Editor Speaks

The choices about treatment for sickness and ailment, even minor, are plentiful in this 21st century. Even as healthcare practitioners embrace the technological advances and the research breakthroughs occurring in modern medicine, they are turning with new interest to the alternative or natural therapies. Venerable healing practices, from acupressure to herbal medicines, from Ayurvedic to Homeopathic, from Unani to Traditional Chinese Medicine and to Yoga and Meditation, are increasingly taking their place alongside modern forms of treatment such as immunotherapy and laser surgery.

The traditional or alternative Medicine is used all over the world by the less privileged rural people. We know the antitussive effects of Tulsi leaves, antibiotic effects of turmeric. Wound healing effects of honey is also well known. It has not only nourishing effect to the sprouting granulation tissue of the wound but also potential

antibiotic effect against the invading micro-organisms. It has been successfully used in wound  healing and burn cases. The cooling effect of mud of the pond for abdominal pain is widely used by the rural people of the country. Thankuni leaves are used even by educated persons for  controlling diarrhea and diabetes. The others successfully used for diabetes are Spirulina, Bitter gourd and blackberry. Tamarind is used by some people for controlling fat. Bloodletting is still used in rural areas for snake bites.

   

Our cover this week is Alternative Medicine. The distinction between conventional and

alternative approaches to medicine is best

understood in terms of basic perception of health. We need more devoted research in alternative

medicine.

 

Editor Speaks

The choices about treatment for sickness and ailment, even minor, are plentiful in this 21st century. Even as healthcare practitioners embrace the technological advances and the research breakthroughs occurring in modern medicine, they are turning with new interest to the alternative or natural therapies. Venerable healing practices, from acupressure to herbal medicines, from Ayurvedic to Homeopathic, from Unani to Traditional Chinese Medicine and to Yoga and Meditation, are increasingly taking their place alongside modern forms of treatment such as immunotherapy and laser surgery. The traditional or alternative Medicine is used all over the world by the less privileged rural people. We know the antitussive effects of Tulsi leaves, antibiotic effects of turmeric. Wound healing effects of honey is also well known. It has not only nourishing effect to the sprouting granulation tissue of the wound but also potential antibiotic effect against the invading micro-organisms. It has been successfully used in wound healing and burn cases. The cooling effect of mud of the pond for abdominal pain is widely used by the rural people of the country. Thankuni leaves are used even by educated persons for controlling diarrhea and diabetes. The others successfully used for diabetes are Spirulina, Bitter gourd and blackberry. Tamarind is used by some people for controlling fat. Bloodletting is still used in rural areas for snake bites. Our cover this week is Alternative Medicine. The distinction between conventional and alternative approaches to medicine is best understood in terms of basic perception of health. We need more devoted research in alternative medicine.