A few things about Antiseptics

Antiseptics and disinfectants have been used in medical environments for centuries. Both antiseptics and disinfectants act as antimicrobials that kill microbes which cause infection. The primary difference between the two is that disinfectants are used on objects, such as surfaces or surgical tools, while antiseptics are used directly on human skin. It is easy to use either disinfectants or antiseptics, making it possible to dress a minor wound.


Most chemical agents can be used as both an antiseptic and a disinfectant. The purpose for which it is used is determined by its concentration. For example hydrogen peroxide 6% solution is used for cleansing wounds, while stronger solutions (>30%) are used in industry as a bleach and oxidising agent.

Antiseptics are mainly used to reduce levels of microorganisms on the skin and mucous membranes. The skin and mucous membranes of the mouth, nose, and vagina are home to a large number of what are usually harmless micro-organisms. However, when the skin or mucous membranes are damaged or breached in surgery, antiseptics can be used to disinfect the area and reduce the chances of infection. It is also important that people whom are treating patients with wounds or burns adequately wash their hands with antiseptic solutions to minimize the risk of cross infection.
Antiseptics are used for:
• Handwashing – chlorhexidine gluconate and povidone iodine solutions are often used in hand scrubs.
• Pre-operative skin disinfection – antiseptics applied to the operation site to reduce the resident skin flora.
• Mucous membrane disinfection – antiseptic irrigations may be instilled into the bladder, urethra or vagina to treat infections or cleanse the cavity prior to catheterization.
• Preventing and treating infected wounds and burns – antiseptic preparations are available over-the-counter from your pharmacist to treat minor cuts, abrasions and burns.
• Treating mouth and throat infections – dequalinium chloride has both antibacterial and antifungal properties and is the active ingredient in antiseptic throat lozenges.

Antiseptics bought from the pharmacy should not be used for more than one week. If the affected area has not healed or improved in that time you should stop using the antiseptic and see your doctor. Large wounds, deep cuts, burns larger than a small red spot, scrapes imbedded with particles that won’t wash away, animal bites and eye injuries should be treated by your doctor. Do not use antiseptics to treat sunburn or existing skin infections. Remember that antiseptics only reduce microorganisms on the surface of the tissue and that antibiotics will be needed to treat infection within the tissues.

People with allergies of any kind should check with a doctor or pharmacist before using an over-the-counter antiseptic product. Some antiseptics can irritate the skin and cause allergic contact dermatitis.

Folic Acid: should be taken properly

Also known as Vitamin B9, it plays an important role in facilitating many body processes. Among them are cell maintenance and repair, synthesis of DNA, amino acid metabolism and formation of red and white blood cells.

The benefits of folic acid supplements include:

1. Relief from depression (bipolar and unipolar).
2. Relief from bipolar mania.
3. Prevention of serious birth defects such as spina bifida if you become pregnant and have a baby.
4. Avoiding the unpleasant effects of folic acid deficiency, including grey hair, swollen tongue (glossitis), mouth ulcers, peptic ulcer, diarrhea, and anaemia.
However, folic acid supplements have a growing body of medical evidence to prove they nourish the brain and really can help bipolar people.

Fruits, green leafy vegetable (such as dried beans, peas, lentils, oranges, whole-wheat products, liver, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and spinach) and yeast are all foods containing folic acid in the form of folate. However, studies show that it is actually better absorbed by the body in supplement form. It is almost 50% less available from food sources, so it is probably wise to supplement to maximize Vitamin B benefits.

It is also thought that that there is an association between folate levels in the blood and mood. Folic acid is regarded as a very safe substance with no specific side-effects.

Folic acid is a water soluble vitamin. This means that any excess is simply excreted in urine. Toxic build-up or folic acid overdose are not possible. Even relatively high doses of 10-20mg/day are considered medically safe.

There is just one known health risk associated with taking folic acid. Ironically, this arises from one of the benefits of folic acid - its use in treating anaemia. Anaemia is a symptom of vitamin B12 deficiency. When people take folic acid the anaemia is relieved. However, the other symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency are not relieved by taking folic acid. Therefore taking folic acid can mask vitamin B12 deficiency. This is dangerous as B12 deficiency can cause permanent nerve damage. The best way to get around this is to either (1) also take the recommended daily amount of B12 (cheap and easy), or (2) have blood levels taken to moonitor B12 levels (more expensive and bothersome).

All people should consider whether their diets really do contain a good source of folic acid, or whether they need extra folic acid supplements.

Islamic Story 11:To bring a fool to his senses

To bring a fool to his senses (Story of Prophet Isa (as))

Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) was once seen running away from a man. People were surprised to see him running away. Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) did not run away from anything or anybody. He was known for his goodness, humbleness and friendliness.

They asked him: "Isa, spirit of Allah, why are you running away from that man?"
Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) replied: "I am running away from a fool."

People were still more surprised, they knew that Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) was a prophet. He had cured the sick. He had even brought the dead to life. So they said: "But Isa, spirit of Allah, you have power to bring dead to life."

Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace upon him) smiled and said: "True, I have brought dead to llife. But I find it difficult to bring a fool to his senses."

Tamarind:Sour but advantageous

Tamarindus indica
syn T.officinalis
Fam Leguminosae

Other Names
Indian Date, Tamarindo
French: tamarin
German: Tamarine
Italian: tamarindo
Spanish: tamarindo
Indian: imli, imlee, amyli (dried)
Indonesian: asam
Lao: mal kham
Malay: asam
Sinhalese: syambala
Tamil: pulee, puli
Thai: makahm

Believed to originate in East Africa, tamarind now grows extensively throughout the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and the West Indies. Tamarind means ‘date of India’ In Hindu mythology, tamarind is associated with the wedding of the god Krishna which is celebrated by a feast in November. In Victorian times, the British in Goa kept a tamarind in one ear when venturing into the native quarter to keep themselves free from harassment because the locals believed the fresh pods were inhabited by malevolent demons. This earned the colonials the nickname ‘Lugimlee’ or ‘tamarind heads’, and it has stuck to this day.

The tamarind tree is a tropical evergreen which grows to a height of 20m (aprox 70ft). It has a thick grey bark; the small oval leaves are pale green. Small clusters of yellow flowers with red stripes bloom in May and fruits in October to November. The brown curved pods are brittle, irregular and bulbous; up to 10 cm (4”). The tree grows best in semi-arid tropical regions and is propagated by seed or cuttings. Little attention is required though in some areas, like Africa and the West Indies, insects are a problem, leaving India to export several thousand tons each year around the world.

In culinary uses, usually it is the juice or paste that is used as a souring agent, particularly in south Indian and Gujarati lentil dishes, curries and chutneys, where its flavour is more authentic than vinegar or lemon juice. It may be used to flavour pulse dishes, rice dishes, or as an ingredient in sauces and side dishes for pork, fowl and fish. Tamarind contains pectin which is used in the manufacturing process of commercially produced jams, so it is a natural ingredient in many jams, jellies, fruit drinks, and is vital to Worcestershire sauce. In India, the ground seed is used in cakes. A refreshing drink made from tamarind syrup and resembling lemonade is quite popular in the Middle East.


As attributed medicinal properties, tamarind is considered a mild laxative and digestive. It is used to treat bronchial disorders and gargling with tamarind water is recommended for a sore throat. It is antiseptic, used in eye-baths and for the treatment of ulcers. Being highly acidic, it is a refrigerant (cooling in the heat) and febrifuge (for fighting fevers).

Tamarind leaves and flowers, dried or boiled, are used as poultices for swollen joints, sprains and boils. Lotions and extracts made from them are used in treating conjunctivitis, as antiseptics, as vermifuges, treatments for dysentery, jaundice, erysipelas and hemorrhoids and various other ailments. The fruit shells are burned and reduced to an alkaline ash which enters into medicinal formulas. The bark of the tree is regarded as an effective astringent, tonic and febrifuge. Fried with salt and pulverized to an ash, it is given as a remedy for indigestion and colic. A decoction is used in cases of gingivitis and asthma and eye inflammations; and lotions and poultices made from the bark are applied on open sores and caterpillar rashes. The powdered seeds are made into a paste for drawing boils and, with or without cumin seeds and palm sugar, are prescribed for chronic diarrhea and dysentery. The seedcoat, too, is astringent, and it, also, is specified for the latter disorders. An infusion of the roots is believed to have curative value in chest complaints and is an ingredient in prescriptions for leprosy.

Al Quran :Surah Al Fatihah

Al Fatihah (The Opening)

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِِ {1}
الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ {2}
الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ {3}
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ {4}
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ {5}
اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ {6}
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ {7}

In The Name Of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful (1)
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.(2)
The Beneficent, the Merciful. (3)
Master of the Day of Judgment. (4)
Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for help.(5)
Keep us on the right path.(6)
The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray. (7)

Ikon-nya seorang selebriti

Terlepas dari perdebatan sama ada seorang selebriti boleh dijadikan ikon atau tidak, saya mempunyai pandangan sendiri.

Alangkah baiknya jika nilai ikon itu kita "sempitkan", dalam pengertian ...seumpama, seorang artis itu dikenal akan kehebatannya dalam industi muzik, maka bolehlah kita katakan beliau sebagai ikon dunia muzik.... hanya dunia muzik...perkara selebihnya seperti kehidupan pribadi beliau tidak boleh dijadikan ikutan secara membuta tuli.Kerana sebagai insan, siapapun tidak akan terlepas dari perbuatan silap dan salah.

Seorang selebriti pun pada hakikatnya "tidak boleh hidup" tanpa digelar ikon. Kerana gelaran ikon secara tidak langsung menunjukkan bahwa beliau mempunyai peminatnya sendiri. Tanpa peminat, siapalah seorang selebriti.

Prinsipnya dalam hidup ini mesti berpada-pada. Menyanjungi atau meminati seorang selebriti tidaklah salah, selagi dalam batasan-batasan positif. Selebriti pula hendaklah pandai-pandai menjaga diri kerana gerak geri mereka sentiasa diawasi oleh banyak "mata". Bimbanglah pula jika perkara buruk yang dilakukan justru menjadi ikutan generasi muda kita. Wallahu'alam.

Hotel Mania VS High School Musical

Segmen Lestary di TV3 kebelakangan ini cukup menarik perhatian saya. Ditayangkan setiap hari Selasa malam, Hotel Mania merupakan satu bentuk drama musikal yang mampu memberikan nafas baru dalam industri hiburan televisyen tanah air.

Meski berbentuk komedi dengan latar belakang hotel bintang 5, tiap scene diselingi dengan lagu-lagu yang bersesuaian dengan tema. Sehingga tak hairanlah jika ramai budak-budak sekolah pun menyukainya. Jalur penceritaan yang tidak terlalu berat dan tidak pula terlalu "dewasa", menjadikan ia cukup layak untuk ditonton oleh seisi sekeluarga....setidaknya untuk setakat ini.....jika kelak di kemudian hari ada perkara-perkara yang tak berapa elok....jangan bimbang...saya tetap akan menjadi pengkriktik yang adil...hehehehehe....

Sangat berbeza jika dibandingkan dengan High School Musical. Maafkan saya jika terlalu kurang ajar, tapi saya betul-betul menyampah dengan HSM tak kiralah ditayangkan dalam bentuk movie ataupun live performance. Meski mungkin lagu-lagu yang ada di dalamnya memiliki alunan melodi yang indah, tapi kalau kita mau jujur pada diri sendiri, apa sebenarnya message yang ingin disampaikan oleh HSM? Kenakalan remaja di sekolah?....atau "kebebasan" bercampur gaul ala foreign countries students?...atau sekedar taktik pemasaran album yang jitu?

Meski tidaklah juga boleh dikatakan Hotel Mania adalah sebuah contoh yang baik dan sempurna, tapi setidaknya keberanian pihak penerbit untuk membuat drama berkenaan patut mendapat pujian. Tidak salah memulakan sesuatu yang unik, selagi ianya tidak bertentangan dengan adat budaya ketimuran kita. Tambahan lagi, penggunan bahasa melayu plus terjemahan lagu dalam bahasa Inggris, sudah cukup baik untuk membuktikan bahwa, drama dan lagu dalam bahasa Melayu tidak kalah hebatnya. Bukan setakat mampu dimengerti oleh segenap lapisan rakyat negara ini yang berbilang kaum tapi juga mampu menyampaikan pesanan-pesanan positif secara lebih tepat kepada para penonton.

Apapun, tetaplah kita menjadi penonton sekaligus pengkritik yang baik. Mudah-mudahan industri hiburan tanah air mampu memberi nilai lebih positif kepada generasi muda khasnya. Wallahu'alam.