga. ‘Okapau ‘oku ma’u koe ‘e he toto ma’olunga, kataki ‘o ‘alu ma’u pe ki ho’o toketaa ke sivi koe koe’uhi ke ke ma’u ha fakafuofua lelei ki he tu’unga ‘o ho’o mo’ui lelei. Ko ho’o mate vave ka ko hai te ne tauhi ho hoa pea mo e fanau?
Third, we are living in a hustling and a busier world much different than that of our ancestors. Because of the environment we live in, we experience a lot of stresses daily and from different factors. We can easily get stress out from financial concerns, misbehaved children or a spouse for that matter and from our daily responsibilities at home and in the work force. But what can we do? Can we eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we will die? Most definitely not. Can we just “…don’t worry be happy…” when we have stress? Maybe not all of the times. I believe that we can learn to deal with stress effectively by knowing the causes of it and see what you can do to ease the stress. Sometimes you can just take a time out or simply take a walk for fresh air for a few minutes until you can calm down and ready to deal with stress or the causes of it. Stress has been proven to be another factor that adds to your risk factors for high blood pressure, which is why it is important to have your blood pressure check regularly by your primary physician.
Tolu, ko e puputu’u pea mo e hoha’a ‘a hotau ‘atamai tupu mei he ‘etau nofo ko ia ‘i he feitu’u ko ‘eni ‘oku fu’u vave ange ai ‘a e moui. ‘I he taimi ‘e ni’ihi ‘oku puputu’u ‘a hotau ‘atamai tupu mei he ‘etau hoha’a ko ia pe ‘e mau mai ha pa’anga lahi pe fe’unga ke totongi’aki hotau ngaahi mo’ua pea mo fafanga’aki hotau famili. Ko e taimi ‘e taha ‘oku puputu’u ‘a hotau ‘atamai koe’uhi ko e talangata’a ‘a e fanau pe ko e mali. Koe ha nai ‘a e me’a ‘oku totonu ketau fai ke matafi atu ai ‘a e hoha’a pea mo e puputu’u? Te tau kai, inu pea mo fakafiefia he te tau mate ‘apongipongi? ‘Oku ‘ikai ke totonu ke tau fai pehe. ‘Oku totonu ke tau ki’i malolo si’i hifo mei he hoha’a, luelue holo ‘i tu’a ke ma’u ha ki’i ‘ea lelei pe fakamokomoko ke nonga hifo ‘a e ‘atamai. Kuo lahi ‘aupito ‘a e ngaahi fekumi faka-saianisi ‘oku nau pehe ‘oku lava pe ke ma’u ‘e ha taha ‘a e toto ma’olunga kapau ‘e fa’a puputu’u pea mo hoha’a ma’u pe ‘a e ‘atamai ‘i ha ngaahi taimi lahi. Mahalo ko hono ‘uhinga ia ‘oku totonu ai ke tau ‘alu ma’u pe ki he toketaa ‘o sivi ‘a hotau toto.
Fourth, the type of medication that you take might contribute to high blood pressure. This is perhaps an important issue that is easy to overlook. A lot of people who suffered from diabetes and gout diseases sometimes suffer from high blood pressure as well. The amount of medications that can be taken for all three diseases are overwhelming and not to mention the costs associated with them. Take the medications that you have been prescribed to take only and if there are any side effects (life threatening) please see your physician right away or go to the emergency room. If you are taking any health supplements of any kind please make sure to let your physician know about it for possible contraindications with your prescribed medications. This type of supplements can also be found in the Physician Desk Reference (PDR) for Non Prescription drugs and Dietary Supplements. If they are not listed in this type of PDR, find out more information about it from your doctors or from peer review scientific journals so that you can be informed.
Fa, ‘oku fa’a lava pe ke ma’u ‘a e toto ma’olunga pea mei he ngaahi fo’i ‘akau ko ia ‘oku tau folo koe’uhi ko ha mahaki ke he pea mei he toto ma’olunga. Ko hono ‘uhinga ia ‘oku lelei ma’u pe ke tau muimui ma’u pe ki he tu’utu’uni ‘a e toketaa. Kapau leva ‘e ‘iai hano anga ‘oku ngali kehe tupu pea mei he faito’o, ‘oku totonu leva ke fetu’utaki ki ho’o toketaa he vave taha pe ko ho’o ‘alu ki he loki ‘imesenisi (emergency room). ‘Oku fu’u mahu’inga foki ke ‘ilo’i ‘e ho’o toketaa kapau ‘oku ke toe ngaue’aki ‘a e ngaahi ‘akau faitoo kehe. Koe lahi ‘o e ngaahi ‘akau faito’o ko ‘eni ‘oku tu’u ‘i he tohi PDR. Koe tohi PDR ko ia ‘oku fekau’aki pea moe ngaahi foi ‘akau faito’o pe vai ‘oku ikai ke te talatala ki he toketaa pea ‘omai (PDR For Non-Prescription & Dietary Supplements)
Fifth, weight management and exercises. This is probably one of the toughest things to do for some people. However, if you are overweight you are more likely to develop high blood pressure. With this problem, you can loose the excess weight. This does not mean that you need to be “hange ha mahele’i too” (looks thin like the sugar cane leaf blade). Go to the gymnasium or just walk a mile everyday in the football fields, city health clubhouses, ride a bicycle around the neighborhood daily or just use a treadmill at home daily for a few minutes. The other part of weight managements is eating the right food, mainly lots of fiber, vegetables, fruits and whole grains daily. Researches have shown that proper dieting with daily exercises is a critical component to a healthier weight management. Do not starve yourselves. All of these diet and lifestyle modifications should lead to lowering your chances of getting high blood pressure and/or improving your life to a much healthier state so that you can live happily ever after. Why not?
Nima, ‘oku totonu ke tau fakamalohi sino pea mo fakaholo kapau ‘oku tau fu’u sino. ‘Oku ‘ikai ‘uhinga ‘eni ke tau fakaholo ke “hange ha mahele’i to”, ka ke tau sino lelei pea ‘e lelei ai foki pea mo ‘etau manava. ‘I he ‘etau holo ko ia ‘o sino pea mo mo’ui lelei, ‘e si’isi’i ange ai ke ma’u ‘a kitautolu ‘e he toto ma’olunga. Koe konga mahu’inga foki ia ‘e taha ‘o e fakaholo, ‘a ‘etau kai ko ia ‘a e ngaahi me’akai lelei hange ko e ngaahi fo’i ’akau fua, vesitapolo pea mo e ngaahi me’akai ko ia ‘oku fakanatula pe hange ko ‘etau ngaahi me’akai Tonga mei ‘uta, ‘a e talo, manioke pea mo e ngaahi ala me’a pehe.
Sixth, smoking cigarettes on a daily basis. The dangers of smoking from a molecular point of view will had been addressed in my previous column but I will briefly touch on it here since it is relevant to high blood pressure. Smokings have been shown to damage the linings of the artery, quicken your heart beat and decrease the flexibility of your blood vessels so that they do not react properly to the changes in blood pressure. It will lead to high blood pressure if not corrected. It has also been shown that smoking lowers the so called good cholesterol while increase the bad cholesterol. It will lead to high blood pressure if not corrected in time. Smoking will also make it harder to exercise, easier to form blood clots in your systems and many other complications which will all contribute to high blood pressure. Sometimes you do not recognize that you have high blood pressure and it is easy to dismiss the idea of checking it regularly since you have been smoking for over 30 years with no health problems. But that is why high blood pressure is often referred to as “silent killer.” It will strike when you least expected it. “’E lava pe ‘a hevani ‘o tatali.” What more can I say?
Ono, ko e kovi pea moe fakatu’utamaki ‘o e ifi tapaka. ‘Oku hanga ‘e he ifi tapaka ‘o maumau’i ‘a e kofu loto ko ia ‘o e ngaahi kalava ‘i hotau sino pea mo fakavave’i ‘a e ta ‘a hotau mafu. ‘I he ‘ene pehe, ‘e faingata’a leva ke ngaue lelei ‘a hotau kalava ‘i he taimi lahi pea ‘e fa’a tupu leva mei ai ‘a e hoko ko ia ‘a e toto ma’olunga. ‘Ikai ia ko ia pe, ‘oku hanga ‘ehe ifi tapaka ‘o maumau’i foki pea moe palanisi ko ia ‘a e ngaahi ngaue fakamoui lelei ‘a hotau sino ‘o fa’a fatu ai ‘a e toto ‘i he taimi ‘e ni’ihi. Kai kehe ‘oku toe hanga foki ‘ehe ifi tapakaa ‘o fakafe’atungia’i ‘a e ngaue ko ia ‘a hotau ma’ama’a pea ‘e kovi foki ia ki he ‘etau manava. Ko e taimi ‘e ni’ihi ‘e fa’a nounou ai ‘a etau manava pea hange leva ko e lau, “’ofa mai a ‘o tuku e ifi tapaka?”
We are descendants of great warriors and navigators who had baffled the world experts in navigations concerning their abilities to sail from islands to islands, far and wide, without compasses. They had left us many lessons that we need to learn and internalize so that we will skillfully navigate life’s challenges today for a better future. Let us not contribute to our own defeat by high blood pressure, by eating healthy food, exercising daily, relaxing and coping with stress, stop smoking and visits your physicians regularly. In doing so, we will avoid the big waves foretold by our ancestors long ago in mate mate a liku and high blood pressure.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Ifi Tapaka: Takanga ‘a Pipi mo Kahi
The experiences that our ancestors had during their navigational years are very informative and educational that we should refer to them often as a guide in our own navigational time, here and now. They learned the nature of the clams in the ocean, natively known as fingota, their nutritive effects, where they are found and the dangers that are associated with collecting them. Two of the most popular ones are pipi and kahi clams and you can not pick up one without picking up the other unintentionally. However, there is a hidden danger in the fellowship of pipi and kahi clams though they may seem to be living in harmony with each other. Our ancestors observed that sometimes in the fellowship, kahi clams will eat or destroy the pipi clams. The danger in this fellowship has been well established for over 2,000 years by our ancestors. This type of fellowship seems to express itself in a different formation but with similar results. Smokers and cancer is the modern version of the fellowship of pipi and kahi that our ancestors had warned us about.
Cigarette smoking has been established for over decades to cause different types of diseases and cancers of the oral cavities, lungs, nasal cavities, esophagus, larynx, pharynx, pancreas, liver, kidney, stomach, urinary tract and cervix. How does smoking cause cancer? Cigarette smoking contains many carcinogens (cancer causing agent) that when inhaled travel to and interact with DNA molecules in the lungs (for example) to form what is known as DNA adduct. DNA adduct is equivalent to having the blueprint to your house that is going to be build being folded in half and strongly glued together much like Piki a feke which makes it unworkable. As such, you can not open it up to see the instructions for all the dimensions of the walls, roofs, windows and the details of all the rooms inside. In reality, the DNA adducts contributed to all sorts of mutations which later form cancers in the lungs, and other organs in the body. Do you like to have cancers from smoking cigarette? If you don’t, then quit smoking right now for your health’s sake and for the sake of your loved ones that are depending on you for their survival.
Cigarette smoking causes bad breathe. This is devastating if you are a single male looking for a future mate or vice versa. It is even worse if you are married. I can not imagine your spouse kissing you with all the carcinogens loaded in your mouth and not to mention the bad breathe. Perhaps this type of kissing is best described in another fellowship known as “the kiss of death.” You will probably chew a lot of gum which do nothing but masking the smells yet the carcinogens are still there, much like Nimo ‘i talafau (it may seems lost but is still there), causing DNA adducts in many organs of your body. Tar and nicotine (from the cigarette that you smoke) tend to build up on your mouth surfaces such as tongue, teeth and sides of your cheeks. Consequently, smoking also dries the mouth by inhibiting the flowing of saliva from the salivary glands which in turns lead to the accelerating growth of bacteria in your mouth causing bad breath. Furthermore, smoking can also exacerbate gum diseases and your sinus conditions which will also lead to bad breath. Do you like having bad breath? I hope that you don’t so quit smoking now for the sake of your oral health.
Cigarette smoking can cause abnormal blood clotting. The clotting mechanism is tightly regulated in the body since it can save us from bleeding to death (when you have a cut) but if it is altered, can also cause several life threatening and cardiovascular health problems. Clotting is much like patching a hole in a broken water pipe until a permanent plug is installed. In the body, clotting involves the aggregation of platelets (cells use for patching) to the side of blood vessels involved in the injury to temporary plug it so that you do not bleed to death. Researches have shown that about 60% of lung cancer patients have abnormal, elevated platelets that often aggregate in the middle of the blood vessels (even though no damage has occurred) causing a reduction in the blood flow that can cause a rise in your blood pressure which may be enough to damage the most delicate blood vessels as frequently observed in many of the pa kalava and stroke patients. Do you like to have pa kalava for a fellowship? If you don’t, then please quit smoking now to avoid the development of abnormal platelets aggregation and for your health’s sake.
Cigarette smoking causes an imbalance in the amount of hormones in the body. Hormones are important because it is a mean of communication in the body so that a state of homeostasis is achieved for maximum health benefits. Smoking effects on hormone has been established in the scientific communities which had shown that women smokers do enter menopause at an average age of 5 years earlier than nonsmokers. Concomitantly, women smokers’ early entrance to menopause also leads to other health problems such as an increase in the risk of osteoporosis. This is why older women smokers have frequent hip fractures when they fall because their bones are much weaker than when they were young. In like manner, nicotine from smoking causes an imbalance in the hormones involved in women’s reproduction which can have a huge effect in the number of children that a couple can have. Likewise, for male smokers, nicotine also affects the production and mobility of their sperm cells. The reduction in the production and mobility of their sperm cells will also affect the pregnancy process and consequently the number of children that they might be able to father. Do you have a feeling yet for the dangers involved in the fellowship between smoking and hormonal imbalance? If you don’t then your nerve cells have been severely damaged as a result of being a member of this fellowship. Dissolve this fellowship now and proclaim your liberty from smoking and its negative effects on your hormone levels.
Cigarette smoking affects our normal brain functions. It is often said that we only use part of our brain but how awful it is to think that smoking cigarette will further reduce the part of our brain that we are currently use. So if we are only using 50% of our brain (for example) to start with and also smoking cigarette-what does that leave us with to use? It is no wonder why some smokers can not even think logically or even strategically because their normal brain functioning have been either altered or destroyed. Alright let’s get serious now! The brain is sort of like the CPU of the body, for the computer wiz people, but it has a lot of nerves in them for processing of all the information’s related to the normal functioning of the body as a whole. It controls our mood and conscious thought, most of our voluntary movements, feeling and thinking processes. The brain gets its oxygen and food supplies from the lungs and heart and in return getting rid of its metabolic waste products so that it will continue to function optimally. Some researches have shown that nicotine in cigarette reaches the brain cells in about 10 seconds after a smoke is inhaled. Smoking cigarette (and its carcinogen contents) interfere with chemical messengers and information processing in the brain which leads to alteration in the smoker’s mood and thinking processes to name a few. It has also been shown that nicotine in small amount tend to stimulate the brain (not a good way) while large dosage of nicotine acts as a depressant (not good either), affecting the heart normal functions, blood vessels’ plasticity and also your hormone levels as previously discussed above. Carbon monoxide from smoking makes it harder for the red blood cells to carry oxygen to the brain and other organs of the body. This is because tars from cigarette are a mixture of chemicals that form a “sticky mass” in your lungs thus decreasing the ability of your lungs to function efficiently. In fact, most of the chemicals that you inhale from cigarette smoking stay in the lungs. Basically, the more cigarettes’ smoke you inhale, the more “sticky mass” of chemicals will accumulate in your lungs, leading to greater damages in the lungs alveoli (site where gas exchanges occur). Is it a surprise then to you that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer? It is hard enough to think clearly these days but why are we making the thinking process harder by smoking cigarette? Let’s dissolve this dangerous fellowship now for the sake of your brain health?
Mou tokanga mai! (Attention Please!) Take a look at the chemicals present in cigarette and think hard, really hard and smart with your brains about the fellowship that you have entered into. It has been established that there are over 4,000 chemicals present in cigarette. Moreover, it includes about 43 known carcinogen compounds and about 400 toxins known to humans including nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic and DDT. Wow! That is a lot of deadly chemicals packed into one small package with foreseeable, deadly consequences. It reminds me of a Tongan paloveape known as Si’isi’i ‘a pakihi-it appears to be small but is deadly when it hits you. Why do we avoid chemicals with labels “toxins” and/or “carcinogens” but when it comes to smoking some ignore them regardless of the accumulating scientific evidences because they do not have the labels “toxins” and/or “carcinogens” outside the package.
To the youth of Polynesia, you are descendants of a glorious and illustrious people that we referred to them as our ancestors. They are not in the past but in front of you, leading and guiding your paths towards a higher ground if you let them. A ground that is full of faith and hope to look forward to a glorious harvest in the future if you use them. A ground that is fertile, ready to plant your seed of hard work for a better world. A ground that can only be plowed and farmed by those who are willing to exclude themselves from this modern fellowship of pipi and kahi where dangers will be your constant companion. Smoking cigarette has never been and never will make you look cool so don’t fall into the lies and deceits that have been perpetrated by some. Consider the following points of health consequences. (1) Health consequences of smoking include respiratory and nonrespiratory effects, development of addiction to nicotine and an increase in the likelihood of using other type of illegal drugs. All of which leads you to unfertile grounds where the harvest consists of only pain and heartache. (2)Smoking cigarette leads to inefficient lung functioning and will retard its growth compared to nonsmoking youth. If you are involved in sports, do yourself a favor by not smoking at all so that you do not jeopardize your performances or your endurance level. The world of sports is full of competitors and you should compete in your utmost healthy state. Being healthy without the cigarette odor, yellow teeth and yellow fingers do look cool. Your ancestors were people of great courage, strong will and determination that you can look to for your own courage, strong will and determination to quit smoking now for a healthier you and concomitantly a better tomorrow.
The amounts of scientific studies including human clinical trials had proven that smoking is bad for your health. People who died from cigarette smoking has become too numerous to count, graveyards has been too numerous to dig, and lots of loved ones will be without you because of your selfishness, yet few have heeded the warnings from doctors and health professionals much like the Tongan paloveape known as Matangi lelei to ki he la mahaehae (Good winds fall on torn sails). I hope that the evidences presented here will be enough to convince you of the danger that is looming in the horizon from this fellowship of smoking and cancer. Better yet, the evidences discussed here should convince you to listen to our ancestors-for they always speak the truth and the health professionals so that you can avoid being inducted as a member of this modern fellowship of pipi and kahi. In all, cancers end up destroying or eating the smokers much like kahi and pipi clams in the old fellowship that was so eloquently described by our illustrious ancestors long ago.
Cigarette smoking has been established for over decades to cause different types of diseases and cancers of the oral cavities, lungs, nasal cavities, esophagus, larynx, pharynx, pancreas, liver, kidney, stomach, urinary tract and cervix. How does smoking cause cancer? Cigarette smoking contains many carcinogens (cancer causing agent) that when inhaled travel to and interact with DNA molecules in the lungs (for example) to form what is known as DNA adduct. DNA adduct is equivalent to having the blueprint to your house that is going to be build being folded in half and strongly glued together much like Piki a feke which makes it unworkable. As such, you can not open it up to see the instructions for all the dimensions of the walls, roofs, windows and the details of all the rooms inside. In reality, the DNA adducts contributed to all sorts of mutations which later form cancers in the lungs, and other organs in the body. Do you like to have cancers from smoking cigarette? If you don’t, then quit smoking right now for your health’s sake and for the sake of your loved ones that are depending on you for their survival.
Cigarette smoking causes bad breathe. This is devastating if you are a single male looking for a future mate or vice versa. It is even worse if you are married. I can not imagine your spouse kissing you with all the carcinogens loaded in your mouth and not to mention the bad breathe. Perhaps this type of kissing is best described in another fellowship known as “the kiss of death.” You will probably chew a lot of gum which do nothing but masking the smells yet the carcinogens are still there, much like Nimo ‘i talafau (it may seems lost but is still there), causing DNA adducts in many organs of your body. Tar and nicotine (from the cigarette that you smoke) tend to build up on your mouth surfaces such as tongue, teeth and sides of your cheeks. Consequently, smoking also dries the mouth by inhibiting the flowing of saliva from the salivary glands which in turns lead to the accelerating growth of bacteria in your mouth causing bad breath. Furthermore, smoking can also exacerbate gum diseases and your sinus conditions which will also lead to bad breath. Do you like having bad breath? I hope that you don’t so quit smoking now for the sake of your oral health.
Cigarette smoking can cause abnormal blood clotting. The clotting mechanism is tightly regulated in the body since it can save us from bleeding to death (when you have a cut) but if it is altered, can also cause several life threatening and cardiovascular health problems. Clotting is much like patching a hole in a broken water pipe until a permanent plug is installed. In the body, clotting involves the aggregation of platelets (cells use for patching) to the side of blood vessels involved in the injury to temporary plug it so that you do not bleed to death. Researches have shown that about 60% of lung cancer patients have abnormal, elevated platelets that often aggregate in the middle of the blood vessels (even though no damage has occurred) causing a reduction in the blood flow that can cause a rise in your blood pressure which may be enough to damage the most delicate blood vessels as frequently observed in many of the pa kalava and stroke patients. Do you like to have pa kalava for a fellowship? If you don’t, then please quit smoking now to avoid the development of abnormal platelets aggregation and for your health’s sake.
Cigarette smoking causes an imbalance in the amount of hormones in the body. Hormones are important because it is a mean of communication in the body so that a state of homeostasis is achieved for maximum health benefits. Smoking effects on hormone has been established in the scientific communities which had shown that women smokers do enter menopause at an average age of 5 years earlier than nonsmokers. Concomitantly, women smokers’ early entrance to menopause also leads to other health problems such as an increase in the risk of osteoporosis. This is why older women smokers have frequent hip fractures when they fall because their bones are much weaker than when they were young. In like manner, nicotine from smoking causes an imbalance in the hormones involved in women’s reproduction which can have a huge effect in the number of children that a couple can have. Likewise, for male smokers, nicotine also affects the production and mobility of their sperm cells. The reduction in the production and mobility of their sperm cells will also affect the pregnancy process and consequently the number of children that they might be able to father. Do you have a feeling yet for the dangers involved in the fellowship between smoking and hormonal imbalance? If you don’t then your nerve cells have been severely damaged as a result of being a member of this fellowship. Dissolve this fellowship now and proclaim your liberty from smoking and its negative effects on your hormone levels.
Cigarette smoking affects our normal brain functions. It is often said that we only use part of our brain but how awful it is to think that smoking cigarette will further reduce the part of our brain that we are currently use. So if we are only using 50% of our brain (for example) to start with and also smoking cigarette-what does that leave us with to use? It is no wonder why some smokers can not even think logically or even strategically because their normal brain functioning have been either altered or destroyed. Alright let’s get serious now! The brain is sort of like the CPU of the body, for the computer wiz people, but it has a lot of nerves in them for processing of all the information’s related to the normal functioning of the body as a whole. It controls our mood and conscious thought, most of our voluntary movements, feeling and thinking processes. The brain gets its oxygen and food supplies from the lungs and heart and in return getting rid of its metabolic waste products so that it will continue to function optimally. Some researches have shown that nicotine in cigarette reaches the brain cells in about 10 seconds after a smoke is inhaled. Smoking cigarette (and its carcinogen contents) interfere with chemical messengers and information processing in the brain which leads to alteration in the smoker’s mood and thinking processes to name a few. It has also been shown that nicotine in small amount tend to stimulate the brain (not a good way) while large dosage of nicotine acts as a depressant (not good either), affecting the heart normal functions, blood vessels’ plasticity and also your hormone levels as previously discussed above. Carbon monoxide from smoking makes it harder for the red blood cells to carry oxygen to the brain and other organs of the body. This is because tars from cigarette are a mixture of chemicals that form a “sticky mass” in your lungs thus decreasing the ability of your lungs to function efficiently. In fact, most of the chemicals that you inhale from cigarette smoking stay in the lungs. Basically, the more cigarettes’ smoke you inhale, the more “sticky mass” of chemicals will accumulate in your lungs, leading to greater damages in the lungs alveoli (site where gas exchanges occur). Is it a surprise then to you that cigarette smoking causes lung cancer? It is hard enough to think clearly these days but why are we making the thinking process harder by smoking cigarette? Let’s dissolve this dangerous fellowship now for the sake of your brain health?
Mou tokanga mai! (Attention Please!) Take a look at the chemicals present in cigarette and think hard, really hard and smart with your brains about the fellowship that you have entered into. It has been established that there are over 4,000 chemicals present in cigarette. Moreover, it includes about 43 known carcinogen compounds and about 400 toxins known to humans including nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, ammonia, hydrogen cyanide, arsenic and DDT. Wow! That is a lot of deadly chemicals packed into one small package with foreseeable, deadly consequences. It reminds me of a Tongan paloveape known as Si’isi’i ‘a pakihi-it appears to be small but is deadly when it hits you. Why do we avoid chemicals with labels “toxins” and/or “carcinogens” but when it comes to smoking some ignore them regardless of the accumulating scientific evidences because they do not have the labels “toxins” and/or “carcinogens” outside the package.
To the youth of Polynesia, you are descendants of a glorious and illustrious people that we referred to them as our ancestors. They are not in the past but in front of you, leading and guiding your paths towards a higher ground if you let them. A ground that is full of faith and hope to look forward to a glorious harvest in the future if you use them. A ground that is fertile, ready to plant your seed of hard work for a better world. A ground that can only be plowed and farmed by those who are willing to exclude themselves from this modern fellowship of pipi and kahi where dangers will be your constant companion. Smoking cigarette has never been and never will make you look cool so don’t fall into the lies and deceits that have been perpetrated by some. Consider the following points of health consequences. (1) Health consequences of smoking include respiratory and nonrespiratory effects, development of addiction to nicotine and an increase in the likelihood of using other type of illegal drugs. All of which leads you to unfertile grounds where the harvest consists of only pain and heartache. (2)Smoking cigarette leads to inefficient lung functioning and will retard its growth compared to nonsmoking youth. If you are involved in sports, do yourself a favor by not smoking at all so that you do not jeopardize your performances or your endurance level. The world of sports is full of competitors and you should compete in your utmost healthy state. Being healthy without the cigarette odor, yellow teeth and yellow fingers do look cool. Your ancestors were people of great courage, strong will and determination that you can look to for your own courage, strong will and determination to quit smoking now for a healthier you and concomitantly a better tomorrow.
The amounts of scientific studies including human clinical trials had proven that smoking is bad for your health. People who died from cigarette smoking has become too numerous to count, graveyards has been too numerous to dig, and lots of loved ones will be without you because of your selfishness, yet few have heeded the warnings from doctors and health professionals much like the Tongan paloveape known as Matangi lelei to ki he la mahaehae (Good winds fall on torn sails). I hope that the evidences presented here will be enough to convince you of the danger that is looming in the horizon from this fellowship of smoking and cancer. Better yet, the evidences discussed here should convince you to listen to our ancestors-for they always speak the truth and the health professionals so that you can avoid being inducted as a member of this modern fellowship of pipi and kahi. In all, cancers end up destroying or eating the smokers much like kahi and pipi clams in the old fellowship that was so eloquently described by our illustrious ancestors long ago.
Faka-Ovaka: A Healthier Choice for Our Day
One of the experiences that I had in Tonga was making and preparing many of our Tongan traditional diets. Some were easier to make while others were laborious, but in the end they all tasted so delicious that you often forget the agony from preparing them. One of the foods that I often prepared and cooked on Sundays was faka-ovaka. Faka-Ovaka is one of our favorite Tongan foods commonly known as lo’ilesi or vai lesi. The thought of preparing this special diet is enough to make you salivating over it. However, the questions that I often asked of my father and others in different islands in Tonga all come back to this idea that “…lo’ilesi is good for your health…” and “…lo’ilesi will keep your digestive system healthy...” How did my father and others in different islands including our ancestors know that this type of diet is healthy? How did they know that eating lo’ilesi will strengthen our immunity and digestive systems? Perhaps the answers lie in the fact that these ingredients have documented health benefits recently uncovered by modern science. However, our ancestors in their own “scientific ways” knew about the health benefits of faka-ovaka long before modern science stumbled upon it.
Right now you probably think that there isn’t any health application from our ancestor’s diet that we can use today to ameliorate some of our health problems. But I hope to convince you that there is a hidden application in it for all of us. Faka-Ovaka consists of two ingredients namely papaya and coconut milk. Let us look at these ingredients and the impact that they will have in our bodies and consequently our health today.
Papaya (Carica papaya L.) or lesi health benefits are well known and have been well established in the scientific literature to be high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C and potassium while containing a smaller amount of calcium, iron, niacin, riboflavin and thiamine. It has also been shown to contain an enzyme known as papain which helps facilitate the digestion of proteins in our stomach. Lesi has also been found to have antibacterial and antifungal properties including a large amount of fibers.
Fibers from grains and fruits have already been shown by scientific researches to support and maintain healthier digestive and cardiovascular systems. The health’s benefits of Vitamins and minerals present in the lesi fruit have been established by researches that they are good antioxidant which helps reduce oxidative stress, strengthen our immune system, reduce inflammation, retard the aging process, improve vision, blood production and many other cellular activities in the body for overall health. This is perhaps why our ancestors always insisted in eating lo’ilesi because it will strengthen our bodies and clean our digestive systems (fakahinga). Does this sound like advices that you can only get, in our day, from our food scientists, doctors and dietetics? I believe that they are, but from reliable and familiar sources--our ancestors.
Faka-Ovaka can not be completed without the addition of fresh coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) milk to the lesi fruit much like icing on a cake. It enhances the flavor and causing lo’ilesi to become an “energy-rich” food, powerful enough to support and empower the Polynesian bodies.
It is interesting to note that coconut milk does not have any cholesterol or sodium. Cholesterol and sodium often contribute to increases in cholesterol levels, obesity and many cardiovascular diseases. Coconut milk has fatty acids, one of which is lauric acid which has been shown to have antiviral and antibacterial properties. It has also been shown in animal studies to reduce obesity. Moreover, studies shown that the fatty acids in coconut milk inhibit pathogenic bacteria but not the normal flora in the gut, protecting against induced liver damages and also improve the immune system’s anti-inflammatory response, thus helping us to maintain our health.
Coconut milk work synergistically with papaya to give us much needed health benefits in one total package, Faka-Ovaka, to make us strong and healthy. Faka-Ovaka may seem insignificant since we live in the land bountiful, filled with milk and honey and many varieties of food products, but let us not forget Faka-Ovaka as a healthier choice instituted by our ancestors long ago. How did our ancestors know that Faka-Ovaka is good for our health? I am convinced that our ancestors were endowed with knowledge from God--a knowledge that we must learn to harness and rely upon today in our quest to live a healthier life style.
Right now you probably think that there isn’t any health application from our ancestor’s diet that we can use today to ameliorate some of our health problems. But I hope to convince you that there is a hidden application in it for all of us. Faka-Ovaka consists of two ingredients namely papaya and coconut milk. Let us look at these ingredients and the impact that they will have in our bodies and consequently our health today.
Papaya (Carica papaya L.) or lesi health benefits are well known and have been well established in the scientific literature to be high in Vitamin A, Vitamin C and potassium while containing a smaller amount of calcium, iron, niacin, riboflavin and thiamine. It has also been shown to contain an enzyme known as papain which helps facilitate the digestion of proteins in our stomach. Lesi has also been found to have antibacterial and antifungal properties including a large amount of fibers.
Fibers from grains and fruits have already been shown by scientific researches to support and maintain healthier digestive and cardiovascular systems. The health’s benefits of Vitamins and minerals present in the lesi fruit have been established by researches that they are good antioxidant which helps reduce oxidative stress, strengthen our immune system, reduce inflammation, retard the aging process, improve vision, blood production and many other cellular activities in the body for overall health. This is perhaps why our ancestors always insisted in eating lo’ilesi because it will strengthen our bodies and clean our digestive systems (fakahinga). Does this sound like advices that you can only get, in our day, from our food scientists, doctors and dietetics? I believe that they are, but from reliable and familiar sources--our ancestors.
Faka-Ovaka can not be completed without the addition of fresh coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) milk to the lesi fruit much like icing on a cake. It enhances the flavor and causing lo’ilesi to become an “energy-rich” food, powerful enough to support and empower the Polynesian bodies.
It is interesting to note that coconut milk does not have any cholesterol or sodium. Cholesterol and sodium often contribute to increases in cholesterol levels, obesity and many cardiovascular diseases. Coconut milk has fatty acids, one of which is lauric acid which has been shown to have antiviral and antibacterial properties. It has also been shown in animal studies to reduce obesity. Moreover, studies shown that the fatty acids in coconut milk inhibit pathogenic bacteria but not the normal flora in the gut, protecting against induced liver damages and also improve the immune system’s anti-inflammatory response, thus helping us to maintain our health.
Coconut milk work synergistically with papaya to give us much needed health benefits in one total package, Faka-Ovaka, to make us strong and healthy. Faka-Ovaka may seem insignificant since we live in the land bountiful, filled with milk and honey and many varieties of food products, but let us not forget Faka-Ovaka as a healthier choice instituted by our ancestors long ago. How did our ancestors know that Faka-Ovaka is good for our health? I am convinced that our ancestors were endowed with knowledge from God--a knowledge that we must learn to harness and rely upon today in our quest to live a healthier life style.
Suka: Pelu La Kei Mama’o
The Pacific Ocean is the biggest ocean in the world yet our ancestors navigated from islands to islands, far and wide, as if it was just the size of Utah Lake. It was during these times that many lessons were learned yet its application is useful to us now as it was to them. They learned that you can tell from the formation of the clouds, the pattern of the waves and the type of wind that there is a storm coming and so they did fold and took down their sails (Pelu la kei mama’o) to avoid being blown away from their destination. Like our courageous ancestors, who foresaw the dangers ahead and acted upon it, we too must recognize and foresee the dangers of diabetes (suka) and act upon it so that we will not be blown away from our destination, which is being healthy.
One of the biggest health crises to face Tongans and Polynesians in the US is Diabetes mellitus or commonly known as “suka.” Suka has devastated Polynesians more than any other diseases to date. I had attended a few funerals this year alone and all were victims of suka or complications thereof. The escalation of suka among our people should be a concern to us all. Perhaps if we are familiar with the causes and the effects of suka to our bodies we will make the necessary changes in our lives to avoid being victimized by this terrible disease.
Suka comes in three different forms or types; however, only two will be discussed here namely Suka Type 1 and Suka Type II. Type 1 (early in childhood) resulted from inability of our bodies to produce any or enough insulin while Type II (usually occurred later in life) is due to the inability of the cells in our bodies to use insulin efficiently. Suka Type II is the most common and has found its niche in the people of Polynesia if we are not willing to make the change in our diet and lifestyle.
The question seems to keep coming up everywhere you turn is why are so many of our people are inflicted with this horrible disease? I believe that because we are not (1) consuming enough fruits and (2) vegetables in our diet as we should and we are (3) eating too much “sugar food” and (4) drinking too much soda pop instead of water. The observation by Mr. Anderson that our ancestors had “…at least nine-tenths of vegetable food; and it is perhaps owing to this temperate course of life that they have so few diseases among them…” is worth repeating. Maybe our ancestors know something that we are now beginning to find out due in part to the advances of science and technology.
Diabetes has often been referred to as complicated diseases because it affects almost, if not, all of the organs in our body in some fashion, yet some organs are affected more than others. If you are diagnose with diabetes but you neglect to take care of it in terms of what not to eat and in what quantity then you are in a sense leaving your sails up during the storm. As such, your ship will be blown away from your destination (healthy) and will be swept away into the oceans of heart diseases, kidney diseases, skin diseases, nerve diseases, and decrease in the immune function thus leaving you vulnerable to infections and eye diseases to name just a few. This is why suka is considered to be complicated diseases and more often then not, the victims die not necessary from diabetes itself but from complications thereof as depicted in the diagram.
For example, if you neglect to take care of your diabetic conditions, one of the organs that fail is your eye (not necessary in this order) that resulted in vision loss including but not limited to macula degeneration and the like. Moreover, the enzyme Aldose Reductase is highly active resulting in the conversion of simple sugars to sugar alcohol. The accumulation of sugar alcohol leads to damages in the nerves of the eye and concomitantly the inflammation of the blood vessels inside the eye. Hence, you gradually lose your visions and it is imperative that you must see your primary physician regularly.
Another example of diabetic complications will be on your cardiovascular system known as autonomic neuropathy. Your cardiovascular controls blood circulation throughout your body and as such, damages to your cardiovascular system will interrupt nerve transmissions from different parts of your body. For example, it will interfere with the signal to regulate blood pressure and heart rate resulting in a sudden drop in your blood pressure causing you to feel dizzy, faint, and sometimes experience heart problems.
The list of diabetic complications can be as big as the Pacific Ocean itself but there is something that you can do about it. You can loose weight if you’re diabetic and overweight, cut off the “sugar food” and soda pop drinks from your diet, increase your vegetable & fruit consumption, drink more water and increase your daily exercises. Please visit your doctor’s regularly so that you can get a good assessment of how things are. You might not be able to cure your diabetes but you can manage it so that you do not have to suffer as much from the complications thereof. In all, it is always better to “Pelu la kei mama’o” so that you can avoid the upcoming storm of diabetic complications thereby allowing you to arrive safely in your destination, which is being healthy.
One of the biggest health crises to face Tongans and Polynesians in the US is Diabetes mellitus or commonly known as “suka.” Suka has devastated Polynesians more than any other diseases to date. I had attended a few funerals this year alone and all were victims of suka or complications thereof. The escalation of suka among our people should be a concern to us all. Perhaps if we are familiar with the causes and the effects of suka to our bodies we will make the necessary changes in our lives to avoid being victimized by this terrible disease.
Suka comes in three different forms or types; however, only two will be discussed here namely Suka Type 1 and Suka Type II. Type 1 (early in childhood) resulted from inability of our bodies to produce any or enough insulin while Type II (usually occurred later in life) is due to the inability of the cells in our bodies to use insulin efficiently. Suka Type II is the most common and has found its niche in the people of Polynesia if we are not willing to make the change in our diet and lifestyle.
The question seems to keep coming up everywhere you turn is why are so many of our people are inflicted with this horrible disease? I believe that because we are not (1) consuming enough fruits and (2) vegetables in our diet as we should and we are (3) eating too much “sugar food” and (4) drinking too much soda pop instead of water. The observation by Mr. Anderson that our ancestors had “…at least nine-tenths of vegetable food; and it is perhaps owing to this temperate course of life that they have so few diseases among them…” is worth repeating. Maybe our ancestors know something that we are now beginning to find out due in part to the advances of science and technology.
Diabetes has often been referred to as complicated diseases because it affects almost, if not, all of the organs in our body in some fashion, yet some organs are affected more than others. If you are diagnose with diabetes but you neglect to take care of it in terms of what not to eat and in what quantity then you are in a sense leaving your sails up during the storm. As such, your ship will be blown away from your destination (healthy) and will be swept away into the oceans of heart diseases, kidney diseases, skin diseases, nerve diseases, and decrease in the immune function thus leaving you vulnerable to infections and eye diseases to name just a few. This is why suka is considered to be complicated diseases and more often then not, the victims die not necessary from diabetes itself but from complications thereof as depicted in the diagram.
For example, if you neglect to take care of your diabetic conditions, one of the organs that fail is your eye (not necessary in this order) that resulted in vision loss including but not limited to macula degeneration and the like. Moreover, the enzyme Aldose Reductase is highly active resulting in the conversion of simple sugars to sugar alcohol. The accumulation of sugar alcohol leads to damages in the nerves of the eye and concomitantly the inflammation of the blood vessels inside the eye. Hence, you gradually lose your visions and it is imperative that you must see your primary physician regularly.
Another example of diabetic complications will be on your cardiovascular system known as autonomic neuropathy. Your cardiovascular controls blood circulation throughout your body and as such, damages to your cardiovascular system will interrupt nerve transmissions from different parts of your body. For example, it will interfere with the signal to regulate blood pressure and heart rate resulting in a sudden drop in your blood pressure causing you to feel dizzy, faint, and sometimes experience heart problems.
The list of diabetic complications can be as big as the Pacific Ocean itself but there is something that you can do about it. You can loose weight if you’re diabetic and overweight, cut off the “sugar food” and soda pop drinks from your diet, increase your vegetable & fruit consumption, drink more water and increase your daily exercises. Please visit your doctor’s regularly so that you can get a good assessment of how things are. You might not be able to cure your diabetes but you can manage it so that you do not have to suffer as much from the complications thereof. In all, it is always better to “Pelu la kei mama’o” so that you can avoid the upcoming storm of diabetic complications thereby allowing you to arrive safely in your destination, which is being healthy.
Noni: Our Ancestor’s Recipe for Health and Vitality Part 1
The knowledge that our ancestors had concerning medicinal plants is irrefutable and one can not deny the fact that they knew what type of medicinal plants to use for which ailments. It has been my privileged at Tahitian Noni International Inc. to study the mechanisms of not only “how” but also “why” Noni works for various ailments at the molecular level. The array of scientific evidences, published and/or presented in professional scientific meetings, convinces me that our ancestors were ethnobotanists of a higher order. An order that is far advanced than majority of the modern scientists today is willing to give them credit for.
During our ancestors’ navigation across the Pacific Ocean, they carried with them certain plants for dyeing of traditional clothes, food and medicine currently now known to us as “canoe plants.” One of the canoe plants that they took with them in their kalia (canoe) was Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.). The efficacy of Noni has been debated much mainly by those who knew little or none about its traditional usage as well as the scientific studies and the mechanisms behind it. Yet others have gone as far as saying that there are no scientific studies to support our ancestors’ claim about the efficacy of Noni. However, let the scientific evidences presented heretofore not only support the efficacy of Noni but also to vindicate the claim made by our illustrious ancestors who had given us so much.
Once again we ask the question, how did they know that Noni works for various ailments? Perhaps parts of the answers lie in the fact that “it works” according to my mother--who was a healer. The other part perhaps comes from the scientific studies that had been done on Noni by TNI and other scientists around the world. These scientific evidences will shed more light into our ancestor’s claims made long ago, thus dispelling the notion that Noni does not have any medicinal health benefits.
Our ancestors claimed that Noni fruit juice would help ameliorate type 2 diabetic conditions. They had treated several hundreds of diabetic patients and witnessed first hand the health benefits in what will be considered unscientific, limited human clinical trials in our day. What scientific evidences do we have to support such a claim? We have discovered several pathways in which Noni can help ameliorate diabetic type2 conditions. First, I discovered that Tahitian Noni fruit juice and TAHITIAN NONI® Juice have anti-PDE3 effects (TNI Patent Pending) which will ameliorate diabetic type2 conditions. PDE3 activities in the -cells are much higher in diabetic patients compared to normal. Hence, inhibiting PDE3 enzymes will increase insulin secretion, which leads to improvements in the diabetic conditions. Second, I also discovered that Tahitian Noni fruit juice and TAHITIAN NONI® Juice also have anti-PTP1effects (TNI Patent Pending). PTP1is a negative regulator of insulin secretion and it is highly active in diabetic patients. Hence, inhibiting of PTP1 will lead to increases in insulin secretion and consequently improving your health. Third, we collaborated with Drs. Tani & Ohishi from Japan in two studies investigating the effects of Tahitian Noni leaf juice extract in a rat diabetic type2 model and in a limited human clinical trial. The results from the rat diabetic type2 model not only showed that there is no toxicity in the Tahitian Noni leaf extracts but also showed that it controlled the rises in blood sugar level when administered orally. The results from the human study showed that the leaf extracts caused a significant drop of about 23 percent in the blood sugar level in diabetic type2 patients. Fourth, I discovered that Tahitian Noni fruit juice and TAHITIAN NONI® Juice have anti-Aldose Reductase effects (TNI Patent Pending). Aldose Reductase enzymes are highly active in the eyes of diabetic patients which is one of the major contributors to diabetic retinopathy. Hence, inhibiting of the enzymes Aldose Reductase will help improve the condition in diabetic retinopathy.
Another claim that our ancestors made was-Noni helps lower your high blood pressure. What scientific evidences do we have to support such a claim? I discovered that Tahitian Noni fruit juice concentrate (TNFJC) and TAHITIAN NONI® Juice (TNJ) have an inhibitory effect on Angiotensin Converting Enzymes (TNI Patent Pending). Angiotensin Converting Enzymes are highly active in high blood pressure patients compare to normal. Hence, inhibiting of this enzyme will ameliorate high blood pressure and the complications thereof. I also discovered that TNFJC and TNJ both bind to and inhibit AT1 and AT2 receptors, which are part of the Angiotensin signaling pathways, in a dose dependant fashion. This enzymes and receptors are some of the targets used by pharmaceutical companies in synthesizing drugs that will help in reducing high blood pressure.
Though only a few of the scientific evidences listed here, it is only a glimpse of the repertoire of what Noni does for our health and vitality that we have discovered at TNI and other researchers around the world. Our ancestors knew that Noni works for various ailments otherwise they would not have wasted their time carrying them across the Pacific Ocean in their canoes and from islands to islands during their navigational years long ago. I am grateful to the traditional healing practices passed on from my mother Silivia Latai Tulaki To’angutu Palu, my grandmother Mele’ana Fehi’osi To’angutu from ‘Uiha, Ha’apai and to the rest of my Polynesian ancestors from the South Pacific. Thank you for the gift of the Noni. I salute and honor you all.
During our ancestors’ navigation across the Pacific Ocean, they carried with them certain plants for dyeing of traditional clothes, food and medicine currently now known to us as “canoe plants.” One of the canoe plants that they took with them in their kalia (canoe) was Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.). The efficacy of Noni has been debated much mainly by those who knew little or none about its traditional usage as well as the scientific studies and the mechanisms behind it. Yet others have gone as far as saying that there are no scientific studies to support our ancestors’ claim about the efficacy of Noni. However, let the scientific evidences presented heretofore not only support the efficacy of Noni but also to vindicate the claim made by our illustrious ancestors who had given us so much.
Once again we ask the question, how did they know that Noni works for various ailments? Perhaps parts of the answers lie in the fact that “it works” according to my mother--who was a healer. The other part perhaps comes from the scientific studies that had been done on Noni by TNI and other scientists around the world. These scientific evidences will shed more light into our ancestor’s claims made long ago, thus dispelling the notion that Noni does not have any medicinal health benefits.
Our ancestors claimed that Noni fruit juice would help ameliorate type 2 diabetic conditions. They had treated several hundreds of diabetic patients and witnessed first hand the health benefits in what will be considered unscientific, limited human clinical trials in our day. What scientific evidences do we have to support such a claim? We have discovered several pathways in which Noni can help ameliorate diabetic type2 conditions. First, I discovered that Tahitian Noni fruit juice and TAHITIAN NONI® Juice have anti-PDE3 effects (TNI Patent Pending) which will ameliorate diabetic type2 conditions. PDE3 activities in the -cells are much higher in diabetic patients compared to normal. Hence, inhibiting PDE3 enzymes will increase insulin secretion, which leads to improvements in the diabetic conditions. Second, I also discovered that Tahitian Noni fruit juice and TAHITIAN NONI® Juice also have anti-PTP1effects (TNI Patent Pending). PTP1is a negative regulator of insulin secretion and it is highly active in diabetic patients. Hence, inhibiting of PTP1 will lead to increases in insulin secretion and consequently improving your health. Third, we collaborated with Drs. Tani & Ohishi from Japan in two studies investigating the effects of Tahitian Noni leaf juice extract in a rat diabetic type2 model and in a limited human clinical trial. The results from the rat diabetic type2 model not only showed that there is no toxicity in the Tahitian Noni leaf extracts but also showed that it controlled the rises in blood sugar level when administered orally. The results from the human study showed that the leaf extracts caused a significant drop of about 23 percent in the blood sugar level in diabetic type2 patients. Fourth, I discovered that Tahitian Noni fruit juice and TAHITIAN NONI® Juice have anti-Aldose Reductase effects (TNI Patent Pending). Aldose Reductase enzymes are highly active in the eyes of diabetic patients which is one of the major contributors to diabetic retinopathy. Hence, inhibiting of the enzymes Aldose Reductase will help improve the condition in diabetic retinopathy.
Another claim that our ancestors made was-Noni helps lower your high blood pressure. What scientific evidences do we have to support such a claim? I discovered that Tahitian Noni fruit juice concentrate (TNFJC) and TAHITIAN NONI® Juice (TNJ) have an inhibitory effect on Angiotensin Converting Enzymes (TNI Patent Pending). Angiotensin Converting Enzymes are highly active in high blood pressure patients compare to normal. Hence, inhibiting of this enzyme will ameliorate high blood pressure and the complications thereof. I also discovered that TNFJC and TNJ both bind to and inhibit AT1 and AT2 receptors, which are part of the Angiotensin signaling pathways, in a dose dependant fashion. This enzymes and receptors are some of the targets used by pharmaceutical companies in synthesizing drugs that will help in reducing high blood pressure.
Though only a few of the scientific evidences listed here, it is only a glimpse of the repertoire of what Noni does for our health and vitality that we have discovered at TNI and other researchers around the world. Our ancestors knew that Noni works for various ailments otherwise they would not have wasted their time carrying them across the Pacific Ocean in their canoes and from islands to islands during their navigational years long ago. I am grateful to the traditional healing practices passed on from my mother Silivia Latai Tulaki To’angutu Palu, my grandmother Mele’ana Fehi’osi To’angutu from ‘Uiha, Ha’apai and to the rest of my Polynesian ancestors from the South Pacific. Thank you for the gift of the Noni. I salute and honor you all.
La’i Lū: Ifo Vovo Pea Fakatupu Mo’ui Lelei Ki He Sinó
Ko e taha ‘o e ngaahi me’akai na’e ‘omai ‘e he tau fanga kuí ‘i he taimi na’a nau fefolau’aki holo ai ‘i he tahi Pasifikí, ko e taló, kumalá pea mo e ngaahi ‘akau faito’o kehe kehe. Ko e ngaahi me’akai foki ‘eni na’a nau ma’u mo’ui mei ai ‘i he ngaahi tau ‘e tahaafe kouhili. Kai kehe kuo toki hanga foki ‘eni ‘ehe kau saianisi ia mei he tapa kehe kehe ‘o mamani ‘o fakatotolo’i pea mo fekumi ki he ngaahi lelei ko ia o e lai lú.
Ko e la’i lu ‘oku lahi ai ‘a e ngaahi vitamini, minelolo, polotiini, faipa, mo e ngaahi me’a fakatupu mo’ui lelei ki he sino pea ‘oku ‘ikai foki ke ‘i ai ha ngaahi ngako fakatu’utamaki ai. Ko e vaitamini A, luteini pea mo e siasenifini ‘oku ‘i he la’i lu te nau hanga ‘o fakalelei’i ‘a e mo’ui lelei pea mo e ngaue ‘a hotau mata (tapuange he mo hou’eiki) koe’uhi ke tau lava ‘o sio lelei pea mo hotau kili foki. Kuo ‘osi fakamo’oni’i foki ‘a e mahu’inga ia ‘o e vitamini A ‘i he ngaahi fakatotolo faka-saianisi lahi ‘o felave’i pea mo e moui lelei fakalukufua ‘a e sino ‘o kau ai ‘a e ngaahi kanisa ‘o e ‘ulu pea mo e kia. ‘Ikai ia ko ia pe, te tau toe tolonga ange ai pea ‘ikai foki ke vaveange ai ‘a ‘etau holo ‘o motu’á.
‘Oku ‘i ai foki pea mo e ngaahi vaitamini C ‘i he la’i lu. Ko e vaitamini C kuo osi fakapapau’i foki ia ‘e he kau saianisi tokolahi ‘oku ne fakavave’i ‘a e moui ‘a e ngaahi mata’i lavea (hufanga ‘i he fakatupu kuo ‘osi hono fai), fakamalohi‘i ‘a hotau ngaahi hui pea mo e ngaahi kalava, pea mo e ngaue ko ia ‘a e toto ‘i hotau sino. Kai kehe ka fakataha’i leva ‘a e vaitamini A pea mo e vaitamini C, hange ko ia ‘oku ‘i he la’i lu, te na fu’u tokoni lahi ‘aupito ki hono malu’i ‘a hotau kofu ua mei he ngaahi mahaki kehe kehe.
Ko e taha foki ‘o e ngaahi me’a fakatupu mo’ui lelei ‘i he la’i lu ko e ngaahi polotiini. Ko e ngaahi polotiini foki mei he ‘akau ‘oku lelei ange ia ‘i he ngaahi polotiini mei he kakano’i manu (tapuage he mo hou’eiki). ‘Oku ‘i he lai lū foki a e ngaahi ‘amino ‘esiti ‘oku fu’u mahu’inga aupito koe’uhi oku ikai ke fa’u ia ‘i hotau sino. I he ‘ene pehe, ‘oku fu’u lelei ‘aupito ‘a hono ‘ai fakataha ‘a e la’i lu pea mo e ika, pulu, fingota pea moe moa koe’uhi ke tau mau ‘a e ngaahi polotiini oku fiema’u ‘e hotau sino. Ko e polotiini foki ‘oku fiema’u ia ke fakamalohi’i ‘aki ‘a hotau ngaahi hui, kalava pea moe ngaahi konga kehe kehe ‘o e sino.
Na’e faka’ohovale foki ki ha kau saianisi ia ‘e ni’ihi ‘a e ‘ikai ko ia ke ‘i ai ha ngaahi ngako ko ia ko e kolesitelolo ‘i he la’i lú. Ko e ngako foki ko ‘eni ‘oku ne fa’a fakatupu ‘a e ngaahi mahaki mafú, tapuni’i ‘a e ngaahi halanga totó, toto ma’olungá pea mo e ngaahi mahaki kehe kehe. Kuo fu’u lahi ‘aupito foki ‘a e fakatokanga mai mei he kau ngāue ko ia ‘i he potungāue moui lelei ‘a ‘Ameliká ni ke tau kai ‘a e ngaahi me’akai ko ia oku si’i si’i pe oku ikai ke ‘i ai ha ngaahi ngako oku kovi. Ko e ha nai hono uhinga? Koe’uhi ‘oku fu’u tokolahi ‘aupito ‘a e mate mei he mahaki mafú, pa kalavá pea mo e toto ma’olungá tupu mei he fu’u lahi pe totu’a ‘a hono kai ‘a e ngaahi me’a tokoni ‘oku lai ai ‘a e ngako ko ‘eni. Ko ia ai ‘oku lelei ke tau kai ‘a e la’i lu ke tau mo’ui lelei ma’u pe.
Ko e faipā pea mo e ngaahi minelolo ko ia ‘oku ‘i he la’i lū te nau hanga ‘o fakatupulaki ‘a ‘etau moui leleí. Kuo ‘osi fakamo’oni’i faka-saianisi foki ‘a e lelei ia ‘a e ngaahi faipā mei he ngaahi fo’i ‘akau fuá mo e ngaahi vesitapolo kehe kehe. ‘Oku lelei ki hono fakamalohi’i pea mo e mo’ui lelei ‘a hotau mafú pea mo e ngaahi konga kehe kehe hotau sinó ‘oku felave’i pea mo hono fa’u ko ia ‘o e iví mei he ngaahi me’a kai ko ia te tau kaí. Na’e pehe foki ‘e he kau saianisi ia ‘e ni’ihi ko e ngaahi faipa ko ia ‘oku ma’u mei he ‘etau ngaahi me’akaí, fakataha mo ‘etau fakamalohi sinó, ‘ikai ke ifi ‘a e tapaká pea mo inu ‘a e kava malohí, te nau lava pe ‘o malu’i kitautolu ke ‘oua te tau ma’u ‘a e mahaki ko ia ko e suká. ‘I he taimi tatau pe, ‘e malu’i ai kitautolu mei he kanisā ‘o e ngakaú (tapuange he pea mo hou’eiki), si’i ange ai ‘a e mamahi pea mo e felanga’aki ‘a hotau sinó, pea ‘ikai foki ke tau fu’u sino. Ko hono fakalea ‘e tahá, te tau toe mo’ui lelei ange kitautolu ‘o hange ko ‘etau fanga kuí ‘i he taimi ko ia na’e ‘a’ahi mai ai ‘a kapiteni Kukí.
Tau kai ma’u pē ‘a e la’i u he ‘oku ifo vovo pea fakatupu mo’ui lelei ki hotau sino pea tau fai hotau ngaahi fatongia ki hotau ngaahi fāmilí, siasí pea mo e pule’anga ko ia ‘oku tau nofo aí. ‘Oua na’a ngalo ke tau fakamalohi sino pea mo fakafuofua’i ma’u pe ‘a ‘etau ma’u me’a tokoní.
Ko e la’i lu ‘oku lahi ai ‘a e ngaahi vitamini, minelolo, polotiini, faipa, mo e ngaahi me’a fakatupu mo’ui lelei ki he sino pea ‘oku ‘ikai foki ke ‘i ai ha ngaahi ngako fakatu’utamaki ai. Ko e vaitamini A, luteini pea mo e siasenifini ‘oku ‘i he la’i lu te nau hanga ‘o fakalelei’i ‘a e mo’ui lelei pea mo e ngaue ‘a hotau mata (tapuange he mo hou’eiki) koe’uhi ke tau lava ‘o sio lelei pea mo hotau kili foki. Kuo ‘osi fakamo’oni’i foki ‘a e mahu’inga ia ‘o e vitamini A ‘i he ngaahi fakatotolo faka-saianisi lahi ‘o felave’i pea mo e moui lelei fakalukufua ‘a e sino ‘o kau ai ‘a e ngaahi kanisa ‘o e ‘ulu pea mo e kia. ‘Ikai ia ko ia pe, te tau toe tolonga ange ai pea ‘ikai foki ke vaveange ai ‘a ‘etau holo ‘o motu’á.
‘Oku ‘i ai foki pea mo e ngaahi vaitamini C ‘i he la’i lu. Ko e vaitamini C kuo osi fakapapau’i foki ia ‘e he kau saianisi tokolahi ‘oku ne fakavave’i ‘a e moui ‘a e ngaahi mata’i lavea (hufanga ‘i he fakatupu kuo ‘osi hono fai), fakamalohi‘i ‘a hotau ngaahi hui pea mo e ngaahi kalava, pea mo e ngaue ko ia ‘a e toto ‘i hotau sino. Kai kehe ka fakataha’i leva ‘a e vaitamini A pea mo e vaitamini C, hange ko ia ‘oku ‘i he la’i lu, te na fu’u tokoni lahi ‘aupito ki hono malu’i ‘a hotau kofu ua mei he ngaahi mahaki kehe kehe.
Ko e taha foki ‘o e ngaahi me’a fakatupu mo’ui lelei ‘i he la’i lu ko e ngaahi polotiini. Ko e ngaahi polotiini foki mei he ‘akau ‘oku lelei ange ia ‘i he ngaahi polotiini mei he kakano’i manu (tapuage he mo hou’eiki). ‘Oku ‘i he lai lū foki a e ngaahi ‘amino ‘esiti ‘oku fu’u mahu’inga aupito koe’uhi oku ikai ke fa’u ia ‘i hotau sino. I he ‘ene pehe, ‘oku fu’u lelei ‘aupito ‘a hono ‘ai fakataha ‘a e la’i lu pea mo e ika, pulu, fingota pea moe moa koe’uhi ke tau mau ‘a e ngaahi polotiini oku fiema’u ‘e hotau sino. Ko e polotiini foki ‘oku fiema’u ia ke fakamalohi’i ‘aki ‘a hotau ngaahi hui, kalava pea moe ngaahi konga kehe kehe ‘o e sino.
Na’e faka’ohovale foki ki ha kau saianisi ia ‘e ni’ihi ‘a e ‘ikai ko ia ke ‘i ai ha ngaahi ngako ko ia ko e kolesitelolo ‘i he la’i lú. Ko e ngako foki ko ‘eni ‘oku ne fa’a fakatupu ‘a e ngaahi mahaki mafú, tapuni’i ‘a e ngaahi halanga totó, toto ma’olungá pea mo e ngaahi mahaki kehe kehe. Kuo fu’u lahi ‘aupito foki ‘a e fakatokanga mai mei he kau ngāue ko ia ‘i he potungāue moui lelei ‘a ‘Ameliká ni ke tau kai ‘a e ngaahi me’akai ko ia oku si’i si’i pe oku ikai ke ‘i ai ha ngaahi ngako oku kovi. Ko e ha nai hono uhinga? Koe’uhi ‘oku fu’u tokolahi ‘aupito ‘a e mate mei he mahaki mafú, pa kalavá pea mo e toto ma’olungá tupu mei he fu’u lahi pe totu’a ‘a hono kai ‘a e ngaahi me’a tokoni ‘oku lai ai ‘a e ngako ko ‘eni. Ko ia ai ‘oku lelei ke tau kai ‘a e la’i lu ke tau mo’ui lelei ma’u pe.
Ko e faipā pea mo e ngaahi minelolo ko ia ‘oku ‘i he la’i lū te nau hanga ‘o fakatupulaki ‘a ‘etau moui leleí. Kuo ‘osi fakamo’oni’i faka-saianisi foki ‘a e lelei ia ‘a e ngaahi faipā mei he ngaahi fo’i ‘akau fuá mo e ngaahi vesitapolo kehe kehe. ‘Oku lelei ki hono fakamalohi’i pea mo e mo’ui lelei ‘a hotau mafú pea mo e ngaahi konga kehe kehe hotau sinó ‘oku felave’i pea mo hono fa’u ko ia ‘o e iví mei he ngaahi me’a kai ko ia te tau kaí. Na’e pehe foki ‘e he kau saianisi ia ‘e ni’ihi ko e ngaahi faipa ko ia ‘oku ma’u mei he ‘etau ngaahi me’akaí, fakataha mo ‘etau fakamalohi sinó, ‘ikai ke ifi ‘a e tapaká pea mo inu ‘a e kava malohí, te nau lava pe ‘o malu’i kitautolu ke ‘oua te tau ma’u ‘a e mahaki ko ia ko e suká. ‘I he taimi tatau pe, ‘e malu’i ai kitautolu mei he kanisā ‘o e ngakaú (tapuange he pea mo hou’eiki), si’i ange ai ‘a e mamahi pea mo e felanga’aki ‘a hotau sinó, pea ‘ikai foki ke tau fu’u sino. Ko hono fakalea ‘e tahá, te tau toe mo’ui lelei ange kitautolu ‘o hange ko ‘etau fanga kuí ‘i he taimi ko ia na’e ‘a’ahi mai ai ‘a kapiteni Kukí.
Tau kai ma’u pē ‘a e la’i u he ‘oku ifo vovo pea fakatupu mo’ui lelei ki hotau sino pea tau fai hotau ngaahi fatongia ki hotau ngaahi fāmilí, siasí pea mo e pule’anga ko ia ‘oku tau nofo aí. ‘Oua na’a ngalo ke tau fakamalohi sino pea mo fakafuofua’i ma’u pe ‘a ‘etau ma’u me’a tokoní.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Performance & Achievement of Minority Students
I came across an interesting article title "Key factors in the performance and achievement of minority students at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks" by Peggy Wilson that was published in the American Indian Quarterly, Vol. 21, No. 3. (Summer, 1997), pp. 535-544.
The points identified, explained, and contextualized by her in her article just hit home with me because I had experienced them and I know that others had too.
She looked into the failing students since native students has the highest dropout rate compared to others. However, the main point that I wanted to point out from her findings are:
1. Minority students learned best in projects or small group discussions
2. Minority students do not learn from abstract conceptualization compared to white
3. Minority students learn through active experimentation
4. Minority students identified the importance of teacher and student's relationships
5. Accessibility, approachability and availability are important to minority students
6. Genuineness and caring from the teacher
7. Importance of making connections between the teacher and students
These were the important points identified in the research and many others like this. One has to wonder, why are teachers, educators, district leaders, and Policymakers are not using research to change, improve and facilitate the increase in academic achievements of minority students by changing the teacher's pedagogy as it is clearly shown in this research? Are educators really serious about increasing academic achievements of minority? We spend billions of dollars in this country trying to raise academic achievements and seems to have very little to show for it. It is no wonder researcher's like Hanushek asked tough, insightful and provocative questions. Some of which are "does money matter?" and "throwing money at school?" and much more.
I hope that these points illustrated here and many more can help us to tailor our teaching pedagogy to increase learning of all students, especially minority students who seems to be lagging behind. If we do this, our country can move forward economically, culturally, and perhaps learn to use our resources carefully, effectively, and efficiently.
The points identified, explained, and contextualized by her in her article just hit home with me because I had experienced them and I know that others had too.
She looked into the failing students since native students has the highest dropout rate compared to others. However, the main point that I wanted to point out from her findings are:
1. Minority students learned best in projects or small group discussions
2. Minority students do not learn from abstract conceptualization compared to white
3. Minority students learn through active experimentation
4. Minority students identified the importance of teacher and student's relationships
5. Accessibility, approachability and availability are important to minority students
6. Genuineness and caring from the teacher
7. Importance of making connections between the teacher and students
These were the important points identified in the research and many others like this. One has to wonder, why are teachers, educators, district leaders, and Policymakers are not using research to change, improve and facilitate the increase in academic achievements of minority students by changing the teacher's pedagogy as it is clearly shown in this research? Are educators really serious about increasing academic achievements of minority? We spend billions of dollars in this country trying to raise academic achievements and seems to have very little to show for it. It is no wonder researcher's like Hanushek asked tough, insightful and provocative questions. Some of which are "does money matter?" and "throwing money at school?" and much more.
I hope that these points illustrated here and many more can help us to tailor our teaching pedagogy to increase learning of all students, especially minority students who seems to be lagging behind. If we do this, our country can move forward economically, culturally, and perhaps learn to use our resources carefully, effectively, and efficiently.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Traditional Treatment: Mavaeua & Tapitopito
Ancient Treatment of Unclosed Fontanels: Too Advanced for Modern Civilization?
Collecting Tongan medicinal plants was never an easy task, especially for a child who was just learning how to count, but looking back into those experiences, I am grateful that I did see them being used for the benefits of others. One of those experiences that I can recall was the collection of a funny looking, stemless plant, Centella asiatica L., commonly known as tono. Tāpitopito and mavaeua are two different types of diseases occur in babies, who are treated with this plant, tono. Tāpitopito is a Tongan name given to a condition of newborns in which there is hollowness around and discharge from the umbilical area. Similarly, mavaeua is a Tongan name for unclosed fontanel’s which may become hardened if not treated, resulting in other complications, deform head and/or sometimes death.
The leaves of the tono plant were bounded with a small volcanic rock on top of a much bigger one and both the juices and the smashed leaves were applied topically on the area that is affected, around the navel (pito) area or where the unclosed fontanels are located. Further, the leaves and the juice were sometimes mixed with the leaves and juice from the Oxalis corniculata plant, commonly known as kihikihi.
These two plants, tono and kihikihi, have shown their efficacy, and their potencies, in treatment of tāpitopito and mavaeua for over two thousands of years among our people and other Polynesian. That is real human clinical trial, unlike the double cross-over placebo control clinical trial of our time. Those plants worked, then and still are. We must continue to use them for sometimes Western medicine cannot cure these diseases and/or fall short in its promises, especially when side effects are taken into considerations. Consequently, we cannot, and should not, question the wisdoms of our ancestors but hold them up as heroes for our time, even in this great country. Concomitantly, we must share these types of treatments, and other treatments like these, with the younger generations. Do you think that our ancestors’ practice of medicine has proven to be superior to those of our days? You be the judge!
However, one must ask the question if he or she is curious enough, why were those plants effective, and they still are, in treating these two diseases? I believe that part of the answers come from science. It has been shown that the tono plant has wound healing, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and antiviral (Yoosook et al., Phytomedicine, 2000 Jan;6(6):411-9) and anti-inflammatory effects (Medicinal Plants of the South Pacific). As such, this plant’s anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral and wound healing effects are responsible, at least in part, for its health benefits shown in the treatment of tapitopito and mavaeua. Interestingly, the cosmetic industries are “mining” this plant because of these health benefits for the skin while the dietary supplement industries are “mining” for its anti-inflammatory.
On a side note, this plant (tono, an extract was used) have been investigated and evaluated for its effects on leprosy (kilia) and found to be effective (Medda et al., Indian J Biochem Biophys. 1995 Jun; 32 (3):147-51). It seems like to me that we have a lot of medicinal plants in Tongan that could have been used if we have known to help us during that time of trouble.
In like manner, the kihikihi plant has also been shown to have hypoglycemic (good for treatment of diabetes-suka), antihypertensive (lowers high blood pressure-toto mau’olunga), chronotropic effect (affecting the heart rate-māmalie pē vave ‘a e tā ‘o e mafú), wound healing and brain stimulant (Hussin et al., Food Chemistry 100 (2007) 535-541), antibacterial properties, antioxidant (Medicinal Plants of the South Pacific). These health effects indentified from other researches, at least in part, verified the efficacy and potency of these plants and further support the rationale for “why” our ancestors were using them. But more importantly, why we should continue to use them because they passed these koloa, and other wisdoms to us.
Collecting Tongan medicinal plants was never an easy task, especially for a child who was just learning how to count, but looking back into those experiences, I am grateful that I did see them being used for the benefits of others. One of those experiences that I can recall was the collection of a funny looking, stemless plant, Centella asiatica L., commonly known as tono. Tāpitopito and mavaeua are two different types of diseases occur in babies, who are treated with this plant, tono. Tāpitopito is a Tongan name given to a condition of newborns in which there is hollowness around and discharge from the umbilical area. Similarly, mavaeua is a Tongan name for unclosed fontanel’s which may become hardened if not treated, resulting in other complications, deform head and/or sometimes death.
The leaves of the tono plant were bounded with a small volcanic rock on top of a much bigger one and both the juices and the smashed leaves were applied topically on the area that is affected, around the navel (pito) area or where the unclosed fontanels are located. Further, the leaves and the juice were sometimes mixed with the leaves and juice from the Oxalis corniculata plant, commonly known as kihikihi.
These two plants, tono and kihikihi, have shown their efficacy, and their potencies, in treatment of tāpitopito and mavaeua for over two thousands of years among our people and other Polynesian. That is real human clinical trial, unlike the double cross-over placebo control clinical trial of our time. Those plants worked, then and still are. We must continue to use them for sometimes Western medicine cannot cure these diseases and/or fall short in its promises, especially when side effects are taken into considerations. Consequently, we cannot, and should not, question the wisdoms of our ancestors but hold them up as heroes for our time, even in this great country. Concomitantly, we must share these types of treatments, and other treatments like these, with the younger generations. Do you think that our ancestors’ practice of medicine has proven to be superior to those of our days? You be the judge!
However, one must ask the question if he or she is curious enough, why were those plants effective, and they still are, in treating these two diseases? I believe that part of the answers come from science. It has been shown that the tono plant has wound healing, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and antiviral (Yoosook et al., Phytomedicine, 2000 Jan;6(6):411-9) and anti-inflammatory effects (Medicinal Plants of the South Pacific). As such, this plant’s anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral and wound healing effects are responsible, at least in part, for its health benefits shown in the treatment of tapitopito and mavaeua. Interestingly, the cosmetic industries are “mining” this plant because of these health benefits for the skin while the dietary supplement industries are “mining” for its anti-inflammatory.
On a side note, this plant (tono, an extract was used) have been investigated and evaluated for its effects on leprosy (kilia) and found to be effective (Medda et al., Indian J Biochem Biophys. 1995 Jun; 32 (3):147-51). It seems like to me that we have a lot of medicinal plants in Tongan that could have been used if we have known to help us during that time of trouble.
In like manner, the kihikihi plant has also been shown to have hypoglycemic (good for treatment of diabetes-suka), antihypertensive (lowers high blood pressure-toto mau’olunga), chronotropic effect (affecting the heart rate-māmalie pē vave ‘a e tā ‘o e mafú), wound healing and brain stimulant (Hussin et al., Food Chemistry 100 (2007) 535-541), antibacterial properties, antioxidant (Medicinal Plants of the South Pacific). These health effects indentified from other researches, at least in part, verified the efficacy and potency of these plants and further support the rationale for “why” our ancestors were using them. But more importantly, why we should continue to use them because they passed these koloa, and other wisdoms to us.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Gout Diseases: The Enemy of So Many Polynesians
The legend of Maui’s discovery of the art of making fire in Polynesia can be a great asset to all of us. This legend should be told to the younger generation in the years to come so that they know where they come from as they look to the future. It can serve as a reminder of how great our ancestors were and how bright our future can become. It can give us the courage to make our own circumstances when one is not readily available. Perhaps it can also show us the way to solve some of our health problems. One of the biggest health problems to face Polynesians in the world today is gout diseases.
Gout used to be known as the “disease of the rich.” Now it has found its niche in the people of Polynesia in an alarming rate. So much so that it has become one of the Polynesian’s worst nightmares. In fact, almost every Polynesian that you talk to knows somebody who suffers from gout diseases. Thus, it is not uncommon to hear the howling “’oi au e kuo langa hoku va’e” as an indication that the enemy has attacked. Why are Polynesians suffering from gout diseases in an alarming rate? The answers can be as complicated as you want them to be, but I would like to suggest two major factors that have contributed to the increasing incident of gout diseases among Polynesians. One is our “Polynesian diet” and the other is our “Polynesian lifestyle.”
Polynesian diet consists mainly of kumala, talo, siaine, hopa, ‘ufi, mei, and manioke. The meat consists of lambs’ meat and New Zealand corned beef, pulu masima and chicken. This list of “Polynesian diet” is enough to stimulate your brain’s feeding center to seek out a Polynesian restaurant nearby. In all, majority of the Polynesians consumed lots of meat frequently, especially roast pigs and corned beef. While there may be no unforeseeable danger looming in the horizon to those who over consumed them on a daily basis, there is certainly an unmistakable and irrefutable causes of gout diseases in the making. One might ask how the “Polynesian diet” contributes to the development of gout.
Gout diseases resulted from the inability of our bodies to excrete the excess uric acid which is a by-product from meat consumption. The more meat we consumed, the higher the levels of uric acid produced, which leads to the kidney’s inefficiency in excreting them. Uric acid combined with other minerals in the body to form what is known as urate crystals. Urate crystals deposited in the kidney results in kidney stones, while those deposited in the fluids between the joints resulted in gout or gout-like diseases. The signal transduction pathways involved in urate crystals’ formation is a complicated one. However, in a nut shell (refer to diagram below) the enzyme known as Xanthine Oxidase is involved in the conversion of hypoxanthine to Xanthine and then to uric acid. Uric acid is easily excreted when you are young and healthy but the older we get, the harder it is for us to excrete uric acid efficiently. Hence uric acid is accumulated in the joints as urate crystals thus making the joints stiff resulting in your inability to move freely. Moreover, as the urate crystals grow between the joints, the inflammation (I) and pain (P) increases. They are usually manifested in the form of “ake” or “fufula” of the knee, wrists, motu’a va’e and the ankles to name just a few. Since Xanthine Oxidase in involved in the production of uric acid, it has become the primary target of many pharmaceutical drugs such as Allopurinol and liquid dietary supplements including TAHITIAN NONI® Juice. Allopurinol and TAHITIAN NONI® Juice both work through the same mechanisms by inhibiting the Xanthine Oxidase (XO) enzymes leading to reduction in uric acid production and ultimately reduce pain and inflammation.
Polynesian lifestyle does contribute in a lesser degree to the alarming rate of gout diseases among Polynesians especially those who live in NZ, AUS and USA. We are not engaging in enough daily physical activities, restricted by the winter weather and are using machine for most of the work that used to be done physically. We can solve this problem by going to the gymnasium to work out or just organize walking or exercise partners. We need to be more mobile, active and eagerly engage in maintaining our own health as well as those of our loved ones.
I believe, as well as others in the communities that we are eating more meat now than our ancestors had and are not taking care of our health as we should. Therefore, we are struggling with the overwhelming accumulation of uric acid beyond what our kidneys can efficiently excrete and that is why majority of us are having gout or gout-like diseases. Perhaps we should be “…eating meat sparingly…” and try to consume more fruits and vegetables to strengthen our immune system, build our antioxidant capacity so that we can wart off inflammatory diseases including gout. It is imperative that we must change the way we think and eat to include more fruits, vegetables and also increases our daily exercises so that we can obtain optimum health. Our ancestors’ diet was made “…up of at least nine-tenths of vegetable food; and it is perhaps owing to this temperate course of life that they have so few diseases among them…” (Mr. Anderson, Captain James Cook 3rd Voyage to the Pacific Islands). The healthier we are the more productive we may become. Like Maui of old who defeated the God of fire so must we, work together to defeat this enemy that has inflicted so much pain among our people.
Gout used to be known as the “disease of the rich.” Now it has found its niche in the people of Polynesia in an alarming rate. So much so that it has become one of the Polynesian’s worst nightmares. In fact, almost every Polynesian that you talk to knows somebody who suffers from gout diseases. Thus, it is not uncommon to hear the howling “’oi au e kuo langa hoku va’e” as an indication that the enemy has attacked. Why are Polynesians suffering from gout diseases in an alarming rate? The answers can be as complicated as you want them to be, but I would like to suggest two major factors that have contributed to the increasing incident of gout diseases among Polynesians. One is our “Polynesian diet” and the other is our “Polynesian lifestyle.”
Polynesian diet consists mainly of kumala, talo, siaine, hopa, ‘ufi, mei, and manioke. The meat consists of lambs’ meat and New Zealand corned beef, pulu masima and chicken. This list of “Polynesian diet” is enough to stimulate your brain’s feeding center to seek out a Polynesian restaurant nearby. In all, majority of the Polynesians consumed lots of meat frequently, especially roast pigs and corned beef. While there may be no unforeseeable danger looming in the horizon to those who over consumed them on a daily basis, there is certainly an unmistakable and irrefutable causes of gout diseases in the making. One might ask how the “Polynesian diet” contributes to the development of gout.
Gout diseases resulted from the inability of our bodies to excrete the excess uric acid which is a by-product from meat consumption. The more meat we consumed, the higher the levels of uric acid produced, which leads to the kidney’s inefficiency in excreting them. Uric acid combined with other minerals in the body to form what is known as urate crystals. Urate crystals deposited in the kidney results in kidney stones, while those deposited in the fluids between the joints resulted in gout or gout-like diseases. The signal transduction pathways involved in urate crystals’ formation is a complicated one. However, in a nut shell (refer to diagram below) the enzyme known as Xanthine Oxidase is involved in the conversion of hypoxanthine to Xanthine and then to uric acid. Uric acid is easily excreted when you are young and healthy but the older we get, the harder it is for us to excrete uric acid efficiently. Hence uric acid is accumulated in the joints as urate crystals thus making the joints stiff resulting in your inability to move freely. Moreover, as the urate crystals grow between the joints, the inflammation (I) and pain (P) increases. They are usually manifested in the form of “ake” or “fufula” of the knee, wrists, motu’a va’e and the ankles to name just a few. Since Xanthine Oxidase in involved in the production of uric acid, it has become the primary target of many pharmaceutical drugs such as Allopurinol and liquid dietary supplements including TAHITIAN NONI® Juice. Allopurinol and TAHITIAN NONI® Juice both work through the same mechanisms by inhibiting the Xanthine Oxidase (XO) enzymes leading to reduction in uric acid production and ultimately reduce pain and inflammation.
Polynesian lifestyle does contribute in a lesser degree to the alarming rate of gout diseases among Polynesians especially those who live in NZ, AUS and USA. We are not engaging in enough daily physical activities, restricted by the winter weather and are using machine for most of the work that used to be done physically. We can solve this problem by going to the gymnasium to work out or just organize walking or exercise partners. We need to be more mobile, active and eagerly engage in maintaining our own health as well as those of our loved ones.
I believe, as well as others in the communities that we are eating more meat now than our ancestors had and are not taking care of our health as we should. Therefore, we are struggling with the overwhelming accumulation of uric acid beyond what our kidneys can efficiently excrete and that is why majority of us are having gout or gout-like diseases. Perhaps we should be “…eating meat sparingly…” and try to consume more fruits and vegetables to strengthen our immune system, build our antioxidant capacity so that we can wart off inflammatory diseases including gout. It is imperative that we must change the way we think and eat to include more fruits, vegetables and also increases our daily exercises so that we can obtain optimum health. Our ancestors’ diet was made “…up of at least nine-tenths of vegetable food; and it is perhaps owing to this temperate course of life that they have so few diseases among them…” (Mr. Anderson, Captain James Cook 3rd Voyage to the Pacific Islands). The healthier we are the more productive we may become. Like Maui of old who defeated the God of fire so must we, work together to defeat this enemy that has inflicted so much pain among our people.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Our Ancestor’s Canoe Plants: Our Unappreciated Goldmine for Healthy Skin
Our Polynesian ancestors carried with them many canoe plants during their navigational years because of their usefulness in different aspects of their lives. Some of them were for food while others were for medicine, building canoes and for beautification of their skin. We inherit these gifts from them, as such; we must treat them with respect and continue to use them for our skin health. I used to help my mother in making various kinds of Polynesian seed oils, some of them were prepared for our daily usage while others were for gifts to visitors and special occasions. Polynesian seed oils include coconut oil as a base, mix with different varieties of flowers, and other seed oils. Additional ingredients such as mohokoi, langakali, pakopako, feta’u, tuitui and ahi can be added to the base so that one formula can be different from the others. These seed oils contain many skin health benefits, uncovered by science, but known to our ancestors for over thousands of years. We should continue to use our Polynesian seed oils so that we can maintain our healthy, good-looking brown skin and help pass on their beautification legacy to future generations.
Coconut oil (Cocos nucifera L.) has been used for over thousands of years in Polynesia with much, proven health benefits to their lives and our skin physiology. Coconut oil is the base and the other seed oils and flowers are added to differentiate one type of oil from the others. Our ancestors used to relieve stiffness in the joints, rheumatism and back pains by rubbing a liberal amount coconut oil on them (Medicinal Plants of the South Pacific). Additionally, coconut oil was used as ointments to maintain their smooth and soft skin. Others have also used coconut oil with turmeric to treat sick newborn infants and women who have just given birth. Additionally, to place a baby from a breech to a normal position in the mother’s womb, the abdomen is massage with coconut oil.
Sylla et al (Bull Soc Pathol Exot. 2003 May; 96(2): 104-9) reported that different vegetable base (which include coconut oils) lotions and creams gave protection against Simulium damnosum bites and concluded that they were more effective compared to control. Konan et al (Parasite. 2003 Jun; 10(2): 181-4) demonstrated that oil-based formulations are good repellents in the form of dermal pomades. They are recommended as a protection against awakening and bedtime mosquito bites. Likewise, Conrado S Dayrit (XXXVII Cocotech Meeting, Chennai, India. July 25, 2000) reported that various fatty acids in coconut oils have antimicrobial effects against gram+ bacterial species instead of gram- species. Additionally, John J Kabara, PhD (Health Oils From The Tree Of Life: Nutritional and Health Aspects of Coconut Oil) and Sun et al (FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2003 May 15: 36(1-2): 9-17) have reported that monolauric fatty acid, found in coconut oils, have been shown to protect the skin from bacteria and protozoan infections. It also contains monounsaturated fatty acids, which has also been shown to have antioxidant properties with potential benefits against skin aging. These researches, though only a part of all the scientific studies on coconut oil’s health benefits, serve as proof that coconut oils has skin health benefits and so we must continue to use them to beautify our skin like our ancestors who had gone before us.
Tuitui nut oil (Aleurites moluccana L.) has been used for over thousands of years by our ancestors with much skin health benefits, but lately scientific researches have finally verified their effectiveness. It has essential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids) that are vital to healthy skin metabolism, provides light moisture and gently lift debris from delicate, dry skin. The precious oil from the nut (57-80%) has also been reported to contain vitamins A, E and F that are good for skin health and wound healings (www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Aleurites_moluccana.html). For these reasons, it is perhaps why all Polynesians, for massaging ache and pain of the body, use tuitui nut oil frequently.
Perhaps I can refresh your memory to this health benefits from the tuitui nut oil. The candlenuts are chewed together with some pakopako and mohokoi flowers until they are soft before they are applied to your skin and rubbed against it slowly. During this process, dirt and other debris from the skin are removed, leaving your skin soft, clean and smells so good. I am sure that we all remember this type of skin treatment. The perfume of the mohokoi flowers is irresistible but the silky and softness of the skin of those who use this ancient skin treatment is unbelievable.
Feta’u nut oil (Calophyllum inophyllum L.), like coconut and tuitui nut oil, has been used for over thousands of years because of its effectiveness in maintaining their healthy skin. As such, we should continue to use them daily so that our skin can be beautiful as theirs. This oil is widely used in the cosmetic industries and is known as Tamanu seed oil. It is reputed to contain three types of lipids which offers moister that is absorbed quickly leaving the skin soft and nice to the touch. It has also been used for treatment of ringworms and scabies (Ridley HN. Malay drugs. 1906. Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay States 5: 193, 245 & 269; Perry & Metzger. 1980. Medicinal Plants of East and Southeast Asia: Attributed Properties and Uses. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press). Scientific researches also shown that Tamanu seed oil has an excellent dermo-purifying action due to the presence of an unique fatty acid known as calophyllic acid, which has an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. This is why Tamanu seed oil is used on acne; hence, it will help keep our skin healthy (Apora et al. 1962. Calophylloide, a complex coumarin anticoagulant from Calophullum inophyllum L. Department of Pharmacology, all India Institute of Medical Sciences. New Delhi; Bhalla et al. 1980. Calophyllolide- a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Indian Journal of Medicinal Research, 72(Nov): 762-765). Dweck & Medows reported that products containing Tamanu seed oil helps reduce and improve the appearance of scars (Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum)-the African, Asian, Polynesian and Pacific Panacea. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2002.24, 1-8; Chevalier, J. Doctoral Thesis. Paris 1951).
The synthetic baby oils and other cosmetics have slowly replaced the use of ancestors’ seed oils for beautification of our skin because it does not involve the laborious process of making them. We must reuse our ancestors’ skin health regimen because the cosmetic industries are mining them for their own benefits due to the advent of scientific researches that have shown and proven why our ancestors had used them. It is imperative that we must use them to beautify our skin and pass on their skin beautification legacy to the future generations as they had done for us.
Coconut oil (Cocos nucifera L.) has been used for over thousands of years in Polynesia with much, proven health benefits to their lives and our skin physiology. Coconut oil is the base and the other seed oils and flowers are added to differentiate one type of oil from the others. Our ancestors used to relieve stiffness in the joints, rheumatism and back pains by rubbing a liberal amount coconut oil on them (Medicinal Plants of the South Pacific). Additionally, coconut oil was used as ointments to maintain their smooth and soft skin. Others have also used coconut oil with turmeric to treat sick newborn infants and women who have just given birth. Additionally, to place a baby from a breech to a normal position in the mother’s womb, the abdomen is massage with coconut oil.
Sylla et al (Bull Soc Pathol Exot. 2003 May; 96(2): 104-9) reported that different vegetable base (which include coconut oils) lotions and creams gave protection against Simulium damnosum bites and concluded that they were more effective compared to control. Konan et al (Parasite. 2003 Jun; 10(2): 181-4) demonstrated that oil-based formulations are good repellents in the form of dermal pomades. They are recommended as a protection against awakening and bedtime mosquito bites. Likewise, Conrado S Dayrit (XXXVII Cocotech Meeting, Chennai, India. July 25, 2000) reported that various fatty acids in coconut oils have antimicrobial effects against gram+ bacterial species instead of gram- species. Additionally, John J Kabara, PhD (Health Oils From The Tree Of Life: Nutritional and Health Aspects of Coconut Oil) and Sun et al (FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol. 2003 May 15: 36(1-2): 9-17) have reported that monolauric fatty acid, found in coconut oils, have been shown to protect the skin from bacteria and protozoan infections. It also contains monounsaturated fatty acids, which has also been shown to have antioxidant properties with potential benefits against skin aging. These researches, though only a part of all the scientific studies on coconut oil’s health benefits, serve as proof that coconut oils has skin health benefits and so we must continue to use them to beautify our skin like our ancestors who had gone before us.
Tuitui nut oil (Aleurites moluccana L.) has been used for over thousands of years by our ancestors with much skin health benefits, but lately scientific researches have finally verified their effectiveness. It has essential fatty acids (linoleic and linolenic acids) that are vital to healthy skin metabolism, provides light moisture and gently lift debris from delicate, dry skin. The precious oil from the nut (57-80%) has also been reported to contain vitamins A, E and F that are good for skin health and wound healings (www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Aleurites_moluccana.html). For these reasons, it is perhaps why all Polynesians, for massaging ache and pain of the body, use tuitui nut oil frequently.
Perhaps I can refresh your memory to this health benefits from the tuitui nut oil. The candlenuts are chewed together with some pakopako and mohokoi flowers until they are soft before they are applied to your skin and rubbed against it slowly. During this process, dirt and other debris from the skin are removed, leaving your skin soft, clean and smells so good. I am sure that we all remember this type of skin treatment. The perfume of the mohokoi flowers is irresistible but the silky and softness of the skin of those who use this ancient skin treatment is unbelievable.
Feta’u nut oil (Calophyllum inophyllum L.), like coconut and tuitui nut oil, has been used for over thousands of years because of its effectiveness in maintaining their healthy skin. As such, we should continue to use them daily so that our skin can be beautiful as theirs. This oil is widely used in the cosmetic industries and is known as Tamanu seed oil. It is reputed to contain three types of lipids which offers moister that is absorbed quickly leaving the skin soft and nice to the touch. It has also been used for treatment of ringworms and scabies (Ridley HN. Malay drugs. 1906. Agricultural Bulletin of the Straits and Federated Malay States 5: 193, 245 & 269; Perry & Metzger. 1980. Medicinal Plants of East and Southeast Asia: Attributed Properties and Uses. Cambridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press). Scientific researches also shown that Tamanu seed oil has an excellent dermo-purifying action due to the presence of an unique fatty acid known as calophyllic acid, which has an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects. This is why Tamanu seed oil is used on acne; hence, it will help keep our skin healthy (Apora et al. 1962. Calophylloide, a complex coumarin anticoagulant from Calophullum inophyllum L. Department of Pharmacology, all India Institute of Medical Sciences. New Delhi; Bhalla et al. 1980. Calophyllolide- a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent. Indian Journal of Medicinal Research, 72(Nov): 762-765). Dweck & Medows reported that products containing Tamanu seed oil helps reduce and improve the appearance of scars (Tamanu (Calophyllum inophyllum)-the African, Asian, Polynesian and Pacific Panacea. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2002.24, 1-8; Chevalier, J. Doctoral Thesis. Paris 1951).
The synthetic baby oils and other cosmetics have slowly replaced the use of ancestors’ seed oils for beautification of our skin because it does not involve the laborious process of making them. We must reuse our ancestors’ skin health regimen because the cosmetic industries are mining them for their own benefits due to the advent of scientific researches that have shown and proven why our ancestors had used them. It is imperative that we must use them to beautify our skin and pass on their skin beautification legacy to the future generations as they had done for us.
Facing the Giant--Mamalu 'a Mohuku
I came across a film during the last Christmas holidays and found a movie called, Facing the Giant, and was elated at the doctrinal based-making of the movie. My family and I watched the movie a few times now and feel the importance of using God-given model of success as shown in the Holy Writ to help us in our modern challenges. A great movie, very inspired movie and glad to know that there are others out there who can share their talents for a great cause in a world of chaos.
After watching the movie many times over, I am reminded of what my Tongan ancestors' saying "mamalu 'a mohuku" meaning though the weeds seems larger, it is easier to plug them out than it looks. Hence, though our task may seems undoable at times, like "facing the giant", we can handle it if we carefully use the lessons learned from the models as outline in the scriptures and what our ancestors had taught us to be victorious.
After watching the movie many times over, I am reminded of what my Tongan ancestors' saying "mamalu 'a mohuku" meaning though the weeds seems larger, it is easier to plug them out than it looks. Hence, though our task may seems undoable at times, like "facing the giant", we can handle it if we carefully use the lessons learned from the models as outline in the scriptures and what our ancestors had taught us to be victorious.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Hehea pea mo e La’i Masi Koka: A Proven Remedy with Efficacy for Over Thousands of Years
Our ancestors were guided by Power from above during their navigational years in the biggest ocean in the world, the Pacific Ocean. That same power enables them to survive and perpetuate the Polynesian race in which you and I have been fortunate and are blessed to be a part of. They faced many challenges and obstacles during those years which help shaped their characters and strengthened their resolved. That same resolved will help us strengthen our faith to keep moving forward in our own navigation through life’s challenges and obstacles to a better future. In ensuring that we will have a better future, they left us with a lot of koloa or gifts. One of the many koloa that they left with us was the knowledge given to them by God concerning the use of ngaahi ‘akau faito’o (medicinal plants) for different diseases (ngaahi mahaki kehekehe) that we need to learn and use for health and vitality. The plants that come to mind are hehea and masi koka which had been used for over thousand of years for pain, inflammation and infections with a proven historical efficacy of a human clinical trial of a differnet nature unlike those of our days.
Hehea (Syzygium corynocarpum Gray) has been used by our ancestors for ornament and medicine for over thousands of years. The medicinal use involves an infusion (huhu'a mei hono tuki pea tatau ‘a e kili’i ‘akau pe ko e lau) of the bark or leaves is dripped into the mouths of babies for teething problems (mostly for pain) in Tonga and drink by adults for treatment of urinary tract problems in Samoa. The same infusion can also be applied topically for treatment of kulokula (inflammations) of the skin. In all, the infusions are used for pain reductions and for its anti-inflammatory effects to cure us from some of the diseases that will inflict us today.
Are there any scientific evidences to support the use of the infusion from the hehea plant for pain, inflammation and infections? Yes there are. One of the pathways involved in pain and inflammation is the arachidonic acid pathway in which the inducible cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is over expressed in tissue injuries (lavea) from a cut or from infections (kona). It has already been established in the scientific literature that inhibiting of COX-2 enzymes will lead to reduction in pain and inflammation. This is why COX-2 enzymes have been targeted by many pharmaceutical drug manufactures. Drugs such as Vioxx and Celebrex targeted COX-2 enzymes but seem to be running into problems due to its unforeseen side effects. Fortunately, hehea and la’i masi koka has been used for over thousands of years without side effects. Interestingly, a study by Noreen and her colleagues (Planta Med., 64(6): 520-524) revealed that extracts from four medicinal plants including hehea (seasea) has activities against COX-2 enzymes. This explains in part the efficacy of using the infusion from hehea plant for treatment of pain, inflammation and infections. Though this is one study that I am aware off, more researches in the future will provide more evidences of the efficacy of this medicinal plant. However, their medicinal benefit has started to be exploited by nutraceutical companies in the world especially those who supply plant extract ingredients.
Masi koka (Glochidion ramiflorum) plants can not be used alone but in companionship with hehea plants for reasons that now have been uncovered. It is often referred to as “synergism.” Our ancestors used both of them together because they “…ngāue fakataha…” meaning they worked well together. That is what we now called synergism. In order words they synergistically enhanced each others’ potency for better relief from pain, inflammation and infections.
Masi koka has been used by our ancestors for treatment of pain, inflammation and infections. They used an infusion of the leaves or bark in the same manner that they used the hehea. An infusion is given to babies with mouth infections, taken internally for kahi or stomachache and also applied topically on the skin for inflammation (kulokula). As you can see, two ingredients with medicinal benefits to relieve us of pain, inflammation and infections in one total package-hehea pea mo e la’i masi koka which consequently provided a more powerful health benefits beyond that of either one of them without the side effects associated with drugs.
The knowledge to put these two medicinal plants together can not be from trials and error but from a high power of which we know. I dare say that our ancestors were truly pharmacists in the biggest pharmacy store in the world, the South Pacific Ocean (Islands) for over thousand of years. That speaks for itself. Period!
Hehea (Syzygium corynocarpum Gray) has been used by our ancestors for ornament and medicine for over thousands of years. The medicinal use involves an infusion (huhu'a mei hono tuki pea tatau ‘a e kili’i ‘akau pe ko e lau) of the bark or leaves is dripped into the mouths of babies for teething problems (mostly for pain) in Tonga and drink by adults for treatment of urinary tract problems in Samoa. The same infusion can also be applied topically for treatment of kulokula (inflammations) of the skin. In all, the infusions are used for pain reductions and for its anti-inflammatory effects to cure us from some of the diseases that will inflict us today.
Are there any scientific evidences to support the use of the infusion from the hehea plant for pain, inflammation and infections? Yes there are. One of the pathways involved in pain and inflammation is the arachidonic acid pathway in which the inducible cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is over expressed in tissue injuries (lavea) from a cut or from infections (kona). It has already been established in the scientific literature that inhibiting of COX-2 enzymes will lead to reduction in pain and inflammation. This is why COX-2 enzymes have been targeted by many pharmaceutical drug manufactures. Drugs such as Vioxx and Celebrex targeted COX-2 enzymes but seem to be running into problems due to its unforeseen side effects. Fortunately, hehea and la’i masi koka has been used for over thousands of years without side effects. Interestingly, a study by Noreen and her colleagues (Planta Med., 64(6): 520-524) revealed that extracts from four medicinal plants including hehea (seasea) has activities against COX-2 enzymes. This explains in part the efficacy of using the infusion from hehea plant for treatment of pain, inflammation and infections. Though this is one study that I am aware off, more researches in the future will provide more evidences of the efficacy of this medicinal plant. However, their medicinal benefit has started to be exploited by nutraceutical companies in the world especially those who supply plant extract ingredients.
Masi koka (Glochidion ramiflorum) plants can not be used alone but in companionship with hehea plants for reasons that now have been uncovered. It is often referred to as “synergism.” Our ancestors used both of them together because they “…ngāue fakataha…” meaning they worked well together. That is what we now called synergism. In order words they synergistically enhanced each others’ potency for better relief from pain, inflammation and infections.
Masi koka has been used by our ancestors for treatment of pain, inflammation and infections. They used an infusion of the leaves or bark in the same manner that they used the hehea. An infusion is given to babies with mouth infections, taken internally for kahi or stomachache and also applied topically on the skin for inflammation (kulokula). As you can see, two ingredients with medicinal benefits to relieve us of pain, inflammation and infections in one total package-hehea pea mo e la’i masi koka which consequently provided a more powerful health benefits beyond that of either one of them without the side effects associated with drugs.
The knowledge to put these two medicinal plants together can not be from trials and error but from a high power of which we know. I dare say that our ancestors were truly pharmacists in the biggest pharmacy store in the world, the South Pacific Ocean (Islands) for over thousand of years. That speaks for itself. Period!
The Wisdoms of Our Ancestors Part 1
The knowledge that our ancestors had about medicinal plants is irrefutable and one can not deny the fact that they know what plants to use for which ailments. I marvel at how smart they were which humbles me and have developed a greater love and respect for them.
During our ancestors’ navigation across the Pacific Ocean, they had developed a type of calendar based upon the different stages of the moon, trade winds, hurricane season and their different type of crops, even the fishes in the ocean. Their calendar tells us what type of weather to expect, what kind of crops to plant or harvest and many more. Our Tongan traditional calendar consists of 13 months instead of 12. The first month is called Lihamu’a which also accompanied by some type of “ancient chants.”
Ko au ni ko Lihamu’a
‘Uluaki mahina fakakuonga mu’a
Ko e mafana ‘oku ou ha’u mo au
Pea moto ai ‘a e ngaahi ‘akau
Hoto hingoa ngali fakaofo
Ko e fanafanau ai e oo
‘Oku lau ‘i ho no talatupu’a
Ko e ‘omi mei Pulotu tokua
In the final analysis, the first month was identified as Lihamu’a and tells of the kind of weather to expect which is warm. It also described the stages of the plants in nature as being in the budding stage. It seems to point to the future as in harvesting fruits. Concomitantly, it also foretold the birth of the fish known as “oo” which can supplement fruits and crops for proteins. This type of calendar was not made by chance but I believe that it was a result of studying botany, astronomy, oceanography and meteorology not in classrooms like ours but in their daily lives and the knowledge that were passed down from the previous generations. They were experts in these fields but without the M.S & PhDs besides their names. They did not need them for they obtained their knowledge from God who dwells in the Heavens above (Pulotu).
If our ancestors were not smart, we would not be here today. But we are here!
During our ancestors’ navigation across the Pacific Ocean, they had developed a type of calendar based upon the different stages of the moon, trade winds, hurricane season and their different type of crops, even the fishes in the ocean. Their calendar tells us what type of weather to expect, what kind of crops to plant or harvest and many more. Our Tongan traditional calendar consists of 13 months instead of 12. The first month is called Lihamu’a which also accompanied by some type of “ancient chants.”
Ko au ni ko Lihamu’a
‘Uluaki mahina fakakuonga mu’a
Ko e mafana ‘oku ou ha’u mo au
Pea moto ai ‘a e ngaahi ‘akau
Hoto hingoa ngali fakaofo
Ko e fanafanau ai e oo
‘Oku lau ‘i ho no talatupu’a
Ko e ‘omi mei Pulotu tokua
In the final analysis, the first month was identified as Lihamu’a and tells of the kind of weather to expect which is warm. It also described the stages of the plants in nature as being in the budding stage. It seems to point to the future as in harvesting fruits. Concomitantly, it also foretold the birth of the fish known as “oo” which can supplement fruits and crops for proteins. This type of calendar was not made by chance but I believe that it was a result of studying botany, astronomy, oceanography and meteorology not in classrooms like ours but in their daily lives and the knowledge that were passed down from the previous generations. They were experts in these fields but without the M.S & PhDs besides their names. They did not need them for they obtained their knowledge from God who dwells in the Heavens above (Pulotu).
If our ancestors were not smart, we would not be here today. But we are here!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Fear of Doctor's Must Be Overcome to be Healthy
Tongans are taught early on in elementary school and in family settings about their traditions and cultures. As a kid I was fascinated with the stories of my ancestor’s courage to sail the Pacific Ocean in canoes without the use of a modern compass. William Mariner once commented on some of his experiences while he was in the Islands that the captain would often scoop up seawater and tasted it so that he can make a determination as to how far they still have to go to the next island. How did our Tongan ancestors know where to go without the compass? Later, it was revealed that they also used the stars at night as means of navigation. Some profess that the seawater near the land tasted differently than those further away from the island. Whatever the truth might be, I believe that it is not as important as the “substance” that made our ancestors to sail the open waters of the Pacific Ocean without a man made compass. They had the courage, the will and the faith that they have in their ability to navigate the open waters, by following the stars that will lead them to their destination without fear of being lost.
That was then! Now we live not in an island but in a great nation of plenty and opportunities, the land of the free and home of the braves. In this land of plenty we must overcome certain “fears” to efficiently function in our community and navigate the health care systems. In the mist of all of these “fears” there seems to be a certain type of fear that perpetuate in the Tongan communities across this great nation. What kind of fear you ask? Tongans are fearless people and are not afraid of anything. Well I must tell you that they are a lot of Tongan people in the communities (here and abroad) that are so afraid of going to see a doctor or a dentist unless they are really in a health crisis, which is often too late to help them out. Even then, some still refuse to go and see a doctor because they “…are too old (>65) and will soon die…” Why is that? What causes some of them not to go and seek medical help? After talking to some of the Tongan people in the communities across this nation, I have identified several causes of the “fear of doctors” and by no means the list is exhausted.
The first problem seems to go back to the horror stories of how some of the doctors at home (both native & foreign) wrongly operated in some of the patients in the past which causes headache and sometimes death. The horror that happened to either a relative or a friend is perhaps being told too often that it seems to stay fresh in their minds as if it was just a few days ago. This is perhaps one of the reasons why some people do not see doctors as healers but someone who inflict pain and discomfort. This problem can be overcome by leaving the horror stories in the past and set up an appointment for regular check ups. Regular visits to your primary physician can avoid some of the pitfalls of “silent killer” diseases. The sooner you go and see your doctor the better off you will be in the future.
The second problem existing in the communities is the language barrier. We come to America to live and speak like Americans. That does not mean that we should abandon our cultures and traditions that had sustained our ancestors for over thousand of years. We must learn to speak English and if you do not speak English at all please ask a family member, a relative or somebody who does to accompany you to the doctor’s office. Having somebody there that you know will make you feel comfortable and will help you aware of what is going to be done and why.
The last problem which is perhaps the least of all the fears of why some of the older generation do not want to see their doctor’s for their ailments is the medical insurance. Most people find medical coverage in the Medicaid or other federally medical insurance program which help them to cover all or majority of their medical expenses. This problem can be overcome if those who can effectively communicate in English seek out the federal program to which he or she is qualified to have and fill up the necessary forms so that they can be covered. I believe that the younger generation has an obligation to help out the older generation to seek out medical help before it is too late.
Though we do not have to navigate the Pacific Ocean like our ancestors, we still need to have their type of courage, their strong will and their faith to navigate the ocean of opportunities and plenty in this great nation in seeking of a better health. To borrow a line from the movie The Ten Commandments, “…the sick make few (bricks) and the dead make none (no bricks).” The only thing to fear is the result of not going to see your doctor sooner rather than later! Let us start this new year with vigor and determination to be healthier than last year.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Purpose of this Blog
This blog is created for the soul purpose of:
- Dispensing ideas,
- Research (science & education),
- Promoting health in culturally competence format, and concomitantly to
- Further the conversation pertaining to the enhancement of educational achievements of Polynesians, especially Tongans.
The birds in the ocean were used anciently by Polynesian ancestors to guide them to a school of fish or to warn them of an upcoming danger. As such, preparation was paramount to escape the danger or to gather the fishes for the family. Hence, the name of this blog is Lofa Tala Matangi, simply means-birds tell the wind.
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