Traditional Systems of Traditional Systems of Herbal MedicineHerbal Medicine

BY: PRABHAT KHAREAsst. Prof.

SIRT-Pharmacy

Study of Traditional Drugs : Study of Traditional Drugs : Why……….??Why……….??

Approximately 25% of today’s prescription drugs come from plant extracts.

Only about 15% of the known plant species have been screened for medicinal purposes.

Most medicinal plants have been identified by the indigenous people by trial and error.

……………………How many are used?How many are used?

75% of the world population depends on traditional herbal medicine

In the United state 10% of all prescribed drugs have primary component extract from plant

25% of our common medicine contain some compounds from plants

The Case The Case FavorsFavors…………Tradition: used throughout historyNatural:perceived as gentler and

saferCost:often less expensive than

prescription medicineAccess: patient maintains control &

no prescription necessarySynergism:a view that multiple

ingredients working together yield better results

The Case The Case AgainstAgainst……………………

Lack of FDA Regulation and Oversight◦Lack of Dosage Standardization◦Potential for adulteration

Potential for toxicity and drug interactions: natural is not always safer

More effective therapy may be delayed

Many herbs are not superior to prescription medicines

Definition : Definition : Traditional DrugsTraditional Drugs

Medical practice that includes diagnosis, prevention and treatment, based on practical experience and observations handed down from generation to generation whether verbally or writing.

HistoryHistoryDiscovery by trial and errorPassed on from generation to

generation through word of mouthFirst recorded history – 2500 BC from

Sumerian drawings of opium poppy

It is necessary for pharmacists to know about basic principles of traditional medicine for two reasons:

1- To be in a position to advise patients who may wish to consult

an alternative practitioner.

2- Traditional use is a common starting point in the ongoing search for new drugs.

The Diseases in Traditional Systems are The Diseases in Traditional Systems are Classified intoClassified into

I- Minor or Self-Limiting DisordersLike aches, pain, flatulence, diarrhea, wounds and facilitating childbirth, for which plant or herb can be obtained from a local market and would be well known within the community.

II- Chronic or Serious DisordersLike cancer and some genetic disordersPlant remedies will certainly be used but they may be used as a part of a spritual and treatment will also involve practices such as divination gods or ancestors have been offended and sacrifices may appease the supernatural entity.

The The DoseDose………….………….

Traditional Medicine (TM), usually means a lack of specific dose, it is more concerned with HowHow to take the remedy rather than How much How much

So, highly potent plants i.e. drug with narrow therapeutic index eg. Digitalis purpurea are rarely part of a traditional medicine pharmacopoeias.

Physiology / Mode of Action:Physiology / Mode of Action:

Hepatica leaves have 3 lobes,just like the liver

Snakeroot for muscles

Walnut: looks sort of likea brain!

Tomatoes are red and havefour chambers, just like

the heart.

lungwort

The The FiveFive Elements…… 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 Liver: wood Spleen: earth Lungs: metal Kidneys: water

The external factorsThe external factors““Six ExcessesSix Excesses””

Wind Cold Summer heatDampness Dryness Fire

Most people, if healthy, not affected by the six excesses but, if the body is deficient or weather conditions are abnormal, then this may cause problems.

The The SevenSeven Emotions….. Emotions…..These are the major internal causes of

diseases, these are:Joy Anger Anxiety

ConcentrationGrief Fear Fright

Excessive emotional activity causes:1- Imbalance and impairment of vital organ

function

2- damage of the organs and allows disease to enter from outside, or a minor weakness from inside to develop.

Diagnosis…Diagnosis…Examination of the tongue

Pulse diagnosis

Palpitation of internal organs

Massage

Interviewing: questions are asked about sleep patterns, stool and urine quality, fever, etc...

Concepts in AyurvedaConcepts in AyurvedaPrana, 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 kindles the bodily fire, governs the functioning of the heart, entering the bloodstream from where it controls the vital organs.

Bhutas, the five elements Bhutas, the five elements

The basic elements of cosmic energy are:

Ether (Space) Air Fire Water Earth

The five elements are related to the five senses: hearing, touch, vision, taste & smell.

e.g.: 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.

Tridosha (The Humors)Tridosha (The 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 physio-pathological functions of the body and mind.

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

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

Central nervous system (CNS) vata Endocrine system pitta Immune axis kapha

The tridosha can be considered to govern all metabolic activities:

Catabolism vata Metabolism pitta Anabolism kapha

Some Important Herbs in TM and Some Important Herbs in TM and Their UsesTheir Uses

Latin name English name Nature Medicinal use

Cinnamomum cassia

Chinese cinnamon

Pungent, sweet, very hot,

Diarrhoea, tonic, dysmenorrhoea

Ocimum sanctum

Holy basil Sweet, hot, Expectorant, febrifuge, immuno-modulator

Panax ginseng Ginseng Sweet, neutral Tonic, aphrodisiac, appetite stimulant

Rheum palmatum

Rhubarb Bitter, cold, Constipation, burns, diarrhoea, jaundice

Zingiber officinale

Ginger Pungent, sweet, very hot,

Nausea, vomiting, colds, diarrhoea

TulsiTulsi immuno-modulatory

properties.

Many herbal cosmetics contain

tulsi. It is also used in skin

ointments due to its anti-

bacterial properties.

Tulsi acts as insect repellant.

So it is used to store grains.

It has antiviral, antibacterial,

anti-tubercular, antifungal,

anti-malarial properties.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.)Licorice (Glycyrrhiza spp.)

Phenolic compounds from the root or rhizome

anti-oxidantanti-tumoranti-inflammatory

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)Ginger (Zingiber officinale)from the rhizomeOver 12

compounds with anti-oxidant activities greater than vitamin E

anti-tumoranti-emetic

(inhibits vomiting)

Garli c (Allium sativum) & Onion Garli c (Allium sativum) & Onion (Allium cepa)(Allium cepa)

Organo-sulfur compounds from leaves

Anti-carcinogenic and anti-microbial

Anti-atherosclerosis and anti-hypertensive

Toxic in high amounts