Nature's immune booster

By HEIZEL LARU-AN MAINAR

The Filipinos' knack for concocting herbal medicines has also led them to discover the healing properties of the Philippines' national tree.  Narra, apart from its popularity and use in furniture-making, contains phytochemicals (isoflavones and polyphenolics) also known to boost the immune system leading to a healthier body and longer life. 

Dr. Sonny Viloria, one of the pioneers and staunch supporters of the use and practice of natural medicine in the country, says that the current level of pollution and environmental stressors can cause various diseases.  He adds that pollution is contributory to the increase of cancer cases in the Philippines.  One way to protect a person’s health is to boost his immune system and this is where Narra comes in. 

Accordingly, Narra’s isoflavones and polyphenolics are effective anti-oxidants. It was even used as a diuretic as well as folk medicine to treat tumors during the 16th and all throughout the 17th century in Europe. While science now identified the possible contribution of Narra’s pytochemicals to a person’s health, Dr. Villoria says that it is good for those with conditions of hormonal imbalance and prostate problems.

Dr. Viloria, who also happens to be a technical consultant with the Department of Health (DoH), says that he encourages his patients to take Narra capsules, especially those patients suffering from diabetes.  Patients have shown improvements in health after taking the traditional medicine but he also relates that patients with other medical conditions like prostate problems, lung, and breast cancers also benefited from it.  However, he relates that the intake of anti-oxidant supplements alone takes time before these takes effect. There are other factors that a patient still needs to consider and follow—proper diet, drinking enough water, exercise, and rest.
  
More so, Dr. Viloria, a general practitioner who earned his diploma in Therapies and Traditional Chinese Medicine from Australia, stresses that the food supplement is not a replacement of the prescribed medication.  “(Narra) targets whatever is unbalanced in the body, as in cases of hypertension, hyper and hypoglycemia, acne, cancer, etc.” 

Several researches also show that the components of Narra could ease inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis and it can wash away urinary stones.  Apart from these, it is also known to fight viral infections, prevents and removes cysts and warts, helps clear skin from acne, eases menstrual pain, alleviates congestion in the air passage, and even helps open clogged vessels.

Narra in Capsule and Tea Bag

Bernardo Mercado, founding general manager of Naturteq Direct, Inc. (NDI), on the other hand, shares that the health benefits one can enjoy from Narra now comes in a tea and capsule form, a convenient way as compared to the olden ways of scraping and boiling the bark.  Also, the new venture with Philippine Prudential Life Insurance Company, Inc. (PPLIC) through PPLIC president and chief executive officer Gregorio Mercado, ensures it to be organically grown with no artificial colors, sugar, lactose, milk, salt, gluten nor caffeine. 

“Naturteq’s narra trees are nurtured and harvested in a six-acre organic farm, free from pesticides and away from pollution,” he says.  He further explains that since it is not allowed by the government to cut down narra trees, only young branches are harvested and processed in a hygienic facility monitored under strict world-class standards.  It undergoes drying and refining and a special process of magnetization to possibly remove excess metal and as improve negative ions."

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For further information, visit www.naturteq.com.