Other Systems of Medicine

Homeopathy: Mechanism of action: Homeopathic remedies (also called homeopathics) are a system of medicine based on three principles:

Like cures like For example, if the symptoms of your cold are similar to poisoning by mercury, then mercury would be your homeopathic remedy. Minimal Dose The remedy is taken in an extremely dilute form; normally one part of the remedy to around 1,000,000,000,000 parts of water. The Single Remedy No matter how many symptoms are experienced, only one remedy is taken, and that remedy will be aimed at all those symptoms.

Similar principals forms the basis of conventional allergy treatment, where the allergic substance is given in a small dose, and in vaccines where an impotent form of the virus is given to bolster the immune system against that particular virus. Benefits of homeopathy: Homeopathy is the second most widely used system of medicine in the world.This success is fueled by several factors:

Homeopathy is extremely effective. When the correct remedy is taken, results can be rapid, complete and permanent. Homeopathy is completely safe. Even babies and pregnant women can use Homeopathy without the danger of side effects. Homeopathic remedies can also be taken alongside other medication without producing unwanted side effects. Homeopathy is natural. Homeopathic remedies are normally based on natural ingredients. Homeopathy works in harmony with your immune system, unlike some conventional medicines which suppress the immune system. (For example, cough medicines suppress the cough reflex, which is your body's attempt to clear the lungs) Homeopathic remedies are not addictive - once relief is felt, you should stop taking them. If no relief is felt, you are probably taking the wrong homeopathic remedy. Homeopathy is holistic. It treats all the symptoms as one, which in practical terms means that it addresses the cause, not the symptoms. This often means that symptoms tackled with Homeopathy do not recur.

Some common examples of homeopathy: Allium cepa (onion): Because it is known to cause tearing of the eyes and dripping of the nose, it is a frequent remedy for the common cold and hay fever, especially when there is a thin, watery, and burning nasal discharge that irritates the nostrils. Typically, the person's symptoms are worse in a warm room and are relieved in a cool room or in the open air. Arnica (mountain daisy): This is the no.1 remedy in sports medicine and first aid. It is used for shock and trauma from injury. It also helps to reduce pain from injury and to speed the healing process. Whether you're into competitive sports or exercise regularly or if you simply don't like to feel the pain of an injury, Arnica is the place to start. Chamomilla (chamomille): Many parents owe their sleep to homeopathy, not because it helps them directly, but because it is so good for their infant. Chamomilla is the remedy for the irritable infant, especially from teething or colic. The infant cries incessantly, and nothing seems to provide any relief, except carrying them, and even then, the crying begins recurs as soon as the parent puts the child down. Magnesia phosphorica (phosphate of magnesia): This is the most effective remedy for cramps, including menstrual cramps. It has helped prevent many women turn from Dr. Jekkyl into Ms. Hyde as a result of menstrual cramps. It is particularly indicated when a woman's cramps cause her to bend over and when they experience some relief from warm applications. Nux vomica (poison nut): This is the premier medicine for ailments exacerbated by conventional or recreational drugs. It is also a common remedy for treating symptoms of overeating or from drinking too much alcohol. Considering how many people have these vices, this is an all too frequent medicine today. Pulsatilla (windflower): Perhaps the most commommon remedy given to both children and women, this medicine is not indicated for a specific disease but for a specific pattern of physical symptoms and psychological characteristics. Physically, these people are warm-blooded: they wear less clothes than others, prefer open air, and don't feel as well in the heat. Psychologically, they are a gentle, mind, and yielding person, with a quickly changing emotional state and a strong tendency to want to please others. Rhus tox (poison ivy): This medicine is the most common remedy for sprains and strains. It is especially indicated when a person experiences a "rusty gate" syndrome, that is, pain on initial motion which is reduced the more the person continues to move. It is also often given to people with the flu or arthritis who experience this similar rusty gate syndrome. The following substances are commonly used in homeopathy today. ( learn any 10)

Homeopathic name Aconite[1][2] Aesculus hippocastanum[1]

Substance

Common name

Homeopathic use

Aconitum napellus Aesculus hippocastanum

Monkshood, Monk's Blood, Shock, influenza and fever Fuzi, Wolf's Bane Horse-chestnut Haemorrhoids and varicose veins All types of furuncles (like acne, carbuncles, malignant pustules), septic wounds, grangrenous [5] degenerations, anthrax [6][7][8] poisoning, Itching eyes, lachrymation, allergies, hay fever Skin conditions, minor lethargy

Anthracinum, Anthrax poison Anthracinum extracted from the bovum, spleen of affected Anthracinum suum sheep [4] Allium cepa Antimonium Arsenicate Antimonium tartaricum Antimony tartrate Onion

Impetigo Fear, anticipation, apprehension, nervous excitement, exam nerves, conjunctivitis. Leopard's bane White arsenic Shock and bruising Colds, influenza, diarrhoea, food poisoning

Argentum nitricum[ Silver nitrate Arnica Arsenicum album[12] Baptisia[1] Belladonna Bellis perennis Bryonia[12] Calcarea carbonica[10] Calendula[1] Chamomilla[12] Arnica montana Arsenic trioxide Baptisia tinctoria Atropa belladonna Bellis perennis Bryonia alba Oyster shell Calendula officinalis Matricaria chamomilla

Wild indigo, Fever horseflyweed Deadly nightshade Common daisy White bryony Calcium carbonate Marigold German Chamomile High fever with redness and delirium, and throbbing headache Cuts and wounds Fever, joint pain, cough and pleurisy Indigestion Healing of wounds teething in infants

Camphor [13]

Cinnamomum camphora Squirting cucumber

Cholera (used by Hahnemann on an 1831 cholera outbreak on Central Europe, and by Dr. Quin in 1854 London's epidemic) Diarrhoea Cholera, diarrhoea, griping in the guts Foxglove Heart conditions, angina chronic ailments, skin complaints, general debility neurologics (insomnia, nightmares), digestives (dyspepsia caused by drinking tea often) warts & chronic conditions Burns, Bites and stings

Colocynthis[1] Cuprum metallicum[10] Digitalis[1] Sulphur[12]

Citrullus colocynthis Copper Digitalis purpurea Sulfur

Thea Sinensis / leafs of tea plant Camellia Sinensis Thuja[1][10] Urtica urens[1] Thuja occidentalis Stinging Nettle

Unani
Unani-tibb or Unani Medicine is a form of traditional medicine widely practiced by Muslims. It is based on the teachings of Greek physician Hippocrates, and Roman physician Galen. Diagnosis and treatment Unani classical literature consists of thousands of books and contains vast knowledge and mention of experiences on all aspects of medicine. According to Unani medicine, management of any disease depends upon the diagnosis of disease. In the diagnosis, clinical features, i.e., signs, symptoms, laboratory features and mizaj (temperament) are important. Any cause and or factor is related with the power of body responsible to maintain health, the failing of which may lead to quantitatively or qualitatively de-arrangement of the normal equilibrium of body which constitute the tissues and organs. This abnormality leads to pathological changes in the tissues anatomically and physiologically at the affected site and exhibits the clinical manifestations.

After diagnosing the disease, principle of management of disease is determined on the basis of etiology in the following pattern:

Izalae Sabab (elimination of cause) Tadeele Akhlat (normalization of humors) Tadeele Aza (normalization of tissues/organs)

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

Regimenal Therapy: The disease may be treated by the modification of six essential prerequisites of health Pharmacotherapy: For this purpose prescription is formulated which contain the single and or compound Unani drugs having desired actions as per requirements. Surgery

As an alternative form of medicine, Unani has found favor in India where popular products like Roghan Baiza Murgh (Egg Oil) and Roghan Badaam Shirin (Almond Oil) are commonly used for hair care. Mechanism of action: The theory postulates the presence of blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile in the human body. Each person's unique mixture of these substances determines his Mizaj(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. Unani medicine is very similar to Ayurveda. Unani medicine includes similar theories and principles regarding the role of key elements including air, earth, water, and fire. Practitioners believe an imbalance in these elements results in disease. Treatments, which often include various herbal combinations, are aimed at rebalancing these elements. Diagnosis in Unani medicine, similar to Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine, often relies on a pulse diagnosis. Unani medicine also uses stool and urine analysis as diagnostic tools. Unani medicine is an ancient system of medicine that uses a variety of treatments including herbs and specific combinations of herbal ingredients.

Special Precautions & Warnings: Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of Unani medicine during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Ayurveda
Ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to the Indian subcontinent and a form of alternative medicine. Eight components of Ayurveda In classical Sanskrit literature, Ayurveda was called "the science of eight components"

(General medicine) Kya-chikits: "cure of diseases affecting the body" (Pediatrics) Kaumra-bhtya: "treatment of children" (Surgery) halya-chikits: "removal of any substance which has entered the body (as extraction of darts, of splinters, etc.)" (Ophthalmology / ENT) lkya-tantra: "cure of diseases of the eye or ear etc. by sharp instruments (Demonology / exorcism / psychiatry) Bhta(past)-vidy: "treatment of mental diseases supposed to be produced by past experiences" (Toxicology) Agada-tantra: "doctrine of antidotes" (Elixirs) Rasayana-tantra: "doctrine of Rasayana" (Aphrodisiacs) Vjkaraa tantra

Principles and mechanism of action: Ayurveda had historically taken the approach of enumerating bodily substances in the framework of the five classical elements (Sanskrit [maha]panchabhuta, viz. earth, water, fire, air and aether. According to Ayurveda, there are seven tissues dhatu. They are plasma (rasa), blood (rakta), muscles (masa), fat (meda), bone (asthi), marrow (majja), and semen (shukra). Ayurveda states that a balance of three elemental substances Dosha is health and imbalance as disease. The dosha are three and they are Vata, Pitta and Kapha. One Ayurvedic theory states that each human possesses a unique combination of these doshas that define that person's temperament and characteristics. Each person has a natural state, or natural combination of these three elements, and should seek balance by modulating their behavior or environment. In this way they can increase or decrease the doshas they lack or in abundance of respectively.

Another view, present in the ancient literature, states that dosha equality is identical to health, and that persons with imbalance of dosha are proportionately unhealthy, and that this is not their natural state. In Ayurvedic theory, 20 qualities / characteristics, which are inherent in all substances are more accepted. They can be arranged in ten pairs of antonyms: heavy/light, cold/hot, unctuous/dry, dull/sharp, stable/mobile, soft/hard, non-slimy/slimy, smooth/coarse, minute/gross, viscous/liquid.[13] Ensuring the proper functions of channels (srotas) that transport fluids is a part of Ayurvedic treatment, because the lack of healthy channels is thought to cause diseases. Practitioners treat by massage with oils and Swedana (fomentation) to open up these channels. suppressing natural urges is seen to be unhealthy, and doing so claimed to lead to illness. However, people are cautioned to stay within the limits of reasonable balance and measure. For example, emphasis is placed on moderation of food intake,[17] sleep, sexual intercourse.

Diagnosis and treatment: Ayurvedic practitioners approach diagnosis by using five senses. Hearing is used to observe the condition of breathing and speech. The study of the lethal points is of special importance. Ayurvedic doctors regard physical and mental existence together with personality as a unit, each element having the capacity to influence the others. One of the fundamental aspects of ayurvedic medicine is to take this into account during diagnosis and therapy. Concepts of Dinacharya (daily activities) are followed in Ayurveda. Practices like Oil pulling are practised. Hygiene is a central practice of ayurvedic medicine. Hygienic living involves regular bathing, cleansing of teeth, skin care, and eye washing.

Examples of drugs: Ayurveda stresses the use of plant-based medicines and treatments. Hundreds of plant-based medicines are employed, including cardamom and cinnamon. Some animal products may also be used, for example milk, bones, and gallstones. In addition, fats are used both for consumption and for external use. Minerals, including sulphur, arsenic, lead, copper sulfate and gold are also consumed as prescribed. This practice of adding minerals to herbal medicine is known as rasa shastra. In some cases, alcohol was used as a narcotic for the patient undergoing an operation. The advent of Islam introduced opium as a narcotic. Both oil and tar were used to stop bleeding.

Traumatic bleeding was said to be stopped by four different methods: ligation of the blood vessel; cauterisation by heat; using different herbal or animal preparations locally which could facilitate clotting; and different medical preparations which could constrict the bleeding or oozing vessels. Various oils could be used in a number of ways, including regular consumption as a part of food, anointing, smearing, head massage, and prescribed application to affected areas. Cataract in human eye magnified view seen on examination with a slit lamp. Cataract surgery is mentioned in the Sushruta Samhita in the early centuries of the first millennium AD, as performed with a special tool called the jabamukhi salaka, a curved needle used to loosen the obstructing phlegm and push it out of the field of vision. The eye would later be soaked with warm butter and then bandaged.