Authentication of the 31 species of Toxic and Potent Chinese Materia Medica (T/PCMM) by microscopic technique, part 2: Three species of seed T/PCMM.

Toxic and Potent Chinese Materia Medica (T/PCMM) are being used more and more in the treatment of various diseases. In view of their toxic side effects and to ensure their safe use, accurate and reliable authentication is indispensable. However, identifying characteristics of T/PCMM are seldom reported, even though modern microscopy can provide ample, unique identifying characteristics from cells found in transverse sections and powders. In particular, no systematic authentication studies on seed T/PCMM have been conducted. In the course of our study on 31 T/PCMM originating from plants, animals, minerals, and secreta, an accurate and convenient method, based on microscopic techniques, has been developed and reported for the authentication of animal T/PCMM. The present study deals with detailed investigations on three species of seed T/PCMM, namely Semen Hyoscyami (Hyoscyamus niger L.), Semen Euphorbiae (Euphorbia lathyris L.), and Semen Strychni (Strychnos nux-vomica L.). The macroscopic characters are here described in detail, and the microscopic characters were conclusively determined by common and polarized light microscopy. Results showed that these three T/PCMM can be easily identified by the present method even when powdered and combined. Thus, the microscopic method is applicable for authentication of the earlier three T/PCMM, and the morphological and microscopic characteristics described here are proposed as parameters to establish the authenticity of these three T/PCMM.

Solanaceae III: henbane, hags and Hawley Harvey Crippen.

Hyoscyamus, the henbane, is one of the drugs of the ancients. Initially used both as a poison and narcotic, it was widely adopted by witches, wizards and soothsayers as a component of their hallucinatory and flying ointments. It was also used by notorious poisoners such as Madame Voisin in France. Eventually, in the nineteenth century its active principle was isolated by Ladenburg and called l-hyoscine. It proved to be a tropane alkaloid very similar to atropine. These two alkaloids proved to be very important in the study of the parasympathetic component of the autonomic nervous system, and together with physostigmine, allowed the major neurotransmitter acetylcholine to be isolated and its mechanisms of action to be characterised. The Crippen murder case in 1910 gave hyoscine further fame, indeed, notoriety. The unassuming homeopathic doctor murdered his wife with the alkaloid and then decamped for Canada with his mistress Ethel Le Neve. The case became a worldwide sensation for several reasons: the arrest of the fugitive couple by wireless telegraphy (Marconigram) and the extensive chemical and histological evidence presented by Willcox and Spilsbury. Some authorities claim that this was the beginning of the science of forensic medicine in Britain. Hyoscine is now hardly ever used in modern therapeutics but its history from antiquity to the witches and on to Dr Crippen is both bizarre and fascinating.

The pharmacology of medieval sedatives: the "Great Rest" of the Antidotarium Nicolai.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Past practices of compound drugs from different plant ingredients enjoyed remarkable longevity over centuries yet are largely dismissed by modern science as subtherapeutic, lethal or fanciful. AIM OF THE STUDY: To examine the phytochemical content of a popular medieval opiate drug called the "Great Rest" and gauge the bioavailability and combined effects of its alkaloid compounds (morphine, codeine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine) on the human body according to modern pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters established for these compounds. CALCULATIONS AND THEORY: We reviewed the most recent studies on the pharmacodynamics of morphine, codeine, hyoscyamine and scopolamine to ascertain plasma concentrations required for different physiological effects and applied these findings to dosage of the Great Rest. RESULTS: Given the proportional quantities of the alkaloid rich plants, we calculate the optimal dose of Great Rest to be 3.1±0.1-5.3±0.76 g and reveal that the lethal dose of Great Rest is double the therapeutic concentration where all three alkaloid compounds are biologically active. CONCLUSION: This study helps establish the effective dose (ED50), toxic dose (TD50) and lethal dose (LD50) rates for the ingestion of raw opium, henbane and mandrake, and describes their probable combined effects, which may be applied to similar types of pre-modern pharmaceuticals to reveal the empirical logic behind past practices.

O uso da homeopatia em TDAH: relato de caso / The use of homeopathy in ADHD: case report

Esse trabalho apresenta um relato de caso de uma criança com diagnóstico de Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH) e intervenção com homeopatia. O objetivo é verificar eficácia da homeopatia para o TDAH. Concluiu-se que a intervenção com homeopatia apresentou resultados significativos no tratamento deste caso, como aumento da atenção e do rendimento escolar, diminuição dos comportamentos impulsivos, trazendo consequências positivas para o indivíduo e o seu relacionamento familiar.

This works presents a case report of a child diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and intervention with homeopathy. The objective is to verify the effectiveness of homeopathy for ADHD. It was concluded that the intervention with homeopathy showed significant results in the treatment of this case, such as increased attention and school performance, decreased impulsive behavior, bringing positive consequences for the individual and his family relationship.

Transtorno bipolar: abordagem e tratamento homeopático (relato de caso) / Bipolar disorder: approach and homeopathic treatment (case report)

Relato de um paciente portador de transtorno afetivo bipolar, em uso de medicação psicotrópica e em psicoterapia regular, que, após iniciar uso de Hyoscyamus niger 30 CH, apresentou melhora importante da sintomatologia maníaca, demonstrada através de redução de pontuação da Escala de Avaliação de mania de Bech-Rafaelsen. Portanto, o medicamento homeopático é uma opção de tratamento para o transtorno bipolar do humor e outros transtornos mentais graves.(AU)

A report of a patient with bipolar affective disorder, using psychotropic medication and regular psychotherapy, who, after starting Hyoscyamus niger 30 CH, presented an important improvement of the manic symptomatology, demonstrated through reduction of the Mania Rating Scale Of Bech-Rafaelsen. Therefore, the homeopathic medicine is a treatment option for bipolar disorder of mood and other serious mental disorders. (AU)

Mandragora officinarum

Neste trabalho a autora aborda as qualidades de Mandragora officinarum a fim de despertar o interesse da Homeopatia para este medicamento pelo seu vasto potencial a ser explorado.Mandragora officinarum é um medicamento homeopático de poucos sintomas conhecidos. Seu primeiro estudo foi descrito em “Species plantarum” em 1753. É um medicamento incluso na Matéria Médica Pura de Allen (1874). A patogenesia foi feita por Mezger, segundo Soares (2000). As características e o histórico do emprego da planta são ressaltados, bem como a importância como medicamento homeopático e suas perspectivas para pesquisa. Entre as dificuldades em estudar o medicamento estão: a escassa descrição dos sintomas da patogenesia e as diferentes formas de obtenção da tintura mãe utilizada na experimentação que dificultam a comparação entre os resultados obtidos por diferentes autores.(AU)

Los delirantes materia medica comparada / The delirous drugs conparative materia medica

Se presenta una materia medica comparada de los medicamentos constituyentes de la triada del deliro de Nash: Belladonna, Hyosciamus y Stramonium. Peviamente se hace una intoduccion sobre los conceptos del delirio a traves de las definiciones propuestas por la American Psychiatric Association. (AU)

Plantas medicinales milenares que la homeopatia mantiene vigentes / Ancients medicinal plants that homeopathy mantains alive

Cada una de las plantas medicinales tiene una historia que es inreresante conocer. Con frecuencia, su nombre popular o cientifico ya nos revela parte de ella. Casi siempre tales antecedentes historicos son como la brujula que nos orienta hacia su investigacion, primordialmente en lo que respecta a lo fitoquimico y a lo terapeutico. Tales conocimientos son de gran valor para el hombre y es gratificante observar como el pasado y presente utilitario de una planta siempre hacepromisorio su futuro, lo que nos abliga a cuidarlas, conservarlas, estudiarlas y reproducirlas. Para apoyar lo aqui sugerido, hablaremos de cuatro plantas medicinales cuyo uso terapeutico ha sido conocido desde hace cientos de anos en diferentes latitudes de nuestro planeta y que la homeopatia (que apenas cueta con doscientos anos) las mantiene vigentes hasta nuestros dias y que seguramente de acuerdo con su metodo las conservara como medicamentos de uso permanente(AU)

Plantas medicinales milenares que la homeopatia mantiene vigentes / Ancients medicinal plants that homeopathy mantains alive

Cada una de las plantas medicinales tiene una historia que es inreresante conocer. Con frecuencia, su nombre popular o cientifico ya nos revela parte de ella. Casi siempre tales antecedentes historicos son como la brujula que nos orienta hacia su investigacion, primordialmente en lo que respecta a lo fitoquimico y a lo terapeutico. Tales conocimientos son de gran valor para el hombre y es gratificante observar como el pasado y presente utilitario de una planta siempre hacepromisorio su futuro, lo que nos abliga a cuidarlas, conservarlas, estudiarlas y reproducirlas. Para apoyar lo aqui sugerido, hablaremos de cuatro plantas medicinales cuyo uso terapeutico ha sido conocido desde hace cientos de anos en diferentes latitudes de nuestro planeta y que la homeopatia (que apenas cueta con doscientos anos) las mantiene vigentes hasta nuestros dias y que seguramente de acuerdo con su metodo las conservara como medicamentos de uso permanente

Enfermos incurables / Cureless patients

Planteo en esta presentacion las dificultades y conflictos que se nos presentan en la practica medica homeopatica cuando debemos encarar el tratamiento de enfermos considerados incurables. Propongo... (AU)

Differential of violent remedies

When we consider the violent remedies of our materia medica we notice there are numerous rubrics ranging from irritability to rage describing the various intensity of feeling. Papaphilippou has worked out the finer differential between these remedies, describing how they may present to us

Sindrome Gilles de la Tourette: estudo de um caso / Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome: study of a case

A Sindrome Gilles de la Tourette e uma enfermidade neurologica relativamente comum. Estima-se que 2,9 a 49,5 em cada 100.000 criancas podem apresentar a doenca. Os homens sao mais comumente afetados que as mulheres. A desordem e genetica, embora o gen ate o momento nao tenha sido localizado. A Sindrome e caracterizada por multiplos tics motores e vocais que persistem pelo menos por um ano. Um caso de SGT e tratado com homeopatia, e o paciente tem tido uma boa evolucao do caso clinico ate o momento

Semences de matiere medicale homeopathique - septieme partie: Gnaphallium a Iodum / Seeds of homeopathic materia medica - seventh part: Gnaphallium to Iodum

La plupart des donnees contenues dans cette Matiere medicale homeopathique sont inedites. Elles ont et deduites ou calculees a partir des provings originaux de l"Encyclopedie de Matiere medicale pure, de Timothee Field Allen et des Guiding Symptoms, de Constantin Hering. En ce qui concerne les indications thermales, elles font partie d'un ouvrage de crenotherapie homeopathique exhaustif, inedit a ce jour et portant sur 100 stations thermales francaises