See COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE (CAM).
In the United Kingdom, the number of cases of food poisoning (by all types of infection) has risen from 102.9 to 162.9 per 100,000 population over the last 15 years. In 2003, more then 70,000 cases of food poisoning were noti?ed. The use of preventive methods throughout the food production process, marketing and consumption of food is most important in controlling infection, as is taking hygienic precautions, such as hand-washing, after handling animals – including domestic pets.
Mild cases can be treated at home with no solid food but plenty of liquids and some salt. Serious cases require hospital care.... campylobacter
Habitat: The fungi is distributed in many parts of India, particularly on the hills and plains of northern and eastern India. Grows during the rainy weather on dead organic matter, e.g. rotting leaves and manure.
English: Field mushroom, Edible mushroom.Ayurvedic: Chhatraka, Bhuumi- chhatra.Unani: Kammat.Siddha: Venkodiveli.Folk: Khumbi.Action: A protein (2.74%) supplement and an excellent source of vitamins of B complex. Vitamins K, C and D are also present. Though all the amino acids are reported to be present, the concentration of tryptophane is particularly low.
Extracts of A. campestris contain tyrosinase; lowered blood pressure of hypertensive animals when administered intravenously (exhibited no effect on normal animals).Fungal enzyme preparations have been used in digestive diseases.Field mushroom contains amylase, maltase, glycogenase, protease, cata- lase, tyrosinase, phosphomonoesteras- es, polyphosphatases, polyphenoloxi- dase and dehydropeptidases.... agaricus campestrisHabitat: Native to tropical Asia; cultivated throughout India.
English: Elephant-foot Yam.Ayurvedic: Suurana, Kanduula, Arshoghna, Kand-ayak, Kandala.Unani: Zamin-qand, Zamikand.Siddha/Tamil: Chenaikkizhangu. Kaathukarunai (wild var.)Action: Corm is prescribed in bronchitis, asthma, abdominal pain, emesis, dysentery, enlargement of spleen, piles, elephantiasis, diseases due to vitiated blood, rheumatic swellings.
Along with other therapeutic applications, The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India indicates the use of corm in prostatic hyperplasia.(The corm is irritant due to the presence of calcium oxalate. It can be con- sumedafterit iswashedwell andboiled in tamarind water or butter milk.)The corm contains an active di- astatic enzyme amylase, betulinic acid, tricontane, lupeol, stigmasterol, beta- sitosterol and its palmitate and glucose, galactose, rhamnose and xylose.Intake of 3.6-7.2 g of konjac (Amor- phophallus konjac tuber) mannan for 90 days reduced the dose of insulin or hypoglycaemic drugs (in human clinical study). (Francis Brinker.)Amorphophallus sylvatius Kunth. is equated with the wild var. of Suu- rana, used especially in the treatment of piles.Dosage: Dried corm—2-10 g powder. (API Vol. III.) 3-5 g powder. (CCRAS.)... amorphophallus campanulatusHabitat: Cultivated as an oil-yielding crop.
English: Field Mustard, Turnip Rape.Ayurvedic: Sarshapa, Siddhaartha.Unani: Sarson.Siddha/Tamil: Kadugu.Action: Stimulant, diuretic, emetic, rubefacient, counter-irritant. Used externally for bronchitis and rheumatic pains (increases flow of blood to a specific area). Powdered seeds are used as a tea for colds, influenza and fever.
The seeds contain glycosinolates (the derivatives are responsible for tox- icity). The concentration of the major glucosinolate, gluco-napin, varies from 0.64 to 1.8% in the oil-free meal of Indian brassicas. The glucosinolates in rapeseed meal split upon enzymatic hydrolysis to produce glucose, potassium, hydrogen sulphate and a sulphur- containing compound which undergoes intramolecular rearrangement to give rise to the antinutritional factors, isothiocyanates or thiocyanates.The volatile oil of mustard is given internally in colic; in overdoses it is highly poisonous and produces gastro- enteric inflammations. It is employed externally as a liniment for rheumatic pains.Adulteration of mustard oil with argemone oil (Argemone mexicana is frequently found growing in brassica fields), by accident or by design, has led to the widespread epidemics of dropsy and glaucoma due to an alkaloid sanguinarine.Black mustard contains sinigrin, which on hydrolysis by enzyme my- rosin, produces allyisothiocynate; the white mustard contains sinalbin, which produces p-hydroxybenzyl isothiocy- nate. Mucilage contains sinapine.Dosage: Seed—500 mg to 1 g paste. (API Vol. III.)... brassica campestrisCamekah, Cameeka, Camieka, Cameika, Camecka, Cemeka, Cymeka, Comeka, Cameca, Cameeca, Camekia, Camecia... cameka
Habitat: Western temperate Himalayas from 2,500 to 4,000 m.
English: American cowslip, Marsh Marigold, Water Buttercup.Folk: Mamiri (Punjab).Family: Theaceae.Habitat: Cultivated in Assam, Darjeeling, Travancore, the Nilgiris, Malabar, Bengal, Dehra Dun and Kumaon.
English: Tea.Unani: Chaai, Shaahi, Shaayi.Siddha/Tamil: Thaeyilai.Action: Stimulant, diuretic, astringent. In China, used for diarrhoea and dysentery (causes gastrointestinal upsets and nervous irritability when consumed in excess). Green tea: anticancer effects have been observed in Chinese green tea, Camellia thea, extract; the extract of Japanese green tea showed antihepatotoxic effects.
Important constituents of leaf buds and very young leaves are: caffeine, with a much smaller amount of other xanthines (theophylline and theo- bromine); tannins (the main tannin in green tea is (-)-epigallocatechin); flavonoids, quercetin, kaempferol. The stimulant and diuretic are due to caffeine content, the astringency due to the tannins.Drinking tea lowers thiamine and thiamine diphosphate losses in urine and blood serum respectively but increases niacin losses. Hot water extract of black tea facilitates Ca absorption in the body experimentally. Tea may decrease zinc bioavailability.The tea, if added to the meal, significantly lower the availability of iron. Milk is as effective as ascorbic acid in countering the depressing effect of tea on iron availability (in vitro).The green tea catechin inhibited car- cinogenesis in small intestines when given during or after carcinogen treatment to experimental rats. (-)-epi- gallocatechin gallate and theaflavin di- gallate from green tea inhibited the in- fectivity of both influenza A and B virus (in vitro).Green tea, when added to a lard- cholesterol diet, decreased the cholesterol and triglyceride levels in fowls. Tea polyphenols exhibit hypocholes- terolaemic activity.Tea polyphenols—(-)-epicatechin gallate, (-)-epigallocatechine galate, theaflavin monogallate A or B, and or theaflavin digallate—are used for treating hyperglycaemia.Saponins from tea are used as an- tiulcer agents.Concurrent use of tea and beta- adrenergic agonists may increase the risk of cardiac arrhythmias. Caffeine, a component of tea, may increase insulin resistance. (Sharon M. Herr.)... camellia sinensisCamillus; a ceremonial attendant; a noble virgin Camile, Camille, Camila, Camillia, Caimile, Camillei, Cam, Camelai, Camelia, Camella, Camellia, Camela, Cammi... camilla
Habitat: From Borneo to Sumatra islands.
English: Borneo or Barus Camphor. Ayurvedic: Bhimseni Kapoor. Folk: Baraas Kapoor.Action: See Cinnamomum camphora.... dryobalanops camphora
Habitat: Throughout greater part of India, mostly in the plains.
Ayurvedic: Amrita, Sudhaa-muuli, Munjaataka (Salep var.) Saalam- misri (substitute). Munjaataka and Saalam-misri have been equated with Orchis latifolia Linn. of the same family.Action: Tubers—used in stamatitis, purulent cough and as a cardiac and nervine tonic. Also used in scrofulous diseases and dyscrasia. Used a substitute for Salep.... eulophia campestris
Habitat: A tree native to China and Japan and often grown as a hedge plant.
English: Camphor tree.Ayurvedic: Karpura, Ghanasaara, Chandra, Chandra Prabhaa, Sitaabhra, Hima-valukaa, Hi- mopala, Himakara, Shashi, Indu, Tushaara, Gandhadravya, Shital- raja.Unani: Kaafoor.Siddha/Tamil: Indu, Karupporam.Action: Camphor taken internally in small doses (toxic in large doses) acts as a carminative, reflex expectorant and reflex stimulant of heart and circulation as well as respiration. Also used as a sedative and nervous depressant in convulsions, hysteria, epilepsy, chorea. Topically used as a rubefacient and mild analgesic.
Key application: Externally in catarrhal diseases of the respiratory tract and muscular rheumatism; internally in hypotonic circulatory regulation disorders, Catarrhal diseases of the respiratory tract. (German Commission E.)The plant contains a volatile oil comprising camphor, safrole, linalool, eugenol and terpeneol. It also contains lignans (including secoisosolari- ciresinol dimethyl ether and kusunoki- ol). Safrole is thought to be carcinogenic.The leaf oil is a natural source of linalool (94.9%); also contained cit- ronellal (2.4%).Camphor in concentration of 500 mcg/ml completely inhibits the growth of vibro parahaemolyticus, one of the causative agents of diarrhoea and dysentery. Ethanolic extract (50%) of fruits show antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The essential oil from the plant possesses antifungal activity against many fungi. Camphor is toxic at 2-20 g.Dosage: Concentrate—125-375 mg (CCRAS.)... cinnamomum camphoraHabitat: Western Ghats and Nilgiris.
English: Gamboge tree.Ayurvedic: Vrkshaamla (allied species), Kokam (var.).Siddha/Tamil: Kodakkapuli.Action: Fruit rind—used in rickets and enlargement of spleen, in skeletal fractures.
The plant contains iso-prenylated polyphenols—cambogin and cambo- ginol. The fruit contains about 30% acid (dry weight basis), which is essentially (-)-hydroxycitric acid (HCA). HCA is a potent inhibitor of ATP citrate lyase, the enzyme that produces acetyl CoA for both fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis.Taking Garcinia fruit rind extract orally does not seem to help decrease weight, satiety, fat oxidation or energy expenditure in obese people. Some researchers are of the view that garcinia inhibits the supply of fatty acids without affecting adipose conversion. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)Latex gave benzophenone derivatives, camboginol and cambogin.... garcinia cambogiaHabitat: Native to tropical America and the West Indies. Grown in Indian gardens.
English: Logwood, Peachwood, Compeachy tree.Ayurvedic: Pattanga, Patraanga, Bakam (substitute). (Caesalpinia sappan is also equated with Pattanga.)Unani: Buqqam, Bakam-Hindi.Action: Astringent. Used for atonic dyspepsia, diarrhoea, summer diarrhoea, dysentery, internal haemorrhages, menorrhagia, leucorrhoea. (It imparts red colour to urine and stool. Incompatible with chalk or lime-water.)
The wood contains about 10% hae- matoxylon, a red-brown phenolic dye, tannins, resin and volatile oil.Haematoxylin exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in the carra- geenan-induced oedema test.The seed contains crude protein 29.1, pentosan 6.6, and water-soluble gum 3.2%.... haematoxylon campechianumHabitat: Native to tropical America; naturalized and occurs throughout India. Also grown as hedge plant.
English: Lantana, Wild Sage, Surinam Tea Plant.Ayurvedic: Chaturaangi, Vanachch- hedi.Siddha/Tamil: Unnichedi.Folk: Ghaaneri (Maharashtra).Action: Plant—antirheumatic, antimalarial; used in tetanus and ataxy of abdominal viscera. Pounded leaves are applied to cuts, ulcers and swellings; a decoction of leaves and fruits is used as a lotion for wounds.
The plant is considered poisonous. The leaves contain toxic principles, lantadenes A and B, which cause acute photosensitization, jaundice, kidney and liver lesions. A steroid, lanca- marone, is cardioactive and fish poison.The bark of stems and roots contain a quinine-like alkaloid, lantanine. The extract of the shoot showed antibacterial activity against E. coli and Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus. Flowers contain anthocyanin.... lantana camaraHabitat: Throughout the Himalayas at altitudes of 2,400-5,200 m.
Folk: Chimal (Kumaon, Nepal), Gagger vurmi, Nichnai (Kashmir). Cherailu, Taalis-far.Action: Leaves—used in chronic rheumatism and sciatica. As a snuff, in colds and hemicrania.
The leaves gave a toxic substance which resembles andromedotoxin; besides ericolin, ursolic acid, alpha-amy- rin, friedelin, epi-friedelinol, campan- ulin, quercitin. The pigments of flowers contain myricetin and quercetin.Petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of leaves, stems and flowers lower blood pressure in cats and inhibit intestinal movements in rabbits.... rhododendron campanulatumHabitat: Native to tropical Africa. Grown as a avenue tree, in Coffee estates for shade.
English: Syringe tree, Fountain tree, African Tulip tree.Siddha/Tamil: Patadi.Folk: Ruugatuuraa.Action: Bark—decoction given for dysentery, gastro-intestinal and renal ailments. Pulverized bark applied to skin diseases. Leaves— infusion administered for urethral inflammation.
The stem bark gave oleanolic and siaresinolic acids. The bark yields small quantities of tannin. Leaves gave caf- feic and chlorogenic acids, quercetin- 3-galactoside. Flowers gave malvidin and pelargonidin diglycoside.An aqueous alcoholic extract of the leaves and the hexane and chloroform extracts of stem bark showed anti- malarial activity.... spathodea campanulata
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