by Penny Angeles-Tan | Sep 2, 2017 | Health and Wellness
In the medical world. the proper use of words is important because a simple mistake could cause complications that are usually unwanted by both the doctor and the patient. Medical jargon is too technical and complicated and difficult for the general public to understand so putting them in layman’s terms is helpful.
Side effect and main effect
Take for example the phrases “side effect” and “main effect”. These terms are often interchanged in use. Doing so is not just wrong it is also dangerous!
What is the main effect?
The main effect is the actual result expected by the physician when a prescribed drug is taken. For example, you take paracetamol and your headache goes away. And since paracetamol was designed as a pain reliever and fever reducer, then, mission accomplished!
Side effects of paracetamol appear usually when a patient overdoses on it. Symptoms include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, sweating, and confusion or weakness. Later symptoms may include pain in your upper stomach, dark urine, and yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes. (taken from https://www.drugs.com/paracetamol.html)
What is a side effect?
A side effect of any substance pertains to the result beyond the main or primary action that is intended by the physician giving drug prescription. The doctor, likewise, foresees this extra consequence.
Minoxidil
For instance, the patient might not be conscious of the side effect of unwanted hair growth elsewhere on the body while using vasodilator drug called Minoxidil to treat hypertension.
The physician, nevertheless, is very well aware about it, as well as other implications, such as burning or irritation of the eye, itching, and redness or irritation at the treated area. By and large, doctors suggest that patients should ignore the side effects unless serious and often alert the sick persons about their likelihood.
Beneficial side effect
But not all side effects are bad, which is why some drugs which were initially developed for one illness have been repackaged and sold to address something else. Let’s take Minoxidil, for example. It was initially developed to treat high blood pressure but one side effect was hair growth in various parts of the body.
Hair growth products have since been developed containing 2% Minoxidil in a topical solution (since 1988 for men and 1992 for women) was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) where the known side effects of the drug is controlled.
Adverse side effect
An adverse effect is a downside — it is an outcome wherein the reaction occurs over and beyond the main and wanted action of a medicine. It happens when a prescribed drug is incorrectly used or the dosage is wrong. In many cases, when the adverse effect is too serious, patients need to be hospitalized.
Sildenafil Citrate
Let’s take the case of Sildenafil Citrate (first introduced into the market as Viagra) — a medication used to treat erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Its most common adverse reactions (≥ 2%) include a headache, flushing, dyspepsia, abnormal vision, nasal congestion, back pain, myalgia, nausea, dizziness, and rash.
Patients should seek emergency treatment if an erection lasts over four hours. Patients should stop Sildenafil Citrate and seek medical care if a sudden decrease or loss of hearing and also that of vision in one or both eyes.
Since side effects paired with adverse effects can be fatal and need to be reversed or given antidote immediately, a very extra cautious effort not to interchange them with the main effects in the prescription process must be always observed. After all, it’s the lives of patients at stake here.
It is ironic that people who seek treatments for their ailments or to prolong their lives only become sicker because of improper use of the prescribed drug or confusing main and side effects. In many cases, the best treatment is still to go natural.
Natural treatment for hair loss
Hair loss is not a permanent condition. It can be addressed the natural way with products like Novuhair, that provides safe and natural effects.
With 19 natural ingredients—mostly standardized herbal extracts, essential oils and co-factor nutrients—it does not only help prevent the hair loss malady but also aid in stimulating the growth of the “crowning glory.” Set aside those chemical-based topical scalp solutions out there. Choose natural, choose NOVUHAIR!
NOVUHAIR is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide. For more information visit www.novuhair.com, like the brand’s official Facebook Page, Novuhair Official, and follow on Twitter at @NovuhairNatural. You may also call NOVUHAIR hotlines at 4136570 and 09228830575 and order online through lazada.com.ph and regaloservice.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 24, 2017 | Health and Wellness, Lifestyle
They say every great meal takes you on a journey to a new destination. In many ways, this is true for the patrons of Epilogue, the newly opened Fine Bistro at S Maison. It takes every diner on a culinary experience that highlights the best of global travel cuisine.
Epilogue is a concept rooted in kodawari, the Japanese dedication to craft and mastery. The brand collaborated with several experienced chefs who all practice kodawari and have trained extensively in different parts of the world to become masters in their chosen culinary specialty.
The brand, which takes its name after the conclusive chapter of a book, stays true to the meaning of an epilogue. It is the platform where every one of the Japanese chefs showcases the culmination of his culinary journey.
Each chef is a master of his own craft, and they all work together to complete Epilogue’s thoughtfully curated menu.
Chef Tomohide Ono
Chef Tomohide Ono
Head baker Tomohide Ono, who has been a pastry chef for 20 years, is the brain behind the new bread and pastry recipes. He has worked in famous bakeries in Japan, Indonesia, and Hong Kong.
With his new bread creations, Ono takes on the challenge of pleasing the Filipino palate.
Chef Hayato Mitsuhashi
Chef Hayato Mitsuhashi
Chef Hayato Mitsuhashi, on the other hand, specializes in Italian cuisine. He has trained extensively in various Italian restaurants in Japan, Indonesia, and Italy for over 14 years.
His training in Umbria, Italy is what inspired him to create new gnocchi, risotto, and pasta dishes for Epilogue, using only the best and freshest ingredients.
Epilogue also has two outstanding Chef Directors, Chef Kenji Ishihara and Chef Minoru Sorimachi.
Chef Kenji Ishihara
Chef Kenji Ishihara
Chef Ishihara is an award-winning pastry chef who has 30 years of experience in France, Japan, and Indonesia.
The beautiful cakes offered in the restaurant are the product of his creativity and constant experimentation.
Chef Minoru Sorimachi
Chef Minoru Sorimachi
Dubbed as the Steak Master at Epilogue, Chef Sorimachi has over 20 years of experience working in well-known teppanyaki steakhouses in Japan, and now runs his own steakhouse in Jakarta, Indonesia.
At Epilogue, customers can now have a taste of his excellent steaks and sides created to suit the Filipino palate.
Completing the impressive line up is Chef Hiroyuki Meno, whose expertise lies in French cuisine. He has honed and perfected his craft working in various Michelin-starred restaurants such as the Domaine Les Haut Roches in Loire, France, Le Pont de Ciel in Osaka, Japan, and L’Auberge De L’ill in Tokyo, Japan. He was also the executive chef of Brasserie Paul Bocuse and one-star Maison Paul Bocuse in Tokyo.
Every step of the way, these chefs have immersed themselves in the techniques and flavors of every new country they explore. Each culinary master seamlessly combines Western flair with Eastern care, taking diners on an exceptional gastronomic adventure—to be experienced where their stories intersect—at Epilogue.
Epilogue is a homegrown brand under the Food Revolution Group. To know more about Epilogue, go to www.epilogue.ph or visit Epilogue at G/F S Maison, Conrad Manila, Ocean Drive, Mall of Asia, Pasay City.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 7, 2017 | Health and Wellness
Did you know that your skin can be moisturized but not properly hydrated? Hydration and moisturization are actually two different things.
- When you hydrate your skin, you ensure that your skin cells retain more water, resulting in healthier and younger-looking skin.
- When you moisturize, you apply a protective layer on your skin that ensures that the moisture in your cells is not lost.
Moisturize. photo credit to http://www.iam-active.com
Dullness and tightness are telltale signs of dehydrated skin. When your skin is rough, dry or flaky—or all of the above, you need a moisturizer to retain your skin’s lipid barrier. The result is healthy skin that is soft and smooth.
If you only use a moisturizer, it may help ease your dry skin, but it does not address the cause of the problem and, chances are, you will need to reapply throughout the day. To make your skin truly healthy, you need to apply a hydrating lotion to plump up your cells.
Hydrators and moisturizers should be used in tandem for you to have healthy, hydrated, smooth and supple skin. Humectant ingredients in hydrators, like glycerin, can attract water from the surroundings by absorbing them, then binding them to the skin.
Sure, by drinking water, you keep yourself hydrated. But topical hydration registers more immediate results: younger-looking skin and well-functioning skin cells.
For your daily skin routine, first, apply a hydrating lotion like Cetaphil DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating Lotion that is clinically proven to hydrate dry skin for 24 hours. It also contains Epidermal Replenishing Complex (ERC5), a unique combination of 5 ingredients, that helps maintain healthy skin.
Then, you can follow on with a moisturizer like Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion. They are non-greasy, non-comedogenic and fragrance free.
If you have oily skin, you still need a hydrator, though you may need to apply moisturizer less often.
Here are a few more tips:
Use fragrance free, non-comedogenic products that will hydrate and moisturize your skin, but neither irritate nor clog your pores.
natural exfoliants
Exfoliate before you hydrate and moisturize. This way, you remove the dead skin cells that may hamper your skin’s absorption. Using a loofah or bath glove when I bathe makes me feel squeaky clean!
no to hot showers
As much as possible, do not take hot showers or baths, because the heat reduces your skin’s moisture and protective oils. I am personally a big fan of hot baths so this little tidbit here is depressing news for me. 🙁 But I believe in compromises so I take warm showers instead and finish with a cold one. 😀
When the weather feels like it’s drying out your skin, have a water spritzer handy to keep your skin moist. My all-time favorite? Evian! Yey! 😀
Cetaphil DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating Lotion and Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion are available in drugstores, department stores and supermarkets nationwide.
Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion also now comes in a new 118ml size with an SRP of Php 300.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Aug 3, 2017 | Entertainment, Health and Wellness
When we are stressed it shows up on our face, our skin, and yes, even our hair! One common symptom of stress is hairfall. Striking a life balance is no easy task to do. It requires hard work and dedication which sometimes can be strenuous to achieve. Can you imagine how overtaxing it is to juggle between your career and providing for your loved ones?
Studies have shown that stress is commonly caused by interrelationships, such as having to deal with work issues and family-related complications. If left unresolved over time, it could lead to immune deficiency, which later on, might cause other parts of our body to show signs of disruption like hair loss.
Many of us could attest to that. It’s like always autumnal equinox whenever we experience chronic hair fall, most especially at the prime of stress. At its peak, our white blood cells attack no less than the follicles, thus causing alopecia. What’s more, anxiety could drive your mane into a prolonged resting phase, which is called telogen effluvium.
Stress experienced by the body or beyond our coping resources could trigger hair loss symptoms, which, if not addressed properly, could result to early baldness. Worried about this? Fret no more. You can beat it simply by relaxing, eating or flexing some muscles.
Never underestimate the power of sleep. If you feel that you are over your head in dealing with anxieties, choose to rest it off for a while and recharge.
Let’s get physical to de-stress. It helps release endorphins, or what is known as the happy hormones, that can be beneficial in relieving the tension.
The West Side Story comes to Manila
Westside Story
How about rewarding yourself? Watch the timeless story of Tony and Maria and their fateful love affair as the electrifying classic WEST SIDE STORY musical premieres at The Theatre at Solaire on August 10. Click here for more information.
Eat more fruits and veggies. Having these as a staple in your diet will bolster your immunity from disease, which in turn, knock out stress. We can all benefit from the vitamins and minerals of the healthy food we consume.
It’s best to complement these simple regimens with a topical solution that’s safe to keep your crowning glory at its robust state. NOVUHAIR, nature’s answer to hair loss, is made up of 19 natural ingredients that work in synergy to help remedy stress-related hair loss and promote healthy tress and scalp.
The challenge in preventing these mane problems is to keep your locks healthy with proper care and let it grow naturally sans subjecting your hair to temporary relief with the use of harmful chemicals. Go natural.
NOVUHAIR contains natural extracts, herbal oils and essences, such as lavender that is also known to relieve stress. It also has a scent that leaves a calming effect.
NOVUHAIR is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide. For more information visit www.novuhair.com, like the brand’s official Facebook Page, Novuhair Official, and follow on Twitter at @NovuhairNatural.
You may also call NOVUHAIR hotlines at 4136570 and 09228830575 and order online through lazada.com.ph and regaloservice.com.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 23, 2017 | Health and Wellness
Hygienix Germicidal Soap
Join #Hygienix in its #FightWorldGermination Campaign. Oh no! The #Germperor has sent the most vicious #Germdugo to terrorize humans by spreading germs, unpleasant odors and sickness. But fear not! The Hygienix Shower Rangers are here to the rescue!
Each Shower Ranger is armed with a special weapon to make bath time with Hygienix Germicidal Soap fun yet effective for the entire family!
- Germ Killer kills 99% of disease-causing germs and bacteria
- Non-Drying Formula keeps your skin soft and moisturized
- Refreshing Scent gives you a cool, refreshing scent
- Super Sulit makes it affordable, with a PhP 12 SRP
Hygienix Antibacterial products
Hygienix is a complete system of antibacterial products so you can #FightWorldGermination wherever you are!
Hygienix Germicidal Soap kills 99.99% of germs and common disease-causing bacteria while moisturizing skin. Hygienix 65% Ethyl Alcohol effectively kills germs and disinfects but doesn’t dry skin.
Hygienix Anti-Bacterial Hand Gel and Hygienix Anti-Bacterial Hand Spray sanitize while keeping hands smooth and soft.
Hygienix Products
Get Hygienix antibacterial products from major supermarkets, drugstores and groceries nationwide including Puregold, Robinsons Supermarket, Mercury Drug, SM Supermarket, Super 8 and many more.
Follow the continuing Fight Against World Germination on:
Check out the battle between Germdugo and the Hygienix Shower Rangers here or on their Facebook page and Youtube Channel:
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jul 7, 2017 | Health and Wellness
Growing up my dad has introduced us to all sorts of herbal remedies and preparations – all of which were supposed to make us healthier and stronger.
I remember him putting brewer’s yeast with milk in a blender and giving it to me and my sisters to drink every night. It made the milk extra frothy and creamy. At the moment I can’t quite recall what it was supposed to do for us but I trust my dad. 🙂
And then there is the ampalaya plant. Most people know of the medicinal features of the ampalaya fruit but my parents introduced us to the healing power of the leaves which we use as a poultice for wounds and infection.
Malunggay, the wonder gulay
About 15 years ago years ago my dad read something about the healing power of the “lowly” malunggay plant.
When I gave birth to my daughter in 1992 I remember my mom making me soup made mussels and malunggay leaves. She gave me to drink the soup with the leaves specifically because malunggay is known to help nursing mothers lactate.
With my dad’s penchant for research he discovered that there is more to the malunggay plant than meets the eye. According to Trees for Life, the malunggay, also known as moringga oleifera, contains:
- more Vitamin A than carrots
- more calcium than milk
- more iron than spinach
- more Vitamin C than oranges, and
- more potassium than bananas
That is amazing! All that from those tiny leaves!
Later my dad met someone from whom he purchased dried and powdered malunggay leaves. From another person he purchased some capsules made of vegetable extract. This, hypothetically, would have made it easier for us to consume our daily dose of malunggay.
Spooning malunggay powder into a tiny funnel and pouring it into the capsules is not difficult but is tedious work! I was better off just sprinkling it on my food. Take it from me, it wasn’t fun. Eventually I ended up not taking my daily malunggay dose.
Thankfully, this amazing product – malunggay, the wonder gulay, capsules are now readily available commercially at all Mercury Drugstores and other leading drugstores nationwide.
The Wonders of Malunggay in a capsule!
- Full product name: Atienza Naturale Malunggay Capsule
- Product base: malunggay (moringa oleifera)
- Tagline: the wonder gulay
Atienza Naturale Malunggay
Malunggay leaves are great sources of Vitamin A, B-Vitamins, and minerals such as calcium and iron. What’s more, the leaves are also rich in sulfur-containing amino acids methionine and cysteine.
Due to its high content of potent antioxidants Vitamins A, C, and E, malunggay is an outstanding neutralizer of unstable free radicals that can react with and damage other molecules. Antioxidants diminish wrinkles and fine lines associated with aging. They may also prevent the onset of various chronic disorders like arthritis, cancer and heart and kidney diseases.
Malunggay is widely considered a “wonder vegetable” because of its immense nutritional value. It helps promote good eyesight and digestion. It may also provide help in cases of scurvy, asthma, earache, and headaches.
And due to its exceptional calcium content, it is consumed by lactating mothers to produce more milk to feed their babies. That’s why malunggay is also referred to as “Mother’s Best Friend”.
Now you can get all the health-giving benefits of Malunggay without the hassle of gathering leaves and preparing dishes. EACH CAPSULE OF ATIENZA NATURALE CONTAINS 500mg OF PURE AND FRESH MALUNGGAY so you get only the nutrients and minerals that will give your body the health boost and protection it needs.
THE POWER OF MALUNGGAY IN A CAPSULE!
Each capsule of Atienza Naturale Malunggay Capsule contains Vitamins, Iron, Calcium, and Antioxidants.
WHAT MAKES MALUNGGAY THE WONDER GULAY?
- Its leaves are good sources of iron, calcium, ascorbic acid, and phosphorus.
- Malunggay can help lower blood pressure, aid in relieving pain caused by rheumatism, headache and migraines.
- Malunggay is an anti-tumor plant rich in very potent antioxidants, which may help prevent the onset of various chronic diseases like arthritis, cancer and heart and kidney diseases.
- Internal organs are said to benefit from malunggay, good for treating liver and spleen problems and for joint pains.
- Malunggay is a proven “Galactogogue”, valuable for lactating women as it helps stimulate milk production for feeding babies.
- Malunggay has been extensively studied by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology with a stamp of approval and recommendation.
In 2014, physicians at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) – Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center (OMMC)’s Department of Internal Medicine and Intensive Care Unit embarked on a landmark study presenting the potential use of malunggay as a natural alternative to standard preparations used for lowering and regulating blood sugar.
To ensure that the malunggay in the study was administered in standardized doses, the research team opted to use Atienza Naturale Malunggay Capsules, as it featured the purest form of the herb in a medium that could be taken conveniently.
According to Doctors Rainier Nery Mozo and Imelda Caole-Ang, an extract derived from malunggay was instrumental in reducing Hemoglobin A1c, a key indicator in the level of blood glucose, in a control group of 60 patients at the OMMC.
The study showed a mean reduction of 0.6% in the blood glucose of involved patients after regular dosage of malunggay
OTHER INFORMATION:
- VCAPS – Atienza Naturale Malunggay Capsule is encapsulated in vegetable capsules not in animal based substances.
- Each capsule contains 500mg. of pure and fresh Malunggay leaves.
- US FDA Facility Reg. No.: 17069452532
- FDA LTO No.: RDI-MM-FW-5253
- Available at all Mercury Drugstores and other leading drugstores nationwide.
Turmeric is not just for curry
For most people turmeric is easily associated with curry – not only for its smell and taste, but also for its color. Very few people know of its benefits to our health. Because my dad does a lot of research on these things we are some of the few people who have been privy to this information. 🙂
Just like with the malunggay, my dad purchased this in powder form but unlike the malunggay, it was easier for us to think about how to consume this since most of us at home enjoy spicy food.
But, you know how they say when you add heat to vegetables it lowers the amount of nutrients to be found in it? That’s true. 🙂 So we thought of encapsulating them, too. But just like with the malunggay powder, this was tedious and, in addition, messy! The yellow/orange powder clings to your skin and stains clothes! There has to be a better solution to this, right?
Feel terrific with turmeric!
Atienza Naturale Turmeric Capsule
- Full product name: Atienza Naturale Turmeric capsule
- Product base: luyang dilaw (curcuma longa)
- Tagline: Feel terrific with turmeric!
What makes Turmeric so Terrific?
Turmeric, also known as curcuma longa, is a very common herb. Often referred to as the “Queen of Spices,” its main characteristics are a pepper-like aroma, sharp taste and golden color.
According to the Journal of the American Chemical Society, turmeric contains a wide range of antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic and anti-inflammatory properties.
It is also loaded with many healthy nutrients such as protein, dietary fiber, niacin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, potassium, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc. Due to all these factors, turmeric is often used to treat a wide variety of health problems.
Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant with Bioactive Compounds!
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that damages the cells causing health problems while Bioactive Compounds have medicinal properties that may help in the treatment of some conditions such as:
| Inflammation |
Turmeric contains a natural anti-inflammatory compound called curcumin that can be beneficial for people suffering from chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. |
| Cardiovascular conditions |
Compounds in turmeric help to lower low-density lipoprotein, or “bad,” cholesterol levels and prevent cholesterol from building plaque on blood vessel walls.
Turmeric can also prevent platelets from clumping together, which may reduce the risk of blood clots. |
| Cancer prevention |
Turmeric’s preventive effects may relate to its antioxidant properties which protect cells from damage to help prevent or aid in the treatment of several types of cancers, including prostate, breast, ski and colon cancer. Intensive research is still ongoing for Turmeric’s anti-cancer properties. |
| Prevention of diabetes |
Studies have shown that curcumin may provide ideal intervention for Type 2 diabetes capable of mitigating characteristic pathophysiological hallmarks of the disease such as elevated blood sugar and insulin resistance.
According to clinical research, curcumin has glucose lowering effect and improves fatty acid oxidation and utilization. |
| Neurodegenerative conditions |
Turmeric has also been studied to prevent or slow down the effects of Alzheimer’s Disease which is a leading cause of dementia. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of curcumin is generally believed to be cause various improvements in the pathological process of Alzheimer’s disease. |
OTHER INFORMATION:
- VCAPS – Atienza Naturale Turmeric Capsule is encapsulated in vegetable capsules not in animal based substances.
- Each capsule contains 500mg. of pure and fresh Curcuma longa powder
- FDA Registration. No.: FR-142046
- FDA LTO No.: CFRR-NCR-FT-144
- DOSAGE: 1-2 Capsules daily
- Available at all Mercury Drugstores and other leading drugstores nationwide.
For even more information, follow Atienza Naturale on their website, Instagram, and on their Facebook page.
With 19 natural ingredients—mostly standardized herbal extracts, essential oils and co-factor nutrients—it does not only help prevent the hair loss malady but also aid in stimulating the growth of the “crowning glory.” Set aside those chemical-based topical scalp solutions out there. Choose natural, choose NOVUHAIR!
Epilogue is a concept rooted in kodawari, the Japanese dedication to craft and mastery. The brand collaborated with several experienced chefs who all practice kodawari and have trained extensively in different parts of the world to become masters in their chosen culinary specialty.
For your daily skin routine, first, apply a hydrating lotion like Cetaphil DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating Lotion that is clinically proven to hydrate dry skin for 24 hours. It also contains Epidermal Replenishing Complex (ERC5), a unique combination of 5 ingredients, that helps maintain healthy skin.
Studies have shown that stress is commonly caused by interrelationships, such as having to deal with work issues and family-related complications. If left unresolved over time, it could lead to immune deficiency, which later on, might cause other parts of our body to show signs of disruption like hair loss.
Stress experienced by the body or beyond our coping resources could trigger hair loss symptoms, which, if not addressed properly, could result to early baldness. Worried about this? Fret no more. You can beat it simply by relaxing, eating or flexing some muscles.
I remember him putting brewer’s yeast with milk in a blender and giving it to me and my sisters to drink every night. It made the milk extra frothy and creamy. At the moment I can’t quite recall what it was supposed to do for us but I trust my dad. 🙂
And then there is the ampalaya plant. Most people know of the medicinal features of the ampalaya fruit but my parents introduced us to the healing power of the leaves which we use as a poultice for wounds and infection.
Its leaves are good sources of iron, calcium, ascorbic acid, and phosphorus.
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals that damages the cells causing health problems while Bioactive Compounds have medicinal properties that may help in the treatment of some conditions such as:
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