S. K. MadarasingheUniversity of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka

HERBAL DRUGS

Content Herbs.

What are ‘herbal drugs’?

Available types.

History.

How they work inside body?

Conditions where herbal medicine is used for treatments.

Factors to be considered when recommending herbs.

Common herbs and their uses. 2

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In general use, herbs are any plant used for flavoring, food, medicine, or perfume.

An abbreviation of "herbaceous plant".

Have a variety of uses; culinary, medicinal, and spiritual usage.

Medicinal herbs are,,,,

Plants contain phytochemicals that have effects on the body.

Are dietary supplements, people take to improve their health.

Also called ;herbal medicinebotanical medicinephytomedicine

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Herbal drugs,,,

Sold as;tabletsdecoctionstincturescapsulespowdersteasextractsfresh or dried plants.

Almost one fourth of pharmaceutical drugs are derived from botanicals.

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Tisanes(herbal teas): resultant liquid of extracting herbs into water.

Decoctions: the long-term boiled extracts, usually of harder substances like roots or bark.

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Types of herbal drugs include,,,

Tinctures : alcoholic extracts of herbs, generally stronger than tisane.

Herbal wine : maceration of herbs in wine.

Extracts include liquid extracts, dry extracts and nebulisates.

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History… Predates written human history. Non-human primates – ingested medicinal plants to treat illness.

Sumerians- clay tablets with lists of medicinal plants(5,000 y a).

Egyptians- Papyrus, contains information on over 850 plant medicines (3,000 BC).

In India & Sri lanka Ayurveda medicine used many herbs (1900 BC).

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Scientists aren't sure what specific ingredient in a particular herb treats a condition or illness.

Whole herbs contain many ingredients.

They may work together to produce a beneficial effect.

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How they work???

Plants have the ability to synthesize chemical compounds (phytochemicals).

Many have beneficial effects on long-term health of humans.

They can be used to effectively treat human diseases.

At least 12,000 such compounds have been isolated so far.

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Use of Phytochemicals…

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Phytochemicals

primary metabolites

secondary metabolites

Secondary metabolites and pigments have therapeutic actions in humans and can be refined to produce drugs.

Examples are ;

Inulin from the roots of Dahlias (for diabetics)

Quinine from the Cinchona (antifever agent especially in treating malaria & for increasing appetite)

Morphine and codeine from the Poppy (as painkillers )

Digoxin from the Foxglove (for heart problems)12

Herbal medicine is used to treat many conditions, such as:

AsthmaPremenstrual syndromeRheumatoid arthritis MigraineMenopausal symptomsChronic fatigueIrritable bowel syndrome Cancer

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Recommending herbs;

Species and variety of the plant.

The plant's habitat.

How it was stored and processed.

Whether or not there are contaminants. (including heavy metals and pesticides)

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Common herbs and their uses

Aloe vera Contains compounds that reduce inflammation,

swelling, redness, pain and itching.

Promotes healing, and helps injured skin from getting infected.

Gel - as an ingredient in commercially available lotions.

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Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba)

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Used in traditional medicine to treat circulatory disorders and enhance memory.

Dandelion(Taraxacum officinale)

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Nutritious healing herb.

Use above ground parts and root to make medicine.

Stimulates the flow of bile.

Enhances the body’s ability to eliminate toxins.

Prevents gallstones and cleanses the liver.

Garlic (Allium sativum) Used as an antibiotic and, more recently, for treating cardiovascular disease.

Neem (Azadirachta indica) used in India to treat worms, malaria,

rheumatism and skin infections.

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What is your perception about herbal drugs?

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References:

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/herbal-medicine http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/herb https://www.google.lk http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbalism

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Thank You!