• Title/Summary/Keyword: folk medicine

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Ethno-Pharmacological Profile of Corallium Rubrum L., an Important Marine Drug, in the Unani System of Medicine

  • Anas, Mohd;Zakir, Mohammad;Maseehullah, MD;Kazmi, Munawwar Husain
    • Natural Product Sciences
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    • v.27 no.2
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    • pp.61-67
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    • 2021
  • Since ancient times, various herbal medicines have been used in folk medicine to treat a variety of diseases. While the majority of drugs belong to the Kingdom of Plantae, some drugs from the Kingdom of Animalia are listed in various Materia medica of alternative medicines. Animal-derived drugs are mentioned in the Unani system of Medicine (USM) and have been used successfully to treat a variety of diseases. Marjān (Corallium rubrum) is a vital marine drug of animal origin that has been used in USM since ancient times and continues to be used today. It possesses a variety of beneficial pharmacological properties, including tonic effects on the heart, brain, stomach, and eyes, pregnancy protection, expectorant, and hemostyptic properties. It is used to treat hemoptysis, palpitation, bleeding piles, hemiplegia, heart failure, and general weakness. It is also an ingredient in a variety of Unani formulations with pharmacological significance. Unani physicians expanded the uses of Marjan and successfully used it to treat a variety of new diseases. There is a dearth of scientific research on its pharmacological and medicinal properties. The urgent need is to validate the Unani claims about its beneficial cardiac and nervine actions, as well as other significant actions mentioned in the Unani literature.

The Concepts of illness of Rural Korean Peoples (한국 일부지역 농촌인의 질병개념에 대한 탐색적 연구)

  • 김남선
    • Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.145-152
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    • 1987
  • The problem addressed by this study was to reveal what people of Korean rural villages think about the cause, treatment and prevention of illness. The purpose was to contribute to the building of a concept of health toward the development of Korean Nursing Theory. Subjects were residents of five districts among four counties in a farming area of Chonbuk province recommended by health workers as appropriate informants. They were interviewed in their homes, using ethnoscientific methods developed in anthropology. The research tool consisted of open questions developed through the literature and preliminary exploratory interviews. Data were analyzed by classifying each concepts of cause, treatment and prevention of illness or illness symptoms collated by frequency and percentage. The causes of illness are conceived as primarily concrete physical and natural, for examples, overeating, lack of energy, changes in the season and extreme temperatures. Compared to others studies, few supernatural causes related to traditional view of illness were identified. Concepts of the treatment of illness included formal treatments used by modern western or oriental physicians and traditional therapists. But folk medicine used by traditional healers or by the family in the home was most prevalent. The concept of illness prevention originated in the concept of the cause of illness, thus primarily physical and natural, for examples, nutritious food, limiting the amount of food, avoiding becoming cold. When the concept of illness of rural Korean is researched from a sociocultural aspect, the traditional views of an evil cause of ill health and treatment by supernatural methods is not found to be prevalent but folk medicine still occupies a large place in treatment which si often a complex mixture from many mysterious sources. The significance of this study lies in the fact that ethnonursing research can contribute basic data toward the development of Korean nursing theories. Modern western medical concepts have not been accepted unconditionally: traditional concepts are alive and dynamic in Korea and must be recognized in Korean nursing.

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The Patterns of Medical Utilization on Dermatoses among Rural Inhabitants (농촌지역 주민들의 피부 질환에 대한 치료 행태)

  • Kim, Chang-Yoon;Joo, Ree;SaKong, Joon;Chung, Jong-Hak;Kwak, Tae-Hun
    • Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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    • v.24 no.1
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    • pp.103-113
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    • 1999
  • The authors surveyed the inhabitants of a rural area to assess the patterns of medical utilization on dermatoses. Seven hundred and sixty new outpatients of dermatoses were examined and surveyed with formed questionnaire from March 1997 to February 1999. The results are as follows; 1. Among 760 new outpatients, the number of male patients was 283(37.2%) and that of female patients was 477(67.3%). 2. The most common dermatoses was Tinea pedis(34.9%), and follows senile pruritus, contact dermatitis, housewife eczema, seborrheic dermatitis, numular dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, Tinea corporis, Tinea ungium, acne vulgaris, impetigo, keratolysis exfoliativa, chronic urticaria, Tinea cruris and Molluscum contagiosum in orders. 3. Drug store was the most frequent places where patients initially visited for their skin diseases(39.6%) and followed by non dermatologic clinic, dermatologic clinic and general hospital in orders. 4. One hundred and twenty one(15.9%) patients have been experienced folk treatment. It was founded that the topical vinegar application or soaking was the most common method. Many patients felt no symptom improvement after the folk treatment(48.8%). Seventeen point four percent of patient felt symptom worsened. The results of this study suggest that many of the rural inhabitants are lack of understanding on their dermatoses. So many physician who are in charge of the primary care in rural area have to pay attention to the common dermatoses and educate patients on their medical utilization.

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Effects of Some Sedative Oriental Medicines on Neurotransmission and Antioxidative System in vitro (신경안정 생약 추출몰이 in vitro에서 신경전달효소 및 항산화계에 미치는 영향)

  • Park, Yong-Ki;Kang, Byung-Soo;Yun, En-Kyung;Kang, So-Im;Park, Chang-Hun;Lee, Dong-Ung;Ha, Jeoung-Hee;Huh, Keun
    • YAKHAK HOEJI
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    • v.44 no.1
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    • pp.22-28
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    • 2000
  • The extracts of Euphoria longan, Ziryphus jujuba, Thuja orientalis, Polygala tenuifolia, Acorus gramineus, Cyperus rotundus, Poria cocos, Uncaria rhynchophylla, and Albizzia julibrissin, which have been used as sedative drugs in Korean folk medicine, were evaluated for their effects on neurotransmission and antioxidative system in vitro. Among the tested drugs, Acorus gramineus showed most inhibitory activities on monoamine oxidase, xanthine oxidase, aldehyde oxidase, and lipid peroxidation and Uncaria rhynchophylla also inhibited most effectively GABA transaminase and DPPH radical.

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Pattern of Treatment Choice for Atopic Dermatitis by Child's Parents (아토피 환자의 치료선택 경향에 대한 설문연구)

  • Son, Chang-Gue
    • The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.37-44
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    • 2014
  • Objective : This study aimed to survey the pattern of the treatment choice for atopic dermatitis. Methods : The questionnaire-based survey was conducted from the parents of 310 patients (median age 9 years, range 2 to 21 year, 158 male and 152 female) with atopic dermatitis. The questionnaire was consisted of 11 questions for the demographic information including treatment choice for atopic dermatitis. Results : The most agonizing factor of atopic dermatitis was pruritus, while the most frequent regions were arms and legs. Conventional therapy (60.3%), folk-remedy (23.9%) and treatment of Korean medicine (15.8%) were the preference of treatment by patients. Over half answers (58.4%) were negative for the current treatments, and the main complains was the absence of radical therapy (26.5%), insufficient information (20.6%), and expensive cost of treatments (19.0%), respectively. Conclusion : This study may provide the important information for the general prospective of parents of patients with atopic dermatitis, which is helpful to develop the Korean medicine-derived therapeutics for atopic dermatitis.

Study on the Origins and Main Treatments of Grub Used in Experiments, and Research Directions on the Efficacy of Grubs (실험에 사용된 제조의 기원과 주치증에 대한 고찰 및 제조의 약효에 대한 연구방향)

  • Han, Kyu-Jo;Kim, Myung-Dong
    • Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.158-165
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    • 2009
  • The aim of this study was to clarify the origins of grubs which were used in the experiments, and to determine many other effects that are now written in the classical medical and herbal books. We compared the efficacy of grubs written in the herbal and medical books on the one hand, and studied the origins of grubs used in the experiments, on the other hand. The following results were obtained. There are three kinds of grub species for medicinal uses. Holorichia diomphalia Bates mainly produced in China, Cetoniidae species mainly produced in Korea, and Protaeria brevitarsis in Korean folk remedy are three species. Grubs were used in 25 experiments. Of these experiments, Holotrichia diomphalia were used 12 times, Larve of Protaeria brevitarsis 3 times, and Protaetia orientalis was used once. So, of total 25 experiments, 36%(9 experiments) did not clarify the origins of grubs used in the experiments. Currently, the grubs, which are imported from China and used in Korea, are Holotrichia diomphalia Bates from China. Current experimental study shows that grubs have efficacy for protecting liver. So the use of grubs in folk medicine is believed to be based on the scientific evidence. Efficacy of grubs, though it is not recorded in the medical books, has the effects of anti-cancer(anti-tumor), antioxidant, and anti-diabetes mellitus. The ingredients of Holotrichia are protein, peptide, fat, enzyme, mineral, and other several nutrients. Study on the grubs so far has a tendency to be done with little focus on the differen of origin of grubs. So, from now on, it needs that the origin of grubs be clarified, and the study on the efficacy from each origin be done. Considering the effects that the classical herbal books have recorded, it is necessary that more profound study proceed to prevent and treat diseases on eyes and ears, on the basis of the fact that grub has multiple ingredients to replenish the vital essence.

Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. Inhibits the Insulin Signaling in Adipogenesis (지방세포분화에서 Hibiscus 추출물에 의한 Insulin signaling 억제효과)

  • Kim, Jin-Kyung;Song, Jeong-Hoon
    • Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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    • v.21 no.1
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    • pp.86-92
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    • 2007
  • Hibiscus sabdariffa L., a tropical beverage material, is used commonly as in folk medicine against hypertension, pyrexia, inflammation, liver disorders, and obesity. However, the mechanism by which Hibiscus sabdariffa L. modulates adipogenic differentiation is remained to be elusive. This report was designed to investigate the inhibitory effect of Hibiscus extract on insulin signaling pathway during adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated with isobutylmethylxanthine, dexamethasone, and insulin (MDI) and followed by the addition of Hibiscus extract. Treatment with Hibiscus resulted in a decrease of lipid droplet accumulation, which was suppressed by PI-3 kinase inhibitor wortmannin in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Also, Hibiscus extract markedly attenuated the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcriptional factor PPAR${\gamma}$ and adipogenic hormon Leptin during adipogenesis. However, it did not affect the expression of adiponectin in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiated with MDI mixture. Furthermore, Adipogenic differentiation by MDI mixture increased the phosphorylation and expression of PI3-Kinase and Akt in 3T3 preadipocytes, which was markedly suppressed by Hibiscus extract treatment. Taken together, our results suggest that Hibiscus extract suppressed the adipogenic differentiation of 3T3 preadipocytes through activation of PI3-Kinase and Akt signaling pathway.

A Study on the perception of epidemic febrile disease[瘟疫] in the Sinchanbyeokonbang(新纂辟瘟方) and its significance as prevention contents - Based on comparison with Dong-uibogam(東醫寶鑑) - (『신찬피온방(新纂辟瘟方)』의 온역(瘟疫) 인식 및 피역서(辟疫書)로서의 의의에 대한 고찰 - 『동의보감(東醫寶鑑)·온역문(瘟疫門)』과의 비교를 중심으로 -)

  • Kim, Sang-Hun;Baik, You-Sang;Jeong, Chang-Hyun;Jang, Woo-Chang
    • Journal of Korean Medical classics
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    • v.26 no.4
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    • pp.355-366
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    • 2013
  • Based on analysis of the organization and listed formulas of the Sinchanbyeokonbang(新纂辟瘟方), it is clear that it has been published based on the Dong-uibogam(東醫寶鑑). This study was carried out under this premise, with focus on the differences between Sinchanbyeokonbang and the epidemic febrile disease[瘟疫] chapter of the Dong-uibogam. In short, Sinchanbyeokonbang reflected a changed view on the epidemic febrile disease, improving its professionalism by supplementing formulas from previous texts and folk prescriptions. At the same time, it improved clinical practicality rather than medical, academic facts, which shows its objective in improving public health and medicine.

Promoting Effect of a Mixture of 8 Herbal Extracts (SPELA 707) on Hair Growth

  • Choi, Eun-Young;Park, Soo-Nam;Park, Sung-Uk;Choi, Seong-Won;Ro, Byung-In;Chung, Myung-Hee
    • The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.91-96
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    • 2003
  • In Korean folk medicine, several herbs, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Persicae Semen, Salviae Radix, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Zanthoxyli Fructus, Ginseng Radix Alba, Cnidii Rhizoma, and Carthami Flos, are known to enhance blood circulation and have wound healing or anti-inflammatory effects. These pharmacological actions prompted us to investigate whether these herbs might stimulate hair growth. Thus, using a mixture of their extracts called SPELA 707, we investigated their effects and found that SPELA 707 possessed significant hair cycle converting activity from the telogen phase to the anagen phase in C3H mice. Furthermore, we found that SPELA 707 enhanced the hair density in subjects with hair loss and also promoted the conversion of hair into the anagen phase in subjects with androgenetic alopecia. In addition, hair growth promotion effect of SPELA 707 occurred through inhibition of steroid $5{\alpha}$-reductase activity, which is known to block hair growth. Taken together, these results suggest that SPELA 707 has a potential to be used for the treatment of hair loss.