DALK (MASSAGE) AND ITS IMPLICATION IN THERAPY ACCORDING TO UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE: A REVIEW

According to classical literature of Unani Medicine, management of any disease depends upon the diagnosis of disease. In the diagnosis, clinical features, i.e., signs, symptoms, laboratory investigations and Mizaj (temperament) are important. Any cause or factor is countered by Quwwat Mudabbira lil-Badan (medicatrix naturae: the power of body responsible to maintain health), the failing of which may lead to quantitatively or qualitatively derangement of the normal equilibrium of Akhlat (humors) of body which constitute the tissues and organs. After diagnosing the disease, Usul-e-Ilaj (principle of treatment) of disease is determined on the basis of etiology. The principle of management is decided which may be one or more of the four types of treatment lines such as Ilaj bil-Tadbeer (Regimental therapy), Ilaj bil-Ghiza (Diet therapy), Ilaj bil-Dawa (Pharmacotherapy), Ilaj bil-Yad or Jarahat (Surgery). Ilaj bil-Tadbeer is most preferred one. Dalk is one of the most important parts of Ilaj bil-Tadbeer. Details about Dalk have been mentioned in Unani Literature, some of them are described in this paper

THE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS BY UNANI PHYSICIANS IN QARABADIN (UNANI MATERIA MEDICA)

Qarabadin (Unani pharmacopoeias) have a rich armamentarium of natural drugs, consisting of mostly herbs but also materials of animal, mineral and marine origin. There are over 2,000 species of plants in the Unani Materia Medica of which many species of plants occurring in India found a place. In addition to treatises concerned just with medicinal substances, books were also composed listing recipes in which a number of medical substances would be compounded. Such medical formularies (Qarabadin) were usually arranged into Chapter concerned with a particular type of remedy, such as laxatives or salves or eye remedies, and some were prepared specifically for use in hospitals. There are many collections of different formularies in Qarabadins have been written by Unani physicians. The first true medical formulary ever created was al-Aqrabadhin written in Arabic by Sabur ibn Sahl (d. 869). The book included medical recipes stating the methods and techniques of compounding remedies, their pharmacological actions, the dosages, and the means of administration. The formulas are organized by the type of preparation to which they belong - i.e. tablets, powders, ointments, electuaries or syrups. Sabur's formulary-type compendium is unique in its organization and purposely written as a guidebook for pharmacists, whether for use in their own private drugstores or in hospital pharmacies. This article describes the contribution of eminent Unani Physicians, scholars, scientists and authors in development of Pharmacy

28-homobrassinolide Protects Photosynthetic Machinery in Indian mustard Under High Temperature Stress

High temperature is a serious threat to crop production. Brassinosteroids (BRs), a group of plant steroidal hormones, can reduce effects of abiotic stresses. The present study was aimed to study the potency of brassinosteroids on high temperature induced changes in Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) for effects on growth, chlorophyll, photosynthesis, photosystem II, antioxidant system and proline. Surface sterilized seeds of Indian mustard were sown in pots, grown for 21 days and treated with double distilled water or 0.01 µM of 28-homobrassinolide. Treated plants, after 24 h, were exposed to 30°C or 40°C for 48 h. One set of plants were kept at ambient temperature, 25°C, as the control. Plants were harvested at 30 days stage of growth to assess the various parameters. Plants exposed to 40°C had a decline in growth, leaf water potential, chlorophyll, photosynthetic rate, and activities of carbonic anhydrase (E.C.4.2.1.1) and nitrate reductase (E.C.1.6.1.1). The 28-homobrassinolide alone improved growth and photosynthesis responses along with various enzymes activities. Treatment of plants with HBL prior to exposure to 40°C, partially reduced damage and completely controlled damage when exposure was to 30°C. Levels of the antioxidative enzymes catalase (E.C.1.11.1.6), peroxidase (E.C.1.11.1.7), and superoxide dismutase (E.C.1.15.1.1), and the level of proline increased in response to 30 or 40°C and were further enhanced in the presence of 28-homobrassinolide. Plants grown under high temperature had increased levels of H2O2; application of HBL before temperature treatment decreased H2O2 content compared to the control. Elevated levels of antioxidative enzymes and proline might be responsible for conferring tolerance to high temperature stress in Indian mustard and overcome the loss of productivity of the crop