Pilo Health Dictionary

A plant alkaloid and the primary bioactive substance reducible from Pilocarpus spp. (Jaborandi leaves). It is an almost pure parasympathomimetic (cholinergic), inducing lowered blood pressure and stimulating glandular secretions...EVERYWHERE. It stimulates sweating as well, a sympathetic cholinergic response. Anyway, it is used in eye drops these days to contract the pupil, lower ocular fluid pressure and take some of the stress off glaucoma. The refined alkaloid is better in the eyes, but the dried leaves are the usual complex agents of herb use and have some therapeutic values in low doses. Good Lobelia or Asclepias will work similarly and are both safer, fresher and more predictable as botanicals.... pilocarpine

Linn.

Family: Compositae; Asteraceae.

Habitat: Throughout India in gardens, waste places and tea plantations.

Folk: Phutium (Gujarat), Kuri (Garhwal).

Action: Plant—cytotoxic. Leaf— applied to ulcers and swollen glands.

The plant contains a number of poly- acetylenes which are toxic to bacteria, fungi and human fibroblast cells. Phenylheptatriyne is the major constituent of the leaves and stems.

B. pilosa Linn. var. minor (Blume) Sherff, synonym B. pilosa Linn. var. bi- pinnata Hook. f. in part, gave phytos- terin-B, which like insulin, showed hy- poglycaemic activity both in normal and diabetic rats. B. pilosa auct. non Linn., synonym B. chinensis Willd., is used for leprosy, fistulae, pustules, tumours.... bidens pilosa

Linn.

Family: Euphorbiaceae.

Habitat: Western Himalayas from Garhwal, westwards to Kashmir.

Ayurvedic: Saatala, Saptalaa. (Substitute).

Action: Purgative, emetic. Root— used in fistulous sores.

Prostratin, isolated from the roots of var. cornigeria Hook. f., was found to be pro-inflammatory.... euphorbia pilosa

Stapf.

Family: Rutaceae.

Habitat: Native to tropical America; cultivated in Indian gardens.

Family: Umbelliferae; Apiaceae.

Habitat: Native to the Mediterranean region; cultivated in Uttar Pradesh., Punjab, Assam and Orissa.

English: Anise, Aniseed.

Unani: Anisoon, Baadiyaan-roomi.

Action: Carminative, diuretic, anticholerin, antispasmodic, expectorant. Used for flatulence, dry coughs, whooping cough, bronchitis.

Key application: Internally in dyspeptic complaints; internally and externally in catarrhs of the respiratory tract. (German Commission E, ESCOP, WHO, The British Herbal Pharmacopoeia.)

The fruit gave volatile oil consisting mainly of trans-anethole (70-90%), with estragole, anise ketone, anisic acid, beta-caryophyllene, anisaldehyde, linalool. The fruit contained traces of furocoumarins; seeds gave benzoic acid, caffeic acid, containing protein and myristicin. Roots afforded sterols, coumarins and flavone glyco- sides. Aniseed has been demonstrated to increase the mucociliary transport in vitro and to significantly increase liver-regeneration in rats.

Aniseed is also used as a galacta- gogue. This property is thought due to the presence of polymers of anethole, dianethole and photoanethole.

Aqueous extract of roasted aniseed is reported to show cholinomimetic effect on rat blood pressure, rat jejunum and frog rectus abdominis preparations.

Alcoholic extract of aniseeds possesses antimicrobial and fungicidal activity.

Anethole has a structure similar to catecholamines including adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine and to the hallucinogenic compound myris- ticin as well. (Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, 2007.)... pilocarpus microphyllus

A SINUS that contains hairs, usually occurring in the cleft between the buttocks. It may get infected and cause considerable pain. Treatment is by antibiotics and, if necessary, surgical removal.... pilonoidal sinus

A small-scale test of the methods and procedures to be used on a larger scale if the pilot study demonstrates that these methods and procedures can work.... pilot study

Blume.

Family: Violaceae.

Habitat: Kashmir to Sikkim and Nilgiri hills at 1,500-2,100 m.

Unani: Banafashaa (related species)

Folk: Thungtu (Kumaon).

Action: Uses same as those of V odorata. A medicinal oil of Unani medicine, Roghan-e-Banafashaa, is prepared from the plant. Flowers, as tea, are used for treating headache.

Active principle of the herb is an alkaloid, violine.... viola pilosa

n. a benign (noncancerous) skin tumour that typically occurs in the head and neck area, including the eyelids. The tumour usually does not cause any symptoms and is commonest in children.... pilomatrixoma

sympathetic nerves that supply muscle fibres in the skin, around the roots of hairs. Activity of the sympathetic nervous system causes the muscles to contract, raising the hairs and giving the *gooseflesh effect of fear or cold.... pilomotor nerves

a short tract leading from an opening in the skin in or near the cleft at the top of the buttocks and containing hairs. The sinus may be recurrently infected, leading to pain and the discharge of pus. Treatment is by surgical opening and cleaning of the sinus.... pilonidal sinus

adj. relating to the hair follicles and their associated sebaceous glands.... pilosebaceous