Gunpowder tea

‘Studies have shown that those who regularly drink tea, especially green tea, are less likely to get sick, and they have more of the cells that fight viruses.’

THE name of this drink has led to a lot of curiosity. Is it a tea that explodes?

Gunpowder green tea is simply a type of green tea where the leaves are rolled up into tiny balls, making them look like pellets or gunpowder. This tea comes from Camellia sinensis plant, originally grown in China, but now also available in Sri Lanka and Taiwan. It has a light smokey taste to it and could be mixed with other teas to achieve the desired flavor.

Studies have shown that those who regularly drink tea, especially green tea, are less likely to get sick, and they have more of the cells that fight viruses. Drinking green tea can reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels, thus lowering the risk for heart disease and chronic illnesses, including Alzheimer’s and cancer. It also contains catechins and alkaloids that help manage blood sugar levels, and aid in the management of diabetes T2. The catechins in green teas also help reduce inflammation throughout the body and are good for digestive health. A study in Japan shows green tea consumption (2-3 cups a day) maximizes natural longevity. Since gunpowder green tea has more caffeine, it boosts energy greater. It is an alternative to coffee for those who could not tolerate the acidity of coffee. Gunpowder green tea also burns more body fat which helps in weight reduction.

This is certainly a healthy drink compared to soft drinks, which I call “liquid poison” because they (cola or uncola, regular or diet, caffeinated or not) all increase the risk for Metabolic Syndrome for both adults and children.

Colorectal cancer

Cancer of the colon and rectum (the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States) is expected to victimize 151,030 individuals and 52,580 of them killed by this malignancy this year, 2022, according to the US National Cancer Institute.

Traditionally, the treatment has been a combination of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, but chemotherapy is toxic, radiation has a lot of side effects, and surgery is not a trivial one. So, researchers are exploring other avenues.

For this highly specific type of rectal cancer (locally advanced, mismatched repair-deficient rectal cancer), immunotherapy has been used with success to help the body identify and better fight cancer cells. An immune checkpoint inhibitor called a PD-1 inhibitor prevents cancer cells from evading the immune system. The drug is dostarlimab, given intravenously every 3 weeks for over 6 months.

Those treated in this trial responded well at 6 months follow-up, with no evidence of the tumors after the treatment, and none had to undergo additional surgery or chemo-radiotherapy since. This is certainly a welcome option in the management of this type of cancer.

TMS for bipolar

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses magnetic stimulation of the brain to help improve the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder, a disease associated with periods of mania (extreme high) and periods of depressed mood. The current therapy includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy, which are helpful but not totally and permanently effective. Hence, the search for a better modality.

TMS has shown success in treating depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and some studies revealed it could be effective for Bipolar Disease. It appears to be a viable option in the future in the management of people with Bipolar Disorder when the US-FDA finally approves it also for the treatment of Bipolar Disorder.

COVID-19 updates

As of last Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at 12:42 GMT, the COVID toll reached 549,967,517, with 6,352,472 deaths worldwide; 88,910,140 cases with 1,041,027 deaths in the United States (132,000 cases, with 279 deaths on Monday, June 27th, alone); and 3,702,319 cases (576 new infections), with 60,531 deaths in the Philippines.

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Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: [email protected]