لخّصلي

1.Management of inflammations and peptic ulcer: The roots and stolons of Glycyrrhiza glabra., commonly known as liquorice (licorice) are used both in Western and Oriental folk medicine as an expectorant, antitussive, for throat inflammation, for arthritis and for peptic ulcer. Continuous scientific research by intellectual research groups in Pharmacognosy, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Clinicians, etc., have resulted in countless very useful achievements such as: a) The preparation of aspirin, the famous anti-inflammatory analgesic drug.b) The isolation of morphine, the famous narcotic analgesic, from opium, followed by establishment of its SAR and the synthesis of morphine-type compounds including levorphanol, dextromethorphan, etorphine, methadone, pethidine, etc.This herb should not be prescribed as a remedy if the patient was suffering from hypertension, glaucoma, increased thyroid gland activity, or the existence of a thrombus in the coronary arteries.A. Remedies that possess physiological effect : Many herbs used in folk medicine contain secondary plant metabolites with marked pharmacological actions.The scientific basis of herbal medicine: Herbal remedies utilized by traditional healers in folk medicine may be categorized into those with a physiological effect and those that appear to have only a psychosocial effect.The practitioners of traditional medicine are not hygientic in their methods, their clinics, and mode of preparing remedies.The main chemical constituent of liquorice is glycyrrhizin, a triterpenic saponin with very low haemolytic index.The aglycone of glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetic acid, showed anti inflammatory activity in 1/8th the potency of cortisolThe proper diagnosis of a disease requires careful history taking, medical examination and scientific investigations.The lack of scientific proof of the efficacy of some of the herbs utilized in traditional medicine.2.3.3.

Traditional remedies are prescribed on the basis of a patient’s signs and
symptoms alone, rather than as a result of a full understanding of the
underlying disease. The proper diagnosis of a disease requires careful history
taking, medical examination and scientific investigations. This approach is
usually absent in traditional medicine.
The practitioners of traditional medicine are not hygientic in their methods,
their clinics, and mode of preparing remedies.
The lack of scientific proof of the efficacy of some of the herbs utilized in
traditional medicine.
The scientific basis of herbal medicine:
Herbal remedies utilized by traditional healers in folk medicine may be
categorized into those with a physiological effect and those that appear to have only
a psychosocial effect.
A. Remedies that possess physiological effect
:
Many herbs used in folk
medicine contain secondary plant metabolites with marked pharmacological actions.
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The utilization of such herbs in folk medicine is, in fact, parallel to their use in
modern medicine. Continuous scientific research by intellectual research groups in
Pharmacognosy, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, Clinicians, etc., have resulted
in countless very useful achievements such as:
a) The preparation of aspirin, the famous anti-inflammatory analgesic drug.
b) The isolation of morphine, the famous narcotic analgesic, from opium,
followed by establishment of its SAR and the synthesis of morphine-type
compounds including levorphanol, dextromethorphan, etorphine,
methadone, pethidine, etc.
c) The isolation of colchicines from colchicum and using it in gout.
d) The isolation of tubocurarine from the arrow-poison “curare” and its use as
muscle relaxant during anesthesia.
e) The isolation of physostigmine from African Ordeal Seed, and the synthesis
of the cholinesterase inhbitor neostigmine.
f) The isolation of the oxytocic drug ergometrine from ergot, and the synthesis
of methergine and lysergide.
g) The isolation of quinine and quinidine from Cinchona species.
h) The isolation of the antihypertensive and tranquillizing drug reserpine from
Rauwolfia root.
i) The isolation of vinblastine and vincristine from Catharanthus roseus.
j) The isolation of digitoxin, digoxin, etc., from Digitalis.
k) The preparation of progesterone and cortisone at low costs from diosgenin.
l) The isolation of atropine and scopolamine from species of Atropa, Datura
and Hyoscyamus, followed by the assignment of the spasmophoric portion
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of the atropine molecule and the subsequent synthesis of the spasmolytic
drugs adiphenine, caramiphen, propantheline, etc.
B. Remedies may not appear to have any physiological effect:
They do not contain pharmacologically active constituents. Nevertheless, the
rituals and ceremonies associated with folk medicine can be considered forms of
psychotherapy as they meet the social and cultural expectations of the patient
and his family. Emotions dramatically influence physiological processes
. Recent
work has demonstrated an effect of stress upon the functioning of the immune
system. Moreover, it was concluded that grief over the death of a family member
may render a person exposed to infectious diseases, or even dying of a heart
attack or stroke. Another study has demonstrated that in hospitals, a window view
of a natural scene may have a beneficial effect on patient’s recovery from surgery.
Owing to the above mentioned observations, one must conclude that folk
medicines, herbal or non-herbal, have a scientific basis. Remedies that meet the
patient’s expectations, cultural and religious, and relieve anxiety are likely to
have psychological followed by physiological benefits.
Is a herbal drug useful for certain ailment in one patient suitable for the same
ailment in another patient?
The art of healing by medicinal plants may seem to be considerably simple and
very safe. Definitely this is not true. It is too dangerous to leave this task to persons
lacking some fundamental knowledge of modern medicine. The following few
examples will shed some light on this issue.
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1. Treatment of constipation:
   Among the herbs and plant products utilized to treat constipation are those that
   contain anthracene derivatives (e.g. Senna, Cascara, Frangula and Aloes).
   Anthracene derivatives are readily absorbed through the walls of the small intestine.
   After 8-14 hours of absorption, these compounds stimulate the walls of the large
   intestine, increasing the motility, and hence purgation. This type of laxatives
   should not be used in case of constipation due to tension, otherwise, such
   laxatives will succeed only in increasing the state of tension.


2. Treatment of asthma:
   The Chinese drug “Ma-huang” or Ephedra is one of the best remedies for
   bronchial spasms, asthma, allergy of the respiratory system, and difficulty in breathing.
   This herb should not be prescribed as a remedy if the patient was suffering from
   hypertension, glaucoma, increased thyroid gland activity, or the existence of a
   thrombus in the coronary arteries.


3. Management of inflammations and peptic ulcer:
   The roots and stolons of Glycyrrhiza glabra., commonly known as liquorice
   (licorice) are used both in Western and Oriental folk medicine as an expectorant,
   antitussive, for throat inflammation, for arthritis and for peptic ulcer. The main
   chemical constituent of liquorice is glycyrrhizin, a triterpenic saponin with very low
   haemolytic index. The aglycone of glycyrrhizin, glycyrrhetic acid, showed anti
   inflammatory activity in 1/8th the potency of cortisol