Guest guest Posted December 4, 2005 Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 Hi All, & Sean, Sean Doherty wrote re Japanese-foot detox pads: > Has anyone tried or otherwise have an opinion of detox foot pads? > Ingredients seem to vary somewhat, but here is the general idea: Wood > Vinegar 0.60 15%, Bamboo Vinegar 0.60 15%, Chitin & Chitosan 0.04 1%, > Loquat leaf 0.04 1%, Dokudami: Houttuynia Cordata 0.04 1%, Vitamin C > 0.04 1%, Vegetable Fiber 0.80 5%, Tourmaline 2.00 50%, Dextrin 0.44 > 11% Using the amounts quoted above, I calculate as follows: Ingredient Amount % (Sean’s data) % (Phil’s calculation) Tourmaline 2.00 50 43.48 Vegetable Fiber 0.80 5 17.39 Bamboo Vinegar 0.60 15 13.04 Wood Vinegar 0.60 15 13.04 Dextrin 0.44 11 9.57 Chitin & Chitosan 0.04 1 0.87 Dokudami: Houttuynia Cordata 0.04 1 0.87 Loquat leaf 0.04 1 0.87 Vitamin C 0.04 1 0.87 TOTAL 4.60 100.00 Sean, are there errors in your % values , especially for Tourmaline and Vegetable Fiber? See above. http://dict.die.net/dextrin/ says: " Dextrin: A translucent, gummy, amorphous substance, nearly tasteless and odorless, used as a substitute for gum, for sizing, etc., and obtained from starch by the action of heat, acids, or diastase. It is of somewhat variable composition, containing several carbohydrates which change easily to their respective varieties of sugar. It is so named from its rotating the plane of polarization to the right; -- called also British gum, Alsace gum, gommelin, leiocome, etc. " http://dict.die.net/tourmaline/ says: Tourmaline: a mineral that is a complex borosilicate and hydroxide of aluminum containing iron and magnesium and calcium and lithium and sodium; it is usually black but occurs in transparent colored forms that are used as gemstones http://www.planetbotanic.ca/fact_sheets/japanese_herbs/dokudami_fs.htm says: Dokudami (Fish Mint) Scientific name: Houttuynia cordarta thunb. Plant family: Saururaceae Part used: Leaves and stem Principal Uses: Detox agent History and Traditional Uses of Dokudami Dokudami is a perennial herb native to Japan. A vigorous grower, it can be seen in hilly areas, fields, roadsides, and even between the cracks of asphalt. When pressed in the hand, it emits an unpleasant odor-in Vietnam it is called fish mint. The ancients could not miss this plant, consequently, it made its way into the medicine books early in human history. In regards to its ancient uses, the plant's common name is highly telling. Doku means poison and dami means blocking. Dokudami translates to " the poison blocking plant " . Ancient people used it to counteract the effects of poisoning, a common practice amongst warring factions of those times. One of the top ten healing herbs in Japan, Dokudami is easily one of the most revered and popular herbal medicines. In folklore medicine it’s used fresh and dry. When fresh, it’s applied as a poultice, added to the bath, eaten as a salad, and pressed for its juice. In dry form it’s decocted as tea and made into a medicinal powder. In terms of medical uses, it is regarded as a panacea or cure-all. Indeed, its other common name, juuyaku means ten drugs in one! It is considered to be antidotal astringent, diuretic, a mild laxative, anti-inflammatory, urinary antiseptic, analgesic, anti-tussive, and vulnerary. Internally, it is used for anal prolapse, dyspepsia, infectious skin diseases, pernicious malaria, infected sores, snakebites, tumors, cancer, cough, dysentery, enteritis, fever, gastritis, hemoptysis, laryngitis, lung abscess, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, pertusis, hemorrhoids, pharyngitis, chronic uterine or cervical infection, leprospirosis, otitis media, cystitis, urinary infection, and mastitis. Applied externally it is used for abscesses, anal prolapse, hemorrhoids, snakebite, swellings, boils, injuries, and to stimulate bone growth. Dokudami is seen as a detoxifier, cleansing the system by acting as a mild laxative and diuretic. In traditional Japanese medicine, toxins in the system are seen as the source of disease. This plant was seen as moving the toxins out of the body and thereby removing the source of disease. This plant is so popular the Japanese Medicines Codex, prepared by the Japanese Ministry of Welfare, approves it as a diuretic. In the modern age, very few medicinal plants retain a place in the Japanese Medicines Codex! When a person needs gentle detoxification, Dokudami is the plant. The Science of Dokudami Chemical Constituents Flavonoids: quercetin, iso quercetin, afzelin, hyperin, retin, . Terpenes: ?-pinene, capmphene, myrcine, limonene, linoalol, bounyl acitate, caryophyllene, methyl-n-nonyl ketone, 3-oxodecanal, 1-dodecanal, 1- decanal. Capric acid. Palmic acid. Linoleic acid. Oleic acid. Stearic acid. Capric aldehyde. Cordarine. Decanoyl. Decanolacetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde. Hyperin. Isoquercitrin. Lauric aldehyde. Laurinaldehyde. ?-sitosterol. Linalool. Methyl-n- nonylketone, Myrcene. Quercitrin. Reynoutrin. Chlorophyll. Potassium. The distinctive odor of raw Dokudami comes from a compound, decanol-acetaldehyde, found in its essential oil. Decanol-acetaldehyde has been proven to be a powerful disinfectant and antimicrobial agent. Research shows it is specifically active against staphylococcus bacterium and a collection of fungus. Another constituent, linalool exhibits inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus dysenteriae, Streptococcus pneumomiae, and Streptococcus pyrogenes. ?-pinene was active against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumomiae, and Streptococcus pyrogenes. At a concentration of 1: 40,000 it can inhibit staphylococci, typhoid bacilli, pneumococci, Escherichia coli, dysentery bacilli, and leptospira. In addition it has anti-viral activity. Linalool has also been shown to increase immunity and the phagocytic activity of leukocytes. Another constituent, chlorophyll, promotes detoxification. The synergy between decanol-acetaldehyde and chlorophyll is said to make it an excellent agent in wounds, acne, boils, ringworm, athlete's foot, and insect bites. The Japanese belief is that this herb gets the body to eliminate toxins at the root of the problem. The leaves of the plant are rich in potassium salts which cause the excretion of sodium. In turn, the excretion of sodium causes an excretion of water. The end result is diuresis or increased urination. It acts like an herbal water pill and results in a drop in blood pressure. In addition, quercetine has diuretic effects. It does this by increasing renal blood flow. The plant also contains peculiar flavonoids which strengthen capillaries. It is so strengthening to small blood vessels, it can be used to stop bleeding. Taken long term, the integrity of the blood vessels improves and results in improved circulation. Immune cells are better able to move around the body removing toxins. Practitioners' Opinion Contemporary lifestyle involves ingesting large quantities of toxins. The air we breath, the food we eat, the soap we wash with, and the deodorant we apply are rich in toxic compounds the body must eliminate. On top of this, people smoke, drink alcohol, and take recreational drugs. Many feel the proliferation of chronic diseases in contemporary society stem directly from body pollution which is the rule and not the exception. When toxins are building up in the body, and ill health is resulting, Dokudami is highly recommended. First used to rid the body of an enemy's poison, today it is being used to rid the body of poisons from an enemy called pollution. The recommendation is for people to use it one day a month to cleanse the system of toxins. Dosage Herb 10g per day; Tincture 1:1 - 10ml per day; Tincture 1:5 - 50ml per day Wine 30ml per day Research indicates that many of the active constituents of Dokudami are lost in the drying process and that it is best used fresh. In response, a Japanese winery invented a special fresh Dokudami wine. They have succeeded in extracting the complete medicinal elements of the plant and at the same time removing its unpleasant odor. Quite a feat! The winery uses only two ingredients to make the wine, Dokudami and honey. No preservatives, colorings, or artificial flavors are added! For data on Japanese herbal medicine, see: http://www.planetbotanic.ca/fact_sheets/fact_sheets.htm and http://www.planetbotanic.ca/fact_sheets/japanese_herbs/japanese_herbs.htm and http://www.planetbotanic.ca/matchaherb/matchaherb1.htm WOOD VINEGAR Wood vinegar is made by cooling and liquidizing the smoke produced when charcoal is made. Harmful ingredients are removed by distilling the pasture sap in several stages until it is refined. Rich in hydrocarbons and lignin, wood vinegar is a good remedy for skin irritations due to its ability to improve the skin's regenerative power and to warm the body. Wood vinegar exhibits exceptional permeability and sterilizing properties. High quality wood vinegar has approximately 200 organic components. The pasture is organic and alkaline in nature. Not all trees produce the same type of wood vinegar. The best wood vinegar is obtained from broad-leaved trees, such as Japanese oak, beech and white oak, pine, eucalyptus, bamboo and cedar. Detox Ezy Pads contain Oak vinegar (broad-leaved trees), Eucalyptus tree vinegar and Bamboo Vinegar. The wood and bamboo vinegars used in this product are of the highest quality. In Japan refined wood vinegar is well known for its ability to attract impurities. In this product it is used to extract out harmful toxins present in the body. This is synonymous to the function that it performs in trees, extracting harmful toxins from the water that the trees absorb, and providing the tree with pure water. IONIC TOURMALINE MINERAL (absorbable) containing beneficial far infrared rays An inert, though complex negative ion mineral, Tourmaline has many scientific and technological uses. One of its unique properties is that it is pyroelectric, which means that it generates an electrical charge during a temperature change (either increase or decrease). One of the results of generating such an electric charge is that dust or toxin particles will become attached to one end of the tourmaline crystals. Tourmaline galvanizes the activity of other ingredients. When used in minute amounts this mineral has the profound effect of enhancing the performance of ingredients by amplifying their overall activity. Tourmalines are also said to be useful in relaxing the body and the mind, and to help in the prevention of infectious diseases, anxiety, blood poisoning, arthritis and heart disease. AGARICUS BLAZEI MURIL L Agaricus is traditionally known as " God's Mushroom " because of its near miraculous curative benefits to a wide range of disorders. Researchers have found the Agaricus polysaccharide fraction to have significant immune activating power. The Agaricus mushroom has also been shown to have potent chemo preventive activity. Since Agaricus is a gentle, edible mushroom that has no side effects, it is consumed as a food and as a tonic herb. Used in cosmetic formulations for its skin- whitening and anti-ageing properties. topical Agaricus blazei Murill is said to aid in skin repair; stimulate skin cells, assist collagen production and build up the immune resistance of the skin. The Agaricus mushroom contains ample amounts of glucagons, a plant textile, that absorbs carcinogenic substances and assists in eliminating them from the body. It is a natural anti-oxidant. CHITOSAN Chitosan products have been used for over 30 years by water companies to trap toxins, such as greases, heavy metals, and oils. It is the second most plentiful fiber, after cellulose, and is found in the shell of crustaceans such as crabs and lobsters. Chitosan is widely used for nutritional purposes of lowering body fat, reducing cholesterol levels and to remove heavy metal ions and toxins in humans. Chitosan is a natural fibre that has a unique fat binding property that gives it the nickname of " The Fat Trapper " . Chitosan applied to the skin promotes anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-viral and wound- healing properties. HOUTTUYNIA CORDATA Named for Martin Houttuyn, 18th century Dutch naturalist. The Houttuynia herb [Houttuynia cordata Thunb.] is a well known Chinese medicinal plant used as a detoxicant to treat " toxic conditions " such as external sores and ulcers or internal conditions characterized by fevers or inflammations, results of viral or bacterial infections. It has been extensively studied both chemically and pharmacologically. Cordata means " removing the poison " in Japanese. Houttynia Cordata reduces inflammation when applied to the affected area. The whole plant is antibacterial and is said to strengthen the immune system. Externally, it is used in the treatment of snake bites and skin disorders. Ketones and aldehydes isolated from Houttuynia cordata appear to show anti-HIV properties* This plant is classed as an Interferon Inducing Herb that has an important role to play in enhancing natural immunity. Interferons possess anti-tumor and anti-viral activity. * PHARMACOLOGY OF HIV INFECTION AND AIDS Edited by Dietmar Fuchs and Okezie I Aruoma Published 2000 SAURURUS CHENESIS: The first plant to grow at the atomic bomb site in Hiroshima. The leaves are used as a poultice to clean abscesses and boils. In Chinese medicine Saururus Chinesis is considered an anti-oxidant which helps in a variety of health conditions. It is used for counteracting poisons, relieving muscular ache, chronic fatigue, skin beauty and overall health. Loquat Leaf Pipaye BITTER - COOL Meridian LUNG, STOMACH -transform phlegm, clears lung heat – lung Qi up surging, cough -harmonize stomach, clear stomach heat, redirects rebel stomach Qi nausea, vomit, hiccups, belching Dosage: 4.5-12g; FRESH 15-30g. Best regards, Tel: (H): +353-(0) or (M): +353-(0) Ireland. Tel: (W): +353-(0) or (M): +353-(0) " Man who says it can't be done should not interrupt man doing it " - Chinese Proverb ---------- The following section of this message contains a file attachment prepared for transmission using the Internet MIME message format. If you are using Pegasus Mail, or any other MIME-compliant system, you should be able to save it or view it from within your mailer. If you cannot, please ask your system administrator for assistance. ---- File information ----------- File: WPM$3D9A_1.PNG 4 Dec 2005, 21:47 Size: 8506 bytes. Type: Unknown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 Hi Phil, Thanks for the info and checking the arithmetic. I had just copied and pasted the ingredient list with the quantities and didn't check to make sure it was correct. Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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