n. the process by which food substances are taken into the cells of the body after they have been digested and absorbed.
Habitat: South India, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
Ayurvedic: Varshaabhu (related species).Siddha/Tamil: Vellai Sharunnai.Folk: Bisakhaparaa.Action: Root—deobstruent; used for asthma, hepatitis and amenorrhoea. The root, leaf and stem gave positive test for alkaloid. The plant is a good source of zinc (1.077 ± 0.188) and copper (0.416 ± 0.057) mg/100 g.
Synonym: T. monogyna Linn.Family: Aizoaceae.Habitat: Cultivated fields and wastelands.
English: Horse Purslane.Ayurvedic: Varshaabhu, Vrshchira, Vishakharparikaa, Shilaatikaa, Shothaghni, Kshdra. Wrongly equated with Shveta-punarnavaa or Rakta-punarnavaa. Varshaabhu and Punarnavaa are two different herbs. T. portulacastrum is a rainy season annual. Rakta-punarnavaa is equated with Boerhavia diffusa, Shveta-punarnavaa with white- flowered species, B. erecta L. (B. punarnava).Unani: Biskhaparaa.Siddha: Sharunai.Folk: Pathari, Bisakhaparaa.Action: Root—antipyretic, analgesic, spasmolytic, deobstruent, cathartic, anti-inflammatory.
Leaves—diuretic; used in oedema and dropsy. A decoction of the herb is used as an antidote to alcoholic poison.The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the dried root in diseases of the liver and spleen, anaemia and oedema.Ethanolic extract of the aerial parts exhibited hepatoprotective activity in CCl4-induced intoxication in rats. The acetone-insoluble fraction of the extract is responsible for the activity.The red and white flowers contain an alkaloid trianthemine, also punaranavine. The plant also gave ecdysterone (0.01 g/kg), a potential chemosterilant; nicotinic acid and ascorbic acid. The plant is rich in phosphorus and iron but poor in calcium.The high content of oxalate affects the assimilation of calcium. Carotene (2.3 mg/100 g) has also been reported.Trianthema sp. are used as adulterant of the roots of Boerhavia diffusa.Dosage: Root—2-5 g powder. (API, Vol. IV.)... trianthema portulacastrumConstituents: coumarins, tannins, flavonoids, phytosterol.
Action: diuretic, hepatic, astringent (mild), haemostatic, vulnerary, cholagogue, Promotes assimilation of food. Bitter tonic.
Uses: weak acid stomach, indigestion, sluggish liver and debility, gall bladder disorders, nosebleed, sore throat, laryngitis (gargle), bed-wetting, incontinence, diarrhoea, to promote flow of gastric juices.
Local: ulceration – to cleanse and heal. Ancient remedy for suppurating sores and wounds.
Preparations: Thrice daily.
Tea: 1 teaspoon to each cup boiling water. Or, as part of Spring Tonic combination: equal parts, Agrimony, Raspberry leaves, Balm and Nettles. 2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. Half-1 cup freely.
Liquid extract: BHP (1983). 1:1 in 25 per cent alcohol. Dose 15-45 drops (1-3ml). Tincture: BHP (1983). 1:5 in 45 per cent alcohol. Dose 15-60 drops (1-4ml). Tablets. Agrimony (Blackmore’s Labs). ... agrimony
Normally, a young child requires a smaller dose than an adult. There are, however, other factors than age to be taken into consideration. Thus, children are more susceptible than adults to some drugs such as MORPHINE, whilst they are less sensitive to others such as ATROPINE. The only correct way to calculate a child’s dose is by reference to texts supplying a recommended dose in milligrams per kilogram. However, many reference texts simply quote doses for certain age-ranges.
Old people, too, often show an increased susceptibility to drugs. This is probably due to a variety of factors, such as decreased weight; diminished activity of the tissues and therefore diminished rate at which a drug is utilised; and diminished activity of the KIDNEYS resulting in decreased rate of excretion of the drug.
Weight and sex have both to be taken into consideration. Women require slightly smaller doses than men, probably because they tend to be lighter in weight. The e?ect of weight on dosage is partly dependent on the fact that much of the extra weight of a heavy individual is made up of fatty tissue which is not as active as other tissues of the body. In practice, the question of weight seldom makes much di?erence unless the individual is grossly over- or underweight.
Idiosyncrasy occasionally causes drugs administered in the ordinary dose to produce unexpected effects. Thus, some people are but little affected by some drugs, whilst in others, certain drugs – for example, psychoactive preparations such as sedatives – produce excessive symptoms in normal or even small doses. In some cases this may be due to hypersensitivity, or an allergic reaction, to the drug, which is a possibility that must always be borne in mind
(e.g. with PENICILLIN). An individual who is known to be allergic to a certain medication is strongly advised to carry a card to this e?ect, and always to inform medical and dental practitioners and/or a pharmacist before accepting a new prescription or buying an over-the-counter preparation.
Habitual use of a drug is perhaps the in?uence that causes the greatest increase in the dose necessary to produce the requisite e?ect. The classical example of this is with OPIUM and its derivatives.
Disease may modify the dose of medicines. This can occur in several ways. Thus, in serious illnesses the patient may be more susceptible to drugs, such as narcotics, that depress tissue activity, and therefore smaller doses must be given. Again, absorption of the drug from the gut may be slowed up by disease of the gut, or its e?ect may be enhanced if there is disease of the kidneys, interfering with the excretion of the drug.
Fasting aids the rapidity of absorption of drugs, and also makes the body more susceptible to their action. Partly for this reason, as well as to avoid irritation of the stomach, it is usual to prescribe drugs to be taken after meals, and diluted with water.
Combination of drugs is to be avoided if possible as it is often di?cult to assess what their combined e?ect may be. In some cases they may have a mutually antagonistic e?ect, which means that the patient will not obtain full bene?t. Sometimes a combination may have a deleterious e?ect.
Form, route and frequency of administration Drugs are now produced in many forms, though tablets are the most common and, usually, convenient. In Britain, medicines are given by mouth whenever possible, unless there is some degree of urgency, or because the drug is either destroyed in, or is not absorbed from, the gut. In these circumstances, it is given intravenously, intra-muscularly or subcutaneously. In some cases, as in cases of ASTHMA or BRONCHITIS, the drug may be given in the form of an inhalant (see INHALANTS), in order to get the maximum concentration at the point where it is wanted: that is, in the lungs. If a local e?ect is wanted, as in cases of diseases of the skin, the drug is applied topically to the skin. In some countries there is a tendency to give medicines in the form of a suppository which is inserted in the rectum.
Recent years have seen developments whereby the assimilation of drugs into the body can be more carefully controlled. These include, for example, what are known as transdermals, in which drugs are built into a plaster that is stuck on the skin, and the drug is then absorbed into the body at a controlled rate. This method is now being used for the administration of GLYCERYL TRINITRATE in the treatment of ANGINA PECTORIS, and of hyoscine hydrobromide in the treatment of MOTION (TRAVEL) SICKNESS. Another is a new class of implantable devices. These are tiny polymers infused with a drug and implanted just under the skin by injection. They can be tailored so as to deliver drugs at virtually any rate – from minutes to years. A modi?cation of these polymers now being investigated is the incorporation of magnetic particles which allow an extra burst of the incorporated drug to be released in response to an oscillating magnetic ?eld which is induced by a magnetic ‘watch’ worn by the patient. In this way the patient can switch on an extra dose of drug when this is needed: insulin, for instance, in the case of diabetics. In yet another new development, a core of drug is enclosed in a semi-permeable membrane and is released in the stomach at a given rate. (See also LIPOSOMES.)... dosage
After the usual stringent tests of raw material on receipt from the suppliers, plants are pulverised and sieved until granulometry is down to 300 micrograms. This size particle ensures a good digestive assimilation without damaging the plant cells. Such material is then subjected to another series of quality control tests for proper potency, purity and cleanliness. This is followed by a further examination for bacteriological cleanliness before shipment. Arkopharma: Head Office: BP 28 06511 Carros (Nice) France. Marketed in the UK by Arkopharma (UK) Ltd. ... arkopharma
Bitters increase the appetite, assist assimilation, and are indicated for perverted or loss of the sense of taste (zinc). They reduce fermentation in the intestines and are of value in hypoglycaemia and diabetes mellitus. Bitters are not carminatives. Some, such as Gentian, Calumba and Chamomile are also sialogogues (increasing the flow of saliva). Another effect, little understood, is an increase in white corpuscles in the peripheral circulation.
Aletris, Angostura, Avens, Balmony, Barberry, Betony, Bogbean, Boneset, Calumba, Centuary, Chicory, Condurango, Feverfew, Gentian, Goldenseal, Holy Thistle, Hops, Quassia Chips, Rue, Southernwood, White Horehound, Wormwood.
Not used in presence of gastric ulcer. ... bitters
Constituents: pyrrolizidine alkaloids, choline.
Action: adrenal gland restorative, galactagogue, demulcent, emollient, diuretic, refrigerant, anti- depressive. Stimulates production of prostaglandin EI. Oil contains two important fatty acids: gamma- linolenic acid (GLA) and linoleic acid. Assists assimilation of iron.
Uses: To strengthen adrenal glands weakened by intake of steroids (cortisone, etc). Stress, mental exhaustion, depression. Helps to prevent inflammation of stomach and intestines in cases of toxicity, allergy and infection. Colitis, Gastritis, Gastric ulcer. “Borage cheers the heart and raises drooping spirits” (Dioscorides). Old Italian remedy to increase breast milk in nursing mothers. Chronic catarrh. Borage oil is combined with Evening Primrose oil to reduce cholesterol deposits. Leaky-gut syndrome (Borage seed oil). External use said to defer wrinkling and skin dryness of old age. Used internally under directions of a qualified practitioner.
Preparations: Thrice daily.
Tea: 1 teaspoon to each cup boiling water; infuse 15 minutes. Half-1 cup.
Home tincture: 1oz cut herb to 20oz 45 per cent alcohol (Vodka, etc) in wide-neck bottle. Macerate and shake daily for 4 days. Filter. Bottle. Dose: 1-2 teaspoons in water.
Liquid Extract: half-1 teaspoon.
Capsules: (oil) (Salus).
Fresh juice: 1 teaspoon.
Pharmacy only. ... borage
Multiple causes: diseases of the gut; strictures, fistulas, Crohn’s disease, obstructions, parasites, infections, drugs, X-rays, endocrine disease, gastric surgery. A common cause is gluten sensitivity due to ingestion of gluten foods (wheat, oats, rye, barley).
Symptoms: Wasting of muscles, weight loss, flatulence, loss of appetite, distension, fat in the faeces, large pale frothy stools, vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
Alternatives. Teas: Alfalfa, Agrimony, Gotu Kola, Meadowsweet, Red Clover, Oats.
Decoctions: Irish Moss, Dandelion root, Fenugreek seeds, Bayberry bark. Calamus or Gentian, in cold infusion.
Formula. Dandelion 1; Echinacea 2; Saw Palmetto 1; few grains Cayenne or drops Tincture Capsicum. Dose: Liquid Extracts: 1 teaspoon. Tinctures: 1-2 teaspoons. Powders: 500mg (two 00 capsules or one- third teaspoon). Thrice daily.
Irish Moss, strengthening. Echinacea to sustain natural powers of resistance. Diet. Gluten-free. Soya products. Avoid dairy products. Slippery Elm gruel. Vitamins: B-complex, B1, B6, B12, Folic acid, PABA, C, E.
Minerals: Calcium, Iron, Copper, Zinc. ... malabsorption syndrome
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