Alzheimer’s - Positive New Data On Dimebon’s Long-Term Efficacy And Novel Mechanism Of Action

Medivation, Inc. (NASDAQ: MDVN) announced new data showing that its investigational drug Dimebon continues to produce broad, clinically meaningful benefits in Alzheimer’s disease patients after long-term dosing, and appears to operate through a novel mechanism of action. These data were presented recently in a podium session and two poster sessions at the 2008 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease (ICAD) in Chicago. The presentations are highlighted below.

Dimebon Preserves All Key Functions in Alzheimer’s Patients for 18 Months in Open-Label
Extension of First Pivotal Trial

New data from a six-month open-label extension of the 12-month placebo-controlled study of Dimebon in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease demonstrated that Dimebon continued to improve the clinical course of the disease. After 18 months of treatment, Dimebon preserved function in patients at their original levels upon entering the trial across all key aspects of Alzheimer’s disease, specifically memory and thinking, behavior, activities of daily living and overall function. These results are noteworthy as untreated Alzheimer’s patients progressively deteriorate over time in these areas. Dimebon remained well tolerated throughout the 18-month treatment period.

The open-label extension data were presented in a poster session by Jeffrey Cummings, M.D., Director of the Mary S. Easton Center for Alzheimer’s Disease Research at UCLA. “To my knowledge, no other approved or investigational treatment has stabilized function across all facets of Alzheimer’s disease for this length of time,” said Dr. Cummings. “These data suggest that Dimebon may provide long-term benefits to Alzheimer’s patients and provide further support for its potential as a promising therapeutic to treat this devastating disease.”

Patients originally on placebo for 12 months who were then crossed over to Dimebon in the openlabel extension phase stabilized across all key measures tested. Since these patients had declined over the previous 12 months while on placebo, they generally stabilized at a lower level of function than those treated with Dimebon for the full 18 months, suggesting a benefit of earlier treatment.

Dimebon Benefits Both Mild and Moderate Patients in 12-month Subgroup Analyses

New data from subgroup analyses by disease severity of the Dimebon double-blind placebocontrolled trial showed that Dimebon benefited both mild and moderate patients. In both mild and moderate patients, Dimebon treatment resulted in significant benefit on the study’s primary endpoint, the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognition subscale, or ADAS-cog. The benefit in the moderate subpopulation was particularly robust, with a 9.7 point drug-placebo difference on the ADAS-cog (p<0.0001)>

The subgroup analyses were presented in a separate poster presentation at ICAD 2008 by Rachelle Doody, M.D., Ph.D., the Effie Marie Cain Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease Research at the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center, Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. “A nearly 10-point improvement over placebo in moderate patients on the ADAS-cog, a well-validated cognition scale in Alzheimer’s disease, is unquestionably of clinical significance, especially in light of a clinical effect seen on the clinician’s assessment of global function,” said Dr. Doody. “If the results we saw for both the mild and moderate patients can be replicated, I believe that Dimebon will be an important advance in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, regardless of stage.”

Dimebon’s Novel Mechanism of Action

In a podium presentation at ICAD 2008, Medivation presented new data on Dimebon’s novel mitochondrial mechanism of action. Mitochondria generate energy for cells and play important roles in mediating cell function and survival. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked in the published literature to both Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases. Preclinical data presented showed that Dimebon improves mitochondrial function in the setting of cellular stress with very high potency. For example, Dimebon treatment improved mitochondrial function and increased the number of surviving cells after treatment with a cell toxin known as ionomycin in a dose-dependent fashion. The effect of Dimebon to improve mitochondrial dysfunction has been confirmed in the independent laboratory of Maria Ankarcrona, Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden.

“All of the approved Alzheimer’s disease drugs operate by one of two mechanisms - cholinesterase inhibition or NMDA-receptor antagonism,” noted Bengt Winblad, M.D., Ph.D., Head of the Karolinska Institutet’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. “The body of preclinical and clinical data generated thus far convinces me that Dimebon is exerting its effects through a different mechanism. The data presented today support the hypothesis that Dimebon improves mitochondrial dysfunction. This is a novel mechanism that may, in part, explain the clinical benefits seen in Alzheimer’s patients treated with Dimebon.”

About the Pivotal Study

Dimebon’s first pivotal Alzheimer’s trial was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 183 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, patients treated with Dimebon experienced statistically significant improvements compared to placebo in all the key aspects of the disease: memory and thinking, activities of daily living, behavior and overall function - after both six months and a full year of treatment. Dimebon’s benefit over placebo continued to increase throughout the 12-month treatment period. At the end of 12 months, Dimebon-treated patients preserved their starting level of function on each measure of Alzheimer’s disease. Results of the pivotal study were published in the July 19, 2008 issue of The Lancet.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed Medivation that this study can be used as one of the pivotal studies required to support the approval of Dimebon to treat mildto- moderate Alzheimer’s disease, as long as a significant proportion of the sites in the confirmatory Phase 3 trial are located in the United States. The Company recently began a confirmatory pivotal Phase 3 trial of Dimebon in Alzheimer’s disease known as the CONNECTION study. Patients and caregivers can learn more about the study by visiting http://www.connectionstudy.com or by calling 1-877-888-6386.

About the Open-Label Extension

All patients who completed 12-months of dosing in the first pivotal trial were eligible to enroll in an open-label extension. All participants in the open-label extension received Dimebon, including patients who had previously received placebo during the prior 12 months of the trial. Because there was no placebo-control in the open-label extension, direct comparisons versus placebo cannot be made.

About Dimebon

Dimebon is an orally available small molecule that has been shown to inhibit brain cell death in preclinical models relevant to Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s diseases, making it a potential treatment for these and other neurodegenerative diseases. Preclinical data generated to date suggest that Dimebon operates through a novel mitochondrial mechanism of action. On July 7, 2008, Medivation announced positive safety and efficacy results from its Phase 2 trial of Dimebon for the treatment of Huntington’s disease, which was conducted in collaboration with the Huntington Study Group. The study met its primary endpoint of safety and tolerability; in addition, Dimebon showed statistically significant benefit versus placebo in cognition as measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination, a secondary endpoint in the study. Huntington’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the gradual development of involuntary muscle movement, progressive deterioration of cognitive processes and memory and severe behavioral disturbances. There are currently no approved drugs in the United States to treat this uniformly fatal genetic disorder.

About Medivation

Medivation, Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the rapid development of novel small molecule drugs to treat serious diseases for which there are limited treatment options. Medivation aims to transform the treatment of these diseases and offer hope to critically ill patients and their caregivers. The Company’s current clinical development program includes a pivotal and confirmatory Phase 3 trial of Dimebon in Alzheimer’s disease and a Phase 1-2 clinical trial of MDV3100 in patients with castration-resistant (also known as hormone-refractory) prostate cancer. Medivation recently announced that it plans to continue further development of Dimebon in patients with mild-to-moderate Huntington’s disease based on the positive results seen in its Phase 2 trial. For more information, please visit us at http://www.medivation.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding future clinical development plans, which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those projected. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release.] None of the Company’s product candidates has been approved for sale, significant additional animal and human testing is required in order to seek marketing approval for any of its product candidates, and Medivation cannot assure you that marketing approval can be obtained for any of its product candidates. Furthermore, as is typically the case at this stage of the regulatory review process, the FDA has not yet performed an in-depth review of Medivation’s preclinical and clinical data, so its views remain subject to change. Medivation’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its current report on Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2008, include information about additional factors that could affect the Company’s financial and operating results.

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Former cancer patient says radiation bungle shows flaw in the health system

Healthcare News

Assurances from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) that cancer patients at the Royal Adelaide Hospital are at a minimal risk from an inadvertent 5 per cent reduction in their prescribed radiation dosage between 2004 to 2006, may reassure some but many former patients will still be worried.

The mistake involves 720 cancer patients and occurred because one of four radiation machines at the hospital was incorrectly calibrated.

The chief executive officer of the South Australian Health Department, Dr. Tony Sherbon says the issue was resolved in 2006 and there is no evidence to show the patients were at risk.

While the RAH discovered the error in 2006, the variation was at the time regarded as insignificant; Dr. Sherbon says he only learned of the mistake when he received a complaint last week.

South Australia's Health Department is apparently notifying all those patients concerned but says it will take time for an inquiry to establish whether cancer patients were put at risk.

But one former RAH cancer patient Ashleigh Moore is not satisfied and has demanded answers as to why it has taken so long for the problem to be revealed and for something to be done about it.

Mr Moore who was treated for head and neck cancer during that period, is also the chairman of Cancer Voices SA, and he says from a safety and quality perspective, the bungle highlights a terrible flaw in the State's health system.

Mr Moore says he hopes the incident does not deter cancer patients off having radiotherapy and preventative measures must now be taken to ensure this does not happen again.

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Gout Medicine That Works - 3 Medicinal Remedies To Reduce Pain

Natural gout remedies exist but one of the first things most people seek for relief is gout medicine. Prescribed gout medications are usually the main solution used when people are afflicted with any ailment and gout sufferers are no different. Many of these medications focus on reducing the high uric acidity level in the bloodstream.

The two most common gout medicines are corticosteroids and NSAIDs. These help reduce inflammation in the affected joints. NSAIDs are taken by mouth in high dosages. They also aid in prohibiting the spread of prostaglandin, a substance that plays its part in causing you severe pain during a gout flare-up.

If NSAIDs aren’t effective for you, then turning to corticosteroids are the next doctor recommendation. Like NSAIDs, these also give instant relief to gout victims. They are injected directly into the inflamed joint to mainly target that area.

But the downside to using corticosteroids is that you can’t use it daily or during subsequent attacks. If you do, your bone cartilage will weaken and your joints will get damaged.

If both of the above medications fail, then your doctor may recommend that you take colchicines. These can be used once every hour for the first 12 hours of the flare-up. Even though you can experience diarrhea and stomach cramps and an upset stomach as side effects of taking this gout medicine, colchicines have been around for hundreds of years and have proven themselves to be an effective pain reliever.

As with most medications, gout medicine has its positives and negatives, so it’s essential that you choose your method of relief carefully. Seek out the help of health professionals and other sufferers for resources that’ll give you the best chance to win your battle with gout.

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Low Carb Diets More Effective Than Low Fat Diets

(Diet & Weight Loss), Low carb diets received a well deserved boost this month when a large 2-year study concluded that low carbohydrate diets are more effective than traditional low fat diets for losing weight and improving cholesterol levels. Published this week in the New England Journal of Medicine, the authors observed 322 moderately obese adults and found the low carb group outperformed low fat dieters in average weight loss and proportion of HDL to LDL cholesterol levels. In response to strong consumer and researcher support for smart and low carb diet plans, GlycemicEdge.com announced an expansion of diet plans they support to include the Glycemic Index (http://www.glycemicedge.com), South Beach Diet, and now the Atkins Diet plan.

Wayne Becker, editor for GlycemicEdge.com, added, "The study released last week by NEJM only reinforces that no single diet is right for everyone. It also sends a strong signal that low carb diet plans may offer some strong advantages over traditional low fat diets -- particularly when it comes to weight loss and cardiovascular wellness."

Maintaining a focus on low carb focused meal plans, recipes, and managed diets allows GlycemicEdge to power a single portal that allows users to research and select the right low carb plan that suits their needs. Support and interest for the Atkins diet (http://www.glycemicedge.com/atkins.htm) has seen renewed support, particularly among men, many of which view the studies supporting low carb over low fat as a vindication of the plans originated by Dr. Robert C. Atkins.

The big surprise of the study was that low carb diets improved cholesterol more than the Mediterranean Diet or Low Fat diet plans, despite the fact that the low carb diet has no specific restrictions on fat intake.

The study highlighted a number of remarkable findings, including:

* The relative drop in cholesterol to high density lipoprotein ("good" cholesterol) was 20% in the low carb group vs. 12% in the low fat group

* Avg. weight loss 6.4 lbs in low carb group vs. 10.4 lbs in the low carb group

* The low carb group ate the fewest carbs and a proportionately higher level of fat, protein, and cholesterol -- yet still showed the best cholesterol health level improvements

The addition of the Atkins Diet to the already popular South Beach Diet and Glycemic Index Diet (http://www.glycemicedge.com) plans allows visitors to select the plan that best suits their individual tastes and tolerances. Matching the right plan to an individuals goals and preferences is a critical first-step in jump starting lifestyle changes.

"One of the most overlooked findings in the study was that 95.4% of the participants in the study stuck to the diets for at least 1 year. Over 84% stayed on it for the entire 2-year period. These aren't fad diets. They're not 30 day miracle plans. These are lifestyle plans that promote long term wellness -- the fact that you lose weight and improve overall energy & cholesterol levels often overshadow how well received these plans are. We help people get started -- the first 2-4 weeks are critical."

For information about the clinical study, visit the New England Journal of Medicine (http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/359/3/229).

Technorati Tags: Low Carb Diets, South Beach Diet, low carbohydrate diets, Glycemic Index, Mediterranean Diet

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Obesity may interfere with prostate cancer screen

Reuters - The test commonly used to screen men for prostate cancer may be more likely to miss tumors in obese men, a new study suggests.

We all want healthy skin. While the main reasons for pursuing healthy skin tend to be purely shallow and cosmetic in nature, healthy skin is beautiful and keeps us looking younger than our years and there are actually some practical health benefits to maintaining the good health for our skin. The purpose of the skin is to act as a barrier. It serves to prevent bacteria, viruses and other contaminants from entering the body and causing infection, illness and disease. There are many vitamins and minerals buy pure l-citrulline dl-malate help to keep skin healthy and thus be able to serve its vital role in the protection of the body.

Antioxidant vitamins such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E are very important to healthy skin because it is these vitamins that share in the responsibility of controlling the damage that free radicals byproducts of energy production within the body and of environmental contaminants such as air pollution produce. Among the several types of damage done by free radicals is the destruction of collagen and elastin which are fibers that support the skin and keeps it looking supple. As these are damaged wrinkles and a lack of that youthful firmness can occur. Vitamin C also plays a part in the production of collagen making it essential to the function and look of the skin. Recent studies have found that Vitamin C and E used together may help to repair sun-damaged skin.

Vitamin A has its own important role in skin health and beauty in addition to its anti-oxidant properties. In terms of diet even small deficiencies can negatively affect the skin causing flakiness and dryness. Dryness can make lines and wrinkles that are much more apparent. Its primary use however, is as a topical solution for the treatment of severe acne and the reduction of lines and wrinkles themselves. Recent research has showed that a topical solution that contains both Vitamin A and Vitamin C can in some cases reverse the damage done by the aging process and by sun-damage.

Deficiencies in the Vitamin B complex can leave the skin prone to cracking, bleeding and dangerous skin lesions that allow all kinds of bacteria, viruses and other contaminants to easily enter the body. But in terms of strictly cosmetic concerns even a little shortage of the Vitamin B complex can result in scaly and poorly textured skin. Topical preparations have been found to play an important role in the hydrating of skin cells leading to noticeably firmer and healthier looking skin.

Vitamin K has been found to relieve those awful dark circles under the eyes. Some research has found that creams made up of both Vitamin K and Vitamin A are more effective than those that just contain Vitamin K but researchers are still following up on these results.

Minerals important to the look and to the health of the skin include selenium, copper, and zinc. Selenium whether used as a topical solution or taken in the form of a dietary supplement is thought to play a big role in the prevention of skin cancer. Copper, zinc, and Vitamin C work together to form elastin which helps to support skin keeping it firm and healthy.

Topical solutions and dietary supplements can help to keep the skin healthy and youthful in appearance. However, it is important to recognize that these are powerful substances and using them within the standard guidelines of dosage is essential to good health. There is such a thing as too much of abusing such natural healing powers which could then result to a not so pretty sight. But when used correctly however, your skin can look better than ever.

Note: This article may be freely reproduced as long as the AUTHOR'S resource box at the bottom of this article is included and and all links must be Active/Linkable with no syntax changes.

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Holistic Medicine - An Alternative To Traditional Medicine

Holistic medicine is the holistic alternative to traditional medicines and treatments. With these alternative treatments, the body is supposed to be able to heal itself, rather than just having symptoms treated. There are many different approaches to alternative medicine, and some doctors are now starting to recognize some of the health benefits that alternative medicine can provide.

The way that holistic medicine works is by looking at the body as a whole, rather than in parts, like traditional medicine. The holistic therapies consider mind, body and spirit all together. Traditional medicine would look at high blood pressure and prescribe something to lower it. The holistic treatment would be to find the cause of the high blood pressure and treat it at the source. Is that person under a lot of stress? Try relaxing more and getting a body massage to relive pressure. Is that person with high blood pressure eating the wrong things? Holistic treatments would recommend an organic diet and plenty of exercise.

The idea for holistic treatments is that no body issue is caused by just one thing, and there are many ways to treat each problem. The holistic approach also emphasizes proper nutrition for everyone, and the importance of avoiding chemical substances which can upset the body. Avoiding things, such as alcohol, is also part of the holistic system.

So which therapies are holistic treatments? There are many different forms, but some of the most common forms are: homeopathy, herbal medicine, traditional Chinese acupuncture, chiropractic services, naturopathic medicines and massages. Many doctors, mainly in Great Britain and Europe but some in the U.S., use a form of complimentary medicine that incorporates medical practices from both traditional medicine and holistic medicine. The main goal of the holistic approach is to improve the immune system to the point where sickness almost never happens. The core belief to making that work is through nutrition, where all natural, vegetarian, organic, and mostly raw foods are consumed. This eating pattern detoxifies the body, which gets rid of all unhealthy things in the body, which in turn, improves the immune system. When the body is inline with itself and the immune system is strong, there is almost nothing the body cannot conquer.

This gives you an idea of what holistic medicine is all about. If you are interested in learning more about holistic treatments, then you can conduct more specific research, or consult your doctor to learn about what treatment methods are right for you. Even if you do not embrace the whole holistic system, perhaps you can pick one idea, such as massage therapy, to use in your life.

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Pharmacy Benefit Managers Use Biometric Software For Improved Security

IdentiPHI Inc. recently announced one of the nation’s leading pharmacy benefit managers has selected IdentiPHI SAFsolution 5 Enterprise Edition to boost biometric authentication and security access across its network.

In conjunction with fingerprint readers from IdentiPHI’s partner, Zvetco Biometrics, SAFsolution will enable the pharmacy benefit manager to ease its password administration process, support the secure use of multi-personnel terminals and tighten network access to meet the healthcare industry’s stringent patient privacy regulations.

IdentiPHI SAFsolution will initially support 10,000 users in conjunction with Zvetco’s Verifi P4000 and P5000 Fingerprint Readers that are already installed on the pharmacy benefit manager’s network.

"We’re seeing increased demand in the market for customizable and cost-effective biometric solutions that meet today's standards for security and convenience," said Zavi Cohen, CEO of Zvetco Biometrics. “The open architecture of SAFsolution 5 simplifies its integration with our hardware and is one of the key reasons why we’ve chosen IdentiPHI as a strategic partner for enterprise deployments.”

“By combining the strengths of SAFsolution with products from strategic partners such as Zvetco, we can offer our clients scalable enterprise security solutions that are based on the most advanced biometrics-based technology in the industry,” said IdentiPHI President John Atkinson. “The security system we’ve designed in this instance is representative of the increasing market adoption we’re seeing in a broad range of industries as corporations rise to the challenge of protecting vital information, complying with increased regulation, and mitigating the real risk of security breaches.”

Designed on the SAFsolution platform, IdentiPHI purpose built SAFsolution 5 to provide administration of enterprise-wide biometric security and authentication.

SAFsolution 5 is integrated closely with Microsoft Windows Active Directory to provide a full range of enterprise capabilities -- high scalability, simplified usability and a broad range of support of authentication methods and devices. SAFsolution 5 enables organizations to dramatically improve security by replacing cumbersome passwords with biometric authentication.

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Manfaat bunga KENANGA

Harum kenanga sudah dikenal sejak lama. Para putri bangsawan gemar sekali memanfaatkannya. Tapi Mantan Presiden Megawati Soekarnoputri biasa menggunakannya untuk menyuburkan dan menghitamkan rambut. Mau coba?

Kenanga sering pula disebut kenongo (Jawa), makosoi (Fiji), cadenia (Spanyol) dan Canangium odoratum Baill (Latin). Tumbuhan dari famili annonaceae ini diduga berasal dari Asia Tenggara termasuk Indonesia. Karena baunya yang harum, ia dikenal pula sebagai pohon parfum. Tinggi tanaman dapat mencapai 30 m. Selain tumbuh liar di hutan, ia juga bisa ditanam di pekarangan rumah, dan dapat tumbuh subur pada ketinggian 1200 m dpl.

Daunnya berbentuk lonjong, tandan bunga terjurai berwarna hijau tapi bila sudah tua berubah jadi kuning dan baunya sangat harum. Bunga ini mengandung asam benzoat, farnesol, geraniol, linalool, bensin asetat, eugenol, safrole, kadinen, dan pinen. Kandungan minyaknya cukup tinggi namun mudah sekali menguap.

Pada sebagian masyarakat Jawa, kenanga sering dipakai dalam ritual bersama melati, mawar, dan bunga lainnya direndam dalam air yang berasal dari 7 sumur. Air rendaman itu biasa disebut ‘Air Bunga Setaman’ yang biasanya dipakai untuk mandi bagi calon pengantin saat upacara siraman. Masih dipakai juga saat upacara tingkeban, upacara setelah 7 bulan mengandung.

Dengan aromanya yang harum, bunga kenanga yang berwarna hijau kekuningan itu, bersama melati dan kantil merupakan bunga kesayangan anggota keluarga keraton di kerajaan-kerajaan di Pulau Jawa. Pada keluarga bangsawan itu, kenangan lazim digunakan untuk bahan ‘ngadi salira’ (perawatan tubuh). Caranya, bunga atau minyak kenanga itu dijadikan sebagai bahan untuk luluran sehingga akan menghasilkan kulit dan wajah yang lembut.

Penggunaan wewangian dengan aroma kenanga sendiri menunjukkan kelembutan bagi yang pemakainya. Sedang menurut DR. Martha Tilaar dalam bukunya Kecantikan Perempuan Timur, Ibu Fatmawati (ibunda Presiden Megawati Soekarnoputri), biasa menggunakan bunga kenanga dicampur daun pandan dan daun mangkokan lalu direbus dengan minyak kelapa sebagai bahan untuk menyuburkan dan menghitamkan rambut.

Sakit Kuning
Banyak ahli pengobatan tradisional mengatakan, penyakit kuning dapat diobati dengan ramuan temulawak dicampur dengan bambu kuning. Namun berdasarkan pengalaman, kenanga bisa juga digunakan untuk menyembuhkan penyakit kuning.

Untuk pemakaian awam, 3 kuntum bunga kenanga dimasukkan ke dalam segelas air panas, setelah itu ditutup hingga dingin. Setelah itu lalu diminum 3 kali sehari, sebanyak 1/3 gelas sekali minum. “Itupun jenis penyakit kuning biasa yang bukan disebabkan dari hepatitis” kata R. Broto Sudibyo, Pengembang Kesehatan Masyarakat di RS Bethesda, Yogyakarta.

Masih menurut Broto yang juga Kabid Centra Pengembangan dan Penerapan Pengobatan Tradisional Pemda DI Yogyakarta, bila diolah secara utuh dan tidak diekstrak, ramuan kenanga ini hampir tidak memiliki efek samping. Penggunaan secara empiris, katanya, setidaknya sudah membuktikannya.

Kosmetika
Ditambahkan, minyak kenanga juga sangat baik untuk terapi aroma (aromatheraphy). Ia akan mengatur aliran kelenjar adrenalin dalam sistim syaraf sehingga menimbulkan perasaan senang, tenang, menghilangkan rasa gelisah, marah, dan panik.

Ada pun untuk kosmetika, bagian tanaman yang banyak digunakan adalah ekstrak dari bunganya yang berwarna kuning kecoklatan. Bila digunakan dalam sabun akan mempunyai efek penyeimbang untuk kulit berminyak maupun kulit kering. Di samping itu minyaknya dapat memperkuat dan merangsang pertumbuhan rambut. Sedang untuk urusan kecantikan, minyak kenanga dipakai dalam campuran masker dan lulur.

Taryono, Kepala Badan Penelitian Tanaman Rempah dan Obat di Bogor, punya pendapat lain. Menurutnya, bunga kenanga hanya menghasilkan minyak atsiri yang baik untuk bahan pembuat parfum. Sedang kegunaan untuk maksud lain, Taryono mengaku belum ada penelitian yang memadai.

Penyakit Kulit Hingga Asma
Menurut Prof. Hembing Wijayakusuma dalam Ensiklopedia Tumbuhan Berkhasiat Obat, Bunga kenanga dapat juga digunakan untuk beberapa pengobatan berikut ini:

1. Pemakaian Luar :

a) Demam nifas: 5 kuntum bunga kenanga, 5 kuntum bunga turi merah, rimpang kunyit, kencur, temu hitam masing-masing 10 gram, dan 25 gram asam, semuanya ditumbuk halus, tambahkan sedikit garam dan air bersih, lalu digosokkan pada bagian punggung atau sebagai tapal pada perut. Lakukan dua kali sehari.

b) Encok : 12 kuntum bunga kenanga yang belum mekar, 30 gram daun srikaya, 20 gram daun ketapang, 20 gram jahe, 10 butir merica, dicuci dan ditumbuk halus lalu tambahkan air dan kapur sirih sedikit, diaduk lalu digosokkan pada bagian badan yang sakit. Lakukan dua kali sehari.

c) Kudis (scabies) : 50 gram bunga kenanga dicuci dan ditumbuk halus, tambahkan 20 cc minyak goreng, dipanaskan sebentar, setelah dingin minyaknya dioleskan pada bagian kulit yang sakit.

d) Digigit serangga : 2 kuntum bunga kenanga, 1 kuntum bunga mawar, 10 kuntum bunga melati, diremas dengan 1 sendok teh minyak kelapa, kemudian ditempelkan pada luka bekas gigitan.

2. Pemakaian Dalam :

a) Sakit kepala : 15 gram bunga kenanga dan 15 gram jahe diiris-iris, direbus dengan 400 cc hingga tersisa 200 cc, lalu airnya diminum selagi hangat.

b) Mengatasi perasaan gelisah : 15 gram bunga kenanga dan 30 gram kim cim direbus dengan 600 cc air sampai tersisa 300 cc, lalu airnya diminum sedangkan kim cimnya dapat dimakan.

c) Malaria, asma : 3 kuntum bunga kenanga yang kering diseduh dengan 200 cc air mendidih lalu tutup rapat, setelah agak dingin disaring lalu diminum. Lakukan secara teratur.

d) Sesak napas (asma) :

· 15-30 gram bunga kenanga direbus dengan 200 cc air hingga tersisa 100 cc, tambahkan 1,5 sendok teh gula pasir, disaring lalu diminum lakukan dua kali sehari.

· 15 gram bunga kenanga dan 15 gram kulit semangka kering, direbus dengan 400 cc air hingga tersisa 200 cc, setelah dingin disaring lalu airnya diminum.

e) Radang saluran napas (bronchitis) : 10-15 gram bunga kenanga dan 10 gram pahap/umbi bunga lili kering direbus dengan 300 cc air hingga tersisa 150 cc, disaring lalu diminum selagi hangat. Lakukan dua kali sehari.

f) Batuk (tussis) : 15 gram bunga kenanga, 15 gram kulit jeruk mandarin/keprok kering, dan 10 gram pahap/umbi bunga lili kering direbus dengan 500 cc air hingga tersisa 250 cc, lalu air diminum selagi hangat. Lakukan secara teratur.

g) Mencegah dan mengatasi hepatitis : 30 gram bunga kenanga, 20 gram temulawak, dan 15 gram bangle direbus dengan 600 cc air hingga tersisa 300 cc. Setelah dingin, disaring lalu airnya diminum.

h) Mencegah dan mengatasi bau badan : 15 gram bunga kenanga dan gula batu secukupnya direbus dengan 600 cc air hingga tersisa 300 cc, disaring lalu airnya diminum. Lakukan secara teratur.

i) Keputihan : 30 gram bunga kenanga dan 30 gram kulit delima kering direbus dengan 600 cc air hingga tersisa 300 cc, setelah dingin disaring lalu airnya diminum. Lakukan secara teratur 2-3 kali sehari.

j) Radang saluran kencing : 20 gram bunga kenanga, 30 gram daun kumis kucing segar, 30 gram sambiloto segar, dan 30 gram daun sendok segar, dicuci dan direbus dengan 1 liter air hingga tersisa 500 cc, lalu airnya diminum untuk dua kali sehari. Lakukan secara teratur.


Catatan :
Umbi bunga lili/pahap dapat dibeli di toko obat Tionghoa, kim cim dapat dibeli di supermarket. Setiap pengobatan dilakukan secara teratur. Untuk penyakit yang berat tetap konsultasikan ke dokter.

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Tanaman Obat Asli Milik Masyarakat Bangsa dan Negara RI

Serbaneka tanaman obat tersedia di negeri gemah ripah loh jinawi. Masyarakat yang tenteram dan alam pemandangan kaya raya dengan serbaneka keindahan tiada tandingan. Subur, makmur. Kekayaan tanaman obat sebagai sumber pendapatan potensial membuat makmur masyarakat bangsa dan negara Republik Indonesia ini. Kini kembali Profesor Doktor Hembing Wijayakusuma mengingatkan “Kekayaan dan Pengembangan Tanaman Obat Indonesia” melalui Pekan Produk Budaya Indonesia, Kamis 12/7, pukul 11.00 WIB di Ruang Merak II, Balai Sidang Jakarta. Berikut ini makalah lengkapnya.

Indonesia kaya akan sumber daya hayati dan merupakan salah satu negara megabiodiversity terbesar di dunia. Indonesia menduduki urutan kedua setelah Brazil yang memiliki keanekaragaman hayati terkaya di dunia, itupun tidak dihitung dengan kekayaan lautnya. Meskipun luasnya hanya 1,3% luas daratan bumi, namun kekayaan alamnya sangat melimpah, baik flora maupun faunanya. Indonesia memiliki sekitar 17% jumlah spesies yang ada di dunia. Hutan tropis yang sangat luas beserta keanekaragaman hayati yang ada di dalamnya merupakan sumber daya alam yang tak ternilai harganya. Indonesia juga dikenal sebagai gudangnya tumbuhan obat (herbal) sehingga mendapat julukan live laboratory.

berbanggalah dengan kekayaan herbal yang tidak dimiliki oleh negara lain. Sekitar 30.000 jenis tumbuhan obat dimiliki Indonesia. Dengan kekayaan flora tersebut, tentu Indonesia memiliki potensi untuk mengembangkan produk herbal yang kualitasnya setara dengan obat modern. Akan tetapi, sumber daya alam tersebut belum dimanfaatkan secara optimal bagi kepentingan masyarakat. Baru sekitar 1200 species tumbuhan obat yang dimanfaatkan dan diteliti sebagai obat tradisional. Beberapa spesies tumbuhan obat yang berasal dari hutan tropis Indonesia justru digunakan oleh negara lain. Sebagai contoh adalah para peneliti Jepang yang telah mematenkan sekitar 40 senyawa aktif dari tanaman yang berasal dari Indonesia (Suara Pembaruan, 26 Maret 2005). Bahkan beberapa obat-obatan yang bahan bakunya dapat ditemukan di Indonesia telah dipatenkan dan diproduksi secara besar-besaran di negara lain sehingga memberi keuntungan yang besar bagi negara tersebut.

Pada dasarnya sejak dahulu bangsa Indonesia telah mengenal dan memanfaatkan tumbuhan berkhasiat obat sebagai salah satu upaya untuk menanggulangi masalah kesehatan, jauh sebelum pelayanan kesehatan formal dengan obat-obatan modernnya dikenal masyarakat. Pengetahuan tentang pemanfaatan tumbuhan obat tersebut merupakan warisan budaya bangsa berdasarkan pengetahuan dan pengalaman yang diwariskan secara turun-temurun hingga ke generasi sekarang, sehingga tercipta berbagai ramuan herbal yang merupakan ciri khas pengobatan tradisional Indonesia. Dengan demikian, selain memiliki kekayaan hayati yang besar, pengetahuan masyarakat lokal tentang pemanfaatan sumber daya hayati tersebut cukup tinggi. Oleh karena itu, tidaklah bijaksana apabila pengobatan penyakit dan pemeliharaan kesehatan dengan pemanfaatan tumbuhan obat tidak diupayakan untuk dikembangkan bagi kepentingan masyarakat dan bangsa.

Dalam memanfaatkan dan mengembangkan tumbuhan obat, juga harus diperhatikan pelestarian dan perlindungannya. Pemanfaatan herbal untuk pemeliharaan kesehatan dan gangguan penyakit hingga saat ini masih sangat dibutuhkan dan perlu dikembangkan, terutama dengan melonjaknya biaya pengobatan dan harga obat-obatan. Adanya kenyataan bahwa tingkat kebutuhan masyarakat terhadap pengobatan semakin meningkat, sementara taraf kehidupan sebagian masyarakat kita masih banyak yang kemampuannya pas-pasan. Maka dari itu, pengobatan dengan bahan alam yang ekonomis merupakan solusi yang baik untuk menanggulangi masalah tersebut. Dengan kembali maraknya gerakan kembali ke alam (back to nature), kecenderungan penggunaan bahan obat alam/herbal di dunia semakin meningkat. Gerakan tersebut dilatarbelakangi perubahan lingkungan, pola hidup manusia, dan perkembangan pola penyakit. Slogan back to nature yang menunjukkan minimnya efek negatif yang ditimbulkan dari penggunaan herbal dan juga ekonomis menarik minat masyarakat untuk kembali menggunakan obat-obatan dari bahan alami. Obat yang berasal dari bahan alam memiliki efek samping yang lebih rendah dibandingkan obat-obatan kimia, karena efek obat herbal bersifat alamiah. Dalam tanaman-tanaman berkhasiat obat yang telah dipelajari dan diteliti secara ilmiah menunjukan bahwa tanaman-tanaman tersebut mengandung zat-zat atau senyawa aktif yang terbukti bermanfaat bagi kesehatan.

Potensi Agrobisnis Herbal

Kecenderungan masyarakat dunia untuk kembali ke alam membawa perubahan pada pola konsumsi obat ke obat-obatan yang terbuat dari bahan alami. Berdasarkan data WHO, sekitar 80% penduduk dunia dalam perawatan kesehatannya memanfaatkan obat tradisional yang berasal dari ekstrak tumbuhan. Meningkatnya kebutuhan akan obat herbal tersebut merupakan peluang besar bagi Indonesia untuk mengembangkan budidaya dan agribisnis tumbuhan obat, maupun industri pengolahannya dengan skala yang cukup besar. Saat ini produksi obat tradisional dan fitofarmaka berkembang dengan pesat, sehingga kebutuhan tumbuhan obat untuk bahan baku industri tersebut juga meningkat tajam. Namun sebagian bahan baku obat dari herbal tersebut masih belum banyak dibudidayakan dan pengembangan teknologi budidayanya masih terbatas.

Sebagian bahan baku dari tumbuhan obat masih diambil dari hutan (misal pule, pasak bumi), sehingga dikhawatirkan akan terjadi kelangkaan jenis tumbuhan obat tertentu. Dengan kebutuhan bahan baku yang terus meningkat, tentunya laju pengambilan tumbuhan obat lebih cepat dari kemampuan hutan itu sendiri dalam memulihkan populasinya. Apalagi ditambah dengan eksploitasi dan kerusakan hutan maka kelangkaan dari spesies tumbuhan tertentu tidak bisa dihindari. Oleh karena itu, usaha pembudidayaan tumbuhan obat selain sebagai peluang usaha untuk meningkatkan penghasilan dan kesejahteraan masyarakat khususnya petani juga sebagai upaya konservasi untuk terselenggaranya proses pelestarian sumber bahan alam dan ketersedian bahan baku. Dalam hal ini diperlukan tanggung jawab bersama, terutama dari pihak petani dan perusahaan yang bergerak di industri obat tradisional atau farmasi yang menggunakan bahan baku alam.

Dalam usaha pengolahan tumbuhan obat, proses produksinya harus memenuhi persyaratan kualitas yang ditetapkan sehingga dihasilkan produk yang aman, dan sesuai dengan kegunaan yang diinginkan. Adanya produk jamu yang mengandung bahan kimia yang banyak beredar di Indonesia tentunya berakibat buruk bagi kesehatan. Hal tersebut juga mengurangi kepercayaan konsumen dan mempengaruhi perdagangan produk jamu lainnya. Diperlukan pengawasan yang lebih ketat terhadap pengolahan dan peredaran produk. Pengembangan usaha tumbuhan obat diharapkan mampu meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat, peningkatan pendapatan, penyerapan tenaga kerja baik dalam usaha pengadaan bahan baku, usaha pengolahan maupun perdagangan.

Perlindungan Sumber Daya Hayati

Saat ini semakin banyak industri farmasi baik di negara industri maupun di negara-negara berkembang yang mulai mengembangkan obat-obatan yang bahan bakunya dari alam. Sekitar 25% produk farmasi dunia bahan bakunya berasal dari tumbuhan. Hal itu membuktikan bahwa tumbuhan obat telah menjadi sumber bahan penting untuk obat modern. Fakta lainnya yaitu obat yang berasal dari ekstrak tumbuhan tersebut pemakaiannya berdasarkan pengetahuan lokal dari masyarakat adat tertentu. Perusahaan farmasi merupakan pelopor bagi pengembangan industri obat modern yang berasal dari ekstrak tumbuhan obat dengan memanfaatkan pengetahuan lokal dari masyarakat tertentu.

Pada umumnya perusahaan-perusahaan farmasi besar yang kebanyakan terdapat di negara-negara maju tidak mempunyai sumber bahan baku yang cukup di negaranya. Oleh karena itu untuk memenuhi kebutuhan tersebut mereka melakukan eksplorasi secara agresif ke negara-negara yang mempunyai hutan tropika dengan kekayaan keanekaragaman sumber daya hayatinya untuk mengambil dan meneliti tumbuhan obat yang dipandang bernilai tinggi. Selain itu, mereka juga memanfaatkan pengetahuan masyarakat adat setempat tentang penggunaannya.

Hasil dari eksplorasi tersebut dibawa ke negaranya dan tidak jarang bersama dengan spesimennya, yang kemudian dihasilkan produk obat baru dan mematenkannya untuk kepentingan komersial. Walaupun mengembangkan tumbuhan obat, namun aktivitas tersebut termasuk dalam pencurian sumber daya hayati, karena tidak memberikan keuntungan apapun terhadap pemilik sumber daya hayati, terutama kepada masyarakat lokal setempat. Tak jarang pula, masyarakat pemilik sumber daya hayati tersebut membeli kembali produk yang sudah jadi dengan harga mahal, walaupun bahan bakunya berasal dari daerah mereka.

Pengembangan usaha tumbuhan obat diharapkan mampu meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat, peningkatan pendapatan, penyerapan tenaga kerja baik dalam usaha pengadaan bahan baku, usaha pengolahan maupun perdagangan. Indonesia mempunyai kekayaan sumber daya hayati yang besar dan pengetahuan masyarakat adat/lokal tentang penggunaan tumbuhan berkhasiat obat juga cukup tinggi. Keadaan tersebut merupakan potensi yang baik untuk aktivitas bioprospeksi, yaitu proses eksplorasi dan pemanfaatan sumber daya hayati (termasuk tumbuhan obat) untuk dikembangkan dan kepentingan komersial. Sehingga Indonesia merupakan salah satu target dari perusahaan-perusahaan farmasi besar untuk daerah eksplorasi bahan baku alam/tumbuhan obat. Sebagai contoh, sekitar 14 spesies tumbuhan yang digunakan sebagai bahan baku obat-obatan penting di Amerika dan telah digunakan secara luas untuk pengobatan berasal dari hutan tropis Indonesia (Muhtaman, 1999).

Aktivitas yang mengacu pada pemanfaatan sumber daya hayati yang bernilai tinggi untuk dikembangkan terutama untuk pengobatan tentunya merupakan hal yang positif. Dengan aktivitas tersebut, potensi sumber daya alam khususnya tumbuhan obat dan pengetahuan masyarakat lokal yang berharga dapat tergali dan terdokumentasikan, sehingga dapat dimanfaatkan secara luas untuk meningkatkan kualitas hidup. Namun seringkali aktivitas eksplorasi dan pemanfaatan bahan baku alami tersebut disertai dengan eksploitasi yang berlebihan, monopoli dan pembajakan terhadap sumberdaya hayati. Untuk melindungi kekayaan sumberdaya hayati diperlukan aturan atau perundang-undangan yang jelas. Diperlukan perjanjian kerjasama yang adil dan menguntungkan antara pemilik sumber daya hayati dan pelaku eksplorasi seperti perusahaan farmasi besar. Peraturan yang jelas tersebut meliputi antara lain akses ke sumber daya hayati, ijin melakukan penelitian atau eksplorasi dari pemilik dan pengelola sumber daya hayati serta pembagian manfaat atau keuntungan yang adil.

Pengembangan Tumbuhan Obat

Untuk menghasilkan obat alami (herbal) yang berkualitas baik, aman, dan berkhasiat, maka dalam pembuatannya juga harus baik. Dalam hal ini salah satunya adalah pemilihan bahan baku yang tepat dan ditunjang dengan penelitian. Sebagian penemuan dari obat-obatan modern pada awalnyaberdasar referensi pengobatan etnofarmakologi dari bahan alam. Banyak obat-obat modern yang dibuat dari tumbuhan obat yang telah dikembangkan dan diteliti dengan proses pembuatan secara klinis laboratories. Ada tiga kategori sediaan obat alami yang ditetapkan BPOM, yaitu jamu, herbal terstandar, dan fitofarmaka.

Jamu merupakan sediaan alami dengan bahan baku tanaman obat dalam bentuk sederhana yang khasiat penggunaannya berdasarkan pada data atau pengalaman empiris secara turun temurun. Herbal terstandar merupakan sediaan obat alami yang telah terstandarsisasi dan lolos uji preklinik (uji khasiat dan toksisitas pada hewan percobaan). Fitofarmaka merupakan sediaan alami dengan bahan baku tanaman obat yang telah terstandardisasi dan lolos uji preklinis dan uji klinis (pada pasien). Indonesia saat ini baru punya lima jenis obat fitofarmaka. Saat ini, perkembangan pengobatan tradisional dengan tumbuhan obat/herbal sudah masuk ke periode modern sesuai dengan perkembangan IPTEK, namun pengembangan tumbuhan obat di Indonesia cenderung tidak berkembang dengan baik sehingga masih ketinggalan dengan negara lainnya, seperti Tiongkok, Korea dan Jepang. Melihat sarana pendukung yang ada di Indonesia untuk mengembangkan pengobatan tradisional termasuk perkembangan tumbuhan obat masih sangat kurang, contohnya teknik peralatan NMR 400 yang sangat berguna bagi peneliti kimia bahan alami di Indonesia masih tergolong langka. Belum lag! kendala dari segi SDM yang benar-benar menguasai pengobatan tradisional secara menyeluruh masih sangat terbatas. Selain itu, masih kurangnya dukungan untuk perkembangan pengobatan tradisional, seperti belum adanya RS tradisional di Indonesia, belum dimasukannya pendidikan herba secara khusus dalam kurikulum pendidikan kedokteran, dan minimnya penelitian tanaman obat.

Tanaman obat asli Indonesia kurang didukung oleh penelitian sebagai bukti ilmiah atas khasiat suatu produk, sehingga pemanfaatan obat dari herbal asli Indonesia di sarana pelayanan kesehatan masih sedikit. Penelitian terbentur pada biaya yang besar, dan waktu yang lama. Menurut Drs. Ruslan Aspan MM (Deputi II Bidang Pengawasan Obat Tradisional, Kosmetika dan Produk Komplemen Badan POM), dana yang dibutuhkan untuk uji klinis sangat besar yaitu mulai ratusan juta rupiah hingga sekitar satu miliaran rupiah per jenis tumbuhan. Pada tahun 1996, Prof. AA Loedin yang saat itu menjabat Ketua I Dewan Riset Nasional mengingatkan perusahaan perusahaan farmasi Indonesia agar jangan berkhayal menghasilkan obat-obat baru pada saat perdagangan bebas global terlaksana penuh, hal tersebut karena diperlukan dana riset yang bisa mencapai 390 juta dolar AS untuk menghasilkan satu obat baru, seperti yang dilakukan perusahaan farmasi multinasional AS dan Eropa.

Dalam hal pengembangan tanaman obat atau herbal, Indonesia pertu belajar pada Tiongkok. Di negeri tersebut pengobatan tradisional secara formal sudah menyatu dengan pengobatan modern (pengobatan barat) dan diterapkan dalam pelayanan kesehatan secara bersama-sama. Di seluruh Tiongkok banyak terdapat Rumah sakit tradisional yang menerapkan Traditional Chinese Medicine, di kota Sanghai saja terdapat lebih dari 24 rumah sakit tradisional. Di setiap provinsinya tersedia paling sedikit satu universitas dan perguruan tinggi yang mempunyai fakultas kedokteran timur yang mengkhususkan diri pada Traditional Chinese Medicine dan telah menghasilkan sarjana-sarjana sebagai sumber daya manusia yang andal di bidangnya. Di Tiongkok pengobatan tradisionalnya sudah menggunakan teknologi Nano. Semua sarana dan prasarana pendidikan tadi diberi dukungan dana oleh pemerintah dan telah dilengkapi pula dengan fasilitas lengkap sesuai kemajuan IPTEK sehingga memungkinkan dilakukannya kegiatan penelitian maupun uji klinis terhadap khasiat tanaman obat. Dengan demikian perkembangan kedokteran timur yang menghasilkan fitofarmaka di Tiongkok sudah cukup pesat, banyak klinik dan rumah sakit yang menggabungkan konsep kedokteran umum dan fitofarmaka.

Masih banyak herbal Indonesia yang mempunyai nilai tinggi belum cukup dikembangkan dan diuji secara ilmiah, contohnya adalah buah merah yang berasal dari Papua. Ekstrak buah tersebut telah diperjualbelikan dengan harga yang cukup mahal dan diklaim dapat mengobati berbagai penyakit sehingga terjadi eksploitasi yang berlebihan pada hutan Papua. Oleh karena itu diperlukan uji klinis lebih lanjut untuk mendukung penelitian sebelumnya dan pengetahuan masyarakat setempat. Selain itu, diperlukan pengembangan budidayanya agar tidak mengancam kelestariannya. Dengan pengembangan tumbuhan obat diharapkan pengobatan dengan herbal yang merupakan warisan dari nenek moyang kita mengalami kemajuan dan tidak hilang. Jangan sampai negara lain merebut dan mengambil alih dengan memproduksi obat-obat tradisional Indonesia, karena hal tersebut bisa saja terjadi apabila pengobatan herbal kita tidak mengalami perkembangan, apalagi dengan eksplorasi negara-negara maju terhadap tumbuhan obat asli Indonesia.

Pengembangan tanaman obat/herbal bertujuan untuk menghasilkan produk herbal yarig memenuhi penegakan mutu, khasiat dan keamanan yang dapat dipertanggungjawabkan melalui penelitian. Dengan demikian obat-obat herbal yang dikembangkan dapat masuk dalam pelayanan kesehatan dan digunakan untuk meningkatkan kesehatan masyarakat. Dalam pengembangan obat-obat herbal asli Indonesia diperlukan peran serta berbagai pihak, harus ada kerjasama yang baik antara pemerintah, pihak industri obat tradisional dan farmasi, peneliti dan institusi pendidikan.

Upaya atau langkah-langkah dalam pengembangan tumbuhan obat antara lain meliputi:

a. sosialisasi pemanfaatan herbal sehingga potensi kekayaan alam Indonesia dapat tergali baik dari segi budidaya maupun pemanfaatannya sebagai sumber pengobatan;

b. mendekatkan tumbuhan obat pada pelayanan kesehatan masyarakat;

c. meningkatkan penghasilan masyarakat dengan usaha budidaya tanaman obat dan produk pengolahan;

d. upaya konservasi/pelestarian sumber bahan alam;

e. pengembangan teknologi budidaya, hasil, dan pengolahan/proses produksi sehingga dihasilkan simplisia dan produk dengan mutu yang terjamin;

f. penelitian tumbuhan obat dan aplikasinya untuk menghasilkan obat herbal yang memenuhi syarat mutu/kualitas, aman dan khasiat/kemanfaatan;

g. kerjasama dari berbagai pihak, seperti pemerintah, industri obat tradisional dan farmasi, peneliti, peguruan tinggi;h. peraturan perundang-undangan yang jelas untuk perlindungan terhadap sumber daya alam hayati, khususnya tumbuhan obat.

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TIPS MEMILIH OBAT

Tak banyak yang tahu bahwa obat-obatan yang mereka beli dan miliki mempunyai sesuatu yang penting. Cobalah perhatikan apabila anda membeli suatu jenis obat-obatan. Dalam hal ini misalnya Neozep Forte. Pada label nama obat pasti disertakan sebuah bulatan kecil yang berwarna biru. Adakah maknanya? Ternyata ADA!

ulasannya:
Lingkaran berwarna hijau : Obat aman dikonsumsi

Lingkaran berwarna biru : Obat aman dikonsumsi tetapi perlu hati-hati pada kontra indikasi dan efek sampingnya

Lingkaran berwarna hitam : Obat sangat berbahaya bila dikonsumsi

Contoh obat yang aman dikonsumsi adalah vitamin, jamu tradisional, penyimultan, dan obat-obat non-agresif lainnya. Obat yang perlu diperhatikan kontra indikasinya biasanya dari golongan analgesik, antibiotik, dan obat-obat yang menimbulkan kecanduan bagi penggunanya seperti dari golongan narkotika. Obat yang berbahaya biasanya tidak untuk dikonsumsi seperti racun tikus, obat serangga, dan cairan pembersih lantai.

Sayangnya saat ini tidak semua perusahaan yang menghasilkan produk-produk tersebut di atas mencantumkan lingkaran kecil lagi. Padahal lingkaran kecil tersebut besar manfaatnya bagi calon pengguna yang akan menggunakan produk mereka. Tenstu saja akan membuat masalah jika seseorang salah membeli minuman isotonik dengan cairan pembasmi serangga, bukan?

Sumber: koleksi ide dan pengetahuan pribadi
Tags » bahaya obat, biru, efek samping, farmasi, hijau, hitam, kecanduan, kontra indikasi, lingkaran kecil, manfaat obat, obat-obatan, rahasia obat, resiko obat, tradisional

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Signs of Drug Use and Addiction

Drug abuse becomes a dependency when a person has a compulsive need to use drugs without care or respect for the consequences that might occur either bodily or emotionally.

Although the symptoms of drug dependence can be hidden by other problems in a user’s life, there are loads of signs and symptoms to look for to tell if you or someone you love has a drug addiction. The most recognizable sign certainly is your treasured-one’s inability to stop taking the drug. People who are dependant upon drugs feel they can’t go on in life without the help of their drug. They go to great lengths to obtain the drug and use it on a habitual basis.

Addicts also begin to lose all interest in activities that they used to like to do. Their whole life is dictated by when and where they can find their next fix. They put aside hobbies, relatives, even work and school. Nothing else is as essential as taking their drug of selection.

Drug addiction tends to show up in a person’s mood. Are they often either overly up or really down? Mood swings are common with drug dependence as are violent outbursts and irrational behavior.

People with a drug addiction will find themselves behaving in ways they usually would not do without the drug. Physically, the aftereffects of drug dependence will unavoidably show in the body over time. They may suffer a sudden weight loss and appear emaciated or pale to others. They forget to look after themselves, such as not showering on a regular basis or taking the time to comb their hair. They may have physical sores on their body, and their eyes may seem dull and disinterested, with a glazed look most of the time.

By the time dependence has really taken hold of a user, the body has become used to having the drug in its system. It builds up a tolerance, and thus the user will need to take more of the drug in order to achieve the same outcome it had before.

The addicted user will predictably begin engaging in secretive or suspect behavior, such as withdrawing during gatherings or making many, pointless trips just to be by themselves. They can also become emotionally detached from those they were until that time close to. This estrangement makes it easier for them to use drugs without any influence from those around them.

Depression almost always accompanies drug addiction, so look for indicators of hopelessness, negative talk, and withdrawal from all activity. Sudden variations in work or education results can also be a sign of dependence. Addicted persons may feel perpetually exhausted too, and not want to get out bed - staying asleep for long periods of time. This can be a combination of both the effects of the drug and the accompanying sense of dejection.

Drug addiction is a very serious sickness, so if you see these symptoms in yourself or someone you love, seek help. The therapy has to begin somewhere, and when the symptoms appear, the time to get help is now!

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Health News: Oily fish for a healthy heart

Want to have a healthy heart and the lower the risk of diseases? Well, start eating more fish, which contains more Omega 3 fatty acids that are good for the heart.

According to a recent study that is slated to be published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, eating more tuna, salmon and sardines keeps away heart ailments.

It states that the Omega 3, which is found in oily fish, gives the extra protection for the heart.

The study, which was conducted at two universities and a research institute in the U S and Japan, compared the White Americans, Japanese and Japanese Americans. It was found that the Japanese had the lowest levels of atherosclerosis and had higher levels of omega-3 fatty. Every aspect like blood pressure, serum cholesterol, body mass, smoking diabetes and body mass index was taken into account while making the study.

The study has shown that the higher levels of Omega 3 fatty acids prevent the extra accumulation of cholesterol in the arteries. The omega 3 fatty acids, which are a type of polyunsaturated fat, are found in abundance in fish. The most potent Omega 3 fatty acids - Docosahexaenoic acid and Eicosapentaenoic acid are found more in oily fishes like salmon, tuna mackerel.

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5 Healthy Foods that Aren't

5 ‘Healthy’ Foods That Aren’t
Posted by Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD at 7/19/2008 2:14 PM EDT
A few hours into a long flight the other day, the passenger sitting next to me asked me a question I sometimes dread, “So, what do you do for a living?” I can’t imagine being anything other than a nutritionist – it truly is my passion and I love it, but once I utter those words, people around me tend to become a little self-conscious about what they’re eating and drinking. I get it. I drive much more slowly and carefully as soon as I spot police car. I’m definitely not the food cop type, but I think some people feel like I’m going to whip out a nutritional citation. In this case, the man on my right responded with, “Look, I’m eating healthy!” He wasn’t asking for my opinion so I didn’t give it, but he was actually eating a collection of pseudo-healthy foods. Here’s what I mean:

Diet soda - it may seem like the perfect way to save calories and slash your sugar intake but studies show that diet drinkers actually weigh more than regular soda drinkers. For diet soft-drink drinkers, the risk of becoming overweight or obese tied to a 2 can a day habit is 57% compared to 46% for regular soda drinkers. Diet soda may throw off your natural appetite regulation, causing you to eat more sweets. It may also trick you into thinking it’s OK to indulge in high calorie foods because you “saved” by choosing diet soda.

Pretzels - the label may shout ‘fat free’ and seem like a better
alternative to chips, but they’re made with refined white flour stripped of its vitamins and antioxidants. They’re also dense so they pack a ton of carb calories for a very small amount and they’re not filling. Think of it this way - one 15 oz bag contains the equivalent of 24 slices of white bread.

Spinach wrap – I’m talking about the wrap itself here. It looks green and good for you but spinach powder is only a scant ingredient. These wraps are typically made from refined white flour and the green hue primarily comes from food colorings (Blue No. 1 and Yellow No. 5.). In other words you can’t rely on the immune boosting vitamins A and C found in fresh spinach and it’s much higher in calories. One cup of cooked spinach provides 65 calories, 105 less than a spinach wrap, which doesn’t count as a veggie serving. Not to mention the fact that the fillings often include ingredients like fried chicken, Ranch dressing, cheese and bacon!

Blueberry scone - even a trans fat free wild blueberry
scone packs over 400 calories (the amount an entire meal should supply) and over 50% of the maximum amount of artery-clogging saturated fat intake for an entire day. They also don’t count as a serving of fruit and they’re devoid of dietary fiber.

Vitamin water - yes it has vitamins, but at up to 200 calories per bottle (50 per serving with 4 servings per jug), just one of these a day can cause a 20 pound weight gain in a year’s time if the calories aren’t burned off.

Bottom line: that old saying, ‘All that glitters isn’t gold’ really holds true with food as well—all that appears healthy isn’t!

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Take Care Of Your Hair? HOW...??

As many people know, hair is the crowning glory of a person and sad to say that some of us don't give their hair proper care and attention. We must take a good care of our hair since it is a said to be the mirror of out inner health and a reflection of our personality.

1 – Live a healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle will mean healthier hair for you. Excessive stress, smoking, not exercising and not eating nutritiously are not healthy for your hair. Your hair needs nutrition from the inside and out. Hair-friendly foods are those packed with vitamins and protein so include plenty of leafy vegetables, fruit, fish and dairy products in your daily diet. Taking certain vitamins may be most helpful in improving the condition of your hair. B group of vitamins among other kinds, are proven to cure many hair problems such as hair loss, dandruff, graying etc.

2 – Choose the right shampoo
As much as possible, use natural and organic hair care shampoos and conditioners with wheat germ, jojoba, almond or coconut oil, keratin, vitamins such as biotin, panthenol, vitamin A, E and essential oils. Also consider the type of your hair. If you pick out a shampoo for oily hair when your hair is actually dry, it will only damage your hair. Understanding the kind of hair you have is important so you can nourish it better.

3 – Hair products to avoid
There are lots of hair products nowadays which contain harmful chemicals that can cause various hair problems. So we must know what exactly are these products. Avoid using hair styling products with alcohol which dries out hair and as much as possible try to avoid putting hair styling products directly on your scalp, if you put it on your scalp you'll clog the pores on your head. If you like to go outside and get into the sun, protect your hair with hair care products that contain sunscreen. Also try to consult the experts to know which products is the best fit on your hair.

4 – Dry your hair properly
I know most of you are using a blow dryer to dry your hair. Just be inform that hot air can directly damage your hair. My tip for you is when using a hair dryer use the cool setting of it to lessen the damage done to your hair. Also, don't leave the blow dryer in one spot for more than a few seconds, keep it moving and at a good distance away from your hair. Overusing your hairdryer will contribute to damaging your hair so try to avoid using blowers as much as possible.

Hair is very important factor in looking good. To look great, we must properly take care of our hair regularly. We can achieve this by starting with a healthy lifestyle because as I said earlier, the hair is the reflection of our inner health and personality. Take care of your self and you take care of your hair. Enjoy!

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Stop the STYROFOAM USE

Several years ago, Mc Donalds made an announcement will replace wadah styrofoam with paper. The environmental experts mentioned keputusan that as the environmental victory because styrofoam sangat was dangerous for the health and the environment. However not weigh down styrofoam (polystyrene) was still decreasing dan was lost. Even in Indonesia, the use styrofoam as wadah food increasingly mushroomed. Really was easy to find him everywhere. Mulai from the fast restaurant to ketukang-trade person food at the edge of the road, used this material to wrap their food. The reason is, want to practical and appeared better. In fact over the package yang was seen clean that had the big danger that threatened.

However not weigh down styrofoam (polystyrene) was still decreasing dan was lost. Even in Indonesia, the use styrofoam as wadah food increasingly mushroomed. Really was easy to find him everywhere. From the fast restaurant to ketukang-trade person food at the edge of the road, used this material to wrap their food. The reason is, want to practical and appeared better. In fact over the package yang was seen clean that had the big danger that threatened.

In the industry, styrofoam often was used as the material insulasi. This material could indeed keep the temperature, so as the object inside tetap cold or warm. Because of could keep the temperature so, finally many that used him as drink glasses and the forum for food.

Was dangerous for the Health

Why styrofoam dangerous? Styrofoam became dangerous because of being made from butiran-butiran styrene, that diprosese with menggunakan benzana. In fact benzana including the substance that could cause the illness. Benjana could cause the problem in the gland tyroid, disrupted the nervous system so as to cause the fatigue, sped up the heartbeat, was difficult to sleep, the body to trembled, and to was easy restless. In any case, benzana in fact could result in was lost the awareness and death. during benzana was eaten, he will enter blood cells and for a long time will damage the spinal cord. As a result the production of red blood cells decreased and emerged the anaemia illness. The other effect, the immune system will decrease so as we found it easy to be infected. To the woman, this substance result in bad towards the menstruation cycle and threatened pregnancy. And that was most dangerous, this substance could cause breasts cancer and prostate cancer.

Several world agencies like the World Health Organization s International Agency for Research ounce Cancer and EPA (Enviromental Protection Agency ) styrofoam was categorised as bahan carsinogen (the cause material of cancer).

Increasingly Fatty Increasingly Fast

When food or the drink was in the forum styrofoam, the chemical that was contained in styrofoam will move to food. His move will be increasingly fast if the level of fat (fat) in a food or the drink was increasingly high. Moreover, food that contained alcohol or acid (like lemons tea) also could speed up the rate of the move. The research also proved, that increasingly hot a food, increasingly fast also the migration of the chemical styrofoam in food. In fact in restaurants was ready saji and in trade persons food at the edge of the road, styrofoam was used to wrap food yang just cooked. Even had the fast food instant that Heated again food that was wrapped styrofoam inside microwave. Visible, would, really many chemicals that moved to foo we and finally entered our body.
Bad for the Environment

Apart from the effect the negative for the health, styrofoam also not ramah the environment. Because of could not be untangled by nature, styrofoam akan menumpuk just like that and polluted the environment. Styrofoam yang was brought to sea, can damage the ecosystem and the sea biota. Several companies indeed recycling styrofoam. But in fact, that was carried out only destroyed styrofoam old, formed him to styrofoam just and used him back became the forum for food and the drink.

The process of the production styrofoam also could pollute the environment. The EPA data (Enviromental Protection Agency) in 1986 mentioned, The waste dangerous that was produced from the process of the production styrofoam a large number of. That caused EPA to categorise the process pembuatan styrofoam as the producer of the 5th dangerous waste biggest in the world. Moreover, the process of the production styrofoam caused the smell that not delicious-that annoying breathing-and released 57 dangerous substances to air.

Saw so big the impact of the negative for the health and the environment, several cities in America like Berkeley and Ohio was banned the use styrofoam as the package of food. Bagaimana with us in Indonesia, still continue to wanted used styrofoam?? How with you and your Family? Would was current wise with did not use styrofoam.

Come on rescued the earth in and around us........

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Apa Kabar Hari Ini?

Dengan segala kesibukan yang melanda hari-hari saya sebulan terakhir, rasanya waktu begitu susah diakrabi. Waktu yang biasanya berlimpah jadi begitu mahal dan terasa kejam. Meskipun tentu saja, tidak hanya kepada saya sang waktu bersikap tak ramah begitu. Ribuan bahkan jutaan orang di permukaan bumi banyak yang mendapat perlakuan lebih parah.

Sebabnya tentu saja, karena salah kita sendiri. Tapi ada sedikit pencerahan. Saya agak lupa judul penulisnya, tapi ada statement penting: yang penting mengelola energi, bukan waktu. Ya ya ya, mengelola waktu juga penting. Tapi waktu ibarat uang: ia netral. Punya uang banyak tapi tak bisa me-manage hasrat dan keinginan: buyar juga! Juga waktu: kita punya waktu berlimpah tapi tanpa energi untuk berbuat sesuatu. Mubazir juga!

Jadi, tetaplah berkarya. Agar tetap berenergi sepanjang hari, selingi dengan istirahat. Otak dan fisik manusia normalnya akan optimal dalam 120 menit. Setelah itu istirahatlah sejenak. Minum kopi atau juice buah. Memandang hamparan sawah. Rebahan sebentar. Berjalan keluar ruangan.

Oya, buku Jualan Ide Segar sebentar lagi selesai produksinya di percetakan. Rasanya tak sabar melihatnya di toko-toko buku menyapa Anda semua. Juga iklan televisi pertama berskala nasional yang dikerjakan Petakumpet dengan PH Orange Waterland Agustus besok Insya Allah tayang. Bahagia sekali saya sebagai Creative Director bisa bekerjasama dengan Mas Iman Brotoseno sebagai Director film iklan ini. Namanya karya iklan TV pertama gitu lho! Ini juga bikin gak sabar nunggu.

Buat temen-temen jangan lupa memfokuskan mata ke Jogja, 31 Juli - 2 Agustus 2008. Event akbar Pinasthika segera digelar. Kita bisa berjumpa di sana membincangkan ide-ide kreatif kelas dunia sambil menyruput teh panas atau kopi joss: dalam kesibukan pun sebaiknya kita meluangkan waktu untuk menikmati setetes bahagia.

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The Activity of Phytase to Increase Phosphorous Availability on the Fermentation of Rice Bran by Using Rumen Liquor

Rice bran as one of the source of phosphorous for the monogastric animals has the highest levels of phytate. The inability of poultry to utilize phytate P necessitates the dietary addition of inorganic P; this adds to increased feed costs, increases P excretion, and creates an environmental contaminant By the way, phytate phosphorous has been considered to be absorbed easily in ruminant because of microbial phytase degradation in the rumen. This study would try to use rumen liquor as starter for fermentation processing of rice bran. The aim of this study is to evaluate the activity of phytase on the fermented rice bran. Factorial model based on completely (block) randomised design was employed through out the experiment. Two factors have been evaluated (i) the level of rumen liquor's addition (15; 30 and 45%), and (ii) the length of fermentation (0;2;4; and 6 days). Data were subjected to ANOVA using the general models procedure of SAS. Duncan and Orthogonal test was used for further analysis. The results indicated the interaction between these two factors. Maximal activity of phytase was reached on the addition of 30% rumen liquor to the rice bran within 2 days of fermentation process. A longer incubation period would give no further effects to the phytase activity and phytate phosphorus degradation.

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Developing Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) Cultivation as an Alternative of Prospective Entrepreneurship

Bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) is a very potential species to extend because its cultivation does not require large area and it has also a good chance to become a prospective export commodity. Besides, protein content of frog’s meat is high enough as the source of meat protein (17%) with low level content of fat (0,3%). The demand of frog’s meat from domestic and foreign countries can not be supplied only by the Indonesian local frogs because they were diminishing. As an alternative, the exporter must cultivate Bullfrog. This condition will provide a chance of new alternative and prospective entrepreneurship for them who can not continue their study and also for unemployed people. In Indonesian, Bullfrog cultivation was done by very limited farmers because of some problems on its intensification. The type of collaboration between the local governments and the Institution of Education (Universities, Vocational School) was trying to find and solve these problems. In the future, socialization of the solution was aimed to motivate the entrepreneurship of doing Bullfrog cultivation. Survey was identified that Bullfrog’s cultivation has to face problem of low production because of high mortality and high fluctuation of the product’s price. Introduction of natural feed addition (increasing 10% of feed protein) can be hoped to solve the low productivity which caused by the lack of good quality and quantity of feed. The addition of vitamins during feed formulation proved the increasing of fertility and survival rate of the frog (decreasing 10-15% of mortality). Modifying of marketing management include the level of profitable farm, type of farm’s integration (nucleus-plasma model) and rotating of marketing products will make an improvement of product price fluctuation’s. Furthermore, Bullfrog cultivation is feasible to do on the level of 10.000 of frogs per period of production with 40% pessimistic scale of mortality. The result of feasibility study (ROI, payback period, NPV, BC Ratio are 72,64%; 1,19 year; positive and 1,95; respectively) presented that Bullfrog cultivation is a profitable business.

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DHA in milk

DHA was detected inside HEED and that hanyak around 2% then. Truly very few. The baby that beru was born, for the development of nerves of the brain, needed DHA totalling 1%. So as HEED indeed very just right and could supply the requirement would DHA to the baby. Although the cattle body could double the long chain fatty acid with sindiri him, will produce DHA. DHA including the long chain fatty acid (C20) and naturally, could not disintesa by the cattle body. Now, much formula milk that contained DHA. Ini was because of the existence of the DHA supplement synthetic in formula milk. Usually DHA this was added at the end from the processing of formula milk. This because of the DHA characteristics that were easy very much was broken really was susceptible to oxygen and hot. Currently knew would, that DHA must not must be supplied in a large number. By that finally we knew, how superior is the composition HEED.

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Oxygen Analyzer

Today’s oxygen analyzers use one of a several types of oxygen sensors. As industrial process applications call for improved measurement accuracy and repeatability, users are also demanding analyzers that require a minimum of maintenance and calibration. To this end, users of oxygen analyzers are encouraged to evaluate the merits of a particular oxygen sensor type in context to the application for which it is intended. There is no one universal oxygen sensor type.

The synoptic review of the various gas phase oxygen sensors provided below should be used in conjunction with information gathered from manufacturers of oxygen analyzers. This combination will help to ensure the selection of the right sensor type for the application under consideration.

Ambient Temperature Electrochemical Oxygen Sensors
The ambient temperature electrochemical sensor, often referred to as a galvanic sensor, is typically a small, partially sealed, cylindrical device (1-1/4” diameter by 0.75” height) that contains two dissimilar electrodes immersed in an aqueous electrolyte, commonly potassium hydroxide. As oxygen molecules diffuse through a semi-permeable membrane installed on one side of the sensor, the oxygen molecules are reduced at the cathode to form a positively charge hydroxyl ion. The hydroxyl ion migrates to the sensor anode where an oxidation reaction takes place. The resultant reduction/oxidation reaction generates an electrical current proportional to the oxygen concentration in the sample gas. The current generated is both measured and conditioned with external electronics and displayed on a digital panel meter either in percent or parts per million concentrations. With the advance in mechanical designs, refinements in electrode materials, and enhanced electrolyte formulations, the galvanic oxygen sensor provides extended life over earlier versions, and are recognized for their accuracy in both the percent and traces oxygen ranges. Response times have also been improved. A major limitation of ambient temperature electrochemical sensors is their susceptibility to damage when used with samples containing acid gas species such as hydrogen sulfide, hydrogen chloride, sulfur dioxide, etc. Unless the offending gas constituent is scrubbed prior to analysis, their presence will greatly shorten the life of the sensor. The galvanic sensor is also susceptible to over pressurization. For applications where the sample pressure is > 5 psig, a pressure regulator or control valve is normally recommended.

Paramagnetic Oxygen Sensors
Within this category, the magnetodynamic or `dumbbell' type of design is the predominate sensor type. Oxygen has a relatively high magnetic susceptibility as compared to other gases such as nitrogen, helium, argon, etc. and displays a paramagnetic behavior. The paramagnetic oxygen sensor consists of a cylindrical shaped container inside of which is placed a small glass dumbbell. The dumbbell is filled with an inert gas such as nitrogen and suspended on a taut platinum wire within a non-uniform magnetic field. The dumbbell is designed to move freely as it is suspended from the wire. When a sample gas containing oxygen is processed through the sensor, the oxygen molecules are attracted to the stronger of the two magnetic fields. This causes a displacement of the dumbbell which results in the dumbbell rotating. A precision optical system consisting of a light source, photodiode, and amplifier circuit is used to measure the degree of rotation of the dumbbell. In some paramagnetic oxygen sensor designs, an opposing current is applied to restore the dumbbell to its normal position. The current required to maintain the dumbbell in it normal state is directly proportional to the partial pressure of oxygen and is represented electronically in percent oxygen. There are design variations associated with the various manufacturers of magnetodynamic paramagnetic oxygen sensors. Also, other types of sensors have been developed that use the susceptibility of oxygen to a magnetic field which include the thermomagnetic or `magnetic wind' type and the magnetopneumatic sensor. In general, paramagnetic oxygen sensors offer very good response time characteristics and use no consumable parts, making sensor life, under normal conditions, quite good. It also offers excellent precision over a range of 1% to 100% oxygen. The magnetodynamic sensor is quite delicate and is sensitive to vibration and/or position. Due to the loss in measurement sensitivity, in general, the paramagnetic oxygen sensor is not recommended for trace oxygen measurements. Other gases that exhibit a magnetic susceptibility can produce sizeable measurement errors. Manufactures of paramagnetic oxygen sensors and analyzers should provide details on these interfering gases.

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