The Herbal Treatment of Diseases

The Herbal Treatment of Diseases

• Phytotherapy (Herbal medicine), the natural therapies, by contrast, aims not to ‘cure’ disease by a technological fix.
• The nature in totality, is the expression of a universal harmony and equilibrium the rupture of which gives rise to numerous ill effects.

• Objectives

The Author’s Short Biographical Summary

• Name: Izzeldin.S.Hussein.
• MDv, MS. MBA.
• Secretary General for Regional Iodinated products producers R.I.S.P.A-Eastern Mediterranean and North Africa Region.
• Regional consultant –Micronutrition.
• Member Board of Directors ICCIDD.
• Consultant to international agencies and individual countries on Iodine Nutrition.
• Temp. Adviser to the World Health Organization.

Getting connected

• Professor Ronlaporte and his team created unprecedented opport-unity for international cooperation and sharing of experience.
• What is the super -course.
• Why go on line.

Medicinal Herbs The Whole better than part.

• Powerful ingredients.
• Only 15% of estimated plant species on earth have been investigated for possible Medicinal uses.
• The world Health organization estimates that 80% of the earth population today depends on plants to treat common ailments.
• Traditional Healers are good resources for scientific based research.

POISONOUS PLANT AND SAFE MEDICINE

• *Straightforward definition of a “poisonous plant”.
• *The major poisonous principles found among plants are organic compound.
• *Herbal medicines are to be prescribed with greatest care.

Wellness

• Self healing.
• The Human body is the greatest machine in the earth.
• The body is two thirds- water.
• The Micronutrients:
• Vitamins and
• Minerals.

Phytochemicals

• No magic, diets high in fruits, grains, legumes reduce the risk of a number of diseases, including cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure.
• Phytochemicals are the biologically active substances in plants that are responsible for giving them color, flavor and natural disease resistance.

Philosophy-The Germ theory of Disease

• Antoni van Leuwenhoek was first to see bacteria.
• Louis Pasteur was the founder of the Germ Theory of Disease.
• Micro organism enter the body in number of ways.
• Specific diseases are caused by specific micro- organism.
• Natural immunity is an inherited resistance to infection.

Philosophy- Germ Theory…….

• Preventive measures were aimed at the destruction of pathogenic bacteria.
• Therapeutic measures suggested by the Germ Theory included asepsis, antisepsis and disinfection.
• Further measures put into effect are avoidance of sources of infection.
• More scientific basis “Robert Koch postulates”.

How would you advise?

• More than 95 % of the population in the least developing countries use herbs for health and other purposes.
• More than one third of Americans and Europeans use herbs for health purposes, spending over 7.0 billion annually.
• More than 25 % of modern pharmaceutical drugs have botanical origins.

WHAT – IF?

• What if a patient who has the human immunodeficiency virus has an increasing viral load and ask your advise about a medicinal herb for his case?
• *What if you don’t have access to Amanatadine for prevention and treatment of Influenza A?
• What if you are located in an area where medicinal herbs are used intensively by public?

MATERIA MEDICA<1>

• Viruses are difficult to inactivate chemically and usually require highly toxic agents to do so.
• Once a cell is infected it is difficult selectively to inhibit the virus without harming the cell.
• * Medicinal herbs contribute to the fight against viral infections through enhancement of immunity.

Herbal Materia Medica <2>

• Thymus Vulgaris and T. Serpyllum L.
• Constituents:
• Volatile oil- incl. Thymol;
• Tannins- up to 10%;
• Bitter principle;
• Saponins.

Materia Medica <3>

• Allium Sativum L. (Garlic)
• Constituents:
• Volatile oil – containing Alliin;
• *Hormone –type substances;
• Glucokinin;
• Mucilage;
• Germanium.

Herbal Materia Medica <4> ST JOHN’S WORT

• Constituents:
• *Red pigment, Resin, Volatile oil Carotenes,Taninnin, Flavanoide(inc.hypericin).
• Common use : Antidepressant.
• Investigational uses:Anticancer , antiviral (including human immunodeficiency virus).
• Side effects : photosensitivity (rare,with large dose.
• It is named after St John’s the Baptist because it blooms around his feast day.

Materia Medica <5 VERVAIN

• Constituents:
• *Glycosides (verbenalin);
• *Bitter principle ;
• * Volatile oil ;
• *Taninn .
• * Good prophylaxes for Asthma and migraine.

Herbal Materia Medica <6> JUNIPER BERRIES

• Juniperus communis
• *Constituents:
• Volatile oil –up to 2 % of the pulp;
• Flavanoide;
• Tannins ;
• Bitter principle ;
• Sugars- up to 30%.

Herbal Materia Medica <7> Astragalus membranaceus

• The antiviral action of Astragalus is most likely due to increased immunity and interferon production.
• Further researches are encouraged by the students and the medical professionals.

Herbal Materia Medica <8> Eleutherococcus Senticosus.

• Positive effect of Eleutherococcus Senticosus in very early stages of HIV infection by preventing or retarding spread of the virus.
• Further researches are encouraged by professionals on the effect of Eleutherococcus on the immune system.

Herbal Materia Medica <9> Marigold(Calendula)

• Calendula officinalis L
• **Constituents:
• Saponins
• Carotenoids
• Bitter principle
• Essential oil
• Sterols
• Flavonoids,
• Mucilage
• Resin

Herbal Materia Medica<10> HOPS(Humulus Lupus L.)

• Humulus Lupus L.
• *Constituents:
• Volatile oil;
• Bitter resin complex – includes valerianic acid, cf. valerian;
• Tannins – condensed;
• Oestrogenic substances;
• Resins;
• Choline;
• Aspragine.

Materia Medica -Antiviral Effects of Herbs

• Lomatium dissectum
• Constituents:
• Flavonoids;
• Coumarins;
• Tetronic acids.
• Root of L.dissectum may be valuable for the treatment of the Chronic fatigue syndrome, for which there is no accepted orthodox treatment.

Anti viral Effects and Phyllanthus Amarus

• Phyllanthus Amarus.
• *Constituents:
• Lignans such as:
• Phyllanthin and hypophyllanthin;
• Flavonoids;
• Alkaloids.
• Leaves of Phyllanthus are an important remedy in south of India for jaundice.

HIV and Hypericum Perforatum Herb

• The most significant development in herbal treatment of viral infections is the recent discovery of the antiviral properties of hypercin and pseudohypericin –the major components of St Johns wort(hypericum).

The voice of the Practitioner

• More than 80% of the world population use some kind of herbal Materia Medica.
• In the least developing countries people die and buried without knowing whether they died of disease or of the materia medica (herbs ) they used.
• 66 % of the world AIDS case are located in Africa –herbs are the medication of choice for treatment.
• Shouldn't this require the voice of practitioners to be heard.

Sources of information and acknowledgments

• This lecture draws extensively from material presented on the European Journal of Herbal Medicine , the British journal of phytotherapy and the America’s guide to natural Health.
• In particular, the summaries of information on materia medica is gratefully acknowledged.
• Students are encouraged to explore the Supercourse site (I.prevention).