Genetic Trait Boosts AIDS Risks in Blacks - Washington Post
 BBC News | Genetic Trait Boosts AIDS Risks in Blacks Washington Post - By Randy Dotinga WEDNESDAY, July 16 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests that people of African descent are much more likely to have a genetic trait that makes them more susceptible to infection with the HIV virus. Gene Variation May Make Africans More Susceptible to HIV Infections Researchers find genetic trait that increases HIV danger for blacks |
Ephedra has been around for centuries, yet it's future as a medicinal herb could be over. Well that could be a bit overdramatic but certainly it use as a sports enhancer look to be over.
So where did it comes from and more importantly what is it?
Ephedra has many varieties , 32 in fact, but the main two are Ephedra Sinica and Ephedra Virdis.
Lets start with Ephedra Sinica. With over 5,000 years of history behind it, Ephedra Sinica has a colorful history. It forms dense ornamental tufts of slender, dark green, jointed, rush-like stems and eventually bears yellowish-brown flowers, interesting rather than purchase bulk green tea powder extract like clusters of bark fragments. Long used by the Chinese in herbal medicine for the treatment of many ailments .
The scientific bit...
Before I go on to the benefits of Ephedra and what it does, here is a bit of how it works. Ephedra is an alkaloid. An alkaloid is basically a nitrogen-compound found in many plants and shrubs. Used effectively these are natures way to help us with ailments and viruses. The two main alkaloids in Ephedra are Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Ephedrine acts on the body the same way that adrenaline does, while pseudoephedrine is found in over the counter drugs such as ibuprofen and paracetamol.
On to Ephedra Virdis
Ephedra Virdis is found in western the United States, where it is a member of varied scrub, woodland, and open habitats. This shrub is made up of many erect bright green twigs. They may yellow somewhat with age. When the pioneers came to the americas the native american indians showed them how to make a substitute tea from Ephedra. This is how it got its name 'Mormon Tea' Because of the alakloids it was also great for bowel and uniary tract ininfections, and later on Ephedra was used in many whorehouses and brothels as a cure for syphilis.
Ephedra Sincia has stronger concentration of the alkaloids and therefore has more benefits than its virdis counterpart. One of its main advantegous was found in asthma or bronchial conditions. By relaxing the airways Ephedra acts a great decongestant. But the main benefit comes from when it is used for weight loss. The alkaloids make it work as a great appetite suppresant and a fat burner. By storing the fatty acids, it also has adrenaline type features, burning the fatty acids more quickly.
Not everybody appreciates this. While the health risk can not be ingnored, along with any sort of supplement, advice must be taken before use.
Mark Hutton writes health, nutrition and supplement articles on behalf of http://www.bingproducts.com
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