healthy: more about Pennyworth

from http://www.stuartxchange.org/TakipKohol.html

Uses

Nutrition

Rich in Vitamin B, it can be eaten as a salad or vegetable dish.

Folkloric

· Infectious hepatitis, measles, respiratory tract infections - colds, tonsillitis, laryngopharyngitis, bronchitis.

· Fresh material: 60 to 260 gms, dried material: 30 to 60 gms: Take in form of decoction.

· Counterirritant: Pound fresh leaves, mix with vaseline or oil and apply over affected area as poultice.

• Wounds and sore: The sap of the leaves is used on wounds and skin sores.

• In many folkloric systems, used for tuberculosis, syphilis, dysentery, hypertension, venous extremity probolems and common cold.

· In India and Fiji, roots used forskin inflammation, to improve blood circulation, to treat bloating, congestion and depression.

· Also considered to be a brain and memory stimulant, used for Alzheimer's disease and senility.

• In Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine, used for depression and anxiety.

• In Sri Lanka and Madagascar, used for a variety of mental and neurological problems.

Studies

• Anxiolytic: Rat studies have shown decrease in locomotor activity, enhanced maze performance and attenuated started response. This placebo- controlled studysuggest Gotu Kola has anxiolytic activity in humans as shown by the ASR (acoustic startle response).

• Bactericidal: In vitro study on the effect of CA on enteric pathogens. The alchol extract was bactericidal against V cholera, Shigella spp, and Staph aureus and suggests further studies in its potential as an antidiarrheal drug.

• Wound Healing: Study on albino rats showed the leaf extract of CA significantly promoted wound healing and was able to overcome the wound-healing suppression of dexamethasone.

• Antioxidant: Study showed CA extract and power may ameliorate H202-induced oxidative stress by decreasing lipid peroxidation.

• Immunomodulatory: Study revealed immunomodulatory activity of C asiatica and R nasutus extracts in both non-specific cellular and humoral immune responses. Results suggest a chemoproventive or anticancer potential.

• Nerve Regeneration: Study indicates components in CA ethanolic extract may be beneficial for accelerating repair of damaged neurons.

• Scleroderma: Single study found gotu kola decreased joint pain and skin hardening and improved finger movement. source

• Periodontal Healing : Study results indicate that the combined use of extracts of CA and P granatum pericarp significantly reduced the clinical signs of chronic periodontitis.

• Larvicidal: Crude extract of leaves of CA showed larvicidal and adult emergence inhibition against mosquite Cules quinquefasciatus, possibly through various biogically active compounds–phenolics, terpenoids and alkaloids.

Burmese Pennyworth Salad

Burmese Pennyworth salad



Ingredients

for 2 persons:

2 bunches of Pennyworth

5 tsp roasted unsalted peanuts

2 tsp dried shrimp

2 small (red) onions

1-2 cloves of garlic

1/2 teaspoon of turmeric

seasoning powder

vegetable oil (palm, soy or sunflower)



a unusual very healthy salad

no dressing

vegetarians can leave the shrimp out



Method

Wash the pennyworth very well and remove the roots. You can use the stems or only the leaves. Cut them them into thin slices.

Wash the dried shrimp and pound them together with the peanuts until they are nearly a powder with a dew small pieces in it.

Cut the onions and the garlic and fry them in oil with the turmeric until they are crispy.

Put the pennyworth in a bowl or on a plate and add a powdered seasing (or soy sauce) and mix it with the hands. Add the pounded peanuts and shrimps and the fried onions and garlic. Don't mix.

Serve as a starter or snack or as part of a Burmese meal with rice.