Powderpuff Mae

As I was strolling along the buffet counter of medicine in my mother's home, I noticed a bottle of thick black sticky stuff similar to dark soy sauce ("hak si yau"). The label read "Organic Blackstrap Molasses". Out of curiosity, I asked my "physician" mother what it was.

Blackstrap Molasses is rich in calcium, iron and potassium. That explanation meant nothing to a layman like me. On further enquiry and in summary, the benefits of Blackstrap Molasses are as follows (women please take note):-

1. It reduces menstrual cramps
2. It reduces heavy blood flow during menstruation
3. Reduces or prevents the growth of fibrosis
4. It is anti-cancerous
5. Good for nails because of its high calcium contents
6. Gets rid of heart palpitation

A 1kg bottle of Blackstrap Molasses is priced at about RM15.00. I gave it a try, it wasn't revolting or putrid, there was just a lingering sourish taste behind my tongue. I will probably give it a go afterall its benefits outweighs its taste.

I have not taken enough to see its results and those facts were compiled based on my mother's research.

I hate coughs. I used to think having a sore throat is the worst among the "flu" package, until I caught this bout of cough from James. It is really bad, I've been coughing for over a week. I took the doctor's medication, it got worse. I can hardly talk. Even taking a deep breath irritates the throat resulting in a horrible outburst of lengthy chesty coughs and yes, my chest hurts too.

Anyway, I took some advise from Kelvin who have had some bad coughing experiences like the "100-day cough" and the "oldman or smoker's cough". He recommended me to get some really good homemade "Pei Pah Ko" from Fook Cheong Sea Foods & Medical Trading from Centre Point, Bandar Utama. I got a bottle for RM22. The normal ones like "Ubat Batuk Cap Ibu & Anak" are much cheaper, so I am keeping my fingers crossed that Kelvin is right.

Also I asked for "Lam Hang Pak Hang" to go with the "Pei Pah Ko". I think I got slaughtered there. One serving costs me RM20. This is my first time buying chinese medication from a medical hall and I am totally clueless when it comes to the prices of dried sea horses, dried rhino horns, dried frogs, ginsengs and etc...

Also the "sifu" advised me to lay off chicken (all forms including eggs), bananas, oranges and ice. I've got a confession to make, the reason why the cough has been lingering for such a long time is due to my love for chewing ice. Looks like sacrifices have to be made now before I get an infection (that's when the phlegm turns greenish).

In the meantime, I'll stay in doors and keep the germs to myself lest I start infecting some unsuspecting innocent person.

A potato a day, keeps the doctor away

I was inspired by Egghead to write this post.

As I took Jesse for a stroll in my mother's garden, I realised that there were more than 30 species of plants in her garden. Each plant was carefully selected to be nurtured in her garden for a specific purpose. Some for the stomach, some for beauty, some to scare away the mosquitoes but mostly for medicinal purposes.

I often wondered why my mother was such a health freak and yesterday, she said something that struck a chord. "Why should we suffer from cancer or any delibitating disease, we should have quality of life. There are so many natural herbs and food that you can take, and it is so cheap and easy to get it. Many people have tried it and have worked for them"

There and then I asked her for her "list". I am doing this for myself. My memory so often fails me and I need this to be recorded for self preservation. I would sincerely like to share this with as many people as possible so that we can all enjoy a good quality of life with people that matters most to us.

1. Lemon grass - crush 3 stalks - pour boiling water into 1 full mug & drink warm, drink for 2nd round; drink 8 mugs a day (12 stalks of lemon grass a day)- fights cancer cells


2. Uncooked china barley boiled with winter melon in a pot of water until soft - fights cancer cells


3. Sour sop seeds grounded fine - kills cancer cells


4. Papaya with green skin (unripe) blend & drink - kills cancer cells


5. Ginger kills ovarian cancer cells


6. Chilli (capsiacin) kills pancreatic and prostate tumour cancer cells


7. Tumeric/kunyit - stops the spread of lung camcer/breast cancer


8. Lemon grass/serai - causes cancer cells to self destruct


9. Fresh potato juice treatment - blend juice and drink 1-2 glasses a day on empty stomach -good for liver disease, diabetes, gastric ulcer, kidney disease, heart disease, hypertension, body aches,surpressing cancer growth, self healing power. It has been referred to as "apple of the great universe" in Europe - rich in nutrients esp Vit C and calcium.

The above is from my mother's own research. I can't say for sure if it actually works but some people swear by it. Does anyone have anymore remedies to add to the list?

I have bad memory but my husband's worse. One day my husband came home and told me that he had taken a memory test of sorts and the results were astounding....he had the memory of an 80 year old man!! Mine is not THAT bad, so give and take, maybe mine stands some where in between 65 to 70, still not good.

Five years ago, one of my clients wanted to take a statutory declaration from a 80++ year old man. The problem with the testimony of such an old person is its reliability. We took him to the doctors to test if he was of "sound mind". These legal jargon can really make a normal person feel like a nut case, I mean, "hey I need to run some test to see if you are looney". The test for sound mind : Long term memory + short term memory = sound mind. Anyway, the doctor said usually old people do not have problems with their long-term memory (their memory of the past) but they usually do not possess good short-term memory (memory of current issues). The doctor gave him some test like what is the day today, what is the doctor's name etc... Amazingly the old man passed the test!!

I came across this article "Unique memory allows woman to replay life like a movie", interestingly I know someone who has this exact ability, my gramdma. Her long-term memories were unfortunately filled with pain, war, bombing, fear and hardships. But she could tell you in precise detail how this and this happen and who said what and who replied what. BUT her short-term memory, lets put it this way... Fail lah. So does that mean my grandma was looney? She was unpredictable but surely not crazy.

I have a problem with short-term memory as well. One time when we were at our family outing in the zoo, I was frantically searching from my shades. My husband and maid stood there in amazement with their jaws gapping widely as they watched me search for my shades, when I had worn it my head like a hair band all the while. My mother recommended gingko to improve James' memory, but James being James replied smugly "I will forget to take the gingko. I need to take something to help me remember to take the gingko". As much as I hated to admit, he was right, it was like a vicious cycle of the chicken and egg scenario. Eat pills, got memory. No memory, forget pills. No pills, no memory....

I have a good long-term memory, it's like that of an elephant. I remember. I'm like an old lady who remembers her war stories. Does that make me a person of "unsound mind"? Is this the beggining of alzheimers or pre-mature aging? I am only 34 for crying out loud!

I had a wonderful childhood and my past helped shape who I am today. The memories I had were priceless, and I have a full load of long-term memories which I do remember quite clearly. My problem is with the short-term memory. One day, the events that happen to me now will become my long-term memories and they will in turn shape who I will be. I want to remember in detail the funny antics my son does and the silly things my melodramatic husband says. In short, I cannot neglect my short-term memory for the events that happen today will in turn make up my long-term memory. They will be the stories that I will one day tell to my grandchildren.

Heeding my mother's advise I have started to take Omega 3 Fish Oil and may consider Gingko Biloba to improve my memory.

Since becoming a mother, I became more conscious about my health. I started taking vitamins, supplements and every other thing my mother introduced to me. The reason is obvious, I needed to be healthy to take care of Jesse. These days, everything is about the boy.

Since I am into beauty and vanity, I began looking for supplements which are good for the skin and complexion. During my teenage years when I was plagued with pimples, my mother made me take Vit A, C, E & Zinc. She said this combination will help reduce the pimples. I am not sure if it did, anyway these are some of the supplements which I take for my skin and health.

Omega 3 fish oil is said to be an essential for a clear complexion. There have been claims that this supplement has been used to treat eczema and acne successfully and more and more people are beginning to take Omega3 for inflammatory skin conditions. And this is my favourite....it is also anti-aging. It's other benefits are, it helps in lowering blood pressure, arthiritis, memory loss and dementia.

Spirulina is also another must for good skin and health. Some of the brands claim that it helps skin recovery from acne and prevents scarring. It works to beautify the skin and pigmentation and delay wrinkles!! Also it helps cleanse toxin from the body. I was told that if a child doesn't take vegetable or has unbalanced diet, give them spirulina as it has balanced nutrients to help in the child's growth. Problem is to get the child to take it. A word of reminder, make sure you drink lots of water when you take spirulina to flush the toxin from the body.

"Gamat" or sea cucumber has been known and used by Malays and Chinese for its medicinal properties. It has been generally used for treating wounds and injuries. The Chinese have long realised, since the ancient times, its ability to prevent diseases besides using it as a tonic to promote longevity. Traditional Chinese medicine commonly uses sea cucumber in treating weakness and impotence! Traditionally, women used Gamat for health and beauty, it works well for all topical needs: face, hands, feet, scalp, hair etc...

Anyone taking any other supplements for the skin? Please share with us.