Unani System of Medicine- Introduction and Challenges

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Unani System of Medicine- Introduction and Challenges General Medicine UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE- INTRODUCTION AND CHALLENGES AHMAD HUSAIN* G.D. SOFI* TAJUDDIN** RAMAN DANG*** NILESH KUMAR*** The Unani System of Medicine pioneered in Greece and Syria. It is also called Arab medicine. Unani is still and was developed by Arabs into an elaborate medical popular in many Arab and East Asian countries. In fact science based on the frame work of the teaching of Unani medicine and herbal products are gradually more Buqrat (Hippocrates) and Jalinoos (Galen). Since that being used in many countries where modern medicine time Unani Medicine has been khown as Greco-Arab is easily available. India has accepted it as one of the Medicine. This system is based on Hippocatic theory of alternative health care system and has given it official four humours viz. blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black status. bile, and the four qualities of states of living human body Practices of traditional medicine vary greatly with like hot, cold, moist and dry. They are represented as country and region, as they are influenced by factors earth, water, fire and air, the Greek ideas were put by such as culture, history, personal attitudes and philoso- Arabian physician as seven principles (Umoor-e-Tab- phy. In many cases, the theory and application of tradi- biya) and included, element (Arkan), temperament tional medicine are quite different from those of (Mizaj), humours (Akhlat), organs (Aaza), sprit (Arwah), conventional medicine. Based on the therapies, tradi- faculties (Qowa) and functions (Afaal). In this system is tional medicine can be categorized as medication and it believed that, these principles are responsible for the non-medication. body constitution and its health, as well as, diseased Traditional medication involves the use of herbal conditions (1). medicines, animal parts and minerals. Non medication The World Health Organization (WHO) has recog- involves various techniques, primarily without the use of nized the Unani System of Medicine (USM) as an alter- medication. They include, for example, acupuncture and native system to cater the health care needs of human related techniques, chiropractic, osteopathy, manual population. Alternative medicine is being practiced therapies, qigong, yoga, and other physical, mental, reg- worldwide. imental, spiritual and mind-body therapies. Unani is one of the most well known traditional medicine systems and draws on the ancient traditional Situation as regards the use of traditional medicine systems of medicine of China, Egypt, India, Iraq, Persia Traditional medicine is widely and increasingly being used in both developing and developed countries. *From National Institute of Unani Medicine Kottegepalya, Bangalore. ** From Department of Ilmul Advia, AMU, Aligharh, India. Up to 80% of the population in Africa and 65% in India ***From Department of Pharmacognosy Al-Ameen College, Bangalore. depend on traditional medicine to help meet their health Medical Journal of Islamic World Academy of Sciences 18:1, 27-30, 2010 27 UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE-INTRODUCTION AND CHALLANGES HUSAIN, SOFI, TAJUDDIN, DANG, KUMAR care needs. Elsewhere, in Asia and in Latin America, which has got information related to the number of historical circumstances and cultural beliefs mean that herbs, quantity used, and preparation of bases and populations continue to use traditional medicine. In powder size of each constituent. Along with these stan- many developed countries, certain complementary and dards, the dosage and use has been enumerated. alternative medicine therapies are popular; the percent- The standard preparation usually is used fresh and the age of the population that has used complementary and time period of its use is generally given. Certain prepara- alternative medicine at least once is 48% in Australia, tions are to be stored up to 6 months so as to stabilize 70% in Canada, 70% in USA, 40% in Belgium and 49% them and the practitioners can then only use them. in France. However, comprehensive and reliable data and information about the global use of traditional medi- Type of compound Drug Formulations used in cine are not available (2). Unani System of Medicine (9): The disease state is caused by the derangement of 1. Solid formulations: Powder, tablets and pills etc temperament or humor and retention of health is carried 2. Semi Solid formulations: Electuaries, Aperients, out by applying the various measures to render balance Jwarishat, Khamerajat etc. in the polar dimensions of six essential prerequisites of 3. Liquid formulations: Syrups, decoctions, linc- health. The applied aspect of USM deals with the vari- tuses, eye and nasal drops etc ous measures to maintain or restore health (3, 4). 4. Gaseous formulations: Snuffs, Shamoom, notukh, lakhlakha etc. Sources of drugs The principal sources of drugs in USM are, Standards used in compounding of drugs 1. Plant origin drugs The official formulary of USM has enumerated cer- 2. Animal origin drugs tain general principles for compounding various drug 3. Mineral origin drugs (5, 6) preparations. They can be categorized into two parts. Crude drugs when used one at a time is called Ilaj 1. Principles related to routine process: it includes bil Mufrad (treatment by single drug). When two or more the basic hygiene of pharmacy unit. It describes how to than two drugs are combined together, it is called Ilaj bil enter into a pharmacy unit and how to handle various Murakkabat (treatment by compound drugs) (7). Various instruments of the unit to ensure cleanness. drug formulations are used in Unani medicine. Dosage 2. Specific process: these include: Process of pow- forms are used for (8) dering a drug to the required particle size. Concept of Sehque Baleegh (very fine powder) has been described 1. Easy access in every Unani pharmacopoeia in detailed and how to 2. Enhance or decrease rate of absorption identify whether drug has been powdered to required 3. Preservation fineness 4. To increase life of drugs 3. Qiwaam requirement: base for Unani formulation 5. To use in situation where single drug therapy can is honey, sugar, vinegar or alcohol. Required viscosity not yield the desired results (Qiwaam) has to be developed in the base substrate in 6. To moderate the potency/efficacy of a drugs which the ingredients are to be mixed. Unani pharma- 7. To detoxify of a drugs copoeia has described various methods to identify the 8. To eliminate any side effects of a drug required level of qiwaam of the base substrate. 9. To decrease dosage form of drug 4. Principles of good storage: different methods of Various poly-herbal formulations are manufactured storage mentioned like air tight container closer system, with the help of the process as described by the refer- glassware, plastic containers and china clay for storage ence books called The Quarabadeen (pharmacopeias) of some medicines. 28 Medical Journal of Islamic World Academy of Sciences 18:1, 27-30, 2010 UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE-INTRODUCTION AND CHALLANGES HUSAIN, SOFI, TAJUDDIN, DANG, KUMAR 5. Empirical shelf life of drug formulations: Unani nerable to a number of interpretations which equally pharmacopoeias have mentioned the shelf life of vari- qualified as a truth statement. It needed self-correcting ous formulations, which is empirical. Keen observation methods to avert controversies. Human history took and use of these formulations from centuries has made another two centuries to develop these methods now it possible to evaluate the life of formulation for its use. so called scientific methods. Sciences of this modern On the basis of authority, the expiry dates of various age is quite newer and sophisticated, like claims of drugs have been mentioned in classical literatures of expiration dates of Unani formulations was based only USM (10). on organoleptic characteristics e.g. colour, odour, taste It may serve as an example. and consistency, along with these in modern pharma- 1. Powders: not more than one months (10) ceutics, specific precise analytical techniques are used 2. Tiryaque akbar: Upto thirty years and more (11) to evaluate the Physical, Chemical and Microbiological 3. Tiryaque faruq: ten to twenty years stability studies. 4. Barshasha has retain their potency for five years (12). 3. Standardization of single and compound drugs Standardization of crude drugs and the compound Present challenges for Unani medicine formulations as described by Unani experts is based on experience. Documentation of the same seems to be 1. Validation of Empirical claims only statements of various authorities. Although they Classical Unani practitioners mentioned a lot from seem to be very accurate, yet these cannot be taken at their experience regarding the identification of crude par with a scientific statement. These claims need to be drugs, their authentication methods, and about their validated and the drugs need to be standardized on clinical efficacy. They also mentioned the method of more precise scientific parameters. compound drug formulations, and their possible expira- tions dates. The present challenge for Unani scholars 4. Drug dosage forms is to validate these claims applying scientific method- Dosage forms of Unani single and compound ologies. drugs are mentioned in our classical literatures. They 2. Usage of technology are not changed from their ancient periods so need for The era of classical Unani system dates back till Dosage forms evaluations on the basis of modern tech- the last two centuries, With the use of technology pre- niques is a major challenge for Unani system, so as to vailing in those days Unani physicians and scholars left make it acceptable and pleasant to all. It needs to go to no stone unturned to make this system empirical, sys- the basics of experimentation and requisite research. tematic and rational one. The measure breakthrough was that it tried to solve concrete, physical and testable 5. Stability studies research statements. These statements formed the Stability studies of drugs are necessary for better- core knowledge base. They used keen observation, ment of patients for clinical efficacy of formulations and experience of trial, upon trial of various drugs in regard for drug regulatory requirements.
Recommended publications
  • Are Traditional Medicine and Phytotherapy the Same?
    Acta Scientific Pharmaceutical Sciences (ISSN: 2581-5423) Volume 2 Issue 8 August 2018 Short Communication Are Traditional Medicine and Phytotherapy the Same? Roshanak Ghods* Persian Medicine Department, Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran *Corresponding Author: Roshanak Ghods, Persian Medicine Department, Research Institute for Islamic and Complementary Medicine, School of Persian Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Received: July 23, 2018; Published: August 22, 2018 Persian medicine is a school of traditional medicine, which is These are the main principals of every medical school, which is - founded on the basis of humoral theory. Similar to Unani medicine or many other traditional medicines, Persian medicine is one of based on four elements (fire, air, water, soil/earth) and their attrib everything have a special temperament (hot and wet, hot and dry, these holistic medical schools. In this medical viewpoint, a physi- uted qualities (warmness, wetness, coldness, dryness) that make Mizaj cian has to know all the features of every element and its attrib- - uted temperament and humor before suggesting any kind of treat- cold and wet, and cold and dry). In fact, the temperament ( action between different amounts of the four elements. Humor is ment to the patient. It is important to mention that according to in Arabic) is a uniform quality that results from the ultimate inter the humoral theory, diseases occur when the balance between the organism, whether a plant, an animal, or a human. We have four hu- four qualities in the body is disturbed.
    [Show full text]
  • IMCR an Initiative for Improving AYUSH Health System at Kolli Hills IMCR
    IMCR 43 REPORT An Initiative for Improving AYUSH Health System at Kolli Hills Kalyan Maity1,2, Parul Bali3, Maa Muktika4, J. M. Balamurugan5* 1 Division of Yoga and Life Sciences, Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA), Bengaluru, Karnataka, India 2 Neuroscience Research Lab, Department of Neurology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India 3 Department of Biological Sciences, IISER, Mohali, Punjab, India 4 Isha Outreach, Velliangiri Foothills, Ishana Vihar (po), Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India 5 IAS, Principal Secretory to Governor Punjab & Administrator U.T Chandigarh, India *Corresponding Author: J. M. Balamurugan, IAS Principal Secretory to Governor Punjab & Administrator U.T Chandigarh, India Contact no: +91-9780020243 E-mail: [email protected] Introduction only medicine” [23]. Research has shown that Naturopathy can be an integrative treatment for hypertension [24], meno- Indian system of medicine has been a well-established tradi- pausal symptoms [25], asthma [26], metabolic syndrome tional medical system globally [1]. This system is also called [27], and cancer [28]. AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Along with Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, India is fol- Homeopathy) system. AYUSH system believes in holistic ap- lowing Unani system of medicine since long back, that was proach and treating a person as a whole. It is re-emerging in introduced by Arabs and Persians during eleventh century. developing countries in order to promote preventive health Several Unani healthcare, research and educational institutes rather than symptomatic management [2, 3]. Especially in In- are present in India [29]. Hippocrates is called the founder of dia AYUSH system is developing day by day as an integrative the Unani system.
    [Show full text]
  • Simple Remedy of Palpitations in Pregnancy from Iranian Traditional Medicine: a Mini Review
    Mini Review Article J Complement Med Alt Healthcare Volume 4 Issue 4 - December 2017 Copyright © All rights are reserved by Shahrbanoo Abdolhosseini DOI: 10.19080/JCMAH.2017.04.555643 Simple Remedy of Palpitations in Pregnancy from Iranian Traditional Medicine: A Mini Review Roshanak Mokaberinejad1 and Shahrbanoo Abdolhosseini2* 1Department of Traditional Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Iran 2Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Iran Submission: November 07, 2017; Published: December 18, 2017 *Corresponding author: Shahrbanoo Abdolhosseini, Department of Traditional Medicine Minimally Invasive Surgery Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Email: Keywords: Palpitations; Pregnancy; Traditional medicine; Integrative medicine Mini Review manuscripts. Various natural remedies have been used in Palpitations are one of the common problems in pregnant Iranian traditional medicine for palpitation of pregnancy. These women. In pregnancy, heart rate (HR) increases by 25%; thus remedies have been used for many years by Iranian physicians sinus tachycardia, especially in the third trimester, is common. such as Avicenna for the treatment of palpitation in pregnancy. Prevalence of Ectopic beats and non-sustained arrhythmia is If there is no cardiac cause for palpitation, Simple treatments more than 50% of pregnant women investigated for palpitations to improve palpitation of pregnancy in traditional medicine while sustained tachycardia are less common about 2-3/1000 references include: [1]. Treatment of arrhythmias in pregnant women is similar to that in non-pregnant but a special attention must be given to prevent adverse fetal effects [2]. non-long walking may help [6]. A. Lifestyle modification with Moderate exercise such as Nowadays there is also a great interest especially by women B.
    [Show full text]
  • General Guidelines for Drug Development of Ayurvedic Formulations
    GUIDELINES SERIES-I GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DRUG DEVELOPMENT OF AYURVEDIC FORMULATIONS CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR RESEARCH IN AYURVEDIC SCIENCES Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India New Delhi Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR DRUG DEVELOPMENT OF AYURVEDIC FORMULATIONS Volume - 1 CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR RESEARCH IN AYURVEDIC SCIENCES Ministry of AYUSH, Govt, of India New Delhi Miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii Illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll © Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi - 110058 First Edition - 2018 Publisher: Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India, New Delhi, J. L. N. B. C. A. H. Anusandhan Bhavan, 61-65, Institutional Area, Opp. D-Block, Janakpuri, New Delhi - 110 058, E-mail: [email protected], Website : www.ccras.nic.in Disclaimer: All possible efforts have been made to ensure the correctness of the contents. However Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences, Ministry of AYUSH, shall not be accountable for any inadvertent error in the content. Corrective measures shall be taken up once such errors are brought to notice. ISBN : 978-93-83864-23-2 Other Related
    [Show full text]
  • Medicine in Antiquity Part 2
    Medicine in Antiquity Part 2 Prof (Col) Dr RN Basu • Therapeutics in Ayurveda • As per aurvedic therapeutic procedure there are five recorded procedures. These are: • Various kinds of massage • Anointment with oil, and • Yoga • Drugs came from well known plants • Example: • Senna was prepared from cassia and was used by vaidyas for two thousand years 2 • Surgery • Charaka and Sushruta achieved considerable success in surgery • Even transplant surgery was contemplated • Example: • Transplant of testes from ram was thought of as a cure of impotence • Ayurvedic treatise mentions about: • Caesarean section • Lithotomy • Couching the cataract • Tonsilectomy • Amputations, and • Plastic surgery 3 4 • These surgical traditions of Ayurveda posed considerable challenge to Western practices • In ancient India, the aurvedic surgeons attained considerable success without undertaking any dissection of human body • Sushruta taught that the human body must be studied by direct observation • This essential knowledge was required for practicing medicine and surgery • At that time, there was religious prohibition for dissecting human body • Sushruta’s innovative ways and methods could circumvent these barriers • The physicians could study the minutest details of human body • Whether later physicians practiced Sushuta’s method was not known 5 • Ayurveda was equated with Hindu system of medicine • Apart from Hinduism’s influence on Ayurveda, it also came under Buddhist influence • There was no separate Buddhists’s system of medicine • They were using the Ayurvedic system of medicine to treat patients • Many Buddhists scholar enriched Ayurveda by their positive contribution • Among them name of Nagarjuna was prominent • He developed methods to purify many medicinal preparations to make them non-toxic • During Buddhist prominence, a famous university near Patna was set up.
    [Show full text]
  • Clinical Trials of Unani Medicine: Challenges and Way Forward
    Urooj M, J Acupun Tradit Med 3: 007. Journal of Acupuncture & Traditional Medicine Short Commentary Clinical Trials of Unani Medicine: Challenges and Way Forward Mohd Urooj* Pharmacology Research Laboratory, National Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorders (Under Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine), Hyderabad, India Abstract *Corresponding author: Mohd Urooj Pharmacology Research Laboratory, National Clinical Development of Unani Medicine encounters various chal- Research Institute of Unani Medicine for Skin Disorders (Under Central Council for lenges in terms of benefits/risks assessment, principles for framing Research in Unani Medicine), Opp. ESI Hospital, A.G Colony Road, Hyderabad, India, Tel: +91 7088 889991; E-mail: [email protected] inclusion/exclusion, choice of placebo or active control etc., while designing a clinical trial. Additionally, the poor quality control and Received Date: July 04, 2020 inter-batch variability in the composition makes dose selection a challenge. Further, there is limitation in determining dosing regimen, Accepted Date: August 13, 2020 herb-drug interaction due to lack of preclinical and clinical Pharma- Published Date: August 24, 2020 cokinetics (PK) data. Encountering these challenges for the devel- opment of evidence based Unani Medicine requires researchers to Citation: Urooj M (2020) Clinical Trials of Unani Medicine: Challenges and Way For- focus on their unique and contrasting characteristics in comparison ward. J Acupun Tradit Med 3: 007 to conventional drugs. This commentary outlines the major limita- Copyright: © 2020 Urooj M. This is an open-access article distributed under the tions and challenges in conduct of clinical trial of Unani Medicine and terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, offers possible solutions.
    [Show full text]
  • Hejamat-Bil-Shurt) in Cases of Back Pain ( Waja-Uz-Zahr
    Hamdard Medicus 52 Vol. 56, No. 1, 2013 Evaluation of Efficacy of Wet Cupping (Hejamat-bil-Shurt) in Cases of Back Pain (Waja-uz-Zahr) Mohammad Shakeel Ansari*1 and Mohammed Yasir2 1Department of Jarahiyat, 2Department of Moalejat, National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Kottigepalya, Magadi Main Road, Bangalore-560091, India. Waja-uz-Zahr (Back Pain) is common articular disease, a specific type of Waja-ul-Mafasil, usually occurs due to soo-e-mizaj of that part and often associated with accumulation of fasid madda (morbid matter) at that specific part of body1, 11. In present randomized, open, comparative study, 30 patients with Waja-uz-Zahr received orally Unani formulation and 30 patients received wet-cupping procedure on the lower part of back. Three primary outcome measures were considered; Back Pain, Back Stiffness and Difficulty in performing Physical activities. Hejamat-bil-Shurt is more effective in the management of Back Pain, Back Stiffness and Difficulty in performing Physical activities in comparison with the oral medication. Introduction Pain in the back or backache is a common concern, affecting up to 60-80% of people at some point in their lifetime. Common causes of back pain involve disease or injury to the muscles, bones and nerves of the spine. Although there is no evidence that back pain prevalence has increased, reported disability and absence from work due to back pain have increased significantly over the last 30 years2. Back pain symptoms are the most common cause of disability in patients under 45 years of age3. According to Zakariya Razi, Waja-ul- Mafasil is a wide term which encompasses pain in joints.
    [Show full text]
  • Role of Hijama' (Cupping Therapy) in the Management of Niqras (Gouty
    al of Arth rn ri u ti o s J Akhtar et al., J Arthritis 2017, 6:6 Journal of Arthritis DOI: 10.4172/2167-7921.1000256 ISSN: 2167-7921 Review Article Open Access Role of Hijama’ (Cupping Therapy) in the Management of Niqras (Gouty Arthritis) Hilal Akhtar1, Mohammad Rashid2*, Misbahuddin Siddiqi3 and Qazi Zaid Ahmad4 1Amraz-e-jild Wa Tazineeyat (Skin), RUMC, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India 2Department of Saidla (Pharmacy), Faculty of Unani Medicine, AMU, Aligarh, India 3Department of Moalijat, Faculty of Unani Medicine, AMU, Aligarh, India 4Department of Saidla (Pharmacy), Faculty of Unani Medicine, AMU, Aligarh, India *Corresponding author: Mohammad Rashid, Department of Saidla (Pharmacy) Faculty of Unani Medicine, AMU, Aligarh, India, Tel: +919760518279; E-mail: [email protected] Received date: October 18, 2017; Accepted date: November 01, 2017; Published date: November 04, 2017 Copyright: © 2017 Akhtar H, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract Gout is a potentially progressive and debilitating form of chronic inflammatory arthritis caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals in synovial fluid and other tissues, characterized by sudden & severe episode of pain, warmth and swelling in a joint. People suffering from recurrent attacks frequently experience pain and disability, reduced health-related quality of life and productivity and increased morbidity. NSAIDs, colchicines, glucocorticoids, uric acid lowering agent like uricostatic drugs (allopurinol, a xanthine oxidase inhibitor), Uricosuric drugs (Probenecid) are very effective but risky in patients having pre-existing renal, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders.
    [Show full text]
  • Scope of Practice for Tcam Practitoners
    Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Scope of Practice HEALTH REGULATION DEPARTMENT DUBAI HEALTH AUTHORITY August, 2011 TCAM Scope of Practice Page 1 of 22 HRD/HRS//PRU/015 Table of Contents 1. Introduction 3 2. General Scope of Practice for TCAM Practitioners 3 3. Ayurveda Scope of Practice 6 4. General Requirements for all Licensed Ayurveda Professionals 6 5. Chiropractic Medicine Scope of the Practice 8 6. General Requirements for all Licensed Chiropractors 8 7. Homeopathy Scope of Practice 10 8. General Requirements for all Licensed Homeopath 10 9. Naturopathic Medicine Scope of the Practice 11 10. General Requirements for all Licensed Naturopaths 12 11. Osteopathic Medicine Scope of the Practice 13 12. General Requirements for all Licensed Osteopaths 14 13. Therapeutic Massage Scope of the Practice 15 14. General Requirements for all Licensed Massage Therapists (M.T.) 17 15. Traditional Chinese Medicine Scope of the Practice 18 16. General Requirements Licensed Traditional Chinese Medicine Professionals 19 17. Unani Medicine Scope of the Practice 20 18. General Requirements for all Licensed Unani Practitioners 20 References 22 TCAM Scope of Practice Page 2 of 22 HRD/HRS//PRU/015 1. Introduction Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is responsible for regulating Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) practice in the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Scope of Practice (SOP) refers to the activities that TCAM personnel are educated, authorized and competent to perform as well as their decision making capacity. Such activities are established through the legislated definition of licensed TCAM practice, complemented by standards, limits, conditions and education and influenced by setting, environment and health needs of the population, and the evolving situation in health care practice.
    [Show full text]
  • Traditional Health Care Systems and Herbal Medicines
    European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 2017, 1(1), 03 ISSN: 2468-1997 Traditional Health Care Systems and Herbal Medicines Chandra Prakash Kala1* 1 Ecosystem and Environment Management, Indian Institute of Forest Management, Nehru Nagar, P.B. No - 357, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh – 462 003, INDIA *Corresponding Author: [email protected] Citation: Kala, C.P. (2017). Traditional Health Care Systems and Herbal Medicines. European Journal of Environment and Public Health, 1(1), 03. https://doi.org/10.20897/ejeph.201703 Published: July 21, 2017 ABSTRACT The age-old traditional health care practices are still relevant and are followed by communities across the countries. India’s contribution remains exemplary in the growth of traditional health care systems. The present study reviews the strength of traditional health care systems and medicinal plants of India that has been contributing in health care not only from time immemorial but also makes it numero uno choice of community for curing many chronic diseases. An extensive literature survey was undertaken for compilation of information on the traditional systems of medicine in India, which include Ayurveda, Unani, homeopathy and Siddha. The careful investigation of information reveals that Ayurveda is one of the oldest systems of medicine evolved in India. It is a holistic system of treatment, which is an amalgamation of regular diet, use of medicine and following practices like exercise and behavior. The contribution of plants, as raw material for making medical formulations, is significant in the Indian systems of medicine, and over 6,500 species of plants are known to occur in India those are used by various streams of traditional health care practitioners.
    [Show full text]
  • Traditional Medicines and Practices Are in Use in Both Industrialized and Developing Countries
    The quest for traditional health knowledge began since the dawn of civilization. Currently at least 25% of all modern medicines are derived, either directly or indirectly, from medicinal plants. Traditional medicines and practices are in use in both industrialized and developing countries. More than three fourths of the populations of countries of the SEA Region use traditional medicines and practitioners for their health care. These traditional systems of medicine have the potential to improve health, wellness and people-centred health care. This is the rst ever regional publication on traditional medicine from the WHO South-East Asia Region. It enumerates the overall situation and development of traditional medicine from the perspective of health system building blocks, and analyses policies, regulations, training and education, as well as human resource development, service delivery, research and development. It highlights the key developments and progress made in recent years, and seeks to generate evidence and data that could serve as baseline for future assessments. This publication provides a detailed account of work done in the last ve years to Traditional Medicine strengthen traditional medicine in the Region by countries and WHO, and includes country proles. It is a contribution to the eorts towards the evolution of traditional medicine and the quest for evidence-based, safe and quality health care. in the WHO South-East Asia Region Review of progress 2014–2019 9 789290 228295 Traditional medicine in the WHO South-East Asia Region Review of progress 2014–2019 Traditional medicine in the WHO South-East Asia Region Review of progress 2014–2019 ISBN: 978-92-9022-829-5 © World Health Organization 2020 Some rights reserved.
    [Show full text]
  • Whole Medical Systems Versus the System of Conventional
    Hindawi Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Volume 2017, Article ID 4904930, 13 pages https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/4904930 Review Article Whole Medical Systems versus the System of Conventional Biomedicine: A Critical, Narrative Review of Similarities, Differences, and Factors That Promote the Integration Process Erik W. Baars1,2,3 and Harald J. Hamre1,4,5 1 European Scientific Cooperative on Anthroposophic Medicinal Products (ESCAMP), Zechenweg 6, 79111 Freiburg, Germany 2Louis Bolk Institute, Hoofdstraat 24, 3972 LA Driebergen, Netherlands 3University of Applied Sciences Leiden, Zernikedreef 11, 2333 CK Leiden, Netherlands 4Institute for Applied Epistemology and Medical Methodology, Witten/Herdecke University, Zechenweg 6, 79111 Freiburg, Germany 5Witten/Herdecke University, Gerhard-Kienle-Weg 4, 58313 Herdecke, Germany Correspondence should be addressed to Erik W. Baars; [email protected] Received 23 January 2017; Revised 10 May 2017; Accepted 8 June 2017; Published 13 July 2017 Academic Editor: Paolo Roberti di Sarsina Copyright © 2017 Erik W. Baars and Harald J. Hamre. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Background. There is an increasing need for a worldwide professional integration of conventional medicine and tradi- tional/complementary whole medical systems (WMSs). However, the integration is perceived by conventional medicine as problematic or unacceptable, because of a supposed lack of evidence for specific effects of WMSs therapies and supposed prescientific or unscientific paradigms of WMSs. Objectives. To review the literature on the features of WMSs, similarities and differences between conventional medicine and WMSs, and scientific and clinical practice issues that should be dealt with inorder to promote the integration process.
    [Show full text]