SYSTEMS OF

MEDICINE &
HEALTH CARE.
Mrs. Hephzibah Keren. I
Assoc Prof
Dept of Community Health Nursing.
ALLOPATHY
 The term “Allopathy” was invented by German
Physician Samuel Hahnemann.
 He conjoined allos ‘opposite’ and pathos ‘suffering’.
 Allopathy medicines refers to the practice of
conventional medicine that uses pharmacologically
active agent or physical interventions to treat or
suppress symptoms or pathophysiologic processes of
diseases or conditions.
INDIAN SYSTEM OF MEDICINE OR HOMEOPATHY.

 A large number of Indian have faith in Ayurveda,

Siddha, Unani, Naturopathy and Homeopathy
system of treatment and takes medical help from
this.
 Previously this department was known as
ISM&H, but now it is known as AYUSH.
 There are 11 lakh registered ISM&H practitioners
in the country.
AYURVEDA.
 Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine
practiced in India.
 The word ayur+veda means ‘science of life’. Its
documentation dates back to the vedic period
(5000 BC)
 Ayurveda takes holistic view of health
comprising of 4 integrated components namely,
physical, mental, social and spiritual.
 The body of knowledge of Ayurveda is derived for
Darshanas which encompass physical, biological
and spiritual sciences.
 The practice of Ayurveda is based on the theory of
panch mahabutas.
 These 5 elements are,
1. Ether and Air- Vata.
2. Fire- Pitta
3. Water and earth- Kaph.
 In addition to 3 Doshas, Ayurveda considers
human being as a combination of 7 body
tissues(Sapta Dhatu), five sences(Panch Indriyas)
 These combinations performing sensory and
motor functions, Intellect(Budhi), Mind(Manas)
and Soul(Atman).
DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT.
 The treatment in Ayurveda is individualized.
 It requires not only diagnosis of disease to

prescribe medicine but also study of various

factors such as age and sex,
temperament(Pakriti), sleep and rest and work
pattern, diet, metabolic fire(Agni).
 Treatment includes preventive and curative
measures.
 Preventive measures include personal hygiene,
appropriate use of rasayana sevana. i.e.
appropriate use of food, drugs and social
behaviour.
 Curative measures include 3 major measures i.e.
drugs and anna, diets and vihara, exercises and
general mode of life.
 Diagnosis is done on the basis of history taking
and examination of pulse, urine, faeces, tongue,
eyes etc.
YOGA & NATUROPATHY.
 Yoga is a science which helps to coordinate body
and mind more effectively.
 It promotes mental, physical, social and spiritual
health.
 Yoga is an ancient science which has been
described in vedas. It was propounded by
patanjali about 2500 years ago.
 Yoga encourages better circulation of oxygenated
blood in the body, restrains the sense organs.
 Yoga consists of 8 components:
1. Restrain in every sphere of life.
2. Austerity in every sphere of life.
3. Maintaining physical posture.
4. Breathing exercises.
5. Restraining of sense organs.
6. Contemplation.
7. Meditation.
8. Samadhim.
UNANI SYSTEM OF MEDICINE.
 It has its origin in Greece before Christ(377-460
BC).
 It was introduced in India by Arabs in 11 th
century.
 It makes use of naturally occurring , mostly
herbal medicine though it uses ingredients of
animal, marine origin.
 It treats diseases and provides remedies in a
systematic manner.
 The system is based on the 4 humor theories of
Hippocrates. i.e, blood, phlegm, yellow bile and
black bile.
 Any change in these humors brings about change

in the temparament of a person affecting his

health status. Any imbalance in these results in
disease causation.
DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT:
1. Diagnosis is done by feeling of Pulse,
observation of stool, colour of skin and gait etc.
2. Treatment composes of 3 components namely,
 Preventive.
 Promotive.
 Curative.
3. It is carried out in 4 forms.
 Pharmacotherapy.
 Diet therapy.
 Regimental therapy.
 Surgery.
4. For prevention of diseases and promotion of
health, it lays emphasis on developing defense
mechanisms of the body and advocates 6
essentials. They are:
 Exercises.
 Psychic movement and rest.
 Sleep.
 Wakefulness.
 Evacuation.
 Retention.
SIDDHA SYSTEM OF MEDICINE.
 The term siddha implies Achievement. It was
practiced by ‘Siddharas’ and it is believed to have
evolved in Tamil Nadu.
 The basic philosophy is that all the objects in the
universe including human body are composed of
5 elements i.e, Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Space or
Ether.
 The diagnosis of the diseases involves identifying
its causes.
 Causative factors are identified by examination of
pulse, eyes, colour of the body, tongue, status of
digestive system, urine and study of voice.
 The treatment not only includes disease but it
takes into consideration of patient as a whole-
age, sex, race, habits, mental frame, diet appetite,
physical condition, physiological constitution,
habitat, environment, meteorological conditions.
 It make use of minerals, plants and animal parts.
HOMEOPATHY SYSTEM OF MEDICINE.
 It has been in practice for 170 years.
 It is based on the theory of ‘simila similibus
currentis’ it means, let like be treated by like
which means that any substance capable of
producing artificial symptoms on healthy
individuals can cure the same symptoms in
a natural disease.
 There are 4 cordinal laws.
1. Law of direction of cure: it states that during
curative process the symptoms disappear in the
reverse order of its appearance.
2. Law of single remedy: it usually uses only one
medicine . The process of selecting a remedy is
done on the basis of individualisation.
3. Law of minimum doses: the doses applied are
the minimum as possible, just sufficient to
correct the disease state.
4. Theory of chronic disease.
MEDITATION
 Meditation is a universal. It transcends all
divides like religion, country and culture.
 Modern life style has high exposure to
anger, hate, fear and other negative
emotions.
 Meditations helps an individual to overcome
these emotions to facilitate a calm peaceful
mind and a healthy and stress free body.
BENEFITS OF MEDITATIONS.
 Individual benefits of meditations.

1. Bodily benefits: lower blood pressure, improves

the immune system, increase body vitality,
controls insomnia and increases overall health of
the body.
2. Mental benefits: Emotional stability, anxiety
decreases, anger reduces, happiness increases,
intuition develops, clarity and peace of mind,
induces ability to focus, reduces tension and
fear.
3. Spiritual growth: Consciousness evolves,
meditation brings harmony in creation, personal
transformation, realization of Self.
 Social benefits of meditations.
1. Violence free society: meditation develops
happiness, contentment and calmness. This is a
potent way to achieve a violence free society.
2. Value based society: the effects of meditation
include happiness, respect for the environment
and others, a strong sense of social values.
These qualities of an individual level, helps
develop a value based social system.
REFERRAL
SYSTEM.
REFERRAL SYSTEM
 The system in which the patient is sent from the
health centre with fewer amenities to the health
institutions or treatment centre, which has more
resources, facilities and amenities is called
referral system.
 Thus, referral system is an essential component
of health care system.
 From rural level to metropolises and from health
sub-centers to specialist hospitals, all kinds of
health facilities can be provided to community
through this system.
 IMPORTANCE OF REFERRAL SYSTEM.
1. Providing diagnostic services to patient and
community.
2. Providing specialist’s services to the patient.
3. Propagating the purposes of referral system
among health workers.
4. Teaching the nursing personnel for reviewing the
patients, sent for referral.
5. Preventing further complications and for
appropriate treatment.
6. Sending the patient comfortably to the referral
institute.
SELECTION OF PATIENT FOR REFERRAL.
 Which patient should be sent for referral or what

should be the basis of patient for referral system,

this depends upon the resources available in the
health center and the condition of the patient.
Such patients can be divided into three category;
1. First group or Fatal patients.
 Such patients cannot survive despite the best
treatment made available to them. So to send
them for treatment is the waste of money and
time. Hence it is better to give treatment at the
health center itself with available resources.
2. Second group or Serious patients.
 Condition of such patients is considered serious
but immediate treatment can save their lives. So,
before sending them for referral, attempts should
made to reduce the seriousness of condition and
only after that they should be sent for referral.
3. Third group or General patients.
 Though the diseases may be serious in such
patients still the condition of the patient is found
to be normal.
 Similarly, after surgery or in case diagnosis
is not possible or for use of some special
technique patient can be sent to a big or
specialist hospital for consultations.
 Thus, on the basis of patient’s condition,
type of disease, objectives of treatment and
the latest technique of treatment or the need
of diagnosis, the case of the patient can be
prepared for the referral system.
LEVELS OF REFERRAL SYSTEM.

Village level

sub-center level.

Primary Health Center level.

Community Health Center/ Rural hospital

District hospital

Teaching hospital/ Speciality Hospitals.

 Inter-disciplinary Referral system:
 When the patients cannot be treated, neither

properly diagnosed nor satisfied with a particular

pathy, they can be referred to another type of
therapy for needful. This type of referral is called
as, Inter-disciplinary referral system.
 Intra-disciplinary referral system:
 It is very common in our country where patients

shifts oftenly from Allopathy to AYUSH.

NEED FOR URGENT REFERRAL.
 Hyperpyrexia (high fever not responding the

treatment or has lasted more than 4-5 days)

 Severe pain in any part of the body that is

continuous for more than 3 days.

 Stiff neck, stiff jaw with arched back (Tetanus).
 Convulsions.

 Haematemesis/ Haemoptysis.
 Pain abdomen, frequent vomiting, absence of

bowel sound.
 Black colored stool.
 Complicated deliveries.
 Coma (due to any cause)
 Severe diarrhea (not responding to treatment) and
severe dehydration.
 Severe cyanosis.
 Retention of urine for more than 18 – 24 hours.
 Chest pain in cardiac patients.
 Multiple trauma(including fracture)/ severe
hemorrhage.
 Poisonous conditions.

REFERRAL FORM.
Name of the health center/ Hospital
(stamp of the hospital)
Name of the referral unit…………………..
Referral registration No…….Date………..
Name of the patient……………………….
Father/ Husband name…………………
Age……….Sex……………..Religion……………..
Occupation………………………….
Present diagnosis………………………
Case history in short………………….
Description of treatment given…………………………………
Date of sending for referral……………
Cause of sending for referral………………………………………………………

Enclosed papers, Signature

1.
2. Name of the sender……….
RESPONSIBILITY OF NURSE IN REFERRAL SYSTEM.

 All the nursing personnel working in the

PHC/Sub-center or in District hospitals should
have the knowledge of referral system.
 Patients should be carefully selected for referral
system.
 Nurses should be aware of their limitations and
responsibilities in the referral system.
 In case of emergency, attempt should be made to
save the life of the patient and then only patient
should send for referral.
 Entries in the referral form should be clear and
correct, related records should also be enclosed
with it.
 While sending serious patients, life saving
equipments / medicines should be arranged with
them.
 If facilities are available then consultation for the
patient can be procured through telephone,
television network, medical transcription or
internet.
 As far as possible, nurse should accompany the
patient while sending him for referral.
THANK YOU