Indigenous Knowledge of Herbal Medicine in Bangladesh

Introduction

The Hill Tracts of Bangladesh includes three districts, viz., Bandarban, Khagrachari andRangamati, and are located in the south east corner of the country with Kaptai Watershed area between 21º25´ and 23º45´ N and between 91º45´ and 92º52´ E.

The time has come to share the wonders of herbal medicine with the world. Too much money has been spent and precious time has been lost in blindly following the rut of allopathic medicine, even when there are many more powerful, safe and cost effective herbal cures available.

A large number of tribal populations under 14 major tribes, viz., Chakma, Marma, Murong,Tanchunga, Tripura, Chack, Bhome, Pangkhoa, Kheyang, Rheyang, Rakhain, Lushai, Kuki andKhumi live as forest inhabitants in the remote areas throughout the Hill Tracts where there is no orpoor introduction of education and modern medical systems of health care (Rahman et al. 2003a).

A vast knowledge of use of plants as sources of medicine was known to be available amongelderly men and women, specially among traditional herbalists who are known as baiddaya. Thisvaluable indigenous knowledge is disappearing day by day due to the development of modernhealth care systems in the hilly areas (Rahman et al. 2003b). The documentation and publications on the indigenous knowledge or the use of plants by tribal people are meagre (Alam 1992, Rahman 1997, 1999, 2007, Rahman and Uddin 1998, Rahman et al. 1998, 2003a, 2003b, 2007).

Preparation of a complete inventory of this indigenous knowledge of herbal medicine are inprogress under the Biodiversity Link Project between Chittagong (Bangladesh) and Aberdeen(UK) Universities since 1995. The first report of the series was made on the herbal treatment of Jaundice (Rahman et al. 2003a) and the second report was on the cure of diarrhoea, dysentery,indigestion and stomachace (Rahman et al. 2003b). The present communication, the third of theseries, deals with the indigenous knowledge of treating skin diseases among three major tribes,

Chakma, Marma and Tanchunga of the Hill Tracts districts of Bangladesh.

 Materials and Methods

Documentation of the knowledge of herbal practices for the cure of skin diseases

Including healing cuts and wounds of skin, was made under Biodiversity Link Project among three major tribes, Chakma, Marma and Tanchunga of Bandarban, Rangamati and Khagrachari districts,

Bangladesh. Information/data were recorded by taking random interviews of the herbalists, elderly men and women. The vernacular names, methods of preparation and route of administration wererecorded through repeated interviews of practitioners. The source and location of plant material were traced out and recognized with the help of informers. The fertile plant samples were

collected, photographed and preserved at the Herbarium of Chittagong University (HCU) as voucher specimens. The plant specimens were critically examined with the help Long-arm Stereo Microscope (LSM) and identified by comparing with the identified specimens of Bangladesh National Herbarium (DACB), and HCU and Bangladesh Forest Research Institute herbarium(BFRIH). The Flora of Bangladesh and recently published other local Floras including Ahmed etal. (2009) were also consulted for current nomenclature.

Medicinal and ethnobotanical literature such as, Chopra (1958), Chopra et al. (1956), Dastur(1977), Hassan and Huq (1993), Hassan and Khan (1986, 1996), Jain (1991), Ghani (2002), Khan et al., (2002), Mia and Huq (1988), Rahman and Uddin (1998), Rahman (1999), Yusuf et al.(1994, 2009) were consulted for pharmacological properties and ethnobotanical reports ofrecorded species. An enumeration of these plants is prepared with the documented information.

Results and Discussions

The ethnobotanical investigation on skin diseases among Chakma, Marma and Tanchungatribes revealed that mostly elderly men and women are commonly suffering from eczema,scabies, septic abscess, fungal/bacterial infection, boils, wounds and skin allergy. More than 70%of them receive herbal treatments from either Baiddaya or elderly women. It was revealed thatmostly Chakma tribe of Rangamati district have their vast knowledge of herbal treatmentscompared to other tribes, and that the herbal treatments still remain as an integral part of the healthcare systems. The documented data also revealed that the bacterial and fungal infections, eczemaand skin allergy are more common and herbal medicine is usually the means of treatment.Screening of the voucher specimens resulted in the identification of 60 plant species of which 25 are used for the treatment of boils, 10 for allergy and itching, 9 for fungal/bacterial infections, 8 for healing cuts and wounds, 6 for each of eczema and scabies, 5 for septic abscess, 1 for each of

wart, acne, leucoderma, chicken pox and measles. Twelve species are found to have been using for the treatment of more than one category, and Cardiospermum helicacabum L. is remarkably used by almost all tribes for the treatment of chicken pox. The medicinal literature, so far reviewed, revelaled that none of these recorded species has its pharmacological properties againstskin ailments.

Herbalism is a traditional medicinal or folk medicine practice based on the use of plants and plant extracts. Herbalism is also known as botanical medicine, medical herbalism, herbal medicine, herbology, and phytotherapy. The scope of herbal medicine is sometimes extended to include fungal and bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain animal parts. Pharmacognosy is the study of medicines derived from natural sources.

Traditional use of medicines is recognized as a way to learn about potential future medicines. In 2001, researchers identified 122 compounds used in mainstream medicine which were derived from “ethnomedical” plant sources; 80% of these compounds were used in the same or related manner as the traditional ethnomedical use.

Many plants synthesize substances that are useful to the maintenance of health in humans and other animals. These include aromatic substances, most of which are phenols or their oxygen-substituted derivatives such as tannins. Many are secondary metabolites, of which at least 12,000 have been isolated — a number estimated to be less than 10% of the total. In many cases, substances such as alkaloids serve as plant defense mechanisms against predation by microorganisms, insects, and herbivores. Many of the herbs and spices used by humans to season food yield useful medicinal compounds.

Similarly to prescription drugs, a number of herbs are thought to be likely to cause adverse effects. Furthermore, “adulteration, inappropriate formulation, or lack of understanding of plant and drug interactions have led to adverse reactions that are sometimes life threatening or lethal.

History:

(Borage from Project Gutenberg EBook of Culinary Herbs: Their Cultivation Harvesting Curing and Uses, by M. G. Kains)

In the written record, the study of herbs dates back over 5,000 years to the Sumerians, who described well-established medicinal uses for such plants as laurel, caraway, and thyme. Ancient Egyptian medicine of 1000 B.C. are known to have used garlic, opium, castor oil, coriander, mint, indigo, and other herbs for medicine and the Old Testament also mentions herb use and cultivation, including mandrake, vetch, caraway, wheat, barley, and rye.

Indian Ayurveda medicine has used herbs such as turmeric possibly as early as 1900 B.C. Many other herbs and minerals used in Ayurveda were later described by ancient Indian herbalists such as Charaka and Sushruta during the 1st millennium BC. The Sushruta Samhita attributed to Sushruta in the 6th century BC describes 700 medicinal plants, 64 preparations from mineral sources, and 57 preparations based on animal sources.

The first Chinese herbal book, the Shennong Bencao Jing, compiled during the Han Dynasty but dating back to a much earlier date, possibly 2700 B.C., lists 365 medicinal plants and their uses – including ma-Huang, the shrub that introduced the drug ephedrine to modern medicine. Succeeding generations augmented on the Shennong Bencao Jing, as in the Yaoxing Lun (Treatise on the Nature of Medicinal Herbs), a 7th century Tang Dynasty treatise on herbal medicine.

The ancient Greeks and Romans made medicinal use of plants. Greek and Roman medicinal practices, as preserved in the writings of Hippocrates and – especially – Galen, provided the pattern for later western medicine. Hippocrates advocated the use of a few simple herbal drugs – along with fresh air, rest, and proper diet. Galen, on the other hand, recommended large doses of drug mixtures – including plant, animal, and mineral ingredients. The Greek physician compiled the first European treatise on the properties and uses of medicinal plants, De Materia Medica. In the first century AD, Dioscorides wrote a compendium of more than 500 plants that remained an authoritative reference into the 17th century. Similarly important for herbalists and botanists of later centuries was the Greek book that founded the the science of botany, Theophrastus’ Historia Plantarum, written in the fourth century B.C.scienc.

UNANI

Definition:

A form of medicine with its origins in ancient Greece. The name Unani derives from Ionia, reflecting its Greek origins. The principles of Unani medicine are those of the Hippocratic school of ancient Greece. They are based on four humours: blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile. Each humour was cold or hot, and wet or dry. For example, blood was hot and wet, phlegm wet and cold. The humours were produced during digestion. Ill health arose from disharmony of the humours. Medicines could re-establish the balance of the humours. For example, a hot medicine would treat a cold disease. As in Ayurvedic medicine, mind and body are seen as closely linked.

 Etymology:

The word Unani or Yunani has its origins in the Greek word Ἰωνία (Iōnía) or Ἰωνίη (Iōníe), a place name given to a Greek populated coastal region of Anatolia.

History:

Though the threads which comprise Unani healing can be traced all the way back to Claudius Galenus of Pergamum, who lived in the second century of the Christian Era and also to Ancient Iranian Medicine, the basic knowledge of Unani medicine as a healing system was developed by Hakim Ibn Sina (known as Avicenna in the west) in his medical encyclopedia The Canon of Medicine.The time of origin is thus dated at circa 1025 AD, when Avicenna wrote The Canoof Medicine in Persia. While he was primarily influenced by Greek and Islamic medicine, he was also influenced by the Indian medical teachings of Sushruta and Charaka.

Unani medicine first arrived in India around 12-13 century CE with establishment of Delhi Sultanate (1206-1527 CE) and Muslim rule over North India and subsequently flourished under Mughal Empire. ^[5][4] Alauddin Khilji (r. 1296-1316) had several eminent Unani physicians (Hakims) in his royal courts^[10]. In the coming year this royal patronage meant development of Unani practice in India, but also of Unani literature with the aid of Indian Ayurvedic physicians.

Origin and Development

The Unani System of medicine owes, as its name suggests, its origin to Greece. It was the Greek Philosopher-physician Hippocrates( 460-377 BC) who freed Medicine from the realm of superstition and magic, and gave it the status of Science. The theoretical framework of Unani Medicine is based on the teachings of Hippocrates. After Hippocrates a number of other Greek scholars enriched the system considerably.

Of them Galen (131-210 AD) stands out as the one who stabilised its foundation, on which Arab physicians like Rhazes (850-925 AD) and Avicenna (980-1037 AD) constructed an imposing edifice. Unani medicine got enriched by imbibing what was best in the contemporary system of traditional medicine in Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Persia, India, China and other Middle East and Far East countries.

In India, the Unani System of medicine was introduced by the Arabs. Soon it took fIrm roots in the soil. The Delhi Sultans, the Khiljis, the Tughlaqus and the Mughal Emperors provided state patronage to the scholars and even enrolled some as state employees and court physicians. The system found
immediate favour with the masses and soon spread all over the country.

During the British rule, Unani Medicine suffered a setback and its development was hampered due to withdrawal of governmental patronage. But since the system enjoyed faith among the masses it continued to be practised. An outstanding physician and scholar of Unani Medicine, Hakim Ajmal Khan (1868-1927) championed the cause of the Unani system in India.

The development of Unani Medicine as well as other Indian systems of Medicine gained considerable momentum after independence. Even prior to independence a Health Survey and Development Committee was appointed in the Year 1943. The Committee underscored the future role to be played by the indigenous systems of medicine of India.

Unani medicine in Asia:

Fortunately Unani classical literature, comprising of thousands of books across the world, contains vast knowledge and mention of experiences on all aspects of medicine.

UNANI MEDICINE:- According to Unani medicine, management of any disease depends on the cause, aggravating factors, pathogenesis, pathology, and clinical manifestations.

Any cause and or factor is countered by Quwwate mudabbire badan (the power of body responsible to maintain health) the failing of which may lead to quantitatively or qualitatively derangement of the normal equilibrium of akhlat( humors ) of body which constitute the tissues and organs. This abnormal humor leads to pathological changes in the tissues anatomically and physiologically at the affected site of the body and exhibits the clinical manifestations.

After diagnosing the disease, Usoole ilaj (principle of management) of disease is determined on the basis of etiology on the following pattern.

• I – Izalae sabab (elimination of cause)
• II- Tadeele akhlat (normalization of humors)
• III- Tadeele aza (normalization of tissues/organs)

For the purpose of fulfillment of requirements of principle of management, mode of treatment is decided as per the Unani medicine which may be one or more of the following

• I- Ilaj bil ghiza (diet therapy) – Alteration of food is used as a therapeutics
• II- Ilaj bil tadbeer (regimental therapy) – One or more regime; dalak, riyazat, hammam, taleeq, takmeed, hajamat, fasad, lakhlakha, bakhur etc. used for treatment.
• III- Ilaj bil advia (pharmacotherapy) – For this purpose Mamulate matab nuskha (prescription) is formulated which contain the single and or compound Unani drugs having desired actions as per requirements.

In India, there are hundreds of Unani Medical Colleges where Unani System of medicine is taught, in five and half year courses and the graduates are awarded BUMS (Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery) or other degrees. There are about 10 Unani medical Colleges where a Postgraduate degree is being awarded to BUMS Doctors. all these colleges are affiliated to reputed universities and recognized by the Governments.

As an alternative form of medicine, Unani has found favor in India. These Unani practitioners can practice as qualified doctors in India, as the government approve their practice. Unani medicine is very close to Ayurveda. Both are based on theory of the presence of the elements (in Unani, they are considered to be fire, water, earth and air) in the human body. (The elements, attributed to the philosopher Empedocles, determined the way of thinking in Medieval Europe.) According to followers of Unani medicine, these elements are present in different fluids and their balance leads to health and their imbalance leads to illness.

All these elaborations were built on the basic Hippocratic theory of the four humours. The theory postulates the presence in the human body of blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. Each person’s unique mixture of these substances determines his temperament: a predominance of blood gives a sanguine temperament; a predominance of phlegm makes one phlegmatic; yellow bile, bilious (or choleric); and black bile, melancholic. As long as these humours are in balance, the human system is healthy, it is imbalance which can result in disease.

In Indian subcontinent, the contribution of Hakim Ajmal Khan, Hakim Abdul Hameed, Hakim Mohammed Said and Hakim Syed Zillur Rahman in the field of Unani Medicine will always be remembered. They worked throughout their life for the promotion of Unani medicine and built institutions and academies for the study of Unani Medicine. In India, the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) a statutory body established in 1971 under Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, monitors higher education in areas of Indian medicine including, Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha. To fight biopiracy and unethical patents, the Government of India, in 2001, set up the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library as repository of formulations of various systems of Indian medicine, includes 98,700 Unani formulations.Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) stablished in 1979, also under AYUSH, aids and co-ordinates scientific research in Unani System of Medicine through a network of 22 nationwide research Institutes and Units, including two Central Research Institutes of Unani Medicine, at Hyderabad and Lucknow, eight Regional Research Institutes at Chennai, Bhadrak, Patna, Aligarh, Mumbai, Srinagar, Kolkata and New Delhi, six Clinical Research Units at Allahabad, Bangalore, Karimganj, Meerut, Bhopal and Burhanpur, four Drug Standardisation Research Units at New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Lucknow, a Chemical Research Unit at Aligarh, a Literary Research Institute at New Delhi.

Safety issues in Unani medicine:

According to WHO, “Pharmacovigilance activities are done to monitor detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of any obnoxious adverse reactions to drugs at therapeutic concentration that is used or is intended to be used to modify or explore physiological system or pathological states for the benefit of recipient.” These drugs may be any substance or product including herbs, minerals, etc. for animals and human beings and can even be that prescribed by practitioners of Unani or ayurvedic system of medicine. In recent days, awareness has been created related to safety and adverse drug reaction monitoring of herbal drugs including Unani drugs.

Notable Unani institutions:

• Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and Sciences
• National Institute of Unani Medicine (Government of India)
• The Ayurvedic and Unani Tibbia College, New Delhi

Medicine:
Unani medicine as a healing system was founded by Hakim Ibn Sina. Yet, because it is a comprehensive system encompassing virtual all of the known healing systems of the world, the threads which comprise Unani healing can be traced all the way back to Hippocrates.

In order to use Unani Traditional Medicine effectively, it is necessary to have a clear understanding of several important concepts that underlie the entire system of healing. In this section we present all of the necessary concepts for anyone to understand this comprehensive natural healing tradition.
 Herbology
The use of simple herbs has many benefits. An herb, besides its active principles, has also other constituents like resins, gum, sugar, vitamins, inorganic salts and many vegetable substances. This built-in antidote mechanism provided by nature itself protects the healthy tissue from the ill effects of the herb and even the prolonged use of an herb within a medicinal dosage does not inflic any harm.

Thus the total effect of an herbal medicine yields beneficial results as a consequence of synergistic effects of all the constituents present, some known, many unknown. It has now been established in many cases that the medicinal plant has a more complete action than the isolated principle. The use of powerful synthetic drugs aimed at acting on one particular part of the body like a gun shot and remaining indifferent towards the vital integrity of the body components or unintentionally injuring the healthy cells is against the ethics of Unani system of medicine.
In the Unani system of medicine, herbs, like other substances, besides being endowed with their own properties are also termed as hot, cold, dry and moist. This means that after being acted upon by gastric juices and undergoing a series of biochemical changes, they produce perceptible degrees of heat, cold, dryness and moisture in the body. Hence the dominant quality of an herb coupled with its specific pharmacological action counteracts the opposite abnormal quality in the body or any of its organs, or subsides, evacuates, alters, strengthens or tones up as the case may be.
The correlation between chemical structure and pharmacological action, and how this can be interpreted as a function of temperament in the human body can be put on scientific footing.
Dr. Salim Uzzaman of India has observed that the herbs claimed to be heating and drying are found to be alkaloidal in character. On the other hand plant products which are described as cooling mostly contain a carboxyl group, e.g. citrus and sour fruits. Similarly, the presence of an active constituent with organically combined sulphur contributes towards the heating quality of the drug and the presence of terpenic body makes the drug cooling. However there are exceptions, and for several medicinal herbs this hypothesis may not apply.
The temperamental quality and the action of the herbal drugs (which has a history of clinical observations of hundreds of years) are logically interrelated. An herb which is cooling is mostly astringent and a heating drug is stimulant, vasodilator, deobstruent and tonic and so on and so forth.

Unani Herbs in Relation to Chemical Drugs
On one hand the complex behavior of the human body and the multifarious stimuli in the environment give rise to various emotional disturbances, and on the other the different pathogenic states stimulate or inhibit the cardiac function and psychic order. In the present-day society an individual is under heavy stress and suffers from a chain of complexes and anxieties which ultimately lead to maniac depressions, nervous breakdown, functional disorders of heart and even suicidal tendencies.
The multinational pharmaceutical firms have, however, to take care of that, developed scores of tranquilizers and psychomotor stimulants which leave behind many injurious and disturbing after effects.
The conception of elatives and exhilarants and cardiac as well as nervine tonics is unique in Unani system of medicine. No other therapeutic system in the world is in a position to provide any such therapy which offers relief from all sorts of depressive states or from psychoneurotic conditions without giving rise to any untoward symptoms. Unani herbal formulas either simple or in compound form produce a sense of well-being, confidence, pleasant elation, mental correlation and sound behavior without any intoxication or addiction.

Unani Herbs:

 Therapeutics

In Unani system of medicine various types of treatment are employed, such as llaj bit-Tadbeer (regimental therapy), Iiaj bil-Ghiza (dietotherapy), Iiaj bid-Dawa (pharmacotherapy) and jarahat (surgery).

The regimental therapy includes venesection, cupping, diaphoresis, diuresis, Turkish bath, massage, cauterization, purgin & emesis, exercise, leeching etc. Dietotherapy aims at treating certain ailments by administration of specific diets or by regulating the quantity and quality of food, whereas pharmacotherapy deals with the use of naturally occurring drugs, mostly herbal, though drugs of animal and mineral origin are also used. Similarly, surgery has also been in use in this system for quite long. In fact, the ancient physicians of Unani medicine were pioneers in this field and had developed their own instruments and techniques. In Unani Medicine, single drugs or their combinations in raw form are preferred over compound formulations. Further, the materia medica of Unani medicine being vast, the medicines are easy to get for most of them are available locally. The naturally occurring drugs used in this system are symbolic of life and are generally free from side-effects, and such drugs as are toxic in crude form are processed and purified in many ways before use. Some Unani single dmgs drawn from nature.

In Unani medicine, although general preference is for single drugs, compound formulations are also used in the treatment of various complex and chronic disorders. The medicines administered go well with the temperament of the patient, thus accelerating the process of recovery and also eliminating the risk of drug reaction.

Restricted food item in UNANI MEDICINE

Banana Beef Bottle gourd Brinjal Butter milk Cashew Curd Custard apple Egg Emblic myrobalan (Amla) Fish Gooseberry Groundnut GuavaIndian sorrel Lemon Lentil Lime Melon Milk Orange Pomegranate Prune Tamarind Tomato Unwholesome food (heavy and light food together) Watermelon Zizyphus (Ber)

Recommended food in UNANI MEDICINE

Almond Amaranth Apricot Beetroot Bird’s flesh Bitter gourd Black pepper Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower Chilies Coconut Common saltCondiments (masaley)Dates Drumstick Fenugreek FigGrapes Horse gram Indian millet (bajra) Mango Mutton Onion Pineapple Pistachio nuts Potato Pulses Pure ghee Rice Spinach Turnip Walnut Wheat.

Treatment

After a complete evaluation of the innate constitution of the patient, including evaluating the temperament and quality and quantity of humours, the Unani Hakim applies therapies aimed at restoring the entire internal and external biotic environment to a balance.
Such measures include: Ripening (Munzij) and Purging (Mushil); Cupping (Mahajim); Sweating (Taareeq); Diuresis (Idrare Baul); Bath Therapy (Hammam); Massage Techniques (Dalak); Purging (Qai); and Exercise (Riyazat).
If altered humours are the cause of metabolic changes, evacuation by purging is the course usually chosen by the Unani Hakim. Before evacuation of such matters, it is necessary transformed the abnormal and undesirable matter into a consistency which makes evacuation easy and complete. This process is called coction, a unique feature of the Unani system of Traditional Medicine.
In this section we introduce some common measures employed in the Unani therapeutic process. The applications involving botanicals are extensive, and therefore have been given their own section.

Unani Medicine To Treat Sciatica

Sciatica is a common cause of back problems and pain and affects thousands of people worldwide, each year. Fortunately, there are various treatments available to help remedy the condition. Unani medication in particular is considered to be one of the most effective remedies for back pain in recent times. Here’s more on the same.

Although Unani back pain medicine has achieved wide spread popularity in recent times; it is by no means a modern treatment. In fact, it is said to have originated in Greece in circa 460-377 BC and was brought to India by Arabs and Persians. It is based on the ‘humoral theory’- pertaining to four bodily fluids. The system makes use of natural agents such as plant, minerals and animal products to cure ailments such as sciatica, etc.

Sciatica, as we know, is a condition that is characterized by shooting pain in the lower back that travels down the buttock and legs. The pain may go past the knee and also affect the foot. One may also feel a persistent weakness in the legs too.

The condition is caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve. Most people notice the pain after lifting a heavy object or moving quickly. A herniated disk may also trigger sciatica. Regardless of the cause, sciatica can be treated fairly successfully with the help of Unani medication.
Unani drugs, work by maintaining nerve and muscle health and bring back balance in unbalanced humors. Moreover, they are extremely safe and are prepared very carefully with strict adherence to specific processes and methods. Any toxic ingredient is purified and detoxified accordingly to render the medication safe and effective.
You may try making certain Unani medications at home for immediate relief from sciatica. Start by mixing together herbal products such as ‘Suranjan’, ‘Khulanjan’ and ‘Asgandha’ in equal quantity and make a powder of the same. To relieve pain, use 6 gms of this powder with 20 ml of ‘Sharbat Neelofer’ every day.

Alternatively, you can try the popular ‘Roghan Surkh’- meant for local application. It contains essential and effective herbal elements such as Majeeth, Kaifal, Nagarmoth, etc. Take 80gms of the same; boil in water and filtrate. You may then mix it with 150ml each of ‘Roghan Kanjad’ and ‘Roghan Sarshaf’ and boil till the water evaporates completely. ‘Roghan Shifa’ may also be used for effectual treatment of sciatica and must be applied locally over the affected area of the back.

So, if you’re looking for a comprehensive treatment for your problem of sciatica; look no further than the Unani medications. These drugs are safe and effective and have been trusted over many centuries.

Unani treatment for Arthritis

Arthritis  is an ailment, which occurs in almost all the joints of the body. In the beginning the patient suffers from fever. Within 24 hours there is gripping pain in the joints and continues to increase. Slowly the patient develops swelling in the joints and sometimes the pain is so severe that the patient cries in pain even with the touch of the cloth.  This problem is more in women, it is also seen in men in the age group of 30-50 years.

When the quantity of uric acid increases in the body this ailment occurs. Usually people who are overweight suffer from this problem, because they have vayu or windy element in the body and it is the main cause for this problem. It requires immediate treatment otherwise the joints become stiff and the body will not be in a position to move. You have Unani method of treatment for this problem, it is as follows :–

During pain

Farfiyun – 3 gm, junde bedastar – 1gm, soranjan-6gm, javasheer – 3gm, soranjan sheere- 5 gm, chirayata – 7gms, afteemoon- 5gm, grapes (annab) – 7 in number. Baadyaan – 5 gm, boil all the things at night and consume it in the morning with Gulkand, eat till the problem does not get cured completely.

Precautions

Try to prevent cold and constipation, eat easily digestible food, and avoid liquor and non –vegetarian food.

Gout

There is pain in joints of legs, hands and thumbs. It starts with cold fever and sometimes there is pain in the neck, or thumb or even ankle. The patient experiences swelling of the joint along with pain and reddishness. This is also a hereditary disease. It is more in men then in women in age group of 30 – 40. Due to this the patient becomes irritable, suffers from sleeplessness and gets giddiness. Treatment in the initial stage is important because pain increases with the age. This pain is more in the night than in the day
time. The patient loses appetite and becomes week. The problem is aggravated  if the patient consumes liquor, indulges in sex, and gets drenched when he gets hurt in joints. There is Unani treatment for this
problem.

Unani treatment when pain occurs

Farfiyun – 3gm, Jundebedastar – 1 gm, Soranjan – 1gm, Javanshir – 3gm.

Mix these ingredients in rose water and apply the paste. Dry ginger, shahjeera, kist talakh, soranjan talakh, gule ank, sukhe makre, henna leaves should be taken in 6 gm. Measure all the ingredients and grind it with pure vinegar and add rose oil and apply on the joint when pain occurs.

Medicine

Soranjan sheere  – 5 gm, Chirayata – 7gm, Afteemoon – 5gm, Grapes – 5 in number, Aniseeds – 7 gm, seeds of aniseeds – 7 gm. Soak all these ingredients in the night and in the morning clean them thoroughly and sieve, add 12 gm of Gulkand and eat it. Eat this medicine for 30 days.

Ayurvedic

Ayurveda is a holistic healing science which comprises of two words, Ayu and Veda. Ayu means life and Veda means knowledge or science. So the literal meaning of the word Ayurveda is the science of life. Ayurveda is a science dealing not only with treatment of some diseases but is a complete way of life.

Ayurveda is the ancient Indian medical science, the origin of which can be traced back to the Vedas, which are the oldest available classics of the world. Vedas are the ancient books of knowledge, or science, from India. They contain practical and scientific information on various subjects beneficial to the humanity like health, philosophy, engineering, astrology etc.

Ayurveda combines physical, psychological and spiritual therapies in an approach to health, that has addressed itself to the fundamental principles of good health and longevity. It has developed a tradition of medicine and a system of treatment based on the inherent ability of the human body to rejuvenate, to heal and to restore its natural balance.

Ayurveda is based on a system of Tridosha or Three Humours which classifies all individual constitutions of people, diseases, herbs and other non-herbal remedies and therapies according to whether they are Vata (air or nerve oriented), Kapha (water or mucoid type) or Pitta (fire type) [5] . Herbs that have pungent, sour and salty flavors stimulate fire; herbs that are astringent (drying) and bitter stimulate vata-air, or the nerve centered humour; herbs that are sweet, salty and sour stimulate or increase Kapha-water, or the mucoid humour.

In contrast, herbs that are sweet, sour and salty flavored ameliorate Vata-air, which means that they have a particular affinity for the nervous system. Herbs that are astringent, sweet and bitter ameliorate Pitta-fire, meaning that they are soothing and anti-inflammatory. Finally herbs that are pungent, bitter and astringent ameliorate Kapha-water, which means they tend to increase digestive fire, expel and dry excessive fluid build up in the system, including clearing excessive fat from the body, and the accumulation of cholesterol and other fatty deposits in the veins and arteries of the body.

This Indian system of medicine has laid down principles and methods of treatment for various diseases including chronic illnesses where there is no definite curative treatment, and symptomatic relief is the only existing treatment option.

Principles of Ayurveda

To understand Ayurvedic treatment, it is necessary to have an idea how the Ayurvedic system views the body. The basic life force in the body is prana, which is also found in the elements and is similar to the Chinese notion of chi.

In Ayurveda, there are five basic elements that contain prana: earth, water, fire, air, and ether. These elements interact and are further organized in the human body as three main categories or basic physiological principles in the body that govern all bodily functions known as the doshas. The three doshas are vata, pitta, and kapha. Each person has a unique blend of the three doshas, known as the person’s prakriti, which is why Ayurvedic treatment is always individualized. In Ayurveda, disease is viewed as a state of imbalance in one or more of a person’s doshas, and an Ayurvedic physician strives to adjust and balance them, using a variety of techniques.

Origin of Ayurveda

Ayurvedic medicine originated in the early civilizations of India some 3,000-5,000 years ago. It is mentioned in the Vedas, the ancient religious and philosophical texts that are the oldest surviving literature in the world, which makes Ayurvedic medicine the oldest surviving healing system. According to the texts, Ayurveda was conceived by enlightened wise men as a system of living harmoniously and maintaining the body so that mental and spiritual awareness could be possible. Medical historians believe that Ayurvedic ideas were transported from ancient India to China and were instrumental in the development of Chinese medicine.

AYURVEDA is a science based on ancient Indian philosophy. The Vedas encompass the whole knowledge of the Universe. There are four Vedas, namely, Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda and Atharvaveda. Amongst these, the Atharvaveda mainly deals with different facets of health.

The main body of Ayurveda is found in the fourth Veda – the Artharvaveda. Ayurveda is an offspring of the Atharvaveda and is also considered as the fifth Veda. Ayurveda is recognized as an upa or supplementary Veda in its own right. It contains the description of various diseases and their aetiology, and recommends the correct diet and behaviour regimen to counter those diseases.

Mythology has it that Brahma, the creator, imparted the knowledge of Ayurveda to Prajapati Daksha who, in turn, passed it on to the Ashwinikumara twins who were the physicians to the gods. The Ashwinikumaras then offered this knowledge to Lord Indra. Lord Indra instructed Dhanwantari to spread this invaluable science of longevity on the earth. Sushruta, a renowned surgeon and student of Dhanwantari, wrote his famous compendium on surgery – the Sushruta Samhita. The credit for the famous treatise on general medicine, the Charaka Samhita, goes to Charaka who probably lived sometime between the second century B.C. and the second century A.D.. Sushruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita are the two ancient treatises on which Ayurveda is based.

Ayurvedic philosophy provides a link between the living and non-living matters of the universe and indicates the origin of human and plant life from the five basic elements which are earth, water, fire, air and ether.

Ayurvedic Treatment

 Diagnosis

In Ayurvedic medicine, disease is always seen as an imbalance in the dosha system, so the diagnostic process strives to determine which doshas are underactive or overactive in a body. Diagnosis is often taken over a course of days in order for the Ayurvedic physician to most accurately determine what parts of the body are being affected.

To diagnose problems, Ayurvedic physicians often use long questionnaires and interviews to determine a person’s dosha patterns and physical and psychological histories.

Ayurvedic physicians also intricately observe the pulse, tongue, face, lips, eyes, and fingernails for abnormalities or patterns that they believe can indicate deeper problems in the internal systems. Some Ayurvedic physicians also use laboratory tests to assist in diagnosis.

Ayurvedic Medicines for various Ailments

Allergy

According to Ayurvedic thought, seasonal allergies are connected to the earth. As the earth is more saturated during this time of the year due to the increased rain, the earth is holding on to more water than usual. This then is also occurring in our bodies, and is what we refer to as congestion. In order to figure out what the best remedy for our bodies would be, we need only refer to what is going on with the earth. During spring, the earth produces many different vegetables and berries. These foods are naturally healthy and fat-free and are exactly what our bodies need to rid
ourselves of congestion and counteract all of the increased fats we absorbed during the winter months. This type of diet is also called the kapha-balancing diet.

Things to avoid when suffering from allergies

• Heavy foods, Including dairy, Meat, Nuts

To reduce symptoms, try the following

• Have a hearty meal for lunch, and then a very light meal for dinner, perhaps only broth
• Stay away from dairy and wheat products, instead choosing fresh fruits and in-season vegetables
• Get a full night’s sleep
• Drink plenty of warm water
• Exercise every morning

There are three main types of allergies, each with its own remedies. The first is excessive dryness, or vata allergies. The second is inflamed sinuses, or pitta allergies. Finally, the third type of allergies is called kapha allergies and occurs when you are congested.

 Vata remedies

• Drink three or four cups of ginger root tea per day
• Breathe sesame oil deeply into each nostril of the nose a couple of times per day

Pitta remedies

• Breathe coconut oil deeply into each nostril of the nose a couple of times per day.
• Drink Neem leaf tea three or four times a day.
• After each meal, drink a mixture of a quarter of a cup of warm milk and half-teaspoon of turmeric powder.

Kapha Remedies

After each meal, drink a glass of warm water mixed with a half-teaspoon of licorice.· Take a half-teaspoon of sitopladi with honey three times a day; this should be done on an empty stomach· Follow a liquid diet one day per week o This liquid diet is the same type you would follow as part of a normal ayurvedic cleansing program, and is primarily fruits and vegetables that have been liquefied; warm or cold is not important in this case

Ayurvedic medicine has also found that eliminating allergens from your body will help alleviate symptoms associated with chronic fatigue syndrome. If you suffer from allergies all year long, you might want to consider visiting an ayurvedic practitioner. If you are able to visit an ayurvedic practitioner, he or she may be able to design a diet with your allergies in mind. Eating this specially designed diet, which may include the use of such allergy reducing spices as sage, cumin, and cayenne pepper, may help to prevent the allergies from occurring. Your life might benefit from this, not only because of reduced allergies, but also a better food lifestyle.

AIDS

According to the modern concept AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is caused the virus, Human Immune Deficiency Virus, HIV. It is a set of disease that destroys an individual immune system.

However according to the ayurvedic perspective, AIDS is related to loss of energy. This disease results in weakening of:

• Plasma
• Blood cells
• Muscular tissue
• Adipose tissue
• Bony tissue
• Bone marrow
• Reproductive tissue.

According to ayurvedic studies, the person suffering from AIDS is likely to have the following symptoms:

• Prolonged fever
• Fatigue
• Skin irritations
• Sleeplessness
• Contagious disease
• Loss of appetite
• Loss of weight
• Prone to allergies

Ayurvedic Treatment

Ayurvedic treatment has proved to be quite beneficial without any side effects.Following are the various ayurvedic treatments against AIDS:

• To improve the patient’s immunity strength they are given toxins and rejuvenator. The toxins develop the patient’s immune systems and motivate the appetite.
• Blood is also purified in various ways, with the help of different medicines.
• Corrective measures are adopted towards improving the conditions of liver.
• Ayurveda recommends diet with ghee. It asks you to avoid food with spice and oily.
• Ghee is recommended in the diet of the AIDS patients by ayurveda because it helps to eject or drive out the toxins from the body through enemas, purgation and emesis.
• Moderate intake of alcohol is recommended since alcohol has positive effects in removing blockages and helping smooth flow of blood.
• Ayurvedic treatment asks the AIDS patients to do vigorous exercise. Heavy exercise heats up the blood and this helps in fighting against the viruses, sometimes viruses even get destroyed by the heated blood.
• Preparing herbo-minerals compounds following certain formulae can improve the conditions of AIDS patients.

Some ayurvedic medicines that help against fighting AIDS

The following are some of the ayurvedic medicines that improve and help in making progress for the AIDS patients:

• Chyavanprash.
• Raktavardhak.
• Sookshma triphala tablets.

Raktavardhak helps in building the immunity of the patient and making it strong and resistant.

The functions of the sookshma triphala tablets are fight against the infections present in the body of the AIDS patient.

The most important, effective and popular ayurvedic remedy for AIDS is chyavanprash.It acts as a toxin and thus makes the patients immune system strong and rejuvenate it.Chyavanprash is made of amalaki or goose berry which supplies a lot of vitamin c to the body. It also supplies anti oxidants like bioflavonoid, vitamin B complex and vitamin A.A special characteristic of this fruit, amalaki is that it is antifungal and anti bacterial, therefore it helps in digestion and also lowers the blood pressure and high cholesterol. The other useful effects of amalaki, present in chyavanprash is that it helps in repairing the muscles and improves the skin also. Apart from amalaki chyavanprash has other essential ingredients like 35 herbs. Therefore all the ingredients of chyavanprash make it a powerful remedy towards fighting a dreadful disease like Aids. It is not very difficult find chyavanprash as it is available in most local medical stores. Therefore if we sum up the qualities of chyavanprash, we see that it helps in the various systems of our body like digestive, respiratory and sexual systems.

Anemia

Anemia is a by-product of Thalasemia and if you are a carrier you will almost certainly suffer from anemia or a similar blood disorder.

Ayurvedic diet for Anemia

The main dietary requirement for those with anemia is to pack meals with as much iron giving produce as possible, as iron is the vital nutrient in reproducing red blood cells.

Some suitable foods are as follows:

• Sesame seeds
• Almonds
• Spinach
• Soya beans
• Animal fat
• Radish
• Carrot
• Tomato
• Blackberries
• Bananas
• Apple

Ayurvedic Herbs and Herbal Supplements to Remedy Anemia

• Punanava (Boerhaavia diffusa)
• Ghrtitkumari (Aloe Vera)
• Lauh Bhasma
• Lohasava
• Dhatri Lauh
• Navayas Lauh

These herbs all provide the necessary iron and protein to reinvigorate the bodies’ production of red blood cells.

All the above herbs come in variety of ways, from herbs to capsules and powders and can either be taken singularly or as a by-product of other Ayurvedic remedies.

Ayurvedic Yoga Positions to Remedy Anemia

The following positions stimulate the whole body and inner system in a positive way to help combat anemia. All are quite simple but shouldn’t be tried without the attention of a qualified Ayurvedic yoga instructor.

Shoulder stand (Sarvangasna). A self-explanatory position where you balance the body on your shoulders and hold the position.

Posterior stretch (Paschimotthanasana). This helps reinvigorate a poor digestive fire.

Corpse Pose (Shavasana). Lie flat on your back and relax.

It is also recommended that you spend as much time in the sun as is possible, as the suns-rays stimulate the production of red blood cells.

Asthma

The Ayurvedic approach to curing and understanding the causes of asthma differs uniquely from those prescribed by modern medicine. Nobody can claim to fully understand as to why asthma occurs in some but not others, but whilst the more traditional viewpoint suggests amongst other things pollution, cold air, tobacco smoke, allegories to animals, exercise and even laughing!!! And treat the symptoms with medicines such as inhalers, the Ayurvedic method looks at the build up of toxins in the sufferers’ body caused by poor digestion, diet and nutrition, chemical imbalances and treats them with natural herbal remedies, healthier diet and combines them with a more spiritual approach.

Natural herbs used in the Ayurvedic method to cure asthma

• Elecompane
• Mullein
• Licorice
• Turmeric
• Yerba Santa
• Thyme
• Black Pepper
• Flax seed
• Antalkali ginger
• Clove
• Manna
• Myrrh

These are herbs and remedies that are readily available and easily affordable in health food shops or Asian grocers and can be taken raw orally or can be added to cooking. These herbs help combat poor digestion, sneezing and the production of excessive phlegm and mucous, and are rejuvenating agents which boost the lungs and give them longevity.

As well be able to ingest these herbs orally, many of the above herbal remedies can benefit the sufferer if ingested through a water pipe or by bathing in them.

The importance of diet in the Ayurvedic cure for asthma

A proper diet is vital to help combat asthma. Amongst the products you should either avoid totally or certainly restrict in order to do so are foodstuffs that can trigger allergic reactions such as dairy produce, and sugar based food. You should also avoid eating goods that have just come out of a refrigerator. The chill produced can affect and restrict the breathing passageways.

You should also be careful to digest your food properly when eating as Ayurvedic believes that poor digestion produces toxins that can trigger an asthmatic attack.

Other non-dietary or herbal Ayurvedic cures for asthma

• Yoga
• Meditation
• Walking or other regular outdoor physical exercise
• Regular breathing exercises

Asthma is on the increase as modern life becomes too hectic, therefore it is vital to take some time out and find some personal space to detox from the stresses and strains we face. Yoga and/or meditation is the perfect relaxant, so let the calm they radiate wash over you and in doing so your passageways will loosen allowing better breathing that can prevent asthma.

If you find you don’t have the time for this, you should carry out regular, simple breathing exercises for the same effect.

Brisk exercise such a taking a long walk is also important, as the stimulus created can clear any blockages that you may have in your chest and lung areas.

It is vital that to make the Ayurvedic method work in the prevention and cure of asthma that the sufferer combine the herbal remedies, dietary recommendations and partakes in exercise to benefit fully.

Blood Dysentery

Blood dysentry is one of a number of different variants and strains of the main dysentery disease.
No matter which part of the body or the function that becomes afflicted by the virus, they all start in the same place and should be treated using similar methods and remedies.

What is Dysentery??

Dysentery, no matter how it manifests itself within the body, is a parasitical infestation. The irritant burrows itself into an intestinal duct and grows healthy and as it does so it gathers strength and begins to eat away at healthy tissues and cells, and does so until it is tackled by appropriate treatment and eventually stopped.

The parasites are caused by a number of factors, including:

• Eating improper food
• Ill-balanced diet
• Drinking excessive tea and coffee
• Consuming improperly stored or refrigerated food
• Certain medicines, especially laxatives

All should be ingested with care and in limitation.

Ayurvedic Cause of Blood Dysentery

Dysentery in its’ many manifestations is caused, according to the Ayurvedic philosophy, by a disruption to the pitta or the body’s energy forces which helps the digestive system function properly. Once this is compromised sufficiently it ceases to function to its maximum which allows the production of negative toxins (ama). The digestive system needs to be brought back to full power to fight and then defeat these amas before wellness can be once more achieved.

Symptoms of Blood Dysentery

• A great and raging thirst
• Sleepiness
• Restlessness
• Blood noticed in bowel movements

Ayurvedic Remedies for Blood Dysentery

The fever like symptoms that prevail upon the catching of dysentery can weaken the whole body, sometimes severely so frequent bed rest is required to allow the body to recuperate.

In Ayurvedic teachings yoga plays a vital and indeed spiritual role. Relaxation, the need for personal space and silence and the chance to de-stress and reflect are considered the very base of the philosophy and these are all important in order to re-balance the doshas in the body so healing can begin and wellness achieved.

Yoga as Ayurvedic remedy for blood dysentery

There are two yoga positions that particularly aid the sufferers’ recovery from blood dysentery. They are designed to get the blood functioning sufficiently to repair the digestive system.

Pawanmuktasan, or the knee-chest position, is a straightforward yoga stance which you can do almost anywhere.

Simply lie flat frontally on a mat and stop breathing. As you exhale lift your leg up as far as it will go. Hold it there until it becomes uncomfortable and lower it to back to the starting position. Repeat the process using the right leg. Alternate this procedure three times.

Vajrasana also sets out to improve digestion by unblocking the digestive system in a simple and quick fashion.

Kneel on the floor whilst keeping your knees tightly together, whilst drawing the toes together and keeping the heels slightly apart. Rest your hands upon your legs, steady your breathing and make sure your spine is as straight as possible. From this position turn the body until you are lying flat on your back and count to ten. When you have done this release your body into its original position. Repeat this procedure twice as often as you can.

Cancer

According to ayurvedic thought, having the three doshas out of sync might be a cause of cancer. One possible explanation for the rise in cancer diagnoses in modern times can be traced to the increased use of chemicals and other synthetic materials in our diets. These chemicals prevent us from obtaining the natural minerals our bodies need in order to function correctly. Also, anxiety and stress lead to increased toxins in the body, which then puts us at higher risk for cancer. Because there are so many different types of cancer, this makes determining the causes and treatments that much more difficult for ayurvedic practitioners.

Treatment

• Medicines
• Diet
• Panchakarma

Panchakarma is a set of five ayurvedic remedies that may or may not all be used as part of a therapeutic cleansing program.

The five parts of panchakarma are:

1. Emesis
2. Purgation
3. Enema
4. Nasal application of herbal remedies
5. Blood-letting

Diet is also considered a very important part of treatment. Visiting an ayurvedic practitioner is important in order to develop the proper diet for your body. The practitioner will determine which of the three humors is the predominant one in your body, and then based on this information, can develop a diet for you that will bring the three humors back in balance.

Another important aspect of diet is maintaining the energy level of the food. According to ayurvedic thought, making food cold, for instance, by refrigerating, destroys the natural energy of the food. They believe that this causes the loss of more energy than is lost through cooking. This then leads to poor metabolism, which in turn may lead to someone eventually developing cancer. Of course, not all people who eat refrigerated foods develop cancer. This is because everyone is different. Some people are capable of producing the proper stomach acids to counteract the coldness of the food. These people have what is referred to as “agni” or fire. These people more frequently develop fevers and diarrhea more often than do people who eventually develop cancer, which seems to imply that they are better at excreting the toxins.

Based on these ideas, here are some suggestions:

• Take supplements to increase your hydrochloric acid levels
• Eat spicy foods to help stimulate the gastric juices
• After eating, use digestive bitters to make sure the food moves quickly through the digestive system before the toxins can build up

It is also important to note that ayurvedic medicine does not have to be used to the exclusivity of Western medicine. They can be used together as long as you make sure that all practitioners are aware of what the others are doing. Using ayurvedic techniques for cancer treatment in addition to receiving treatment via Western methods often helps to reduce stress levels which then leads to a better reception of the other treatments.

In particular, be careful when taking herbal supplements when also taking other medications, as they may interact with each other and produce undesired effects. Ayurvedic treatments like yoga and massage are usually safe and provide more benefit than harm.

Diabetes

According to the unique assessments of ayurvedic concepts diabetes is the disease which occurs when toxins get accumulated in the tissue and result in circulation blockage. The various root causes of diabetes that ayurveda enlists are poor nutrition and poor digestion, inequity of nervous system, physical and mental stress, and disturbance in natural biological cycle.

The ayurvedic practitioners suggest a variety of natural remedies. Exercise and yoga forms the most effective ayurvedic treatment for diabetes.Ayurveda also prescribes use of certain herbs which can help in curing diabetes. The most important herbs are shilajit, turmeric, neem, amalaki etc.These are considered to be nutritional supplements. They restore balance of those that cause imbalance in your body.

In order to control the functions of liver and pancreas; it is preferable that you take turmeric with aloe Vera, in the early stages of the disease.

Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies for Diabetes

• Intake of bitter gourd or bitter lemon juice daily, in empty stomach.
• Intake of 2 turmeric capsules daily thrice a day.
• Intake of rose apple stones powder twice daily.
• Intake of small amounts of fenugreek, musta, Arjuna, triphala, ajwan, haritaki mixed with ghee.
• Intake of amlaki powder, haldi powder with honey, twice daily.
• Intake of fenugreek, white pepper and turmeric powder with a glass of milk, twice daily.
• Intake of a mixture of bay leaf, turmeric and aloe vera gel, twice daily, before lunch and dinner.

Apart from the above easy and affordable measure there is also another ayurvedic remedy and that is preparation of vasant kusumakar ras.This is quite costly but daily intake of this mixed with honey or cream, checks your blood sugar level.

Following the above medications will definitely lower your blood sugar level. People who depend on insulin will realize that their need for insulin has minimized to a great extent.

The correct diet prescribed by ayurvedic practitioners which would help in reducing your blood sugar level

• It is necessary that you avoid intake of excessive sweets, carbohydrates and diary products.
• You should eat more fresh vegetables and bitter fruits and herbs.
• You must include fried barley, cornflower, porridge, ghee, in your diet.
• Eat more orange and lemons.
• Eat a lot of green vegetables, black gram, soy, fish etc.

Therefore if you want to keep your diabetes under control then you must eliminate those foods from your diet like rice, wheat, sugarcane etc. and also you should not eat too much fat.

Other Ayurvedic Methods to Reduce Diabetes

• Exercise
• Oil massage
• Use of dry ginger and cardamom while taking bath
• Drinking water which is preserved in a copper vessel overnight.

Essential points to remember related to ayurveda

• You should always use proper spices and oils.
• You should eat herbal preparations to improve your digestion
• You should maintain a difference between your meals like breakfast, lunch and dinner
• You should follow a balanced and healthy diet.
• You should also follow the non dietary regiments like Yoga, breathing exercises, and asanas.

Dysentery

Dysentery is a mucous inflammation that occurs mainly in the colon area, though it does occasionally affect other internal organs.

It is an unpleasant symptom but rarely fatal and is usually easily cured.

It caused by parasitical worms entering the system and settling in the affected organ.

These worms are bought to life by a build-up of acidity resulting from amongst other factors, poor diet, a bad combination of diet, consuming moldering foodstuff, tobacco smoking and disturbed sleeping patterns.

The Ayurvedic Cause of Dysentery

In Ayurvedic a condition such as dysentery is caused by a severe disruption of the pitta dhosas. Pitta is the body’s energy force (dhosa) which that controls and makes sure the digestive system functions. When it is compromised sufficiently it produces toxins (ama) which collect and deposit themselves in the affected area and produce the condition.

The Ayurvedic Remedy for Dysentery

In the Ayurvedic treatment for dysentery it is essential that the colon, or other organs if that is where the infection is, is re-energized by soothing rejuvenating products.This is achieved by a prescription of herbs, oils, spices and yoga.

The most common oil used in this Ayurvedic treatment is neem.

Neem oil in Ayurvedic remedy

Neem is one of the most used and essential oils in the Ayurvedic philosophy. Its thick white flowers are harvested from ancient crops of trees found in India’s’ plateau regions. The flowers produce a light, cool soothing juice which is then made into an essential oil.

Neem oil as an Ayurvedic remedy for Dysentery

To aid the alleviation of dysentery, in Ayurvedic the neem oil can be applied in two ways. Firstly it can be turned into a paste and applied with a sufficiently damp cloth upon the affected area and massaged hard into the affected area.

The other fashion really allows for the soothing qualities of the neem oil to come through and make it work its’ relaxing, rejuvenating spell upon the sufferer.

Simply run a bath, whilst ensuring that the water is the right temperature being neither too hot nor too cold, pour in a generous amount, climb into the bath and luxuriate in the neems healing qualities.

Herbs used as Remedy for Dysentery

• Babul
• Arjuna
• Bael fruit
• Cumin seed

For full effect they should be supplemented by the following Ayurvedic herbs:

• Isabbael
• Lashundai bali
• Bhuwaneshar ras

Spices used as Ayurvedic remedy for Dysentery

• Nutmeg (very essential)
• Cinnamon
• Black pepper
• Ginger

These are all readily available and make a great addition to most foods. They are added and stirred into the cooking and not only help treat dysentery but if used in moderation and in the correct can aid with prevention in the first place.

Yoga as an Ayurvedic cure for Dysentery

According to Ayurvedic yoga should be one of lifes’ essentials and should be practiced when and wherever possible.

According to Ayurvedic methodology the Vajrasana form of yoga is the best to practice to alleviate the symptoms of dysentery. This is because it helps to make the digestive system function properly again thus boosting rejuvenation of the affected organs.

Dysentery is easy to avoid, moderation and the correct diet being the main key. However should you fall victim of the disease then it is easily remedied by the Ayurvedic ways of essential oils, herbs and spices and yoga.

Fever

To say that one has a fever is to evoke a number of feelings, as “having a fever” can be taken to mean you are suffering from one or a combination of many ailments. However what is commonly taken to be fever carries the symptoms of a general ache or soreness in the afflicted joints, high temperature, loss of appetite and excessive production of saliva and phlegm.

Ayurvedic Causes of Fever

Fever develops in the body following disruption to one of the doshas or energy fields within the body’s system. It is easily repaired but must be done so quickly so as to stop the spread of the damage to other parts of the body.

Some causes of Dosha disruption

• Injection
• Insect or other such bites
• External injury
• General infection

Also by-products caused by ailments such as pleurisy, jaundice, illnesses concerned with the bronchial area, measles and influenza can also produce enough negative toxins to invoke a fever that can disturb dosha.

Ayurvedic Remedies for Fever

One of many Ayurvedic remedies is a twice daily dose of a raisin and ginger mixture.

You take a tablespoon of each and crush before mixing them together and adding them to a bowl of water for an hour. Then put the mixture into a saucepan and boil, drinking it whilst still warm, but not hot. This is a simple but very good way to revitalize the fever ridden body.

Dietary considerations when curing fever

When the internal systems have been compromised sufficiently for a fever to emerge and take hold it is vital that the patient has a balanced but carefully planned diet to aid recovery until it is reached.

For the first day of illness the sufferer should be troubled by having to digest food, thus giving the digestive system a chance to rest before repair. And so solid foods should be forsaken for a spell of 24 hours or so.

Whilst getting plenty of rest the sufferers should only be replenished by warm juices, vegetable juices and liquidized food.

After this initial period the patient should be gradually be re-introduced to solid foods by following a fruit diet for a period of 2 to 3 days.

Raw fruit is a wondrous purifier of the body and when ingested can soon dispel toxins (amas) with its variety of sweet, bitter, cool, soothing juices, tastes and textures.

Fruit appropriate as fever remedies

• Pineapple
• Peach
• Melon
• Grape
• Pear
• Apple
• Orange, particularly important due to its rich nutrient of vitamin c which strengthens resistance to further infection.

Foods to avoid

• Sweets
• Ice cream
• Sugar and its assorted by-products
• Flour and associated produce

All these foodstuffs build up fats and saturated acidity that eventually build up into Ama which disrupts the three main dhosas in the body and prevents them from functioning properly.

The importance of turmeric in Ayurvedic treatments

In Ayurvedic the spice of Turmeric is known as “The great internal healer” and is used in both the prevention and cure of diseases such as fever.

It is at its most potent and as such you will get the best results when turmeric is added to warm water or milk and is drunk. Though it can also be added to cooking to form a tasty and vital nutrient

To rebalance and revitalized the dhosas it is advisable to follow a healthy, balanced diet whilst avoiding stress. When all this balanced and added together only then can the body be fit enough to recover from a fever.

Headache

Ayurvedic thought propose that headaches are due to aggravation of the three doshas, or humors. Instead of taking a painkiller as is popular in Western medicine, ayurvedic thought believes that it is necessary to find out the root problem behind the headache. There are many different causes, but fortunately, there are also many different remedies that are available.

Most often, it is the vata humor that is out of balance when you have a headache. Some of the many possible causes include:

• Mental stress
• Fever
• Excessive caffeine or nicotine
• Reading without proper lighting
• Sitting too close to the television, or watching too much of it
• May also be a symptom of some other disease
• Side-effect of another medication
• Head injury
• Not sleeping well

Here are several suggested remedies, many of which are easily made at home:

• Take one teaspoon of almond oil and heat; when it has cooled sufficiently, place two drops of the oil in each nostril
• Rub mixture containing one teaspoon of cinnamon oil and a quarter of a teaspoon of clove powder into the site of the pain
• Place a wet cloth on the neck
• Try an oil massage on your scalp; some suggested oils include sesame and
  almond
• Do a headstand only if it is before dawn or after dusk and you have an empty stomach
• Diet is also an important component in the fight against headaches.

Following are some suggestions for appeasing the vata humor:

• Eating certain nuts or seeds that have been soaked, including almonds, walnuts, and sunflower seeds
• Light squashes
• Fiber
• Pomegranate

Generally, warm foods that are not too dry; try cooking vegetables in olive oil

There are also many things you can do to help alleviate the symptoms and prevent future headaches from ever occurring.

• Keeping your mind and body free from stress is very important
• Try to maintain a proper diet; avoid things like fried foods and spicy foods
• Do not try to suppress natural urges for things like sneezing, yawning, bathroom needs
• Avoid sleeping during the day
• Proper exercise and stretching
• Try getting a massage with therapeutic oils

There is also a set of remedies for those who suffer from migraine type headaches

• Avoid direct exposure to the sun
• Take walks during the full moon
• A very beneficial yoga pose for migraines is Moon Salutation
• Practice shitali, which is a cooling breathing exercise that has many added benefits

Sometimes, according to ayurvedic medicine, where exactly the headache is occurring is actually a warning to your body that there is a problem elsewhere. By becoming familiar with what zone your headaches occur in, your practitioner will be able to determine if you are really suffering from ulcers, a kidney disorder, or something else, and the headache itself is merely a symptom.

If you suffer from frequent headaches, be sure to visit an ayurvedic practitioner who can thoroughly examine you and determine a specific treatment plan with your particular needs in mind.

Benefits of Ayurvedic Medicines

• By using ayurvedic and herbal medicines you ensure physical and mental health without side effects. The natural ingredients of herbs help bring “arogya” to human body and mind. (“Arogya” means free from diseases). The chemicals used in preparing allopathy medicines have impact on mind as well. One should have allopathy medicine only when it is very necessary.
• According to the original texts, the goal of Ayurveda is prevention as well as promotion of the body’s own capacity for maintenance and balance.
• Ayurvedic treatment is non-invasive and non-toxic, so it can be used safely as an alternative therapy or alongside conventional therapies.
• Ayurvedic physicians claim that their methods can also help stress-related, metabolic, and chronic conditions.
• Ayurveda has been used to treat acne, allergies, asthma, anxiety, arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, colds, colitis, constipation, depression, diabetes, flu, heart disease, hypertension, immune problems, inflammation, insomnia, nervous disorders, obesity, skin problems, and ulcer

List of company in Bangladesh                    

• Islamic Trust Bangladesh Limited
• Islamic Trust Bangladesh limited established and incorporated in Bangladesh xxxxx company established with a multipurpose xxxxx Trust Bangladesh Limited started it’s Manufacturing 100% Herbal oriented Health Care & beauty products from the begining of the xxxxx 125 Field staffs and 25 officials are involved with it’s xxxxx’s authorised capital is 100 Million BTD ,equivalent to 1.42 Million xxxxx Current products-(Breast Care,Cosmetics and skin care Cream)wished to export Asia,Specially in Middle …
• TEL.: 880-2-90128019014697 FAX.:880-2-9004136
• [Bangladesh]1/8,Pallabi, Dhaka, Nil, Bangladesh(Zip/Postal:1216) – Added Saturday, March 21, 2009

NISHAT ELECTRICAL WORKS LTD

• … Herbal madicine and Raw metarials and equipments.
• TEL.: 880 – 2 – 7113665 FAX.:880 – 2 – 7116118
• [Bangladesh]134,NAWABPUR ROAD DHAKA DHAKA 1000 Bangladesh – Added Saturday, March 21, 2009

• Sanj Group
• Sanj Group, founded in the early 1980s is a herbal (unani) medicine manufacturing company. Recently the same owner has bought a new company name Tropical Pharmaceuticals. Now we are interested in exporting both types of medicines. Interested buyers are requested to cantact us. Price quotations and certifications will be provided on demand. On beh alf of the company Thankin you Saifullah Ahmed
• TEL.: 880 – 02 – 8122680 FAX.:880 – 02 – 8130809
• [Bangladesh]H# 270 R # 1, Adabor, Mohammadpur Dhaka Dhaka 1207 Bangladesh – Added Saturday, March 21, 2009

• DYNAMIC ACCESSORIES
• … HERBAL MEDICINES
• TEL.: 880 – 2 – 8114523 FAX.:880 – 2 – 8123994
• [Bangladesh]75/1, INDIRA ROAD, 2ND FL(D-2), DHAKA DHAKA 1215 Bangladesh – Added Saturday, March 21, 2009

CONCLUSION:

The herbal or ‘Unani’ or Greco–arab system of medicine is a growing industry worldwide. Global sales of herbal products now exceed a staggering US$40 billion a year. Bangladesh has a very rich tradition in the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of various ailments, based predominantly on the Unani system of medicine, which dates back to the Indus valley civilization. This traditional medicine sector has become an important source of health care, especially in rural and tribal areas of the country. Most of the medicinal plants are found in the temperate climates and subtropical forests. Around 70–80% of the population, particularly in rural areas, uses CAM. In addition to other CAM systems such as Ayurvedic and homeopathic, the Unani system has been accepted and integrated into the national health system. Bangladesh is the only country in the eastern Mediterranean region where formal Unani teaching institutions are recognized. There has been significant movement at the policy level in terms of CAM regulation. The government of Bangladesh has in place a number of organizations and initiatives aimed at strengthening and coordinating various aspects of the sector, supplemented by non-government and private sector initiatives. However, stronger coordination of the sector at the national level under a strategic plan is imperative, which will produce offshoots into research and development. There are 45 000 traditional healers, of whom about three-quarters are practicing in rural areas. The presence of these practitioners in rural areas may be regarded as a source of health care delivery for the rural majority of Bangladesh.