Usage of fresh medicinal plants and users′perceptions in Singapore

OBJECTIVE To gather information regarding the usage of fresh medicinal plants and users′perceptions via face-to-face interviews.To date,there is no published report of firsthand account of their usage in Singapore.Such important information may be permanently lost if not properly collated in time.METHODS Information on demographic data,plant-use methods and perception of usage was collated.Participants were recruited via the local newspapers,by word of mouth etc.The survey protocol was approved by the NUS Institutional Review Board.Fresh plant samples/photographs were obtained from the users and voucher specimens were kept.RESULTS Two hundredusers who have used a total of 103 species of fresh medicinal plants anytime in the last 5years participated in the survey.The five most commonly used plants were Clinacanthusnutans(34 users),Strobilanthescrispus(31 users),Pereskiableo(25 users),Aloe vera(18 users),and Zingiberofficinale(16 users).The top 3 most commonly cited medical conditions were diseases of respiratory system(50 users),neoplasm(29 users)anddiseases of circulatory system(20 users).A total of 173 users(86.5%)did not consult any healthcare professional for advice about plant usage,and only one user consulted the pharmacist.Some of the common reasons given for using fresh medicinal plants were recommendation by others(150,75.0%),efficacy(137,68.5%),and safety(117,58.5%).Most users(170,85.0%)were satisfied or highly satisfied with the outcome of plants used.CONCLUSION Two hundred users of fresh medicinal plants have been successfully interviewed and the information documented systematically in a database.The results suggest that fresh medicinal plants have a role to play in healthcare in modern society.The information collated will serve as a useful resource for identifying promising plants for future drug discovery efforts.

Excellent response to acupuncture treatment in a case of intractable glossopharyngeal neuralgia due to vascular tortuosity: a case report

Objective:Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a relatively rare neurological condition arising from abnormal irritation of the ninth cranial nerve.The first line of conventional treatment is pharmaceutical followed by surgical interventions in non-responsive cases.However,the efficacy and safety of usual therapeutic methods have limited the compliance of most affected patients.Methods:Here for the first time,we report an excellent response of a chronic case of glossopharyngeal neuralgia to traditional Chinese medicine,which is a relatively safe and not expensive therapeutic method.Results:Despite limited response to conventional medicine,our patient showed a fast and promising response to the combination of acupuncture and moxibustion with low doses of carbamazepine.Conclusion:The therapeutic protocol used for the treatment of this patient needs to be validated by further double-blinded case control studies in order to be compared to other available therapeutic methods.