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Journal of Ethnopharmacology Jan 2020Medical or hygienic uses of peat mosses dates back to the 18th century. Peat was used externally (as poultices) in the early 19th century. The peat preparation invented... (Review)
Review
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Medical or hygienic uses of peat mosses dates back to the 18th century. Peat was used externally (as poultices) in the early 19th century. The peat preparation invented by Stanisław Tołpa (Tołpa peat preparation, TPP) was patented in Poland in 1991; its concept had emerged in the 1980s. It raised high therapeutic expectations still being researched in the early 1990s. Profound expectations for peat, a natural product well known in Central European (and Polish) spas (for medicated baths and poultices), earned Tołpa's preparation great renown before any actual benefits (internal actions) were scientifically confirmed.
AIM OF THE REVIEW
We study the origins of medical interest in peat in Polish science against the background of the historical ethnopharmacy of peat and Sphagnum moss in Central Europe. It is aimed at shedding a new light on the history of TPP, its connections with local ethnopharmacological traditions and inspirations for local medical studies on peat products and peat-derived drugs of the 1980s and early 1900s.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The literature on peat baths was found and reviewed including the information and data about the studies of TPP from published though unknown sources as well as from Polish patents, unpublished typescripts, press interviews and reports.
RESULTS
Tołpa's research team missed the historical data about external and topical actions of Sphagnum peat or its preparations which were published in the 19th- and early 20th-century. This is strange because folk medicine based on peat emanated eastwards from ethnic Austria along the Vistula river and the Carpathians. Tołpa ignored balneotherapeutic (external) applications as well as the action of sphagnan from Sphagnum herb, and rejected this kind of peat as scientifically not promising, based on a single biological test on plants. The concept of an active principle in peat or its preparations evolved, and speculation concerning its nature was not followed by adequate basic research. The active principle was not found. Results concerning plant meristem growth were too readily applied in animal production and finally human medicine. The natural ingredient in TPP production was never defined botanically. Anti-cancer properties ascribed to the TPP on the basis of bio-stimulation tests stirred powerful social emotions.
CONCLUSIONS
Topical peat cure originated in Austria in about 1820. It evolved as a whole branch of Central European balneotherapy which had been completely scientifically described by the 1950s. At that time an undefined peat extract was once successfully used in ear infections in paediatrics. Stanisław Tołpa's research project to find any internal application of peat ignored the achievements of ethnobiology, balneotherapy, surgery and otorhinolaryngology known at that time. His strenuous and insistent efforts, carried out in isolation, crucially failed pre-clinical and clinical tests in any branch of his therapy. Three commercial drugs were allowed for 3 years before substantial clinical proofs of peat efficacy were achieved. Social impact was high and resulted in the birth of the Polish legend of Tołpa's marvellous drug.
Topics: Amino Acids; Animals; Drug Combinations; Europe; History, 18th Century; History, 19th Century; History, 20th Century; Humans; Humic Substances; Medicine, Traditional; Soil; Uronic Acids
PubMed: 31550503
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112248 -
Soft Matter Aug 2019We provide a first approach of the mechanisms of liquid imbibition in a porous medium from a wet paste in contact with this substrate. Through Magnetic Resonance Imaging...
We provide a first approach of the mechanisms of liquid imbibition in a porous medium from a wet paste in contact with this substrate. Through Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) we first show that, in contrast with intuition, the liquid can invade the substrate even if it has a larger pore size than the paste, which induces a lower capillary pressure in the substrate. This phenomenon happens because the paste can easily shrink. We then show that the imbibition stops when the capillary pressure in the substrate balances the stress needed to further contract the paste. The dynamics of the process then mainly results from the competition of these two effects plus the pressure gradient associated with the liquid flow through the paste. This in particular shows that the liquid penetration in a porous medium, from a poultice in contact with this medium, may be controlled by adjusting the poultice characteristics.
PubMed: 31397468
DOI: 10.1039/c9sm01345h -
Evidence-based Complementary and... 2019Wounds, burns, cuts, and scarring may cause a serious problem for human health if left untreated, and medicinal plants are identified as potentially useful for wound...
Wounds, burns, cuts, and scarring may cause a serious problem for human health if left untreated, and medicinal plants are identified as potentially useful for wound healing. Therefore, the study focused on ethnophytotherapy practices for wound healing from an unexplored area, Pakistan. Ethnophytotherapeutic information was collected through well-planned questionnaire and interview methods by targeting 80 informants (70 males and 10 females), in the study area. Data was analyzed through quantitative tools like use value (UV) and credibility level (CL). A total of forty wound healing plant species, belonging to twenty-nine families, were being used in forty-six recipes. Herbs constitute (35%), shrubs (30%), trees (30%), and climbers (5%) in the treatment of multiple human injuries. For remedies preparations, leaves were most frequently utilized (52%) followed by whole plant, flowers, twigs, roots, bulb, bark, rhizome, resin, oil, leaf gel, latex, gum, and creeper. The most form of herbal preparation was powder (34.7%) and poultice (32.6%), followed by decoction, bandaged and crushed, in which 40% internally and 60 % externally applied. The drugs from these plants seem to be widely used to cure wounds: , , , , and with higher use values (0.75). Local people are still connected with ethnophytotherapies practices for curing wounds for several reasons. This ethnomedicine and the wound healing plants are under severe threats; thus conservation must be considered. Further research should be directed towards implementing pharmacological activity on these invaluable botanical drugs.
PubMed: 31379961
DOI: 10.1155/2019/4591675 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Oct 2019Fimbristylis miliacea (L.) Vahl (Cyperaceae) is a grass like herb usually grows as a weed in rice fields and is mainly distributed in tropical or sub-tropical countries...
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Fimbristylis miliacea (L.) Vahl (Cyperaceae) is a grass like herb usually grows as a weed in rice fields and is mainly distributed in tropical or sub-tropical countries of south and south-east Asia, central America, northern Australia and west Africa. The plant has been traditionally used to treat fever as a form of poultice.
AIM OF THE STUDY
The present study aimed to investigate antipyretic and anti-nociceptive effects of methanol extract of leaves of Fimbristylis miliacea in mice model.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Antipyretic effect of Fimbristylis miliacea was examined using Baker's yeast induced hyperthermia test. Anti-nociceptive effect was investigated using acetic acid induced writhing test, formalin induced hind paw licking test and hot plate test.
RESULTS
The extract at concentration of 400 mg/kg produced significant reduction in body temperature after 0.5 h of administration (4.12 °F, p ≤ 0.001) and continued to decrease (after 4 h, 5.92 °F, p ≤ 0.001). Extracts at 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg decreased the temperature by about 2.77 °F (from 99.47 °F to 96.7 °F) and 5.58 °F (98.2 °F-92.62 °F) respectively after 4 h whereas paracetamol dropped by about 7.2 °F (p ≤ 0.001). The extract showed significant decrease in number of writhes at all concentrations. Highest effect was found at 200 mg/kg having 35.7 writhes (p ≤ 0.001), much lower than control (89.2); standard drug diclofenac showed 23.2 writhes. Percent inhibition of writhing were 54.26 and 73.99 for 200 mg/kg and diclofenac respectively. The result of hind paw licking test also corroborated writhing test. Significant reduction in percent inhibition of licking was observed mainly in late phase. Percent inhibition of licking were 93.77 and 51.55 for 400 mg/kg extract and diclofenac respectively. In hot plate test, extract at 400 mg/kg showed significant increase in latency from 10.77 s to 13.59 s (p ≤ 0.05). Extract at this dose after 2 h demonstrated greater percent maximal effect (43.26%) compared to ketorolac (40.19%).
CONCLUSION
The experiment confirmed the traditional use of F. miliacea in the treatment of fever with possible anti-nociceptive effects.
Topics: Acetic Acid; Analgesics; Animals; Antipyretics; Cyperaceae; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Fever; Formaldehyde; Male; Methanol; Mice; Pain; Plant Extracts; Plant Leaves; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Solvents
PubMed: 31306693
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2019.112080 -
Eye (London, England) Sep 2019Orbital sparganosis represents an extremely rare condition with only a few cases being reported in literature. Here we describe cases of orbital sparganosis, including...
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND
Orbital sparganosis represents an extremely rare condition with only a few cases being reported in literature. Here we describe cases of orbital sparganosis, including their etiology, clinical findings, and surgical outcomes.
PATIENTS AND METHODS
A retrospective review was performed on patients with orbital sparganosis, who were treated at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, of Sun Yat-sen University, China between 2000 and 2012.
RESULTS
Five patients (three males and two females, one right orbit and four left orbits) were identified. Their mean age was 14.8 years (range = 6-33 years). Four cases were contracted from eating raw snakes and fishes, or placing poultices of frog on open wounds. All cases showed a swelling and/or redness of the eyelid and conjunctiva, and a migrating inflammation was present in one of the cases. High levels of blood eosinophils were observed in three of these cases. Of the two patients examined using computed tomography, one showed a diffuse soft tissue infiltration and a punctate calcification, while one of the three patients examined using magnetic resonance imaging displayed an annular "tunnel sign" within the lesion. All patients underwent an anterior orbitotomy and the entire worm was removed with no surgical complications.
CONCLUSIONS
Orbital sparganosis should be highly suspected in patients with a history of eating raw snakes and frogs, a migrating orbital inflammation and the presence of eosinophilia. Orbital imaging examinations play an important role in the diagnosis of orbital sparganosis. Surgical removal of the entire worm is required.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Asian People; Child; China; Eye Infections, Parasitic; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Intraocular Pressure; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures; Orbital Diseases; Retrospective Studies; Sparganosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Visual Acuity; Young Adult
PubMed: 30944463
DOI: 10.1038/s41433-019-0427-x -
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative... 2020Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a severe acute paralytic neuropathy with rapid progression usually occurring post infections. Inspite of the active medications it is...
Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a severe acute paralytic neuropathy with rapid progression usually occurring post infections. Inspite of the active medications it is associated with severe weakness, incomplete recovery and pain. Long disease course can cause autonomic dysfunction or deterioration in general health and life threatening complications like respiratory failures. Current case was diagnosed as GBS with motor, sensory & sphincter disturbance. Ayurveda diagnosis of Sarvangavata was made and customized treatment strategy was planned. First part of Kapha pitta samrushtavata (Vatadosha associated with Kapha and Pitta dosha) and then vatahara chikitsa were followed. Treatments were Koshta shodhana (gut cleansing), Abhyanga (massage of whole body with medicated oil), Ksheera parisheka (dripping of medicated milk over body), Shastikashali panda sweda (Rubbing of medicated rice poultice over body), Anna lepa (application of medicated rice over the body), Shirotalam (trans cranial drug administration by applying medicines over scalp), Basti (trans rectal administration of medicines) and Oral medicaments. Panchakarma treatments were for 14 days followed by oral medications for next 151 days. Intervention period of 165 days showed complete recovery of all the motor, sensory & sphincter deficits however follow up of the patient was maintained for 437 days looking in to the sustainability of the outcomes.
PubMed: 30661945
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaim.2018.08.004