The American Journal of Chinese Medicine

Indian and Chinese cosmic elements are five. They originate from a common source, Bralrma in Indian and Thai-chi in Chinese. The first created element is Mu = Tree, not wood, and life-form itself, immovable but moves everything else - Akaska in Indian cosmology. Dryness = Metal in Chinese, Moisture = Earth. Fire as Heat and Water as Cold, are common to both systems.

This paper describes the selection and training procedures, ethical codes, metaphysical theoreis and principles of psychiatric treatments in Ayurved. Three treatment approaches for psychological disorders are: (i) Ministered therapies (psychotherapies), (ii) Performance therapies (rituals), (iii) Auto therapies. Other forms of therapies mentioned are herbal, physical and natural. Treatments were administered with benediction. Man was treated as a whole with a psychosomatic approach.

Ayurved is still a living science, though much of its knowledge has passed into oblivion. Resurrection of the lost treasure is advocated if the objective of 'Health for All by 2000 A.D.' is to be achieved for countries like India.

Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is an antitumor alkaloid isolated from Camptotheca acuminata indigenous to China. It could reduce the activity of nuclear RNA polymerase II and I(III) of hepatoma cells. HCPT at 25-100 μ M caused a remarkable inhibition on DNA polymerase α whilst only a slight inhibition on β. The inhibitory action on α was restored by increasing amounts of enzyme or DNA template, but unchanged by varying amounts of substrate. It is suggested that HCPT may exert a stronger inhibition on DNA replication process.

In previous work, the reflex movement of the lower jaw was taken as an objective index of pain in awakening rabbits. It was found that analgesic action of various types of fibres were types I.II < types I.II.III < types I.II.III.IV, i.e. the effects were stronger with the involvement of those small-sized fibres. However, opinions differ as to whether small-sized fibres (includng Aδ wave and C wave) have analgesic effects. Therefore, the reaction of vascular movement which reflects the function of autonomic nerves was taken as an objective index of pain.

42 paralytic, awake rabbits with body weight of 2kg or so were used. In the peroneal nerve innervating "Zusanli'' point (from their distal to proximal ends) were placed the electrodes of electro-needling (limiting electro-needling) and Ag-AgCl, and those of recording and pain stimulation. The pain stimulations used were of single square-wave, of 2 times per second, of the pulse duration of 0.3 msec and of a continuance of 5 sec; their intensity being just enough to elicit the steady reaction of vascular movement. The electrodes of electric needling, electric pulses with a speed of 0.2 msec per second and the pulse duration of 0.2 msec were applied successively to stimulate those peroneal nerves. The roles played by various types of fibres in analgesic effects were further observed after different intensities, exciting the fibres of types I.II, tpes I.II.III and types I.II.III.IV respectively, and then through the Ag-AgCl electrode, D.C. anodal-blocking used to block the large-sized fibres and to excite type III or types III.IV of fibres respectively. Each experimental series was divided comparing, needling and after the withdrawal of the needle. Observations were made from three times in each step continually; the temperature was maintained at 16-28°C.

The results have shown that the fibres of types I.II, types I.II.III and types I.II.III.IV were excited, respectively. It has turned out that their effective rates (including complete inhibition, apparent inhibition and slight inhibition) were 50% (types I.II), 78.6% (types I.II.III) and 92.8% (types I.II.III.IV); after the large-sized fibres had been blocked, the fibres of type IV and types III.IV were excited, with the effective rates of 90% (type IV) and 100% (types III.IV). Therefore, the analgesic effects of different types of fibres are I.II < III < IV, i.e. the smaller fibres the stronger the analgesic effects. The results are quite analogous to the previous work. This further proves the small-sized fibres have stronger analgesic effects upon pain response thatn large-sized fibres.

A total of 204 consecutive, recalcitrant painful conditions were treated by electroacupuncture and closely observed up to 4 years in a group medical practice in Australia. The majority (151 cases or 74%) had enjoyed significant pain reduction well beyond 3 months. The causes of failure in the remainders were analysed and discussed. The encouraging overall results led to a renewed call for this mode of therapy to be used more widely as an adjunct in family medicine.

Typical spinal nerves have six cutaneous branches which reach to the skin of the body wall in the thorax and abdomen. Each of these six cutaneous branches correlates to an acupuncture point. This communication describes acupuncture points found in the thoracic and abdominal walls using anatomic nomenclature relating to cutaneous branches of the spinal nerves.

This publication is the third of a total of six papers intended to name acupuncture points following the anatomic nomenclatures. In the first publication, acupuncture points in the head are named using terminal branches of the trigeminal nerve and the muscles of facial expression. In the second publication, acupuncture points in the neck are named using the cutaneous nerves of the cervical plexus and neuromuscular attachments formed by the spinal accessory nerve on the trapezius muscle. In this third publication, acupuncture points existing on the upper limbs are described following the terminal branches of the brachial plexus.

In order to investigate clonorchicidal activity in vivo, boiled water extracts of 32 species of clonorchicidal raw drugs in vitro were orally administered into rabbits infected with Clonorchis sinensis. The results of the observation of EPG variaton were as follows: Suppression effects of egg-laying capacity from the rabbits administered Prunus mume and Inula helenium were greatest. Those from Dictamnus dasycarpus and Saussurea lappa were somewhat effective. Machilus thunbergii and Cassia obutusifolia, however, were less effective.

Ba-wei-wan was administered for 7 months to 24 aged, non-hospitalized subjects. Laboratory examinations showed an improvement in serum or plasma levels of total lipid, LPO and HDL-C. Other blood examinations were shown to be unaffected by the treatment.

To reconfirm the effects of Ba-wei-wan on lipid metabolism, the three step adiminstration of the drug was employed. The elevation of HDL-C levels and the decrease of LPO levels were obtained by this treatment. The discontinuation of this drug induced the converse effect on the plasma levels; decreased HDL-C and increased LPO.

It could be concluded from these results that Ba-wei-wan administration improved the lipid metabolism in the aged subjects.

TLC, DCC and HPLC were used to study the ginsenoside composition of the main root, lateral root, rhizomem leaves and seeds of Panax ginseng cultivated in Jilin, China. Each of these methods has advantages of its own and the ensemble reveal the special features of Jilin ginseng. Total saponin content of various plant parts in Jilin ginseng showed a mid-range value as compared to those in ginsengs reported in literature. Fresh as well as sun-dried specimens from the same batch possessed a high percentage of Rg₁ in the main root and this might account for the traditional preference of this plant part despite its lowest percentage of saponin in the whole plant. Large amounts of polar saponins were also observed in roots and rhizome of fresh Jilin ginseng, the nature and significance of which remained to be investigated.

By TLC, DCC and HPLC analysis, ginesnoside compositions of ginseng tissue culture and juice showed distinct features of fresh materials by a high proportion of ''polar saponins'' and low panaxadiol panaxatriol ratio.

A drug of longevity, prior to alchemy, was peach, from which the god of longevity has emerged. Alchemy began by synthesizing and red colloidal gold with gold to make the body ever-lasting and redness, as soul, to make life eternal. Its climax was reached with cinnabar-gold, which is blood-red, while red-gold is only brick-red. It was called Makaradhwaja in India. They have been fertility gods. Hermes was one and Alchemy has been named a Hermetic art. Makara was crocodile-cum-fish, god of fertility. Makaradhwaja means Emblem of god of fertility, signifying a drug conferring vigour of youth.

The water extract of Hsien-Ho-T'sao (HHT) produced a dose-dependent inhibition on collagen-induced aggregation of platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The IC₅₀ was about 3.5 mg/ml. In addition, HHT inhibited also the aggregation induced by ADP, A23187 or arachidonate in PRP. Greater inhibition was observed in the preparation of washed platelets. Increase of the calcium concentration in medium could not overcome the inhibitory effect of HHT. ATP release from platelets induced by collagen or A23187 was inhibited by HHT. In the presence of EDTA, ATP release caused by thrombin or A23187 was also inhibited by HHT. Malondialdehyde and thromboxane B₂ formation was greatly inhibited by HHT in platelets challenged by collagen and thrombin. In arachidonate-stimulated platelets, thromboxane B₂, but not malondialdehyde formation was inhibited. HHT showed more marked inhibition on aggregation in the presence of indomethacin, creatine phosphate/creatine phosphokinase or a combination of both. Hydrogen peroxide-induced hemolysis was makred reduced by HHT. It was concluded that HHT might have some membrane-active properties which interfered with the activation of phospholipase A₂.

The effects of boiled water extracts of clonorchicidal raw drugs screened by the EPG counts in vivo on the structure of Clonorchis sinesis were investigated. The extracts of Cassia obutusifolia in Dictamnus dasycarpus did not seem to induce the morphological changes of the worms, and in those of Machilus thunbergii and Prunús mume, widening of bladder to lower level of seminal receptacle was visible without any other changes. Those of Inula helenium and Saussurea lappa, however, disclosed regressive and progressive changes as degeneration, atrophy, necrosis, dilatation, etc. of viscera of the worms. The recover rates of the worms from experimentally infected rabbits administered with the extracts of I. helenium and S. lappa for 30 days, beginning at the end of 3rd day of inoculation, were as low as 2% and 2.8%, respectively.

Acupuncture as a therepeutic measure for abdominal pain was early recorded in Huangdi Neijing ("Yellow Emperor's Canon or Medicine''). Fruitful experiments have been accumulated in the practice of the long historical years. Nowadays acupuncture therapy has become one of the main therapeutic methods in surgical acute abdomen and is widely used clinically.

This communication is the fifth in a series of six publications describing acupuncture points by anatomic nomenclature. This article describes acunpuncture points in the lumbar region of the posterior body wall, the inguinal and pelvic regins of the lower abdomen, and the medial surface of the thigh and leg. Acunpuncture points in these regions are generally established by anatomic features of the lumbar spinal nerves. Nerve branches of the posterior primary rami of the lumbar spinal nerves and the lumbar plexus provide the anatomic basis for acunpuncture points in these regions and are used to name the points accordingly.

This is the sixth and final communication in a series describing acupuncture points by anatomic nomenclature. Most acunpuncture points on the lateral and posterior surfaces of the lower limb are located along routes of the sacral plexus. These points belong to acunpuncture meridians carrying ''Yang energy'' in the lower limbs. The meridians are traditionally known as the Urinary Bladder on the posterior surface of the lower limb, Gall Bladder on the lateral surface of the lower limb, and Stomach on the anterior surface of the leg and dorsum of the foot.