9 research outputs found
The use of whole blood cell cultures as a model for assessing the effects of Septilin on the immune system
Magister Scientiae - MSc (Medical BioSciences)In the past three decades there has been a huge increase in the use of herbal medicine globally.
The active principles of these herbal medicines are mostly unknown with supportive evidence for
safety and efficacy very rare. Septilin is a phytopharmaceutical formulation which is
recommended for the treatment and management of various infections. It has been claimed to
have immunomodulatory actions that potentiates the body's immune response. The
immunomodulatory activity of Septilin has not been well investigated via appropriate in vitro
models. Therefore this study was undertaken to investigate the in vitro effects of Septilin on
biomarkers of specific immune pathways by using WBC. Stimulated and unstimulated WBC
were incubated with the product. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays were used to screen for
IL-6, IL-10, and IFN? as biomarkers for inflammation, humoral immunity, and cell mediated
immunity, respectively. Results show that the presence of Septilin in LPS stimulated WBC has
no effect on the release of IL-6 and IFN? production but stimulated IL-10 production. Septilin
in unstimulated WBC has no effect on the release of IL-10 and IFN? production but stimulatory
effects on IL-6 production. This study also assessed the effects of Artemisia afra, Aspalathus
linearis (rooibos), and Septilin on inflammatory biomarkers namely, IL-6 and nitric oxide (NO)
using RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line. The results of this study indicate that
Artemisia afra has anti-inflammatory effects while Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) up regulated the
immune system. The study also shows that Septilin has no immunomodulatory effects on RAW
264.7 cells
The use of whole blood cell cultures as a model for assessing the effects of SeptilinTM on the immune system.
Magister Scientiae - MSc (Medical BioSciences)In the past three decades there has been a huge increase in the use of herbal medicine globally.
The active principles of these herbal medicines are mostly unknown with supportive evidence for
safety and efficacy very rare. SeptilinTM is a phytopharmaceutical formulation which is
recommended for the treatment and management of various infections. It has been claimed to
have immunomodulatory actions that potentiates the body's immune response. The
immunomodulatory activity of SeptilinTM has not been well investigated via appropriate in vitro
models. Therefore this study was undertaken to investigate the in vitro effects of SeptilinTM on
biomarkers of specific immune pathways by using WBC. Stimulated and unstimulated WBC
were incubated with the product. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays were used to screen for
IL-6, IL-10, and IFN? as biomarkers for inflammation, humoral immunity, and cell mediated
immunity, respectively. Results show that the presence of SeptilinTM in LPS stimulated WBC has
no effect on the release of IL-6 and IFN? production but stimulated IL-10 production. SeptilinTM
in unstimulated WBC has no effect on the release of IL-10 and IFN? production but stimulatory
effects on IL-6 production
The development of guidelines for the inclusion of spirituality and spiritual care in Unani Tibb practice in South Africa: A study protocol
Unani Tibb is a holistic form of medicine, which highlights the interconnectedness
of mind, body and soul. Despite this, there is very little evidence of spiritual care
practices by Unani Tibb practitioners in South Africa. This protocol outlines a proposed process for developing guidelines to integrate spirituality and spiritual care in
Unani Tibb practice. In phase one, a document review will be conducted on spirituality and spiritual care in complementary and alternative medicine and Unani Tibb.
A series of quantitative and qualitative enquiries will follow to obtain the perspectives of various stakeholders in the Unani Tibb profession. Phase two will rely on the
fndings of phase I to develop guidelines according to the Delphi method. Experts in
the relevant felds will be soliciting their opinions on the nature and content of the
proposed guidelines. The data will be analysed using descriptive statistical analyses,
thematic analysis and narrative synthesis. Ethics clearance has been obtained from
the ethics committee of the university
Spiritual care – ‘A deeper immunity’ – A response to Covid-19 pandemic
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented unprecedented health challenges across
all strata in society throughout the world. The COVID experience has caused us to reflect on
quality of life, health and well-being and, just as important, end of life. During this time,
spiritual care forms a vital component of holistic health management, especially in terms of
coping, coming to terms with illness, suffering and ultimately death. The relationship with the
transcendent or sacred has a strong influence on a people’s beliefs, attitudes, emotions and
behaviour. Populations, communities, families and individuals have always found solace
through their religious or philosophical beliefs during times of personal adversity and
widespread anxiety or disaster. Although spiritual care has always been a part of the domain
of religious beliefs, a more contemporary perspective is that spiritual care forms part of the
human psyche and thus forms part of human care, health and well-being for families, patients
and healthcare workers. Spiritual care deals with the provision of compassion and empathy
during periods of heightened stress, distress and anxiety within care. This article provides
insights into the necessity of providing spiritual care as a means of coping and well-being for
families, patients and healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Unani Tibb practitioners’ perceptions and attitudes towards spirituality and spiritual care in Unani Tibb practice in South Africa
Unani Tibb is an Arabic term which means Greek medicine. It is an ancient holistic medical system
based on the healing theories of Hippocrates, Galen and Ibn Sina (Avicenna). Despite this, spirituality and spiritual care
practices are deficient in the clinical setting. This cross-sectional descriptive study was used to describe Unani Tibb practitioners’ perceptions and
attitudes regarding spirituality and spiritual care in South Africa. A demographic form, Spiritual Care-Giving Scale,
Spiritual and Spiritual Care Rating Scale and Spirituality in Unani Tibb Scale were used to collect data. A response rate of 64.7% (n = 44 out of 68) was achieved. Positive perceptions and attitudes regarding
spirituality and spiritual care were recorded for Unani Tibb practitioners. The spiritual needs of their patients were
considered vital towards enhancing the Unani Tibb treatment approach. Spirituality and spiritual care were regarded
as fundamental to Unani Tibb therapy. However, most practitioners agreed that adequate training in spirituality and
spiritual care was lacking and future training initiatives were imperative for Unani Tibb clinical practice in South Africa
Spiritual care – ‘A deeper immunity’ – A response to Covid-19 pandemic
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented unprecedented health challenges across
all strata in society throughout the world. The COVID experience has caused us to reflect on
quality of life, health and well-being and, just as important, end of life. During this time,
spiritual care forms a vital component of holistic health management, especially in terms of
coping, coming to terms with illness, suffering and ultimately death. The relationship with the
transcendent or sacred has a strong influence on a people’s beliefs, attitudes, emotions and
behaviour. Populations, communities, families and individuals have always found solace
through their religious or philosophical beliefs during times of personal adversity and
widespread anxiety or disaster. Although spiritual care has always been a part of the domain
of religious beliefs, a more contemporary perspective is that spiritual care forms part of the
human psyche and thus forms part of human care, health and well-being for families, patients
and healthcare workers. Spiritual care deals with the provision of compassion and empathy
during periods of heightened stress, distress and anxiety within care. This article provides
insights into the necessity of providing spiritual care as a means of coping and well-being for
families, patients and healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
The role of spirituality and spiritual care in complementary and alternative medicine: A scoping review
Spirituality has become more prevalent in health professions other than
complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). In CAM, spirituality appears to be part of a
foundational component of the clinical practice, which is valued by many patients. Spirituality
has gained popularity in healthcare education and practice; however, the contribution made by
CAM remains minimal evidenced by the paucity of studies on the topic of spirituality in CAM.
Therefore, there is need for a scoping review to: 1) to explore the focus and nature of research
on spirituality in CAM; 2) to provide recommendations based on the relational aspects between
spirituality and CAM. Methods: A scoping review was performed of all relevant articles found
in Ebscohost (Academic Search Complete)
Unani Tibb practitioners’ perceptions and attitudes towards spirituality and spiritual care in Unani Tibb practice in South Africa
Abstract Background Unani Tibb is an Arabic term which means Greek medicine. It is an ancient holistic medical system based on the healing theories of Hippocrates, Galen and Ibn Sina (Avicenna). Despite this, spirituality and spiritual care practices are deficient in the clinical setting. Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study was used to describe Unani Tibb practitioners’ perceptions and attitudes regarding spirituality and spiritual care in South Africa. A demographic form, Spiritual Care-Giving Scale, Spiritual and Spiritual Care Rating Scale and Spirituality in Unani Tibb Scale were used to collect data. Results A response rate of 64.7% (n = 44 out of 68) was achieved. Positive perceptions and attitudes regarding spirituality and spiritual care were recorded for Unani Tibb practitioners. The spiritual needs of their patients were considered vital towards enhancing the Unani Tibb treatment approach. Spirituality and spiritual care were regarded as fundamental to Unani Tibb therapy. However, most practitioners agreed that adequate training in spirituality and spiritual care was lacking and future training initiatives were imperative for Unani Tibb clinical practice in South Africa. Conclusion The findings of this study recommends further research in this field by means of qualitative and mixed methods approaches to provide a deeper understanding to this phenomenon. Clear guidelines on spirituality and spiritual care for Unani Tibb clinical practice are essential to ensure the integrity of the holistic approach required by the profession