At an international symposium held at New Delhi in January 1994, the author was the chairman of a session, in which a German Scientist from the Max-Plank Institute at Martinsried described the powerful effects of neem in preventing the growth of insects. Today, Azadirachta indica, a compound obtained from the seeds of neem tree is the most powerful anti insect substance yet to be discovered. It has been shown by scientists to be effective against at least 150 species of insects. The compound has been patented by W.R. Grace Company of USA which has produced the material known as Margosan O and a multi dollar global market is building up around neem.
Neem plantations are being developed in different parts of the world. Azadirachta indiaca acts as an insect antifeedent. When sprayed on crops, insects do not come and destroy these plants. It also prevents growth of parasites inside insect vectors if the insect takes a bite of a plant protected by neem. The development of this unique substance, from a tree grown indigenously in India for generations, for the world market by a foreign firm had caused considerable controversy. Several Indian scientists and politicians feel that this country has been deprived of the world market of an Indian plant product.
while listening to Professor Rembold giving his presentation, the author remembered his childhood annual ritual where winter clothes were packed into trunks with neem leaves for storage during the long summer months.
Many readers would also remember these leaves being used for storage of grain in large metal containers. It is a pity that this folklore wisdom was not explored further by Indian scientists and that the work needed to develop this information known to us through centuries into a marketable commodity was carried outside India. While we may have lost neem as an insect repellent yet, we still have much more information about other attributes of neem which should now be explored. Neem has long been considered as a powerful antiseptic and may turn out to have compounds which may be of use in viral diseases.
Traditionally, the first time a person took a bath after an attack of chicken pox was with water in which neem leaves had been immersed. Water in which neem leaves have been placed also relieves the itching and scratching caused by skin diseases.
People should continue to use the neem leaf for different purposes while Indian scientists attempts to identify and patent compounds which are responsible for these beneficial effects. The twig of the neem tree has been used in many parts of India as a combined tooth brush and tooth paste to keep one’s teeth healthy and spotless. This property of neem also needs to be studied. The oil from the seed of the neem tree has also demonstrated anti fertility activity when delivered into the uterus and Indian scientist at the National Institute of Immunology led by Professor Talwar were carrying out their first trials on human subjects. It is very much possible that an anti fertility drug could emerge from this pioneering work.
Ayurvedic medicine and folklore medicine give us insight into other possible therapeutic uses of neem. The use of neem for skin infections comes out loud and clear, not only soothing itching but also for curing boils and eruptions and for use in leprosy and leucoderma. An ayurvedic medicine a preparation made of five parts of the neem tree has been used for leprosy – the bark, leaf, root, flower and seed. The bark of the neem tree has also been used for treatment of fevers caused by malaria, which again is becoming a threat in India. Supporting the belief is the observation made by a friend of the author, who has spent many years in the malaria prone areas in Assam.
That an extract of the bark of the neem tree taken daily with two other plants prevented malaria in all who took this concoction even when people all around were coming down with it. The oil of the seed has been found to be active against worms and fungi and is commonly used for this purpose. Water in which neem leaves have been placed is reported to be effective in causing hair to grow. Finally, neem leaves are very rich in vitamin. A and have been found to be a cheap way of counteracting night blindness caused by the deficiency of vitamin A. It appears, therefore, that this tree has much more to offer to us and to the world than what has already been discovered.
Fortunately India abounds with neem trees, which were carefully planted by the British in long avenues throughout the country, thus enabling Indian Scientists to take up this challenge of developing other medicine from neem.
Showing posts with label ayurvedic medicine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ayurvedic medicine. Show all posts
Friday, October 14, 2011
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Herbs That Boost Your Performance
The possible use of our old wisdom about maintaining good health as described in the Ayurveda and taking herbs not as medicines but as Rasayana tonics to improve one’s physical capacities was discussed at the Indian Sports Congress, Organised efficiently by prayaas, at the India International Centre in November, 1994. The theme of the congress was “Sports in India – strategies for the 21st Century.” The subject The subject first come up in the session on “ Promotion of sports in Tribal Area’ which stated that our athletes could certainly, benefits from a;; the knowledge and information we have, based on our ancient systems of medicine.It is not that we should use plants to improve performance but they should be used to promote health and thus enable our athletes to function in the best possible health. As we all know there are plants like Ocimum sanctum (tulsi), Asparagus recemousus (satavari) and Withania somnifera (ashwagandha) which are know to improve health. It our athletes could be given some of these non-addicting simple herbal remedies, it is possible that our results at international athletes meets would improve.
The subject come up again in the session on the final day where the theme was “Sports Sciences”. Specialists in Sports Medicine identified some of the physiological functions which are involved when our sportsmen participate in competitive games. A person who has an efficient oxygen transport system will be able to supply more oxygen to the muscles than one whose mechanisms are not so efficient.
Scientists are aware that this system can be improved but surprisingly no effort has been made to see whether tulsi or satavari could improve these systems. Recently a nut has been discovered in Kerala which is used by the Kani tribes to help in walking and climbing long distances without getting tired. The effect of this nut could be scientifically studied.
There are other types of physiological activities which could be improved by plants, yoga and medication. This sort of improvement would not be against the rules as these are only improving one’s physiological functions. The cardiac output could be improved. It is also possible that some or our plants could effect the enzymes involved in transportation of oxygen in the blood. What is clear is that a whole area of alternative medicine and sports remains unexplored. It is very interesting that this subject has been brought to our attention – not by physiologists or medical persons but by sports specialists. This investigation should be carried out keeping in mind the rules governing the use of medicines for sports person.
Increasing physiological performances by yoga or meditation or by use of our Rasayana herbs can in no way be considered as drug abuse or as cheating. The International Olympic Commission rightly states that drugs or medicines taken to gain an unfair advantage in sports are subject to doping control regulations. Time and again we read about participants being disqualified as a result of urine tests. There are five categories of substances which are banned. These are 1) Stimulants; 2) Narcotic analgesis; 3) Anabolic steroids; 4) Diuretics and 5) Peptide hormones and their analogues. There are sensitive test to pick up these substance from the urine.
The use of good wholesome food, the practice of meditation to improve concentration, the practice to yoga to condition one’s mind and body and the use of herbs to promotes one’s health are not considered as doping.
As a first step, specialists and Ayurvedic and Unani and other systems of medicine need to list those plants which are reported, in these systems, to have an effect on oxygen transport mechanisms, pulmonary capacity, heart pumping capacity, cardiac output, total blood volume and other functions relating to sports activities.
The work reported on these plants should be critically looked at to determine which substances could be crucial in improving some of these functions. In addition to the three plants mentioned earlier in this article, awareness must be spread of other plants such as Boerhaavia diffusa (punarnava), Curcuma longa (haldi), Azadirachta indica (neem) and ginger. It is possible that the use of some of these herbs, commonly found throughout India, could improve the physical conditioning of our athletes thus, enabling them to perform better.
Several other extremely interesting sessions were held during the congress. One must appreciate the initiative taken in bringing together people from different spheres of life, who are all interested in sports and who were willing to give up their time on Saturday and Sunday, to participate in these very important discussions relevant to our country’s performance at international sporting meets.
Prevent Memory Loss - Treatments with Brahmi
Ayurvedic physicians have tremendous faith in the beneficial effect of the plant brahmi on person of old age. It is being used widely throughout India.
There are, in fact, two plants which are being used ad brahmi, the benefits of which have been listed by the great Ayurvedic physician Charak, who clearly stated in the first century that brahmi is very effective in preventing the decreased mental performance seen is many people of advanced age, in preventing loss of memory and in enabling old people to organize their thoughts and express these clearly. These plants are Bacopa moniera which goes under the names of brahmi and nirbrahmi and Centella asiatica commonly known as the Indian pennywort.
It may seem a long time from the time of Charak to the present day but it is only a few years ago that the Central Drugs Research Institute, Lucknow, after extensive experimental research on animals conducted the first clinical trials on the effect of Bacopa on memory. More clinical trials are needed to confirm the experimental findings that the plant extract from the stem and leaves improves one’s memory.
Readers may find the type of experiments carried out on rats to demonstrate this activity interesting. One of the experiments is to put a rat or group of rats in a large cage with a small opening in one corner which would enable the rat to leave the cage. Rats are put into the café and they are subjected to uncomfortable electric shocks. When they find the exit-perhaps accidentally – they get into another adjacent cage and the shocks cease. It has been clearly seen that rats to whom brahmi had been administered found the exit sooner than the control rats. They appear to remember better after their early experience that they can avoid the uncomfortable electric shocks by leaving cage.
Besides the use of this plant for memory it is used in patients of other disease of the central nervous system and as a tonic. It is very difficult to assess these effects but some clinical trials have been carried out. Dr Appa Rao and his colleagues published three papers on Mandookaparni, the Sanskrit name of Centella asiatica.
The most interesting of these papers, published in volume eight of the Journal for Research on Indian Medicine in 1973, showed that the plant drug, when administered for a period of twelve weeks to a group of thirty mentally retarded children, improved the mental ability and the behavioural patterns of these children. The design of the trial was double blind controlled trial which has also been referred in the book Medicinal Plants of India, volume one published by the Indian Council or Medical Research.
Brahmi is also used to enhance the general well being and the quality of life. It has been used for this purpose for generations. However, research methodology has made great advances in the last two decades. Modern techniques of biotechnology and immunological protective systems decrease in old age and whether plants such as brahmi could prevent such degeneration. In one article mention was made of some Korean plants which could perhaps prevent ageing. The western world, particularly USA, are using another plant gilboa for improving the capacity of old people to face old age and its problems. Brahmi could be India’s contribution to the world in this endeavour.
However, to be able to do so certain immediate steps need to be taken particularly in view of the impending changes which will take place in patent regulation in the coming years. A national task force on brahmi comprising investigators and scientists from the different systems of medicine should be carefully and critically assessed. Future work to be carried out should be clearly described and such work, should be generously funded. Efforts should be made to bring in one or two pharmaceutical concerns interested in drugs for the central nervous system. This kind of dynamic approach could yield rich intellectual and financial dividends and provide to the population a new drug from our old medicines used in Ayurveda.
There are, in fact, two plants which are being used ad brahmi, the benefits of which have been listed by the great Ayurvedic physician Charak, who clearly stated in the first century that brahmi is very effective in preventing the decreased mental performance seen is many people of advanced age, in preventing loss of memory and in enabling old people to organize their thoughts and express these clearly. These plants are Bacopa moniera which goes under the names of brahmi and nirbrahmi and Centella asiatica commonly known as the Indian pennywort.
It may seem a long time from the time of Charak to the present day but it is only a few years ago that the Central Drugs Research Institute, Lucknow, after extensive experimental research on animals conducted the first clinical trials on the effect of Bacopa on memory. More clinical trials are needed to confirm the experimental findings that the plant extract from the stem and leaves improves one’s memory.
Readers may find the type of experiments carried out on rats to demonstrate this activity interesting. One of the experiments is to put a rat or group of rats in a large cage with a small opening in one corner which would enable the rat to leave the cage. Rats are put into the café and they are subjected to uncomfortable electric shocks. When they find the exit-perhaps accidentally – they get into another adjacent cage and the shocks cease. It has been clearly seen that rats to whom brahmi had been administered found the exit sooner than the control rats. They appear to remember better after their early experience that they can avoid the uncomfortable electric shocks by leaving cage.
Besides the use of this plant for memory it is used in patients of other disease of the central nervous system and as a tonic. It is very difficult to assess these effects but some clinical trials have been carried out. Dr Appa Rao and his colleagues published three papers on Mandookaparni, the Sanskrit name of Centella asiatica.
The most interesting of these papers, published in volume eight of the Journal for Research on Indian Medicine in 1973, showed that the plant drug, when administered for a period of twelve weeks to a group of thirty mentally retarded children, improved the mental ability and the behavioural patterns of these children. The design of the trial was double blind controlled trial which has also been referred in the book Medicinal Plants of India, volume one published by the Indian Council or Medical Research.
Brahmi is also used to enhance the general well being and the quality of life. It has been used for this purpose for generations. However, research methodology has made great advances in the last two decades. Modern techniques of biotechnology and immunological protective systems decrease in old age and whether plants such as brahmi could prevent such degeneration. In one article mention was made of some Korean plants which could perhaps prevent ageing. The western world, particularly USA, are using another plant gilboa for improving the capacity of old people to face old age and its problems. Brahmi could be India’s contribution to the world in this endeavour.
However, to be able to do so certain immediate steps need to be taken particularly in view of the impending changes which will take place in patent regulation in the coming years. A national task force on brahmi comprising investigators and scientists from the different systems of medicine should be carefully and critically assessed. Future work to be carried out should be clearly described and such work, should be generously funded. Efforts should be made to bring in one or two pharmaceutical concerns interested in drugs for the central nervous system. This kind of dynamic approach could yield rich intellectual and financial dividends and provide to the population a new drug from our old medicines used in Ayurveda.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Tulsi - A Wonder herb
Ocimum sanctum, commonly known as tulsi or holy basil is found in most Indian homes more than any other plant. A tulsi plant in the courtyard of a traditional home is linked with both religious practice and healthy living. The tulsi plant is associated with so many therapeutic properties that it is difficult to know clearly where it should be used in modern therapeutic practice.
A review of the scientific literature leads us to the use of Ocimum sanctum in respiratory disorders. It is a simple remedy for cough and cold and for the treatment of fever. It is the Krishna tulsi, darker in colour which is used rather than the lighter coloured Shyam tulsi. To prevent coughs and colds, it has been suggested in Ayurvedic medicine that five leaves of the plant, after washing carefully, should be taken every day. Tulsi leaves, together with neem leaves and black pepper, have been reported to prevent and treat fevers, including malarial infection.
Having few leaves of tulsi boiled in water every morning is reported to exert an anti-stress effect. Tulsi and honey is undoubtedly effective in treating a persistent cough. Keeping a tulsi plant in the home has been looked upon as creating healthy atmosphere, and Ayurvedic physicians believe that it particularly helps person with a tendency to
succumb to respiratory problems and asthma. It is very possible that the benefits of this simple home remedy would be manifold.
At the Science Day on 28 February, the Indian Council of Medical Research exhibited at their office some plants reported to have therapeutic properties. Tulsi were one of the plants on the table, and the anti-stress property of the plant was mentioned. Till now, there were not many methods available to clearly determine whether a plant has clear anti-stress activity or not. Most of the earlier work has been carried out on animals and there are limitations to this type of experimental work. For example, it is not really very easy to find out whether a plant can prevent cough or cold. Today we have methods available for carrying out such studies in humans and also to find out if tulsi has an anti—stress activity.
The Indian Council of Medical Research, the Council of Research in Ayurvedic and the Central of Research in Unani medicine all have programmers for clinically evaluating medicinal plants. Tulsi will certainly to be one of the plants which will be tested. In recent years, the sale of the Korean plant, ginseng, has increased dramatically in India, and is being prescribed as a tonic, and as a medicine which enhances well being, diminishes stress and raises the quality of life.
In fact, these are the very qualities that have been associated for centuries with the tulsi plant in India. It would not come as a surprise if, in the years ahead, tulsi too finds a national and international market for its many faceted properties. Till these clinical trials are carried out and the results assessed, one can safely continue taking five tulsi leaves every day.
A review of the scientific literature leads us to the use of Ocimum sanctum in respiratory disorders. It is a simple remedy for cough and cold and for the treatment of fever. It is the Krishna tulsi, darker in colour which is used rather than the lighter coloured Shyam tulsi. To prevent coughs and colds, it has been suggested in Ayurvedic medicine that five leaves of the plant, after washing carefully, should be taken every day. Tulsi leaves, together with neem leaves and black pepper, have been reported to prevent and treat fevers, including malarial infection.
Having few leaves of tulsi boiled in water every morning is reported to exert an anti-stress effect. Tulsi and honey is undoubtedly effective in treating a persistent cough. Keeping a tulsi plant in the home has been looked upon as creating healthy atmosphere, and Ayurvedic physicians believe that it particularly helps person with a tendency to
succumb to respiratory problems and asthma. It is very possible that the benefits of this simple home remedy would be manifold.
At the Science Day on 28 February, the Indian Council of Medical Research exhibited at their office some plants reported to have therapeutic properties. Tulsi were one of the plants on the table, and the anti-stress property of the plant was mentioned. Till now, there were not many methods available to clearly determine whether a plant has clear anti-stress activity or not. Most of the earlier work has been carried out on animals and there are limitations to this type of experimental work. For example, it is not really very easy to find out whether a plant can prevent cough or cold. Today we have methods available for carrying out such studies in humans and also to find out if tulsi has an anti—stress activity.
The Indian Council of Medical Research, the Council of Research in Ayurvedic and the Central of Research in Unani medicine all have programmers for clinically evaluating medicinal plants. Tulsi will certainly to be one of the plants which will be tested. In recent years, the sale of the Korean plant, ginseng, has increased dramatically in India, and is being prescribed as a tonic, and as a medicine which enhances well being, diminishes stress and raises the quality of life.
In fact, these are the very qualities that have been associated for centuries with the tulsi plant in India. It would not come as a surprise if, in the years ahead, tulsi too finds a national and international market for its many faceted properties. Till these clinical trials are carried out and the results assessed, one can safely continue taking five tulsi leaves every day.
AVOID SURGERY - Opt for Medicated Thread Treatment
The treatment of painful condition, fistula-in-ano is being done by surgery. It is not surprising that many people would like to avoid the surgery, if possible. It has become possible now. And this is due to the pioneering work of the Late Professor Deshpande of the college of Medical Sciences, Varanasi, and the painstasking work of a team of research workers and scientists at New Delhi, Chandigarh, Wardha and Bombay. All the information was compiled with dedication by Dr G.V. Satyavati and her team at the Indian Council of Medical Research, Who have come up with an alternative nonsourgical treatment for this condition. This could be considered as one of the contributions of Ayurveda and Indian research on using international therapeutics.
‘Kashaarsootra’, the Ayurvedic medicated thread was described as a method of treatment for fistula-in-ano by the Indian surgeon Sushruta in his famous treatise Susbruta Sambita written in 600 BC in Shlokas 29-33 in Chapter 17. The treatment consists of passing a thread treated with three plant materials through the fistula track at regular intervals.
The three plants which are used for coating the thread are Euphorbia nerifolia commonly known as Snuhi, Archyranthes aspera known as Apaamarga and Curcuma longa known as haldi. The medicated thread has been used by ayurvedic physicians of this country, particularly after Professor Deshpande published the results of his work in the American Journal of Proctology 1976. The Central Council of Research in Ayurveda has brought out special monograph on this treatment in 1989.
What was needed however was a well controlled comparative trial where similar type of patients with fistula would be divided into two groups. One group would be treated by the standard surgical treatment whereas the other group would be treated by the medicated thread. The results of both these treatments would then be compared. It was this type of trial which was organized and coordinated by the Indian Council of Medical Research and carried out at different centres out at Chandigarh and Lucknow, the threads were manufactured at Varanasi, the trial was carried out at New Delhi, Chandigarh Wardha and Bombay and the results were analyzed at Madras. It was indeed a tremendous team effort.
The results published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research in 1991 showed clearly “that the long term outcome with Ksharsootra is better than surgery, although the intital healing time is longer”. The medicated thread has been used for the treatment of fistula-in-ano in least two countries outside India. It is expected that other centres around the world will also offer to their patients this form of treatment. The threads need to be manufactured on a large scale under carefully controlled conditions.
It is hoped that Indian industry would become more interested in taking over the manufacture of medicated threads. What appears remarkable and causes much satisfaction to Indian scientists and Ayurvedic physicians is that a specific treatment mentioned 2,594 years ago has been found, by modern clinical pharmacological methods, to do exactly what is was supposed to do. One can get to know of easy and inexpensive ways to treat complicated ailments by referring to ancient texts, as has been evident in India and in other countries like China.
‘Kashaarsootra’, the Ayurvedic medicated thread was described as a method of treatment for fistula-in-ano by the Indian surgeon Sushruta in his famous treatise Susbruta Sambita written in 600 BC in Shlokas 29-33 in Chapter 17. The treatment consists of passing a thread treated with three plant materials through the fistula track at regular intervals.
The three plants which are used for coating the thread are Euphorbia nerifolia commonly known as Snuhi, Archyranthes aspera known as Apaamarga and Curcuma longa known as haldi. The medicated thread has been used by ayurvedic physicians of this country, particularly after Professor Deshpande published the results of his work in the American Journal of Proctology 1976. The Central Council of Research in Ayurveda has brought out special monograph on this treatment in 1989.
What was needed however was a well controlled comparative trial where similar type of patients with fistula would be divided into two groups. One group would be treated by the standard surgical treatment whereas the other group would be treated by the medicated thread. The results of both these treatments would then be compared. It was this type of trial which was organized and coordinated by the Indian Council of Medical Research and carried out at different centres out at Chandigarh and Lucknow, the threads were manufactured at Varanasi, the trial was carried out at New Delhi, Chandigarh Wardha and Bombay and the results were analyzed at Madras. It was indeed a tremendous team effort.
The results published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research in 1991 showed clearly “that the long term outcome with Ksharsootra is better than surgery, although the intital healing time is longer”. The medicated thread has been used for the treatment of fistula-in-ano in least two countries outside India. It is expected that other centres around the world will also offer to their patients this form of treatment. The threads need to be manufactured on a large scale under carefully controlled conditions.
It is hoped that Indian industry would become more interested in taking over the manufacture of medicated threads. What appears remarkable and causes much satisfaction to Indian scientists and Ayurvedic physicians is that a specific treatment mentioned 2,594 years ago has been found, by modern clinical pharmacological methods, to do exactly what is was supposed to do. One can get to know of easy and inexpensive ways to treat complicated ailments by referring to ancient texts, as has been evident in India and in other countries like China.