Traditional Systems of Medicine

The drugs of herbal, herbo-mineral and animal origin have been used by the traditional healers to maintain health and treat diseases since the dawn of civilization. These medicines are widely used by the practitioners of Indian Systems of Medicine comprising of Ayurveda, Unani, Homeopathy and Siddha, and in the Chinese System of Medicine. Due to adverse side effects coupled with the development of resistance in the pathogens to synthetic drugs, "Traditional System of Medicine" and use of plant derived drugs are also becoming popular in Western countries including USA. In 72 chapters, this monograph attempts to document available data related to the standardization, pharmacology, safety and clinical efficacy of single and compound formulations used in Indian Systems of Medicine with special emphasis on Unani System of Medicine. The work also contains chapters on Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) of traditional medicines. The basic concepts such as drug temperament and its relevance to efficacy of Unani formulations in the treatment of diseases, Kushta preparations and its use in Unani Tibb, application of leeches in medicine, temperament assessment in normal subjects on the basis of Ajnas-e-Ashra and use of the physiological and molecular approaches for improving the medicinal quality of herbs used in traditional medicines have also been discussed.