Abrus Precatorius Toxicity Presenting with Diarrhoea and Encephalopathy: A Case Report

Infective etiologies are the first differentials that come to the mind in clinical conditions presenting with diarrhea associated with encephalopathy. We report a case of a 21 year old lady diagnosed as acute infective gastroenteritis and treated for the same only to manifest itself later as encephalopathy leading to a diagnostic dilemma. The clinical manifestations had started from abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea followed by altered sensorium. A detailed history later revealed the use of the roots of Abrus precatorius for the treatment of sub-fertility was the missing piece of the diagnostic puzzle. Only after confirmation of the herb did the temporal sequence of events seemed logical. The patient was successfully managed for toxic acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM). Abrus precatorius is a commonly used herb used in traditional medicinal practice in many cultures. Various aspects of its toxicity can mimic other more commonly encountered medical ailments.

Penggunaan Bosoon dan Herba bagi Merawat Sakit Perut dalam Masyarakat Bajau Sama’ di Daerah Tuaran, Sabah ~ The Use of Bosoon and Herbs for Treating Stomach Ache in the Bajau Sama’ Community of the Tuaran District, Sabah

Etnik Bajau Sama’ yang ramai tinggal di bahagian pantai barat Sabah khususnya di daerah Tuaran memiliki kaedah perubatan tradisional yang diwarisi dari generasi ke generasi. Kajian lapangan dilakukan di tiga lokasi daerah Tuaran, iaitu Kampung Sungai Damit, Kampung Suang Perumahan, Mengkabong dan Kampung Tembilok, Mengkabong. Artikel ini bertujuan untuk meneliti tatacara perubatan tradisi etnik Bajau Sama’ dengan menumpukan kepada bosoon atau mantera dan penggunaan herba dalam merawat sakit perut. Kedua, makalah bertujuan untuk meninjau sama ada amalan tradisi ini dipengaruhi oleh masyarakat Bajau di dalam kampung yang berbeza atau tidak berdasarkan jenis penyakit yang dihidapi pesakit. Konsep folk medicine atau folk belief digunakan sebagai kerangka konsep untuk melihat tatacara dan kaedah perubatan tradisi etnik ini. Amalan perubatan ini hanya dilakukan oleh golongan tua kerana sebahagian besar generasi muda tidak tahu tentang amalan tradisi ini. Oleh itu, kajian ini secara tidak langsung memaparkan kepakaran etnik Bajau Sama’ dalam amalan perubatan tradisi dan membuktikan kearifan tempatan etnik peribumi Sabah serta menjadi tatapan umum masyarakat akan datang.The Bajau Sama’ ethnic, who lives along the West Coast of Sabah especially in Tuaran district, inherits the traditional medicinal practice from generation to generation. Field research was conducted in three different locations in Tuaran district, which are Kampung Sungai Damit Tuaran, Kampung Suang Perumahan, Mengkabong and Kampung Tembilok, Mengkabong. This paper aims to examine the traditional medicine of the Bajau Sama’ by focusing on the bosoon or mantra and the usage of herbs in treating stomach ache. Secondly, it observes whether the traditional practice is influenced by the Bajau community in different regions based on the patient’s illness. The folk medicine or folk belief concept is used as the conceptual framework to observe the procedures and methods of the traditional medicinal practices of the ethnic. The traditional medicinal practice is only done by the older generation as the young generation is not exposed to such practice. Therefore, this research shows the expertise of the Bajau Sama’ ethnic in traditional medicinal practice and proves the capability of the local wisdom of Sabah’s indigenous ethnic. This paper also serves as a reference for the future generations.

Record of Traditional Medicinal Practice of Herbalists of Muslim Community in Manipur

Many countries and cultures inherited knowledge of plant medicines to cure diseases and health problems from time immemorial. Field survey work and the registration of patients on a daily basis for a number of 129 randomly selected days, mainly in Thoubal district from January 2006 to October 2006 were conducted, alongside the collection of plants up to April, 2008. Recorded patients belonging to these communities included communities 514 Muslims: 390 Meeteis: 159 Tribals. Male and female were in a proportion of 614:548. The present study deals with 13 plant species, under 14 genera belonging to 13 families closely associated with 12 categories of treatment of diseases and human health problems. The plant parts/plants employed are categorised as leaves (L), 7 times; whole plant (WP), 2 times and Fruits (F), Whole plant without root (WPWR), Seeds (S), Bulbs (B), Roots (R); 1 time each. Category of illnesses and health problems and number of patients recorded were - Bone dislocation, fracture & other bone related problems (BDFOP 402); Ligament (LG 86); Kidney stone and kidney related problem (KSAP 47); Joint, body ache &associated problems( JBAP 37); Gastric problems (GST 35); Diabetes(DBT 35); Leiman or Bad Womb (BW 30); Dhatu or Piles & Constipation (PC 27); Phunba and Lengba or Congestion of chest (CC); Asthma (AST 16); Stomach and associated problems (SAP 14); Heart weakness (9); Liver problems (LP)(9); Lack of blood & Blood problem (LBBP 8); Chakmangba or post-birth lack of appetite female case (PBLAFC 8); Paralysis (P6); Female white discharge (FWD 4); Irregular Men’s Cycle (IMC 4); possessiveness due to black earth (PBE 4); Gall bladder stone (GBS 4); Fever (2) and others (OTS 366). The investigation of the traditional medicinal practices of Muslim herbalists in Manipur vis a vis finding along potentiality of the practical know how of indigenous medicinal knowledge. Comparative study of some plants for their useful aspects in solving health problems had been discussed in the paper.