Hiro (Okinawa, Japan) on 02/11/2013
Rick (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) on 03/02/2009
rideronthestorm54 (Grand Junction, CO) on 07/23/2009
Ingrid (Tampa, Florida) on 10/10/2008
Nattokinase is an enzyme extracted and purified from a Japanese food called Natto. Natto is a cheese-like food made from fermented soybeans that has been eaten in Japan for many years. It is thought by some to be a valuable tool in minimizing the chances of developing heart and vascular diseases. Natto is produced by fermentation by adding the bacterium Bacillus natto, a beneficial bacteria, to boiled soybeans. The resulting nattokinase enzyme is produced when the bacterium acts on the soybeans. While other soy foods contain enzymes, it is only the natto preparation that contains the specific nattokinase enzyme. Nattokinase is valued in the alternative medicine community as a clot-buster and blood thinner, and is sometimes recommended as a substitute for daily aspirin therapy. But it's effects go beyond that in terms of catalyzing other enzyme activity.
Rick (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) on 02/15/2009
Coco-chan (Roanoke, Va, USA) on 01/09/2013
The Japanese peoples have a reputation for healthy lifestyles and a long traditional of herbal cures as well as other natural remedies for health ailments. In particular, the Okinawan Diet has been much studied for its health promotion and life-extending effects.
Sometime around the 8th century of the Common Era, Chinese medicinal practices made their way to the islands of Japan. Since that time, the Japanese have expanded alternative treatments from this Chinese foundation into Kampo medicine, their own rich tradition of alternative health and holistic health practices. Kampo is in fact an established part of Japanese medical treatment, paid for and monitored by the national health plan and regularly prescribed by allopathic doctors.
Holistic Treatments: Herbal remedies are central to traditional medicine in Japan, though acupuncture is another thriving treatment. Angelica, ginseng, peppermint, the mushroom Agaricus blazei, bee propolis, Japanese plum, and Dipsacis are frequent herbal treatments in Japanese folk medicine.
