CTMR

Clinical experience in treating Covid 19 patients with Siddha Medicine

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 05:54:00 +0000

Just before the first case was reported in India on 28^th Jan 2020, a popular tamil TV Channel wanted me to participate in a talk show in their prime time slot to discuss about the preparedness of Tamil Nadu Govt. if there is a outbreak here. By then there was some understanding of the type of virus and its earlier outbreaks. So went through various scientific articles and looked at various herbs with potential for fighting corona virus. Immediately after the first case of a medical student testing positive (she arrived earlier but results was known on 30^th Jan 2020), we in CTMR discussed among ourselves and released a video clip on how to prevent spread and also the possible Siddha medicines and external therapies that could prevent the virus entry and multiplication in human cells. Then we focused on creating awareness among our patients and other organizations for which we have been providing health care support. (Experience in prevention is the previous blog).

We waited for the Ministry of Ayush to release its guidelines to treat patients as initially Public health authorities were not in favour of any AYUSH treatment and also there was a warning under Pandemic Act. (Though we have sent our treatment protocol for approval) But a stage came were we needed to start treating patients. The first few were patients whose spouses tested positive and moved to hospitals and house sealed with tin sheets. These patients also tested positive and were helpless because of financial constraints and ready availability of beds in Covid wards. (By then Covid care centres were not opened in a big way). We reached out to these people in our neighbourhood with our medicines through the corporation appointed volunteers. One of them recovered fast in two days free from fever and cough and said but her husband in the hospital still has fever, cough, loss of taste and smell and refusing to eat. She asked if she too can go and stay with him and give our medicines. The 60 plus person with history of diabetes and previous history of having two stents in the heart sounded very depressed. She took the medicines and prepared kashayam to him. He started feeling better with the medicine and the food she took from home. Few more cases were in similar situation of -one in hospital and other in home quarantine and Siddha drugs. Small family gatherings and visit to temples and work place has been the reason of spread in most patients as we could see people from same history.

Then we evolved a methodology

1. The health authorities of the area should be informed of the status and that of the treating physician’s details and share prescription and instructions note with them.
2. All patients should strictly adhere to the prescription of medicine, diet (Non oily, non fat , non spicy food . intake of good quantity of boiled vegetables and fruits)and quarantine in a separate room with attached bathroom facility for 14 days
3. All patients should record their oxygen saturation, pulse rate temperature every four hours and send whatsApp message and inform of other clinical features.
4. Patients should have their BP and CBS recorded if diabetic and inform at regular interval (With digital apparatus and Glucometer)
5. Patients were also instructed to locate and identify a neighbourhood hospital just in case of oxy saturation fall below 85 or develop severe respiratory distress ( Fortunately none required it)
6. All patients who have co-morbidity were instructed not to stop their routine medication

The treatment included the following

1. Nilavembu kudineer churanam (one teaspoon of coarse) and Athimathura churanam ( half teaspoon of powder)as Decoction thrice a day after mild food to avoid gastric irritation – irrespective of fever for five days

2. 2. Adathodai kudineer ( 5 gram) twice a day if cough, sore throat is present for five days

3. 3Thalisathy vadagam ( 500 mg tab)thrice a day as chewable tab for controlling cough and sore throat

4. 4 if Ground glass change is seen and Oxygen saturation going below 95 to lower level of 85 Adathoda kudineer , Thalisathy vadagam and Thippili Rasayanam ( 5 gram) 15 days.

5. 5 Milk with turmeric, black pepper and palm candy once a day

6. 6. Steam inhalation – plain steam or with Vitex negundo leaf- twice a day

7. 7. Salt water gargling- twice a day

All medicines used are formulations listed in the Formulary of Siddha Medicine of Govt. of India based on classical texts.

(The much promoted drug during the season was not choosen as most manufacturers expressed difficulty in sourcing authentic raw material and the formulation was never prepared and dispenses officially in the oldest Govt Siddha Medical college hospital since its formation, many adverse reactions were reported by people)

The outcome of the treatment among 250 patients was positive with most people recovering from symptoms in third to fifth day while few with comorbidity continued to have fatigue and cough for 15 days. Nobody required further hospitalization.

Repeat tests were carried out for people who had symptoms for more than five days (32) at the end of 14 days and all of them tested negative. CT Scan for 16 who had changes initially showed significant progress (came down to 5/40 or 3/25 as two different scales are used by different labs)

We have also remotely treated patients in other countries and other towns in certain changes depending of availability of medicine (Thirikadu Dry ginger, black pepper and long pepper and licorice Ajwain turmeric were the primary ones until medicines reached them) There too results were encouraging

The treatment in home quarantine had many benefits – less crowding, good care and timely food and monitoring by family members, psychological strength and less cost ( Rs 500 for medicine for the patient and protective dose for the care giver ,cost of pulse oxymeter, bp apparatus, thermometer and glucometer). Many could start working from their rooms after initial five days and were engaged.

The patients in the initial stages did feel the social stigma of ambulance arriving and taking them to hospital, family members and friends not able to interact and this arrangement gave them a great sigh of relief.

The objective is only to say that not all patients require oxygen support and hospitalization but needs to be closely monitored. I am sure the patients who took treatment from us would also read this blog and as also critics who still feel Siddha or Ayurveda treatment were provided just to give a placebo effect.

Note on Medicines

Nilavembu kudineer churanam comes as a coarse powder to be made into a decoction This Siddha formulation fulfills the requirement contains the following ingredients – Andrographis paniculata (herb), Vetiveria zizanioides (roots), Cymbopogon jwarancusa (roots), Santalum album (heart wood), Trichosanthes cucumerina (herb) Cyperus rotundus (tuber) Zingiber officinale (rhizome), Piper nigrum (fruit), and Mollugo cerviana(whole plant). Antiviral plants in the formulation are Andrographis paniculata, Santalum album and Trichosanthes cucumerina. Antipyretic plants in the formulation are Vetiveria zizanioides, Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Andrographis paniculata, Santalum albumand Trichosanthes cucumerina. Immunomodulant plants are Zingiber officinale, Piper nigrum. Analgesic ingredients are – Andrographis paniculata, Zingiber officinale and Cyperus rotundus. Antibacterials are Vetiveria zizanioides, Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Santalum album and Trichosanthes cucumerina.

Adathodai kudineer churanam comes as a coarse comes as a coarse powder to be made into a decoction It contains Justicia adathoda (malabar nut) leaf Glycyrrizha glabra (licorice) Piper longum ( Long pepper) Taxus baccata ( Himalayan yew) . Glycyrrizha glabra has anti-viral action against corona virus and soothing to the throat. Adathoda is effective in preventinf constriction of the respiratory pathway. Long pepper is anti-viral, hepatoprotective and helps in respiratory diseases as well. Taxus baccata is useful in regulating IL6 and TNF-alpha.

Now with almost all Siddha Covid Care Centres closed. People who want to take Siddha treatment really do not know where to go. that is yet another reason why this post was written. Other purpose for posting at this point of time is we were waiting to observe the patients for three months for post covid complication if any. Atleast 100 plus patients have completed 3 months post quarantine now.

CTMR Covid care

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 02:27:00 +0000

Dr. T. Thirunarayanan of CTMR initiated an intervention to prevent Covid 19 among industrial workers at Valasaravakkam Zone of Greater Chennai Corporation. Awareness session on the clinical manifestations, it's preventive methods including Social distancing , wearing mask and hand wash , healthy food and Role of Siddha medicine' were explained to 800 workers on 15th March 2020. This was followed by administration of herbal combination containing Justicia Adathoda, Glycyrriza glabra and Piper longum twice a day for three days. In May 2020 immediately after the lock down was lifted A combination of a formulated drug Nilavembu kudineer along with Glycyrriza glabra was administered for three days. Every day the workers were screened for fever and clinical signs before entry into workplace. After the second lockdown when industry was allowed to function the Medicine was issued to all in early August. In end August RT PCR test for Covid was carried out in phases for all by GCC health professionals.. Excepting one all others tested negative. The one person too was weakly positive without symptoms and test carried out after three days he too tested negative. While few members around 10 of the workers family who did not take this tested positive. Most workers were from Kodambakkam and Valasaravakkam which were zones of high incidence.

In yet another group of 75 residents of an Gurukulam where mostly people over 60 years stay the intervention was carried out in March and again in September. Here again none developed any symptom . This is again in a high incidence district Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.

Both sites were closely monitored and clearly proves that Simple Siddha intervention along with SMS was able to protect people from Covid19. Next write up will be on Home based treatment for Covid 19

Siddha approach to control Covid-19

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Sun, 05 Apr 2020 10:30:00 +0000

Siddha approach to control Covid-19

Coronavirus disease is an acute respiratory infection, caused by COVID-19 virus, (also called as SARS-CoV-2). Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Adults and children with underlying medical problems are likely, to have compromised immunity that could lead to serious illness.

- Cardiovascular disease

- Diabetes

- Chronic respiratory disease

- Cancer

The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is by being well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the symptoms it causes and how it spreads. Preventive and safety measures include,

- Wash hands using mild soap or use an alcohol based rub frequently

- Avoid touching your face

- Self-isolation

- Social distancing

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that respiratory etiquette is practiced (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow, sneezing into a tissue paper/handkerchief).

At this time, there is no vaccine or treatment for COVID-19. However, there are many on-going clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. WHO will continue to provide updated information as soon as clinical findings become available.

Siddha medical system, has manages various contagious viral diseases in the past (Eg. HIV[1], swine flu [2], HPV [3], etc.). Numerous Siddha-based herbal formulations have been effective in treating viral diseases and respiratory disorders. Some of them are even evaluated using modern methods and are listed in the table below.

Table 1. List of Siddha-based herbal drugs evaluated for viral diseases.

S.no.	Disease	Virus	Siddha recommended medicinal plant	Ref.
1.	Hepatitis	Hepadnaviridae. Double-Stranded DNA Reverse Transcribing Virus	Phyllanthusamarus (Keezhanelli)	[4]
2	Chikungunya	Chikungunya virus, positive-sense, single stranded RNA virus	Andrographis paniculata (Nelavembu)	[5], [6]
3	Dengue	Dengue virus (DENV). positive-sense, single stranded RNA virus	Andrographis paniculata	[7], [8], [9], [10]
4	Swine flu	H1N1 (Influenza virus), negative-sense, single stranded RNA virus	Andrographis paniculata	[11]
5	Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)	SARS-CoV, positive-sense, single stranded RNA viruses	Glycyrrhiza glabra (Athimaduram)	[12], [13]

High doses of the liquorice extract, containing glycyrrhizin, practically wiped out the SARS virus in infected monkey cells, find virologist JindrichCinatl of Frankfurt University Medical School, Germany. The drug is more potent than ribavirin, which is most commonly used treat SARS. Glycyrrhizin makes it difficult for the coronavirus to attach to and invade the cell. It also hinders virus reproduction, therefore slowdownviral spread from one cell to another [13].

Glycyrrhizin, the primary identified active principle in licorice, glycyrrhizin is a triterpene saponin. Triterpene refers to the 30 carbon molecules attached to a compound's chemical structure. Saponins are widely distributed in nature—most saponins are triterpenes—and form a frothy, soaplike solution when shaken in water. Glycyrrhizin has a chemical structure similar to that of steroid molecules. Its similarity to steroids may account for its anti-inflammatory action, one of licorice's important effects on immune response. [19] Hirohiko Akamatsu, M.D., and colleagues from the department of dermatology at Kansai Medical University in Japan, identified the ways in which licorice appears to exert its beneficial effects. Rather than demonstrating steroidal, cortisonelike effects on inflammation—reduction of tissue swelling from histamine, increased blood flow and leukocyte infiltration of damaged or infected tissues—licorice root has been shown in in vitro studies to effectively reduce inflammation by mopping up excess free radicals liberated in a free radical burst at the site of inflammation. [20] Superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals are released during inflammation to disable targeted bacteria and viruses, a beneficial effect that is often overdone. Similar results were obtained in a 1983 study in which licorice root reduced the number of free radicals liberated by macrophages. [21]

The activity of licorice on the immune system has been described as "nonspecific" by most investigators. [22] This means licorice stimulates, activates or promotes an immune response in multiple ways. Earlier studies identified several of these effects. For example, researchers found that licorice appears to promote proliferation of B (from the bone) and T cells and stimulate production of interleukin-19, which stimulates T cells. Licorice also appears to stimulate the production of gamma-interferon by lymphocytes [23,24] and the differentiation of T3, T4 and T8 cells, specific kinds of activated lymphocytes. [23-25]

Piperine from Piper longum has also been found effective in SARS virus and single positive-stranded RNA virus

SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), is a positive-sense, single stranded RNA virus (subgenus sarbecovirus, Orthocoronavirinae subfamily). Thegenome sequence of SARS-CoV-2 is 79.5% identity to SARS-CoVand the lifecycle, transmission is similar for theseviruses [14]. Most importantlyboth the virususesthe same host cellular entry receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) to invade the cell.ACE2, is found in the lower respiratory track (lungs) of humans.

Therefore, the herbal products found effective onSARS-CoVare potential candidatesto treatSARS-CoV-2.

Adathodaikudineer (ADK) is used to treat respiratory infections in Siddha system and is been prescribed to the patients for over 55 years in the Govt. Siddha Medical College Hospitals and no adverse effect of this drug has been reported so far. This formulation finds place in the Hospital Pharmacopeia of Siddha medicine, and contains the following drugs:

Adathodavasica (Adathoda)
Glycyrhizaglabra (Atimaturam)
Piper longum(Thippili)
Taxusbaccata(Thalisapatri)

Phytochemicalvasicinonefrom Adathoda is known for itsbronchodilator activity [15], glycyrrhizin andpiperinefrom Atimaturam[16]andThippili[17], respectively are reported for inhibiting viral replication, and taxol from Thalisapatri for supressing intercellular communication that enhance viral spread [18].

Recommendation for SARS-CoV-2: It is advised that ADK is consumed twice a day for three days in suspected case SARS-CoV-2.The single herb Nelavembu could be added to the above formulation in case of fever.

This will certainly reduce the symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 and prevent the multiplication and spread of virus.

Reference:

[1] K. V. Thilagavathi, M Harihara Mahadevan, Eswaran, “A Case Study on Management of HIV by Integrated Treatment with Siddha Medicine and ART,” J Res Sid Med, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 59–62, 2018.

[2] Thillaivanan S, Kanakavalli K, and Sathiyarajeshwaran P, “CODEN (USA): IJPSPP A Review on ‘Kapa Sura Kudineer’-A Siddha Formulary Prediction for Swine Flu,” 2015.

[3] A. Riyasdeen, V. S. Periasamy, P. Paul, A. A. Alshatwi, and M. A. Akbarsha, “Chloroform extract of Rasagenthi Mezhugu, a Siddha formulation, as an evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine for HPV-positive cervical cancers,” Evidence-based Complement. Altern. Med., 2012, doi: 10.1155/2012/136527.

[4] S. P. Thyagarajan, T. Thirunalasundari, S. Subramanian, P. S. Venkateswaran, and B. S. Blumberg, “EFFECT OF PHYLLANTHUS AMARUS ON CHRONIC CARRIERS OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS,” Lancet, 1988, doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(88)92416-6.

[5] J. Jain, S. Pai, and S. Sunil, “Standardization of in vitro assays to evaluate the activity of polyherbal siddha formulations against Chikungunya virus infection,” VirusDisease, 2018, doi: 10.1007/s13337-018-0421-0.

[6] M. V. Viswanathan, D. K. Raja, and S. D. Khanna, “Siddha way to cure Chikungunya,” Indian J. Tradit. Knowl., 2008.

[7] E. S. Edwin et al., “Anti-dengue efficacy of bioactive andrographolide from Andrographis paniculata (Lamiales: Acanthaceae) against the primary dengue vector Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae),” Acta Trop., 2016, doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.07.009.

[8] R. Kalai arasi, R. Jeeva Gladys, S. Elangovan, D. K. Soundararajan, H. and Mubarak, and A. Kanakarajan, “A Combination Of Nilavembu Kudineer And Adathodai Manapagu In The Management,” Int. J. Curr. Res., vol. 5, no. 04, pp. 978–981.

[9] C. G.J. et al., “Protective effect of polyherbal Siddha formulation-Nilavembu Kudineer against common viral fevers including dengue - a case-control approach,” Int. J. Pharm. Sci. Res., 2015, doi: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.6(4).1656-60.

[10] J. Jain et al., “Antiviral activity of ethanolic extract of Nilavembu Kudineer against dengue and chikungunya virus through in vitro evaluation,” J. Ayurveda Integr. Med., 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.jaim.2018.05.006.

[11] C. Seniya, S. Shrivastava, S. K. Singh, and G. J. Khan, “Analyzing the interaction of a herbal compound Andrographolide from Andrographis paniculata as a folklore against swine flu (H1N1),” Asian Pacific J. Trop. Dis., 2014, doi: 10.1016/S2222-1808(14)60692-7.

[12] J. Cinatl, B. Morgenstern, G. Bauer, P. Chandra, H. Rabenau, and H. W. Doerr, “Glycyrrhizin, an active component of liquorice roots, and replication of SARS-associated coronavirus,” Lancet, 2003, doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(03)13615-X.

[13] G. Hoever et al., “Antiviral activity of glycyrrhizic acid derivatives against SARS-coronavirus,” J. Med. Chem., 2005, doi: 10.1021/jm0493008.

[14] Y.-R. Guo et al., “The origin, transmission and clinical therapies on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak – an update on the status,” Mil. Med. Res., 2020, doi: 10.1186/s40779-020-00240-0.

[15] A. H. Amin and D. R. Mehta, “A bronchodilator alkaloid (vasicinone) from Adhatoda vasica Nees,” Nature, 1959, doi: 10.1038/1841317a0.

[16] M. Michaelis et al., “Glycyrrhizin exerts antioxidative effects in H5N1 influenza A virus-infected cells and inhibits virus replication and pro-inflammatory gene expression,” PLoS One, 2011, doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019705.

[17] C. Mair, R. Liu, A. Atanasov, M. Schmidtke, V. Dirsch, and J. Rollinger, “Antiviral and anti-proliferative in vitro activities of piperamides from black pepper,” Planta Med., 2016, doi: 10.1055/s-0036-1596830.

[18] K. L. Roberts, B. Manicassamy, and R. A. Lamb, “Influenza A Virus Uses Intercellular Connections To Spread to Neighboring Cells,” J. Virol., 2015, doi: 10.1128/jvi.03306-14.

[19] Tang W, Eisenbrand G. Chinese drugs of plant origin. Berlin: Springer-Verlag; 191-7, 567-91.

[20] Akamatsu H, et al. Mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of glycyrrhizin: effect on neutrophil functions including reactive oxygen species generation. Planta Medica 1991;57:119-21.

[21] Igaku A, et al. The effect of glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetic acid on production of superoxide and hydrogen peroxide by macrophages. Chem Abstracts 1983;98:155082a.

[22] Chavali SR, et al. An in vitro study of immunomodulatory effects of some saponins. Intl J Immunopharmacol 1987;9:675.

[23] Nara IZ. The role of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) producing cells in clinical immunology. Chem Abstracts 1984;35:424.

[24] Sugawa I. OK432, glycyrrhizin and CCA (lobenzarit disodium) are good in vitro inducers of IFN-gamma production. Chem Abstracts 1991;114:135740j.

[25] Shinada M, et al. Enhancement of interferon-gamma production in glycyrrhizin-treated human peripheral lymphocytes in response to concanavalin A and to surface antigen of hepatitis B virus. Proc Soc Exp Bio Med 1986;181:205.

Dr.T.Thirunarayanan,

Siddha Physician,

Member – GB National Institute of Siddha

Member – ASU DrugTechnical Advisory Board - GoI

Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research

Chennai-88

Ph no. 9444018158

Email: thiru64@gmail.com

Nilavembu kudineer interventions during Seasonal fever

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Sat, 06 Oct 2018 10:25:00 +0000

Viral fever incidence have been on raise from 2007 onwards particularly during monsoon, Swine flu (H1N1), Chikunqunya and Dengue fever were affecting many areas of Tamil Nadu and the incidence varied in different districts. Often the incidence outbreak starts from the districts adjoining the states of kerala – (Coimbatore, Thirupur, Theni, Kanyakumari and Thirunelveli) by June every year and peaks around Oct- Nov and slows down by end Nov.

It was in the year 2006 for the first time swine flu was reported in epidemic proportion. The then commissioner of Indian medicine Tamil-nadu Dr. R. Vijaya kumar asked for suggestion for combating that. The departmental experts suggested Trithoda mathirai. He convened a meeting of external experts from CTMR Vd. Usman Ali and Dr. T. Thirunarayanan. They mentioned to him that the medicine was never prepared in large scale and no company had manufacturing license and moreover according to text it has to be stored for some months for maturity before using, so in a epidemic one can't wait and since it contains mercurial caution has to be made if it is distributed through public health delivery system. Instead they suggested the well known drug Nilavembu kudineer as it was used since the commencement of Govt college of Indian medicine in 1964, and also finds reference in Siddha Formulary of India They have also distributed it in a pharma company in Gujarat for 200 workers for three days when there was a epidemic there and in Mumbai. Since it gave protection from fever and also helped faster recovery the details were produced and NVKudineer was finalised for mass distribution. In 2009 CTMR wrote to Secretary AYUSH for evaluation of the drug for anti virus activity in National institute of Virology.

About Nilavembu kudineer- It comes as a coarse powder to be made into a decoction One such Siddha formulation which fulfills the entire requirement is the ‘Nilavembu kudineer’ which contains the following ingredients – Andrographis paniculata (herb), Vetiveria zizanioides (roots), Cymbopogon jwarancusa (roots), Santalum album (heart wood), Trichosanthes cucumerina (herb) Cyperus rotundus (tuber) Zingiber officinale (rhizome), Piper nigrum (fruit), and Mollugo cerviana(whole plant). Antiviral plants in the formulation are Andrographis paniculata, Santalum album and Trichosanthes cucumerina. Antipyretic plants in the formulation are Vetiveria zizanioides, Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Andrographis paniculata, Santalum albumand Trichosanthes cucumerina. Immunomodulant plants are Zingiber officinale, Piper nigrum. Analgesic ingredients are – Andrographis paniculata, Zingiber officinale and Cyperus rotundus. Antibacterials are Vetiveria zizanioides, Cymbopogon jwarancusa, Santalum album and Trichosanthes cucumerina.

Dose: 2 gram of the powder boiled with 60 ml like tea – With a lid to prevent evaporation of essential oils, filtered and taken. The decoction is freshly prepared every time and taken twice a day preferably after food as for diabetes taking in empty stomach can rarely cause hypoglycemia and for people with gastric irritation can cause nausea or vomiting This is taken for three days for prevention The same medicine is taken thrice a day after food for five days in pts with fever Rehydration with water, tender coconut water, butter milk is essential. Avoidance of spicy food is good. Since platelet lowers leading to internal bleeding in small blood vessels monitoring of platelets count is essential even if fever disappears. Good Brands are IMPCOPS, SKM Siddha ayurveda pharma or Lakshmi Seva sangam

Tamil Nadu Govt efforts

The initiative of the Govt. of Tamil Nadu (2012) particularly the Chief minister to mass distribute Nilavembu kudineer has started paying results in containing the 'Panic' caused by the outbreak of the dengue epidemic in Tamil Nadu. Initially there was a resistance from Public health personnel to admit the outbreak, subsequently efforts were taken to get the actual data on the outbreak from both Govt. Hospitals and Pvt. Health providers. The approach to the management of the outbreak was first to identify the actual number of dengue from all fever patients with ELISA in major hospitals and subsequently in major secondary level centres and disease surveillance by making it mandatory for Pvt. clinics and hospitals to inform public health dept. Awareness about controlling mosquito breeding was also made. The treatment approach was to provide simple Anti-pyretics and wherever necessary platelet transfusion. Along side outbreaks of water borne diseases like Jaundice and Typhoid also occurred making it difficult for the public health authorities.

Practitioners of Traditional Siddha Medicine started using the conventional 'Nilavembu kudineer' which showed promise of controlling fever and different siddha vaidyars suggested different herbs including Adathoda, Manjista, Pidangunaari to improve platelet counts. Social media was full with posts on Papaya leaves. Individual Siddha doctors and Groups conducted Camps to distribute Nilavembu kudineer. That is the point when CM intervened and issued not just a Govt. Order instructing all hospitals to co-administer Nilavembu kudineer and Juice of Papaya and Malai Vembu but released publicity material in both print and visual media. This became a Game changer. More and more people consumed these herbal medicines from Govt. Hospitals, Pvt. Clinics and even as 'Over the counter product'. Studies where initiated at the King Institute, Chennai which reconfirmed many earlier studies on the anti-viral properties of the herbs which Siddha physicians were insisting on.

CTMR experience

CTMR has been promoting Nilavembukudineer as a preventive measure a dose already stated decoction made from 2 gram of powder, twice a day for three days at regular intervals of six months ie. twice a year from 2006 to People for whom CTMR provides primary health care ( About 1000 families in two health centres and two outreach mobile clinics).

During 2015 Chennai floods due to sudden railfall of 50 cms in one day and 100 cms within a week. Many areas were under water and outbreak of infectious disease was feared in many localities. CTMR conducted camps with the help of volunteers in multiple locations (Saidapet, Velacherry, Chinnandikuppam, Velankadu, Amoor etc) and about 5000 households were provided Nilavembu kudineer for three days as per protocol and also provided care for other common conditions including diarrhea, gastritis, Tinea pedis etc. There was no significant outbreak of fever for a month the people who were provided Nilavembukudineer.

The same was repeated in affected areas after Cyclone Vardha which devastated large residential areas of Chennai.

In Industrial unit

From 2012 CTMR started following this protocol-The Nilavembu decoction (Material sourced from IMPCOPS – a multi-state cooperative was prepared in house) and was implemented in an industrial unit (Aravind Laborotaries- Eyetex) manufacturers of religious cosmetics (Kumkum , eyeliners) and colour cosmetics. 450 employees majority of them 385 are women of age group 18- 40 years of age and rest men. There were some 30 who were working in office and rest of them all either in manufacturing and packaging. Except 20 all were from Lower middle class households residing in cluster houses which are densely populated closer to adyar river and channels nearby- Good Mosquito breeding grounds. After this intervention incidence of fever and absence due to fever was much less according to the attendance register and health records maintained by the in-house health unit.

Though the efficacy of Nilavembu kudineer in containing fever was known by now CTMR decided to carry out a Systemic documentation of the benefits of intervention

In July 2017 also incidence of Dengue were reported from Coimbatore districts CTMR provided Nilavembu kudineer to the employees (450) of Aravind Laboratories in last week of July following the same protocol and dose. This year it was decided to collect the data on intervention in a structured questionnaire at the end of 3 months from providing NV.

The observations are as under

385 Females of whom 380 work in manufacturing and packaging 19 Office or Senior position in R & D, 65 Males of whom 51 were Casual workers and 14 in office or manufacturing management cadre.

People with fever for more than 3 days were sent for Lab tests to rule out different fever (16 were tested)

The observations are as under

- 63 patients did get one episode of fever within the three months period

- 1 of them tested positive for dengue

- 1 tested positive for Typhoid – Male worker

- 12 members from the family of workers affected by dengue ( Not consumed Nilavembu kudineer)

- 38 Patients recovered in a day and rejoined duty (One day of absence due to fever – Fitness recd from Employees State Insurance hospital)

- 9 patients rejoined duty after two days of leave due to fever

- 16 patients took leave beyond three days

They above findings suggest that Nilavembu kudineer cannot prevent all types of viral fevers but can help faster recovery from fever

Medicinal plants Sector – Current status

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 05:38:00 +0000

The ‘Herbal Industry’ including AYUSH manufacturing industries, Nutrition and supplementation industry, Personal care industry are using a wide range of plant parts derived from trees, shrubs, climbers and herbs and even grasses. Herbal Extraction and Phytopharmaceutical industries also use medicinal plants.

Demand:

The demand for these plant parts are also growing year after year owing to the increased number of Medical practitioners of Ayurveda Siddha and Unani systems of medicine, opening of ISM wings in Govt. Primary Health Centres under National Rural Health Mission, opening of centers in ESI hospitals and not to talk of private ayurvedic hospitals and spas. The Social Media has also popularized Indian herbs and their benefits across the globe and these products are sought after.

Large scale use of Indian Medicine promoted by Govt. of Tamilnadu has become a trend in epidemics like Dengue, Swine flu, Malaria has further accelerated demand for medicinal plants. Demand for Siddha medicines like; Nilavembu Kudineer’ – the sudden increase to the tune of 400 crores in one year and National brands like Patanjali has further enhanced demands for herbal material. The spiraling cost of the Ayurvedic ,Siddha drugs is also due to this non-availability and demand

Quality parameters

The industries need to comply by the quality standards for herbal material prescribed by the Pharmacopeias of Siddha and Ayurveda . The key quality parameters for herbs are

· Moisture – 5- 6%

· Foreign material – Even the plant part other than required -1-2%

· Microbial limits – Nil for pathogen, yeast and mould Not More Than 1000 Colonies per unit

· Heavy metals- Lead, arsenic, mercury – NMT 10PPM

· Ash content – 2-6%

· Assay for Phyto constituents

Most of the above can be tested in a small laboratory created as common facility, close to a growing area, particularly in a cluster approach. Adopting Good agricultural practice or Good collection practices if collected from wild will ensure quality.

Source of crude drugs

a) Wild collection

Till a decade ago materials were collected from wild, not just forest but from barren lands, agricultural land margins, lake and pond bunds and Road side. Currently owing to the factor that declaration of more forest areas as wild life areas and no harvest zone, wild collection is getting increasingly limited. Moreover since there is a shrinkage on availability and the need to travel to far flung places to collect the same amount of medicinal plants which where colled earlier,The forest dependent communities collect less from the wild as younger generation is not interested as it is not very remunerative. Collectors do not have facility to clean, grade and store the material properly so they immediately sell to traders at whatever price they offer.Contamination happens with pathogens due to human, cattle excreta, heavy metal contamination is caused in the wild near industrial area, from soil and drying in the roads without proper drying facility

The agents among the collectors source it and send it to traders (some handle selected items only region wise), while traders in cities who have contact with traders and exporters buy from all regions and also get from traders in other states.

b) Cultivation

Only few species are cultivated that too for exports and Phytopharmaceutical extraction companies. They include herbs like Gloriosa superb, Coleus forskholli, Passiflora incarnate, Cassia aungustifolia etc., Exporters mostly depend on cultivation for large quantity material and rely less on wild collection. The increasing demand is not completely met by cultivation as of now. Very often Industry organizations like Ayurvedic Drug Maunfacturers Association, Ayurvedic Manufacturers Association in Kerala (The largest producing state of Ayurveda Products next only to Gujarat) raise the issue of non-availability of herbs. However agrotechnology and agroeconomics have been already worked out for close to 50 herbs among the 170 which are frequently used by the industries.

c) Procurement from outside

The manufacturers from the AYUSH and Phytopharma industry get the crude drugs from other states – Dehradun in Uttarkhand, Amristar in Punjab Chattisgargh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh. In most cases the Forest department corporations or Tribal development department run organizations help tribals to collect and market their produce/ wild collection

Many ingredients including dry ginger, Guggul , Licorice are imported from other countries.

Ports in Gulf region, Indonesia, Singapore are the hubs for import.

Phyto-sanitary certification is done by Plant quarantine and storage dept. of Ministry of agriculture

Things to be done

a) Planning for consistent supply of quality raw material to industry is based on proper assessment of demand supply from the traders, manufacturers and exporters. A Survey needs to done ( Not a passive survey seeking information sitting in one place) A systemic planning and spreading the list of species to be grown will help not only the Industries but the growers too.

Once tree growing is promoted for the land margins and if each farmer in a cluster grows the same five species, consolidation and procurement will be easier. In areas where silvyculture is taken up, intercropping of medicinal plants, climbers in particular will provide remuneration to growers in medium and short term till returns come from the trees. Since most of the crude plant drugs are bulk and transport cost being high, it is better to cultivate plants which can be sold in the local region or at best in the three southern states.

The choice of plants should be based on the ones used by a wide range of industries and not confined to the needs of one or two industries. That is where contract farming has failed. But for plants which are exported either raw or after processing by extraction industry, large scale cultivation has been successful – Coleus, Gloriosa and Senna if only grown by the limited contracted farmers.

Most the plants that are listed as in high demand and frequently used by multiple manufacturers or exporters can be grown in different agroclimatic zones of Tamil Nadu. A judicious mixture of them if cultivated in limited area, marketing would not be a problem. But since most industries in this sector in Tamil Nadu are PSU or cooperatives or Trust they go by tender and lowest quotation and require at least few plants to be grouped and supplied. So consolidation by a way of a growers society or producer company (A New company type now supported by Govt. and NABARD for farmers) will help them actively participate in tender and market the produce in a profitable way.

b) Rural Godowns and Processing centre

The medicinal plants are available only in particular season but the demand from the manufacturers is year around. As most collectors do not have place to clean, process and grade medicinal plants without any contamination and also to store them safely till the next season and supply them to the industry as per the request there is a need for establishing rural godowns cum processing center in identified areas near the forest somewhere medicinal plants are being collected. National medicinal plant board or NABARD can be approached for establishing this kind of rural godowns designed to store graded bale packed herbal material under hygienic condition.

A small testing laboratory could be established in these godowns which are tested as per the pharmacopias and supply to industry which will add great value to the collectors or gatherers of medicinal plants. A revolving fund can be provided to the members of the village forest committee so that they can collect, gather, store and supply during the needy times.

c) Need for nursery and seed bank

Many farmers in Tamil Nadu are looking for alternate crops which are less labour intensive, require less water and chemical fertilizers and pesticides. But unfortunately the planting material or seeds that they require are not easily available in places nearer to them. Therefore establishing of nurseries for medicinal plants which are required in a specific region can be done in the central nurseries of the or the extension centers and the research blocks of the forest dept.

Training

Forest extension centers can provide training in nursery development propagation, medicinal plant agronomy, post harvest processing and quality standards and testing of the crude drugs.

To conclude the Tamil Nadu forest dept with its rich resources and knowledge base in the medicinal plant sector can definitely play a lead role in enhancing quality medicinal plant raw material at the appropriate price to the manufacturing industries and reduce the health burden of the state

இழந்ததும், உருவாக்கியதும்

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 12:40:00 +0000

"வானரங்கள் கனிக்கொடுத்து மந்தியொடு கொஞ்சும்" மேற்கு தொடர்ச்சி மலையின் வளத்தைப் பற்றி நாம் பல பெருமைகள் பேசிக்கொண்டிருந்தாலும்/தெரிந்திருந்தாலும், மருத்துவ தாவரங்களை பொருத்தவரை வளமையிலும், வனப்பிலும் கிழக்குத் தொடர்ச்சி மலையும் குறைந்தது இல்லை. தமிழகத்தில் 80 கி. மீ அகலமும், 32 கி.மீ நீளமும் உடைய,இன்றைய திருவண்ணாமலை, வேலூர் மாவட்டங்களில் பரந்து, விரிந்து இருக்கும் பாலாறு ஓடுகின்ற ஜவ்வாது மலைத் தொடர் ஒரு சிறந்த உதாரணமாகும். சந்தனக் காடுகள் இயற்கையாக நறுமணம் தரும். இந்த மலைத் தொடர் சங்க இலக்கியத்தின் பிற்கால நூலாக கருதப்படும் 'மலைபடுகடாம்' நூலின் களமாக இருந்திருக்கின்றது. இரணிய முட்டத்து பெருங்குன்றூர், பெரும் கௌசிகனாரால் நன்கன் வேண்மானை புகழ்ந்து எழுதப்பட்டதாக இருப்பினும் மலையை யானைக்கு ஒப்பிட்டு, சத்தத்துடன் விழும் அருவி நீரை யானையின் மதநீருக்கு ஒப்பிட்டு எழுதப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.

நெல்லி,. அசோகம், மா, புளி, மூங்கில், வாகை, பிரம்பு, வாழை, தினையும், வரகும், கருப்பஞ்சோலையும், விதவிதமான பூக்களையும் கொண்டிருந்த வளமைமிக்க கிழக்குத் தொடர்ச்சி மலையின் தென்மதிமங்களம் கிராமத்திலிருக்கும் நவ்வீர மலையும், ஜவ்வாது மலையினரின் இன்றைய நிலையும் கவலை அளிக்கிறது. இயற்கையாகவே இங்கு கிடைக்கும் வனப்பயிர்களும் சிறுமகசூல் பயிர்களையும், மூலிகை தாவரங்களையும் வளப்பதற்கான பயிற்சியும், தொழில்நுட்பமும், பொருளாதார உதவியும் கொடுத்து சந்தைப்படுத்துகின்ற வாய்ப்பையும் வழங்க தவறியதால் 25 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்னால் ஒரு இளைஞர் வனத்துறையுடனான மோதலில் மரணித்ததால் அரசு அலுவலர்களை எதிரியாக மனதில் கருதும் போக்கு, நம்பிக்கையின்மையும், வனவாசி மக்களை ஆந்திராவில் செம்மரம் வெட்டும் கூலிகளாக மாற்றியிருக்கிறது.

நன்னனின் தலைநகராய் இருந்த செங்கம், மேல்செங்கமலையும் இன்றைக்கும் கடுக்காயும், சந்தனமும், மாகாளி கிழங்கு (மலைநன்னாரி என்ற பரு நன்னாரி), மூங்கில், முதலியவை இயற்கையாக வளரக்கூடியக் காடுகளை கொண்டதாய் இருக்கிறது.

மேற்குத் தொடர்ச்சி மலையின் பல்லுயிர் பெருக்கத்திற்கு கொஞ்சமும் குறைவில்லாத இந்த கிழக்கு மலைத்தொடர் வனப்பும், வளமும் மிக்கதாயிருப்பினும் மூங்கில், விளாமரம், தும்பை தகரை, பேய்யத்தி, புங்கு, எருக்கு, ஆலமரம், நெல், புளி, கொய்யா, நெல்லி, கரும்பு, பலா, எலுமிச்சை, மாதுளை, தானியம் மற்றும் சிறுதானியம் போன்ற உணவு பொருளுக்கு பஞ்சமில்லாதப் பகுதியாகவும் இருந்தது. பல 100 ஆண்டுகள் பழமையானப் பெரிய மரங்கள், நீரோடைக்கருகே பீம்மன்னமடவுக்கு அருகே நிற்கின்ற மிகப்பெரிய மருதமரங்கள் ஜவ்வாது மலையின் சிறப்பாகும். ஆனால் கொஞ்சம் கொஞ்சமாக இந்த மலையில் இருந்த சந்தன மரங்களெல்லாம் வெட்டி அழிக்கப்பட்டு மலைநன்னாரி தாவரங்கள், கிழங்குகள் எல்லாம் வியாபாரத்திற்காக தோண்டி எடுக்கப்பட்டுப் பணப்பயிருக்காகப் பட்டுப்பூச்சி மரம் (mulberry) வளர்த்தல் போன்ற தாவரங்களின் வளப்பதற்காக இயற்கையாக வளர்ந்த தாவரங்கள் அழிக்கப்பட்டன. மேலும் காட்டெருமைகள், யானைகள் போன்ற விலங்குகளும் வாழ்ந்து வந்தன, ஆனால் யானைகள் பிற்காலத்தில் வேறு இடங்களுக்கு இடம் பெயர்ந்துவிட்டன.

பல வகை வண்டுகள், பூச்சிகள், பட்டாம் பூச்சிகள், தும்பி, வெட்டுக்கிளிகள், பாம்புகள் போன்றவையும் காணப்படுகின்றன. 98% வனவாசி மக்கள் இருந்த இந்த பகுதியில் அவர்களுடையப் பாரம்பரியக் கலாச்சார பண்புகள், உணவுமுறைகள், மருத்துவ தாவரங்கள் பற்றிய அறிவு ஆகியவை அழிக்கப்பட்டு 70% மக்கள் மதுவுக்கு அடிமையாக்கப்பட்டு, குறைந்த அளவு கல்வியுடனே படிப்பை நிறுத்தி வறுமையின் காரணமாகவும், புதிய இருசக்கர வாகனங்கள் வாங்கவேண்டுமென்ற அவாவிலும், கூரை வீடுகளை மாற்றி, நிரந்தர வீடுகள் கட்டவேண்டுமென்ற விருப்பத்தாலும், தங்கள் வாழ்வை பணயம் வைத்து செம்மரம் வெட்டும் கூலிகளாக மாறியிருக்கிறார்கள். அரசாங்கம் இங்கு ஆரம்ப சுகாதார நிலையங்களை ஏற்படுத்தி இருந்தாலும், வனத்துறை பள்ளிகளை நடத்தி வந்தாலும், மலைவாழ் சமூகத்தில் பெரிய மாற்றத்தை ஏற்படுத்த முடியவில்லை. ஓரளவு மாற்றம் வந்தாலும் கூட பள்ளிப் படிப்பிற்குப் பின்னர் இளைஞர்கள் தவறான வேலைகளுக்கு இழுக்கப்படுகிறார்கள். இயற்கை வளமிருந்தும் மூலிகை, காய்கறி பயிர்கள், வனத்தோட்ட பயிர்கள், சிறுதானியங்கள் வளர்ப்பதற்கான வாய்ப்பிருந்தும், தன்னார்வ தொண்டு நிறுவனங்கள் சிறிய அளவில் சந்தை வாய்ப்பை ஏற்படுத்துவதற்கும் மனமாற்றத்திற்கும் முயற்சி செய்தாலும் பெரிய அளவில் அது தாக்கம் ஏற்படுத்துவதில்லை. தன்னார்வளர்களும், அரசும் குறிப்பாக வனத்துறை, தோட்டக்கலை துறை, இந்திய மருத்துவ துறை ஆகியவை ஒருங்கினைந்துக் கீழ்கண்டப் பணியை மேற்கொள்வது இழந்ததை மீண்டும் பெற ஏதுவாக இருக்கும்.

1. பொருளாதார, சமுதாய மேம்பாடு இல்லாமல் கல்வி, உடல்நலம், மனமாற்றம், ஆகியவை ஏற்பட வாய்ப்பில்லை. இதற்கு முதல்படியாக மானாவாரியாக வளரும் சிறுதானியங்களின் உற்பத்தியை அதிகப்படுத்தி, அதனை சுத்திகரித்து மதிப்பு கூட்டும் பொருளாக மாற்றி அதற்கான விற்பனை வாய்ப்பையும் ஏற்படுத்தல் வேண்டும்.

2. இங்கு இயற்கையில் கிடைக்கும் கடுக்காய், நெல்லிக்காய், மருதம்பட்டை, மலைநன்னாரி, கழற்சிக்காய், சிறுகுறிஞ்சான், வாய்விடங்கம், தேன் முதலியவற்றை தாவரம் அழிந்து விடாமல் அல்லது நிலையாக சேகரிக்கின்ற வழிமுறைகளைப் பயிற்றுவித்து, சேகரிப்பிற்கு பின்னர் சீராக தரம் பிரித்து, உலர்த்தி, சித்த, ஆயுர்வேத மருந்து செய்கின்ற அரசு மற்றும் கூட்டுறவு நிறுவனங்களுக்கு சரியான விலையில் நேரடியாக விற்பதற்கு வழிமுறை செய்தல் வேண்டும்.

3. இந்த தட்பவெட்ப சூழலில் இயற்கையாய் வளருகின்ற குறைந்தபட்சம் 100 வகையான, சந்தனம் உட்பட மருத்துவ தாவரங்களை வனத்திலும், பொது நிலங்களிலும், தனியார் நிலங்களிலும், வளர்ப்பதற்கான தொழில்நுட்பம், விதை அல்லது கன்றுகள், இயற்கை இடுபொருள்கள், ஆகியவற்றை அரசு துறைகள், வழங்கி விவசாய தொழிலாளர்களின் கூட்டுறவு நிறுவனம் ஏற்படுத்தி அதற்கான உதவி தொகையையும் 100 நாள் வேலை வாய்ப்பு திட்டத்தின் மூலமாகவும் பழங்குடியினர் சிறப்பு திட்டத்தின் மூலமாகவும் வழங்குதல் வேண்டும். மா, பலா, வாழை, மாதுளை, எலுமிச்சைப் போன்றப் பழப்பயிர்கள், உற்பத்தியைத் தனியார் நிலங்களில் உருவாக்க உதவி, சந்தை படுத்துவதற்கும் உதவ வேண்டும்.

4. மேற்கல்வி கற்பதற்கான சிறப்பு பயிற்சி வழங்கி வாழ்வியலுக்கும் பயன்படும் தொழிற்கல்விக்கு மாணவ மாணவியரை தயார்படுத்த வேண்டும். இவையெல்லாம் செவ்வனே செய்யும்போது இவர்கள் எளிதாகப் பணத்தை காட்டி மோசம் செய்கின்றவர்கள் வலையில் சிக்காமல் தம் வாழ்வாதாரத்தை மேம்படுத்தி தங்களுடைய இயற்கை செல்வங்களை பயன்படுத்தி சுயசார்புடையவர்களாக இருப்பர்.

5.பாரம்பரிய மருத்துவ அறிவையும், ஆரோக்கியமான உணவுப் பழக்கவழக்கத்தையும் மீண்டும் நினைவூட்டி அவர்களின் ஆரோக்கிய வாழ்க்கைக்குச் சுயசார்புள்ள மருத்துவ முறையைக் கடைபிடிக்க வைத்து நலமுடன் வாழ முயற்சிகள் மேற்கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

Global acceptance of Siddha Medical Practice – Scope and Challenges

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Wed, 03 Oct 2018 12:38:00 +0000

Traditional Medicine of proven quality, safety, and efficacy, contribute to the goal of ensuring that all people have access to care. The traditional systems are valued mostly because of its closeness culturally to the practices of people. Most of the concepts of wellbeing as propounded in the traditional medicine are readily understandable by common man due to the closeness to their social, cultural features and as well as the plants used in medicine and food are familiar to them. They are also valued because of the fact that is close to homes, accessible and affordable.

Large numbers of people trust in the healing power of the traditional medicine. The affordability of most traditional medicines makes them all the more attractive at a time of soaring health-care costs and nearly universal austerity. Traditional medicine also stands out as a way of coping with the relentless rise of chronic non-communicable diseases. Regardless of reasons for seeking out traditional medicine, there is little doubt that interest has grown, and will almost certainly continue to grow, around the world. Siddha medicine, one of the two codified systems of India, the principles and practices that are well conceptually structured and well documented is also now slowly gaining attention in the vast expanse of land where south Indian population have migrated and settled but also among researchers of traditional medicine, anthropology and Public health.

Siddha medicine one among the well codified traditional system of medicine, though considered as a Tamil system of medicine is in fact pan global in nature for the following reasons. The Cittars who made the existing knowledge into codified health science by authoring treatises, originated or travelled to different parts of the world, particularly the Asia (Bogar, Pulipanni. Yacobu, Korakar, Thirumoolar, Dhanvantri to name a few. All the herbs and other material used in the drugs of the system do not belong to the current day south India alone or even the Indian subcontinent, various herbs (Asefodieta, Guggulu, Licorice) and inorganic including mercury are from outside the region. Most of all the basic concepts of Siddha are applicable throughout the world.

More over the current trend clearly suggests governments and consumers are interested not just in herbal medicines but are now beginning to consider aspects of traditional practices and practitioners and whether they should be integrated into health service delivery. Today Traditional medicine products and practices from one region are used throughout the world to complement local health care service delivery, making them a truly global phenomenon. The other factor why there is a need for global acceptance is because of the fact individuals move freely from country to country in order to live and work. This in turn requires availability of Siddha medicines globally and also a better understanding of the consistency and safety of practitioners’ ability to deliver health care in the new environment and cultural variations.

We need continues work on defining and supporting access to safe products and practices. The awareness about Siddha medicine among the Indian Diaspora (not just Tamils, many Malayalees after the opening of a college in Trivandrum and among Kannadigas and Telugu speaking population due to a large presence in Bangalore, Vizag and other towns and in the Indian neighborhoods in many countries (UAE, US and UK) where people temporarily travel and stay for work. The ethnic Tamil population that migrated to Europe and Canada from Sri Lanka in the past century and earlier migration to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Africa have now realized the need to incorporate Siddha system into healthcare.

Health systems around the world are experiencing increased levels of chronic illness and escalating health care costs. Patients and health care providers alike are demanding that health care services be revitalized, with a stronger emphasis on individualized, person-centric care.

The emergence of life style disorders (Non communicable diseases) throughout the world has drawn attention to the usefulness of Siddha medical system, as the following basic understanding is the way to live healthy and reverse these non communicable disorders

· Living in harmony with nature – understanding the relationship/ commonality of human and the environment – Five primordial elements

· The understanding on the body- mind relationship in health and disease – Anthakaranas and Astaragas

· Food and Health- Age, Activity, appropriate food for recovery from disease

· Lifestyle, habits, physical activities and health – Daily regimen and Seasonal regimen – cleansing therapy

· Uniqueness of the individual

These concepts are applicable to every living being in the world and could be practiced for better health in any part of the world.

Most of the Southeast Asian countries still reel under problems of Malaria, dengue and other viral diseases and some of the Siddha medicines which have shown promise will be readily accepted after certain data are generated and provided as these countries are also looking for solutions to these epidemics.

The popularity of physical manipulative therapy including therapeutic varma is gaining grounds as it does not require a great list of medicines to practice and the skill of the physician is the most important thing and it can be practiced in a small centre in any geographical location of the world. The role of varma is significant in three areas- pain management, correction of postural disorders and Sleep disorders. Certain external therapies do require a proper evaluation of safety and efficacy, but by and large can be adopted in most of the countries.

The herbs that are used frequently in Siddha medicine include a wide range of spices and condiments used in daily food across Asia, Eurosia and by Indian Diasporas even in the western world and could be readily locally manufactured in those countries itself. Many of the tropical herbs are also available in most of the Asian countries and governments will have no hesitation in permitting manufacture of the Siddha medicines based on these herbs and spices locally used and also permit import from India with proper product dossier. The principle of drug selection is based on Taste, Property, Potency, After taste and Unique action can be applied even to European herbs and instead of currently used Siddha herbs, newer herbs could be chosen based on these principles as even in the past herbs that are not native to South India have also been included in Siddha. Many of the Siddha herbs individually have been well investigated by different university departments and research centers and enough data on safety, efficacy at appropriate dose is already available and little more efforts on these formulations will make them acceptable globally. Initial choice should be simple formulations with fewer ingredients which are safe. This will make Siddha medicine entry easy in many countries

As much scope we have in making Siddha medical practice a global phenomenon, as Siddha medicine becomes more popular, it is important to balance the need to protect the intellectual property rights of our indigenous practitioners and their health care heritage while ensuring access to Siddha knowledge and fostering research, development and innovation. Any actions should follow the global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property Policy makers and consumers should consider how Siddha may improve patient experience and population health. Important questions of access as well as population and public health issues must be addressed.

Since practices vary widely from country to country with certain practices regarded differently depending on the culture, understanding and accessibility of conventional medicine, this system also need to fine tune to the local needs, environment – climate, weather, food and lifestyle.

A practice where significant progress has been made is acupuncture. Although acupuncture was originally a feature of traditional Chinese medicine, it is now used worldwide. According to reports supplied by 129 countries, 80% of them now recognize the use of acupuncture.

The Challenges for making Siddha medical practice acceptable globally lies in convincing the governments about the quality of practitioners, practice and drugs.

The Siddha practitioners have a similar qualification and regulation like Ayurveda and the regulatory body being same, countries which have already permitted practice of the other Indian medical system will have lesser queries when approached by Siddha practitioners willing to establish practice. Some of the countries specify specific years of prior clinical experience immediately before applying for permission to establish practice and also requires a pre registration test mostly on public health, policy and safety, attitude. Aspiring Siddha practitioners needs to be trained on that. Even in a country where practice of Varma is allowed, Siddha medicines are yet to be permitted for use. Product registration is mandatory based on the product dossier, which should contain the details of ingredients, their safety profile, data on clinical efficacy, the Standard operating procedures adopted during manufacture, GMP status of the factory etc., Necessary precautions needs to be adopted in the choice of ingredients – herbs even, and local regulatory frame work on their status like- list of toxic herbs, narcotic drugs etc in the country of use. WHO limits of microbial load and heavy metal limits needs to be strictly adopted. But these challenges also provide an opportunity to ensure safe efficacious drugs for local users too. Yet another challenge for acceptance of Siddha Medical practice is the perception that it is linked with certain religious faith, philosophy, tantric and mystic practice. The use of inorganic too may pose a challenge initially and once we have enough data on their safety profile that could also be overcome. Today’s Overseas Indian generation gets all the awareness about Siddha either from TV shows or Social media posts which most of the time misrepresent the facts above Siddha. So proper awareness needs to be created based on evidence and reliable facts should be disseminated to them

Risk as perceived by people on use Traditional medicine as listed by WHO is applicable to Siddha practice also. Some countries have also found it difficult to regulate due to

· Use of poor quality, adulterated or counterfeit products;

· Unqualified practitioners

· Misdiagnosis, delayed diagnosis, or failure to use effective conventional

treatments;

· Exposure to misleading or unreliable information;

· Direct adverse events, side effects or unwanted treatment interactions

To conclude Siddha medical practice can be made acceptable globally if Practitioners, Practice and products quality is properly regulated with the help of Ministry of AYUSH, our regulator body and research council.

Cyclone in the coastal city of Chennai- Revival of green cover

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 03:46:00 +0000

Following are important information that emerged from the brain storming session jointly by Tamil Nadu Association of Senior Professionals on Environment and Forest (TASPEF), Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research (CTMR), Chennai and the Department of Botany, Madras Christian College (MCC), Tambaram on 16^th Jan 2017

The total number of fallen trees is 12000 but breakage of branches is numerous.

Any replanting should be limited to 20000 considering the space available

The trees that have fallen are mostly Albizia saman (Rain Tree), Delonix regia (Gulmohr), Cassia siamea (Siamese cassia), Peltophorum pterocarpum (Copper pod) and Tabebuia rosea (Rosy trumpet). He listed the following native trees that have been uprooted viz., Azadirachta indica (Neem), Ficus religiosa (Pipul),Ficus benghalensis (Banyan),Tamarindus indica (Tamarind) and Thespesia populnea (Portia).

Poorly developed root system, Infected trunks, Loose soil, Damaged roots: Unbalanced growth and Wind direction and wind barriers are the major influencing factors for Tree fall

Comprehensive plan for the revival of lost biodiversity of the City and the suburban areas and named the same as the GEAR plan. They are: Growing Greenery, Environmental enrichment, Aesthetic amelioration and Restoration of Biodiversity. Under Growing Greenery, appropriate strategy would be proper identification of planting zones, streets etc and using GPS, followed by development of plantation maps, considering environment stabilization requirement, espacement criteria and the need for increasing the number of trees two times.

In the selection of species, following criteria has to be considered: crown cover, aesthetic look, wind resistance, rapidity in growth, evergreen characters, deep rooting, drought hardiness and disease resistance, wildlife and biodiversity value, oxygen producing capacity and ability to sequester carbon dioxide.

4 Ps viz., Policy, Physical space, Planning and Peoples’ participation for achieving success are important in revival of lost biodiversity.

It is highly essential that the Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) stipulated in the National Biodiversity Act should be put in place, even in urban areas at the earliest to protect the green lungs like reserve forests, religious groves in the urban parts of our State. The problem should be looked into its whole and not just in bits and fragments.

Some actions are taken when problems crop up and then forget about it. The efforts should be sustained and continuous.
There is ample scope for the corporate to get involved in the task of re-greening the areas suffered due to Vardah by allocating their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.

There should be a tree planting policy for urban areas that aims to reach the minimum requirement of at least about 9 sq. m tree cover per capita, as recommended by the World Health Organization and further stated that while assessing the tree requirement for Greater Chennai, the above aspect may be taken into consideration

There is a need to establish a tree line along each road and street.

The persons carrying out outstanding greening activities may be recognized as tree heroes.

Decentralized nursery production may be encouraged but with adequate quality monitoring.

Forest nurseries in Nanmangalam, Velachery and Anna Nagar could be approached for saplings. Technical assistance can be had from the organizers.

It is time to act than talk

Some species considering the possibilities are

· Neem

· pungam

· Punnai

· Nuna

· Vagai

· Vengai

· Vilvam

· Kumilam

· Malai vembu

· Asokam

· Puvarasu

· Arasu

· Pavalamalli

· Sarakondrai

· Naaval

· Illupai

· Thetran

· Nagalingam

· Murukkan

· Athi

· Mulbery

· Jatropha

· Adathoda

· Nochi

· Kattu badam

· Putranjevi

· Kadambam

SCHOOL HERBAL GARDEN

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 14:43:00 +0000

SCHOOL HERBAL GARDEN

Plants play a major role not only in the life of a human being but also every living being and are the gift of the nature to protect, sustain life in this world. Some provide us edible material, food- grains, pulses, fruits, vegetables, Some provide beautiful flowers which we offer in our prayer and also decorate a place to have a very aesthetic look, some provide us materials for making cloths, some provide wood for making our home and furniture, some provide fuel- bio-fuel. Plants provide oxygen for us to breathe. Tress provides shade for us to rest, helps cloud formation and rain, and prevents global warming. Some plants are used as medicines. Some plants are natural fertilizers, cattle feeds and some are natural insect repellents and pesticides. In simple terms life is fully dependant on the nature’s gift called plants. Though plants grow in the same soil, imagine the range of species that are available and also the natural variation within the same species. It is essential for everyone to be associated with creating and preserving a herbal garden, be it at school or home or industrial area, community park, hedge of plants and where ever possible.

“Herbs are defined as plants (trees, shrubs, vines, perennials, biennials or annuals) valued historically, presently, or potentially for their flavor, fragrance, medicinal qualities, insecticidal qualities, economic or industrial use, or in the case of dyes, for the coloring material they provide” - Holly Shimizu

Purpose

Demonstrative purpose - The purpose of the Herbal Garden is to demonstrate about the plants that have been the source of medicines in the past and present and also the future.
Awareness creation - Creating awareness on the importance and traditional uses of medicinal plants for better health of school going children, parents and teachers.
Conservation- Herbal garden paves the way preserving the medicinal plants, especially the rare, endangered and threatened (RET) species of medicinal plants.
Herbal Garden in schools’ provide them an opportunity to work closely with herbal plants and inculcate a sense of familiarity from childhood with surrounding biodiversity
To create medicinal plant resource in schools so that it can be replicated in the nearby areas, homes, hostel and also become available to the needy persons.
Utilization - Increasing the availability of the medicinal plants utilized in Traditional Medicines and as simple home remedies

Creating a herbal Garden

The size and type of herbal garden need not be very big. It depends on the space available, water potential, protection from cattle, stray animals etc. An herbal garden may be informal with a mixture of herbs, flowers and vegetables, or it may be formal with paths and herb beds laid out in simple or complex patterns. The Paths or walkway can be made of a number of materials, such as brick, stone, gravel, red earth , river sand or grass, but in each case they should be wide enough at least 5 ft width.. For schools with limited space, herbs grown in a variety of containers make an attractive display on a balcony or near walkway .The sides of the walk way can have bushes- shrubs like Henna, Hibiscus which are both medicinal and ornamental.

Choose an area for growing herbs on which the sun shines four to six hours per day. Some plants perform well under shade of trees like coconut etc, but Tamarind tree does not allow plants to grow However, if you have a shady yard there are a number of herbs that will do well for you. A clear demarcation of the garden plots with stakes and string is essential and students should be involved in every activity including this activity. Once the outside perimeter in place, with the help of a predesigned garden map create garden designs with rectangular beds and plots, and straight pathways. If enough space is there circular beds, star-shaped plots can also be created. Create walkways around it and mulch the garden paths. Wood chips from tree pruning work well. The site must be well drained. If water remains on top of the soil, drainage is poor and herb growth will be affected. If a badly drained site is the only one available, tiling may be done or, , raised beds may be constructed. Raised beds can be built with extra soil kept in place by raised bed edgings of brick or stone. A mounded bed does not require an edging at all; however, this look is more appropriate in an informal plan. Adding a great deal of organic matter to the top two feet of soil can also improve drainage in heavy clay soils.

Garden Tools and materials

Basically a tap with water, hose pipes based on the length and breadth of the site, rose cans, sikatures, garden scissors, hand hoes, small crowbars , spade, spading fork, rake, trowel, hand weeder, pruning shears, sharp knife are required. The enjoyment of working in a herbal garden depends in part upon using the right tools. The quantity of each sort of gardening tool will depend on the budget and the scale of the program. Select only those that are needy, strong and durable enough for long years of service. Take good care of them and keep them in a convenient area ready for use.. The minimum needed is a good pair of pruning shears, a sturdy trowel, watering can or hose and a spade. It is better to buy less and get the best quality you can afford.

Who will mind them?

Students, who are members of the eco club, green club and students of biological sciences from class Sixth to 9^th will carry out the garden creation and maintain them under the supervision of the biology teacher and Eco club coordinator. A each batch of students will be responsible for particular herbal plots. During school vacation, school gardener or guard will water the plants. Teachers and students from immediate neighborhood can also volunteer during holidays.

Where to get plants/ seeds/ saplings

Most of the plants of common use are generally available just around the School and roadsides, pond sides. Most of them multiply through stem cuttings or plantlets or seeds. So the propagation material can easily be collected. Seeds and Saplings could be collected from nearby forest nurseries, forest extension centres, horticultural dept farms, corporation parks and from private nurseries. Children could also be encouraged to collect plants from homes, roadsides, tank, river bunds etc,

Choice of Plants for School garden

The choice of plants for school herbal garden should be drought resistant, shrubs, small herbs, climbers. They should not have thorns as it may hurt children passing by. They should be safe, non-toxic and should be useful for common conditions that affect children. The nursery activity should commence in June as soon as school reopens after summer holidays and planting by end july. Following plants will be good to start with

1. Indigofera tinctoria – Avuri or Neeli

2. Hibiscus rosa sinensis - Chemparathai

3. Cissus quadrangularis – Pirandai

4. Aloe vera – Sottru Katrazhai

5. Bacopa monnieri - Neer Brahmi

6. Plectranthus ambonicus- Omavalli

7. Andrographis paniculata - Nilavembu

8. Tinospora cordifolia – Seendilkodi

9. Lawsonia inermis – Maarudhani, Henna

10. Adhatoda vasica - Aadathodai

11. Ocimum tenuiflorum – Thulasi

12. Centella asiatica - Vallarai

13. Vitex negundo – Nochi

14. Gymnema sylvestre - Sirukurinjan

15. Piper longum- Thippili

16. Lemon Grass – Cymbopogon citratus

17. Vetivera zizonoides- Vetiver

18. Alpinia calcarata- Chitharathai

19. Curcuma longa – Manjal

Nilavembu Kudineer - Some facts

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Sun, 13 Dec 2015 08:23:00 +0000

இன்றைக்கு சித்த மருத்துவம் பற்றிய விழிப்புணர்வு இருக்கிறதோ இல்லையோ

நிலவேம்பு கஷாயம் பற்றி மக்களுக்கு மிக நன்றாக தெரிகிறது. பல்வேறு வைரஸ் கிரிமிகளால் வரும் பன்றி காய்ச்சல், பறவை காய்ச்சல், சிக்கன் குனியா, டெங்கு காய்ச்சல் போன்ற நோய்களுக்கும் நிலவேம்பு கஷாயம் ஒரு நிச்சய தீர்வாக சித்த மருத்துவர்கள் கருதுகின்றனர்.

எல்லா வகை காய்ச்சலுக்கும் ஒரே தீர்வா, இது எத்தனை தூரம் உதவியாக இருக்கும். இதை பாராசிடமால் போல் சுரம் வந்த பின் பயன் படுத்த வேண்டுமா, சுரம் வராமல் தடுக்க உதவுமா . இதனை தண்ணீருக்கு மாற்றாக பயன் படுத்தலாமா. எத்தனை நாள் குடிக்க வேண்டும். ஒரு முறை குடித்த பின் எத்தனை மாத இடைவெளியில் தற்காப்புக்காக குடிக்க வேண்டும் போன்ற பல கேள்விகள் மக்கள் மத்தியில் இருக்கிறது

இந்த நிலவேம்பு குடிநீரில் அப்படி என்னதான் இருக்கிறது . முதலில் கஷாயம்/ குடிநீர் என்றால் என்ன என்று பார்போம். இன்றைக்கு ஹெர்பல் டீ என்று சொல்கிறர்களே அதை போன்றதே கஷாயம்/ குடிநீர். அதாவது சில மூலிகைகளை உலர வைத்து கரகர பொடியாக்கி அதனை கொதிக்கின்ற நீரில் சேர்த்து கொதிக்க வைத்து வடிகட்டி குடிப்பது. மருந்தாக பயன் படுத்தும் பொழுது அந்த மூலிகையில் இருக்கும் மருந்து சத்து நீரில் வரும் வகையில் பொடித்து, ஊற வைத்து , கொதிக்க வைத்து, அதே நேரத்தில் அதில் இருக்கும் ஆவியாக கூடிய நறுமண பொருள் தப்பி செல்லாமல் மூடி வைத்து கொதிக்க வைத்து வடி கட்டி கொள்ளுதல்.

நிலவேம்பு கஷாயத்தில் நிலவேம்பு, வெட்டிவேர், விலாமிச்சை வேர், சந்தனம், பேய்புடல், கோரைகிழங்கு, சுக்கு, மிளகு,பற்பாடகம் என்று 9 மூலிகைகள் உண்டு . ஒவ்வொரு மூலிகைக்கும் சிறப்பான மருந்தியல் செயல் உண்டு. அவையின் கூட்டு செயல் சிறப்பானது. அதாவது தனிப்பட்ட மூலிகைகளின் பயன்பாட்டில் இருக்கும் தன்மையை காட்டிலும், சில மூலிகைகளை சேர்த்து செய்யும் பொழுது மருந்தின் செயல் தன்மை கூடுவதுடன், சில மூலிகைகளில் உள்ள விரும்பத்தகாத பண்பும் சமன் செய்யப்படும், மருந்தின் குறைந்த அளவில் கூட நோய் நீக்கும் தன்மை சிறப்பாக இருக்கும். சுரம் என்பது பொதுவாக வாதம் , பித்தம், கபம் என்று சொல்லும் மூன்றில் பித்தம் - வெப்பம் மிகுதியினால் வரும். எனவே அதனை சமன் படுத்தும் மருந்து குளிர்ச்சியை தருவதாகவும் புளிப்பு, உப்பு, காரம் நீக்கிய கசப்பு , இனிப்பு சுவை மிகுந்ததாக இருத்தல் வேண்டும்.அதே நேரத்தில் வாத மிகுதியால் ஏற்படும் வலியை குறைப்பதாகவும் இருத்தல் வேண்டும். வெட்டிவேர், விலாமிச்சை வேர், சந்தனம்,மிளகு,பற்பாடகம் முதலியவை வெப்பத்தை குறைக்கும் பித்த சமணிகள்., கோரைகிழங்கு, சுக்கு இரண்டும் வாதத்தின் வெளிப்பாடான வீக்கம் வலியை போக்கும் .நிலவேம்பு, பேய்புடல் பித்தம் மற்றும் கபத்தை சீராக்கும். வாத, பித்த, கபத்தை மூன்றையும் சீர்படுத்தும் தன்மையால் நிலவேம்பு கஷாயம் சிறப்பு வாய்ந்தது.

ஒவ்வொரு மூலிகைக்கும் சிறப்பான மருந்தியல் செயல் உண்டு.அதனை பற்றி தெரிந்து கொள்வோம். நிலவேம்பு 2 அடி வரை வளரும் செடி வகையை சார்ந்தது , இதன் இலை மிளகாய் செடியின் இலையை போன்ற வடிவத்தில் இருக்கும். பாம்பின் நாக்கை போன்ற வடிவில் மலரின் இதழ் இருக்கும். கசப்புகளின் அரசன் என்று வர்ணிக்கப்படும் இந்த செடியின் தண்டு நான்கு பக்கங்களை உடையதாக இருப்பதால் எளிதில் இனம் காண முடியும். வேம்பு என்ற சொல் கசப்பு என்பதை குறிக்கும். எனவே இதனை வேப்ப மரத்துடன். தொடர்புபடுத்தி மரம் என குழம்பக்கூடாது . அண்மைக்கால ஆய்வுகள் நிலவேம்பு பல்வேறு வைரஸ் கிருமிகளை கொல்லும் என்றும் ஈரல் பாதிப்பை தடுக்கும் தன்மையும், குருதி சர்க்கரை இரத்த அழுத்தம் இரண்டையும் குறைக்கும் . பசியின்மையை போக்கும் மருந்தியல் செய்கை உடையது என்று நிருபிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது சுரத்தை கட்டுபடுத்தும் செய்கையும் முதன்மையானது.

வெட்டிவேர், விலாமிச்சை வேர் இரண்டும் பொதுவாக மணற்பாங்கான இடங்களில் மண் அரிப்பை கட்டுப்படுத்த உதவும், 2 அடி வரை வளரும் தன்மையும் ஆண்டு முழுமையும் வளரும் புல் வகை தாவரங்கள் . வெட்டிவேர் நட்ட 15=18 மாதங்களில் இதன் வேர் நல்ல மணம் தரக்கூடியதாக இருக்கும். உடலுக்கு குளிர்ச்சி தருவதற்காக தட்டி, பாய் , விசிறி செய்து பயன் படுத்துவதுடன் வெயில் காலத்தில் மண் பானையில் நீரில் வெட்டிவேரை போட்டு வைக்கும் பொழுதுஅதில்உள்ள நறுமண எண்ணையின் கிருமி நாசினி தன்மையாலும் குளிர்ச்சி தரும் தன்மையாலும் பயன் படுத்துவது நமக்கு தெரியும் . இந்த காரணத்தி னாலே சுரம் போக்கும் பித்தத்தை சீர் செய்யும் மருந்துகளில் சேர்க்கப்படுகிறது. விலாமிச்சை வேர் என்பது மலையாளத்தில் வெட்டிவேரின் பெயர் என்பதால் ஒரே மூலிகையை இரண்டு முறை சேர்கிறார்களோ என்ற சந்தேகம் சிலருக்கு உண்டு. ஆனால் விலாமிச்சை வேர் தாவரயியல் பெயர் CYMPOBOGEN JWARANCUSA, சந்தனமும் குறிப்பாக அதன் வைரம் பாய்ந்த கட்டை மற்றும் வேர் பகுதிகளில் உள்ள நறுமண எண்ணையின் கிருமி நாசினி தன்மையாலும் குளிர்ச்சி தரும் தன்மையாலும் சுரம் நீக்கும் தன்மை மற்றும் நிலவேம்பு, பேய்புடல் ஆகிய மூலிகைகளின் மிகுந்த கசப்பு தன்மை மருந்து பருகுவதை வெறுக்கும் நிலையை போக்கும். பேய்புடல் வேலி ஓரங்களில் வளரகூடிய ஏறு கொடி வகையை சார்ந்தது . குஜராத் போன்ற மாநிலங்களில் இதன் காய் 'படோலம்என்ற பெயரில் சமைத்து சாப்பிட படும்., இந்த இலை பித்தத்தை சீராக்கும் வீக்கத்தையும் உடல் உறுப்புகளில் ஏற்படும் அழற்சியையும் போக்கும் . இரத்தத்தில் இருக்கும் சர்க்கரை அளவை குறைக்கும். சில மருந்து செய்கின்ற நிறுவனங்கள் விலை குறைவு என்ற காரணத்தினால் பாகற்காய் கொடியை இதற்கு பதில் பயன்படுத்துகிறார்கள்.

சுக்கு பற்றி நான் சொல்ல தேவையில்லை . ஓவ்வொருவருக்கும் தெரிந்த வீட்டு மருந்து என்றே சொல்லலாம். சுக்கு இல்லாத கஷாயம் இல்லை என்ற பழமொழியும் சுக்குக்கு மிஞ்சிய மருந்தில்லை என்ற சொல்லாடலும் நமக்கு தெரியும் . வாதத்தை சமன் படுத்தும் வீக்கம் வலியை நீக்கி செரிமானத்தை சீர்படுத்தி, சுரத்தில் வரும் உடல் வலி, தலை வலி ஆகியவற்றை போக்கும். மிளகும் நமக்கு நன்றாக தெரியும். சித்த மருத்துவத்தில் பித்த சமனிப்பொருள் என்று விவகரிக்கப்படும் நம் தினசரி உணவில் பயன் படுத்தப்படும் பொருள். பத்து மிளகு இருந்தால் பகைவன் வீட்டிலும் உணவு அருந்தலாம் என்ற போற்றப்படுகிறது.இன்றைய ஆய்வில் இதில் உள்ள piperine என்ற வேதிப்பொருள் கிருமி கொல்லும் செயலும், பிற மருந்துகளின் உட்கிரகித்து குறைந்த அளவிலேயே மருந்துகள் நன்றாக செயல்பட செய்யும் தன்மை உடையது என்று நிருபிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது, பற்பாடகம் தரையில் படரும் சிறு செடி நூல் போன்ற மெல்லிய தண்டு உடையது .கிருமி நாசினி செய்கையும், சுரமகற்றி .செய்கையும் உடையது.ஈரலை பாதிக்கும் பல் வேறு நச்சு பொருட்களில் இருந்து பாதுகாக்கும். கோரை கிழங்கு விவசாயிகளால் பெரிதும் வெறுக்கப்படுகின்ற களை புல்லானாலும் சித்த மருத்துவத்தில் பெரிதும் பயன் படுகின்ற கிழங்கை உடையது.வீக்கம், வலியை குறைப்பதுடன் நோய் எதிர்ப்பு சக்தியையும் (immune stabilizer) செயலும் உடையது.

எப்படி பயன்படுத்துவது ?

வைரஸ் நோயினால் சுரம் தொற்று நோயாக பரவும் காலத்தில் நோய் தடுப்பிற்காக தினசரி இரண்டு வேளை உணவுக்குப பின் குறைந்தது 5 நாட்களுக்காவது தொடர்ந்து பயன் படுத்த வேண்டும். சுரம் வந்த பின் பயன்படுத்துவதாக இருந்தால் ஃப்ளு சுரமாக இருந்தால் ஒரு நாளுக்கு 3 வேளை பயன் படுத்த வேண்டும். மருத்துவர் ஆலோசனையுடன் பயன்படுத்துவதே நல்லது. பொதுவாக சிறந்த நிறுவனங்களில் தயாரிக்கப்படும் நிலவேம்பு கஷாய சூரணம், ஒன்றிரண்டாக இடிக்கப்பட்டு பொடியாக எளிதில் நீரில் கொதிக்க வைக்கும் பொழுது கஷாயமாக மாறும் தன்மையில் இருக்கும். 2 கிராம் பொடிக்கு 100 மில்லிலிட்டர் நீர் சேர்த்து மூடி வைத்து நன்றாக கொதித்த பின்னர் வடிகட்டி பருக வேண்டும். ஒரு முறை கொதிக்க வைத்ததை மீண்டும் கொதிக்க வைக்க கூடாது. தயாரித்த மூன்று மணி நேரத்திற்குள் பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும். மூடி வைக்காமல் கொதிக்க வைக்கும் பொழுதும் அதிகம் கொதிக்க வைத்தாலும் மருந்தில் உள்ள நறு மண வேதியல் பொருள்கள் மருந்தில் தங்காமல் ஆவியாக வெளியேறும், மருந்தின் செயல் தன்மை குறையும்
.

எல்லா வகை காய்ச்சலுக்கும் ஒரே தீர்வா,?

எல்லா வகை காய்ச்சலுக்கும் ஒரே தீர்வா என்று கேட்டால் நிச்சியமாக இல்லை என்றே சொல்ல வேண்டும் . குடற் கரம் என்னும் டைபாய்டு காய்ச்சலில் சித்த மருத்துவத்தில் பிற மருந்துகள் உண்டு. நிலவேம்பு கஷாயம் வெறும் வயிற்றில் சாப்பிடும் பொழுது குடல் புண்ணை அதிகபடுத்தும். வயிற்றில் எரிச்சலை உண்டாக்கலாம்.

மழை காலங்களில் வைரஸ் கிருமிகளால் வரும் flu, - பன்றி காய்ச்சல், பறவை காய்ச்சல் முதலிய சுரத்தினால் பலரும் பதிக்கப்பட்டிருந்த நிலையில் ஒரு முறை (8 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பு ) நானும் வைத்யா உஸ்மான் அலியும் குஜராத்தில் பவநகர் பகுதியில் உள்ள ஒரு பெரிய மருந்து நிறுவனதின் மேலான் இயக்குநருடன் பேசிக்கொண்டு இருந்தோம். ''எங்கள் மருந்து நிறுவனதில் பல ஊழியர்கள் சுரத்தால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு விடுப்பு எடுத்துள்ளார்கள் . எஞ்சிய ஊழியர்கள் சுரத்தால் பாதிக்கப்படாமல் இருக்க சித்த மருந்துண்டா'' என்று கேட்டார். உடனடியாக அருகாமையில் இருந்த 'ஜரிபுட்டி' - நாட்டு மருந்துக்கடைக்கு சென்று தேவையான மூலிகை சரக்குகளை வாங்கி அங்கயே கஷாயம் காய்ச்சி 3 நாட்கள் 300 ஊழியர்கள் பருக கொடுத்தோம். மறு நாளிலிருந்து சுரத்தினால் விடுப்பு எடுப்பது குறைந்தது. பின்னர் மேலும் சில தொழிற்சாலைகளில் வருடம் தோறும் இரு முறை கொடுப்பதை வழக்கமாகி இருக்கிறோம் . அங்கெல்லாம் சுரம் வரும் காலங்களில் ஊழியர்கள் சுரத்தால் பாதிக்கப்படாமல் productivity அதிகமாவதை தொழிற்சாலை மேலாண்மையினர் சொல்வது உண்டு. நோய் தடுக்கவும், தீர்க்கவும் உதவும்.

இதனை தண்ணீருக்கு மாற்றாக பயன் படுத்தலாமா.

ஒரு சிலர் ஆறு மாத காலமாக இதனை தண்ணீருக்கு மாற்றாக பயன் படுத்துவதாக பெருமையுடன் சொல்கிறார்கள். இது நிச்சயம் தவறு. அளவுக்கு மிஞ்சினால் குருதி சர்க்கரை குறைவு இரத்த அழுத்த குறைவு முதலிய எதிர் வினையை ஏற்படுத்தும். இதனால் தலைசுற்றல் மயக்கம் முதலியன ஏற்படலாம் . ஊரில் சுரம் பலருக்கும் ஏற்படும் காலத்திலும், பருவ கால மாற்றத்தின் பொழுது, குறிப்பாக ஆடி மாதம் ஐப்பசி கார்த்திகை மாதங்களில் வைரஸ் சுரம் வராமல் இருக்க முன்று நாள் காலை , மாலை இரு முறை உணவுக்கு பின் குடிக்க வேண்டும். ஒரு முறை குடித்த பின் ஆறு மாத இடைவெளியில் தற்காப்புக்காக குடிக்க வேண்டும்

நீரை தேற்றான் கோட்டையை இடித்து போட்டு சுத்தம் செய்யலாம் ,நெல்லிமர கட்டையும் நீர் தொட்டிகளில் போட்டு நீரை சுத்தம் செய்யலாம் . இவை இரண்டும் நீரின் கடினத்தன்மையை போக்குவதுடன் நோய் கிருமிகளையும் கொல்லும் . சீரகம் சேர்ந்து மூடி போட்டு நன்றாக கொதிக்க வைத்து அறிய நீரை பருகலாம்

நிலவேம்பை (கசாயம்) பற்றிய என்னுடைய கேள்வி தொடர்கிறது. தமிழக வனத்துறை எந்த சித்த ஆயுர்வேத மருந்து செய் நிலையங்களுக்கும் சந்தனம் தராத நிலையில் TAMPCOL,IMPCOPS, காந்தி கிராமம் அறக்கட்டளை நடத்தும் LSS நிறுவனம் ஆகியவை மட்டுமே முறைப்படி சந்தனம் பெற உரிமை பெற்று பயன்படுத்துகின்றன. பல நிறுவனங்கள் சந்தனம் சேர்க்காமலேயே நிலவேம்பு குடிநீர் பொடி தயாரிகிறார்கள். அது போல பேய்புடல் சேர்க்காமல் பாகல் இலையை பயன் படுத்துகிறார்கள். சிலர் நிலவேம்பு செடியின் பொடியை மட்டுமே நிலவேம்பு குடிநீர் என்று விற்கிறார்கள் . லேபிலில் எல்லா 9 மூலிகைகளின் பெயர் குறிப்பிடாமல் இருந்தாலும் தயாரிப்பு உரிமை எண் (Drug Mfg.Lic) குறிப்பிடாமல் இருந்தாலும் பொது மக்கள் வாங்க வேண்டாம் . போலி மற்றும் தரம் குறைந்த மருந்தால் நோய் தடுப்பும் நோய் குணமும் கிடைக்காது.

நிலவேம்பு குடிநீர் விலை ஏன் அதிகம்

நிலவேம்பு குடிநீர் விலை அதிகமாக இருப்பதற்கு காரணம் சந்தனம் திண்மையான மைய கட்டை (Heartwood -Rs 4500/Kg). சிலர் லாப நோக்குடன் குறைந்த விலையுடைய மென்கட்டையை பயன்படுத்துகிறார்கள் மென்கட்டை (Sapwood.Rs 150/Kg) இரண்டிலும் உள்ள வேதியல் கூறுகள் வெவ்வேறு என்பது ஆய்வு மூலம் புலனாகும். இந்த சுழலில்தான் காலத்திற்கு ஏற்ப சித்த மருந்துகளில் ஏற்படும் மாற்றங்களை பற்றி தொடர் ஆய்வு தேவை என்பது என் போன்றோர் குரல். இதைத்தான் சித்த மருத்துவம் காலத்திற்கு ஏற்ப மாறுதலுக்கு தன்னை உட்படுத்தி கொள்ள தயாரா

தமிழக அரசின் ' மழைக்கால நிலவேம்பு சிறப்பு மருத்துவ முகாம்' நாளையுடன் முடிவடைகிறது. ஒரு நாளில் 5.5 இலட்சம் மக்கள் கடைவீதி , சந்தை, பள்ளிகள், பேருந்து நிலையங்கள் மற்றும் அரசு மருத்துவமனைகள் நடத்தப்பட்ட முகாங்களில் மருந்தை பெற்றிருக்கிறார்கள் . தமிழக மக்கள் நம்பிக்கையுடன் இந்த சித்த மருந்தை பயன்படுத்தி இருக்கிறார்கள். அதை விட பஞ்சாயத்து தலைவர்கள், நகர, கிராம உள்ளாட்சி அமைப்பு மக்கள் பிரதிநிதிகள் சித்த மருத்துவம் பற்றி விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்பட்டு அரசு ஆரம்ப சுகாதார மையங்களில் பணிபுரியும் சித்த மருத்துவர்களை ஒரு மரியாதையுடன் பார்க்கும் மனப்பான்மை ஏற்பட்டு இருப்பதாக தமிழகத்தின் பல்வேறு பகுதிகளில் பணிபுரியும் மருத்துவர்கள் சொல்கிறார்கள். தமிழக அரசு சித்த மருத்துவத்திற்கு இது போன்ற நெருக்கடி நிலையிலாவது முன்னுரிமை வழங்குவது நன்றே.

ஆனால் வெவ்வேறு சுரத்திற்கும் சித்த மருத்துவத்தில் தனி தனி நோய் போக்கும் மருந்தும் வழிமுறையும் இருப்பதால் சுய மருத்துவம் ஒரு நாளுக்கு மேல் மேற்கொள்ளாமல் மருத்துவரை ஆலோசித்து நோயன்றி வாழுங்கள்

Enhancing Medicinal Plant Resources

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 15:07:00 +0000

In the earlier post I have mentioned about a Brain storming session recently held on the Status of Medicinal Plants at Tamil Nadu Forest Training Academy. (19^th June2015). The Decision makers and almost all senior officials of TN Forest Department, Industry representatives, Forest Academy, College, Research institutes and few farmer Association office bearers took part.

Most forest officers were of the view that conservation is the priority and no harvesting should be allowed. Some even felt that No data is available on the inventory of species available in Tamil Nadu forest. Researchers were for prioritizing identification of Genetic variability. Many expressed that the entire herbal trade is non transparent and traders and industry plunder nations wealth.

Cultivators expressed the views that Seeds, Technology and appropriate marketing mechanism is not there.

Industries were saying they find no shortage of any crude drug and added it is wrong to say that there is no transparency as most companies go by open tender process, some with forward contracts with gatherers and growers. The need for storage godowns was also expressed. The general perception was, Medicinal plant sector is unorganized and with no institutional mechanism in place for Certification and provision of authentic herbal raw material

On my part I raised the following on behalf CTMR

1. My concern on the absence of The Commissioner of Indian medicine who is responsible for procurement of medicine for all 1800 GH/PHC/ ISM Hospitals and Colleges – The largest user of Medicinal plants in the meeting and the absence of State Medicinal plant board representative and the horticultural Dept who promotes home gardens and sanctions subsidy for plant growers.

2. The Revival of the now neglected Medicinal Plants Development Areas created in 2000-2002 across the state and non –utilization of the Resource created.

3. Proper monitoring of The AYUSH Cluster which was funded by Ministry of AYUSH with the mandate to act as a herbal crude drug bank and common facility for testing and manufacture by smaller units. This is yet to take off.

4. The possibility of providing saplings for Home herbal garden by the Forest extension centres/ forest nurseries and 56 research units functioning in the state – Integrating with Organic terrace garden project of Horticulture Dept.

5. Promotion of 20 important medicinal Trees (50 nos each species)in the campus of all educational institutes particularly 550 engineering colleges- Higher Education secretary to send a guideline through Anna University to the colleges and Director of College education. Similarly Sipcot INDUSTRIAL PARKS and others could grow as Avenue and hedge tress. Forest Extension centres to encourage Village Forest Committees to grow and sell saplings for the Institutes. This will not only augument medicinal plant resource but improve livelihood of Marginalized forest dependant communities.

6. Forest Dept to encourage NABARD to fund for Rural Godowns which could act as grading and storage centers for gathers and growers and certified clean authentic material will be made available to ISM Industry at affordable cost and farmers will be saved from distress selling due to lack of storage space.

I hope ‘ Amma’ Home Herbal Garden kit will be available at the earliest with 7 most important medicinal plants useful as home remedy.

In search of Safe Herbal Medicine - Organic ginger trip

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 12:02:00 +0000

Two stake holders have raised the issue on the quality of raw materials used in the manufacture of Siddha and Ayurvedic medicines. One drug manufacturer with GMP facility used to talk about his concern on the quality of dry ginger – Chukku he receives for drug manufacture in the last decade – most of them from imported source with very little pungency, aroma and more of fibre. A retired Indian Administrative services officer used to raise the question on using herbal ingredients which are grown with hybrid planting material, heavily treated with chemical fungicides, pesticides and fertilizers- She used to ask, are these things safe to human and will they have the same benefits and safety profile as mentioned in traditional texts of Ayurveda and Siddha? These questions were always haunting me. So I decided to be on a trial of some of the key raw materials. Dry Ginger – Chukku being a key ingredient in most Siddha, Ayurveda formulations, even the one like Sowbagya suntee, which is used by lactating mothers. So it become a natural choice. After a detailed literature search on sourcing pattern, cultivation areas in south India were identified, and we decided to travel to the region personally and interact with Agricultural university, Spices research Departments both in Tamilnadu and Kerala, Horticultural departments in cultivation areas, NGO’s involved in capacity building, farmers both growing organically and otherwise. The area covered included Coimbatore districts, western slope villages of Nilgiris, Wayanad district – Sultan bathery, Kalpeta, Gundalpet area of Karnataka and Satyamangalam region of Erode district.

The key outcome of the studies is as under

TNAU Spices department feels the area under cultivation is very meager in TN either organic or otherwise. No specific package of practices has been developed for ginger- organic cultivation, the practices recommended by the spices board is disseminated among farmers but no documentation of pest , disease and their management is done, though solutions are suggested to farmers. The same view is echoed by the State horticulture department in Coimbatore district.
The Technical officer in Spices research centre of KAU feels though some farmers claim they grow organically, 98% use chemical fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides etc but feels. organic cultivation is feasible and he showed few cultivation sites. The same sentiment was echoed by the Associate director of Research, Spice research centre, KAU. But there was variation in cost estimate and yield. They feel Rio de janero and Rajat are superior in terms of yield both for table use and dry ginger process.
There is a NGO which promotes organic farming (MSSRF) and they took us to few farmers who are cultivating native Maran variety very successfully near Kalpeta for processing it into dry ginger. The farmer also grows Varatha variety for table/cooking use
Satyamangalam organic farmers looks like using multiple natural products like VAM, Azo, Phosphobacterium, Trichoderma, Panchakavya, Amirthakaraisal, Moor karaisal etc which may not be feasible by all
On observation and measuring – Maran Variety scores over others in terms of yield, dry ginger output low fibre content, better oleoresin content. 360 bags of 60 kg each per acre.
Sandy loom or alluvial soil is best suited. A bund of one meter breadth is made and mother seeds are planted at 30 cm gap between two. Most of the cultivation is rain fed as the area receives rainfall for 6 months during the crop season. Feb is the month of sowing. Harvesting is completed by Dec
Harvesting at 240 days from the appearance of first tiller from mother rhizome provides better quality yield.
Excepting some rotting during water stagnation not many pest or disease affect the crop which requires intervention. But still farmers use pesticides and fertilizers as routine

To conclude Organic cultivation of ginger is possible as input cost is lesser and output is more or less equal and definitely not less than conventional crop and organic cultivation various rhizomes used in Siddha and Ayurveda is possible and a systemic effort to promote them is necessary among farmers, ayurvedic industry and end users.

Incidentally the study trip was adventurous as we traveled across Anaikatty, Silent valley, Wyanad and Mudhumalai tiger reserve, Muthanga wild life sanctuary, Bandhipur wild life sanctuary and Sathyamangalam tiger reserve. On the day of our visit there was a tiger attack on a woman, who died very close to the estates we were traveling. But we were asked to vacate the area immediately by our senior forest officer friend on telephone and advised as not to travel after sun set. Timely warning.

I must acknowledge the following persons. Kerala Director of IMPCOPS Dr. Arunbaby helped a lot in networking in his area. I must say the Associate director of Research Dr.Rajasekar of Kerala Agriculuture university and Mr.Rajamony Technical officer went out of the way to interact with us at their homes till late in the night.Mr. Vargeese of MSSRF - Kalpetta took us to farmers for on site interaction. Ramanji of Green Kovai, Arsha Vidya Gurukulam helped with logistics.

Paget’s disease and Siddha Management

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 06:36:00 +0000

It is long time since this blog is updated, as the microblog social network is simpler to express things in few lines. But this time decided to write this blog as it is felt the message is important and needs to be conveyed. Also normally clinical issues are not discussed in this blog unless they are really path breaking. Yesterday afternoon, a seventy year old male patient called up on telephone and informed that at last he is relieved of the ordeal of daily dressing of his wound in the right thigh with pus/ fluid discharge. He also said ‘The discharge stopped and wound healed almost before a week but I want to be doubly sure that discharge does not reoccur so that I can confidently convey to you’. Amazing it is almost three years I have been suffering seeing one doctor after other including Ayurveda physician, for the condition I was diagnosed as Paget’s disease, I never thought that these simple herbal medicines suggested by you will work’. But I thought it otherwise as the medicines and herbs prescribed to him are all well researched and have enough evidence.

For the common reader who reads this blog, let me explain what this condition is. Paget's disease of bone is a chronic disorder that can result in enlarged and misshapen bones. Paget's is caused by the excessive breakdown and formation of bone, followed by disorganized bone remodeling. This causes affected bone to weaken, resulting in pain, misshapen bones, fractures, and arthritis in the joints near the affected bones. Often Paget's disease is localized to only a few bones in the body. Paget's disease typically is localized, unlike osteoporosis which usually affects all the bones in the body.

In Allopathy/Biomedicine there is no cure for Paget's disease, medications bisphosphonates and calcitonin can help control the disorder and lessen pain and other symptoms. Medications are often successful in controlling the disorder, especially when started before complications begin. Paget's disease is rare in people less than 55 years of age. Men are more commonly affected than women.

In this patient it has occurred in the femur the thigh bone. He has developed infection and was having a non healing deep fistula type wound with discharge mostly with pus. His movements are restricted and with very little physical activity, infection and stress has developed borderline diabetes.

The drugs suggested were the following. Cissus quadrangularis – Pirandai as food supplement for bone repair, Skimmed milk, Ragi and millets particularly the ones rich in calcium as breakfast food. Decoction of Rubia cordifolia – Manjista and Mahavallathy legiyum for its efficacy in controlling neogrowth and local application of a medicated wick with datura oil. A blend of Turmeric and Indian Gooseberry to control diabetes was also given. The results were obvious by the end of two months. Discharge of pus stopped after 20 days, the serous discharge after two month, with formation of granulation tissue and wound completely healed in 70 days. The patient is now able to walk atleast 500 mts without pain or instability with a support of a walking stick. He is suggested for a X-ray of the femur to confirm the bone shape. The Expense incurred for this is only 0.01% of the money he has incurred in the last three years. It is not just about the cost effectiveness but also the safety and efficacy of these plant drugs in a chronic disease.

CTMR attempts to share its clinical experience for the benefit of the humanity.

Traditional Medicine - Some questions

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 14:17:00 +0000

Recently i addressed students from USA doing their Semester in India Programme. The raised some questions on traditional medicine. I am sure many would have the same questions. So I thought will post the reply here also.

1.What advantages do you see in the philosophies of ayurveda versus the philosophies of biomedicine?

Ans:Traditional Medicine is based on the priniciples of living in Harmony with nature and holistic whereas Bio-medicine approach is more compartmentalized approach with specialist for every body system. TM believes in ' Strong body with good immunity will take care and fight against invasive mocrobes, carcinogens etc while Bio-medicine aims at killing the invading organism.

2. Do you believe ayurvedic and western medicine institutions should be kept separate?

No, the ideal model would be a integrative approach where Ayurvedic Physicians and Western Medicine Physicians sit together, discuss and provide best possible care to the patient including promotive health, cleansing therapy and rejuvenation.

3. Do you see traditional medicine as superior to other types of medical care? Why or why not?

No system can be claimed to be superior to other. They have to coexist and where ever one system is beneficial in disease prevention and care that system should be adopted. Each system could be complimentary to one another

4. Are there illnesses today that are different from previous generations?

Yes in India. Infectious disease burden and epidemics like Swine flu, Avian flu, dengue, drug resistant tuberculosis goes increasing in one hand and Non communicable diseases like obesity, hypertension, diabetes is also growing even among rural population due to sedentary lifestyle and occupational hazards for people working in Information Technology sector is also increasing.

5. Is the "modern person" today in balance?

Certainly not. In spite of enviornment awareness, Modern person lives under continous stress and competition and live in a condition of Global warming, polluted enviornment.

6. Is traditional medicine specifically useful in Indian society, or is it useful anywhere in the modern world?

Nature and Five elements, Trinity of Life, Six tastes are common to the whole world. There may be some variation in climate, pollution level, food habits, stress level etc, That variations could be factored in TM and herbs of tropics may very from temperate zone . But clear application for western herbs is possible based on the Taste and enviornment. Even within India there is a diversity in food culture etc but principles are same.

Chronic Kidney Disease and Herbs

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 13:25:00 +0000

‘Did you take any Ayurveda or Siddha Medicine? That is the reason why you have developed this kidney disease. They contain heavy metals which damage your kidney.’ - There is a trend among some physicians of bio-medicine to blame Siddha medicine for renal disease. Some research findings published from the west go a step further and say - Indian traditional herbal medicines contain aristolochic acid which leads to renal failure. Many scared patients ask the Ayurveda/ Siddha Physicians ‘Is that true?’

Before answering the question let me explain what is this Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease means that for some time a person’s kidneys have not been working the way they should- filtering blood and remove waste products and extra fluid and flush them from the body as urine. If they don’t work properly, wastes build up in the blood and make the person sick. This does not occur overnight but happens in a phased manner for many years as a result of damage the kidneys. The tiny filters called nephrons are damaged, they stop working. For a while, healthy nephrons can take on the extra work. But if the damage continues, more and more nephrons shut down. After a certain point, the nephrons that are left cannot filter the blood well enough to keep the person healthy.

The most common causes of this damage are:

· High blood pressure.

· High blood sugar (diabetes).

· Urinary tract infection

· Polycystic kidney disease

· Birth anomaly

· A narrowed or blocked artery that carries blood to the kidneys.

· Long-term use of medicines that can damage the kidneys. Examples include Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen.

The condition manifest as reduced urinary output, collection of fluid in the tissues- more prominent in the face and legs, nausea, vomiting, tiredness, headache, loss of appetite and weight loss and disturbed sleep.

Elevated Urea level and creatinine are the lab findings.

Now answering the question – Some Indian Medicine drugs which contain mercury if not properly processed and if administered more frequently even for simple conditions and in doses beyond the safe dose recommended in the classical texts of Siddha can cause this condition like any other drug of Bio- medicine. But the majority cases are due to the killer diseases of Diabetes and Hypertension. Plants containing aristolichic acid are rarely used in any of the formulated Siddha products sold by manufacturers. The uses of these plants are negligible in Siddha and Ayurveda unlike Chinese herbal medicine. It is easier for western researchers to club the Chinese and Indian herbal products under the ‘Asian Herbal medicine’ grouping.

There are things one can do to slow or stop the damage to your kidneys. Taking medicines and making some lifestyle changes can help you manage your disease and feel better.

The Siddha herbal formulations used in treating diabetes invariably contain herbs that protect the liver and Kidney and prevent accumulation of waste to be removed by kidney. Low sodium salt, proper intake of pulses and choice of vegetables and fruits can help. It must be ensured none of the following is taken in excess – Sodium, Pottasium and Calcium. Indhuppu is better than the sodium salt.

Phyllanthus amarus, Orthosiphon stamineus and Musa paradisiaca are the top three herbs that can improve the renal function and prevent elevation of Serum creatinine and Blood urea.

The first one is to be taken as a cold processed extract, the second as a decoction- Herbal tea and third as a food supplement. It is futile if the primary cause is not properly addressed. These herbs can still be used even when the patient is on dialysis so that the frequency could be drastically reduced.

The best way is to go for regular health check up and follow a systemic life to prevent the Non communicable Diseases of Diabetes and Hypertension and if already affected follow a healthy lifestyle and regimen and ensure they do not go beyond control.

Food allergies

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Sun, 18 Aug 2013 08:23:00 +0000

I recommend different food ingredients to be used by patients suffering from various ailments as many of the food ingredients contain phytochemicals which can effectively help overcome the disease. This is also in line with the thinking ‘Food is your medicine’.

One of the recipes I suggest is the soup of the leaves of Moringa and moringa leaves made into ‘keerai’ along with mung dal and coconut grating. This is very helpful in correcting Iron deficiency anemia and also osteoarthrosis. Moringa leaves are highly nutritious and are rich in fiber, vitamins and trace elements, Manganese, Magnesium, Lysine, Riboflavin, Calcium, Thiamin, Potassium, Iron, Protein and Niacin. Moringa also contains all 8 essential amino acids and is rich in flavonoids, including Quercetin, Kaempferol, Beta-Sitosterol and Zeatin. Other interesting aspect why I promote it is because of the reason that it can also thrive in tough climates and poor soil and can be readily grown even outside your compound wall.

But yesterday when I was recording the medical history including dietary habits, known allergy etc, of a patient on first visit to our centre (65 year old lady) she said twenty years ago she developed urticarial rashes all over the body after consuming moringai keerai. I doubled checked on her is that rashes because she came into contact with the leaf-eating caterpillars that are normally seen during monsoon. She distinctly remembered that there was no caterpillers in the trees and the leaves were not plucked by her and there was no exposure. After long gap she tried again she again developed the allergic reaction.

I discussed it Vd.S.Suman Ali, the medicinal plant expert and President of CTMR, prompt came the answer that the allergy may be due to presence of sulfur compounds though in traces. The patient confirmed she is allergic to sulfur. So what we think is insipid and safe could cause an allergy to someone. I write this to inform ‘One man’s elixir could be other man’s poison’.

CTMR – Annual Report- 2012-13

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Sat, 25 May 2013 11:40:00 +0000

CTMR – Annual Report- 2012-13

Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research (CTMR), is a ‘Voluntary organization’ operational since 2000. The key objectives of CTMR are Mainstreaming Traditional medicine in the area of public health, Creation of awareness, Capacity building by way of training, Developing cost effective treatment protocols based traditional medicine and promotion of research in traditional medicine including cultivation and conservation of Medicinal plants. The NGO works closely with different Government departments, other institutions and organizations for the above cause.

1. Public Health Initiatives:

1.1 Primary Health Care :

Almost 80% of the population in the semi-urban areas and 60% of the rural population depend on private health care providers- both qualified as well as unqualified in spite of improvement in Public health delivery infrastructure. Marginalized communities like fishermen, dalits and tribal, who are daily wage earners still find it difficult to utilize the Govt. services due to reasons like loss of wage on the days of hospital visits, distance to the nearest health facility and the timing of the outpatient clinics. There is very limited awareness about disease prevention and treatment through AYUSH systems. CTMR felt it necessary to provide the AYUSH services at the doorstep of such marginalized communities, create awareness about healthy lifestyle, food as envisaged in Traditional Medical systems and reduce health expense burden of these communities. CTMR runs two Primary Health Care Centres (Chinnandikuppam in Kanchipuram district and Kanavaaipudur in Salem District) and a Mobile clinic (Velankaadu in Kanchipuram district). About 10,000 people are benefitted by these intervention, where medical services and medicines are provided free of cost to the beneficiaries. A uniform treatment protocol is developed and followed. The drug list for the centers is based on the ‘Essential drug list’ of Dept. of AYUSH which essentially contains safe plant medicines and they are procured from GMP approved units. 40% of the residents of these adopted villages now solely dependent on AYUSH services, while 40% utilize these services for primary health needs and avail services of other medical facilities for Lab investigations and medical emergencies. 20% have reservations in using traditional medicines. Medical Records are maintained for all registered users. Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation and AMR Charitable trusts provide partial support for these activities.

1.2 Public Awareness on Healthy Living:

Health Education is of primary importance particularly in prevention and management of Non Communicable Diseases – Lifestyle Disorders. CTMR use a three pronged strategy for health education. Since young student population is attracted to unhealthy processed food due to strong enticing advertisement both in print and visual media, CTMR conducts regular interactive programme in both govt. and private schools and colleges and also conducts health exhibitions including medicinal plants, minor millets, health food and healthy lifestyle. These sessions also cover the ill effects of lack of physical activities, smoking and consumption of alcohol. CTMR volunteers along with Ekam foundation organized awareness programme for health workers and anganwadi workers on ‘Managing common ailments with locally available medicinal plants’ in almost 10 districts of Tamil Nadu during the ‘Joy of Giving Week’. CTMR also conducts interactive sessions for public on diseases like diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cancer along with various residents associations and Community Based Organizations. The Third approach is by a serial of Talk shows on health in Doordarshan – Pothigai sponsored by Ministry of Health and Family welfare. (About 50 shows during the current year) and write-ups in both English and Tamil dailies and magazine including one published from Srilanka.

2. Documenting Traditional Knowledge.

2.1 Local Health Traditions

Traditional Health Practitioners still put to use the knowledge acquired from their

forefathers and treat patients with locally available plant resources. This knowledge also helps conservation of the medicinal plant resources. As the continuation of the project of ‘Documentation and Validation of Local Health traditions’ supported by Dept. of AYUSH, further interactions were held with the healers individually and as groups and the peer validation of the practices were carried out in six districts of Tamil Nadu namely, Vellore, Thiruvanamalai, Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Namakkal Preliminary interactions have also been initiated with healers of Villupuram, Kanchipuram and Thiruvallur districts. The use of plants and practices mentioned by the healers were further validated with classical Siddha texts and recent research publications. This compilation is ready for finalization.

2.2 Digitalization of Siddha Palm Manuscripts

During the previous year 160 bundles consisting of 257 works of Siddha Palm Manuscripts collected from individual healers were digitalized with Grant-in- Aid from Dept. of AYUSH and the digital copy along with the catalogue was submitted to Dept. of AYUSH and Siddha Central Research Institute. The work of collection of Palm manuscripts and digitalization was further continued and currently 367 works are digitalized. This will be a continuous process and requires financial support.

3. Capacity building

3.1 Training

One day training was conducted for the traditional healers of Salem and Dharmapuri district at Kolathur in Mettur Taluk (August 2012). Management and treatment of common ailments, differential diagnosis in Jaundice, Mother and child health care were covered. 80 healers from this district took part. This was followed by field visit for identification of Medicinal plants.

The Objective of conserving the palm manuscripts is to enable passing on the traditional knowledge to the next generation. Very few people have the expertise to decipher the writings in Palm manuscripts particularly the ones in poetic form. CTMR has conducted training to Siddha physicians, students of plant sciences and Tamil literature to read and interpret the palm manuscripts. Training in groups was conducted at Madras Christian College (Feb 2013) and for individuals at CTMR.

3.2 Workshops

One day interactive session was held for the tribal medicinal plant collectors and growers from Dindigul and Thiruvanamalai districts affiliated to Centre for Indian Knowledge Systems along with Tamil Nadu Siddha Ayurveda Unani Drug manufacturers Association in Apl 2012. The Sustainable collection practices, Good Post harvest handling practices were explained to them.

One day workshop on medicinal plants was conducted in association with Healers association of Kolli hills for the traditional healers at Kolli hills in Namakkal district in May 2012. Healers from Namakkal, Thirupur, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram districts took part

One day workshop was conducted in May 2012 on the ‘Beauty of Siddha Formulations’ in which a large number of practicing Siddha doctors, Post graduate Scholars and Traditional healers participated. The synergy of the ingredients in the formulation to enhance efficacy, safety profile and the ability to enhance the bio-availability was dealt in great details.

One day workshop on identification, propagation and utilization of medicinal plants was conducted for the students of Community College of Agriculture at Sukkankolai farm of the CIKS. 50 students took part in the workshop.

4. International Training and interactions.

4.1 International Conference;

Dr.T.Thirunarayanan was invited to present a keynote address on Siddha Medicine in the Second international conference of Tibetan Medicine held in Dharmshala in the august presence of H.H.Dalai Lama. There was also a Joint meeting on ‘Impact in Traditional pharmaceutics on UN ban on the use of Mercury’

4.2 Training on Siddha for foreigners

A three days training was conducted in association with Siddha Applied Science Institute at Penang, Malaysia on the ‘Management of lifestyle disorders and common ailments with plant drugs based on the principles of Siddha Medicine in Sept 2012.Forty participants from Russia, USA, Canada, France, U.K and Switzerland took active part and the trainees continue the learning online.

4.3 A two days interactive session on the ‘Commonalities between Siddha and Tibetan Medicine’ was organized by CTMR along with Mee-See- Khan at Chennai in March 2013. Eighteen Tibetan doctors and 14 Siddha Physicians took part in the interaction. This helped the participants appreciate the common features of the two traditional medical systems and paved way for joint research in the future.

5. Medicinal Plants

5.1 Institutional Gardens and Home herbal garden

During the current Year, School herbal garden has been established in five city schools. Herbal garden has also been initiated in Institute of Child Health Egmore and 100 households were trained in establishment of home herbal garden.

Continuous technical support is rendered to Green kovai- a unit of AIM For Sewa. Technical inputs provided for farmers group affiliated to CIKS and Murugappa Chetty Research Centre.

A survey of the Medicinal Plant Flora of National Institute of Siddha was carried out by Vd.S.Usman Ali along with volunteers of Siddha Maruthuva Mandram, Kalpakkam in Nov 2012 and report presented to the Director.

6. Research

6.1 A study was carried out on the ‘Role of traditional food with minor millets on Obesity, Hypertension and Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus’ by Dr.T.Thirunarayanan

6.2 A study on the propagation and survival of select medicinal plants by stem cuttings is initiated for three important medicinal plants.

6.3 Three Research Scholars were guided on the ethno botanical studies and Urban garden studies with reference to medicinal plants by Vd.S.Usman Ali.

6.4 Authentic samples of medicinal plant materials were provided to numerous research scholars for carrying out pharmacognostical, phytochemical and toxicological studies. Results are published in their research reports.

6.5 Two students were provided support for studies on Siddha Palm Manuscripts as part of their Ph.D programme by Vidwan N.Srinivasan.

7. Publications

Two books, ‘Introduction to Siddha Medicine’ in English and ‘Training manual for traditional healers’ were published during the current year. A small booklet on ‘Home Herbal Garden’ was published in association with ‘reStore garden’ a NGO. Manuscripts for two other books are in the pre-press stage. Three research papers of CTMR staff were published in peer reviewed international journals

8. Advocacy

CTMR has been continuously interacting with Government Departments on the various regulations which have an impact on improving the quality standards of medical services through Traditional Medicine. The organization has enabled the revision of ‘Poisonous drug list, Essential Drug List and the Siddha Dossier of the Dept. of AYUSH. CTMR office bearers have also participated in stake holders meeting organized by different Govt. Depart on Safe guarding Intellectual Property of Traditional knowledge and promotion of Traditional health food and minor millets. CTMR has also been instrumental in pushing for opening of Urban Siddha Health Centers by Local Govt. Chennai corporation in fact in its current year budget has announced opening of 25 AYUSH centers in Chennai. CTMR has also been advising ISM drug manufacturers on continuous quality improvement.

9. Resource Management

All units (Office and two Health Centres) are operating from ‘Rent free accommodation’ provided by donors. The fund for procurement of medicine, medical records and dispensing material are provided by AMR trust and TIIC. Local Health Tradition documentation is partially supported by Dept. of AYUSH. Excepting three junior staff all others render service voluntarily. Most activities are carried out with support from Partner NGOs and deficit of Rs 5, 00,000 is met by office bearers.

Acknowledgement

CTMR is thankful to the following Govt. Department and other organizations for their continuous support

· Dept. of AYUSH, Govt. of India. New Delhi

· Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation, Chennai particularly its Chairman. Mr Md.Nasimuddin ,I.A.S. Mr. A.Mohan , Deputy Gen. Manager & Mrs.S.Sashikala.

· Mr.P.Arulmudi Chairman, AMR Charitable Trust, Chennai

· Dr.R.Vijayakumar I.A.S Addl. Chief Secretary –Planning Govt. of Tamil Nadu, Smt.Sheela Rani Chunkath. I.A.S Addl Chief Secretary, Govt. of Tamil Nadu Mr.V.Prabakaran-I.F.S, Chief Conservator of Forest. Tamil Nadu for constant support and guidance for various projects.

· Dr.K.Manikavasagam- Director, National Institute of Siddha

· Siddha Applied Science Institute. Malaysia and its founder SriPranaji.

· Principal, Head of the Dept. of Plant Biology and Biotechnology Madras Christian College, Chennai and Prof.D.Narasimhan

· Mr.R.T.Vijayaraghavan Charted Accountant

· Siddha Physicians– Dr.R.Sudha, Dr.V.Tamilalagan, Dr.T.R.Siddique Ali,

Dr. G.Padmavathy and Dr. R.B.Ramamoorthy.

CTMR Personnel

Name	Area
Vd.S.Usman Ali	President. Research & Local Health Tradition
Vidwan. N.Srinivasan	Manuscriptology
Dr.T.Thirunarayanan	Public Health & Training
Dr.R.Padmapriya	Health awareness & Publication
Dr.S.Rajkumar *	Digitalization of Palm Manuscript
Dr. S.Sangeetha	Public Health Initiative
Dr.Thirumagal	Primary Health Care
Mrs.V.Sundaravalli	Medicinal Plants –Garden initiative
Mr.Adikesavan	Photodocumentation & Palm Manuscript Conservation

Dr.S.Rajkumar * resigned during the course of the year.

Be part of our mission.

Contact us:

Secretary,

Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research,

4A,4^th Cross Street, Mahalakshmi Nagar.

Adambakkam,

Chennai- 600088.

Ph: 044-22533399

E-Mail: ttn64@sify.com/siddhactmr@gmail.com

Palliative care in cancer management -Siddha

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:15:00 +0000

This is an article presented for World Siddha Day- 2013

Dr.T.Thirunarayanan

Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research

4A, 4^th Cross Street,

Mahalakshmi Nagar, Adambakkam, Chennai- 600088

E-mail: ttn64@sify.com

Disease burden due to epidemics caused by vector borne diseases like dengue, swine flu, malaria are unabated on one hand, with no respite in communicable diseases like tuberculosis, hepatitis, HIV, the incidence of non- communicable diseases like stress, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, Ischemic heart disease and cancer pose a major challenge to the Public health managers of a developing country like India. There is a possibility of reducing the burden of the vector borne diseases by effective mosquito control, improving sanitation, making potable drinking water available to the mass. Early lifestyle modification, better diet control, exercise can reduce the burden of diabetes, obesity and hypertension. The large majority of the cancers except the tobacco caused cancers as of today is not preventable and once afflicted severely affects the quality of life or life threatening.

The incidence of cancer is given in the Table- 1

Type in Men	Percentage	Type in Women	Percentage
Oral, including lip and Pharynx	22.9%	Cervical	17.1%
Stomach	12.6%	Stomach	14.1%
Lung	11.4%	Breast	10.2%

Source; Dikshit R et al, Cancer mortality in India: a nationally representative survey. Lancet. 2012 May 12;379 (9828):1807-16.

Leukemia is common among children, Prostrate cancer a very common problem among men in US (25%) is not that prevalent in India. Cancer of the Urinary Bladder constitutes 5% of the cancer cases.

Cancer Drugs according to classical Siddha texts

Classical literature of the codified system of medicines of India namely Siddha and Ayurveda have detailed descriptions of cancer of the different organs of the body, their clinical manifestations, treatment procedures and drug formulations. ‘Puttru’, ‘Kazhalai’ are the terms used in Siddha, and ‘Arbuda’ ‘Gulma’ in Ayurveda for neoplasm. Many texts on Inorganic Pharmaceutics ‘Rasaoushadi’ list various drugs that could be used in neo-growth. A detailed literature search on the drugs indicated in the classical Siddha texts and are currently being manufactured by Siddha drug industry are the following.

‘Agathiyar Kuzhambu’ (Source-Agasthiyar Amutha Kalai Gnanam) A drug containing purified inorganics like mercury, red orpiment, yellow orpiment, dehydrated borax, rock salt, and herbal drugs like aconite, croton seeds asefoetida, black mustard, ajowan, black cumin and castor oil is indicated as topical application in mammary cancer

‘Kaantha chendooram’ (Source- Agasthiyar paripooranam 400) A drug containing purified lode stone, sulphur, lead wort powder processed with eclipta juice, lime juice, milk, egg albumin, madder latex is indicated in Abdominal tumor

‘Poorna chandroodayam’ (Source- Theriyar Karisal 300) A drug containing Gold filling, Mercury, Sulphur processed with red cotton flower juice and banana rhizome juice is indicated in cancerous ulcers.

Mahaavallaathi (Source - Bogar Vaithyam 700 and Vallathi 600) A drug containing all herbal ingredients milk, ghee and honey- china root, emblic and belleric myrobalan, dry ginger, lesser galangal, Indian spikenard, cinnamon bark, picrorrhiza, telichery seeds, shiva’s neem, black musale, nutmeg, c;loves, cinnamon leaves, black pepper, cardamom, ajowan, long pepper, psoralea, coriander seeds, embelia, nigella, leadwort root, celestrus, withania, saffron, korochan, purified marking nut, brown sugar, is indicated in cancer.

Kowsiker kuzhambu (Source Kowsika muni nool)

Chebulic myrobalans, black mustard, rock salt, asafoetida, dehydrated borax, purified mercury, purified red orpiment, long pepper, purified yellow orpiment, cumin, picrorrhiza, purified aconite, purified croton seed kernel, carbonized coconut shell, palm jiggery, daemia leaf juice, coconut milk is indicated in cancer with daemia juice

Rasakanthi mezhugu (Source-Pulippani vaidhyam 500)

Purified mercury, purified sulphur, calomel, yellow orpiment, lode stone, blue vitriol, calamine, litharge, dry ginger, ajowan, turmeric, embelia, sweet flag, clove, china root, purified marking nuts, chebulic myrobalan, nigella seeds, wild cumin, beetle killer, yew leaf, raisins, long pepper, lesser galangal, costus, celastrus, fennel, cardamom, nutmeg, black pepper, cumin, psoralea, oak grass, long pepper root, rattan cane root, purified nux vomica, purified nux potatorum, astercantha seeds, sesame seed, horse gram, copra, acalypha fruticosa root, azima root, withania, corallocarpus root, lead wort root, eggs, palm jaggery is indicated for cancers and cancerous ulcers.

Some drugs like Chandamarutha chedooram, Idivallathy Mezhugu, Serankottai Nei, which are used by healers do not have a direct reference for treatment of cancer in the texts

Treatment seeking pattern

Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research receives cancer patients at different stages. Difficulty in swallowing, abnormal bleeding, loss of appetite, weight loss, low grade fever, fatigue, altered bowel habits and pain are some of the features with which patients present themselves. Most of the patients come to us with diagnosis from cancer hospitals.

Detailed interactions with the patients reveal increasing number of patients seek remedy from practitioners of Traditional medicines for the following reasons.

1. Most cases are diagnosed very late after metastasis has occurred and the general health of the patient does not permit complete surgical removal as the disease has spread to multiple locations. In spite of removal in rest of the cases where the lesion is localized the possibility of microscopic metastasis cannot be ruled out.
2. The serious side effect of chemotherapy like severe vomiting, diarrhea makes the patient does not continue the treatment for its suggested full course.
3. The possibility of chemotherapy and radiotherapy destroying the normal cells apart from the cancer cells due their cytotoxic effects.
4. Target chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies therapies are not widely available.
5. The absence of specific cancer treatment hospitals even in many district head quarters is yet another hurdle.
6. Without health insurance, the cost of treatment is prohibitive for most people and they are ill affordable to a vast majority.

Above all there is a trust that the traditional medicine, particularly Siddha can cure cancer is very strong among people.

The following are the different categories of patients who seek treatment at CTMR.

· Patients in advanced stage where all other options of chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy are not possible,
· Patients not willing to undergo the orthodox method but wants to be treated with Siddha medicine
· Patients who want supportive therapy- supplementation alongside conventional treatment and
· the last set of patients who have undergone treatment including surgery but want to prevent reoccurrence or with late secondaries.

Pallative Care

The basis of treatment at CTMR is palliative care. Since vast majority come at advanced stages the realistic option is palliative care aimed at improving the quality of life of the patient and their immediate family by providing pain relief, psychological support and administration of specific plant based drugs for which enough evidence are available in classical texts and also evaluated by scientific methods both in-vitro and in-vivo.

The first step in the care is proper counseling to the patient and the attendants on the nature of the condition, the likely prognosis and need for following the suggestions on dietary recommendations, lifestyle modification, abstaining from causative substances like tobacco, alcohol and adation of Kayakalpa methods including breathing exercise, meditation etc.

The dietary recommendation is generally rich in fruits and vegetable salads- baked vegetables rather than deep fried once. Significant reduction in intake of meat products, avoidance of oily, fat rich deep fried spicy pungent diet is also suggested. Depending upon the patient’s ability to sallow porridge, fruit juices, soups are suggested.

Then the administration of drugs. The preferred drug of choice in most types of cancer is Mahavallathy Among the different drugs listed in Siddha this drug is free from inorganic and contains powerful anti-oxidants like Amla, long pepper etc, appetite enhancers like black pepper, clove, cinnamon bark etc. cytotoxics like leadwort and marking nut.

As supportive therapy all patients are provided with a blend of turmeric and Indian gooseberry which are known to quench the free radicals. Withania somnifera, apart from being a drug which sensitize cytotoxic drugs is an anabolic and adaptogen helps the patient in overcoming stress and ensure sleep. Dry ginger or Inji legiyam greatly helps in preventing nausea and vomiting in co-adminstered in patients undergoing chemotherapy. The blend of Indian gooseberry and turmeric is also a hypoglycemic drug and reduces supply of glucose to cancer cells and slows down cell multiplication.

In pancreatic carcinoma and secondaries in liver, Phyllanthus amarus extract is also administered. In conditions of spread to lungs manifested with coughing, Thalisathy churanam is included. In anemia associated with blood loss ‘ Karsalai Karpam’ is also prescribed.

Conclusion

Our observations assure us all these patients including the ones with esophageal, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer patient have lived over two years without much of clinical symptom and compromising on the quality of life. It is worth considering the Pallative care approach of Siddha in improving the quality of life of cancer patients.

Faulty disbursement of funds pose threat to cultivation of widely used medicinal plants in TN

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:06:00 +0000

Cultivation of widely used medicinal plants has slowed down in Tamil Nadu as the government subsidies earmarked for the medicinal plant cultivation were not properly disbursed among all the herb growers in the rural areas, it is learnt.

Due to lack of financial assistance and technical support, the farmers are unable to cultivate many of the medicinal and aromatic plants which are the source for essential raw materials for commonly used Ayurveda and Siddha medicines. This situation forces the market to increase the prices of the available crude drugs day by day.

According to sources close to the plant cultivators, the fund coming to the state horticultural department from the national medicine plant board (NMPB) is disbursed among a few number of farmers, and majority of the cultivators who grow the most needed herbs for Ayurveda and Siddha medicines are being deprived of the benefits. The fund is diverted only for one or two varieties of crops which are not widely used for medicines, they alleged.

A technical expert and Siddha doctor in Chennai, who regularly trains the growers and provides them valuable information about plant cultivation, said the government subsidies are benefiting only the exporters of herbal extracts and medicinal plants. All the funds supposed to be disbursed among herb cultivators is going to one or two societies or associations of plant cultivators. He said a total of 180 raw drugs are required for manufacturing the commonly used Ayurveda and Siddha medicines. But the farmers of these widely used plants are unable to avail the benefit of the government scheme.

This diversion of funds to selected plant growers forces the farmers of other crops to hike the prices of their produce. He said while disbursing the money, the authorities should consider the most important and widely used plants that are required for the manufacture of Ayurveda and Siddha medicines. The money should not be distributed among a few number of farmers, but should be given to all those engage in the plant cultivation and have linkage to Ayurveda and Siddha industry. He alleged that currently the fund is diverted to some extract exporting units only.

In Tirupur alone about 9000 acres of land belonging to over 2000 farmers is used for medicinal plant cultivation. The seeds of ‘Glorisa Superba' produced from the area are exported to countries like Italy where the alkaloid extracted from it is used for the preparation of herbal drugs to fight diseases like cancer, said a plant grower from Tirupur. The cultivation of medicinal plants in Tamil Nadu is the key to meeting the raw material needs of the ayush industry in the state and it offers opportunities for exports of extracts and raw herbs, he said.

When contacted Dr T Thirunarayanan, secretary of the Centre for Traditional Medicines and Research (CTMR), said, the needs of the ISM industry need to be assessed and funds should be provided to farmers to cultivate the plants in different agro climatic regions. He said some widely used medicinal plants like Andrographis paniculata, Mucuna pruriens, Saraca asoca (Roxb.) Withania somnifera, Piper longum, Oldenlandia umbellata, Desmodium gangeticam,Centella asiatica. Piper nigrum. Pseudarthira viscid, Trichosanthes cucumerina L Gmelia arborea, Vettiveria zizonoides and Steriospermum colais are now rarely available in the market.

Tibetan Medicine- Siddha Practitioners Interaction

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:38:00 +0000

Objective :

Sow rig pa – The Tibetan Medical System has been officially recogonised by the Govt. of India by including it in the IMCC Act 1970 with due approval of the Indian Parliament in 2010. Since this sy.stem has a lot of commonalities with the Indian Systems of Traditional Medicine -Ayurveda and Siddha it was decided to understand the commanalities in the area of Basic principles, Drugs & Pharmaceutics, Diagnostic methods and Treatment methods among these systems and also sensitize physicians of the unique speciality procedures of each system.

Organizers

The director of Mee- Tsee-Khang ( Tibetan Medical Astrological Institute) of His Holiness Dalai Lama deputed 16 Tibetan Medical practitioners from TMAI- Dharamsala and its branch clinics (53) functioning across the country to Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research for this interactive meet.

The Local Siddha Partner- CTMR invited 12 Siddha experts (From National Institute of Siddha, Siddha Medical College, Anna Hospital of Indian Medicine, CCIM E.C member, Siddha Primary health care physician, Varma Physician, Researchers, Private Practitioners and NGO) to interact with the visiting Tibetan practitioners.

Venue and Date

The proceedings took place in the CPR Foundation, Enviornmental Research Centre, Chennai on 8^th and 9^th March, 2013. The delegates also visited Sri Ragavendra Siddha Varma Hospital the evening of 8^th and National Institute of Siddha on 9^th morning.

First day proceedings

The proceedings started with traditional invocation in tamil followed by invocation in Tibetian language”Medicine Buddha” . Dr. Nandhitha Krishnan of CPR Foundation welcomed the gathering and explained how the tibetan medicine was able to help cancer patients in chennai and Bangalore This was followed by the inaugural address by Dr. Prof. K. Manickavasakam Director,National Institute of Siddha who appreciated the initiative of dialogoue between two traditional systems of medicines which could further strengthen the systems. The Chief Conservator of Forest and Director of Sericulture Govt. of Tamilnadu Mr. V. Prabakaran in his keynote address stressed the need of conservation and propagation of medicinal plants, both tropical and high alltitute plants and explained how his department is working towards increasing local production of silk to stop import of chinese silk which could also be done in medicinal plant sector.

The first presentation was by Dr. Thirunarayanan, Secretary, CTMR on the Basic principles and History of Siddha Medicine where he briefly introduced the system to the Tibetian doctors and also spoke on the scope of collaboration between the two systems. The Basis and History of Tibetian system of medicine was presented by Dr. Sonam Dolkar Oshoe of Documentation & Publication Department Men-Tsee-Khang. The Commonanities where explained by both speakers on the Five Physico cosmic elements. Three humours ( Vata- rlung, Pita- tripa and Kapha- Bad-kan) and the historical exchange between Indian and Tibetan traditional physicians as early as 7^th Centuary A.D was appreciated by the delegates. The influence of Buddhist thoughts on siddha medicine was clearly spelt out.

Dr. R.Sudha of Govt. Siddha Medical college Chennai elaborated on understanding disease and diagnostic methods of Siddha while Dr. Migmar Lhamo, Resident Doctor Bylakupee Branch Clinic spoke for Tibetian medicine which was also followed by a question session. The understaning on the Pulse diagnosis and Urine analysis though common for both systems, which does not require any high end laboratory, certain finer details like examining the radial pulse of both hands related to different internal organs of tibetan medicine reminded one of the Chinese pulse diagnosis.

The post lunch session commenced with Vaidya S.Usman Ali’s presentation on Inorganic Pharmaceutics of Siddha. The emphasis on inorganic pharmaceutics in siddha due to non-availability of herbs all round the year, long shelf life of the inorganic drugs, its nano particle size, formulation expertise, requirment of minute dose for short term use and efficacy in addressing nutritional needs (Trace elements) and management of even life threatening conditions.He also explained the intricacies of the detoxifying process of inorganics and mentioned their use only in appropriate condition.The thirty two dosage forms of internal medicine was also touched upon.

Tibetian medicine pharmaceutics was presented in tibetian by Jamyang Tashi, Head of Pharmaceutical Department of Men-Tsee-Khang and was translated by Dr. Sonam Dolkar Oshoe for the audience. He explained the ten dosage morms – Decoction, concentrate, powder, pills, medicinal paste, medicinal butter,medicinal ash, medicinal wines, gem medicines and herbal compounds. In all 176 drugs are prepared under GMP conditions in his department at TMAI, Dharamsala and distributed to all 53 branch clinics in the country and abroad. He also mentioned that medicines are not being prepared for the purpose of commerce and there is no deviation from the textual reference both in terms of ingredients or process. But however Modern equipments for particle size reduction, cleaning, blending, pill making are used as well as utilities for clean manufacture. Quality parameters for raw material and processing are follwed as per the text Rgyud-bzhi ( Four tantras)

The Topic on Plant medicine resource was also presented by Vaidya S.Usman Ali for Siddha and by Dr. Tsetan Mingyur, Materia Medica Department, Men-Tsee-Khang, Dharamsala for Tibetian medicine. The drug raw materials are classified as gem, stone, soil, tree, musciliginous, shrubs, herbs and animal products. Most plants are common like Chebulic myrobalan, belleric myrobalan, Indian gooseberry, Pushkaramool, kutki etc, There are some exclusive high alltitute plants that are unique to Tibetan medicine. The issue of non availabity of certain species like musk were also discussed. The issue of ban on mercurial drugs from 2013 Jan and its implication on both systems and ayurveda as well was discussed.

The entire interactive programme was co-ordinated by Dr. T. Thirunarayanan.

The participants then went on a field visit to Sri Ragavendra Siddha Varma Hospital were a private siddha hospital specializing in varma and other external therapies are being carried out in North Chennai, the tibetan practitioners said it motivated them to take up the accessory therapies of their system with more seriousness in their branch clincs and the day closed with dinner hosted by CTMR.

Second day proceedings

The morning session started with a visit to NIS and Dr.A.Rajendrakumar presented a overview of the functioning of NIS, its clinical services, academic branches, research, capacity building activities. The visiting practitioners were surprised with huge turn out of patients in the NIS hospital (around 2300 p[er day). They expressed the apprehension that individual patients have to wait for their turn both to see physicians as well as to collect their medicines. The proposal for expansion of hospital services was explained to them by the Director, NIS. They were also taken around the campus to study its flora, particularly medicinal plants used in siddha system.

The post lunch session started with presentation on Role Of Diet by Dr. R. Padmapriya of Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research and by Dr. Sonam Dolkar Oshoe for Siddha and Tibetian medicine respectively. The similarities between the two system of medicines reflected beautifully in these presentations. In fact the incompatabile foods mentioned in both systems were too similar.Dr Bhooma of Ambattur briefed with clarity on Cleansing Therapy while Dr. T. Thirunarayanan introduced External Therapies of Siddha Medicine and Dr. Siddique Ali demonstrated it for frozen shoulder which hogged the attention of all participants. Specialtiy treatment for Tibetian medicine was presented.

Dr. B.Muthukumar Executive committee member of Central Council For Indian Medicine rendered his reflection of the interactive meet. He mentioned gSowa-rigpa and Siddha medicine should also be compared in the areas of reproductive and child care and this was a good platform to debate and many similarities were discussed and there is a good scope for collaborative efforts. Dr. Dorjee Rapten Neshar CMO of the Bangalore unit of Mee- Tsee- Khang made the concluding remarks and expressed his desire for continued interaction between the two systems.

Dr.T.Thirunarayanan, Secretary, CTMR said as both systems have many commanalities that collaborations in areas of drug research, treatment is possible and expressed his desire that Siddha system should emulate the TM in expanding it services to all over the country and subsequently to humankind all over the world. He appreciated that with 300 registered practitioners 53 branch clinics of Mee- Tsee- Khang is functioning all over, then it is time for Siddha too to spread.

Language barrier (Texts of Siddha and training being only in Tamil) is the impediment and it should be overcome. The Dept of AYUSH should come out with Special schemes for Siddha to open centres atleast in all major cities of India with Sizable Tamil population.

Dr.V.Tamilalagan and Dr.R.Sangeetha documented the whole proceedings. Vd.R.B.Ramamurthy, traditional siddha physician also provided his insight.

Time to Act - Mainstream Siddha Medicine

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 14:11:00 +0000

Time to act - Mainstream Traditional Medicine

The initiative of the Govt. of Tamil Nadu particularly the Chief minister has started paying results in containing the 'Panic' caused by the outbreak of the dengue epidemic in Tamil Nadu. Initially there was a resistance from Public health personnel to admit the outbreak, subsequently efforts were taken to get the actual data on the outbreak from both Govt. Hospitals and Pvt. Health providers. The approach to the management of the outbreak was first to identify the actual number of dengue from all fever patients with ELISA in major hospitals and subsequently in major secondary level centres and disease surveillance by making it mandatory for Pvt. clinics and hospitals to inform public health dept. Awareness about controlling mosquito breeding was also made. The treatment approach was to provide simple Anti-pyretics and wherever necessary platelet transfusion. Along side outbreaks of water borne diseases like Jaundice and Typhoid also occurred making it difficult for the public health authorities.

Now is time for the key interventions needed to mainstream traditional medicine whole heartily and provide a decent budget for the native system of medicine, which time and again stand scrutiny not just in labs but in Clinical set ups.

1. Inspite of the assurance in Tamilnadu Health Policy note of the Present CM (2004) that every PHC will have a siddha doctor, it has not been done so far- Mainly as no new Siddha Wings were sanctioned between 2006-2011. Therefore about 40% of the rural population to do not have access to Siddha Medicine even within the state. Another 30% have only a limited access as in about 450 PHC Siddha wing operate with contract physicians on a very low salary for 3 days a week. The Chief minister should take personal interest to convert in the first step the part time centres into Full fledged Siddha Wings. With building infrastructure already in place under NRHM only additional post of Siddha Medical officers and paramedics need to be created and of course supply of quality medicines. The budget would be an additional Rs60 crore /annum (15 lakhs/Centre) Which is not impossible for a State like Tamil Nadu. Subsequently Rest of the PHCs could have Siddha wings in a phased manner.This will greatly reduce the health expense burden of the people of Tamil Nadu and as Traditional medicine focus on Prevention and Promotive health - Productivity of the state will go up with a healthy population.

2. CM has been kind enough to sanction even a budget for starting an ISM university as early as Feb 2012 but unfortunately even the spade work has not started. A competent Siddha expert with rich experience in establishing Institutes, Research council and worked closely in framing regulations with adequate expertise in Finance Planning and budgeting and ability to team up with the central govt and get the 'Acts & Rules' in place and mobilize central resources may be appointed immediately as Special officer. He need not have to be an academician as once the University is in place an Academician may be Posted as Vice- Chancellor.

3. All Siddha wings and hospitals which have external therapy facilities under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes need Para medical personnel and the first batch of therapists trained by the two Govt. Siddha Medical Colleges are already available and they may be posted immediately.

4. It is the right time to fill all vacancies of higher faculties in Siddha Medical Colleges so that hospital, teaching and research activities happen in full swing with some additional infrastructure.

Ban on industrial use of mercury to affect Traditional Medicine.

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:30:00 +0000

The 2nd International Conference on Tibetan Medicine concluded recently in the exile Tibetan headquarters of Dharamshala after three days (27th – 29th October 2012) of in depth discussions and presentations on various aspects of the ancient Tibetan medical system. The conference, jointly organised by the Central Council of Tibetan Medicine, Men-Tsee-Khang, Chakpori Medical Institute, Darjeeling and Department of Sowa Rigpa of the Central University of Tibetan Studies, Varanasi, was held at the Sarah College for Higher Tibetan Studies. More than 300 doctors, representing different medical systems from all over the world, including India, US, Israel, Russia, Mongolia, Spain, Latvia, Italy, China, and Japan among others took part in the conference. According to the organisers, the objective of the conference is to “preserve and promote the Tibetan medical system, to enhance the interaction among Tibetan medical doctors, and to get acquainted with the number of researches which have gone on to prove the authenticity and effectiveness of Tibetan medicine.”The first international conference on Tibetan medicine was held over a thousand years ago at Samye, central Tibet in the year 728 A.D. by Trisong Deutsen, the 37th King of Tibet.

Sowa Rigpa, the Tibetan science of healing is a unique medical system dating back more than 2500 years. With the Buddhist philosophy as its backbone, this system of medicine is influenced by the religion, culture, and environment of Tibet. The commonalities in the basic principles of Tibetian medicine and Siddha medicine was highlighted. Some of the major topics discussed during the conference included, History and Basic Principles of Tibetan Medicine, Research Methodology, Medicinal Herbs and Plants, Pregnancy and Child Care, Ethics of Physician, and State of Tibetan Medicine around the world. In the plenary Sessions were dedicated for deliberations on the salient features of different traditional medical systems including Siddha, Ayurveda, Mongolian and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Dr. D.Natasagdorj, Head of the Training Centre of Mangolian Traditional medicine, Dr.Hsu, Sheng- Feng of Director of Graduate Institute of Acupuncture Chinese, Taiwan, Dr. Balendu Prakasah, Ayurvedic physician from Dehuradoon, Dr.Dorji Wangchuk Director, National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Bhutan, Dr Sarah Sallon, Director, Natural Medicine Research Centre, Jerusalem, Israel and Dr.T.Thirunarayanan, Siddha Physician of Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research, Chennai delivered lectures in the Plenary session.

H.H.Dalailama in his address to the delegates stressed the need for working together with Indian Medicine researchers to further enrich Tibetian medicine since, the Dept. of AYUSH has included Sowrigpa in the Indian Medical council Act in 2010. He also stressed Compassion to fellow human beings as the main virtue of Tibetian medicine and adivised all medical personnel to follow it in letter and spirit.

Concerns were also expressed about the use of mercury in traditional medicines and the proposed ban on mercury for industrial use by UN, which will take out many of the traditional medicines. Research studies which clearly confirms the safety of detoxified mercurial salts used in Traditional medicines and efforts should be taken by all stake holders to ensure the ban on element mercury should not affect the use of mercury ores used by Traditional medicines, including Siddha, Ayurveda, Sowrigpa, Manba Datsan and Chinese Medicine.

Change of address -CTMR

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:47:00 +0000

Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research

CTMR Library, Palm Manuscripts Conservation Unit & Publication Division will move to the following address from 24^th Wednesday- 2012 Vijayadasami Day.

4A/3 Mahalakshmi Nagar 12^th Cross Street,

Adambakkam,

Chennai -600088

Contact person : Dr.S.Rajkumar. - 9444899640

Medicinal Plants unit and Training Division will continue to function from

4A, 4^th Cross St. Mahalakshmi Nagar,

Adambakkam,

Chennai -600088

Contact person : Dr.T.Thirunarayanan 9444018158

The Public Health charitable clinic will continue to function from

SIDDHA HEALTH CENTRE

Chinnandi kuppam Main Road,

(Off East Coast Road )

Vetuvankeni.

Contact person ; Dr.R. Sangeetha 9445643508

E-Mail : ttn64@sify.com, dirctmr@sify.com

www.siddhactmr.blogspot.com

The Puzhuthiwakkam office will cease to function.

Drugs and Cosmetics Rules to be amended to define phytopharmaceutical drugs

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 03:50:00 +0000

News from Pharmabiz


With view to further regulate the phytopharmaceutical sector in the country, the Centre is planning to amend the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules to have a separate definition of phytopharmaceutical drugs and also for its inclusion in the definition of new drug. The move, already approved by the DTAB, is to introduce phytopharmacueticals under the Drugs and Cosmetic Rules and provide guidelines for permission for their manufacturing and clinical trials in the country, taking into consideration the growing acceptance for these kinds of drugs. The amendment to the Rules is planned with the purpose of having similar provisions for evaluating their safety and efficacy to authenticate the claims made for the phytopharmaceutical drugs. A separate Appendix I-B was being proposed to be incorporated under the Schedule Y for providing information specific to the phytopharmaceutical products in regard to their origin, pharmacognostic descriptions, quality specifications, process of extraction, stability data, safety and pharmacological information etc. along with the application to conduct clinical trial/import/manufacture of a phytopharmaceutical drug in the country, sources revealed. Phytopharmaceutical products are drugs of plant origin having therapeutic effect. These are not single substances but comprise of standardized extracts or fractions of processed or unprocessed medicinal plants. These drugs are, however, required to be evaluated for their safety and efficacy like other new drugs belonging to the modern system of medicines. “The system adopted for evaluation of modern drugs like toxicity, safety and efficacy studies should be made applicable to this class of drugs also. This will help in creating scientific and authenticated data about their therapeutic efficacy and safety,’’ sources said. The matter was considered in the 60th meeting of DTAB held in October, 2011 and it was agreed in principle to incorporate provisions relating to phytopharmaceutical drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules. It came up further for discussion in the recent meeting of the DTAB also in July this year and got approval. “The DTAB welcomed the proposal as this will help in evaluation of many of such drugs of Indian origin on the methods employed for modern medicines. The DTAB, however, recommended that repeat dose toxicity should be on two species of animals and one of them should be non-rodent as is under Schedule Y,’’ sources added.

Season for Planting Medicinal Plants

noreply@blogger.com (Centre for Traditional Medicine) — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 09:45:00 +0000

After a long spell of summer heat, Chennai has cooled down a bit and this is an appropriate time for starting a Home herbal Garden. Increasing pollution and modern day stress, advance aging process, reflected by fine lines in the skin, pain in the knees and weakness. Traditional medicines are time tested and are in use for overcoming stress and ageing and for healthy living. Conventional medical practitioners are increasingly inclined towards herbal medicine. This herbal kit aims to revitalize our traditional medicinal knowledge; to promote herbal awareness at home and to re-introduce safe home herbal remedies particularly for children. This user-friendly kit has been designed by physicians of Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research based on community based clinical experience.

Indigofera tinctoria – Avuri or Neeli

This stiff woody herb grows well with the least care. The leaves as well as the roots are medicinal. They are among the most reputed hepato protective (Liver protection). The leaves contain a blue (INDIGO) dye, and its related and associated compounds are effective in a wide variety of skin diseases including psoriasis and eczema. The leaf or root is converted into 250 mg paste and rolled into a pill. 2 to 3 pills are given everyday. Fresh leaf soaked in equal weight of sesame oil till the leaves turn brittle and the oil takes a purple colour. This oil, when applied on affected part, is good for skin diseases, dandruff, psoriasis etc.

Hibiscus rosa sinensis - Chemparathai ;

A good ornamental garden plant. The leaves and flowers of shoe flower are of cosmetic value, particularly to those women who want to maintain soft silky hair. The dried or fresh leaves along with soap nut powder acts as a hair cleanser conditioner. The red pigments in the flower improve the strength of small blood vessels when consumed internally. A herbal tea made using four dried flowers of red variety, single petal flower could be used to protect against heart diseases.

Cissus quadrangularis – Pirandai

The jointed winged stems are made into chutney with acid lime or tamarind. A good source of Vitamin C and calcium. According to Ayurveda and Siddha medicines, it is good for the bones and heals fractures faster. Researchers have confirmed this and shown that the healing time is reduced by 33% and the bone setting is stronger. It is good for growing children who are weak and thin because it is anabolic. The tender stems are steeped in curd and dried, and to be eaten with food after frying it (Vathal- Pickle). This plant is recommended to prevent and treat post- menopausal osteoporosis patients.

Aloe vera – Sottru Katrazhai

An ornamental succulent, it does well in desert conditions too. The jelly-like substance present in the leaf is separated from the skin and rapidly washed in water to remove the yellow juice, which is irritant. Taken internally it is a cooling agent and heals stomach ulcers and nullifies inflammations.Externally it is a fine wound healer. The jelly when applied on the face, is an effective beauty care agent for a glowing face. The yellow juice from the leaf skin is an irritant and is rubbed on rheumatism-affected joints as a counter irritant. Internally the yellow juice will induce menstruation and trigger abortion.

Bacopa monnieri - Neer Brahmi

This mat forming runner with succulent leaves and purple flowers grows luxuriantly near water bodies and agricultural lands. It also can withstand salinity in water and is seen near industrial effluents drains. The leaves are bitter but help in calming down the mind. It holds promise as an anti-epileptic drug. It is also used as a remedy for polycystic ovary in women. It can be taken as a powder 1gm twice daily or “Brahmi Ghritham”. It is commonly used as Memory enhancer for children.

Plectranthus ambonicus- Omavalli

This succulent and brittle herb with highly aromatic leaves (smells like Ajwon) is grown in many households and used in health care. The leaf juice is a good digestive, appetizer and expectorant-removes phlegm and cures the upper respiratory tract infection. The leaves induce vomiting and removal of phlegm when chewed by people with severe respiratory infection. The “Bajji” made with the leaves during monsoon prevents respiratory infections. Leaf juice is taken from ½ teaspoon to 2 teaspoon with honey depending upon the age of children.

Andrographis paniculata - Nilavembu

This small erect herb prefers to grow in partial shade and good humidity. The plant is called as the “King of bitters” owing to its bitterness. The decoction of the plant is very effective in controlling fever and is a powerful appetite stimulant. The plant is invariably a key ingredient in hepato protective formulations and medicines used to treat skin diseases. Native healers use this plant to treat bites and stings as an antidote. It has been found useful in the treatment of leucoderma also, internally and externally.

Tinospora cordifolia – Seendilkodi

A perennial climber that will grow anywhere. The leaves and stems are reputed immune-modulator. The plant contains principles that are effective anti-bacterials and is used to treat infections of the eye, respiratory, urinary and alimentary tract. According to Ayurveda and Siddha systems of medicines, this plant is a Rasayana & Kayakalpa plant.

3 gm of dried stem, powder or a decoction of the aerial part of the plant including the leaves could be used. Thick stems are natural tooth brushes.

Lawsonia inermis – Maarudhani, Henna

The shrub of Marudhani is excellent hedge (Fence) plant. The leaves are traditionally used for tattooing and more particularly on special occasions. Henna is one of the largest export earner for India. It is also used as a hair conditioner and hair colorant. The application of ground leaf paste of Henna with eucalyptus oil or lime juice on the nails on a regular basis prevents fungal infection (Pittvedippu, Nagasutru ) of the palm, especially for women , who have to toil in water for washing, cleaning etc. Commercial Henna mostly contain harmful synthetic dyes, therefore growing Henna at home becomes absolutely essential.

Adhatoda vasica - Aadathodai

The shrub is grown as a hedge plant as it is not browsed by cattle. The leaf is very good expectorant. The alkaloids present in the leaves are responsible for its pharmacological action. Innumerable cough remedies are made with the leaf both as syrups and capsule. The plant possesses anti-microbial activity and hence it is used to treat respiratory infections and some uro- genital infections but contraindicated in pregnancy. For adult one fresh leaf is enough for 30 ml decoction. Take one leaf, remove the central vein, cut into small pieces, then add 5 peppers, add 120 ml water, boil it till it reduced to 30ml. It should be taken twice daily.

Ocimum tenuiflorum – Thulasi

The sacred plant of the Hindus is grown in every household. The holy water offered as Prasad in Vishnu temples contains this herb. Thulasi is extensively used in cough syrups and expectorants. It has anti-microbial properties and is used for enhancing the immunity of the human body. Ursolic acid present in Thulasi is a powerful anti-oxidant and studies have been carried out on its effect on stress induced by noise pollution. It is now mass cultivated and the bulk of the produce goes to herbal cosmetics industry and soap –scenting.

Centella asiatica - Vallarai

This runner, known as Gotu-kola in most parts of the South East Asian countries, has long been associated with the property of enhancing memory. Since it also has a stimulant activity on central nervous system it is best avoided by epileptic patients. The asiaticoside and madacasic acid present in the plant makes it an excellent wound healer and prevents photo ageing of the skin. It is used in anti-wrinkle creams. The plant grows near water bodies and wet lands. Studies have established its value in the treatment of ulcers due to tuberculosis and leprosy. It can be taken as leafy vegetable or dried powder 2 gm twice daily.

Vitex negundo – Nochi

This is a large aromatic shrub with quadrangular densely whitish tomentose branchlets up to 4.5m in height. It is very common in many parts of the country and often occurs gregariously. The leaves are aromatic and are considered tonic and vermifuge. 2 to 3 leaves with addition of long pepper -5nos, add 120 ml water, boil it and reduced it as 30 ml decoction is taker for fever and head ache. A decoction of the leaves and the vapors are employed in baths for the treatment of rheumatic complaints.

Gymnema sylvestre - Sirukurinjan

The leaves of this perennial climber which grows almost through out the scrub and deciduous jungles are probably one of the very few Indian herbs investigated and accepted in almost every part of the world for its anti-diabetic property. Chewing of leaf blocks the taste buds and the taste of the sugar is masked temporarily. 1 to 2 gm dried leaf powder twice daily should be taken for diabetes along with other diabetic herbs.