Giddiness Health Dictionary

Roxb.

Family: Simaroubaceae.

Habitat: Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Orissa and southern India.

English: Tree of Heaven, Maharukh.

Ayurvedic: Aralu, Katvanga, Dirghavranta, Puutivrksha, Bhallu- ka. (Mahaanimba is a synonym of Melia azedarach Linn.)

Siddha: Perru, Perumaruttu, Peruppi.

Action: Bark—bitter, astringent, febrifuge, anthelminitic, antispas- modic, expectorant (used in asthma, bronchitis). Also used for dysentery as a substitute for Holarrhena antidysenterica.

Bark and leaves—used as tonic in debility, especially after childbirth. Leaves—used as adulterant for Ad- hatoda zeylanica leaves.

Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of stembark in high fevers and giddiness.

The bark contains several quassi- noids including ailanthone derivatives. They exhibit antitumour activity against P-388 lymphocytic leukaemia and are cytotoxic against KB test system.

Dosage: Stembark—1-3 g (API Vol. III.) Decoction—50-100 ml. (CCRAS.)... ailanthus excelsa

These widely used drugs include a range of different preparations which relieve DEPRESSION. All the antidepressants available at the time of writing are more or less equally e?ective. In studies where patients agree to take either antidepressants or identical dummy PLACEBO pills (without knowing which), at least two-thirds of those who receive antidepressants feel much better within three months, while fewer than one-third of those on placebos recover naturally in the same period. In general these drugs are useful for severe and moderate depression including postnatal illness; they are not e?ective in milder forms of depression although they may be tried for a short time if other therapies have failed.

The most widely prescribed type of antidepressants are the tricyclics, so-called because their molecular structure includes three rings. The other commonly used types are named after the actions they have on chemicals in the brain: the SELECTIVE SEROTONIN-REUPTAKE INHIBITORS (SSRIS) and the MONOAMINE OXIDASE INHIBITORS (MAOIS) – see also below. All types of antidepressant work in similar ways. Tricyclic antidepressants have cured depression in millions of people, but they can cause unpleasant side-effects, particularly in the ?rst couple of weeks. These include SEDATION, dry mouth, excessive sweating, CONSTIPATION, urinary problems, and impotence (inability to get an erection). Up to half of all people prescribed tricyclic drugs cannot tolerate the side-effects and stop treatment before their depression is properly treated. More seriously, tricyclics can upset the rhythm of the heart in susceptible people and should never be given in the presence of heart disease.

The SSRIs are newer, coming into wide use in the late 1980s. They increase the levels in the brain of the chemical messenger SEROTONIN, which is thought to be depleted in depression. Indeed, the SSRIs are as e?ective as tricyclics and, although they can cause nausea and excessive sweating at ?rst, they generally have fewer side-effects. Their main disadvantage, however, is that they cost much more than the most commonly used tricyclic, amitriptyline. On the other hand, they are more acceptable to many patients and they cause fewer drop-outs from treatment – up to a quarter rather than a half. The money saved by completed, successful treatment may outweigh the prescribing costs. SSRIs have been reported as associated with an increased risk of suicide.

Another group of antidepressants, the MAOIs, have been in use since the late 1950s.

They are stimulants, rather than sedatives, and are particularly helpful for people who are physically and mentally slowed by depression. They work well but have one big disadvantage – a dangerous interaction with certain foods and other drugs, causing a sudden and very dangerous increase in blood pressure. People taking them must carry an information card explaining the risk and listing the things that they should avoid. Because of this risk, MAOIs are not used much now, except when other treatments have failed. A new MAOI, moclobemide, which is less likely to interact and so cause high blood pressure, is now available.

LITHIUM CARBONATE is a powerful antidepressant used for intractable depression. It should be used under specialist supervision as the gap between an e?ective dose and a toxic one is narrow.

St John’s Wort is a popular herbal remedy which may be e?ective, but which is handicapped by di?erences of strength between di?erent preparations or batches. It can interact with a number of conventional drugs and so needs to be used cautiously and with advice.

In general, antidepressants work by restoring the balance of chemicals in the brain. Improved sleep and reduced anxiety are usually the ?rst signs of improvement, particularly among people taking the more sedative tricyclic drugs. Improvement in other symptoms follow, with the mood starting to lift after about two weeks of treatment. Most people feel well by three months, although a few residual symptoms, such as slowness in the mornings, may take longer to clear up. People taking antidepressants usually want to stop them as soon as they feel better; however, the risk of relapse is high for up to a year and most doctors recommend continuing the drugs for around 4–6 months after recovery, with gradual reduction of the dose after that.

Withdrawal reactions may occur including nausea, vomiting, headache, giddiness, panic or anxiety and restlessness. The drugs should be withdrawn gradually over about a month or longer (up to six months in those who have been on maintenance treatment).

A wide range of antidepressant drugs is described in the British National Formulary. Examples include:

Tricyclics: amitryptyline, imipramine, doxepin.

MAOIs: phenelzine, isocarboxazid.

SSRIs: citalopram, ?uoxetine, paraxtene. (Antidepressant drugs not in these three

groups include ?upenthixol, mertazapine and venlafaxine.)... antidepressant drugs

DC.

Family: Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat: The Western Himalayas from Kashmir to Garhwal.

Unani: Daarunaj Aqrabi Hindi.

Action: The root is reported to prevent giddiness caused during high attitude ascents.

The root yields a gum-resin, used in gargle water as stimulant, astringent and in toothpaste. Root—used in rheumatism. Leaves—carminative.... doronicum roylei

Willd.

Callicarpa macrophylla Vahl.

Synonym: C. incana Roxb.

Family: Verbenaceae.

Habitat: Sub-Himalayan tracts, from Hazara eastwards to Assam, up to 1,500 m.

English: Perfumed Cherry.

Ayurvedic: Priyangu, Priyan- gukaa, Priyaka, Gandhphali, Gandhpriyangu, Phalini, Vanitaa, Kaantaa, Kaantaahvaa, Shyamaa, Anganaapriya.

Unani: Habb-ul-Mihlb (Prunus mahaleb Linn., Rosaceae).

Siddha/Tamil: Gnazhal, Chokkala. (Fruits of Aglaia roxburghiana Miq. are used as Priyangu.)

Action: Leaves—applied hot in rheumatic pains. Smoked to relieve headache. Seed—paste used in stomatitis. Wood—paste used in mouth and tongue sores. Seeds and roots—employed as stomachic. Bark—used in rheumatism and diseases of genitourinary tract. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicated the use of the fruit in emesis and giddiness.

The seeds and leaves contain cal- literpenone and its monoacetate; the former also contain fatty acids, beta- sitosterol and its beta-D-glucoside.

Synonym: C. wightianum T. Anders.

Family: Guttiferae; Clusiaceae.

Habitat: The evergreen forests of Western Ghats up to 330 m.

Siddha/Tamil: Shirupinnai.

Action: Resin—antiphlogistic, anodyne. Seed oil—antileprotic.

The leaves, stem, bark and root contain friedelin. Leaves also contain canophyllol and a triterpene lactone; stem, beta-amyrin; bark, apetalic acid. Heartwood contains a clathrate named wightianone palmitic acid. Wood contains mesoinositol.... calophyllum apetalum

Indigofera tinctoria

Papilionaceae

San:Nilini, Ranjani, Nilika, Neelam, Aklika, Asita, Bhadra; Ben, Guj:Nil;

Hin:Gouli;

Mal: Neelamari;

Tam: Averi;

Tel: Aviri, Nili;

Kan: Nili; Mar: Nali; Ori: Neli

Importance: Common indigo or Indian indigo is a branching shrub which grows upto 2m high. Nili is a reputed drug produced from this plant which is used in ayurveda for the promotion of hair growth and it forms a major ingredient of preparations like nilibhringadi oil. This is the original source of natural indigo. Due to antitoxic property it is also a good remedy for poisons. According to Bhavaprakasa, nili is purgative in action, bitter, hot, cures giddiness, abdominal enlargement, vatarakta, gout and intestinal obstruction. The decoction or powder of the plant is used in whooping cough, bronchitis, palpitation of the heart, enlargement of the liver and spleen, dropsy, diseases of lungs and kidney, epilepsy and nervous disorders. A poultice of the leaves is recommended in skin diseases, piles, ulcer and haemorrhoids. A wine glass full juice of the leaves is administered in the morning with or without milk for three days to those who have been bitten by mad dogs. Root decoction is given in calculous diseases and used as an antidote to arsenic poisoning. The seed of the plant is powered and steeped in arrack or rum, yield a tincture, which is used to distroy lice. Indigo, the dye extracted from the leaves, is a soothing balm for burns and scalds, insect stings and animal bites. The synonyms visaghni and sodhani indicate the antitoxic and laxative properties of the drug nili, respectively (Aiyer and Kolammal, 1960).

Distribution: This plant is distributed in South and South East Asia, tropical Africa and is introduced in tropical America. In India, it is found almost throughout and cultivated in many parts.

Botany: Indigofera tinctoria Linn. syn. I. summatrana Gaertn, Pigmentum indicum belongs to Papilionaceae family. This is a branching shrub which grows upto 2m high. Stems and branches are green; branchlets silvery pubescent. Leaves are alternate, stipulate, imparipinnate and got 7-13 leaflets which are elliptic-oblong, membraneous,1.7x0.9cm, shortly mucronate, pale green or bluish. Flowers are small, rose-coloured in axillary racemes. Calyx 5-cleft, gamosepalous; corolla papilionaceous; stamens diadelphous; ovary sessile with a short incurved style ending in a capitate stigma. Pods are linear, cylindrical, 2-5cm long, deflexed having 8-12 seeds.

Agrotechnology: The Indian indigo requires good sunlight and grows well in hilly areas. This is usually propagated by seeds. Seeds are very small and the seed rate is 3kg/ha. Seeds require pretreatment for good germination as the seed coat is hard. Seeds are mixed with sand and ground gently to break the seed coat. An alternate method for enhancing germination is dipping the seeds in boiling water for a second. After pretreatment seeds are broadcasted. Broadcast the seeds preferably mixed with sand 2 or 3 times its volume to ensure uniform coverage. The seedbeds should be covered with straw and irrigated. Seeds germinate within 15 days. Seedlings are ready for transplanting after one month. For the land preparation, the soil is brought to fine tilth by ploughing 2 or 3 time s. Cattle manure should be applied at the rate of 10t/ha as basal dressing and incorporated into soil along with last ploughing. The best time for sowing is September-October. Weeding has to be done two times; 3 weeks after sowing and 6 weeks after sowing. Plants start flowering 2-3 months after sowing. Harvesting is done by cutting the plants at this time, at a height of about 10cm from ground level. Irrigate plants after harvest. Subsequent harvests can be made at 1.5-2 months interval. Four to five cuttings can be taken in an year depending on the growth. A few plants per plot are left without cutting to set seeds. Ripe pods are to be harvested in the early morning to prevent loss of seeds by shattering during harvest.

Properties and activity: A blue dyestuff is obtained from the indigofera which does not exist ready formed, but is produced during fermentation from another agent existing in the plant, known as indocan. Indocan is yellow amorphous of a nauseous bitter taste with an acid reaction, readily soluble in water, alcohol and ether. An artificial product indigotine is manufactured chemically and used as a substitute. Indirubin is another component of the plant.

The plant is deobstruent, alterative, antitoxic, antiasthmatic and antiepileptic. Aerial part is hypoglycaemic, CNS depressant and antitoxic. The leaves, flowers and tender shoots are considered to be cooling, demulcent and alterative. Leaf is antiinflammatory. Root and stem is laxative, expectorant, antitumourous, febrifuge, anticephalalgic, antidote for snake bite, anthelmintic and promotes growth of hair. Root is divertic. Indirubin is antineoplastic and has toxicity. Nili is antitoxic, purgative and laxative. Indigo is said to produce nausea and vomiting.... common indigo

Gmelina arborea

Verbenaceae

San: Gumbhari;

Hin:Gamari, Jugani-chukar;

Mal: Kumizhu, Kumpil;

Guj: Shewan; Pun:Gumbar; Mar: Shivanasal;

Kan: Kummuda;

Tam: Uni, Gumadi;

Tel: Gummadi;

Importance: Coomb teak, Candahar tree or Kashmeeri tree is a moderate sized, unarmed, deciduous tree which is a vital ingredient of the ”dasamula” (group of ten roots). The whole plant is medicinally very important. It promotes digestive power, improves memory, overcomes giddiness and is also used as an antidote for snake bite and scorpion sting. Roots are useful in hallucination, fever, dyspepsia, hyperdipsia, haemorrhoids, stomachalgia, heart diseases, nervous disorders, piles and burning sensation. Bark is used in fever and dyspepsia. Leaf paste is good for cephalagia and leaf juice is a good wash for foul ulcers and is also used in the treatment of gonorrhoea and cough. Flowers are recommended for leprosy, skin and blood diseases. The fruits are used for promoting the growth of hair and in anaemia, leprosy, ulcers, constipation, strangury, leucorrhoea, colpitis and lung disease.

Wood is one of the best and most reliable timber of India. It is used for making furniture, planks, carriages, printing boxes, musical instruments, shafts, axles, picture frames, jute bobbins, calipers, ship buildings, artificial limbs and stethoscopes.

In south India the bark of the tree is used by arrack manufacturers to regulate the fermentation of toddy. The plant is also grown in garden or avenues (Dey, 1988; Sivarajan and Indira, 1994).

Distribution: The plant is found wild throughout India from the foot of Himalayas to Kerala and Anadamans, in moist, semideciduous and open forests upto an altitude of 1500 m. It is also distributed in Sri Lanka and Philippines.

Botany: Gmelina arborea Roxb. Syn. Premna arborea Roth. belongs to Family Verbenaceae. It is an unarmed deciduous tree growing up to 20m height with whitish grey corky lenticellate bark, exfloliating in thin flakes. Branchlets and young parts are clothed with fine white mealy pubescence. Leaves are simple, opposite, broadly ovate, cordate, glandular, glabrous above when mature and fulvous-tomentose beneath. Flowers brownish yellow in terminal panicle. Calyx campanulate, pubescent outside and with 5 lobes. Corolla showy brownish yellow with short tube and oblique limbs. Stamens 4, didynamous and included. Ovary is 4 chambered with one ovule each; style slender ending in a bifid stigma. Fruits are fleshy ovoid drupes, orange yellow when ripe. Seeds 1 or 2, hard and oblong.

Agrotechnology: Coomb teak is a sun loving plant. It does not tolerate drought. But it grows in light frost. Rainfall higher than 2000mm and loose soil are ideal. The best method of propagation is by seeds but rarely propagated vegitatevely by stem cuttings also. Seed formation occurs in May-June. Seeds are dried well before use. They are soaked in water for 12 hours before sowing. Seed rate is 3kg/ha. Seeds are sown in nursery beds shortly before rains. Seeds germinate within one month. Seedlings are transplanted in the first rainy season when they are 7-10cm tall. Pits of size 50cm cube are made at a spacing of 3-4m and filled with sand, dried cowdung and surface soil, over which the seedlings are transplanted. 20kg organic manure is given once a year. Irrigation and weeding should be done on a regular basis. The common disease reported is sooty mould caused by Corticium salmonicolor which can be controlled by applying a suitable fungicide. The tree grows fast and may be ready for harvesting after 4 or 5 years. This plant is coppiced and traded. The roots are also used for medicinal purposes. The tree may stand up to 25 years.

Properties and activity: Roots and heart wood of Coomb teak are reported to contain gmelinol, hentriacontanol, n-octacosanol and -sitosterol. The roots contain sesquiterpenoid and apiosylskimmin, a coumarin characterised as umbelliferone-7-apiosyl glucoside and gmelofuran. The heart wood gives ceryl alcohol, cluytyl ferulate, lignans, arboreol, gmelonone, 6”-bromo isoarboreol, lignan hemiacetal and gummidiol. Leaves yield luteolin, apigenin, quercetin, hentriacontanol, -sitosterol, quercetogenin and other flavons. Fruits contain butyric acid, tartaric acid, and saccharine substances (Asolkar et al, 1992; Dey, 1988).

The roots are acrid, bitter, tonic, stomachic, laxative, galactogogue, demulcent, antibilious, febrifuge and anthelmintic. Bark is bitter, hypoglycaemic, antiviral, anticephalalgic and tonic. The leaves are demulcent, antigonorrhoeic and bechic. Flowers are sweet, refrigerant, astringent and acrid. Fruits are acrid, refrigerant, diuretic, astringent, aphrodisiac, trichogenous, alterant and tonic (Warrier et al; 1995).... coomb teak

The eighth cranial nerve. It consists of two sets of ?bres, which constitute two separate nerves. One is known as the vestibular nerve, which connects the semicircular canals and inner ear to the BRAIN and conveys information on posture and movement of the body; it is the nerve of equilibration or balance. The other is known as the cochlear nerve, which links the COCHLEA (organ that responds to sounds) with the brain and is the nerve of hearing. Disturbance of the former causes giddiness (VERTIGO), whilst disturbance of the latter causes DEAFNESS.... vestibulocochlear nerve

Giddiness. Light-headedness, temporary unsteadiness. Not to be confused with vertigo which is a spinning sensation.

Alternatives. A simple herb tea may disperse. Any one: Skullcap, Ginkgo, Wood Betony, Gotu Kola, Hops, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, Lime Blossom, Motherwort, Peppermint, Betony, Catnep, Spearmint. For persistent dizziness: treat as for VERTIGO. ... dizziness

n. a disease caused by the presence of tapeworm larvae (see cysticercus) of the species *Taenia solium in any of the body tissues. Humans become infected on ingesting tapeworm eggs in contaminated food or drink. The presence of cysticerci in the muscles causes pain and weakness; in the brain the symptoms are more serious, including mental deterioration, paralysis, giddiness, epileptic attacks, and convulsions, which may be fatal. There is no specific treatment for this cosmopolitan disease although surgical removal of cysticerci may be necessary to relieve pressure on the brain.... cysticercosis

symptoms that arise from the sudden cessation of certain centrally acting drugs, such as antidepressants, beta blockers, and antihypertensives. Experiences include a rebound effect in which the original symptoms return but are temporarily worse than before, flulike symptoms and headaches, nausea, and giddiness that is usually short-lived and stops within 36 hours. This syndrome is not a sign of addiction and it does not indicate dependency.... discontinuation syndrome

A condition resulting from environmental temperatures which are too high for compensation by the body’s thermo-regulatory mechanism(s). It is characterised by hyperpyrexia, nausea, headache, thirst, confusion, and dry skin. If untreated, COMA and death ensue. The occurrence of heat stroke is sporadic: whereas a single individual may be affected (occasionally with fatal consequences), his or her colleagues may remain unaffected. Predisposing factors include unsatisfactory living or working conditions, inadequate acclimatisation to tropical conditions, unsuitable clothing, underlying poor health, and possibly dietetic or alcoholic indiscretions. The condition can be a major problem during pilgrimages – for example, the Muslim Hadj. Four clinical syndromes are recognised:

Heat collapse is characterised by fatigue, giddiness, and temporary loss of consciousness. It is accompanied by HYPOTENSION and BRADYCARDIA; there may also be vomiting and muscular cramps. Urinary volume is diminished. Recovery is usual.

Heat exhaustion is characterised by increasing weakness, dizziness and insomnia. In the majority of sufferers, sweating is defective; there are few, if any, signs of dehydration. Pulse rate is normal, and urinary output good. Body temperature is usually 37·8–38·3 °C.

Heat cramps (usually in the legs, arms or back, and occasionally involving the abdominal muscles) are associated with hard physical work at a high temperature. Sweating, pallor, headache, giddiness and intense anxiety are present. Body temperature is only mildly raised.

Heat hyperpyrexia is heralded by energy loss and irritability; this is followed by mental confusion and diminution of sweating. The individual rapidly becomes restless, then comatose; body temperature rises to 41–42 °C or even higher. The condition is fatal unless expertly treated as a matter of urgency.

Treatment With the ?rst two syndromes, the affected individual must be removed immediately to a cool place, and isotonic saline administered – intravenously in a severe case. The fourth syndrome is a medical emergency. The patient should be placed in the shade, stripped, and drenched with water; fanning should be instigated. He or she should be wrapped in a sheet soaked in cool water and fanning continued. When rectal temperature has fallen to 39 °C, the patient is wrapped in a dry blanket. Immediately after consciousness returns, normal saline should be given orally; this usually provokes sweating. The risk of circulatory collapse exists. Convalescence may be protracted and the patient should be repatriated to a cool climate. Prophylactically, personnel intended for work in a tropical climate must be very carefully selected. Adequate acclimatisation is also essential; severe physical exertion must be avoided for several weeks, and light clothes should be worn. The diet should be light but nourishing, and ?uid intake adequate. Those performing hard physical work at a very high ambient temperature should receive sodium chloride supplements. Attention to ventilation and air-conditioning is essential; fans are also of value.... heat stroke

Linn.

Family: Papilionaceae; Fabaceae.

Habitat: Mediterranean region and Asia Minor. Dried plant and flowers are imported into Mumbai from Persian Gulf.

English: Arabian or French Lavender.

Unani: Ustukhuddus, Alfaajan.

Folk: Dhaaru.

Action: Flowers—antidepressive, sedative, anticonvulsant, carminative, antispasmodic, antibacterial, antiseptic. Used in depression, nervous headache, sluggish circulation, physical and mental exhaustion, insomnia, epilepsy, neuralgia and rheumatic affections.

Oil—rubefacient, antimicrobial. Used for nervous palpitations, giddiness, spasm and colic. Relieves sprains, neuralgia and rheumatism; rubbed for stimulating paralysed limbs. Applied to sores, burns, scalds and varicose veins.

Plant—used for the treatment of epilepsy and chronic sinusitis in Unani medicine.

Aerial parts of the plant contain oleanolic, ursolic and vergatic acid, beta-sitosterol, alpha-amyrin and its acetate, lupeol, erythrodiol, luteolin, acacetin and vitexin.

The leaves contain polyphenols, api- genin-7-O-beta-D-glucoside, luteolin andits7-O-beta-D-glucoside, and7-O- beta-D-glucuronide, rosmarinic acid, and 6-O-caffeoyl glucose.

For depression, tincture of lavender flower (1: 5 in 50% alcohol), 60 drops per day, has been used for 4 weeks in Western herbal. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)... lavandula stoechas

a condition featuring recurrent episodes of acute distress, mental confusion, and fear of impending death or disaster. The core symptoms of anxiety are often present in an acute panic attack (palpitations, sweating, and tremor). Overbreathing (hyperventilation) often makes the attack worse and can cause tingling in the hands and arms and giddiness. These attacks last ten minutes or less and usually self-terminate; they are especially common in people with *agoraphobia. Treatment is with *antidepressant drugs and *cognitive behavioural therapy. *Anxiety management can also be helpful.... panic disorder

n. an *antimuscarinic drug used to reduce muscle tremor and rigidity in parkinsonism. Common side-effects include dry mouth, blurred vision, and giddiness.... procyclidine

The daily requirement of iron for an adult is 12 mg, and 15–20 mg for an adult woman during pregnancy. This is well covered by an ordinary diet, so that by itself it is not a common cause. But if there is a steady loss of blood, as a result of heavy menstrual loss or ‘bleeding piles’, the intake of iron in the diet may not be su?cient to maintain adequate formation of haemoglobin.

Symptoms These depend upon whether the anaemia is sudden in onset, as in severe haemorrhage, or gradual. In all cases, however, the striking sign is pallor, the depth of which depends upon the severity of the anaemia. The colour of the skin may be misleading, except in cases due to severe haemorrhage, as the skin of many Caucasian people is normally pale. The best guide is the colour of the internal lining of the eyelid. When the onset of the anaemia is sudden, the patient complains of weakness and giddiness, and loses consciousness if he or she tries to stand or sit up. The breathing is rapid and distressed, the pulse is rapid and the blood pressure is low. In chronic cases the tongue is often sore (GLOSSITIS), and the nails of the ?ngers may be brittle and concave instead of convex (koilonychia). In some cases, particularly in women, the Plummer-Vinson syndrome is present: this consists of di?culty in swallowing and may be accompanied by huskiness; in these cases glossitis is also present. There may be slight enlargement of the SPLEEN, and there is usually some diminution in gastric acidity.

CHANGES IN THE BLOOD The characteristic change is a diminution in both the haemoglobin and the red cell content of the blood. There is a relatively greater fall in the haemoglobin than in the red cell count. If the blood is examined under a microscope, the red cells are seen to be paler and smaller than normal. These small red cells are known as microcytes.

Treatment consists primarily of giving suf?cient iron by mouth to restore, and then maintain, a normal blood picture. The main iron preparation now used is ferrous sulphate, 200 mg, thrice daily after meals. When the blood picture has become normal, the dosage is gradually reduced. A preparation of iron is available which can be given intravenously, but this is only used in cases which do not respond to iron given by mouth, or in cases in which it is essential to obtain a quick response.

If, of course, there is haemorrhage, this must be arrested, and if the loss of blood has been severe it may be necessary to give a blood transfusion (see TRANSFUSION – Transfusion of blood). Care must be taken to ensure that the patient is having an adequate diet. If there is any underlying metabolic, oncological, toxic or infective condition, this, of course, must be adequately treated after appropriate investigations.

Megaloblastic hyperchromic anaemia There are various forms of anaemia of this type, such as those due to nutritional de?ciencies, but the most important is that known as pernicious anaemia.

PERNICIOUS ANAEMIA An autoimmune disease in which sensitised lymphocytes (see LYMPHOCYTE) destroy the PARIETAL cells of the stomach. These cells normally produce INTRINSIC FACTOR, the carrier protein for vitamin B12 (see APPENDIX 5: VITAMINS) that permits its absorption in the terminal part of the ILEUM. Lack of the factor prevents vitamin B12 absorption and this causes macrocytic (or megaloblastic) anaemia. The disorder can affect men and women, usually those over the age of 40; onset is insidious so it may be well advanced before medical advice is sought. The skin and MUCOSA become pale, the tongue is smooth and atrophic and is accompanied by CHEILOSIS. Peripheral NEUROPATHY is often present, resulting in PARAESTHESIA and numbness and sometimes ATAXIA. A rare complication is subacute combined degeneration of the SPINAL CORD.

In 1926 two Americans, G R Minot and W P Murphy, discovered that pernicious anaemia, a previously fatal condition, responded to treatment with liver which provides the absent intrinsic factor. Normal development requires a substance known as extrinsic factor, and this depends on the presence of intrinsic factor for its absorption from the gut. The disease is characterised in the blood by abnormally large red cells (macrocytes) which vary in shape and size, while the number of white cells (LEUCOCYTES) diminishes. A key diagnostic ?nd is the presence of cells in the BONE MARROW.

Treatment consists of injections of vitamin B12 in the form of hydroxocobalamin which must be continued for life.

Aplastic anaemia is a disease in which the red blood corpuscles are very greatly reduced, and in which no attempt appears to be made in the bone marrow towards their regeneration. It is more accurately called hypoplastic anaemia as the degree of impairment of bone-marrow function is rarely complete. The cause in many cases is not known, but in rather less than half the cases the condition is due to some toxic substance, such as benzol or certain drugs, or ionising radiations. The patient becomes very pale, with a tendency to haemorrhages under the skin and mucous membranes, and the temperature may at times be raised. The red blood corpuscles diminish steadily in numbers. Treatment consists primarily of regular blood transfusions. Although the disease is often fatal, the outlook has improved in recent years: around 25 per cent of patients recover when adequately treated, and others survive for several years. In severe cases promising results are being reported from the use of bone-marrow transplantation.

Haemolytic anaemia results from the excessive destruction, or HAEMOLYSIS, of the red blood cells. This may be the result of undue fragility of the red blood cells, when the condition is known as congenital haemolytic anaemia, or of acholuric JAUNDICE.

Sickle-cell anaemia A form of anaemia characteristically found in people of African descent, so-called because of the sickle shape of the red blood cells. It is caused by the presence of the abnormal HAEMOGLOBIN, haemoglobin S, due to AMINO ACID substitutions in their polypeptide chains, re?ecting a genetic mutation. Deoxygenation of haemoglobin S leads to sickling, which increases the blood viscosity and tends to obstruct ?ow, thereby increasing the sickling of other cells. THROMBOSIS and areas of tissue INFARCTION may follow, causing severe pain, swelling and tenderness. The resulting sickle cells are more fragile than normal red blood cells, and have a shorter life span, hence the anaemia. Advice is obtainable from the Sickle Cell Society.... inadequate intake of iron

Linn.

Family: Lythraceae.

Habitat: Native to Arabia and Persia; now cultivated mainly in Haryana and Gujarat; to a small extent in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

English: Henna.

Ayurvedic: Madayanti, Madayan- tikaa, Mendika, Ranjaka.

Unani: Hinaa, Mehndi.

Siddha/Tamil: Marudum.

Action: Leaves—astringent, antihaemorrhagic, antispasmodic, oxytocic, antifertility, antifungal, antibacterial. Used externally to treat skin infections (tinea); also as a hair conditioner.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia indicated the use of the leaves in dysuria, jaundice, bleeding disorders, ulcers, prurigo and other obstinate skin diseases. The leaf is also recommended in giddiness and vertigo.

The leaves contain naphthoqui- nones, in particular lawsone; couma- rins (laxanthone, I, II and III); flavono- ids, luteolin and its 7-O-glucoside, acacetin-7-O-glucoside; beta-sitoste- rol-3-O-glucoside; all parts contain tannins.

Chloroform and ethanol extracts of leaves exhibit promising antibacterial activity against Shigella and Vibrio cholerae. Leaf extract shows antifun- gal activity against several pathogenic bacteria and fungi.

Henna paint is used as a medicament for treatment of hands and feet for mycosis. The antimycotic activity is due to lawsone, a naphthoquinone.

The ethanol-water (1 : 1) extract of the stem bark shows hepatoprotective activity CCl4-induced liver toxicity. Stembarkand root, probably due to the presence of isoplumbagin and lawsar- itol, exhibit anti-inflammatory activity experimentally.

Evidence shows Henna leaf might be able to decrease the formation of sickled cells in individuals with sickle cell anaemia. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)

Dosage: Leaves—5-10 ml juice. (API, Vol. IV.)... lawsonia inermis

Linn.

Habitat: Cultivated and naturalized throuhout India. Wild in the Sub-Himalayan tract up to 1,800 m.

English: Persian Lilac, Pride of India.

Ayurvedic: Mahaanimba, Ramyaka, Dreka. (Neem is equated with Azadirachta indica.)

Unani: Bakaayan.

Siddha/Tamil: Malaivembu.

Action: Leaf—diuretic, anthelmintic, antilithic. Leaf and flower—febrifuge, sedative, em- menagogue. Leaf, fruit and stem bark—antileprotic. Leaf, flower, fruit, root bark—deobstruent, resolvent. Seed oil—antirheumatic, insecticidal. Leaves, bark and fruit—insect repellent. Gum— used in spleen enlargement. Heart- wood—an aqueous extract, used in asthma.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia indicated the use of the dried stem bark in increased frequency and turbidity of urine, skin diseases, nausea, emesis, asthma, gastroenteritis, giddiness and vertigo.

The bitter constituents are present exclusively in the pericarp, not in the kernel as in the case of Neem fruit. Bakayanin has been isolated from the pericarp (bitter in dilutions of 1 in 10,000).

The heartwood also yielded bakaya- nin and a lactone, bakalactone. Leaves gave quercitrin and rutin and tetranor- triterpenoids, salanin and vilasinin.

An infusion of the bark is effective against ascariasis. The activity resides in the inner bark which is bitter but not astringent (outer bark contains tannins and is astringent).

The ethanolic extract of the leaves is fungicidal and antibacterial. The activity is attributed to azadrine and me- liotannic acid.

The fruits are considered poisonous to man and animals; contain melianon- inol, melianol, melianone, meliandi- ol, vanillin and vanillic acid. Vanillic acid analogues show micro- and macro-filaricidal activity.

Gedunin, present in the plant, inhibits Plasmodium falciparum, while the seed extract does not show anti- malarial activity against P. berghei.

The plant exhibited sedative and psychostimulant properties. Antitu- mour and antiviral activities have also been reported. Intraperitoneal administration of partially purified extracts of fresh green leaves reduced the spread of Tacaribe virus (that causes typical encephalitis) to kidneys, liver and brain in inoculated neonatal mice.

Dosage: Stem bark—5-10 g (API, Vol. IV.); leaf, seed, root—50- 100 ml decoction; 3-5 g powder. (CCRAS.)... melia azedarach

Named after the Frenchman, Prosper Menière, who ?rst described it in 1861, the disease is characterised by TINNITUS, deafness and intermittent attacks of VERTIGO. The ?rst manifestation is usually deafness on one side; then – as a rule, many months later – there is a sudden attack, without any warning, of intense vertigo. The acute giddiness usually lasts for two or three hours with some unsteadiness persisting for a few days. The time interval between attacks varies from a week to a few months. When they do recur, they tend to do so in clusters. The tinnitus, which tends to be low-pitched, comes on at about the same time as the deafness; it is often described as being like rushing water or escaping steam. The deafness becomes gradually worse until it is complete. The condition is due to excessive ?uid in the labyrinth of the ears (see EAR). The cause of this accumulation is not known, although it has been suggested that it might be a form of ALLERGY, or might be due to spasm of small blood vessels. The disorder is diagnosed from AUDIOMETRY, the CALORIC TEST and other investigations.

Treatment Acute vertigo symptoms can sometimes be alleviated with drugs such as CYCLIZINE HYDROCHLORIDE and NICOTINIC ACID, but the disorder is notoriously di?cult to treat and no certain cure is available. Surgical decompression of the ?uid in the ear’s balancing mechanism may relieve vertigo and prevent the disease from worsening. The vestibular nerve to the ear can also be cut to relieve vertigo while preserving hearing.... menière’s disease

A characteristic set of symptoms experienced by many people when subjected to the constant changes of position caused, for example, by the pitching and rolling motion of a vessel at sea.

Depression, giddiness, nausea and vomiting are the most prominent.

Causes Although the vast majority of people appear to be liable to this ailment at sea, they do not all suffer alike. Many endure acute distress, whilst others are simply conscious of transient feelings of nausea and discomfort. A smaller proportion of people suffer from air and car sickness. The symptoms are a result of over-stimulation of the organs of balance in the inner EAR by continuous changes in the body’s position. The movements of the horizon worsen this situation.

Symptoms The symptoms generally show themselves soon after the journey has started, by the onset of giddiness and discomfort in the head, together with a sense of nausea and sinking at the stomach, which soon develops into intense sickness and vomiting. Most people recover quickly when the motion stops.

Treatment Innumerable preventives and remedies have been proposed. Cinnarizine 30 mg orally is useful 2 hours before travel, then 15 mg every 8 hours during the journey if necessary. Dimenhydrinate and promethazine are also commonly taken for motion sickness.... motion (travel) sickness

(Roxb.) Royle.

Synonym: Anilema scapiflorum Wt. A. tuberosum Buch.-Ham.

Family: Commelinaceae.

Habitat: Temperate and tropical Himalaya, upper Gangetic plains and Peninsular India.

Folk: Siyaah Musli; Sismulia (Gujarat); Kureli.

Action: Root—astringent, febrifuge; used in headache, giddiness, jaundice. Root bark—diuretic, antispasmodic, (used in asthma, colic, infantile convulsions.)... murdannia scapiflora

(Linn.) Silva Manso.

Synonym: Ipomoea turpethum R. Br.

Family: Convolvulaceae.

Habitat: Throughout India up to 1,000 m; occasionally grown in gardens.

English: Indian Jalap, Turpeth.

Ayurvedic: Trivrta, Trivrtaa, Trib- handi, Triputaa, Saralaa, Suvahaa,

Rechani, Nishotra, Kumbha, Kaalaa, Shyaama, Shyaamaa.

Unani: Turbud, Nishoth.

Siddha/Tamil: Karunchivadai.

Action: Root—purgative, antiinflammatory (particularly used in rheumatic and paralytic affections; also in fevers, oedema, hepatic and haemophilic diseases).

White Turpeth is preferred to Black Turpeth as cathartic; the latter produces drastic purgation and causes vomiting, fainting and giddiness. White Turpeth is derived from Mars- denia tenacissima in folk medicine.

The active principle of O. turpethum is a glycosidic resin present in the drug up to 10%. It is similar to jalap resin and is concentrated mostly in the root bark. It contains an ether insoluble glycoside, turpethin, which constitutes about half of the resin and two ether soluble gly- cosides, alpha-and beta-turpethein (8 and 6% respectively).

Dosage: Root—1-3 g powder. (API, Vol. III.)... operculina turpethum

Multiple sclerosis is a progressive disease of the BRAIN and SPINAL CORD, which, although slow in its onset, in time may produce marked symptoms such as PARALYSIS and tremors (see TREMOR), and may ultimately result in a severely disabled invalid. The disorder consists of hardened patches, from the size of a pin-head to that of a pea or larger, scattered here and there irregularly through the brain and spinal cord. Each patch is made up of a mass of the CONNECTIVE TISSUE (neuroglia), which should be present only in su?cient amount to bind the nerve-cells and ?bres together. In the earliest stage, the insulating sheaths (MYELIN) of the nerve-?bres in the hardened patches break up, are absorbed, and leave the nerve-?bres bare, the connective tissue being later formed between these.

Cause Although this is one of the most common diseases of the central nervous system in Europe – there are around 50,000 affected individuals in Britain alone – the cause is still not known. The disease comes on in young people (onset being rare after the age of 40), apparently without previous illness. The ratio of women-to-men victims is 3:2. It is more common in ?rst and second children than in those later in birth order, and in small rather than big families. There may be a hereditary factor for MS, which could be an autoimmune disorder: the body’s defence system attacks the myelin in the central nervous system as if it were a ‘foreign’ tissue.

Symptoms These depend greatly upon the part of the brain and cord affected by the sclerotic patches. Temporary paralysis of a limb, or of an eye muscle, causing double vision, and tremors upon exertion, ?rst in the affected parts, and later in all parts of the body, are early symptoms. Sti?ness of the lower limbs causing the toes to catch on small irregularities in the ground and trip the person in walking, is often an annoying symptom and one of the ?rst to be noticed. Great activity is shown in the re?ex movements obtained by striking the tendons and by stroking the soles of the feet. The latter re?ex shows a characteristic sign (Babinski sign) in which the great toe bends upwards and the other toes spread apart as the sole is stroked, instead of the toes collectively bending downwards as in the normal person. Tremor of the eye movements (nystagmus) is usually found. Trembling handwriting, interference with the functions of the bladder, giddiness, and a peculiar ‘staccato’ or ‘scanning’ speech are common symptoms at a later stage. Numbness and tingling in the extremities occur commonly, particularly in the early stages of the disease. As the disease progresses, the paralyses, which were transitory at ?rst, now become con?rmed, often with great rigidity in the limbs. In many patients the disease progresses very slowly.

People with multiple sclerosis, and their relatives, can obtain help and guidance from the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Another helpful organisation is the Multiple Sclerosis Resources Centre. Those with sexual or marital problems arising out of the illness can obtain information from SPOD (Association to Aid the Sexual and Personal Relationships of People with a Disability). (See APPENDIX 2: ADDRESSES: SOURCES OF INFORMATION, ADVICE, SUPPORT AND SELFHELP.)

Treatment is di?cult, because the most that can be done is to lead a life as free from strain as possible, to check the progress of the disease. The use of INTERFERON beta seems to slow the progress of MS and this drug is licensed for use in the UK for patients with relapsing, remitting MS over two years, provided they can walk unaided – a controversial restriction on this (expensive) treatment. CORTICOSTEROIDS may be of help to some patients.

The NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR CLINICAL EXCELLENCE (NICE) ruled in 2001 that the use of the drugs interferon beta and glatiramer acetate for patients with multiple sclerosis was not cost-e?ective but recommended that the Department of Health, the National Assembly for Wales and the drug manufacturers should consider ways of making the drugs available in a cost-e?ective way. Subsequently the government said that it would consider funding a ‘risk-sharing’ scheme in which supply of drugs to patients would be funded only if treatment trials in individuals with MS showed that they were e?ective.

The Department of Health has asked NICE to assess two CANNABIS derivatives as possible treatments for multiple sclerosis and the relief of post-operative pain. Trials of an under-thetongue spray and a tablet could, if successsful, lead to the two drugs being available around 2005.

It is important to keep the nerves and muscles functioning, and therefore the patient should remain at work as long as he or she is capable of doing it, and in any case should exercise regularly.... multiple sclerosis (ms)

Roxb.

Synonym: S. sara Roxb. S. bengalense Retz. Erianthus munja Jesw.

Family: Gramineae; Poaceae.

Habitat: Throughout the plains and low hills of India.

Ayurvedic: Munja, Bhadramuja, Vaana, Shara, Sara, Raamshara.

Siddha/Tamil: Munjipul, Munjap- pullu.

Folk: Sarpata.

Action: Refrigerant. Useful in burning sensation, thirst, dyscrasia, erysipelas and urinary complaints.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recommends the use of the root in dysuria, giddiness and vertigo.

The stem is a good source of furfural (yield 5.67%, dry basis). It yields 19.5% (on dry weight) of reducing sugars when digested with sulphuric acid; glucose, xylose, galactose and rhamnose have been identified in the hydrolysate which contains 34.5% fermentable sugars. (It can be used as a potential source of alcohol.)

In Kerala, Saccharum arundinaceum Retz. is used as Shara for dysuria, diseases due to vitiated blood, erysipelas, leucorrhoea and piles. The grass is known as Raamshara in North India. It can also be used for the production of furfural (yield 5.1% dry basis) and yields 24.1% of reducing sugars when digested with sulphuric acid. The hy- drolysate contains 65% of fermentable sugars, viz. glucose, xylose, galactose and rhamnose.

Dosage: Root—20-50 g for decoction; 6-10 g powder. (API, Vol. III.)... saccharum munja

Wall. ex DC.

Synonym: S. candollei DC.

Family: Umbelliferae; Apiaceae.

Habitat: The Himalayas from Kashmir to Nepal at altitudes of 1,800-4,200 m.

Ayurvedic: Muraa, Surabhi, Daitya, Gandhakuti, Gandhavati. (Substitute for Nardostachys jatamansi.)

Siddha/Tamil: Mural.

Folk: Bhuutakeshi (Kashmir), Muur (Garhwal).

Action: Roots—sedative, analgesic.

Isoimperatorin and oxypeucedanin have been isolated as major inotropic constituents from the rhizomes.

The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia ofIn- dia recommends the root in syncope, giddiness, also for asthma.

Dosage: Root—1-3 g powder. (API, Vol. II.)... selinum tenuifolium

Winter vomiting disease, or epidemic nausea and vomiting, is a condition caused by subtypes of the genus Norwalk-like virus and is characterised by nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and giddiness, which occurs during the winter. Outbreaks of it usually involve whole families or may affect communities like schools. The incubation period is 24–48 hours, and attacks seldom persist for more than 72 hours. In England and Wales in 2000, more than 1,600 infections were reported compared to more than 16,400 cases of salmonella infections and 56,420 of CAMPYLOBACTER. However, in England it is estimated that around 1,500 times more people are infected in the community than are reported. Humans are the only known hosts of the virus and infection can be acquired via contaminated food or water or, more commonly, from an infected individual via the faeco-oral route, aerosol-spread and FOMITES.... winter vomiting disease

n. a tropical disease caused by the parasitic nematode Dracunculus medinensis (see guinea worm) in the tissues beneath the skin. The disease is transmitted to humans via contaminated drinking water. The initial symptoms, which appear a year after infection, result from the migration of the worm to the skin surface and include itching, giddiness, difficulty in breathing, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Later a large blister forms on the skin, usually on the legs or arms, which eventually bursts and may ulcerate and become infected. Dracontiasis is common in India and West Africa but also occurs in Arabia, Iran, East Africa, and Afghanistan. Treatment involves extracting the worm or administering anthelmintics.... dracontiasis

A condition in which the affected person loses the power of balancing him or herself, and has a false sensation as to his or her own movements or those of surrounding objects. The power of balancing depends upon sensations derived partly through the sense of touch, partly from the eyes, but mainly from the semicircular canals of the internal EAR – the vestibular mechanism. In general, vertigo is due to some interference with this vestibular ocular re?ex mechanism or with the centres in the cerebellum and cerebrum (see BRAIN) with which it is connected. Giddiness is often associated with headache, nausea and vomiting.

Causes The simplest cause of vertigo is some mechanical disturbance of the body affecting the ?uid in the internal ear; such as that produced by moving in a swing with the eyes shut, the motion of a boat causing sea-sickness, or a sudden fall. (See also MOTION (TRAVEL) SICKNESS.)

Another common positional variety is benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) caused by sudden change in the position of the head; this causes small granular masses in the cupola of the posterior semicircular canal in the inner ear to be displaced. It may subside spontaneously within a few weeks but can recur. Sometimes altering the position of the head so as to facilitate return of the crystals to the cupola will stop the vertigo.

The cause which produces a severe and sudden giddiness is MENIÈRE’S DISEASE, a condition in which there is loss of function of the vestibular mechanism of the inner ear. An acute labyrinthitis – in?ammation of the labyrinth of the ear – may result from viral infection and produce a severe vertigo lasting 2–5 days. Because it often occurs in epidemics it is often called epidemic vertigo. Vertigo is sometimes produced by the removal of wax from the ear, or even by syringing out the ear. (See EAR, DISEASES OF.)

A severe upset in the gastrointestinal tract may cause vertigo. Refractive errors in the eyes, an attack of MIGRAINE, a mild attack of EPILEPSY, and gross diseases of the brain, such as tumours, are other causes acting more directly upon the central nervous system. Finally, giddiness may be due to some disorder of the circulation, for example, reduced blood supply to the brain produced by fainting, or by disease of the heart.

Treatment While the attack lasts, this requires the sufferer to lie down in a darkened, quiet room. SEDATIVES have most in?uence in diminishing giddiness when it is distressing. After the attack is over, the individual should be examined to establish the cause and, if necessary, to be given appropriate treatment.

Vertigo and nausea linked to Menière’s disease – or following surgery on the middle ear – can be hard to treat. HYOSCINE, ANTI HISTAMINE DRUGS and PHENOTHIAZINES – for example, prochlorperazine – are often e?ective in preventing and treating these disorders. Cinnarizine and betahistine have been marketed as e?ective drugs for Menière’s disease; for acute attacks, cyclizine or prochlorperazine given by intramuscular injection or rectally can be of value. Research in America is exploring the use of virtual-reality technology to change subjects’ visual perception of the outside world gradually during several 30-minute sessions, helping them to adjust to the abnormal sensations that occur during an attack. Early results are promising.... vertigo

a condition characterized by inappropriate and sometimes severe anxiety, without adequate cause, that lasts for at least six months. It affects about 2% of the population, women twice as often as men, and often develops in early adult life. It can, however, start at any age. There is a hereditary tendency to develop the disorder and about 25% of immediate relatives of sufferers are also affected. The disorder is thought to be caused by a disturbance of the functions of neurotransmitters, such as adrenaline or GABA, in the frontal lobes or the *limbic system of the brain. Symptoms affect all parts of the body. Palpitations, sweating, tremor, and dry mouth are core symptoms; additional symptoms include giddiness, *bruxism, restlessness, fatigability, breathlessness, lightheadedness, headaches, pins and needles, chest pain, fear of imminent death or losing control, diarrhoea, flushing, dysphagia, cramps, and muscle ache. Treatment includes *cognitive behavioural therapy and medication (*SSRIs or *SNRIs).... generalized anxiety disorder

a painful disorder of the cornea of the eye due to excessive exposure to ultraviolet light reflected from the snow. Recovery usually follows within 24 hours of covering the eyes.

SNRI (selective serotonin and noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor) any one of a class of *antidepressant drugs that increase the availability of *serotonin and *noradrenaline by blocking the reabsorption of these neurotransmitters by nerve endings in the brain. Side-effects include gastrointestinal disturbances, giddiness, nausea, and sweating. The group includes venlafaxine (also licensed for the treatment of *generalized anxiety disorder) and duloxetine (also licensed for treating generalized anxiety disorder, diabetic neuropathy, and stress *incontinence in women).... snow blindness

Atheroma is a name given to the disease where fatty and mineral deposits attach themselves to the walls of the arteries. Usually starts from a deposit of cholesterol which leaks into the inner surface of the artery causing a streak of fat to appear within the wall. As the fatty streak grows deeper tissue within the arterial wall is broken down and the mechanism for clotting blood is triggered. The result is formation of atheromatous plaque that may clog an artery, precipitate a clot (known as an embolism) and travel to a smaller artery which could become blocked. The end result of atherosclerosis is invariably arteriosclerosis in which thickening and hardening leads to loss of elasticity.

Atherosclerosis can be the forerunner of degenerative heart and kidney disease, with rise in blood pressure.

A study of Australian ’flu epidemic diseases revealed influenza as a major cause of cardiovascular disease and in particular, atherosclerosis.

Causes. Excessive smoking and alcohol, fatty foods, hereditary weakness, stress and emotional tension that release excessive adrenalin into the bloodstream. Toxic effects of environmental poisons (diesel fumes). Fevers.

Symptoms. Cold hands and feet, headache, giddiness. Diminished mental ability due to thickening of arteries in the brain. Pain on exertion, breathlessness and fatigue. Diagnosis of atheroma of main arteries: by placing stethoscope over second right intercostal space, half inch from the sternum, the second aortic sound will be pronounced.

Treatment. Surface vasodilators, Cardioactives. Anti-cholesterols.

Alternatives. Teas. To lower cholesterol levels and shrink hardened plaque: Alfalfa, Chamomile, Borage, Olive leaves, Mint, Nettles, Marigold, Garlic, Lime flowers, Yarrow, Horsetail, Hawthorn, Ginkgo, Orange Tree leaves, Meadowsweet, Eucalyptus leaves, Ispaghula, Bromelain. Rutin (Buckwheat tea).

Artichoke leaves. Spanish traditional. 2 teaspoons to each cup of water; simmer 2 minutes. Drink cold: 1 cup 2-3 times daily.

Mistletoe leaves. 1-2 teaspoons to each cup cold water steeped 8 hours (overnight). Half-1 cup thrice daily.

Tablets, or capsules. Garlic, Mistletoe, Poke root, Rutin, Hawthorn, Motherwort, Ginkgo, Bamboo gum. Liquid Extracts. Mix Hawthorn 2; Mistletoe 1; Barberry 1; Rutin 1; Poke root half. Dose: 30-60 drops thrice daily.

Tinctures. Mix: Hawthorn 2; Cactus flowers 2; Mistletoe 1; Capsicum half. Dose: 1-2 teaspoons thrice daily in water before meals.

Powders. Mix equal parts: Bamboo gum, Hawthorn, Mistletoe, Rutin, Ginger. Fill 00 capsules. Dose: 2-4 capsules, or quarter to half a teaspoon (375-750mg) thrice daily before meals.

Threatened stroke. Tincture Arnica BPC (1949): 3-5 drops in water morning and evening. Practitioner only.

Evening Primrose oil. Favourable results reported. (Maxepa)

Diet. Vegetarian. Low fat. Low salt. High fibre. Lecithin, polyunsaturated oils, artichokes, oily fish (see entry). Linseed on breakfast cereal. Garlic at meals, or Garlic tablets or capsules at night to reduce cholesterol.

Vitamins. A, B-complex, B6, B12, C (2g), E (400iu), daily.

Minerals. Chromium, Iodine, Potassium, Selenium, Magnesium, Manganese, Zinc.

“A man is as old as his arteries” – Thomas Sydenham, 17th century physician.

“A man’s arteries are as old as he makes them” – Robert Bell MD, 19th century physician. ... atherosclerosis

Lavandula angustifolia

FAMILY: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

SYNONYMS: L. vera, L. officinalis, garden lavender, common lavender

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: An evergreen woody shrub, up to 1 metre tall, with pale green, narrow, linear leaves and flowers on blunt spikes of a beautiful violet-blue colour. The whole plant is highly aromatic.

DISTRIBUTION: Indigenous to the Mediterranean region, now cultivated all over the world. The oil is produced mainly in France, also Spain, Italy, England, Australia, Tasmania, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Russia, Bulgaria, Greece, etc.

OTHER SPECIES: There are many varieties of lavender; L. angustifolia is divided into two subspecies – L. delphinensis and L. fragrans. French lavender (L. stoechas) is a smaller shrub with dark violet flowers; see also entries on spike lavender, lavandin and the Botanical Classification section. The so-called cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus) and the sea lavender (Statice caroliniana) belong to different botanical families.

HERBAL/FOLK TRADITION: Lavender has a well-established tradition as a folk remedy, and its scent is still familiar to almost everyone. It was used to ‘comfort the stomach’ but above all as a cosmetic water, an insect repellent, to scent linen, and as a reviving yet soothing oil ‘The essential oil, or a spirit of lavender made from it, proves admirably restorative and tonic against faintness, palpitations of a nervous sort, weak giddiness, spasms and colic ... A few drops of lavender in a hot footbath has a marked influence in relieving fatigue. Outwardly applied, it relieves toothache, neuralgia, sprains and rheumatism. In hysteria, palsy and similar disorders of debility and lack of nerve power, lavender will act as a powerful stimulant.’.

ACTIONS: Analgesic, anticonvulsive, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antirheumatic, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antitoxic, carminative, cholagogue, choleretic, cicatrisant, cordial, cytophylactic, deodorant, diuretic, emmenagogue, hypotensive, insecticide, nervine, parasiticide, rubefacient, sedative, stimulant, sudorific, tonic, vermifuge, vulnerary.

EXTRACTION: 1. Essential oil by steam distillation from the fresh flowering tops. 2. An absolute and concrete are also produced by solvent extraction in smaller quantities.

CHARACTERISTICS: 1. The oil is a colourless to pale yellow liquid with a sweet, floral herbaceous scent and balsamic-woody undertone; it has a more fragrant floral scent compared to spike lavender. It blends well with most oils, especially citrus and florals; also cedarwood, clove, clary sage, pine, geranium, labdanum, oakmoss, vetiver, patchouli, etc. 2. The absolute is a dark green viscous liquid with a very sweet herbaceous, somewhat floral odour.

PRINCIPAL CONSTITUENTS: Over 100 constituents including linalyl acetate (up to 40 per cent), linalol, lavandulol, lavandulyl acetate, terpineol, cineol, limonene, ocimene, caryophyllene, among others. Constituents vary according to source: high altitudes generally produce more esters.

SAFETY DATA: Non-toxic, non-irritant, non-sensitizing.

AROMATHERAPY/HOME: USE Generally regarded as the most versatile essence therapeutically:

Skin care: Abscesses, acne, allergies, athlete’s foot, boils, bruises, burns, dandruff, dermatitis, earache, eczema, inflammations, insect bites and stings, insect repellent, lice, psoriasis, ringworm, scabies, sores, spots, all skin types, sunburn, wounds.

Circulation muscles and joints: Lumbago, muscular aches and pains, rheumatism, sprains.

Respiratory system: Asthma, bronchitis, catarrh, halitosis, laryngitis, throat infections, whooping cough.

Digestive system: Abdominal cramps, colic, dyspepsia, flatulence, nausea.

Genito-urinary system: Cystitis, dysmenorrhoea, leucorrhoea.

Immune system: ’Flu.

Nervous system: Depression, headache, hypertension, insomnia, migraine, nervous tension and stress-related conditions, PMT, sciatica, shock, vertigo.

OTHER USES: Used in pharmaceutical antiseptic ointments and as a fragrance. Extensively employed in all types of soaps, lotions, detergents, cosmetics, perfumes, etc, especially toilet waters and colognes. Employed as a flavouring agent in most categories of food as well as alcoholic and soft drinks.... lavender, true