Household Remedy Research Articles

The Causes of Prehospital Delay in Myocardial Infarction: Well functioning lay system

The authors complain about the fact that patients with myocardial infarction alert the rescue services too late, that they ignore symptoms, and that they seek help from all the wrong parties (family, general practitioner). This complaint is ubiquitous, and, aware of how unsuccessful all efforts thus far have been, we should think about whether the problem is articulated in the right way. Everyday, we notice physical signals; these include pain stimuli for which no clear explanation exists. We either ignore these stimuli, apply plausible explanations, or treat them with household remedies or self medication. We may talk to partners or friends, whose advice may help us cope. In this layperson’s system, most health problems are successfully dealt with. Once we have reached an age when coronary heart disease becomes common, we have applied these strategies for many years and with great success, and that includes chest pain. All ailments have disappeared, even without consulting a(n) (emergency) doctor. What the authors are complaining about is thus an extremely limited number of cases in which the functional layperson’s system fails owing to misinterpretation. If we want to lower the threshold for people to seek professional help we will also do so for people who are not ill; we should think long and hard about this (the authors are familiar with the problem of somatization). The current data do not allow the conclusion that the decision is delayed if general practitioners are consulted. This is a scenario of confounding by indication: people choose this path especially in case of uncertainty. Since they fear calling out the emergency rescue services, and no campaign in the world will change that, a call to the general practitioner will in fact accelerate the alarm.

Neuroprotective efficacy and therapeutic window of curcuma oil: in rat embolic stroke model

BackgroundAmong the naturally occurring compounds, turmeric from the dried rhizome of the plant Curcuma longa has long been used extensively as a condiment and a household remedy all over Southeast Asia. Turmeric contains essential oil, yellow pigments (curcuminoids), starch and oleoresin. The present study was designed for investigating the neuroprotective efficacy and the time window for effective therapeutic use of Curcuma oil (C. oil).MethodIn the present study, the effect of post ischemic treatment of C.oil after ischemia induced by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in the rat was observed. C.oil (500 mg/kg body wt) was given 4 hrs post ischemia. The significant effect on lesion size as visualized by using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and neuroscore was still evident when treatment was started 4 hours after insult. Animals were assessed for behavioral deficit scores after 5 and 24 hours of ischemia. Subsequently, the rats were sacrificed for evaluation of infarct and edema volumes and other parameters.ResultsC.oil ameliorated the ischemia induced neurological functional deficits and the infarct and edema volumes measured after 5 and 24 hrs of ischemia. After 24 hrs, immunohistochemical and Western blot analysis demonstrated that the expression of iNOS, cytochrome c and Bax/Bcl-2 were altered after the insult, and antagonized by treatment with C.oil. C.oil significantly reduced nitrosative stress, tended to correct the decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and also affected caspase-3 activation finally apoptosis.ConclusionHere we demonstrated that iNOS-derived NO produced during ischemic injury was crucial for the up-regulation of ischemic injury targets. C.oil down-regulates these targets this coincided with an increased survival rate of neurons.

Bioavailability Enhancement and Targeting of Stomach Tumors Using Gastro-Retentive Floating Drug Delivery System of Curcumin—“A Technical Note”

Effective delivery of the drugs to the stomach, for local action and treatment of gastric disorders such as gastric cancer, gastric ulcers can be achieved by floating dosage forms like single and multiple unit gas generating systems, hollow microspheres, hydrodynamically balanced systems, swelling or expanding systems, mucoadhesive systems and other gastroretentive dosage forms (1). Curcumin is a major pigment of the Curcuma species, commonly used as a yellow coloring and flavoring agent in foods particularly in South Asia (2). Use of curcumin in traditional medicine and as a household remedy for various diseases, including biliary disorders, anorexia, cough, diabetic wounds, hepatic disorders; rheumatism and sinusitis (3) has been well documented. The novel trends in medicine have led to extensive investigations to establish the wide spectrum of biological and pharmacological actions of this phytochemical. Curcumin has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, anticoagulant, antiarthritic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiprotozoal, antiviral, anti-Alzheimer, anti-psoriatic and neuroprotective activities (4). The efficacy, pharmacological safety, cost effectiveness of curcumin and no-dose limiting toxicity (4) has also prompted many researchers to further investigate this molecule. However, it has also been recognized that the therapeutic effectiveness of curcumin is limited due to its poor circulating bioavailability and absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. Numerous attempts have been made to improve the solubility of curcumin by complex formation or interaction with various macromolecules like gelatin, polysaccharides and cyclodextrins (5,6) preparation of solid dispersions with polyvinyl pyrrolidone (7) and prodrugs of curcumin (8). Present work was designed to improve the aqueous solubility of curcumin at acidic pH by incorporating it into β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) complex. Further to improve absorption of curcumin–β-CD complex from stomach, to target stomach tumors and to prevent degradation of curcumin in the alkaline environment of intestine, a floating drug delivery system (FDDS) with sustained release characteristics was developed.

Presence of Clostridium botulinum spores in Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile) and its relationship with infant botulism

Nowadays, infant botulism is the most important form of human botulism in some countries. This illness affects infants younger than 52 weeks of age. The infection occurs in the intestinal tract; therefore, ingestion of Clostridium botulinum spores with food is proposed. In some countries, people use chamomile tea as a household remedy for intestinal colics and given this tea to infants. Chamomile can be contaminated with C. botulinum and could be a vehicle of its spores. Our aim was to study the prevalence and spore-load of C. botulinum in chamomile. We analysed 200 samples; the 7.5% of them were contaminated with botulinum spores. However, prevalence of these spores was significantly higher in chamomile sold by weight in herbal stores (unwrapped chamomile) than prevalence in chamomile sold in tea bags ( p = 0.0055). The spore-load detected in all positive samples was 0.3–0.4 spores per gram of chamomile. We identified C. botulinum types A, B, and F in the 53.3%, 6.7%, and 13.3%, respectively. Chamomile (principally, unwrapped chamomile) is a potencial vehicle of C. botulinum spores, and ingestion of chamomile tea could represent a risk for infant botulism.

Volatility-dependent 2D IR correlation analysis of traditional Chinese medicine ‘Red Flower Oil’ preparation from different manufacturers

As a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), ‘Red Flower Oil’ preparation is widely used as a household remedy in China and Southeast Asia. Usually, the preparation is a mixture of several plant essential oils with different volatile features, such as wintergreen oil, turpentine oil and clove oil. The proportions of these plant essential oils in ‘Red Flower Oil’ vary from different manufacturers. Thus, it is important to develop a simple and rapid evaluation method for quality assurance of the preparations. Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) was applied and two-dimensional correlation infrared spectroscopy (2D IR) based on the volatile characteristic of samples was used to enhance the resolution of FT-IR spectra. 2D IR technique could, not only easily provide the composition and their volatile sequences in ‘Red flower Oil’ preparations, but also rapidly discriminate the subtle differences in products from different manufacturers. Therefore, FT-IR combined with volatility-dependent 2D IR correlation analysis provides a very fast and effective method for the quality control of essential oil mixtures in TCM.

Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding dandruff among soldiers.

To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding dandruff among soldiers. Cross-sectional study. Departments of Dermatology at Combined Military Hospitals, Abbottabad, Malir and Gujranwala from January 2006 to March 2006. Serving male soldiers posted at Abbottabad, Malir and Gujranwala Cantonments were included in the study. Convenience sampling was used to distribute the questionnaire. All soldiers included in the study were asked or assisted by the trained staff to fill the close-ended questionnaire in Urdu, which included information about demographic profile and questions relevant to the objectives of the study. The ethical requirements for the study were fulfilled. SPSS-10 was used for data management. A total of 800 serving male soldiers were surveyed. Five hundred and twenty-one soldiers (65.1%) answered yes to dandruff, whereas 279 (34.9%) replied in negative. Dandruff was considered a disease by 433 (83.1%) respondents. Hair fall (n=392, 75.2%) and scalp itching (n=380, 72.9%) were the common symptoms and 330 (63.3%) respondents were embarrassed by dandruff. Bad water (n=93, 17.8%), winter (n=40, 07.6%) and lack of sleep (n=30, 05.7%) were considered the most common causes of dandruff. Majority of the individuals (n=487, 93.4%) used different hair oils and household remedies for the treatment of dandruff. One hundred and fourteen (21.9%) and 50 (09.6%) participants consulted doctors and traditional healers respectively for their dandruff. Advertisements in electronic or print media and wall hoardings etc. influenced 213 (40.9%) respondents to use various anti-dandruff shampoos, hair tonics and oils. Dandruff is a common problem and there is a need for education programmes and formulation of a policy regarding the positive role of media on health matters.

Ask the experts

This study was designed to examine knowledge, attitude and practices with regards to burns prevention and first aid in the Indian community.A total of 83 caregivers aged 19 and 40 years (mean 29 years) participated in survey. Sixty-one percent of those who responded to the survey had some knowledge of first aid, mostly through health education at schools (59%). Very few (2%) received first aid education from health workers. Approximately 2/3 of responders (66–70%) were aware of applying cool running water to a burn and to stop drop and roll in case of a flame burn. However, the same number also listed a myriad of household remedies that they would use as first aid. 66–71% responders were aware of some situational risks in the home and community but only 27% considered young children to be at greater risk. 31% responders had an enclosed kitchen and 16% were still cooking on the floor. A large percentage (83%) cooked outside on a traditional wooden open fire. A quarter of the responders still used oil lamps on the floor and had little regard for the flammability of clothes.There was a weak positive correlation between knowledge and attitude (r-square 0.379) and attitude and practice (r-square 0.373), but no correlation between knowledge and practice (r-square 0.089).Our survey suggests that many responders have limited knowledge of effective first-aid techniques and live in high-risk environments. The major sources of first aid information were from school-based health education, social and electronic media. These resources can be utilized to further disseminate knowledge on first aid and practical prevention techniques.

Household Remedies

SUMMARY What constitutes lesbian identity and who gets to define and/or inhabit such an identity in this postmodern and mediated world? This article addresses how the structure of televisual discourse restricts and streamlines “lesbian” representations in television movies. The supposed “progress” of appearing in the virtual public spaces of television and print media may fulfill the queer impulse for visibility in opposition to cultural silence, but it may also come at the price of a depoliticization of queer life and erotic resistance. Taking notice of which deployments of “queerness” are created and supported by text of the television movie, this article seeks insight into how the queer body and queer identity are being hegemonically reconstructed for consumption by this media form.

Plants and animals utilized as medicines in the Jaú National Park (JNP), Brazilian Amazon

This article examines the therapeutic practices of the inhabitants of Jaú National Park (JNP), state of Amazonas, the most important feature of this region being its rich biodiversity associated with isolation in regard to conventional medical services. Seven months of field work were guided by methods of anthropology and botany. A total of 120 plants and 29 animals were utilized in 519 recorded uses comprising 81 therapeutic purposes. These were grouped under 15 categories of use, including: gastrointestinal disturbances, inflammatory processes, genitourinary disturbances, fever, mishaps with animals, dermatological problems, pain, osteomuscular problems and tropical diseases. Those who administer these medicines are local residents specializing in household remedies and other groups of healers such as rezadores - prayer-maker; curadores - healers; parteiras - midwives; desmintidores - masseurs and médiuns - mediums. At least 10 of the 120 plants species cited in this study are also utilized by other inhabitants of the Amazon region and for the same uses; some of these plants had already been studied from a pharmacological point of view. Furthermore, another six plants cited by the JNP caboclos belonging to the categories pain and inflammatory processes, are under investigation by groups of researchers in two Brazilian federal universities.

Common dermatoses in moderately pigmented skin: uncommon presentations

Several common dermatoses appear different in people of color. Most international literature, especially the reputed textbooks, are replete with photographs of skin diseases in fair-skinned patients. The orientation of Western dermatologists to common diseases in pigmented skin therefore is needed. The reverse is also true. Dermatologists who work in pigmented skin communities are known to have initial problems with fair skin. It is therefore important to have a judicious balance of entities seen in both of these skin types in major international literature, especially in textbooks. In addition, common dermatoses may appear strange and confusing particularly when they are in their advanced form. People with pigmented skin living in developing countries often present with diseases that appear greatly altered, in fact, vitiated because of various reasons. Main ones are treatment taken at home with household remedies, especially topical therapy, inappropriate treatment given by general practitioners with sparse knowledge of dermatology, and injudicious steroid use. All these factors lead to exacerbation of the disease or superimposed irritation or infection, which all contribute to a different appearance. Equally important is the delay in seeking treatment because of financial constraints.

Genetic resources ofCurcuma: diversity, characterization and utilization

The genusCurcuma(familyZingiberaceae) comprising over 80 species of rhizomatous herbs, is endowed with widespread adaptation from sea level to altitude as high as 2000 m in the Western Ghats and Himalayas. Having originated in the Indo-Malayan region, the genus is widely distributed in the tropics of Asia to Africa and Australia.Curcumaspecies exhibit inter- and intra-specific variation for the biologically active principles coupled with morphological variation with respect to the above-ground vegetative and floral characters as well as the below-ground rhizome features besides for curcumin, oleoresin and essential oil.Curcumais gaining importance world over as a potential source of new drug(s) to combat a variety of ailments as the species contain molecules credited with anti-inflammatory, hypocholestraemic, choleratic, antimicrobial, insect repellent, antirheumatic, antifibrotic, antivenomous, antiviral, antidiabetic, antihepatotoxic as well as anticancerous properties. Turmeric oil is also used in aromatherapy and in the perfume industry. Though the traditional Indian Ayurvedic system of medicine and Chinese medicine long ago recognized the medicinal property of turmeric in its crude form, the last few decades have witnessed extensive research interests in the biological activity and pharmacological actions ofCurcuma, especially the cultivated species. Turmeric powder obtained from rhizomes ofCurcuma longaor related species is extensively used as a spice, food preservative and colouring material, in religious applications as well as a household remedy for bilary and hepatic disorders, anorexia, diabetic wounds, rheumatism and sinusitis in India, China and South-East Asia and in folk medicine. Cucuminoids, the biologically active principles fromCurcuma, promise a potential role in the control of rheumatism, carcinogenesis and oxidative stress-related pathogenesis.Curcuma longaL. syn.Curcuma domesticaVal., common turmeric, is the most economically valuable member of the genus having over 150,000 hectares under its cultivation in India. In addition toCurcuma longa, the other economically important species of the genus areC. aromatica, used in medicine and toiletry articles,C. kwangsiensis,C. ochrorhiza,C. pierreana,C. zedoaria,C. caesiaetc. used in folk medicines of the South-East Asian nations;C. alismatifolia,C. roscoeanaetc. with floricultural importance;Curcuma amadaused as medicine, and in a variety of culinary preparations, pickles and salads, andC. zedoaria,C. malabarica,C. pseudomontana,C. montana,C. decipiens,C. angustifolia,C. rubescens,C. haritha,C. caulinaetc. all used in arrowroot manufacturing. Crop improvement work has been attempted mainly inC. longaand to a little extent inC. amada. At present there are about 20 improved varieties ofC. longain India and one inC. amada, evolved through germplasm/clonal selection, mutation breeding or open-pollinated progeny (true turmeric seedlings) selection. Though work on morphological characterization ofCurcumaspecies has been attempted, its molecular characterization is in a nascent stage except for some genetic fidelity studies of micropropagated plants and isozyme-based characterization. The genus has also been examined from the biochemical profiling and anatomical characterization angle. This article is intended to provide an overview of biological diversity in the genusCurcumafrom a utilitarian and bio-prospection viewpoint.

Traditional pharmacopoeias and medicines among Albanians and Italians in southern Italy: A comparison

A cross-cultural comparison of traditional household remedies in primary health care and ritual healing practices in two economically and socio-demographically similar communities in Lucania (inland southern Italy) was considered: Ginestra/Zhurë, inhabited by ethnic Albanians, who migrated to the area during the 15th century, and Castelmezzano, inhabited by autochthonous South-Italians. In Ginestra/Zhurë, the number of traditional natural remedies (mainly derived from local medicinal plants) was only half of that in the local folk pharmacopoeia quoted in Castelmezzano. However, ritual magic-healing practices still play a central role among the Albanians in Ginestra/Zhurë, while they do not in Castelmezzano. Reasons for this shift, as well as components that have affected cultural adaptation phenomena and transitions among the Albanians are discussed.

Preclinical evaluation of the antidiabetic effect of Eugenia jambolana seed powder in streptozotocin-diabetic rats

The world is facing an explosive increase in the incidence of diabetes mellitus and cost-effective complementary therapies are needed. The effects of Eugenia jambolana, a household remedy for diabetes, were studied. Streptozotocin diabetic female albino Wistar rats weighing 150-200 g (N = 6) were fed E. jambolana seed powder (250, 500 or 1000 mg/kg) for 15 days. Diabetic rats fed 500 and 1000 mg/kg seed powder showed an increase in body weight on day 20 in relation to day 5 (6 +/- 4.7, 9 +/- 7.8 vs diabetic control -16 +/- 7.1 g, P < 0.001), a decrease in fasting blood glucose (75 +/- 11.9, 123 +/- 14.4 vs diabetic control -34 +/- 12.1 mg/dl, P < 0.001), a difference in post-treatment fasting and peak blood glucose (38 +/- 11.9, 36 +/- 14.2 vs diabetic control 78 +/- 11.9 mg/dl, P < 0.001), and a difference in liver glycogen (50 +/- 6.8, 52 +/- 7.5 vs normal control 90 +/- 6.6 microg/g of liver tissue, P < 0.001). Tri-terpenoids, tannins, gallic acid, and oxalic acid were the chemical constituents detected in E. jambolana seed. The best results were obtained with an oral dose of 500 mg/kg. Subacute toxicity studies with a single administration of 2.5 and 5.0 g/kg seed powder showed no mortality or abnormality. These data on the antidiabetic effect of E. jambolana seed are adequate for approval of phase 2 clinical trials to evaluate this seed powder as complementary therapy in type 2 and type 1 diabetes.

Ayurveda and gynecological disorders

The science of life— Ayurveda is practiced in India since time immemorial. Besides being cheap and easily available Ayurvedic drugs are considered safe. Moreover, there is surge in the interest in Ayurveda due to quest of alternative medicines. Many of the gynecological disorders being not reported to the physicians, are treated with household remedies in India. The science of Ayurveda deals with these issues in a systematic manner as evident from the classification of diseases available and the number of plant drugs or the combinations thereof available for the treatment. In the present article, Ayurvedic herbal formulations and single plant drugs used traditionally in treatment of gynecological disorders are described.

Diagnosis and therapy of restless legs syndrome in the doctor's office

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a movement and sleep disorder with leg dysesthesias with a high prevalence (9-18% in Austria). Determination of frequency, diagnosis and therapy of RLS in general practitioner and specialist offices. Telephone survey of a random sample of 120 general practitioners, 100 neurologists and 80 specialists in internal medicine. 69% of the whole sample of doctors reported seeing 1 to 10 RLS patients, but in proportion to the prevalence of these two conditions fewer cases of RLS than of Parkinson's disease are treated. In all three groups of doctors, 84% consider the 4 key symptoms (urge to move the legs accompanied or caused by dysesthesia; worsening of symptoms at rest or inactivity; relief by activity; worsening of symptoms in the evening/at night) the most important diagnostic criteria for RLS, followed by a complaint of disturbed sleep (75%), daytime tiredness (43%) and dopaminergic responsiveness in a therapeutic trial (29%). 83% of general practitioners and 86% of medical specialists refer their RLS patients to a neurologist, 19% to a polysomnographic examination. 75% of doctors decide for pharmacological treatment of RLS, 18% for psychotherapy, 15% for household remedies. 54% of all doctors (70% of the neurologists, 68% of the GPs, 48% of the medical specialists) prescribe dopamine agonists. L-Dopa is used by 49% (61% of the neurologists, 42% of the GPs, 44% of the medical specialists). 17% prescribe GABAergic drugs, 6% opiates. 51% would be highly interested in obtaining a drug specifically registered for the treatment of RLS. RLS is not as well known as Parkinson's disease. Thus providing doctors with relevant information and further education programs on this subject seems desirable. In Austrian doctors' offices the diagnosis of RLS is usually obtained clinically on the basis of the 4 key symptoms. Patients suffering from insomnia of multifactorial pathogenesis should be referred to an outpatient clinic for sleep disorders with an associated sleep laboratory. Especially neurologists and GPs consider dopamine agonists the treatment of first choice, closely followed by L-Dopa.

A Precious Medicine: Tradition and Magic in Some Seventeenth-Century Household Remedies

Would you prefer To make conserve of roses, and any other flowers or To make a powder for the stone and stranguillian? If the conserve of roses seems more attractive, it may explain why household remedies of the seventeenth century have received less attention than cookery recipes, even though both may be found in the same book. But I thought it might be interesting to look at a few manuscripts from a medical point of view, and so it was. Although herbal remedies predominated, as might be expected, there were traces of medieval medical systems and even magic. Household Medicine Those who could not afford the fees of a learned physician had to rely on home care, and that meant women's work. According to Gervase Markham, whose book The English Housewife was first published in 1615 and intended for the wives of small farmers (Markham 1986), the housewife's skills included physic, cookery, banqueting-stuff, distillation, perfumes, wool, hemp, flax, dairies, brewing, baking, and all other things belonging to a household. She was meant to be religious, temperate, dressed decently in clean garments, moderate in diet and full of general such as courage, patience, discretion and possessing a pleasant manner. As far as her virtues in were concerned, she had to be competent, but not so learned that she could challenge the expertise of physicians. She could know: how to administer many wholesome receipts or medicines for the good of [her family, but] we must confess that the depth and secrets of this most excellent art of physic is far beyond the capacity of the most skilful woman, as lodging only in the breast of the learned professors; yet ... our housewife may from them receive some ordinary rules and medicines ... (Markham 1986, 8) Cookery and household physic were still closely allied. Good food, fresh and naturally produced, was then, as now, accepted as necessary for good health, although dietetics was not highly developed, and some prejudices existed, such as a suspicion that fresh fruit could cause flux--very possibly true if the water used for irrigation was polluted. The first cookery treatise in English, The Forme of Cury, which dates from 1399, claimed to be written with the help of masters of physic and of philosophy. good coke is halfe a physycyon, said Dr Andrew Boorde famously during the reign of Henry VIII. Unpublished and Published Texts Used in this Essay My original research involved two manuscripts in particular, held by the Wellcome Library. Very interesting is the Collection of Cookery and Medical Receipts, about 1699, written partly by Edw[ar]d & par[t]ly by Kath[e]r[in]e Kidder (MS 3107). Even more so is a book of Select Receipts, taken out of Barrette's Bookcase ... 1711, but internal evidence suggests it was started some time after 1648 (MS 1071, Egerton). This consists of medical receipts only, in several hands. The first of these is small, neat and literate, written by Head--many of the receipts are initialled F. H., and he refers to Grandmother Head at one point. The second, probably a woman, initialled contributions H. S. Both these people utilise archaic material, so one cannot draw conclusions about a more enlightened male or female collector. The name Lady Egerton occurs as an attribution of one receipt, so the manuscript must have been passed on to her. I have also looked at a few other collections in the Wellcome Library, including: a small parchment MS book, signed inside the front cover Grace Acton, May 1621 (MS 1); A Book of Receipts by Mrs Jane Baber, 1625 (MS 108); Cookery and Medical Receipts, 1636-47, Townsend Family Papers (MS 774); and Mrs Jane Parker her Booke Anno 1651 (MS 3769), an example of a notebook started from both ends, with cookery and medical receipts reversed. …

Anti-hyperglycemic effect of Eugenia jambolana and Tinospora cordifolia in experimental diabetes and their effects on key metabolic enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism

In India, the decoction of kernels of Eugenia jambolana (EJ) and extracts of Tinospora cordifolia (TC) are used as a household remedy for diabetes. These also form constituents of many herbal formulations for diabetes that are marketed in this country. The anti-hyperglycemic effect of aqueous and alcoholic extracts as well as lyophilized powder of these two plants was evaluated in diabetic animals using different doses of diabetogenic agents for varying duration (21–120 days) so as to assess their effect in mild (plasma sugar>180 mg/dl, duration 21 days), moderate (plasma sugar>280 mg/dl, duration 120 days) and severe (plasma sugar>400 mg/dl, duration 60 days) diabetes mellitus. In the pilot study (mild diabetes), maximum reduction of 73.51 and 70.37% in glucose levels was seen in animals receiving 200 mg/kg per day of lyophilized powder of EJ and 400 mg/kg per day of aqueous extract of TC after 3 and 15 weeks of treatment, respectively. There percent reduction in glucose decreased significantly in the moderate and severe diabetes; 55.62 and 17.72% for EJ and 48.81 and 0% for TC at the similar time intervals. The alteration in hepatic and skeletal muscle glycogen content and hepatic glucokinase, hexokinase, glucose-6-phosphate and phosphofructokinase levels in diabetic mice were partially restored by EJ but not by TC. The mechanism of action of EJ and TC is discussed.

Illness behavior and expectations on physician-patient relationships of medical students in the second and fifth year of education

We investigated illness behaviour and treatment expectations of future physicians. 209 medical students in their second and 110 students in their fifth year of education were examined by means of a specific questionnaire and the Biographic Inventory for Diagnosis of Abnormal Behaviour (BIV). As to our questionnaire we found a six factors solution that could explain 44% of the variance. Students in the fifth year of education were more critical towards physicians, waited longer until they took advantage of professional help, tried more to influence both the diagnostic and therapeutic process and they adhered stronger to a psychosocial concept of illness than the second year students. Women desired more psychological support and fell back on household remedies more often than men. Students who had experienced a poor parent-child-relationship also were dissatisfied with their physician-patient-relationship. Introverted students were less demanding towards their physicians and more often searched for help in the lay system than extroverted students. With these factors, behaviour, experiences and attitudes of medical students with reference to a potential or actual patient role can be well described.

A NEW APPROACH TO AT-HOME ORAL IRRIGATION

M any dentists today are taking a new view of home care. They find that flossing is difficult for patients to manage, and in many cases not even attempted at all. Some clinicians are finding that oral pressure lavage, with an irrigating appliance such as a Water Pik (Teledyne Water Pik), can obtain superior results. Patients with conditions such as gingivitis and advanced periodontal disease use oral lavage as part of their daily oral hygiene routine, accompanied by use of an antibacterial agent such as chlorhexidine gluconate. But patients usually dislike the taste of this medication and find that it eventually causes black discoloration around the teeth. The answer may lie in a simple household remedy. We use soap products to emulsify dirts and oils on our clothes, dishes and body, and this cleansing phenomenon can also be applied to the mouth-which as we eat each day is constantly being coated with oils from animal fats, vegetable fats and dairy products.

Historical demonstration experiments in Analytical Chemistry

Some examples of the use of lecture demonstration throughout the early history of chemistry are presented with examples chosen from Analytical Chemistry. In order to limit this vast subject, mainly Scandinavian sources have been used. This is rather natural as the early history of Analytical Chemistry is so much dominated by the works of the Swedish chemist Torbern Bergman. An interesting source at early lecture experiments are the books on natural magic, which were very popular in the 17 th and 18 th centuries. These books contain recipes for household remedies mingled with scientific observations. From the 18 th century most of the examples have been taken from Torbern Bergman’s works.