REDUCE THE RISK OF DIABETES MELLITUS (DM)

As you know, India is declared to be the Diabetes Capital of the World, let’s be cautious before this demon Diabetes swallows us.

Habits those alter the risks of DM are:

1. Consumption of green vegetables reduces the chance up to 14%.

2. Oil of Naturally grown fish also reduces the risk.

3. Mothers feeding breast milk are 33% less prone to DM.

4. Morning walk for 15 mins and exercises (which causes sweating) for 45 mins reduce the risk.

5. Breathing exercises balances the metabolism, thus reduces the chance.

6. Sleeping less than 6 hrs at night increases the risk.

7. People taking more than 5 cups of polished white rice are more prone to suffer.

8. Smoking increases the risk.

Let’s move towards a healthy world.

ON THE OCCASION OF WORLD HEALTH DAY (7TH APRIL)

First of all I heartily wish all the readers a Healthy and Disease-free life.

With this growing population and rapidly changing environment, the complexities of diseases are increasing and it has become very very difficult to live a disease-free life. The sufferer only knows the pain and sufferings of a disease;

and by the time people experience it on own, it becomes too late. Though many diseases can’t be cured, many can be prevented; so why not to adopt the “Prevention is better than cure” method to get rid of these alarming, life-threatening situations. Also it has become very much necessary to be disease-free in this fast-moving era to always be in competition.

The Ancient, 5000 years old Indian System of Medicine focuses on two aspects-

1. To PREVENT the diseases in healthy persons.
2. To CURE the diseases in diseased persons.

It mainly emphasizes on preventive aspect, which is mainly required for this era. With the knowledge and application of age-old, time-tested principles of medicine, one can maintain a healthy and better life; as i

t emphasizes on all four dimensions of health: The PHYSICAL health, The MENTAL health, The SOCIAL health & The SPIRITUAL health.

Those who have adopted have surely got results. People from overseas countries have realized the importance of “PREVENTION”, so coming to India to get knowledge of this ancient system. But it’s a matter

of sorrow that we Indians are unable to recognize our culture, tradition and system properly. For World Health Day 2011, WHO is going to launch a worldwide campaign to safeguard medicines for future generations because antimicrobial resistance and its global spread threaten the continued effectiv

eness of many medicines used today to treat the sick, while at the same time it risks jeopardizing important advances being made against major infectious killers. It reflects the importance of PREVENTIVE aspect.

Those who have no time to take care of health will surely have time to be treated in hospitals. So lets promise to create a healthy and disease-free world by taking necessary preventive measures.

THANKS
Sushanta

BANNED DRUGS FOR HUMAN USE

Notification from Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India mensions that the Central Govt has prohibited the Manufacture, Sale & Distribution of following drugs in public interest as the use of these drugs is likely to involve certain risks to human beings.

These drugs are:
1. Nimesulide formulations for human use in children below 12 years of age.
2. Cisapride and its formulations for human use.
3. Phenylpropanolamine and its formulations for human use.
4. Human placental extract and its formulations for human use.
5. Sibutramine and its formulations for human use.
6. R.Sibutramine and its formulations for human use.

So kindly be sure before using these said drugs.

ROLE OF CURCUMA LONGA IN KSHARASUTRA

By : Dr. Sushanta Meher, B.A.M.S.(Hons.) (U.U.)
Guide : Dr. B.B.Khuntia, M.D.(Ay.) (B.H.U.),PhD
(Presented at National Seminar, organized by Central Research Institute, BBSR, 2006)

(A brief view is posted here)

INTRODUCTION
Kshara Sutra, the healing thread for different Nadi Vranas described in Sushruta Samhita is nothing but a medicated thread, a thread coated with Kheera (Latex), Kshara (Alkali) and Haridra churna (powder of C.longa).

Among these three constituents turmeric seems to have importance in Kshara Sutra application & post-operative Wound management due to it’s specific pharmacological properties.

PHARMACOLOGICAL PROPERTIES

AYURVEDIC VIEW
Rasa: Tikta-Katu
Gunas: Ruksha-Laghu
Vipaka: Katu
Virya:Usna

MODERN VIEW
Active ingredients are in a group of phenolic compounds, called curcuminoids which mainly include Curcumin, volatile oil (Zingeberine, Borneal) and other curcuminoids, but main is the Curcumin.

Curcumin is having chemical formula C21H20 O6 , named Diferuloyl methane or bis(4-hydroxy,3-methoxy phenyl)-1,6-heptadiene-3,5-dione. Volatile oil contains a ketone C13H20O & an aldehyde C9H11OH, identified as tolymethyl carbinol.

PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS

AYURVEDIC VIEW
- Reduction in dropsy-swelling-toxicity-itching.
- Drying up of unctuousness & moistness at wound site.
- Scarping & purifying.
- Opening & purifying channels.
- Purifying blood.
This all as a whole is by Katu & Tikta Rasa.
The Lekhana , Ropana is due to Laghu & Ruksha Guna.
Katu Vipaka has same action as that of Katu Rasa.

Alleviation of Vata & Kapha, thereby relieving pain& inflammation , is by Usna Virya. The Usna is due to Agni, which enkindles Agni at the level of Rasa Dhatu, check excessive fluid secretions to prevent inflammation & dropsy.

MODERN VIEW
The actions can be categorized to-

- Anti-inflammatory & Analgesic
- Antioxidant
- Antibacterial & Antifungal
- Wound healing Enhancer

(1) ANTI-INFLAMMATORY & ANALGESIC ACTION:
Turmeric is a potent inhibitor of inflammation-related enzymes like Cycloxygenase, Lipoxygenase, Phospholipase. Reducing these enzymes means less Arachidonic acid metabolism, hence less PG-2,thereby less inflammation & less pain.

(2) ANTI-OXIDANT ACTION
This is by two processes-
Prevention of formation of free radicals e.g.-inhibiting lipid peroxidation.
Intervention to neutralize the already formed free radicals by process of free radical scavenging.

(3) ANTIBACTERIAL & ANTIFUNGAL ACTION
It has action against the bacteria like S.albus, S.aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans etc. & also has antifungal action.

(4) WOUND HEALING ENHANCER
- It does reepithelization of epidermis & increases migration of various cells including myofibroblasts, fibroblasts & macrophages in wound bed.
- It has muscle regeneration/restoration capacity.
- Causes neovascularization at wound site, hence enhancing healing.
- Inhibit H2O2 –induced tissue damage, leading to healing.
- Modulates TGF-B1 (Transforming Growth Factor-B1 ),leading to healing.

DISCUSSION
All the pharmacological properties previously discussed are directly or indirectly associated with healing process, which are-
1. Inflammation delays wound healing, but it reduces inflammation.
2. Free radicals tissue damage decreases rate of healing, but has antioxidant action.
3. Infection causes delay, but has antibacterial, antifungal action.
4. Purifies important channels, causes neovascularization that helps in rapid healing.
5. Apart from this, it has special properties to enhance wound healing, hence can be called as an “Amazing Wound Healer”.

THANKS