Conflict, Crisis, and Abuse in Dharavi, Mumbai: Experiences from Six Years at a Centre for Vulnerable Women and Children

Nayreen Daruwalla and colleagues describe the Centre for Vulnerable Women and Children, which serves clients coping with crisis and violence in the urban setting of Dharavi, Mumbai

Effect of Hijama (Wet Cupping Therapy) In Sciatica Pain Management

In unani system of medicine Sciatica is described under the heading of Irqunnisa. As per unani classical text, it is caused mostly by Insibab (Pouring) of Ghaleezkhilt of Dam and Balgham (Thick sanguine and phlegm), occasionally by Safra (Yellow bile) and rarely Sawda(Black bile), on Asab-e-Areeza or Asab-e-WarqiAzeem(Sciatic nerve). It is characterized by moderate to serve pain arises from lower back and radiates to the leg or lower limb due to irritation of the sciatic nerve roots. Various treatment mentioned in classical text including massage, cupping, oral and local applications. Present study was conducted in RRIUM, OPD situated in JJ Hospital Campus, Byculla Mumbai to evaluated the effect of Hijama (WCT) in Sciatica pain management. 20 known cases of sciatica willing to participate in the study were selected. Diagnosis were confirmed by detailed clinical examination, X-RAY LS Spin & MRI report showing lumbar spine osteoarthritis, disc compression or bulging of disc. Hijama (WCT) was performed on selected point as per criteria. At the end of the study there was significant reduction in the symptoms andsignsofsciatica

Possible mechanism and mode of action of Al-Hijama (Wet Cupping Therapy) to Manage Non Communicable Lifestyle Diseases–An appraisal

Lifestyle diseases or diseases of longevity has reached alarming proportions among Indians in recent era due to rapid economic development, stress full life and increasing westernization of lifestyle. There is an extensive literature demonstrating that NCDs are more likely associated with lifestyle of a person. Once bacteria or viruses were the prime killers in human society, but in today’s era the studies shows that 17 million people die prematurely each year due to carelessness, ignorance and irregularities of their own as a result of the global epidemic of life style diseases. This proves that humans are responsible for themselves. According to WHO, global mortality from NCDs associated life style diseases will double by 2015 unless all out efforts are taken tocombat the diseases like hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, and overweight/obesity. As Unani system of medicine treat the disease with amalgamation of different principles viz; Ilaj Bil Ghiza (Dietotherapy), Ilaj-Bid-Dawa (Pharmacotherapy) and Ilaj Bit Tadbeer (Regimenal Therapy) specially the Al-Hijama (WCT) is one of the popular regime which helps in Imaala wa Istafragh (diversion of toxic matter and detoxification) with rejuvenation of the body. Hence in present study, it can be concluded that Al-Hijama (WCT) may be adopted as an adjuvant in averting the Non Communicable “lifestyle” diseases

Preliminary study to investigate the efficacy of Zoofa – e - Yaabis (Hyssopus Officinalis Linn) in stable cases of Bronchial Asthma

Bronchial asthma (Zeequn-nafs Shobi) is well known illness since ancient era. The word Asthma is derived from Greek language, which means “noisy breathing” or making blowing noise or panting. It is defined as "Chronic infective disease of airway that is characterized by increase responsiveness of the tracheobronchial tree to a multiplicity of the stimuli". It affects 5% to 10% of the world population. It is still a major challenge to treat in conventional stream of medicine. Only a symptomatic conservative treatment is available, thus as of today, a thrust area for research in every field of medical science. Unani physicians claimed to possesses many safe and effective herbs for management of asthma which have the properties of bronchodilator, expectorant and mucolytic. Hence preliminary an open perspective clinical trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Zoofae-Yaabis (Hyssopus Officinalis) in stable cases of bronchial asthma. 60 cases of either gender between the age group 20 - 60 years were treated for 90 days. Enrolled subjects got satisfactory relief in their signs and symptoms after 90 days. Hence, it can be concluded that test drug Zoofa- e-Yaabis (Hyssopus Officinalis) has the potential to significantly reduction in clinical signs and symptoms with considerable reduction in laboratory parameters

Conflict, Crisis, and Abuse in Dharavi, Mumbai: Experiences from Six Years at a Centre for Vulnerable Women and Children

Many victims of domestic violence go to hospitals, but interaction with doctors and nurses tended to stop at treatment for injuries. Engaging with the wider issues—emotional, psychiatric, social, and legal—requires confidence, time, training, protocols, and resources, all of which are in short supply. The Centre for Vulnerable Women and Children is running in Dharavi, Mumbai. The Centre was conceived as a means to address this gap through a partnership between the Municipal Corporation and a non-government organisation (NGO).Mumbai, India, Dharavi, women, children, victims, family, emotional, psychiatric, social, legal, resources, NGO, vulnerable, domestic, violence,

“Everybody breastfeeds if they have milk”: factors that shape exclusive breastfeeding practices in informal settlements of Mumbai, India

Abstract Background In India, though breastfeeding is universally practiced, exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) rates in urban informal settlements are low; and health programs face several challenges in promoting EBF. In this study, ensconced in one program area of a non-government organization, we focused on “positive deviant”- mothers who were able to practice EBF for six months and attempted to delineate factors that shaped their EBF practices. Typically, qualitative research from Lower and Middle Income countries on EBF has focused on understanding why women do not practice EBF; the converse perspective taken in this study has been less explored. Methods We employed the positive deviance approach which contends that important programmatic learnings can be attained from persons who adopt positive behaviours. We conducted twenty-five diverse, purposively sampled case-studies of “positive deviant” mothers from two urban informal settlements in Mumbai; and analysed these using a framework approach. The results were summarised using a socioecological framework (consisting of individual, interpersonal, organizational and environment levels). Results We found that mothers typically construed EBF as not giving breastmilk substitutes. Giving the infant minor supplements (water, honey) was not considered a violation of the EBF practice. The main themes that emerged as influencers of EBF included: at individual level, perceptions of having adequate milk; at interpersonal level, having role models who practiced EBF and having family support; at organizational level, advice from health workers (which was purported to play a secondary role); and at environmental level, financial constraints that limited access to supplements. One important finding was that women who practiced EBF could not always do it optimally; we encountered several instances of “poor EBF” practices, where mothers had breastfed infants inconsistently, allowing for long gaps between feeds, and had continued EBF even after six months. Conclusions There is an urgent need for health programs to clarify the meaning of EBF and counsel against “poor EBF” practices. Messages received by women from immediate family on EBF were powerful and families play an important role in the actualization of optimal EBF practices. Hence, it is imperative to counsel entire families on EBF rather than women alone

Efficacy of Unani Compoud Formulation (UCF) “ZHS-1” in Case of Nephrolithiasis (HISSAT-UL-KULIYAH)

Nephrolithiasis (Hissat-ul-Kulliyah) is on the rise worldwide, with highest growth projected in Asia and other geographical region with hot, dry climates resulting from super saturation of urine in respect to the stone forming materials. It is estimated that at least 10% of the population in the industrialized part of the world is affected by nephrolithiasis. The epidemiology of nephrolithiasis differs according to geographical area in terms of prevalence and incidence, age and sex distribution, stone composition and stone location. According to one estimates there are about 5-7 million patients suffering from urinary calculus disease in India. According to Unani literaturekhilt-e-ghaleez,qarah-e-kulliyah, Suddah in the lumen and ghiza-e-ghaleez which cause weakness of quwwat-e-hazima are the causes of stone formation. Despite the major technical achievement in the last three decades, the problem of recurrent stone formation remains as before. The Unani system of medicine claim to offer a vast scope for the successful management of Nephrolithiasis. An open perspective trail was conducted in M.I.J.T.U.C and Kalsekar Hospital Mumbai to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Unani compound formulation (UCF) “ZHS-1”, to manage nephrolithiasis. Therapeutic responses were evaluated through follow up observations at weekly interval. The results were analyzed on the basis of symptoms and USG –KUB reports. In conclusion, the study revealed that UCF“ZHS-1”is safe and effective and have promising results in the management of nephrolithiasis

Herbal Approach to Control Human Helminthiasis through Immunomodulatory Effect of Indian System of Medicine: A Review

This review summarizes human infections caused by endoparasites, including protozoa, nematodes, trematodes, and cestodes, which affect more than 30% of the human population, and medicinal plants of potential use in their treatment. Modern synthetic medicines are very effective in curing disease but also cause a number of side effects. Parasites have been of concern to the medical field for centuries and the helminthes considered causing considerable problems for human beings and animals. A large number of medicinal plants are claimed to possess anthelmintic property in traditional system of medicine and are also utilized by ethnic groups worldwide. Therefore parasites sometimes become resistant to the available synthetic therapeutics, it is important to search for alternative sources of anti-parasitic drugs. Plants produce a high diversity of secondary metabolites with interesting biological activities, such as cytotoxic, anti-parasitic and anti-microbial properties. Identified several medicinal plants used in Indian System of medicine to offer a chance to develop new drugs against parasitic disease. In literature many plants have been listed having immunomodulatory effect and some have been proved by using modern scientific methodologies. This Article include review of  Allium sativum (Lasun), AsparagusRacemose(Satawar), AzadirachtaIndica(Neem), Curcuma Longa (Haldi), Ocimum Sanctum (Tulsi), Phyllanthusemblica (Amla), Tinosporacordifolia having Immunomodulatory property which are being used in various formulation in Indian system of medicine.&nbsp

Issues underlying consultation, for 661 adult female clients, 2001–2006.

<p>Categories are not mutually exclusive since clients often identified more than one problem.</p