SANKHAHOLI (( Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.)): A REVIEW

ABSTRACT: The Sankhaholi (Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.) of family  Convolvulaceae which is commonly known as sankhpushpi, in traditional system of medicine including Unani Medicine. It is a perennial herb with a small woody branched root stock which contains alkaloids: shankhapushpine and evolvine. Fresh plant of sankhholi contains volatile oil. It also contains a yellow neutral fat, an organic acid and saline substances. Therapeutic uses of Sankhaholi Evolvulus alsinoides Linn, mentioned in the Unani Medicine are Alexiteric (Mufarreh), Cardiac  tonic  (Muqawwi-e Qalb), Brain tonic  (Muqawwi-e Dimag), Digestive (Hazim)  Musaffi-e- Khoon (Blood purifier),General tonic (Muqawwi-e-am), Diuretic (Mudirr-e-Baul), Anti Inflammatory (Muhallil-e-waram), Hypoglycemic (Dafa-e-Ziabitus), Antihypertensive (Dafye Imtella). It is also used in headache, asthma, hyperlipidemia etc. The present article reviews the pharmacological actions and therapeutic uses of Sankhaholi ( Evolvulus alsinoides Linn.) present in Unani literature supported with the available clinical and animal studies.Keywords: Sankhaholi Evolvulus alsinoides Linn. Sankhpushpi, Unani Medicin

Epidemiology of chronic hepatitis B in Majeedia Unani Hospital, New Delhi.

India has HBV carrier rate of 3.0% approximately with a high prevalence rate in the villages and remote areas. The variation in social, ethnic, economic, habits and other health conditions in different areas may explain the difference in outcomes of the disease. High-risk groups (especially tribals) also harbor significant disease burden and have a high prevalence of occult infection, supporting the potential of unknowingly spreading the disease. Hence identifying and targeting those population for public healthcare measure is the necessity to control the disease and promoting hepatitis B vaccination around the country. The present study was carried to out to elucidate epidemiology of chronic hepatitis B in the patients of Majeedia Unani Hospital New Delhi to locate high risk groups and areas for health education regarding lifestyle, preventive measures, early disease detection and proper adherence to drugs and of health care workers on adoption of proper precautions while carrying out their duties, and aggressive vaccination strategies thereafter

Post-auricular leech therapy reduced headache & migraine days in chronic migraine

Background: Migraine is an exceedingly common disorder that causes substantial pain, disability and societal burden. Unfortunately, conventional treatments are insufficient, inadequate, or associated with significant risks, such as overuse, abuse or addiction. The Unani system of Medicine has been treating migraine since centuries. Leech therapy (Irsale Alaq) has been employed successfully in severe persistent headache, mania and insomnia since decades. Aim: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the impact of post auricular leech therapy in migraine and to collect data to warrant further clinical trials. Methods: We conducted a case series on 7 patients who had failed conventional oral treatments for the migraine. After informed consent, post auricular leech therapy was done.  Patients were asked to keep detailed headache calendars, documenting the number of headache days, migraine days, the intensity of headaches/ migraines and analgesic usage. We compared these parameters before and after 2 months of therapy. Results: We observed a reduction in the number of headache & migraine days and amount of painkillers used without any adverse effects. (P≤ 0.01) Improvement in quality of life was also observed. Discussion: We reviewed the literature related to the medicinal leeches (Hirudo medicinalis), used for the treatment in these cases. Leech saliva contains certain potent anesthetic, anti-inflammatory and vasodilator substances, suggesting plausible mechanisms of action in these cases. Conclusion: The preliminary findings indicate the safe and potential therapeutic role of leech therapy. So further trials should be carried out to explore the therapeutic potential of this therapy in chronic migraine. Keywords: Chronic Migraine, leech therapy, hirudo medicinalis, headache, Unani Medicine, complementary Medicine

Effect of regimenal intervention by nutool (irrigation) in a case of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Background ‘Nutool’ is one of the regimenal therapy used in Unani medicine since centuries in various inflammatory and painful conditions. Chronic prostatitis (Warm-e- Gudda Mazi Muzmin) is associated with ‘chronic pelvic pain syndrome’ (CP/CPPS), is a chronic pain condition of non-bacterial origin in men with mixture of other symptoms such as lower urinary tract voiding, ejaculatory ailments and negative impact on quality of life (QOL), which almost lacks uniform effective therapy in conventional medicine. Objectives The purpose of our case study was to assess the impact of nutool in CP/ CPPS refractory to standard therapies and collect data to warrant further research in this area.        Case study  A 30 yrs. old Asian male admitted with symptoms of pelvic pain and pain during ejaculation from 6 month in absence of lower urinary tract symptoms with negative thoughts, diagnosed as CP/ CPPS on the protocols of NIH. Nutool of anti-inflammatory Unani drugs was given as the main therapy, daily for two weeks. Thus we report our case experience with the integrated short, review of literature and validated assessment, based on 1) VAS, 2) NIH-CPSI which includes pain index, urinary, and QOL score. Results Results were validated over the pain on the basis of VAS (visual analogue scale) and NIH-CPSI (standard questionnaire of the national institute of health—chronic prostatitis symptom index) which showed significant improvement after 2 weeks of therapy. Conclusion The preliminary findings, although limited, suggest the potential therapeutic role of Nutool in the treatment of CP/CPPS

Discourses and counter-discourses of Iranian national identity during Khatami's presidency (1997-2005)

This thesis expands the discussion on Iranian national identity into the period of Khatami’s presidency. Within the theoretical and methodological framework of discourse analysis this thesis contends that the multiple constructions of Iranian national identity, which coexist and compete with each other, can be better understood as discourses. The detailed analysis of five discourses of national identity illustrates a complex set of relationships based on the meanings attached to Iran’s Islamic and pre-Islamic identities and how the West is dealt with in the construction of national identity. The first discourse addressed is the Islamist discourse of national identity, which prioritises Iran’s Islamic culture. At the opposite end of the spectrum the Iranist discourse, which is based on the prioritisation of Iran’s pre-Islamic culture, is deconstructed. It is contended that this represents a new indigenous Iranism that is based on a rediscovery of Sasanian Iran as opposed to Achaemenid Iran. Khatami’s discourse is presented as an attempt at a dialogue between Islamism and Iranism. It is argued that the Khatami period is unique in terms of the articulation of national identity because Khatami has combined for the first time ideas, which together form the Islamist-Iranian discourse of national identity, as an official state discourse. These are the combination of Islamic and pre-Islamic culture, the notion of ‘dialogue among civilisations’ and the idea of Islamic democracy. While these three discourses are based on the politicisation of culture, two additional discourses are presented that reject this politicisation. The first is a discourse of civic Iranian national identity and the second is a discourse of cosmopolitan Iranian national identity. It is contended that Khatami and his Islamist-Iranian discourse have allowed the more open articulation, since the establishment of the Islamic Republic, of these constructions of Iranian national identity.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Guidelines for guidelines: are they up to the task? A comparative assessment of clinical practice guideline development handbooks.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a comparative review of clinical practice guideline development handbooks. We aimed to identify the main guideline development tasks, assign weights to the importance of each task using expert opinions and identify the handbooks that provided a comprehensive coverage of the tasks. METHODS: We systematically searched and included handbooks published (in English language) by national, international or professional bodies responsible for evidenced-based guideline development. We reviewed the handbooks to identify the main guideline development tasks and scored each handbook for each task from 0 (the handbook did not mention the task) to 2 (the task suitably addressed and explained), and calculated a weighted score for each handbook. The tasks included in over 75% of the handbooks were considered as 'necessary' tasks. RESULT: Nineteen guideline development handbooks and twenty seven main tasks were identified. The guideline handbooks' weighted scores ranged from 100 to 220. Four handbooks scored over 80% of the maximum possible score, developed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, Swiss Centre for International Health, Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network and World Health Organization. Necessary tasks were: selecting the guideline topic, determining the guideline scope, identifying relevant existing guidelines, involving the consumers, forming guideline development group,, developing clinical questions, systematic search for evidence, selecting relevant evidence, appraising identifies research evidence, making group decision, grading available evidence, creating recommendations, final stakeholder consultation, guideline implementation strategies, updating recommendations and correcting potential errors. DISCUSSION: Adequate details for evidence based development of guidelines were still lacking from many handbooks. The tasks relevant to ethical issues and piloting were missing in most handbooks. The findings help decision makers in identifying the necessary tasks for guideline development, provide an updated comparative list of guideline development handbooks, and provide a checklist to assess the comprehensiveness of guideline development processes

THERAPEUTIC EFFECT OF A UNANI FORMULATION ON HBsAg IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS B: A CASE SERIES

Objectives: Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a major health concern in terms of its high prevalence, as well as restricted, and costly health care resourcesin India. The physicians of the Unani system of Medicine have been treating hepatitis since centuries. The purpose of our study was to assess the effectof Unani Formulation in the treatment naïve, CHB cases and to collect data to warrant further clinical trials.Methods: We conducted a case series with five patient of CHB, subsequently treated with the Unani formulation. Cases were confirmed with standardhepatitis antigen and viral measurements. The patients were treated for 6 months with measurement of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HbsAg).Results: Loss of surface antigen occurred in the patients and became HbsAg negative within an average 13 weeks of treatment.Discussion: We reviewed the literature related to the Unani formulation used for the treatment in this study. Its constituents have exhibited antiviral,anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties, suggesting possible mechanisms of action in the CHB.Conclusion: The preliminary findings indicate the potential therapeutic role of the Unani formulation in the treatment of CHB. Clinical trials based onthis Unani pharmacopeal formulation should be conducted to explore the therapeutic potential of this formulation in CHB.Keywords: Chronic hepatitis B, Unani Medicine, Unani formulation, Complementary Medicine, Herbal antivirals, Hepatoprotective, Warme jigar, Viralhepatitis.Â

General description of the guideline development handbooks.

<p>General description of the guideline development handbooks.</p