Herbs firm takes part in US expo

ABS Gen Herbs International Corp., which recently won the National Consumers Excellence Award from the Parangal ng Bayan Awards 2001, won another feather in its cap when it was accepted to take part in the recently held Expo 2001 in Anaheim, California.

ABS has two products: the Charagen Ampalaya, and ABS bitter herbs capsules. It is believed that ampalaya can help alleviate diabetes. In Puerto Rico and Cuba, it is used to treat both diabetes mellitus and chronic stomach ulcers. It is rich in iron, calcium, phosphorus and vitamin B. Ampalaya also has twice the amount of beta carotene in broccoli, and twice the calcium content of spinach.

A study on the capsules by Dr. Cirilo Galindez, chief of the Veterans Regional Hospital in Nueva Vizcaya (where the vine is plentiful) produced some significant findings.

The ampalaya capsule was given to 47 diabetics thrice daily for 10 days. Before that, six of them had normal Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) values, while 41 had elevated FBS (above 126 mg/dl.). Afterwards, 30 patients had normal FBS values; eight had elevated FBS values; and the remaining nine were lost on the 10th day follow-up.

Galindez noted, "We are still continuing the study, to add more to the 47 patients we had already managed and observed. By increasing the number of subjects for this study, it will provide us with more substantial basis for our significant finding in favor of lowering FBS levels of diabetics taking Charagen."

The study did not recommend replacing existing anti-diabetes mellitus medications. However, it could reinforce them. Ampalaya has a hypoglycaemic peptide called polypeptide-P, a plant insulin which is a very effective hypoglycemic agent, with fewer side-effects than insulin obtained from the pancreas of animals.

ABS products are available in all Mercury Drug Stores, GNC and Family Drug Stores. They are also sold in three outlets in the United States, including the Lincoln Golf Park in California. They are endorsed by US amateur golf champ Dorothy Delasin (2000 Rolex Rookie of the Year), who takes them regularly.