Herbal Medicines and Herbal Supplements

ppt on Herbal supplements

1. A PERSPECTIVE OF HERBAL MEDICINE AND HERBAL SUPPLIMENTS

2. INTRODUCTION: "The term "herb" also has more than one definition. Botanists describe an herb as a small, seed bearing plant with fleshy, rather than woody, parts for seasonal use. Herbs are valued for their flavor, fragrance, medicinal and healthful qualities, economic and industrial uses, pesticidal properties, and coloring materials (dyes)."

3. India the birth place of renowned system of indigenous medicine such as Ayurveda , Siddha and Unani . As the country is enriched with flora, therefore plant remedies have been in use. Plants have been associated with the health of mankind from time immemorial. The knowledge of drugs has accumulated over thousands of years to ensure health care. By taking the advantage of plants growing around us , several medicines are prepared for various diseases.

4. History: The history of herbal medicine is as old as human civilization. Ancient period Chinese and Egyptian papyrus writings described medicinal uses for plants around 3000BC. African and Native American cultures used herbs in healing rituals and developed traditional system of medicine.

5. Ayurvedha an ancient science of life developed two treaties called Charaka samhita and Susrutha samhita . Charaka made fifty groups of ten herbs which satisfy an ordinary physician’s need and Susrutha arranges 750 herbs in 7 distinct sets based on their properties.

6. In early 19 th century, chemical analyst and scientist began to extract and modify the active ingredients from plants. Recently World Health Organization estimated that 80% of the world’s population rely on herbal drugs for their primary health care.

7. Herbal medicines: These include herbs, herbal materials, herbal preparations and finished herbal products. Herbs: Herbs include crude plant material such as leaves, flowers, fruit, seeds, stems, wood, bark, roots, rhizomes or other plant parts, which may be entire, fragmented or powdered. Herbal materials: Herbal materials are either whole plants or parts of medicinal plants in the crude state. They include herbs, fresh juices, gums, fixed oils, essential oils, resins and dry powders of herbs.

8. Herbal preparations: Herbal preparations are the basis for finished herbal products and may include comminuted or powdered herbal materials, or extracts, tinctures and fatty oils, expressed juices and processed exudates of herbal materials. They are produced with the aid of extraction, distillation, expression, fractionation, purification, concentration, fermentation or other physical or biological processes. Finished herbal products: Medicinal products containing as active substances exclusively herbal drugs or herbal drug preparations. They may consist of herbal preparations made from one or more herbs. finished products or mixed products to which chemically defined active substances have been added, including synthetic compounds and/ or isolated constituents from herbal materials, are not considered to be herbal.

9. Herbal medicine: Herbal medicine takes an holistic approach in patients psychological and emotional well being.Herbal medicine aim to identify the underlying cause of patients illness. Herbs are used to stimulate the body’s healing capacity to strengthen body system.Herbs correct the disturbed body function rather than to treat and prevent symptoms.

10. Role of WHO in herbal medicine The World Health Assembly continued the debate and adopted a resolution in 1989 that herbal medicine is of great importance to the health of individuals and communities. Consequently, in 1991 WHO developed guidelines for the assessment of herbal medicine, and the same were ratified by the 6th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities held at Ottawa in the same year.

11. The salient features of WHO guidelines are: Quality assessment : Crude plant material; Plant preparation; Finished product. Stability : Shelf life. Safety assessment : Documentation of safety based on experience or/and; Toxicology studies. Assessment of efficacy : Documented evidence of traditional use or/and; Activity determination (animals, human). WHO has not systematically evaluated any traditional medicine.  

12. Herbal preparations: EXTRACTS An extract is a solid or semi-solid preparation made by extracting the soluble portion of a compound by using water or alcohol and evaporating the solution. some extracts are used for the relief of inflammatory processes such as arthritis, bursitis or tendonitis. INFUSION An infusion is made by steeping a substance in either hot or cold water in order to obtain its active principle part. Infusions are taken either lukewarm or cool; but if the purpose is to instigate a sweat and to break up congestion in the body, then sipping it hot is a better choice.

13. OILS An oil is a greasy liquid not miscible with water, usually obtained from and classified as mineral, vegetable or animal. According to character, oils are subdivided as fixed or fatty; and either volatile (easily evaporated) or essential. Fixed oils e.g. - castor oil, olive oil, or cold liver oil Volatile oils e.g. - mustard, peppermint or rose, eucalyptus, lavendar , ginger, peppermint, and spearment . POWDERS A powder is a collection of fine particles of one or more substances that may be passed through fine meshes. Powders are applied to the skin to treat abrasions, contusions, effusions, inflammatory processes, and wounds.

14. SYRUPS A syrup that we are most familiar with is a concentrated solution of sugar in water with specific healing properties added. A syrup is classic in treating coughs, mucus congestion, bronchial catarrh and sore throats especially helpful for children and those with a sensitive palate. Examples: anise seed, comfrey, fennel seed and Irish Moss syrup TINCTURE Tinctures are alcoholic extracts of vegetable or animal substances. Tinctures are solutions of a concentrated herbal extract that can be stored for extended periods of time because alcohol is an excellent preservative. Examples: belladonna and ginger tincture

15. OINTMENTS An ointment is a therapeutic, fatty, soft substance for external application only. It typically has antiseptic, cosmetic or healing properties. It's usual base is petroleum jelly or lanolin to which the herbal preparation is added. BOLUS A bolus is a suppository used as an internal poultice in the vaginal or rectal areas. A bolus helps draw toxic poisons to the bolus itself or it is the carrier for healing agents. Demulcent herbs are comfrey or slippery elm, and antibiotic herbs will inhibit the growth of or destroy microorganisms. Examples: garlic, chaparral or golden seal.

16. Uses of Herbal medicine: Herbs can be used to treat a wide range of disorders, including: Anxiety Arthritis Depression High blood pressure Hormonal imbalances, such as premenstrual tension Insomnia Migraines Nausea Poor blood circulation Skin problems, such as eczema

17. Herbal supplements: Herbal supplents are the diatery supplenets as defined by the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA ) The product  that is intended to supplement the  diet Contains one or more dietary ingredients (including vitamins, minerals, herbs or other botanicals, amino acids, and certain other substances) or their  constituents Is labeled as being a dietary supplement. Herbal supplements are available in capsules, liquids, and powders as they are intende for oral use.

18. Herbal supplements are regulated by the FDA, but not as drugs or as foods. The rules for dietary supplements are as follows: Manufacturers don't have to seek FDA approval before putting dietary supplements on the market. Manufacturers must follow good manufacturing practices to ensure that supplements are processed consistently and meet quality standards. Once a dietary supplement is on the market, the FDA is responsible for monitoring its safety. These regulations provide assurance that herbal supplements meet certain quality standards and that the FDA can intervene to remove dangerous products from the market.

19. The FDA requires that the following information be included on the labels of all herbal supplements : The name of the herbal supplement The name and address of manufacturer or distributor A complete list of ingredients — either in the Supplement Facts panel or listed beneath it Serving size, amount and active ingredient

20. Herbal supplements should be used under the supervision of physician in specific cases like: Patients with prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medications for possible interactions. Pregnant or breast-feeding patients as an adult may be harmful to your fetus or your breast-feeding infant . Patient having surgery may decrease the effectiveness of anesthetics or cause dangerous complications, such as bleeding or high blood pressure. Patients younger than 18 or older than 65. Older adults may metabolize medications differently and younger may fail to established safe doses.

21. Safety tips for using herbal supplements Follow supplement instructions Don't exceed recommended dosages or take the herb for longer than recommended Keep track of what you take. Take only one supplement at a time to determine if it's effective. Make a note of what you take and how much for how long and how it affects you. Check alerts and advisories The FDA and NCCAM maintain lists of supplements that are under regulatory review or that have been reported to cause adverse effects