Public Health

Bhutanese Medical System: The Bhutanese medical system goes well beyond the notion of medicine in the narrow western sense. It forms a part of their culture and tradition, in which "Buddhism" is the prevailing influence. Health and spirituality are inseparable and together they reveal the true origin of any sickness. The art of healing is, therefore, a dimension of the sacred life style of Bhutanese people. The system of medicine used in Bhutan is known as "Sowa Rigpa". Today, this medical system is practiced in many countries, but owing to its origin and development in ancient Tibet, it is…

Body builders will tell you that protein is key to bigger, stronger muscles.   For the truly elite, that may be the case but for the all but 50 of you who are not elite muscle builders, a recent study by University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston metabolism researchers provides evidence that a more normal eating pattern is going to get you the same results as wolfing down protein shakes; something  your  commission-based, fitness-center trainer does not want you to read. The study's results, obtained by measuring muscle synthesis rates in volunteers who consumed…

Scientific Name Commiphora mukul(Hook. ex Stocks) Engl. syn. Balsamodendron mukul Hook. ex Stocks syn Commiphora wightii (Arn.)Bhandari Family Burseraceae Used Part Gum Distribution Area A small tree or shrub with spinescent branches occurring in the arid rocky tracts of Rajputana, Khandesh, Berar, Mysore, Sind, and Baluchistan. Common Uses . Guggul has a wide range of usefulness in indigenous medicine. It is astringent and antiseptic. When taken internally it acts as a bitter, stomachic and carminative, stimulating the appetite and improving the digestion. It acts as a…

With the changing pattern of life style most of the diseases are now becoming lifestyle diseases. The traditional systems of medicine based on ancient cultures are primarily concerned with building the body strength which can help in healing the ailments and these systems rely largely on the nature cure. The Ayurvedic system has described a large number of such medicines based on plants or plant product and the determination of their morphological and pharmacological or pharmacognostical characters can provide a better understanding of their active principles and mode of action. Introduction…

Scientific Name Acorus calamus Linn. Family Zingiberaceae Used Part Rhizome Distribution Area A semi-aquatic, perennial, aromatic herb with creeping rhizomes, growing wild and also cultivated throughout India, ascending to an altitude of 2,200m in the Himalayas. Common Uses . Indian markets as such. In Ayurvedic system of medicine, the rhizomes are considered to posses anti-spasmodic, carminative and anthelmintic properties, and are used for the treatment of a host of diseases such as epilepsy and other mental ailments, chronic diarrhoea and dysentery,…

Scientific Name Solanum surattense Burm. f. syn. S. xanthocarpum Schrad. & Wendl. Family Solanaceae Used Part Seeds and fruits Distribution Area Throughout India, in dry situtations as weed on roadside and wastelands Common Uses . The dried fruit powder is used as an internal medicine and the oil extracted is used for external application in the treatment of leucoderma. Useful in cough, asthama, chronic rhinitis,, dropsy, acute bronchitis and fever accompanied with chest affections. It is one of the main ingredients of the drug formulations for bronchial asthama specially for…

Scientific Name Alpina calcarata Rosc.Family Zingiberaceae Used Part Rhizome. Distribution Area Often cultivated in gardens in eastern and southern India. Common Uses . The rhizomes are bitter acrid thermogenic, aromaticn nervine tonic,stimulant , revulsive, carminative, stomachiac, disinfectant, aphrodisiac, expectorant, bronchiodilator, febrigue, antiinflmatory and tonic . They are useful in vitiated conditions of vata and kapha rheumatoid arthirtis, inflamations, stomatopathy, pharyngopathy, cough, asthama, bronchitis, hiccough, dyspepsia, stomachalgia, obesity, diabetes,…

Scientific Name Paris polyphylla Smith Family Liliaceae Used Part Tuber Distribution Area A glabrous erect herb, 30-45 cm. high, with thick, creeping rootstock found in the temperate Himalayas at altitudes of 1,500-3,000m. from Simla to Bhutan, and in Lushai and Aka hills. Common Uses . The rhizome possesses anthelmintic properties; its powder taken with hot water is used as a tonic. The plants of P. polyphylla var. chinensis and var. yunnanensis are credited with sedative and analgesic properties and form one of the constituents of the Chinese medicine `Chonglou'..…

The plants collected and reported from different tribal and rural areas of Rajasthan. Species namely Azadirachta indica, Tinospora cordifolia, Phyllanthes emblica are used in diabeties. Boerhaavia diffusa, is generally used in liver disorders. Euphorbia hirta is often used for longer period against asthmatic problems for permanent recovery. Phyllanthus emblica are given to cure jaundice generally with buttermilk. The use of the plant parts as a crude drugs by various communities local people and vaidya’s in Rajasthan for various ailments no doubt indicates that the plant must have medicinal…

Collection of important medicinal plants from different regions of Rajasthan. Introduction– Rajasthan has a large population of about 5, 64, 73, 122 crore. Around 80 percent live in villages which utilizes local medicine. The people of Rajasthan can be broadly divided into ; those living into extreme wheather condition as in Western Rajasthan and others in milder climate. Rajasthan has rich biodiversity consisting of a large number of plants, some of which are used for their medicinal value. Although flora of Rajasthan has been compiled by Bhandari (1978) and Sharma (1976) but detailed…