Therapeutic Uses

Therapeutic Uses

• Involves specific methods to alleviate symptoms
• Includes drugs for pain/infection, surgery for tissue removal/replacement, and counseling/psychotherapy for emotional distress
• Encompasses prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of ailments or medical conditions with products, services or applications
• Excludes prohibited uses
• Therapeutics is the branch of medicine specializing in disease treatment
• Therapeutic dose refers to the amount of a drug needed to treat a disease
• Examples of therapeutics include drug therapy, medical devices, nutrition therapy, and stem-cell therapies
• Can be used in patients with active disease for curative or palliative care
• Therapeutic effect is the beneficial response after treatment
• Therapeutic and side effects differ based on the situation and treatment goals
• Therapeutic class categorizes drugs by the pathology they treat
• Defined drug classes include analgesics, antibiotics, anticoagulants, antidepressants, anticancer, antidiabetics, antiepileptics, antipsychotics, antispasmodics, cardiovascular, sedatives, and stimulants

Aloe Vera

• Scientific name: Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f.
• Belongs to the family Asphodelaceae
• Myanmar name: Sha zaung let pat
• English name: Barbados Aloe
• Parts used are the aloe leaves
• Is a perennial, stemless herb spreading by offsets
• Leaves are lanceolate, large, thick, fleshy, sessile with a sharp apex and spiny margin
• Inflorescence is a dense spike with yellow or orange flowers
• Leaves contain phytochemicals that are under study for their possible bioactivity
• The gel contains polysaccharides (glucomannan and acemannan), enzymes (carboxypeptidase), magnesium, zinc, calcium, glucose, cholesterol, salicylic acid, prostaglandin precursors (GLA), vitamins A, C, E, lignins, saponins, plant sterols, and amino acids
• The latex leaf lining contains anthraquinone glycosides like aloin, aloe-emodin, and barbaloin
• Acts as an emollient, purgative, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, aphrodisiac, anticancer, antiseptic, and has cosmetic values
• Leaf lining contains anthraquinone glycosides, acting as potent stimulant laxatives, analgesics, antibacterials, and antivirals
• Glucomannan and acemannan offer novel anti-inflammatory properties
• Salicylic acid provides anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects
• Bradykinase helps reduce excessive inflammation when applied topically, while others help break down sugars and fats
• Vitamins A, C, and E are antioxidant, neutralize free radicals, aid in wound healing, and have anti-inflammatory action
• Lignin enhances penetration into the skin, and saponins (3% of gel) cleanse and provide antiseptic properties
• Plays an important role in maintaining the healthy functioning of major organs and preventing diseases
• Releases pepsin, aiding digestion and soothing digestive tract irritations
• Heals heartburn, ulcers, and colic pain
• Acts as a general tonic, boosts immunity, fights diseases, reduces blood sugar, and controls diabetes
• Dried latex from the inner lining of Aloe leaves has been used traditionally as a laxative taken by mouth
• There is early evidence that oral Aloe may reduce the risk of developing lung cancer
• Rich in antioxidants, which neutralize free radicals, warding off wrinkles and age-related changes, and nourishing the skin by boosting circulation
• Is effective in treating skin disorders like dermatitis and psoriasis
• Traditionally used as a moisturizer for dry skin
• Heals cuts, wounds, blisters, burns (including sunburns), and mild to moderate skin burns and ulcers
• Medicated paste dosage is orally taken in a dose of 0.5 gm to 1 gm

Acorus Calamus

• Scientific name: Acorus calamus L.
• Belongs to the family Araceae
• Myanmar name: Lin ne
• English name: Calamus; Sweet flag
• Used parts include the leaves and rhizome
• Is a perennial, aromatic herb with a creeping, aromatic rootstock
• Leaves are simple, radical, sword-shaped, erect, yellowish-brown, with pink sheathing at their bases and flat, parallel veins
• Inflorescence is a cylindrical spadix with covering spathe, flowers are dense, tiny, greenish-yellow, fruit is a berry with mucus, and seeds are oblong
• Leaves and rhizomes contain a volatile oil that gives a characteristic odor and flavor
• Major oil components are β asarone and α asarone, saponins, lectins, bitter glucoside, lignans, and steroids
• Phytochemicals change based on geographic location, plant age, climate, species variety, and plant component extracted
• Volatile oil has hypnosis potentiated activity and hypotensive properties, and is a central muscular relaxant, with quinidine-like activity on the heart, and protection against electrically induced convulsions
• α-Asarone demonstrates antioxidant and neuroprotective actions by blocking the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, as well as evidence of anticarcinogenic activity on human carcinoma cells, while α and β Asarone show in vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity
• Saponin isolated from Calamus showed hypolipidemic activity
• Hydroalcoholic extract decreases levels of cholesterol and triglycerides
• Ethanolic extract shows antibacterial properties
• In Myanmar, it grows wild and is cultivated for home medicinal remedies
• Rhizome promotes urinary flow, relieves constipation, and cleanses impurities
• Infusion of rhizome is used for fever, coughs, diarrhea, dysentery, and bronchial/chest conditions
• Root mixed with bland oil is applied to the abdomen for flatulent colic
• Rhizome powder with dried ginger and honey is used for partial paralysis of the mouth, chin, and cheek
• The ground rhizome powder mixed with honey is for epilepsy and loss of sanity
• Dosage: 2-7 gm of powder

Artemisia Annua

• Scientific name: Artemisia annua L.
• In the family Asteraceae
• Myanmar name: Dawna shwe war
• English name: Sweet worm wood
• The whole plant is used
• Is an annual, erect, aromatic herb
• Leaves alternate, usually divided or with 1-3 pinnate
• Inflorescences are capitulum with pale yellow small flowers
• Fruits are achenes and seeds are brown
• The primary active compound is artemisinin and sequiterpene; Artemisinic acid treats Malaria
• Contains 0.3-0.4% volatile oil composed of artemisia ketone
• Contains phytochemicals, including polyphenols like coumarins, flavones, flavonols, and phenolic acids
• Dihydroartemisinin is the active metabolite of artemisinin
• Artesunate is a water-soluble derivative of artemisinin
• Exhibits anti-malarial, anti-tumor, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory pharmacological activities
• The primary anti-inflammatory components are artemisinin and scopoletin
• Shows promising anti-cancer activities in vitro and in vivo
• Contains an endoperoxide group that is vital for their antimalarial and anticancer activities
• Produces secondary metabolites with antimicrobial property
• The aerial parts' essential oil include monoterpenes, ketones, camphor, 1,8-cineole, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, germacrene and β-caryophyllene, for its antimicrobial properties
• Has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for fevers, inflammation, headaches, bleeding, and malaria
• Juice from crushed leaves or roots (1-2 teaspoons) treats intestinal worms
• Crushed leaf juice (1-2 drops) in the ear relieves ear pain
• Effective even with drug-resistant malaria strains
• Can be used as an ingredient in skincare cosmetics, shampoos, essences, serums, hand and eye creams, masks, lotions, and tonics
• Dosage: 3 g of powder a day (1 g morning, 1 g midday, 1 g evening) for 7 days
• Administer 500-1000 mg of Artemisinin (10-20 mg/kg) orally on the first day, then 500 mg daily for 4 days

Curcuma Longa

• Scientific name: Curcuma longa L.
• Belongs to the family Zingiberaceae
• Myanmar name: Na nwin
• English name: Turmeric
• Parts used are the rhizomes
• Curcuma longa is a perennial rhizomatous herb
• Has simple leaves, oblong to elliptic with sheathing petiole, alternate and arranged in two rows.
• Inflorescences are spike with tinged reddish-purple spathaceous bracts
• Flowers white to green; one fertile stamen, others converted to staminodes (labellum), yellow
• Fruit capsule opens with three compartments
• Turmeric powder is about 60–70% carbohydrates, 6–13% moisture, 6–8% protein, 5–10% fat, 3–7% dietary minerals, 3–7% essential oils, 2–7% dietary fiber, and 1–6% curcuminoids
• Components include diarylheptanoids like curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin
• Curcumin constitutes up to 3.14% of assayed commercial samples of turmeric powder ( the average was 1.51%), curry powder contains much less (an average of 0.29%)
• Approximately 34 essential oils are present, among them turmerone, germacrone, atlantone, and zingiberene
• Several medical properties have been attributed
• Curcumin is a major isolated polyphenol from the rhizome
• Curcumin has a wide range of pharmacological effects: anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-asthmatic, anti-cancerous, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumor, and hepatoprotective activities
• Volatile oils exhibit potent anti-inflammatory effects
• Employed in medicines, ointments, and smoke treatments for digestive problems, high fevers, eye problems, coughs, asthma and bronchitis, and diarrhea
• Mixed with lime provides relief from cysts, knots in muscles, and bruises
• Turmeric relieves cysts, knots in muscles, and bruises, and turmeric powder can be applied to wounds to stop excessive bleeding
• Turmeric mixed in hot milk is a household remedy for the common cold
• Doses range from 5-30 g daily for acute to 3-10 g daily for chronic problems
• Powder: 1.5-3.0 g daily
• Oral infusion: 0.5-1 g three times a day
• Tincture: 0.5-1 ml three times per day

Rauvolfia Serpentina

• Scientific name: Rauvolfia serpentina (L.) Benth. ex Kurz
• Belongs to the family Apocynaceae
• Myanmar name: Bomma yazar
• English name: Indian snakeroot; Rauwolfia
• Parts used: Leaves and root
• Is an erect evergreen shrub, about 1 meter tall with a yellowish root and glabrous
• Stems are slender and straw colored
• Leaves are grouped near stem apex, in whorls of 3-5; petiole with glands in the leaf axils
• Inflorescence is terminal or axillary, many-flowered and much branched
• Peduncle is red or reddish, flowers are pink, drupes are ellipsoid, 2 separate or in two lobes, red, pointed, turning shining black when fully mature
• Chemical constituents consist of 40 types of alkaloids (about 0.7-2.4%) or bioactive chemicals, such as ajmaline, ajmalimine, ajmalicine, deserpidine, indobine, indobinine, reserpine, reserpiline, rescinnamine, rescinnamidine, serpentine, serpentinine and yohimbine etc.
• Reserpine and rescinnamine are alkaloids with main therapeutical effect
• Contains indole alkaloids and iridoid glycoside, 7- epiloganin, which is a new sucrose derivative and also contain ajmaline and ajmalicine
• Contains phytosterol, fatty acids, unsaturated alcohols, and sugars as chemical constituents
• Holds an important position in the pharmaceutical world due to the presence of various alkaloids in the oleoresin fraction of the roots
• Alkaloids have medicinal importance for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, hypertension, arrhythmia, psychiatric diseases, mental disorders, breast cancer, and human promyelocytic leukemia
• Alkaloids are associated with diverse adverse effects like vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, anxiety, or hypersensitivity reactions
• Rauwolfia alkaloids reserpine alleviates symptoms of agitated psychotic states such as schizophrenia; however, it has been superseded by more effective, safer agents
• Reserpine is indicated in treating hypertension
• Alkaloid ajmalicine is used to treat circulatory diseases, providing relief from cerebral blood flow
• Fresh leaf juice is used in eye medicines. Leaves and roots are used as a sedative
• Root remedies reduce blood pressure, especially for young people with anxiety-related palpitations and hypertension
• Root remedies quell aggression, restlessness, and excitability in patients with mental disorders
• It is used in tonics, sleeping aids, carminatives, fever reducers, and poison neutralizers
• Decoction of root to treat painful affections of the bowels and to increase uterine contractions in birth
• The leaves and roots are used for snake and scorpion poisoning
• Dosage: A whole extract used in the powdered form may be dosed 50–300 mg daily; caution should be used if exceeding up to 600 mg of the powdered whole root per day because this herb has potential toxicity
• The adult oral dosage for high blood pressure: 50 to 200 milligrams (mg) a day and this may be taken as a single dose or divided into two doses
• Children’s dose must be determined by your doctor