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Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Dec 23, 2015

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Page 1: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Traditional systems of herbal medicine

Page 2: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Oriental systems

there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to:

1. A dissatisfaction with conventional treatments

2. The recent interest in all things natural, environmentally friendly and biodegradable

Page 3: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

These older types of medicine are philosophically based, and are holistic in that they treat the patient as a whole rather than as the ‘owner’ of a disease or malfunctioning organ

Holistic medicine:An approach to medical care that emphasizes the study of all aspects of a person’s health, including physical, psychological, social, and economic influences on health status

Page 4: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

It is necessary for pharmacist to know about the basic principles of the older medical systems for two main reasons:

1. to be in a position to advise patients who may wish to consult an alternative practitioner

2. because traditional use is a common starting point in the ongoing search for new drugs

Two types of traditional medicine have been chosen as an illustration:

1. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)2. Ayurveda

Page 5: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Minor or self-limiting disorderssuch ailments include aches and pains, diarrhea, wounds or injuries, and facilitating childbirth, for which a common remedy will be usually offered

The remedy would usually be an indigenous plant or herb or a remedy obtainable from a local market, and would be well known within the community

The diseases in traditional systems can be classified as minor or self-limiting disorders, or chronic or serious disorders

Page 6: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Chronic or serious disorders

these may be fatal, life-threatening or debilitating conditions, or those that cannot be diagnosed by indigenous healers; they are often considered to have a “supernatural” component e.g. forms of cancer and genetic or metabolic disorders

Page 7: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

The dose In traditional medicine, this usually means a

lack of specific dose e.g. calabash, seashell, tumbler

Traditional medicine is more concerned with how to take remedy rather than how much this aspect of traditional medicine is very important indeed because it means that highly potent plants are rarely part of a traditional pharmacopoeia and some plants which we now find useful were considered dangerous e.g. foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L.)

Page 8: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Correlation of traditional use with scientific evidence

There may be a correlation between traditional usage and pharmacological action, such as the isolation of antipyretic principles from a ‘fever’ remedy, but, even so, it may turn out different to our expectations. For example: the periwinkle Vinca (Catharanthus) rosa was traditionally used for treating diabetes, but on further investigation yielded the powerful anticancer alkaloids vincristine and vinblastine

Page 9: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Page 10: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

The study of TCM is a mixture of myth and fact, stretching back well over 5000 years

Chinese medicine is philosophically based, and as an holistic therapy the concept of balance and harmony is supremely important

Page 11: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Concepts in TCMQi, the essential life force

Qi (or chi) permeates everything. It is transferable.

For example:

Digestion extracts qi from food and drink and transfers it to the body; and breathing extracts qi from the air and transfers it to the lungs. These two forms of qi meet in the blood and form ‘human qi’, which circulates through the body.

Page 12: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Qi, the essential life force It is the quality, quantity and balance of

qi that determine your state of health Food and air affect health, so diet and

breathing exercises are very important It is considered that the original vital

energy, qi, is gradually dissipated throughout life, so it is important to conserve it using diet, kung fu, breathing exercise and herbal medicine

Page 13: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Yin and Yang The theory of yin and

yang still permeates all aspects of Chinese thought. Attributes of both are:

Yin: negative/passive/dark/female/water

Yang: positive/active/bright/male/fire

Page 14: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Yin and YangYin is considered to be the stronger:

fire is extinguished by water, and water is ‘indestructible’. So yin is always mentioned before yang

Yin and yang are always in balance

Page 15: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

The five elements The earth is divided into wood, fire, earth,

metal and water. They dominate everything on earth, and each is associated with a vital organ of the body:

Heart: fire Kidneys: water Liver: wood Lungs: metal Spleen: earth

Page 16: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

The vital organs These do not correspond to our organs exactly

Exact anatomy was not considered important since it was the relationship between the organs, the five elements, qi and yin and yang that mattered. For example:

if a person with a red complexion (fire color) and who laughs a lot (fire sound) may have an over-fired heart; in this case, herbs to sedate the heart will be given

Page 17: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

The vital organs The organs are considered to be yin or yang

and are paired. Coupled organs are connected by meridians,

or energy channels, through which qi flows. Meridians are not associated with the

nervous system and cannot be seen physically.

Meridians are stimulated with herbs and by acupuncture and will have a direct effect on a particular organ as well as a toning effect on the system.

Page 18: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Causes of disease Bacteria, viruses and chemicals are not

considered to be causes.

If an organ is weak, it may be attacked, and therefore the weakness is the cause and must be rectified.

The disease may be the result of external forces and internal emotional factors.

Page 19: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Causes of disease The external forces are called the six

excesses:1. Wind 2. Cold3. Summer heat4. Dampness5. Dryness6. Fire Most people, if healthy, are not affected by

the six excesses but, if the body is deficient in qi or weather conditions are abnormal, then this may cause problems.

Page 20: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

The seven emotions These are considered to be the major internal

causes of disease.

Excessive emotional activity causes:1. A severe yin/yang imbalance2. Blockage of qi in the meridians3. Impairment of vital organ function

Excessive emotional activity will lead to damage of the organs and allow disease to enter from outside, or a minor weakness from inside to develop.

Page 21: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

The seven emotions The seven emotions are:1. Joy 2. Anger3. Anxiety4. Concentration5. Grief6. Fear (A feeling of agitation and anxiety caused by

the presence or imminence of danger)

7. Fright (Sudden intense fear)

Page 22: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

The seven emotions Once physical damage has occurred, by

whatever cause, it will need more than emotional factors to cure it and herbs will be used.

There are a few other causes, which are not emotional or external excesses. These are the exception of the rule, and include:

1. Epidemics2. Insect and animal bites3. Worm infestation4. Hereditary diseases

Page 23: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Diagnosis Various methods are used:

1. Examination of the tongue2. Pulse diagnosis

3. Palpation of internal organs (to determine consistency and tone)

4. Massage (to detect temperature and knotted muscles and nerves)

5. Interviewing (vital, questions are asked about sleep patterns, tastes in food and drink, stool and urine quality, fever, perspiration and sexual

activity)

Page 24: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Treatment the purpose is to rectify harmony, restore qi

and the yin/yang balance. For example:

‘cold’ diseases, such as cold in the lungs, coughs, vomiting and nausea are considered to be a deficiency of yang and treatment would be with a warming herb such as a ginger.

Once the prescription has been chosen and written out, the patient takes it to a Chinese herbalist who prepares the remedy.

Page 25: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Type of

disease

Example of

disease

Nature of

disease

Nature of

remedy

Example of remedy

Desired effect

Cold Nausea, vomiting

Yin Yang Ginger Warming

Hot Malaria,

feverYang Yin

Sweet wormwood

Cooling

Page 26: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.
Page 27: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Ayurveda

Page 28: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Ayurveda is considered to be the most ancient of all medical disciplines.

Ayurveda is a system of sacred Hindu

medicine, originating in India.

In Ayurvedic medicine, the patient is viewed as unique, and ‘normality’ as what is appropriate for that particular person and this is in contrast to Western medicine, where populations are generalized and ‘normal’ means what is applicable to the majority.

Page 29: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Ayurvedic medicine is worthy of study because:1. It is the most ancient system of medicine still in

use today.2. It has influenced so many other types. Philosophically, Ayurveda has similarities with

traditional Chinese medicine (TCM):1. In TCM, there are two (yin and yang), and in

Ayurveda there are three (the tridosha).2. There are five elements in both, but they are

slightly different.3. Many remedies are common to both systems

although the philosophical rationale for their application may be a little different

Page 30: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Concepts in Ayurveda

Page 31: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Prana, the life energy Prana is the vital energy, activating both

body and mind. Nutrient prana from the air gives energy to

the vital prana in the brain, via respiration, and is thus the equivalent of qi in TCM.

In the body it is seated in the head, and governs emotions, memory and other functions of the mind.

Prana (1) kindles the bodily fire [agni] and (2) governs the functioning of the heart, entering the bloodstream from where it controls the vital organs [dhatus].

Page 32: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Bhutas, the five elements The basic elements of cosmic energy are:

the ether (space), air, fire, water and earth.

The five elements are related to the five senses: hearing, touch, vision, taste & smell. For example:Ether is related to hearing, since sound is transmitted through it, and from there to the ear, the associated sense organ, leading to speech, from the organs of action which are the tongue and vocal cords.

Page 33: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Tridosha: vata, pitta & kapha(the three humors)

The five elements are manifest in the human body as three basic principles or humors known as the ‘tridosha’.

The three humors (vata, pitta, kapha) govern all biological, psychological and physiopathological functions of the body and mind.

The primary requirement to diagnosis and treatment of disease is to understand the relationship between the humors.

Page 34: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

The tridosha affects the creation, maintenance and destruction of bodily tissues and the elimination of toxins (ama) from the body.

The tridosha is responsible for psychological phenomena, including basic human emotions such as fear, anger and greed, and more complicated sentiments such as understanding, compassion and love, and as such is the foundation of the psychosomatic nature of man.

Page 35: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

the tridosha has recently been redefined as an equilibrium, balance and coordination between the three vital body systems:

the central nervous system (CNS) vatathe endocrine system pittathe immune axis kapha

The tridosha can be considered to govern all metabolic activities:

catabolism vatametabolism pitta

anabolism kapha

Page 36: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

For example:1. When vata is out of balance, the

metabolism will be disturbed, resulting in excess catabolism, which is the breakdown or deterioration process in the body; excess would therefore induce emaciation.

2. When anabolism is greater than catabolism (excess kapha), there is an increased rate of growth and repair of organs and tissues.

Page 37: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

The tridosha can be described further: Vata, affiliates to air or ether (space), is a

principle of movement. It can be characterized as the energy controlling biological movement and is thus associated with the CNS, and governs functions such as breathing, blinking, heartbeat and nervous impulses.

Pitta, is affiliated to fire and water, and governs bodily heat and energy. It is involved in metabolism, digestion, excretion, manufacture of blood and endocrine secretions and is also involved with intelligence and understanding.

Page 38: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Kapha, is associated with water and earth. It is responsible for:

1. Physical structure

2. Biological strength

3. Regulatory functions

4. Immunity

5. Production of mucus and synovial fluid

6. Wound healing

7. Vigor and memory retention

Page 39: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Prakruti, the human constitution Humans can be divided into personality types,

and the constitution of an individual is determined by the state of the parental tridosha at conception.

Most people are not completely one type, but can be described as vata-pitta or pitta-kapha.

As well as the vata, pitta and kapha type of personalities, there are three basic attributes (satva, rajas & tamas) provide the basis for distinctions in human temperament, individual differences and psychological and moral dispositions.

Page 40: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Satva expresses essence, understanding, purity, clarity, compassion and love.

Rajas describes movement, aggressiveness and extroversion.

Tamas manifests in ignorance, inertia, heaviness and dullness.

Page 41: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Agni, the digestive fire AgniAgni governs metabolism and is essentially

pitta in nature. An imbalance in the tridosha will impair agni and therefore affect metabolism.

AgniAgni plays a vital role in the creation and maintenance of dhatus (body tissues).

AgniAgni contains heat which helps in the digestion of external elements that enter our body. The food which enters our digestive tract is converted into life sap with the help of agni.

AgniAgni also helps in destroying ama (toxins). These are produced if there is an imbalance of doshas.

Page 42: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Malas, the three waste products

These are as may be expected the feces, urine and sweat, and production and elimination of these are vital.

Their appearance and properties can give many indications of the state of the tridosha and therefore health.

Page 43: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Dhatus, the seven tissues

The human body consists of seven basic tissues or organs (constructing elements) or dhatus.

When there is a disorder in the balance of the tridosha, the dhatus are directly affected.

The dhatus do not correspond to our definition of anatomy, but are more a tissue type than an individual organ.

Page 44: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Diagnosis

Taking the case history involves astrological considerations as well as a thorough examination, where the appearance of the tongue, properties of the urine, sweat and sputum will also be examined.

Page 45: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Treatment Treatment may involve:Treatment may involve:1. Diets2. Bloodletting3. Fasting4. Skin applications5. enemas6. Yogic breathing7. Herbal treatments8. minerals

Page 46: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.

Some important herbs of Ayurveda and their uses

Botanical name

Ayurvedic name

Effect on dosha

Medical use

Nigella sativa

Kalonji Pacifies vata & kapha

Digestive, antiseptic

Piper nigrum

Kalmirch Pacifies vata & pitta

Digestive, respiratory disorders

Terminalia chebula

Haritaki Balances tridosha

Digestive, blood tonic,

antiasthmatic

Page 47: Traditional systems of herbal medicine. Oriental systems   there is a resurgence of interest in the older oriental systems due to: 1. 1. A dissatisfaction.