Oriental medicine

Oriental Medicine Research Center, The Kitasato Institute 5-9-1, Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108, Japan... 

To whom correspondence should be addressed Dae-Thin Park - Department of Oriental Medicine Materials, Dongshin University, Naju-si, Jeonnam 520-714 Korea, Tel +82-61-330-3263, E-mail dhjl221 paran.com. 

Kanaoka, M., Kato, H., Shimada, F., and Yano, S. (1992). Studies on the enzyme immunoassay of bio-acive constituents in oriental medicinal drugs. VI. Enzyme immunoassay of ginsenoside Rbj from Panax ginseng. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 40, 314-317. 

Z0199 Kuraishi, Y., T. Nanayama, T. Yamaguchi, T. Hotani, and M. Satoh. Antinociceptive effects of Oriental medicine kei-kyoh-zoh-soh-oh-shin-bu-toh in mice and rats. J PharmacobioDyn 1990 13(1) 49-56. 

Dasgupta A, Szele-Stevens KA. Neutralization of free digoxin-like immunor-eactive components of oriental medicines Dan Shen and Lu-Shen-Wan by the Fab fragment of antidigoxin antibody (Digibind). Am J Clin Pathol 2004 121 276-281. 

Brekhman, 1.1. and M. A. Grinevitch. 1981. Oriental medicine a computerized study of complex recipes and their components analysis of recipes intended to cure certain disease. Am. J. Chin. Med. 9(1) 34-38. 

Sir William Brooke O Shaughnessy introduced Indian hemp to the West in 1839. William Brooke O Shaughnessy entered the service of the East India Company in 1833 as assistant surgeon. He studied the botany and chemistry of herbs used in oriental medicine and incorporated some into his edition of the Bengal Pharmacopoeia published in 1842. One of these herbs was cannabis, or Indian hemp. His medical treatise recommended an extract from the plant for patients with rabies, cholera, tetanus, and infantile convulsions. Until the end of the 19th century prominent physicians of Europe and North America advocated cannabis extracts for the prevention and symptomatic treatment of migraine headache. 

Nutmeg is used more commonly in Oriental medicine than in Western medicine. Medicinally, it is known for its stimulative and carminative properties. The seeds are carminative, stomachic, astringent, deodorant, narcotic and aphrodisiac, and useful in flatulence, nausea and vomiting. The antioxidant property of nutmeg was reviewed by Krishnamoorthy and Rema (2000). Both nutmeg and mace are used in the pharmaceutical industries. Powdered nutmeg is rarely administered alone, but it enters into the composition of numerous medicines as aromatic adjuncts. 

In certain quack theories of oriental medicine, such as qi gong (pronounced Chee gung)... 

Many species of deer grow antlers, and it is possible to gather the material which has been shed. However, nowadays it is also possible to collect antler from framed and domesticated animals. In some herds they are not left on the animal until they are shed, but are humanely cut off beforehand. This is in order that the velvet can be sold to the oriental medicine trade where it must be used fi%sh and bloody, befrire it has died. 

Wild red deer are hunted for their antlers, which are regarded as trophies and mounted whole, sometimes with the head of the animal still attached. Shed antlers are collected and sold to workshops or factories that work the material. Red deer are now being farmed in some countries. This is mostly for their meat, though the antlers, velvet and hide are also put to use. For example, although not indigenous to New Zealand, red deer have been introduced there and are farmed for meat. As a by-product, the velvet is sold for use in oriental medicines. 

A past danger to deer was from poachers who sought to obtain the velvet, as this could be sold for use in oriental medicine. Today the risk is greatly diminished as the velvet can be supplied from farmed animals. 

Very many animals that carry horns are protected, as they have been overhunted. An example is the Saiga antelope, which lives in northern Asia and has horns that are popular for use in oriental medicine. Many of the African homed animals are nowadays also protected. However, the types used today by the horn industry are plentiful and are freely available. Most of the material comes from domesticated animals, bred in captivity. The importation of horn into Europe is very strictly controlled and the material that arrives is cleansed and disinfected. Occasionally, horn from a particular source cannot be obtained because of a changing political situation in the country of export, or because of illness, such as foot and mouth, which stops all movement of animal products. 

Pharmaceuticals of plant origin also form part of rational drug therapy in science-oriented medicine. They are used in the treatment of certain defined diseases and complaints. The more carefully the various pharmacological characteristics of phytogenic remedies are elucidated, the more reliably their clinical effects can be evaluated (e. g. digitalis, rauwolfia, hyo-scyamine, senna). This is also true of the phytotherapeutic preparations used in hepatology. 

All admission records of patients suspected of having liver problems related to Kampo medicines between 1979 and 1999 in a Japanese Department of Oriental Medicine were reviewed (172). There were 30 cases that were suspected of being caused by Kampo medicines. On closer examination, nine seemed to be definitely unrelated, six were probably unrelated, nine were possibly related, and six were definitely or probably related to Kampo medicines. There were no deaths on record. 

The authors are deeply grateful to the late Prof. S. Arichi (Research Institute of Oriental Medicine, Kinki University), die late Prof M. Kozawa (Osaka Univeristy of Pharmaceutical Sciences), Prof. T. Okuda (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University), Prof. I. Kitagawa (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka Univeristy), Prof M. Kubo (Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kinki University) and Dr. K. Baba (Osaka University of Pharmaceutical Sciences). 

Triterpene glycosides of sea cucumbers demonstrate a wide spectrum of biological effects antifungal, antitumor, hemolytic, cytostatic and immunomodulatory activities [12]. The application of many preparations from sea cucumbers in traditional oriental medicine has been reported [13]. The medicinal properties of these sea food preparations are attributed to triterpene glycosides [13]. 

Alternative medical systems—traditional oriental medicine, homeopathy, Ayurveda. 

By, A., Ethier, J.C., Lauriault, G., LeBelle, M., Lodge, B.A., Savard, C., Sy, W.-W. and Wilson, W.L. (1989) Traditional oriental medicines I. Black Pearl identification and chromatographic determination of some undeclared medicinal ingredients. J. Chromatogr. 469, 406-411. 

In Chinese medicine, several traditional formulas are used to treat mild to moderate prostatic enlargement. Two of the most common formulas, which are available in most health food stores or from practitioners of Oriental medicine, are described here. 

Kanaoka M, Yano S, Kato H, Nakada T, Kawamura K. Studies on the enzyme immunoassay of bioactive constituents contained in oriental medicinal drugs. IV. Enzyme immunoassay of glycyrretic acid. Chem Pharmaceut Bull 1985a 36 8-14. 

As the traditions of Oriental medicine become more accessible to the Western world, many potent new herbal tonics and formulas are appearing on the market. While new to us in the West, many of the herbs have a history of continuous use that dates back thousands of years. They are still in use today for one reason—because they work. 

If Mother Nature made it, then many believe that harm cannot come their way. This concept is supported by the astronomical growth of the natural foods and supplements industry. Interest in herbal and oriental medicine continues to surge. Although this romantic belief is generally true, modern man has forgotten some of the finer points inherent to this rubric that our ancestors regularly acknowledged. They did this because they knew nature is a constant foe. 

The acronym OMD stands for Doctor of Oriental Medicine. Dr. Han, internationally known, founded the Santa Barbara Herb and Wellness Center in 1998. His credentials are included at the end of the book, as well as those of the other authors. 

---