Traditional Approach to Cure Shingles Using Medicinal Plants in Eastern Nepal

Oral Collection and documentation of indigenous knowledge of local people have an important role in scientific research, biodiversity conservation, and the drug development process. A study was carried out to document the medicinal plants that have been used by the local folk healer to treat Shingles in Ilam district, Eastern Nepal. A renowned folk healer who was involved in curing Shingles for decades and 30 key informants were selected for the interview to know the methods of curing Shingles. Altogether six plants viz: Oroxylum indicum, Cynodon dactylon, Centella asiatica, Drymaria cordata, Sesamum indicum, and Lygodium japonicum were found to be used against the disease. The traditional method of preparing medicine from these plants was found to be highly effective. The finding provides a clue for further extensive lab-based research to isolate the specific compounds that are effective against the disease.

Effect of Saffron (Crocus sativus L) on Common NonCommunicable Disease: Review from Current Clinical Findings

Background: Due to the high prevalence of NCDs and treatment costs, many medical providers are looking for alternative medications, especially herbal medicine, and some herbal medicines can be used as an effective therapy for the treatment of NCDs. Many studies have shown the effective use of saffron to impede and treat different types of non-communicable diseases. Aim: This current review focuses on the medicinal uses of saffron and current findings relating to the effects of saffron on different types of non-communicable diseases. Methods: Cochrane library, Pub Med, and Google Scholar databases were searched from 2000 to 2020 before September to accumulate current findings with the limitation of the English language. Result: A total of 33 studies (8 human and 25 animalstudies) were identified through searching. Saffron and its active components improved lipid profile along with lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. Kidney function was also improved by reducing nitrogen urea, urinary citrate, uric acid, etc. Saffron can be also used for treating different types of cancer like prostate cancer, skin cancer, breast cancer, etc. Conclusion: Despite the beneficial effects of saffron on non-communicable diseases, more prospective clinical trials among humans and animals are needed for a better understanding of the effects and mechanisms of saffron and its compounds.

Antirheumatic Properties of Medicinal Plants: A Review

Medicinal plants are widely used for the treatment of rheumatism. Around 80% of world are depends on traditional medicine. Rheumatism is a chronic, autoimmune diseases, that affects own immune system and healthy tissue which are caused inflammation. Rheumatism risk factors include hormonal, genetic, environmental, and nutritional, and socio-economic factors, ethnicity, infections, smoking, and so on. In this review use of some traditional medicine plants against rheumatism such as Aerva lanata, Mahuca longifolia, Acetaea spicata, Aesculus indica, Hemidesmus ndicus, has been discussed. This review includes the mechanism of rheumatism including inhibition of cartilage degradation. Various active compounds such as lignans, flavonols, terpenes and sterols have been found in medicinal plants, which has been found to be beneficial for the treatment of rheumatism.

Antimicrobial and Antiasthmatic Properties of Plants

Asthma is a disease that mainly affects our respiratory system. It affects millions of people in the world. It is most common chronic and non-communicable disease in adults as well as children. It is more prevalent in industrialized countries. Asthma is caused by the genetic interaction and environmental factors. The major risk factor for developing asthma is the genetic disposition of individual. Asthma symptoms are caused due to the liberation of endogenous and intrinsic mediators like histamine, nitric oxide, chemokines, inflammation of the airways in the lungs. Therefore, there are many treatments associated with this disease. One of which is the nutraceutical therapy which provides medicinal and health benefits. Indian herbs and plants are well known for its medicinal properties from the ancient times. Allium species, Aloevera, crinum, Licorice, Adhatoda species that possess the antimicrobial activities are known to provide efficient therapeutic response in treating asthma.

Economic evaluation of extraction, value addition and contribution of medicinal plants to household economy in district Ganderbal, Jammu & Kashmir

The present study was carried out in four community blocks of district Ganderbal viz., Lar, Kangan, Gund and Sherpathri of the Kashmir valley owing to the majority of medicinal plant collectors in these blocks of Ganderbal district. A total number of 120 respondents i.e. Medicinal plant collectors were selected for the study. An all-around organized meeting plan was developed for the assortment of essential information from the respondents. Information got from the interviewees was investigated by utilizing both engaging and inferential insights. Description of fourteen species of medicinal plants was made in the study area. The study led to conclude that there were 14 major medicinal plants collected, consumed and marketed by the local people in Ganderbal. The medicinal plants comprised of twenty one types of plant parts which were extensively collected from herbs, shrubs, trees, climbers, fungi, fern etc. and consumed for curing sixteen different types of diseases by the local population and to meet their livelihood needs. The collection, value addition and marketing of medicinal plant generated a gross income of Rs.37670.50/HH/year and net income of Rs.24869.70/HH/year and an employment opportunity of 7052.40/Man-days/year among the sampled households. Morchella esculenta generated maximum income and employment among all the medicinal plants while the Taraxacum officinale accrued minimum income and employment in the sample households.

Short and Long term effects of Overeating (Atimatrashan) on health and well-being: A Conceptual Study

Overeating is the excess food consumed in relation to the energy that an organism expends. Out of various eating disorders overeating from supersize meal portions is termed as Atimatrashan in Ayurveda. In Ayurveda great emphasis has been given on the ideal quantity i.e., ‘matra’ of Aahara which is customized according to individual appetite. While occasional overeating predisposes to various disorders manifested through impaired digestive function, Habitual overeating eventually leads to obesity. Obesity being a state of chronic inflammation predisposes to wide range of diseases including Metabolic syndrome and Cancer. In this context, this paper discusses the Ayurvedic concept of Tridosha Prakop (vitiation of all the three Doshas) with the resulting ailments and Aamvish which is said to be formed as a result of habitual overeating and is thought to be Vishsadrushya (highly toxic) and param asaadhyam (incurable).

Precautions in Panchakarma w.s.r. to Parihara Vishaya

Global acceptance of Panchakarma is increasing day by day. It is the duty of responsible Vaidyas that to maintain the essence of the scientific wisdom during this developmental stage. All the procedures have their own precautions and complications specifically mentioned in classics. One who has excellent knowledge as well as practical experience in Panchakarma should perform these procedures with utmost care. If we explore the various classical precautions mentioned in Ayurveda we can find scientific and logical reasons for the advises.So it is the need of the hour to review on the precautions of Panchakarma.A standardised operating procedure should be needed nationally and internationally including necessary precautions for ensuring better clinical practices.Also extensive researches should be done in this area to develop evidence based conclusions.

Review on Potential Herbal Remedies to Combat Covid-19

The present review focuses on the overview of the immune system regarding its protection of the human body against COVID-19 virus; illustrates the immunity boosting activity of herbal plants against SARS-CoV-2 infection. This work also provides information regarding virus structure information, immunopathogensis of virus with human body and role of Ayurveda in coronavirus disease. A number of herbal plants based active principles have been isolated and extracted with potential immunostimulant and immunosuppressant activity that can explain their beneficial use in traditional medicine and form the further research base for the future studies. The goal of this review is to foreground the immunity boosting activity of different herbal plants and its beneficial use in COVID-19 disease. Many plants and their phytochemicals, responsible for immunomodulation mechanism in SARS-CoV-2 infection have been explained. This review shall hopefully encourage researchers to undertake further work on herbal or medicinal plants with potential immunity boosting activity in COVID-19 disease.

Observational Case Studies on Effect of Phage-laden Ganga water on Dyspepsia and Diabetes Patients

12 patients of dyspepsia and diabetes were administered phage-laden Ganga water orally. Of these, the results of 3 patients who took Ganga water in the two rounds continuously indicate substantial and sustained benefit.

Effect of Curcuma longa L. and curcumin on diabetes and it’s complications: A review

Background: Diabetes mellitus, remains a metabolic disorder which is alarmingly rising in the world. It is characterized by hyperglycemia, and associates relative or absolute insulin deficiency or resistance. Disruption of the metabolism may cause lot of micro and macro vascular complications mostly affecting vital organs like kidneys, heart, eyes, and nerves. Objective: To discuss the potential of C. longa and its constituent curcumin in treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Method: An electronic search was performed using Science Direct, Scopus, Springer link, PubMed, Google scholar and collected articles in English up to 2020 August 15 relating to C. longa and curcumin in treatment of diabetes mellitus and its complications. Results: C. longa root or rhizome is an indigenous herb used as a spice in Asian cuisine for thousand years and known to have various therapeutic, medicinal applications for various diseases including diabetes. Curcumin is the major polyphenolic constituent of, C. longa. Human and animal researches conducted using C. longa and curcumin have proven that, the usage of C. longa is beneficial for the treatment of diabetes mellitus including diabetic complications. Curcumin has been reported to prevent the development of diabetes by exerting its cellular effects via various molecular mechanisms. Therapeutic potential of curcumin has been reported against various diabetic complications such as nephropathy, retinopathy, cardiac myopathy, etc. in numerous preclinical and clinical studies. Conclusion: These findings might enable to design and practice novel treatment strategies for diabetes mellitus and its complications, and promote inclusion of C. longa in clinical practice for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and diabetes related diseases. Furthermore, C. longa clinically proven ailment for many diseases including diabetes could be consumed as a safe ingredient of healthy diet. More attention should be extended towards conducting further research on this valuable molecule to utilize it as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and other human diseases.