A form of treatment in which the cure of the patient is left mainly to nature, while the physician simply watches for any unsatisfactory developments or symptoms, and relieves them if they occur.
Habitat: A grain crop of Karnataka; also grown on large scale in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
English: Finger Millet, African millet, Ragi.Ayurvedic: Madhuuli, Markata- hasta-trna.Siddha/Tamil: Ragi, Kezhvaregu.Action: Seeds—cooling, astringent. Nutritive value of ragi is higher than that of rice and equal to that of wheat. White ragi is superior to the pigmented type. A nourishing food for infants, growing children, expectant mothers and aged people. Ragi is considered an ideal food for diabetics because of slow release of sugars to the body. A decoction of leaves and stems is drunk to ease vaginal bleeding.
The protein content of ragi is 813%, with P 250, Fe 7.6, thiamine 0.18— and riboflavin 0.1 mg/100 g. Ragi has high glycemic index value. It reduced plasma cholesterol, total serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol by 9% each, and triglycerides by 15%, and increased HDL cholesterol, thus exhibited a sig- nificantbeneficial effect on plasma profile. The lipemic index for ragi is 55, taking isocaloric wheat-supplemented background diet (control) at 100.... eleusine coracanaNearly three-quarters of neonatal deaths occur during the ?rst week of life. For this reason, increasing emphasis is being laid on this initial period of life. In Britain, in the last four decades of the 20th century, the number of deaths in the ?rst week of life fell dramatically from 13.2 to just over 2.7 per 1,000 live births. The chief causes of deaths in this period are extreme prematurity (less than 28 weeks’ gestation), birth asphyxia with oxygen lack to the brain, and congenital abnormalities. After the ?rst week the commonest cause is infection.... neonatal mortality
In blood transfusion, the person giving and the person receiving the blood must belong to the same blood group, or a dangerous reaction will take place from the agglutination that occurs when blood of a di?erent group is present. One exception is that group O Rhesus-negative blood can be used in an emergency for anybody.
| Agglutinogens | Agglutinins | Frequency | |
| in the | in the | in Great | |
| Group | erythrocytes | plasma | Britain |
| AB | A and B | None | 2 per cent |
| A | A | Anti-B | 46 per cent |
| B | B | Anti-A | 8 per cent |
| O | Neither | Anti-A and | 44 per cent |
| A nor B | Anti-B | ||
Rhesus factor In addition to the A and B agglutinogens (or antigens), there is another one known as the Rhesus (or Rh) factor – so named because there is a similar antigen in the red blood corpuscles of the Rhesus monkey. About 84 per cent of the population have this Rh factor in their blood and are therefore known as ‘Rh-positive’. The remaining 16 per cent who do not possess the factor are known as ‘Rh-negative’.
The practical importance of the Rh factor is that, unlike the A and B agglutinogens, there are no naturally occurring Rh antibodies. However, such antibodies may develop in a Rh-negative person if the Rh antigen is introduced into his or her circulation. This can occur (a) if a Rh-negative person is given a transfusion of Rh-positive blood, and (b) if a Rh-negative mother married to a Rh-positive husband becomes pregnant and the fetus is Rh-positive. If the latter happens, the mother develops Rh antibodies which can pass into the fetal circulation, where they react with the baby’s Rh antigen and cause HAEMOLYTIC DISEASE of the fetus and newborn. This means that, untreated, the child may be stillborn or become jaundiced shortly after birth.
As about one in six expectant mothers is Rh-negative, a blood-group examination is now considered an essential part of the antenatal examination of a pregnant woman. All such Rh-negative expectant mothers are now given a ‘Rhesus card’ showing that they belong to the rhesus-negative blood group. This card should always be carried with them. Rh-positive blood should never be transfused to a Rh-negative girl or woman.... blood groups
Habitat: Kangra and in Simla hills.
English: European Elder, Black Elder.Unani: Khamaan Kabir.Action: Anti-inflammatory, anticatarrhal, diuretic. Flowers and berries—used for common cold, influenza, nasal catarrh, sinusitis; as a gargle in sore throat. Inner bark—cathartic, hydragogue, emetic, diuretic. Infusion of bark and flowers—given in epilepsy; also used as a gentle circulatory stimulant, diaphoretic, expectant and anticatarrhal; locally in inflammations.
Key application: In colds, also as a diaphoretic and anticatarrhal. (German Commission E, The British Herbal Compendium, WHO.)The flowers contain triterpenes including ursolic acid; flavonoids (up to 3%) including rutin; phenolic acids; triterpenes; sterols; tannins; mucilage; volatile oil (up to 0.2%); leaves gaveSynonym: S. koetjape (Burm. f.) Merrill.Family: Meliaceae.Habitat: Wild in Kangra and in Simla hills.
English: European Elder.Siddha/Tamil: Sevai, Sayai.Action: Root—astringent, carminative, antispasmodic. Used for diarrhoea. Bark—anthelmintic.
Fruit hulls gave bryonic and bryono- lic acids, mesoinosital and dimethyl mucate; heartwood also gave triter- penic acids including katonic and in- dicic acid.The seeds gave limonoids—sandori- cin and 6-hydroxysandoricin. A sec- otriterpene, koetjapic acid, together with katonic acid, has been isolated from the stem. Sandoricin and 6- hydroxysandoricin exhibited effective antifeedant activity. Katonic acid exhibited significant cytotoxicity against a variety of cultured human cancer cells.... sandoricum indicumA child may avoid looking a person in the face, occupying himself or herself elsewhere to avoid direct contact. Obsessional motions include erratic movements of the fingers or limbs or facial twitch or grimace. Corrective efforts by parents to educate into more civilised behaviour meet with instant hostility, even hysteria. Hyperactivity may give rise to tantrums when every degree of self-control is lost. For such times, harmless non habit-forming herbal sedatives are helpful (Skullcap, Valerian, Mistletoe).
A link has been discovered between a deficiency of magnesium and autism. Magnesium is essential for the body’s use of Vitamin B6. Nutritionists attribute the condition stemming from an inadequate intake of vitamins and minerals at pregnancy. Alcohol in the expectant mother is a common cause of such deficiencies. Personal requirements of autistic children will be higher than normal levels of Vitamin B complex (especially B6) C, E and Magnesium.
Such children grow up to be ‘temperamental’, of extreme sensibility, some with rare talents. Medicine is not required, but for crisis periods calm and poise can be restored by:–
Motherwort tea: equal parts, Motherwort, Balm and Valerian: 1-2 teaspoons to each cup boiling water; infuse 10-15 minutes; 1 cup 2-3 times daily. Honey renders it more palatable.
Alternatives:– Teas, tablets or other preparations: Hops, German Chamomile, Ginseng, Passion flower, Skullcap, Devil’s Claw, Vervain, Mistletoe, Ginkgo.
Diet. Lacto-vegetarian. 2-3 bananas (for potassium) daily.
Supplements. Daily. Vitamin B-complex, Vitamin B6 50mg, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc. Aromatherapy. Inhalation of Lavender oil may act as a mood-lifter.
Note: A scientific study revealed a link with the yeast syndrome as associated with candidiasis. ... autism
Important components of Floradix preparations are herbal extracts of various medicinal plants. Those rich in iron include: Stinging Nettle, Couch grass roots and algae Macrocystis pyrifera and Spinach. Extracts to aid digestion and metabolism (as well as strengthen the system) include: Hawthorn for heart function; Fennel, Angelica root and Wormwood for digestion; and Juniper berries to aid metabolism. See: SALUS-HAUS. ... floradix
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