Leucorrhoea or whites is a condition in which there is a whitish discharge from the vagina. It may be thick and viscid, and foul smelling if it is caused by some infection.Leucorrhoea is common among the women of almost all ages the world over.It could be embossing, painful and may cause lot of discomfort, stress and even affect the sexual preferences and libido. It may be mild to severe, and varies from person to person.

There are two types of Leucorrhoea, physiological and pathological. 

Physiological leucorrhoea : It is an excessive discharge or secretions of a normal vagina. They are slimy in nature and generally  occur among teenaged girls due to hormonal imbalance during puberty, at the time of ovulation period of the menstrual cycle, before periods, etc. In case of adults, in addition to the ovulation time and before periods, it occurs also during early days of pregnancy and during sexual excitement.  Generally, no medication is required in this kind of discharge.

Pathological leucorrhoea : It is  a discharge occurring due to disease or malfunction of the female reproductive tract. It needs immediate attention,  cleanliness and treatment. Ignoring pathological leucorrhoea may lead to serious problems like loss of fertility or even removal of uterus. The nature of discharge varies from slimy to thick bloody discharge with foul smell. This condition is commonly present both in case of vaginitis or cervicitis.

Causes

In addition to infection, some hormonal and metabolical disorders are also responsible for the condition.Ayurveda considers that leucorrhoea is caused by the vitiation of kapha; it occurs commonly among weak and anaemic women. It can also be due to the inflammation of the womb following childbirth, displacement of the uterus, or gonorrhoea. Among young females, it may be due to threadworms, as the result of general debility combined with lack of cleanliness or infections. Leucorrhoea may also occur during the menstrual periods in young women, due to the thickening of the mucus membrane in the reproductive organs. During the child bearing years from adolescence to the mid-forties, infection may sometimes follow birth of a child due to damage of the cervix during the delivery of the baby.

1. Infections :

From Fungus : Candida albicans can easily flourish in moist   circumstances and is commonly promoted by synthetic undergarments and  poor hygienic condition.

From Parasites :  protozoa - Trichomonas vaginalis causes the Trichomoniasis which spreads usually through sexual intercourse and moist clothes.

From Bacteria  : Gardnerella vaginalis and chlamydia are the prime  causes in bacterial infections. Also, it is frequently seen in venereal diseases like gonorrhoea, syphilis, and AIDS.

2) Injury :  Injury to the vagina or cervix or womb during childbirth, abortion, or excessive sexual indulgence can cause erosions and infections with discharges.

3) Poor hygienic conditions :   Non hygienic measures, especially during periods, can create infection and cause leucorrhoea.

4) Diabetes and anaemia : May  provoke infections due to weakened immunity among many females.

5) Local infection : Spread of infection from adjacent urinary tract (UTI) or alimentary tract (worms)

6) Irritation of IUCD :  If irritation persists at IUCD,   (Intra uterine contraceptive device) it can cause pain and discharges.

7) Sprays and jellies:   which are used by males for provoking sexual act and jellies and drugs taken by females to kill sperms to avoid conception can also irritate and initiate the infective process.

Symptoms

The discharge is often white. Flow may stiffen the linen or simply leave back a trace of white powder or scales.
In most cases discharge emanates from the uterine cavity or vagina. In catarrhal or idiopathic variety of leucorrhoea the discharge is in mild and liquid form. The discharge from the uterus is often from uterine cavity. In certain ladies leucorrhoea discharge sets in even 8-10 days before anticipated period of menses and stops as soon as menses appear but in others, it may start when menses are over.
In addition to the whitish discharge from the vaginal tract, there is weakness as well as pain in the lumbar region and the calves. A burning sensation may be present along with constipation. There appears to be a direct relationship of this disease with a nervous temperament. The patient develops black patches under the eyes. Late nights precipitate the attack.

PREVENTION is always better than cure.

Wash genitals everyday  
Wear clean underwear every day  
Always wash genitals from front to back.
Proper care of hygiene should be taken care of.  
Undergarments should be washed carefully to avoid any infections  
Diet should be taken in limited amount with light and easily digestible foodstuff.  
Exercises should be included in daily life style  
Proper rest and sleep are a must  
Avoid spicy food like pickles. 

Always Take

1.  Nutritious diet, especially food rich in vitamins A, B, C, E, magnesium and zinc, to improve general health
2.  Plenty of water and juices to avoid urinary tract infection and its spread to the vagina or cervix.

Home remedies

A proper diagnosis of the disease must be made and the cause removed. In addition to the medicine prescribed below, a regular douching of the genital tract with the decoction of the bark of the banyan tree or the fig tree is very helpful. A tablespoon of each of the powders of the barks of the two trees should be boiled in a litre of water till it is reduced to about half. Douching with the lukewarm decoction keeps the vaginal tract healthy and clean.

Coriander(dhania) seeds: A home remedy used in this condition is to soak about ten Gms of dry Coriander(dhania) in 100 ml of water overnight, and to drink the water in the early morning. It gives relief in seven to eight days in most cases.

Fenugreek seeds: Fenugreek seeds are valuable in leucorrhoea. They should be taken internally in the form of tea and also used as a douche. As a douche, the solution should be much stronger than tea. Two tablespoons of fenugreek seeds should be put in a litre of cold water and allowed to simmer for half an hour over a low flame. The decoction should then be strained and use as a douche.

Amalaki seeds powder : The powder of this is very beneficial for the treatment of leucorrhoea. A 2-3 grams / day with Honey / Sugar will relieves the White Discharge.
Chandana athar: Five drops of Chandana Athar (Sandalwood oil) to be taken with
Peyan vazhaippazham (Plantain) twice daily.
Mango seed powder: Mango seed powder in the dose of 1-2 gm's twice daily cure leucorrhoea.
Guava:Tender leaves of guava are useful in the treatment of leucorrhoea.
Walnut leaves:A decoction of fresh walnut leaves for douching will reduce leucorrhoea.
One banana twice a day with ghee proves beneficial.
Turmeric mixed with garlic (if discharge is less dense) or guggulu (if discharge is thick) gives very good results.
Chopchini (Smilax china) powder mixed with milk helps.
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) mixed with ashwagandha (withania somnifera) has great potency in treating leucorrhoea
Guggulu (Commiphora mukul), giloye (Tinospora cordifolia) and shilajit mixture is also beneficial.
Supari (Areca catechu) with gulukand (rose petals in sugar) is very beneficial.
Pushyanug Churna  : 5-10 gm twice daily.
Patrangasaya : 15-30 ml twice daily after meals with Dry Amla and Julethi in equal quantities, powdered and mixed with thrice the quantity of honey is an effective drug for this disease.
Pradrantak Lauh: 1 gm thrice daily. To be taken with honey.

Diet

Fried and spicy foods are to be avoided. The patient should be encouraged to chew Betel nut (supari) after meals: it has a curative effect and also prevents the development of the disease.
Yoga also has some good Asnas like Sarvang and Vajra besides Pranayam.

Other measures

A cold hip bath taken twice a day for ten minutes at a time, will help relieve congestion in the pelvic region and facilitate quick elimination of morbid matter.

What is it?

An angiogram is an x-ray picture of the inside of a blood vessel. The procedure used to take an angiogram is called angiography.

Who needs this procedure?

An angiogram shows whether a blood vessel is abnormal in any way, such as blocked, bulging, inflamed, or narrowed. When a patient’s symptoms point to any of these possibilities, angiography is useful in diagnosing the cause. An angiogram can reveal heart disease, atherosclerosis, kidney disorders, brain tumors, problems with the retina, aneurysms, blood clots, and abnormal formations of arteries and veins. It helps determine whether the patient is at risk of stroke or heart attack.

How do I prepare for this procedure?

Your doctor will explain the entire process to you and tell you not to eat or drink anything for a period of time before your angiogram. If you have had an angiogram in the past and know you are allergic to the dye or have an iodine allergy, tell your doctor. Also inform your doctor if you have a history of kidney disease because the dye can make your condition worse. Angiography may not be recommended for people with blood clotting disorders.

How is this procedure performed? (invasive surgery)

Angiography is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. You may receive a sedative, if necessary, and an intravenous (IV) line in case any medications are needed during the procedure. A healthcare professional called a interventionist will inject a special dye into one of your arteries or veins through a catheter to detect plaque in the blood vessels. The exact location of the injection and the method in which it is injected depends upon the area being studied. The area where the dye is injected will be numbed, and you should feel no more than mild to moderate discomfort. Then, x-ray pictures are taken as the dye flows through the blood vessels. The angiogram will reveal anything blocking the path of the dye or other abnormalities along the way. You may feel warm or flushed as the dye spreads through your body. Some patients experience other side effects, such as headache, dizziness, or chest pain just after the dye is injected, but these should pass quickly. After the angiogram is complete, the radiologist will remove the instrument used to inject the dye and apply pressure to the site of the injection. You will need to stay for observation for a period of time after the procedure. Some patients are hospitalized overnight, depending upon the area studied.

What can I expect after the procedure?

While the injection site may feel sore for a while after the procedure, most people experience no side effects from angiography. However, if you experience a drop in blood pressure and/or breathing problems, you are having an allergic reaction to the dye and should contact your doctor immediately. Some patients may develop a hard mass, called a hematoma, around the injection site. Your doctor should monitor this condition because it could mean there is bleeding in that area. If you have had angiography on the retina of your eye, you should protect your eyes from direct sunlight for a time specified by your doctor.

Self-care tips

Give yourself a few days to rest after angiography. Call your doctor if you have any pain, swelling, or bleeding around the site where the dye was injected; or experience dizziness or chest pain.

This information has been designed as a comprehensive and quick reference guide written by our health care reviewers.  The health information written by our authors is intended to be a supplement to the care provided by your physician.  It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

Banana is the common name for herbaceous plants of the genus Musa and for the fruit they produce. Bananas come in a variety of sizes and colors when ripe, including yellow, purple, and red.Almost all modern edible parthenocarpic bananas come from two wild species – Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. The scientific names of bananas are Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana or hybrids Musa acuminata,balbisiana, depending on their genomic constitution. The old scientific names Musa sapientum and Musa paradisiaca are no longer used.

Bananas. Containing three natural sugars - sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber, a banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.

Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout. No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression:
According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.
PMS: Forget the pills - eat a banana. The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia:
High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of haemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure:
This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it the perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so, the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power:
200 students at Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation:
High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers:
One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn:
Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness:
Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood  sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites:
Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves:
Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers:
The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control:
Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder
(SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking:
Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking.
The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress:
Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes:
According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine, "eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!


Warts:
Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around.

So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

Bananas must be the reason why monkeys are so happy and Healthy all the time!

Day and night, I am constantly depressed,
My burden is not broken love, but stress,
How it comes, I could not tell,
I wish it could go away, with one coin in a well.


But, alas, I am not that fortunate,
My life, I can not shorten it,
Or perhaps I can, with one twitch of a knife,
Begone with all problems in my life.


No one listens, so no one will care,
Neither the ones who intake water, nor the ones that breathe air,
For to them, to them I am just nothing
Yes, to them I am just fussing.


The amount of due happiness had came to it's peak,
Of which I now have nothing to speak,
My disease isn't contagious, they don't understand,
I should just pull the trigger, and forever know the sandman.


How should I do it though,
a bullet? Too messy. A knife? no.
Perhaps I could use my bath,
die without feeling death's grasp.


Yes, that'll do, should I leave casual, or in style,
I haven't been in my formal clothes for quite a while,
My tuxedo? No, I was saving that for my cousin to wear,
But wait! Of my death or clothing, what does he care.


So the tuxedo it is, with the bath in the shower,
Perhaps it would be appropriate if I carried a flower?
Sunflower? No, I never liked those,
Maybe a rose? Yes, a rose for it's thorns.


But wait, I'm changing, my reason for being,
A new perspective I have started seeing,
The feeling of depression is slipping,
And yes, now a warm bottle of milk I am sipping.


But someday, the disease will get me,
Yes, someday my death will free me,
How long it will take, I do not know,
But for what it's worth, I will not show.

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that makes it difficult to tell the difference between real and unreal experiences, to think logically, to have normal emotional responses, and to behave normally in social situations.

Causes

Schizophrenia is a complex illness. Even experts in the field are not sure what causes it. Some doctors think that the brain may not be able to process information correctly.

Genetic factors appear to play a role. People who have family members with schizophrenia may be more likely to get the disease themselves.

Some researchers believe that events in a person's environment may trigger schizophrenia. For example, problems (infection) during development in the mother's womb and at birth may increase the risk for developing schizophrenia later in life.

Psychological and social factors may also affect its development. However, the level of social and family support appears to affect the course of illness and may protect against the condition returning.

There are 5 types of schizophrenia:

1. Catatonic
2. Disorganized
3. Paranoid
4. Residual
5. Undifferentiated

Schizophrenia usually begins before the age of 45, symptoms last for 6 months or more, and people start to lose their ability to socialize and work.

Schizophrenia is thought to affect about 1% of people worldwide.

Schizophrenia appears to occur in equal rates among men and women, but in women it begins later. For this reason, males tend to account for more than half of patients in services with high numbers of young adults. Although schizophrenia usually begins in young adulthood, there are cases in which the disorder begins later (over 45 years).

Childhood-onset schizophrenia begins after the age of 5 and, in most cases, after normal development. Childhood schizophrenia is rare and can be difficult to tell apart from other developmental disorders of childhood, such as autism.

Symptoms

Schizophrenia may have a variety of symptoms. Usually the illness develops slowly over months or even years.Patients with a possible diagnosis of schizophrenia are evaluated on the basis of a set or constellation of symptoms; there is no single symptom that is unique to schizophrenia. In 1959, the German psychiatrist Kurt Schneider proposed a list of so-called first-rank symptoms, which he regarded as diagnostic of the disorder.
These symptoms include:

delusions
somatic
hallucinations
hearing voices commenting on the patient's behavior
thought insertion or thought withdrawal

At first, the symptoms may not be noticeable. For example, you may feel tense, or have trouble sleeping or concentrating. You can become isolated and withdrawn, and have trouble making or keeping friends.

As the illness continues, psychotic symptoms develop:

An appearance or mood that shows no emotion (flat affect)
Bizarre motor behavior in which there is less reaction to the environment (catatonic behavior)
False beliefs or thoughts that have nothing to do with reality (delusions)
Hearing, seeing, or feeling things that are not there (hallucinations)
Thoughts "jump" between unrelated topics (disordered thinking)
Symptoms can be different depending on the type of schizophrenia.

1. Catatonic type:

Agitation
Decreased sensitivity to pain
Inability to take care of personal needs
Negative feelings
Motor disturbances
Rigid muscles
Stupor

2. Paranoid type:

Anger
Anxiety
Argumentativeness
Delusions of persecution or grandeur
Violence
Disorganized type:

3. Child-like (regressive) behavior

Delusions
Flat affect
Hallucinations
Inappropriate laughter
Not understandable (incoherence)
Repetitive behaviors
Social withdrawal
Undifferentiated type may include symptoms of more than one type of schizophrenia.

4. Residual type>> symptoms of the illness have gone away, but some features, such as hallucinations and flat affect, may remain.

5. Undfferentiated>> Patients in this category have the characteristic positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia but do not meet the specific criteria for the paranoid, disorganized, or catatonic subtypes.

Exams and Tests

Because other diseases can cause symptoms of psychosis, psychiatrists should make the final diagnosis. The diagnosis is made based on a thorough interview of the person and family members.

No medical tests for schizophrenia exist.There are no specific laboratory tests that can be used to diagnose schizophrenia. The following factors may suggest a schizophrenia diagnosis, but do not confirm it:

Course of illness and how long symptoms have lasted
Changes from level of function before illness
Developmental background
Genetic and family history
Response to medication
CT scans of the head and other imaging techniques may find some changes that occur with schizophrenia and may rule out other disorders.


Treatment 

During an episode of schizophrenia, the patient may need to stay in the hospital for safety reasons, and to provide for basic needs such as food, rest, and hygiene.

Antipsychotic or neuroleptic medications change the balance of chemicals in the brain and can help control the symptoms of the illness. These medications are effective, but they can have side effects. However, many of these side effects can be addressed, and should not prevent people from seeking treatment for this serious condition.

Common side effects from antipsychotics may include:

Sleepiness (sedation)
Weight gain
Other side effects include:

Feelings of restlessness or "jitters"
Problems of movement and gait
Muscle contractions
Long-term risks include a movement disorder called tardive dyskinesia, in which people move without meaning to.

Newer drugs known as atypical antipsychotics appear to have fewer side effects. They also appear to help people who have not improved with the older medications. Treatment with medications is usually needed to prevent symptoms from coming back.

Supportive and problem-focused forms of therapy may be helpful for many people. Behavioral techniques, such as social skills training, can be used during therapy, or at home to improve function socially and at work.

Family treatments that combine support and education about schizophrenia (psychoeducation) appear to help families cope and reduce the odds of symptoms returning. Programs that emphasize outreach and community support services can help people who lack family and social support.

My Thought about it 

Its a disease which can ransack the entire existence of a person. I know it cose I have any aunt who is suffering from this disease. People suffering from this needs your help. Try to understand them and dont hurt them but also dont let them feel different or person whom we keep constant attention. Dont give them importance in their wrong doing act normal to them. Else they would not leave the fake world of theirs.

Momordica Cochinchinnensis Spreng (Gac) is botanically classified as Family Cucurbitaceae, Genus Momordica,Species Cochinchinnensis. This rampagenous perennial vine was given the name Muricia cochinchinensis by Loureiro, a Portuguese missionary-priest who published Flora Cochinchinensis in 1790. Later, Sprengel concluded that the plant belonged in the Linnean genus Momordica and changed the name in 1826 . The Vietnamese name of Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng is Day Gac . M. cochinchinensis is also indigenous to China, Moluccas (Burma), Japan, India, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Philippines, Malaysia, and Bangladesh . The plant can be cultivated either from seeds or root tubers and is a vine. Leaves are alternate and deeply three-to-five-lobed with toothed margins. The leaf stalk is glandular. The gac plant is dioecious, that is, the male and female plants are separate. The flowers are pale-yellow and solitary in the axils of the leaves. The production of parthenocarpic fruits, which is of economic importance, can be accomplished using growth regulators in the female plant in the absence of male plants. However induced parthenocarpic fruits have no seed, whereas hand pollinated fruits contain 18 seeds per fruit on average .  

Fruits of M. cochinchinensis are large, densely aculaeate, and green, turning to dark orange or red when ripe. Unlike that of the bitter gourd (Momordica charantia), the exocarp (rind) of the gac fruit is hard and is covered with conical points one-eighth-inch high. The gac fruit available in Vietnam comes in oblong and almost round shapes. There are no differences in the ways the

In the battle against malnutrition, chronic vitamin A deficiency stands out as one of the most
resistant nutritional problems in developing countries, in spite of the fact that the symptoms are
not difficult to identify, the aetiology is well understood, treatments are available, and in most
cases a food source of retinol and provitamin A carotenoids is plentiful.

In the diet, vitamin A comes in two forms: preformed vitamin A and provitamin A. Preformed vitamin A is usually in the form of retinyl ester, derived from animal tissue such as egg, fish oils, and flesh, and organ meats. Milk, cream, butter, cheese and fortified foods such as margarine also contain vitamin A. Vitamin A can also be obtained from provitamin A carotenoids which can be converted enzymatically in the intestine and liver to retinol. Carotenoids in plants are the primary dietary source of vitamin A worldwide. The most efficient pro-vitamin A carotenoid is carotene which is abundant in yellow and orange fruits, such as mangoes, papayas, and yams and in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, sweet potato leaves, and sweet gourd leaves. Consumption of foods rich in b-carotene theoretically can replete individuals to a healthy vitamin A status.

Among the indigenous plants of northern Vietnam, the Gac fruit (Momordica Cochinchinnensis Spreng) has the highest B-carotene content. Pro-vitamin A from orange fruits has been shown to be more bioavailable than that from dark-green leafy vegetables. The seed membrane and pulp of the gac fruit also contains a significant amount of oil, which is essential for the absorption and transport of b-carotene . This is especially critical in this population where dietary fat intake is very low . Traditionally, Gac seed and pulp are mixed with cooked rice to impart a red color and distinct flavour. The local name of the dish is Xoi Gac. Because this dish is already well accepted, promoting its consumption could produce a substantial increase in b-carotene intake.

In ripe gac fruit, b-carotene is the dominant carotenoid with concentration as high as 35,500 mg/ 100g. The name xoi gac means red rice; and when the gac fruit is not in season, rice with red food colourant is also called xoi gac, which local people occasionally eat for breakfast. In addition to their use in xoi gac, the seed membranes are also used to make a tonic (gac oil) for lactating or pregnant women and children, to treat "dry eyes" (xerophthalmia), and night blindness.When applied to wounds, skin infections, and burns, gac oil stimulated the new growth of skin, and closure of wounds . A document on Vietnamese traditional medicine lists the use of the gac seed membrane, which contains carotene and lycopene, to treat infantile rachitis, xerophthalmia and night-blindness. The report notes that the oil extract from the seed membrane can be given to small children to improve growth.