Alternative & Integrative Medicine

Aim and objective: This retrospective review of clinical data was done to determine cardiovascular effects of a single Yoga session in normal subjects as well as patients of different medical conditions. Methods: Data of 1896 patients (1229 female, 633 male and 34 transgender) with mean age of 36.28 ± 12.64 y who attended yoga therapy sessions at CYTER between November 2010 and September 2012 was used for analysis. Heart rate (HR), systolic (SP) and diastolic pressure (DP) had been recorded using non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) apparatus before and after 60 minute yoga sessions at CYTER and indices like pulse pressure (PP), mean pressure (MP), rate-pressure product (RPP) and double product (DoP) were derived from recorded parameters. Participants were undergoing appropriate yoga therapy protocols as per their individual condition while normal subjects had a general schedule of practice. Typical yoga sessions included simple warm ups (jathis and surya namaskar), breath body movement coordination practices (kriyas), static stretching postures (asana), breathing techniques (pranayama), relaxation and chanting. Results: There were statistically significant (p<0.001) reductions in all the studied cardiovascular parameters following the yoga session. The magnitude of reductions differed in the groups, it being more significant in those having hypertension (n=505) and less significant in those having endocrine/skin (n=230) and musculoskeletal (n=120) conditions. It was moderately significant in the normal subjects (n=582) as well as patients having psychiatric (n=302) and respiratory (n=157) conditions. Conclusion: There is a healthy reduction in HR, BP and derived cardiovascular indices following a single yoga session. The magnitude of this reduction depends on the pre-existing medical condition as well as the yoga therapy protocol adopted. These changes may be attributed to enhanced harmony of cardiac autonomic function as a result of coordinated breath-body work and mind-body relaxation due to yoga

Wet Cupping therapy (WCT) is increasingly practiced worldwide, especially in hospitals of China and Germany. Al-hijamah is WCT of Prophetic medicine. Al-hijamah was recently reported to do better than Chinese WCT. Alhijamah filters and clears blood and interstitial fluids from causative pathological substances (CPS) including disease-causing substances (DCS) and disease-related substances (DRS) according to the evidence-based Taibah theory. This occurs via a percutaneous pressure-dependent and size-dependent filtration of capillary blood of skin circulation. This explains why Al-hijamah treats diseases with different pathogeneses e.g. headache and rheumatoid arthritis. Hijamatology is a novel term describing the science of education, qualification, practice and research related to Al-hijamah. Al-hijamah was described by Prophet Mohammad (Muhammad) peace be upon him as one of the best remedies: “The best among what you use in therapy is Al-hijamah”. No published report is there to guide researchers, physicians and practitioners to the best anatomical sites for practicing Al-hijamah for treating different diseases as this science is still in its beginning and may benefit from future research. Based on our background in prophetic medicine, anatomy, medicine and our practice, we review here prophetic medicine remedies, indications and anatomical sites that may be suitable for practicing Al-hijamah. Suitable anatomical sites for practicing Alhijamah differ from disease to disease. In prophetic medicine, Al-hijamah was practiced at skin overlying and near sites of pathology e.g. skin overlying skull vertex, dorsal surface of the foot, thigh region and at general sites e.g. kahel region (mainly skin overlying 7th cervical vertebra) and akhdayin (both sides of the neck posterior to ears). We report here a novel technique (Salah’s technique) for practicing Al-hijamah safely at some special anatomical sites. In conclusion, Al-hijamah is better to be practiced at sites of pathology (for local clearance), at back region and back of neck (for general blood clearance).

The pericarp of the mangosteen fruit, Garcinia mangostana Linn, has a long history of use as a medicinal plant in Southeast Asia. The actions of mangosteen extracts have been scientifically supported and it has become a popular natural health-promoting dietary supplement. Mangosteen extracts, particularly α-mangostin, induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway, cell cycle arrest by p21cip1 induction and Akt dephsophorylation in mammary cancer cells; these anti-proliferative effects are associated in vivo with suppression of tumor growth and metastasis in mouse mammary cancer models. Such preclinical evidence suggests that mangosteen extracts have potential chemotherapeutic and/or chemopreventive uses

The torch of Ayurveda has remained burn brightly throughout the age’s inspite of heavy winds of changes. Amidst a skeptical environment also it has maintained its towering position, due to its very own novel basics and dictums. The simple reason behind this truth is the strong basic fundamentals of Ayurvedic medical science that hold the domain of this life science. Ayurveda consider that no disease ever be develop without the derangement of Agni. Therefore in every disease Agni management gets the prime focus. Though in Ayurvedic literature, a detailed explanation of Agni is available but its practical application in the management of disease is lacking. The paper gives a comprehensive knowledge about the concept of Agni with clinical examples to illustrate its practical utility.

Spagyrics is a distinct branch of Alchemy, the medieval chemistry based on astrology, pseudoscience, mythology and Spirituality as the fundamentals for health and medicine but Alchemists were often misquoted as black magicians who searched for ways to transform base metals into gold, but they were actually exploring the key to physical, mental and spiritual health and originated many chemical processing methods that are still relevant today. Alchemical practices and philosophy can be found in all the world’s great traditional medical systems like Ayurveda, Siddha, Spagyric Homeopathy, etc. This article will discuss how alchemical philosophical ideas influenced and contributed to significant changes in holistic medical science.

Telfairia occidentalis Hook. F. is an edible vegetable, rich in essential diet components and contains protein, vitamins, iron, calcium and other nutrients, which are not adequately supplied in our diet. However, Telfairia occidentalis is believed to contain heavy metals over a range of concentrations which could pose potential health risk to the consumers. The objective of this study was to determine whether the concentration of selected heavy metals present in Telfairia occidentalis cultivated in twenty Local Government areas of Lagos State, Nigeria, are within the acceptable range for human consumption. Telfairia occidentalis leaf samples were collected from twenty local government areas in Lagos State, washed thrice with water and air-dried prior to grounding into fine powder and sieved. The samples were digested with concentrated HNO3 and the concentrations of the metals were determined using the Buck 205 Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The British Pharmacopoeia calibration plot method was adopted. All the Telfairia occidentalis samples (100%) from the 20 Local Governments in Lagos State contained arsenic and mercury below the USP oral component limit while 100% contained cadmium above the oral component limit. Twenty percent (20%) contained iron above the USP oral component limit. These metals could bio-accumulate in the biological system of people consuming this vegetable, thus posing potential health risk to consumers especially if consumed over a long period. We therefore suggest regular assessing of these metals in vegetables grown in these localities and that government should monitor and ensure proper disposal of waste within the environment in order to reduce the level of contamination of vegetables by heavy metals which are mainly resulting from industrial wastes and other sources of environmental pollution.

Coccydynia is a common condition that has been difficult to treat effectively with conventional pain relief methods. There has been previous research demonstrating safety and efficacy of prolotherapy to treat coccydynia. Many of the original descriptions were performed utilizing landmark or palpation guided techniques. However, there is evidence that imaging guidance improves accuracy of injections for axial and appendicular injections. We describe the use of ultrasound guidance for prolotherapy to accurately guide treatment into the coccyx in three patients leading to pain relief, improvement of motor function, and decrease in analgesic usage after treatment.

The present article completes our research which first part has been published in AIM, being the very first survey about Education in Traditional and Unconventional Medicine within the Italian Schools of Medicine. The present data also go into the choice of titles for the various education options, our article considering both the undergraduate and post graduate education programmes in this field and deals with also the particular regional organization of Italian Regions in the field of Health which extends to Upgrade Courses, shows a growing interest by Italian universities centres even if where regional decision-makers are not explicitly in favour of TCAM. The article also explores the extent of regional difference and the indirect contribution the Regions seem to have made to the TCAM education courses on offer.