The New Nation - Internet Edition

Professor Muhammad Aman Ullah

Allah has created mankind and for the benefit of mankind He has created the universe with entire completion and perfection. So, any thing that naturally exists in the universe is for the need of mankind. However, Allah has created plant kingdom for human and animal livelihood and also for their treatment of diseases. There are plants of particular properties for the treatment of particular diseases and these group of plants are called medicinal plants. So, if we know the proper use of medicinal plants with its remedial actions we can make our treatment easily and successfully with the best use of them.

In ancient times, plants, herbs and shrubs were used only as medicinal agents for the treatment of diseases and healing of wounds. Medicines prepared from different plants are being used orally considered to be non-toxic having no side effects like synthetic drugs. Toxic plants still to-day, are considered to be used for healing of wounds successfully. Now-a-days, with the development of Unani and Ayurved system many drugs have come into the market from plants origin for the treatment of various diseases side by side alongwith the allopathic drugs.

Besides, considering the importance of finding new remedies for incurable diseases like Cancer, AIDS and Diabetes are being discovered from plant origin by some research institutions. In this regard, research programmes have been taken up by BCSIR and Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka with the collaboration of BIRDEM, Shaman Pharmaceutical, San Francisco and National Cancer Institute, Maryland, USA. A number of plant materials from different parts of Bangladesh also have been studied for their antidiabetic, anticancer, and anti-HIV properties by toxicologist of the Bangladesh National Herbarium (BNH) Dhaka, under a separate agreement (as· per report at a seminar on Medicinal Plants for Health by Prof. M. Mosihuzzaman, Chairman, BCSIR, Dhaka).

In Bangladesh National formulary of "Unani" and "Ayurved" have been formulated by the Bangladesh National Unani and Ayurvedic Board. There are ample scopes for development of medicines from plant material in Bangladesh and for these aspects due facilities may be provided to the Unani and Ayruved enterprises by the authorities concerned.

Medicines of plant origin with formulary of Unani and Ayurved systems have been well developed and popularized in China, India, Malaysia, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Maximum percentage of the populations of those countries are getting treatments of their illness by these system of medicines quite successfully .

Meicinal plants are valuable for preparing medicines for the treatment of various types of diseases. So, proper steps should be taken to conserve and cultivate different types of medicinal plants in our country like other countries in the sub-continent. India, China, Malaysia and other Asian countries have vast projects to conserve and cultivate medicinal plants in their countries. Whereas, ruthless deforestation and ignorance of general people are mainly responsible- for the depletion of existing important medicinal plants of our country which also endangers the ecological system of the over-all environment. Nevertheless, plant kingdom has a vital role in the balance of system of the environment both local and worldwide as a whole. However, a plan for national gardens for cultivation of medicinal plants may be taken by the Government. Ministry of Forest may take necessary steps to conserve and cultivate medicinal plants with a separate department by engaging knowledgeable personnels in the field those who have degree from the Unani and Ayurved Colleges. We desire and hope, Forest Ministry will take the initiative to implement the plan in collaboration with the Ministries of Land and Health for the acquisition of land and recruitment of persons respectively.

Private concern also can take this profitable plan for cultivation of medicinal plants side by side with the government. A good number of people can be employed with jobs for livelihood in this sector as well as a huge amount of foreign- exchange can be earned by exporting medicinal plants to the foreign countries. However, there should be Herbarium Museum along with the gardens of the medicinal plants for their identification with the description of the medicinal properties.

However, misconceptions regarding the Traditional Asian Medical System (TAMS) should be removed. Practitioners of Unani and Ayurved systems receive full medical training covering same length of time in the degree course as modem doctors do. Qualifying Doctors obtaining degree from the Unani and Ayurved Colleges should be appointed at hospitals and clinics in the country for giving easy treatment to the people at a minimum cost through government and private concern.

However, towards the treatment pf the traditional Asian Medical System is being modernised with the development of science and research works are going on In this sector to make the system as Modem Asian Medical System (MAMS).

MTW (McAlpine, Thorpe and Warrier), a leading international consulting firm of Great Britain, provides information of Unani & Ayurvedic medicines to the European countries which is a project jointly sponsored by the Government of India and the Commonwealth Secretariat in London. Through this, Unani & Ayurvedic medicines are getting recognition and popularity in Western countries as well as India earns foreign exchange through exporting these system of medicines. Export and Industrial Development Division (EIDD) of the Commonwealth Fund has taken a project for exportation of Unani & Ayurvedic medicines from Bangladesh, India, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.

As Unani and Ayurvedic medicines have no harmful side-effect like modern allopathic medicines which are gaining popularities for safe treatment and thereby demand of these systems of medicines are increasing and thus these types of pharmaceutical industries can serve for the benefit of mankind producing quality products.

(This paper was presented at the International Conference on "Holistic Approach of Unani Medicine In Lifestyle Diseases" on 6 November 2007 at Aligarh Muslim University, India).