It includes the introduction of all the traditional medicine systems

1. THE HOLISTIC CONCEPT OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION IN
TRADITIONAL SYSTEM OF MEDICINE
Holistic medicine: Holistic medicine is a term used to describe
therapies that attempt to treat the patient as a whole person. That is,
instead of treating an illness, they look at an individual’s overall
physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well being before
recommending treatment. Holistic therapies tend to emphasize on proper
nutrition and avoidance of substances such as chemicals- that pollutes
the body. Their techniques are non-invasive.
Traditional medicine: WHO defines traditional medicine as including
health practices, approaches, knowledge and beliefs incorporating
plants, animals, and mineral based medicines, spiritual therapies, manual
techniques and exercises which can be used to maintain well-being as
well as to treat, diagnose or prevent illness.
Types of Traditional system of medicine:
1. Chinese medicine and kampo system
2. Ayurveda system of medicine
3. Unani system of medicine
4. Siddha system of medicine
5. Homeopathic system of medicine
6. Aromatherapy

2. 1. Chinese system and kampo system of medicine:
 The hypothesis includes two different systems, the yin and yang
theory.
 It says that everything in the universe consists of a dark (yin) and
light (yang ).
 There are five elements of this system – water, metal, earth, fire
and wood.
 According to this system, diseased conditions are the expressions
of imbalance in Yin and Yang like excess or deficiency of either of
them. For example, Shivering occurs due to excess of Yin while
excess of Yang causes a fever.
 Some of the important drugs from this system are Panax ginseng ,
Ephedra sinica
 Kampoh is the TM (Traditional medicine) of Japan. Between the
fifth and sixth centuries, TCM was introduced to Japan from
China; since then, TCM has been significantly altered and adapted
by Japanese practitioners to meet their particular circumstances
and gradually evolved into Kampo. A recent study has found that
some physicians in Japan use Kampo medicines in their daily
practice—sometimes as the preferred medication.
 Together with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, some Japanese
physicians frequently utilize Kampo medicines in treating cancer
patients. This indicates how modern Western medicine can be well
integrated with TM.
 Kampo (sometimes spelled kanpo) is a Japanese variant of Chinese
traditional medicine that involves the extensive use of herbs. The
name is derived from the Japanese symbols kan, which
means China and po, which means medicine.

3.  Kampo treatment has become very much integrated in the Japanese
health care system. It is widely available from hospitals and
physicians there, and is the most popular form of complementary
health care in contemporary Japan. Kampo herbal preparations are
sold by many Japanese pharmacies. The World Health
Organization (WHO) reports that Japan has the highest per capita
consumption of herbal medicine in the world. In addition to herbal
treatments.
2. Ayurveda system of medicine:
 Ayurveda is the combination of two words:
‘Ayu’- life and Veda means Knowledge or science of life.
 It is a very well documented system of health care practiced in
Indian.
 Comprehensive system that places equal emphasis on the body,
mind and spirit.
 Practiced in india for over 5000 years ( Charaka sushrutha and
Acharya nagarujna)
 Principles of Ayurveda and siddha are based on the following:
1. Panch mahabutha siddhanta: Everything in universe consist
of five basic elements (Human body)
1. Space 5. Energy
2. Water
3. Air
4. Solid

4. 2. Tridosha theory: These five elements exist in human body in
combined forms like Vata (Space and air), Pitta (Energy and
liquid) and Kapha (Liquid and solid). Vatta, pitta and Kapha
together are called Tridosha (Three pillars of life). It states that the
balance of doshas result in good health and the imbalance result in
diseases.
3. Saptadhatu (Seven forms): Tridosha exist in human body in
seven forms called Saptadhatu i.e.
1. Rasa (Lymph)
2. Rakta (blood)
3. Meda (adipose tissue)
4. Mamsa (Flesh)
5. Majja (nervine tissue)
6. Shukra (Reproductive tissue)
7. Asthi (bone)
The wear and tear of these leads to mala (excretory material). When
tridosha, saptadhatu and mala are in balanced form then it is called
heatlh condition while imbalance causes pathological condition.
 Clinical examinations:
1. Pulse diagnosis
2. Urine examination
3. Stool examination
4. Tongue examination
5. Skin examination
6. Eye examination
 Some important herbs in ayurveda are Rauwolfia serpentina,
Cassia angustifolia, Withania somnifera, Piper longum.

5. 3. Unani system of medicine:
 Unani system has its origin in Greece.
 It is believed to have been established by the great physician and
Philosopher Hippocrates. The Arabian scholars and physicians
played great role in the development of this system.
 Based on the Hippocratic theory of four humours and the
Pythagorian theory of four proximate qualities of the human body.
 The four humours are blood, phlegm (sputum), yellow bile and
black bile while the four qualities are the states of the human body
like hot, cold, moist and dry. They are represented as earth, water,
fire and air.
 If there is equilibrium in the Humours then the functions of the
body are normal, if there is unequillibrium in the humours then the
functions are abnormal, and it is called disease and treatment is
given accordingly.
 This systems aims at treating the cause of disease and not its
symptoms.
Diagnosis: Examination of pulse, urine and stool.
Drug made from medicinal plants, herbs, minerals, metallic and
animal origins are used for the treatment of diseases.
Unani medications:
Sr. No. Unani terms English terms
1. Qabiz Astringent
2. Hazim Digestive
3. Habis bol Anti-diuretic
4. Kasir riyah Carminative
5. Aam qatil deedan Anthelmintic
Unani medicines are Chini, Lodh, Sana, Zeera, Siyah

6. 4. Siddha system of medicine:
 The term 'Siddha' has come from 'Siddhi'- which means
achievement. Siddhars were the men who achieved supreme
knowledge in the field of medicine, yoga or tapa
(meditation).
 This system is practised through bhakti & yoga.
 The literature of this system is mostly in tamil.
 Principles of treatment : Similar to Ayurveda, Siddha
system also believes that universe are made up of five basic
elements namely earth water sky fire and air. However the
main emphasis is on the three branches - Bala vahatam
(pediatrics), Nanjunool (toxicology) and Nayana vidhi
(ophthalmology).
 Diagnosis:
1. Pulse recording
2. Color of the body
3. Study of voice
4. Urine examination
5. Study of digestive system
6. Examination of tongue
 Few natural drugs used in siddha system of medicine are:
1. Ratha polam (Aloe barbadensis)
2. Gomathai ( Datura stramonium)
3. Abini (Papaver somniferum)
5. Homeopathic system of medicine:
Principle:
1. A system of medicine based on the principle of “Like cures like”.
2. Uses the smallest dose possible to produces a response.

7.  This is a newer one and has been developed in the
eighteenth century by Samuel Hahnemann – a German
physician
 He proposed that the cause of disease itself used for its
treatment.
 Examples are:
1. Peeling an onion leads to sore eyes, runny nose, itchy
nose and sneezing. Allium cepa is used to treat hay
fever and colds.
 This system of medicine uses a concept of prover &
proven.
 The drugs are extracted in mother tincture (alcohol), then
further diluted in terms of decimal potencies.
Diagnosis: consider physical, mental and emotional changes of
patient.
6. Aromatherapy:
 Besides these systems of medicines, another system also prevails
upon, which is known as Aromatherapy.
 The treatment is done by applying different oils of natural origin.
 They are either massaged into the skin or taken as a bath.
 They are used to treat skin problems, headache, stress, insomnia
etc.
 Examples of plants are calendula, juniper, lavender, sandalwood
etc.

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