Lecture-10

Traditional Medicine

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 Definition

It is a system of medicine or medical practice, which is based on –

 Past or traditional uses of articles, medicinal or ritual, in

the treatment of diseases
 Clinical experiences of the people of various generations
throughout the ages

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 WHO’s Definition

“the sum total of all knowledge and practice, whether explicable or

not, used in the diagnosis, prevention and elimination of physical,
mental or social imbalance, relying exclusively on practical
experience and observations handed down from generation to
generation, verbally or in writing.”

Systems of traditional medicine: The traditional health care

systems practiced in Bangladesh
 Ayurvedic
 Unani
 Homeopathic
 Folk medicine

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 Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to the

Indian subcontinent and a form of alternative medicine.

Department of 4
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 Unani Medicine

Unani medicine is based on the concept of the four humours: Phlegm

(Balgham), Blood (Dam), Yellow bile (Ṣafrā') and Black bile (Saudā')

Essentially, this theory holds that the

human body was filled with four basic
substances, called humors, which are in
balance when a person is healthy.

Phlegm or Mucus is a liquid secreted by

the mucous membranes of mammalians.
Mucus is a normal protective layering
around the airway, eye, nasal turbinate,
and urogenital tract.

Department of 5
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 Homeopathic Medicine

Homeopathy is a system of medicine which involves treating the

individual with highly diluted substances, with the aim of triggering
the body’s natural system of healing. Based on their specific
symptoms, a homeopath will match the most appropriate medicine to
each patient.

Department of 6
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 Folk Medicine

The term folk medicine refers to healing practices and ideas of body
physiology and health preservation known to a limited segment of the
population in a culture, transmitted informally as general knowledge, and
practiced or applied by anyone in the culture having prior experience.

Folk medicine may also be referred to as

 Traditional medicine
 Alternative medicine
 Indigenous medicine
 Complementary medicine
 Natural medicine

Department of 7
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 Methods of Diagnosis

Diagnosis of diseases in traditional medicine is based on mainly physical

and psychological symptoms. These symptoms are determined by the
following methods:

1. Directly questioning the patient about the onset of the disease and past
history of the disease
2. Delving into the patient’s past life and his family history to find out if he
has inherited it from any member of his immediate family, as happens with
diabetes, asthma or sickle-cell anaemia
3. Patient’s description of the ailment and his present physical or
psychological problems
4. Observation of the patient for any gross abnormality or breathing or body
temperature or any change in his eating habit or social behavior
5. Visual examination of the patient’s eyes, particularly its colour (for anaemia
or jaundice), tongue (for any deposition) and skin (for rashes)

Department of 8
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 Methods of Diagnosis

6. Clinical examination of overall appearance, inspection of movable parts,

palpation, etc.
7. Biological examinations by the use of sensory organs, e.g., tasting urine by
tongue for presence of sugar, observing stool and vomits for any abnormality
and change in color, consistency and smell
8. Use of mind changing drugs to influence the patient to talk freely about his
disease, life-style and other personal habits, which he wouldn’t reveal under
normal condition
9. Analyzing any recurring dreams of the patient
10. Divination by throwing seeds or bone
11. Astronomical sign

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 Treatment

Treatment method depend on the nature of the diseases and specialization of

the practitioner.

1. Internal and external application of medicinal products, prepared by

the respective traditional medicine practice
2. Physical manipulation of various parts of the body, similar to
physiotherapy of modern medicine
3. Performing rituals like offering prayers, sacrificing animals in the
name of Creator
4. Subjecting the patient to physical torture, like beating
5. Psychotherapy and spiritual or faith healing by the use of religious
verses (blown on water to drink or on food to eat)
6. Therapeutic fasting and dieting (reducing quantity, prohibiting
certain food)

Department of 10
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 Treatment

7. Hydrotherapy: Hot baths are prescribed for fever, rheumatism and

body pain. Hot and cold water compressions are frequently used in
the treatment of sores, inflammations, swellings , etc.
8. Heat therapy for treating pains, inflamed muscles and joints,
rheumatism, gout, muscle-pull, fractured bones, etc.
9. Blood-letting (draining out or sucking out ‘impure’ or ‘bad’ blood
from the body by making incisions or opening of artery for bringing
out blood is often prescribed for headaches or vertigo)
10. Massage (for muscle strains) and also minor surgical operations
are commonly used as a means of treatment of traditional medicine

Department of 11
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Department of 12
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 Scientific basis of Traditional Medicine

1. Phytochemical and pharmacological investigations have shown that the

plant components of most TMs used in the treatment of oral diseases,
wounds and skin infections contain antibiotic and anti-inflammatory
principles.
2. TM used in the treatment of GI and skin diseases have been found to
contain tannins, which possess astringent and antibiotic properties.
3. TM used in the treatment of stomach troubles contain fixed oils, which as
emollients diminish gastric acidity, secretion, peristalsis and pyloric tone
4. TM used to cure GI disorder & oral diseases contain volatile oils. Volatile oil
enhance appetite and facilitate digestion

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 Scientific basis of Traditional Medicine

5. Extracts of Senna leaves and the juice of Aloe leaves used to remedy for
constipation
6. Datura stramonium and Atropa belladonna have long been used in TM as
popular pain-killer drugs. The chemical constituents of these plants
hyoscine, hyoscyamine and atropine, are now commonly used as
antispasmodic and mydriatic drugs in modern medicine
7. Roots of Rauwolfia serpentina have long been used in this subcontinent for
treating high blood pressure, insomnia and mental diseases. The active
constituents of these roots, reserpine, deserpidine and rescinnamine, are
used in modern medicine for the same purposes

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 That’s all for today

Department of 15
Pharmacy
 Traditional Medicine

Department of 16
Pharmacy
 WHO’s Definition

“the sum total of all knowledge and practice, whether

explicable or not, used in the diagnosis, prevention and
elimination of physical, mental or social imbalance,
relying exclusively on practical experience and
observations handed down from generation to generation,
verbally or in writing.”
Systems of traditional medicine: The traditional health
care systems practiced in Bangladesh
 Ayurvedic
 Unani
 Homeopathic
 Folk medicine

Department of 17
Pharmacy
 Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine

native to the Indian subcontinent and a form of alternative
medicine.

Department of 18
Pharmacy
 Unani Medicine

Unani medicine is based on the concept of the four humours:

Phlegm (Balgham), Blood (Dam), Yellow bile (Ṣafrā') and
Black bile (Saudā')
Essentially, this theory holds that
the human body was filled with four
basic substances, called humors,
which are in balance when a person
is healthy.

Phlegm or Mucus is a liquid secreted

by the mucous membranes of
mammalians.
Mucus is a normal protective
layering around the airway, eye,
nasal turbinate, and urogenital
tract.
Department of 19
Pharmacy
 Homeopathic Medicine

Homeopathy is a system of medicine which involves treating

the individual with highly diluted substances, with the aim of
triggering the body’s natural system of healing. Based on
their specific symptoms, a homeopath will match the most
appropriate medicine to each patient.

Department of 20
Pharmacy
 Folk Medicine

The term folk medicine refers to healing practices and ideas of

body physiology and health preservation known to a limited
segment of the population in a culture, transmitted informally as
general knowledge, and practiced or applied by anyone in the
culture having prior experience.
Folk medicine may also be referred to as

 Traditional medicine
 Alternative medicine
 Indigenous medicine
 Complementary medicine
 Natural medicine

Department of 21
Pharmacy
 Methods of Diagnosis

Diagnosis of diseases in traditional medicine is based on mainly

physical and psychological symptoms. These symptoms are
determined by the following methods:

1. Directly questioning the patient about the onset of the disease

and past history of the disease
2. Delving into the patient’s past life and his family history to
find out if he has inherited it from any member of his immediate
family, as happens with diabetes, asthma or sickle-cell anaemia
3. Patient’s description of the ailment and his present physical or
psychological problems
4. Observation of the patient for any gross abnormality or breathing
or body temperature or any change in his eating habit or social
behavior
5. Visual examination of the patient’s eyes, particularly its colour
(for anaemia or jaundice), tongue (for any deposition) and skin (for
rashes)
Department of 22
Pharmacy
 Methods of Diagnosis

6. Clinical examination of overall appearance, inspection of

movable parts, palpation, etc.
7. Biological examinations by the use of sensory organs, e.g., tasting
urine by tongue for presence of sugar, observing stool and vomits for
any abnormality and change in color, consistency and smell
8. Use of mind changing drugs to influence the patient to talk freely
about his disease, life-style and other personal habits, which he
wouldn’t reveal under normal condition
9. Analyzing any recurring dreams of the patient
10. Divination by throwing seeds or bone
11. Astronomical sign

Department of 23
Pharmacy
 Treatment

Treatment method depend on the nature of the diseases and

specialization of the practitioner.

1. Internal and external application of medicinal products,

prepared by the respective traditional medicine practice
2. Physical manipulation of various parts of the body, similar
to physiotherapy of modern medicine
3. Performing rituals like offering prayers, sacrificing animals
in the name of Creator
4. Subjecting the patient to physical torture, like beating
5. Psychotherapy and spiritual or faith healing by the use of
religious verses (blown on water to drink or on food to
eat)
6. Therapeutic fasting and dieting (reducing quantity,
prohibiting certain food)
Department of 24
Pharmacy
 Treatment

7. Hydrotherapy: Hot baths are prescribed for fever,

rheumatism and body pain. Hot and cold water
compressions are frequently used in the treatment of
sores, inflammations, swellings , etc.
8. Heat therapy for treating pains, inflamed muscles and
joints, rheumatism, gout, muscle-pull, fractured bones,
etc.
9. Blood-letting (draining out or sucking out ‘impure’ or ‘bad’
blood from the body by making incisions or opening of
artery for bringing out blood is often prescribed for
headaches or vertigo)
10. Massage (for muscle strains) and also minor surgical
operations are commonly used as a means of treatment of
traditional medicine
Department of 25
Pharmacy
 Scientific basis of Traditional Medicine

1. Phytochemical and pharmacological investigations have shown

that the plant components of most TMs used in the treatment of
oral diseases, wounds and skin infections contain antibiotic and
anti-inflammatory principles.
2. TM used in the treatment of GI and skin diseases have been found
to contain tannins, which possess astringent and antibiotic
properties.
3. TM used in the treatment of stomach troubles contain fixed oils,
which as emollients diminish gastric acidity, secretion, peristalsis
and pyloric tone
4. TM used to cure GI disorder & oral diseases contain volatile oils.
Volatile oil enhance appetite and facilitate digestion

Department of 26
Pharmacy
Department of 27
Pharmacy