2012, Vol.2, No.2

CELLMED 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.03

pISSN : 3022-6805 / eISSN : 3022-6791
https://journal.kci.go.kr/cellmed

Traditional Medicinal System (TMS) is one of the centuries-old practices and long-serving companions to the human kind to fight against disease and to lead a healthy life. Every indigenous people have been using their unique approaches of TMS practice where among, the Chinese, Indian and African TMSs are world-wide renowned. India has a unique Indian System of Medicines (ISM) consisting of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Naturopathy and Homoeopathy. Siddhars are the saints as well as the eminent scholars, who have attained Ashta-mahasiddhi [Tamil: (Ashta-Eight; Mahasiddhi-Power)] or enlightment. They have postulated, practiced, immensely contributed and have established the concept of the Tamil medicinal system called Siddha System of Medicine (SSM). From ancient time, SSM has flourished and has been widely practiced in the southern part of India particularly in Tamil Nadu. The induction of the modern medicinal system has immensely influenced the existence of SSM and has made the SSM principles and practices undervalued/extinct. However, at present, still a considerable group of people are using the SSM as a basic health-care modality. In this context, the present scrutiny deals with the TMS history, its significance with a special reference to SSM history, Siddhars, the basic concept of SSM, its diagnostic procedures, materia medica and treatment. Conclusively, Siddha is one of the most ancient indigenous health practices despite its several thorny challenges and issues, which needs to be flagged effectively and to be preserved and revitalized in the international arena in the near future.

Blood borne infectious diseases are usually a public concern. The transmissions of many diseases are via blood borne mode. Several activities are related to this transmission such as injection, blood transfusion and transplantation. Also, the acupuncture practice can be a possible route for blood borne infectious disease transmission. In this specific review, the author briefly reviews acupuncture and blood borne viral infections.

Cordycepin, a nucleoside derivative, was extracted from Cordyceps sinensis, and then proved to be a bioactive compound present in traditional Chinese medicine Cordyceps. Early investigations revealed cordycepin possessed anti-microbial activity mainly by inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis. Although cordycepin is not used as antibacterial agents in clinic, its other pharmacological effects and possible mechanisms have gradually been deeply studied. This review serves to summarize the research progress of cordycepin.