Medicinal Tree Plantation at IMPCOPS and NIS

Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research has initiated a project for promotion of medicinal tree plantations at Indian Medicine institutes in Chennai. As a part of the programme about 150 trees each are to be planted at National Institute of Siddha, Tambaram and Indian Medical practioners cooperative pharmacy and Stores ( IMPCOPS) a sixty five year old manufacturing company. The Conservator of Forest Chennai Circle Mr.V.Prabakaran. I.F.S has kindly agreed to provide the saplings of Important medicinal plants like Bilwa, Amla, Red sanders, Vengai, Vagai etc from the Velacherry nursery of the Forest Department under the Urban Forestry programme. Dr. K.V. Manikavasagam Director of the National Institute of Siddha organised the tree plantation programme and the Saplings were planted by Smt.Jalaja. Secretary, Department of Ayush and Mr.B.Anand, Jt. Secretary. Ayush in the NIS campus. Dr.M.K.Thiagarajan the secretary in-charge of IMPCOPS said the tree plantation is planned on 30th Dec.2009 as all directors representing different regions of the southern states will be present on the day. Dr. T.Thirunarayanan Secretary CTMR said this tree plantation activity will be extended to all institutions in a phased manner so that the traditional medical practice in the future will not suffer due to non-availability of medicinal tree parts.

CTMR helps establishment of PHC garden -TOI

Siddha garden at PHC a boon for patients
D Madhavan TNN
Chennai: The past eight years, S Meenakshi, a 65-year-old patient from Medavakkam has been suffering severe back pain. Hardly able to sleep at night, she would ask her son to give her a painkiller. However, once she began to avail treatment at the siddha clinic in the upgraded Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Medavakkam three months ago, her pain has reduced considerably. At the clinic, built in 1982, Meenakshi is treated with an extract from herbal plants being grown at the new siddha garden on the PHC premises. “I visited many hospitals to seek treatment for my back pain. But the siddha treatment has really made a difference,” says Meenakshi. The garden is now turning into a lifesaver in the suburbs. Said to be the first PHC there to have a siddha garden, there are more than 80 medicinal herbs and plants spread over 20,000 sq ft. Before the garden came up, the place was a dump yard covered by weeds. It was on July 14 that state health secretary V K Subburaj announced at a function at the PHC that a new siddha garden would be developed on the site, and thereafter the transformation slowly began. The process was not easy, though. Medical staff, including siddha medical officer, Dr T R Siddique Ali, and medical officer in charge of Medavakkam PHC, Dr Ramya Gowri, found it difficult to source the herbal plants needed. Thanks to the cooperation extended by the Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research, a city-based NGO that works on traditional medicine, and the state forest department, Dr Ali and Dr Ramya were able to source most of the herbal plants from the two agencies free of cost. They received guidance from district (Kancheepuram) health officer, Dr P M Krishna Kumar, on cultivation of herbal plants used often by patients.

THE HERBAL WAY: Dr Siddique Ali at the siddha garden in the Medavakkam public health centre

Student Exchange Programme

Seven Students of international studies from USA- Long Island University Currently in their India Centre had an exposure visit to Meet Traditional Healers of Tamilnadu in Dharmapuri district and visited Govt Hospital and Primary health centre in Erode district, The student exchange programme is a component of understanding the traditional health practices and functioning of the Siddha system along side biomedicine in the public health delivery system in Tamilnadu on 22nd and 23rd Nov.2009.

The students also visited a GMP certified Siddha and Ayurveda drug manufacturing facility- SKM Siddha and Ayurveda Pharma P ltd.
Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research organised the two days field programme and Dr.T.Thirunarayanan, secretary of CTMR briefed the students on the principles, practice of siddha medicine and its current status.

CTMR appointed GMP consultant for IMPCOPS

The six decades old multi-state cooperative society, Indian Medical Practitioners Cooperative Pharmacy and Stores Ltd (IMPCOPS) based in Chennai has revived its GMP status after a period of two years. IMPCOPS, the only one ISM practitioners’ society in the co-operative sector in the country had lost its Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification in 2007 because of lack of infrastructural facilities and lack of continuous upgradation.Recently, the director board of the society has decided to increase its sales to Rs 35 crore in the next few years from its present turnover of Rs 17 crore. Following the decision, the board has approached the Chennai-based ISM service provider, Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research (CTMR) to suggest measures for achieving the lost GMP status. CTMR, after carrying out a detailed audit in the unit, recommended some proposals for reviving the earlier status. Along with this, IMPCOPS has prepared a project report to upgrade the lab and the manufacturing facilities to increase productivity and turnover. On submission of the report to the ISM directorate, inspections and testing of finished product samples were carried out by the concerned authorities in October this year, and finally the State Licensing Authority of ISM, Dr Sarojini Devi, has issued the long awaited Certificate to the society. The society has further appointed Vaidya. S Usman Ali and Dr T Thirunarayanan of CTMR as consultants to carry out the project.The upgradation envisages environmental friendly green energy, fuel efficient systems, alternate power source to overcome frequent power cuts, R.O plant etc. The Lab will develop Standard Manufacturing Procedures for herbo-mineral preparations which would be a model for other industries in the sector.The doctors-cum-manufacturers’ society has been manufacturing 700 formulations of Ayurveda,Siddha and Unani generic formulations and was the first ISM manufacturing facility in the country to mechanize its operational methods. The society claims that it has a live membership of 10,000 practitioners and possesses a good brand image for its products which are being produced without any deviation from the way the classical texts have illustrated and maintain good quality standards. However, the society has been encountering some kind of problems in supplying its products to various government institutions in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states due to non-renewal of GMP certification two years ago.According to sources, the society was struggling hard to upgrade its facilities as it has a huge manpower cost, besides a host of expenses including the maintenance of old equipment, increasing energy cost and processing of water. The delay in upgrading the facilities was the reason for losing the GMP status, said the consultant Dr T Thirunarayanan.Dr M K Thyagarajan, secretary of the society said that this initiative will help the company to fulfil institutional orders from government of India and other state governments and help increase its turnover. He said the workshop on GMP implementation conducted by CTMR last month was an eye opener to the different shop floor manufacturing supervisors and staffers who have assured to maintain the GMP status always. Impcops proposes to submit the project report to the Department of Ayush for assistance under Centre for Excellence Scheme. The joint secretary of Department of Ayush, B Anand during his recent visit to the company assured to consider the proposal as it is an old surviving cooperative and a pioneer in manufacturing ISM drugs.

School Herbal garden and Awareness Programme

Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research organised herbal awareness programme and creation of herbal garden at two schools. On 30th Sept 2009. Dr.T.Thirunarayanan addressed the stdents of Atomic Energy School Kalpakkam and explained to the children the health benefits of different medicinal plants grown in the township. The home herbal garden of Mr.Rajendran at Anupuram was suggested as a model. On 7th Oct 2009, Dr.T.Thirunarayanan and Mrs. Sundaravalli, Horticulturist of CTMR had a VIDEO PRESENTATION and Lecture at Govt. Adidravida welfare Hr.Sec. School Kilambakkam, Urapakkam. The students predominantly from rural area and poor socioeconomic status responded very positively and in fact were very well informed about the health benefits. Over 240 students both boys and girls took active part in the interaction that followed and promised to grow atleast 50 plants in the school. A list of medicinal plants for school based on utility and ability to survive in challenging conditions were recommended

List of plants for HERBAL GARDEN in SCHOOLS

Agati grandiflora - Agathi
Adathoda vasica - Adathodai
Aegle marmelos - Vilvam
Aloe vera - Katraazhai
Alpinia officinarum - Arathai
Andrographis paniculata - Nilavembu
Bacopa monnieri - Neer Brammi
Carica papaya - Pappali
Cassia fistula - Sarakkondrai
Cassia alata - Seemai agathi
Cissus quadrangularis - Pirandai
Clerodendrum phlomidis - Thazhuthazhai
Coleus aromaticus - Karpuravalli
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis - Chemparathai
Indigofera tinctoria - Avuri
Nyctanthes arbor-tristis - Pavalamailli
Ocimum gratissimum - Karum thulasi
Orthosiphon grandifloris - Poonai meesai
Pongamia glabra - Pungan
Punica granatum - Mathulai
Tabernaemontana coronaria - Nandhiyavattai
Tylophora asthmatica - Nanjaruppan
Solanum trilobatum - Thoothuvelai
Saraca asoka - Asoku
Vitex negundo - Nochi
Wedelia calendulosa - Manjal Karisalai
Centella asiatica - Vallarai

FAUNA – MEDICINAL IMPORTANCE

• 
  Dr.R.Manikandan. M.D(s)
  Research Fellow
  Centre for Traditional Medicine & Research, Chennai-600088
  
  Lecture delivered during the National Seminar on ‘Entrepreneurship development for Biology Students’ on 25th Sept, 2009 at Govt. Arts College, Nandanam, Chennai
  
  Siddha
  Siddha medicine, a traditional system of the Dravidian culture, practiced in the Southern India.
  Other well known Indian System of Medicine is Ayurveda .
  These Indian System of Medicine are based on principles of nature.
  The source of medicines of these systems are from plants, animals including marine organism and inorganic.
  Extensive research have been conducted in drugs of plant origin (Pre-clinical and Clinical studies). But very little research has gone into drugs of faunal origin.
  This probably because they seems to be safer and effective when compared to drugs of Inorganic origin as human is also from animal kingdom
  
  Many drugs of Animal origin were extensively used by the Siddha physicians.
  Milk , honey, curd, clarified butter , fish oils, turtle shell and flesh, deer horn are some simplest examples of animal products used either as drug or as adjuvant
  But, Animal origin drugs are also becoming restricted in use because of their over exploitation and endangered availability and also due to governmental regulations.
  Proteins and amino acids apart from animal fats and trace elements contribute for the biological activity of these medicines.
  
  Leech – Hirudina medicinalis
  Bloodletting is one of the oldest medical practices, having been practiced among diverse ancient peoples, in order to detoxify the body as detoxification is one of the treatment procedure.
  Saliva of Leech contain hirudin which is anti-coagulant in nature.
  Leech saliva also contains a Factor Xa inhibitor, and this compound restrains the coagulating effect of the coagulation Factor Xa.
  It also has hyaluronidase that enhances the viscosity of the interstitial fluid. For vasodilating effect, it has acetylcholine and histamine-like substances as well as carboxypeptidase A inhibitors. These three can increase blood flow by dilating constricted vessels.
  Leech Therapy - Procedure
• Before placing leeches on the skin, they are cleansed with clean water.
• Treatment sites vary, depending upon the affected part where the vascular problems are more prominent.
• Depending on individual cases, approximately each area requires between 7 to 14 leeches each consultation, but it still depends on the severity of the case.
• After the leeches are placed and have fastened themselves onto the skin, they are usually left until they automatically disengage themselves from the patient.
• Each leech can suck about 15 to 20 ml.
• Once treatment is complete, the area is cleaned and bandaged but may continue bleeding due to the anti-clotting factor in the leeches saliva.
• After five days of continuous leech therapy, a patient will feel improvement in their condition.
• To arrest excessive bleeding after blood letting, astringent powders like Quercus infectoria (Masikkaai), Acacia catechu (Kaichukatti), Areca catechu (Pakku), Terminalia chebula (Kadukkai) and alum are sprinkled and a compress is made with sterile gauze.
  
  Leeches safe to use:
  Leech should be collected from ponds which contain large number of live frogs and covered by weeds.
  Rat tail shape leech with thin ends are good for therapy. The leeches of 5 -7 centimeters length are ideal.
  Diseases treated with Leech therapy
  This process is essentially meant for purification of the blood
• Skin diseases,
• Hypertension,
• Psychiatric illness,
• Head ache, eye, ear, tongue, colic,
• Arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbo-sacral diseases
• Lymphatic disorders.
• Venesection is done to remove toxins from snake bite and other envenomation.
  Leeches are never placed on major veins like the jugular vein or the femoral vein. Likewise, they are not placed on the breasts, eyelids or delicate structures of the body.
  
  Blood letting is contraindicated in tuberculosis, emaciating disorders, convulsive disorders, pregnancy and anemia. During the time of rain, heavy wind and cold weather, blood letting should not be done.
  Growing of leech for therapy
  Leeches can be grown in fish tanks
  They normally feed on tadpoles
  Commercially leeches are maintained and sold by animal houses.
  Earthworm
• Contains trace element copper as per Siddha literature, used to treat vatha diseases (arthritis),
  Honey
• Honey is a delicious and highly nutritious food.
• In traditional method of honey hunting, many wild colonies of bees are destroyed. This can be prevented by raising bees in boxes and producing honey at home.
• Honey acts as Wound healer, Nourisher, Laxative, Astringent, Expectorant, Preservative
• Honey is used as one of the ingredients in preparing Lehyam.
• Honey is used as an adjuvant or vehicle along with medicines.
• Honey applied to face removes black spots or marks and provides good complexion.
  
  Beeswax
• A base for most creams and ointments and pain balms
• Provides excellent body for Creams.
• Wound healing, anti-inflammatory and Moisturizing
• Wax bath in Arthritis, Waxing by women for removal of unwanted hair.
• Pinda thylam is also used for abdominal massage for easy delivery
  
  Potentials of Bee keeping
• Bee keeping requires less time, money and infrastructure investments
• Honey and beeswax can be produced from an area of little agricultural value
• The Honey bee does not compete for resources with any other agricultural enterprise.
• Beekeeping has positive ecological consequences. Bees play an important role in the pollination of many flowering plants, thus increasing the yield of certain crops such as sunflower and various fruits.
• Beekeeping can be initiated by individuals or groups
• The market potential for honey and wax is high
  
  Milk and Milk products
• Milk and milk products are used as medicines and adjuvant to be given along medicines.
• Clarified butter (ghee) is used as adjuvant or vehicle.
• Many medicine prepared along with clarified butter, it also acts as preservative of the medicines prepared out of it.
• It is used to extract fat soluble substances out of the herbs.
  Bhrami ghirtam :
  A formulation prepared out of Bhrami (Bacopa monnieri) is used as Brain and nervine tonic, Restorative and Stimulant, Improves memory.
  
  Other products
• Chitin, Glucosamine, chitoson, are derived from Crab, Crayfish, Lobster, Prawn, Shrimp shells
• Chondroitin Sulfate Sodium from bovine trachea is used to treat cartilage problems in joints.
• Gelatin used for capsulation is derived from animal bones.
• Lanolin is derived from sheep fat used as moisturizer.
• Ox gall – Korosanai – Used as expectorant.
  Birds
• Feathers of the Birds are also used in Traditional Medicines in order to treat snake bite
• Along with Medicated oils used to treat wounds.
  Egg
• Egg shells are calcined and used as demulcents.
• Yellow yolk of egg is used in the preparation of ‘Anda thailam’ used in speech disorders.
• Egg albumin is used to triturate many inorganic substances and
  Pavo cristatus
• Peacock feather contains trace element like copper as per Siddha literatures.
• Charred peacock feather is a drug of choice in Hiccough
  Pearl oyster
• Used in treating patients suffering from Tuberculosis.
• Very good nutritive and dietary supplement
• Cardiac tonic.
• Pharmacological action of Pearl and Pearl oyster more or less similar.
  Conch shell - Sangu
• Calcined Conch Shell is used to treat gastritis, dysmenorrhoea and skin diseases like psoriasis, eczema etc.
• External Application : Conch Shell immersed water is used to treat Pimple- Acne vulgaris.
  Turtle (AAMAI)
• Parts used for Medicine: Shell, Flesh, Fat, Skin and Egg.
• Aamai ottu karukku kudineer is a drug of choice in child care.
• Blood: Blood of Tortoise is given orally to treat bronchitis, which is in practice in local health tradition in Tuticorn dist.
• Calcined shell (Aamai ottu parpam): The shell of tortoise is calcined with Justicia adhatoda juice, aloe juice, and Abutilon juice. It is used for the treatment of Haemorrhoids, fistula.
  Cypraea moneta - Palagarai
• Purified with lime juice and calcined cypera is used as antidote and first aid medicine to all type of wounds.
• Used in skin diseases like Psoriasis and eczema.
  Snail
• Calcined snail is used to treat haemorrhiods, fistula and diseases pertaining to Ano-rectal region.
  Antelope horn - Deer horn
• Calcined Deer horn is used to treat Cardiac disorders and Menstrual disorders.
• Usually Antelope horn sheds up in an interval of 2 -3 years.
  Musk deer- Kasthuri Maan
• Musk collected from Musk deer cures cold and fever in Children. Effective in Bronchial asthma
  Civet cat- Punugu Poonai
• Civet is used in aphrodisiac formulations
  Disinfectants
• Dungs of Animals along with Urine are used as Disinfectants.
• Dung cake are used traditionally to make calcination of the drugs of mineral origin.
• ‘Panchakavvya’ today needs no explanation.
  CONCLUSION
  I wish to conclude this presentation that this is a virgin field and abundant opportunities exists both for research and development.

Herbal Awareness Programme at Denkanikottai

Dr.Padmanandan, senior Siddha physician of the Govt. Hospital, Denkanikottai, Krishnagiri District organized a traditional medicine awareness programme on 5th Sept, 2009 along with Centre for Traditional Medicine and Research, Chennai. The main objective was to create awareness about the medicinal plant resources available in the dense forests and adjoining areas of the taluk and their sustainable utilization.

The Local body vice-chairman Mr.Kalam presided over the function. Apart from local residents and volunteers, farmer members of the MYRADA farmers club took part in the programme.

Dr.T.Thirunarayanan explained the concept of Hospital Medicinal Plants Gardens and Kitchen Herbal garden and requested the general public to utilize the garden created in the Govt. Hospital for identification purpose and understanding the medicinal use of each of the plant grown in the garden.

Dr.Padmanandan took the participants to the demo garden where 150 species of medicinal plants are grown.

Vaidya.S.Usman Ali enumerated a list of 10 plants of commercial value, which can be grown in the land owned by the farmers with minimal water and also suggested a live fence with Bonduc nut, a hardy climber which can prevent entry of elephants into the cultivation area. He in fact suggested growing the plant all around the villages bordering the forest. Gymnema, Coleus, Aswagandha, Long pepper and Asoka were the Key species recommended for cultivation.