The New Nation - Internet Edition

Jamayet Ali

Verenda is a common but very important medicinal plant found growing wild in the jungles, bushy and fallow lands, by the side of the zigzag ways, fences of the fields, ponds and ditches of rural Bangia. This plant gives a very popular seed named Castor whose oil has tremendous application for lubricating all sorts of machinery, clocks watches, etc. It is the best lamp oil and gives an excellent white light, far superior to that of mineral oils, petroleum, rapeseed, mustard, linseed and all other oils, whether vegetable, animal or mineral. Treatment of castor oil with sculpture acid under controlled low temperatures yields a product known as Turkey Red oil used widely for dyeing, bleaching and sizing in the textile industries and also in tanning.

Botanical name of Veranda is Ricinus communis. It is believed to be a native of tropical Aftica. It is generally grown on sandy or clayey deep red loams and on good light alluvial loams. The time of sowing castor varies from region to region. In general it is sown in June-July or sometimes later in September-October. Castor cake is almost entirely used as a manure. It is rich in nitrogen and other minerals, and has been found to be suitable as a manure for paddy, sugarcane, tobacco etc. Castor oil is sometimes adulterated with rosin oil, blown oils and other unheated oils like ground nut, coconut, sesame, rape, mahua, cotton seed and poppy seed oils and lard.

Medicinal Values: Castor oil is more generally used as a purgative than any other medicine and perhaps there is no other on which we may with so much confidence rely as a safe, and at the same time on active cathartic. It may be given with property in every case in which that class of remedies is required (unless when the most drastic are necessary) and to patients of every age and constitution; for though it seldom fails to produce the effect intended, it operates without heat or irritation (Dr. John Fleming). Fleming says, "The oil should be expressed in the manner directed by the London college from the decorticated seeds and without the assistance of heat. That which is obtained by boiling the seeds in water is injured both in smell and taste and become sooner rancid than the oil procured by expression."

Dr. Ainslie (Dr. Fleming's contemporary and in some respects his predecessor) says, "The bark of the root of the trees is a powerful purgative and when made into a ball about the size of a lime in conjunction with chillies and tobacco leaves is an excellent remedy for gripes on horses." "Medicinal properties of the two varieties of the plant the 'red' and the 'white' are said to be identical. Castor oil is regarded as purgative and useful in constiveness, tympanities, fever, inflammation etc. It is much praised for its efficacy chronic rheumatic affections, in which it is used in various combinations. One of its synonyms is Vatari or antirheumatic. The root of the plant is also said to be particularly useful in the local varieties of rheumatism, such as lumbago, pleurodynia and sciatica. As a purgative, castor oil is recommended to be taken with cow's urine or an infusion of ginger or a decoction of the combination called Dasamula (Susruta Ayurveda).

The following passage from Dr. Dymock's Materia Medica of western India deals mainly with the views held regarding this drug by the Muhammadan doctors:"Muhammedan writers described two kinds, red and white; the red is said to be the most active. They consider the oil of powerful resolvent. and purgative of cold humors and prescribe it in palsy, asthma, colds, colic, flatulence, rheumatism, dropsy and amenorrhoea; of the seeds, ten kernels rubbed down with honey are sufficient as a purge. A poultice of the crushed seeds is used to reduce gouty and rheumatic swellings and inflammation of the breasts of women during lactation. The leaves have similar properties but in a less degree. The fresh juice is used as an emetic in poisoning by opium and other narcotics; made into a poultice with barley meal it is applied to inflammatory affections of the eye. The root bark is used as a purgative and alterative in chronic enlargements and skin diseases; it is also applied externally. In the Bombay lying in hospital the leaves are applied to the breasts of women to stop the secretion of milk. In the Konkan the oil is applied to eruption of the skin supposed to be due to heat of blood" (Dymock Materia Medica W. Ind., P. 704)

Many writers draw attention to the action of the seeds when eaten. Thus Guy and Pemer (Forensic Medicine) say that the seeds "act on the stomach and intestines with a violence quite disproportioned to the action of the oil which they would yield on compression. Two or three seeds act as a drastic purgative; three seeds have destroyed the life of an adult male in 46 hours and 20 seeds that of a young lady in five days, with symptoms of violent imtation of the stomach and bowels, and an appearance as of one affected with malignant cholera" (Cont: with paragraph on chemistry, 516-517).

Dr. Short says that, "The juice of the leaves is given internally to increase the flow of milk. Cattle are fed with the leaves with the same object; most cows eat the leaves freely and readily. Externally the leaves are applied to wounds and bruises, when it act as a detergent." Drury says "The leaves heated and applied to the breasts and kept on for twelve or more hours, will no fail to brink milk after child birth. The same applied to the abdomen will promote the menstrual discharge" Bellow says that the flowers are often used as a laxative medicine. In several of the Bombay Gazetteers it is stated that the fresh leaves are applied in guinea-wonn in the form of a poultice. The dry root is also mentioned as being regarded as a febrifuge. Dr. Buchannan-Hamilton says that the oil, in addition to being taken internally as a purgative by the people of Mysore, is used by the Sundras and lower castes to anoint the head when they labour under any complaint which they attributed to heat in the system.

Special opinions: "The leaf applied as a poultice the breast will bring on copious discharge of milk" (Surgeon-Major Lionel Beech, Coconada). "Useful where it is desirable to give purgatives in connection with diseases of the pelvic orgasm" (Brigade Surgeon G.A. Watson, Allahabad). "The heated leaves applied to the breast acts as a lactagogue" (Honorary Surgeon E.A. Moms). "The leaves are used in painful joints" (Assistant Surgeon T.N. Ghose, Meerut). "In cases of abrasion of the conjunctiva, common castor oil dropped into the eye is an efficient means of removing irritation. Its efficient in the diarrhoea of childhood is too well known to call any special remark"

(Surgeon SR. Brown, M.D., Hoshangabad, Central Provinces). (Dictionary Of The

Economic Products of India) ,:

Medicine: The root is sweetish, heating; canninative; useful in inflammations, pains, ascites, fever, glands, asthma, eructations, bronchitis, leprosy, diseases of the rectum, and the head. The leaves are useful in "vata" and "kapha", intestinal worms, strangury, night blindness, earache; increase biliousness. The flowers are useful in glandular tumours, anal troubles, vaginal pain. The fruit is heating and an appetiser; useful in tumours, pains, "vata", piles, diseases of the liver and spleen. The seed is cathartic and aphrodisiac. The oil is sweetish; cathartic, aphrodisiac, anthelmintic, alterative; useful in tumours, diseases of the heart, slow fevers, ascites, inflammations, typhoid, pain in the back, lumbago, leprosy, elephantiasis, convulsions; increases "kapha"; causes biliousness (Ayurveda).

The root bark is purgative, alterative; good in skin diseases. The leaves are galactagogue; good for bums. The seeds and the leaves from them have a bad taste; purgative; useful in liver troubles, pain in the body, lumbago, boils, piles, ringwonn, paralysis, inflammations, ascites, asthma, rheumatism, dropsy, amenorrhoea (Yunani) The leaf is applied to the head to relieve headache and is commonly used as a poultice for boils. The seeds and the oils from the seeds are used as a purgative wherever the plant is found growing. The Chinese use the crushed seeds more ftequently than they do the oil, the paste is applied to relieve scrofulous sores.

In Las Bela, the oil is expressed and used medicinally; and a fomentation is made with the leaves to cure wounds. At Turbat in Makran, it is used as an ointment for sores. At Kotra in Kachhi the leaves are used for fomentations; in Kharan, they are bound over boils, and are a good cure (Hughes-Buller. In French Guinea, the leaves are boiled and used as a febrifuge. An infusion of the leaf is a Zulu remedy for stomach ache. It is administered orally or as an enema. The Zulus also apply a paste of the root in toothache.

In Southern Rhodesia, the bark is used by natives for stitching up wounds, and as a dressing for wounds and sores. The Chewas boil the root in water which has been previously boiled with the ashes of maize stalks. The sediment from the second boiling is smeared on the teeth and gums to relieve toothache, the material not being swallowed. The Transvaal Sutos apply the powdered roasted seeds to sores, boils, etc., in children. The foliage is considered emmenagogue, the root-bark, purgative, and the leafuseful as a local application in rheumatism. The local application of the leaf to the nammae is said to produce a powerful galactagogic action. The bruised leaves are used for caries of the teeth and given with water for colic in Madagascar.

In La Reunion, the leaves are considered lactagogue and are given in infusion or applied to the breasts. In Guiana, the leaves are applied to the breast to help the secretion of milk. Soaked in vinegar they are applied to the forehead in cases of sunstroke. They act as a powerful sudorific. The oil cannot be recommended as an anthelmintic (Caius and Mhaskar) The seed is prescribed in the treatment of snake-bite (Sushruta, Yogaratnakara) and scorpion-string (Sushruta); but it is not an antidote to either snake-venom (Mhaskar and Caius) or scorpion-venom (Caius and Mhaskar).(Indian Medicinal Plants, K.R. Kitikar & B.D. Basu,2274,2275)

Shakeel Ahmed Ibne Mahmood

Bangladesh has been recognized as one of the five countries in the Asia, where HIV/AIDS infections are increasing according to 8th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP8) in Colombo 2007.

Bangladesh is a country of 150 million. Although Bangladesh is a low prevalence country for HIV/AIDS, all the factors that may allow rapid spread of infection leading to an epidemic are present here. These factors include poverty, illiteracy, ignorance, proximity, malnutrition, unemployment, slum housing, family fragility, physical and sexual abuse, high prevalence of STIs, sharing injecting equipment, high-risk behavior, lack of awareness and knowledge (lack of proper communication strategy), very mobile populations, human trafficking into prostitution, stigmatization of those infected, conservative social attitudes, and being surrounded by countries that have a higher prevalence increases the HIV risk. Sharing injecting equipment increases the HIV risk. In addition increased number of migrant workers (there is evidence of high rates of HIV transmission to wives from their husbands after their return from abroad), unsafe practice in health service, unsafe sex practice, increasing number of homosexuality, low popularity of condoms & lack of voluntary blood donors & dependence on professional blood sellers further increases.

Current HIV/AIDS situation:

According to the government statistics, a cumulative total of 874 cases of HIV/AIDS has been confirmed and reported as of 31st December 2006. A total of 240 AIDS cases were detected so far of which 109 had already died.

A government survey found that out of 216 new HIV positive cases identified in 2006, unemployed people were on top of the list at 39.35 per cent followed by housewives at 21.29 per cent and businessmen at 10.18 per cent.

Injecting drug users (IDU) in Dhaka are at high risk of HIV/AIDS, according to new study by ICDDR,B. HIV prevalence in Dhaka has dramatically risen to 7% from 1.7% in last six years. Sharing of injection equipment is common in most IDU surveyed. The IDU are not isolated as they have sex partners, both commercial and non-commercial, they rarely use condoms and some sell blood. IDU are also mobile traveling from one city to another and sharing injection equipment in different cities. Mobility is major factor that increases the risk of acquiring and spreading HIV infection among the non-drug users.

The adolescent and youth are also vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. A survey among adolescents and young people (15-24 years) in 2005 revealed that only one out of 3 males in urban and 1 out of 4 in rural areas had correct knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Nearly 59 per cent of married women and 42 per cent of men of age 15-54 group have no knowledge as how to avoid HIV.

Future Priorities:

Mandatory testing for HIV infection is common in many countries before traveling and those returning from countries with high HIV/AIDS prevalence. Bangladesh should follow these norms. To prevent a major epidemic, Bangladesh needs to address HIV/AIDS using a multi-pronged strategy: firstly, Formulating the national HIV/AIDS communication strategy, secondly, concentrating on groups most vulnerable to the infection; thirdly, working with the general population (community mobilization and community supports); and fourthly, care and support to those already infected and affected by HIV/AIDS has to be provided (voluntary counseling). Dissemination and advocacy can also play a big role. We need to change our society through public policy research, public awareness, increase funding, and community education. Above all Bangladesh should immediately translate its HIV/AIDS policies into action to benefit the people of this country and for that reason we need strong and an effective leadership. Other wise HIV/AIDS will destroy the economic growth of the Country. We the inhabitants of this planet are to work hard together to control this scourge because 'to conquer AIDS any where, it must be conquered everywhere'- Late J. Mann

(The wither Member, Youth Wing, National AIDS Committee, Bangladesh Technical Assistance Provider, AED, Center on AIDS & Community Health, USA and Chief Editor, Nirmul, Bangladesh AIDS Prevention Society)

By the time men are between the ages of 40 and 55, they can experience a phenomenon similar to the female menopause, called andropause. Unlike women, men do not have a clear-cut signpost such as the cessation of menstruation to mark this transition. A drop in hormone levels, however, distinguishes both. Estrogen in the female, testosterone in the male.

The bodily changes occur very gradually in men and may be accompanied by changes in attitudes and moods, fatigue, a loss of energy, sex drive and physical agility.

What's more, studies show that this decline in testosterone can actually put one at risk for other health problems like heart disease and weak bones. Since all this happens at a time of life when many men begin to question their values, accomplishments and direction in life, it's often difficult to realise that the changes occurring are related to more than just external conditions.

A gradual hormonal decline

Unlike menopause, which generally occurs in women during their mid-forties to mid-fifties, men's "transition" may be much more gradual and expand over many decades.

Attitude, psychological stress, alcohol, injuries or surgery, medications, obesity and infections can contribute to its onset.

Although with age, a decline in testosterone levels will occur in virtually all men, there is no way of predicting who will experience andropausal symptoms of sufficient severity to seek medical help. Neither is it predictable at what age symptoms will occur in a particular individual. Each man's symptoms may be also different.

Is this a new phenomenon?

Yes and no. In fact, andropause was first described in medical literature in the 1940's. So it's not really new. But, our ability to diagnose it properly is. Sensitive tests for bioavailable testosterone weren't available until recently, so andropause has gone through a long period where it was underdiagnosed and undertreated. Now that men are living longer, there is heightened interest in andropause and this will help to advance our approach to this important life stage which was identified so long ago.

Causes

Starting at about age 30, testosterone levels drop by about 10 percent every decade. At the same time, another factor in the body called Sex Binding Hormone Globulin, or SHBG, is increasing. SHBG traps much of the testosterone that is still circulating and makes it unavailable to exert its effects in the body's tissues. What's left over does the beneficial work and is known as "bioavailable" testosterone. Andropause is associated with low (bioavailable) testosterone levels. Every man experiences a decline of bioavailable testosterone but some men's levels dip lower than others. And when this happens these men can experience andropausal symptoms.

These symptoms can impact their quality of life and may expose them to other, longer-term risks of low-testosterone. It is estimated that 30 percent of men in their 50s will have testosterone levels low enough to be causing symptoms or putting them at risk.

Importance of Testosterone

Testosterone is a hormone that has a unique effect on a man's total body. Testosterone is produced in the testes and in the adrenal glands. It is to males what estrogen is to females.

Testosterone helps to build protein and is essential for normal sexual behavior and producing erections. It also affects many metabolic activities such as production of blood cells in the bone marrow, bone formation, lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, liver function and prostate gland growth.

Impact of Low Testosterone

When there is less testosterone available to do its work, the testosterone target-organ response decreases, bringing about many changes.