Obesity epidemic of India

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Obesity in India is on the rise. It has reached enormous proportions. As I sit and count at airports, the number of women who look obviously overweight and obese, the figures I get is 8 out of 10. And this is around same in children of all sexes and around 6 in 10 men show clearcut overweight and obesity that is obvious even to naked eye. Anthropometric measurements might reveal more of them.  What are the likely causes? I have a theory that starts analysing these cases right from the 2000s or previous century. Junk food eating and sedantry lifestyle had already given an upward push to obesity in last century. And this also gave rise to diabetes mellitus in both men and women. Hence, such mothers also had diabetes in pregnancy. Some who did not have diabetes otherwise had gestational diabetes. From 2000 to 2026 prevalence of gestational diabetes has risen in india. It has even spread to rural areas and recent national data gives a figure of 22.4% which is almost 1 in 4 pregnant mot...
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Manchurian thorn: health uses and safety

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 Manchurian thorn is a medicinal tree. Its bark and roots have therapeutic uses. What are the indications of its use? What are its safety concerns?

Manchurian thorn

Manchurian thorn is actually a tree. It has medicinal use. Its bark and roots possess therapeutic properties. Its scientific name is Aralia mandshurica or Aralia elata. And it belongs to the family Araliaceae. It is a small shrub growing in eastern parts of Russia, Northern China, Japan, and Korea. Its other names include Angélique du Japon, Aralie Japonaise, Espino de Manchuria, Manchurian Angelica Tree, and Mandschurische Aralie.


Its orally consumed for weight loss, weakness, tiredness, stress, depression, headaches, and as a stimulant, immunostimulant, and an adaptogen. 

Its mechanism of a tion is unclear since there are very few studies on this product. A limited studies have shown that Manchurian thorn combined with Engelhardia chrysolepsis causes weight loss by elevating the levels of a body enzyme that helps to burn fat.

Health benefits

Science backing is limited but it is said to assist weight loss. Early research has shown that a specific product called Aralox containing Manchurian thorn 150 mg and Engelhardia chrysolepsis 150 mg three times in a day for 15 weeks helps to reduce body weight and fat weight in obese women. 

Also read: What is coffeeless coffee?

It reduces fatigue symptoms and feelings of weakness. Moreover, it relieves headache and overcomes symptoms of stress and depression.  It can also boost immunity. 

Safety concerns

There is no clearcut clinical data on its safety. In high doses, it can cause liver damage. 

It is not safe during pregnancy and lactation in mothers. 

In diabetic patients, it can lower blood sugar. It might get too low if patient is on other drugs for diabetes. If you want to use Manchurian thorn, do it under medical supervision. It might worsen liver diseases. 

It has other drug interactions. It can accentuate the actions of anti-diabetic drugs. Similarly, avoid taking it with other herbal or allopathic drugs that are known to harm the liver. 

The accurate dose of this medicine is unclear. Be extremely careful of its use. 

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