A HERBAL REMEDY FOR DIABETIC AMPUTATION

4WAC/PA-371 ORAL PRESENTATION
A HERBAL REMEDY FOR DIABETIC AMPUTATION
Jobin K. Thomas1, Sweetymol Jose1, and M.M. Mathew2
1.
Dia-Healths, Paika, Kottayam, Kerala, India
2.
Post graduate and Research Dept of Botany, St. Thomas college, Pala,
686574, Kerala, India.
Abstract
Acute diabetes results in darkening, degeneration and ultimately
amputation of the affected parts, especially the leg. As per reports at present one
person in the world undergoes amputation of one or other leg at every one minute.
Moreover, amputation often offer permanent cure for diabetes. Conversely, it may
lead to further complication, like degeneration of remaining part of the limp or
affecting the other leg. This study reports a herbal combination consisting of extracts
from twenty medicinal plants collected from Kerala and Karnataka state. This herbal
product tried on 300 patients, who were at the extreme stage of amputation of leg,
under the guidance and supervision of a well experienced medical doctor, ayurvedic
and naturopathy practitioners is found to be very effective in rejuvenating and
bringing back the affected limp to the normal status. The treatment methods consist
of a regulated diet, daily exercise along with the intake of Dia-Heaths herbal
combination. The observation is done in the patients during the recovery stages
brought out the fact that there is occurring purification of blood due to the
elimination of toxins already accumulated. This process enhanced blood circulation
and removal of the blocks in the blood vessels and replacement of the damaged
tissues. The treatment stimulates the angiogenesis ability of the body and making
amputation of the affected organs unnecessary.
Key word: Amputation, Herbal remedy, Angiogenesis, Blood circulation,
Synergistic.
1
INTRODUCTION
Diabetes is a serious chronic disease. In 2003, the global prevalence of
diabetes was estimated at 194 million. This figure is predicted to reach 333 million
by 2025. In 2000 India topped the list with 31 million diabetes. China had 21 and
America had 17 million. People with diabetes are prone to many foot problems, often
because of two complications, namely, damage to nerve system (neuropathy) and
poor blood circulation (ischaemia). Neuropathy causes loss of feeling in feet, taking
away the ability to feel pain and discomfort, so that patient may not detect an injury
or irritation. Poor blood circulation, in patient feet reduces ability to heal, making it
hard for even a tiny cut to resist infection.
In developed countries up to 5% of people with diabetes have foot ulcers
and one in every six people with diabetes will have an ulcer during their life time .In
developing countries like India foot problems related to diabetes are thought to be
even more common. As a result global amputation rate continues to rise.
Extensive epidemiological surveys have indicated that between 40% and
70% of all lower extremity amputations are related to diabetes. This means that in
every 30seconds a lower limb is lost to diabetes. Diabetic related amputations are
preceded by foot ulcers.
It is ironical that in spite of spending trillions of dollars in allopathic
medical research on diabetes even American health care systems have not controlled
diabetes. On the contrary, incidence of diabetes has increased. Observations with
regard to India confirm that the situation is by far worse (IDF survey, May 2005).
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The plant resource in India contains a wide spectrum of natural source of
products that can be used for treatment against diabetes. Natural drugs are boom to
mankind .They have few side effects as compared to allopathic medicine. Tanaka et
al, 2006, reported that Aloe-vera jel and phytosterols derived from it have a long
term blood glucose level control effect and would be useful for treatment of type -2
diabetes mellitus. Further, Aloe-vera is reported to have inhibitory effect on
inflammation and improves wound healing (Davis and Maro, 1999; Raina et al,
2008). Curcuma longa commonly known as turmeric exhibits anti-inflammatory and
anti-proliferative activities due to the presence of the compound curcumin, the major
active ingredient, with no discernible toxicity (Chopra etal 1986., Archana etal
2009., Nagarathnam et al 2010). Crude extract of Punica granatum is also used for
effective treatment of wounds (Archana et al, 2009). Centella asiatica, a very
common herb available in Kerala, containing the bioactive compounds asiaticoside
and triterpenes is found to be very effective in wound healing. It promotes
angiogenesis in wound healing (Shukla etal, 1999, Alam etal, 2005).The combination
of three plants, Triphala, namely, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia ballerica, and
Emblica officinalis is reported to have antioxidant activity (Hazra et al, 2010, Singh
et al 2010). Antidiabetic activity of Aerva lanata (Vetrichelvan Jegadeesan, 2002),
activity of Aerva lanata and Aegle marmelos (Sabu and Kuttan, 2004, Sundaram et al
2009), has also been experimentally proved. They were effectively applied in
adjuvant therapy in Type 2 diabetes. In the present study a combination of the extract
of all these plants, together with some others, so far not tested, is tried for obtaining a
lasting cure of patients with diabetes.
Materials and Methods
Juice of Emblica officinalis and Terminalia bellerica, Terminlia chebula,
Curcuma longa, Centella asiatica,
Aloe vera, Punica granatum, Memordica
charantia , Syzygium cumini, Peterocarpus marsupium and dashapushapa
[1) Averaa lanata, 2) Biophytum sensitivum, 3) Cardiospermum halicacabrum 4)
Curculigo orchiodes Gaertn
5) Cynodon dactylon
6) Eclipta prostrata
7)
Evolvulus alsinoides
9)
Emilia
sonchifolia
8)
Ipomea abscura
10) Vernonia cinerea] prepared and incubated at 70 0 c. for 2 hours. Concentrate
3
extract is diluted 5 times volume of sterilized water and is mixed thoroughly in a
rotary shaker at 4500rpm for 5 minutes. The combination is named Dia-Healths.
A total of 473 patients with diabetes showing foot ulcers as result of
neuropathy, slow wound healing and decreasing blood circulation (ischaemia) and
weight lose were selected for the study. 67% of them were patients with limp at
amputation stage and 95% blood circulation block, demonstrated by darkening of the
skin and lose of sensation. An informed consent for the study was obtained from
each person. The patients volunteered themselves for using this organic drink. The
study was done under the supervision of well experienced Allopathy or Ayurveda or
naturopathy practitioners. Clinical Performa was given to each person to collect the
data such as the weight, diet pattern, previous history of illness, and treatment they
had undertaken. Ongoing ant diabetic medication was stopped, under medical
supervision and patients were provided with herbal combination, Dia-Healths. The
treatment method consisted of a regulated diet and daily exercise along with the
intake of herbal combination.
The dosage of the drug decided by the supervising medical officers on a
case to case basis taking note of the clinical condition, and the responsiveness of the
patients. The patients were monitored for three months after foot ulcers were healed.
The monitoring of the patients done by analyzing glucose, creatinine and urea in
blood at regular intervals. Further, the change in the colour of the rejuvenating leg
improvement in the health condition and reduction in length and width of the wound,
regeneration of skin, etc are also noted.
Results and Discussion
The level of glucose, creatinine and urea in the blood of 50 patients under
treatment at 15 days intervals to 3 months is given in table.
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Table – 1. Average level of glucose creatinine and urea at 15 days
Intervals of application of Dia-Healths.
No
Average
level
1.
0
days
15
days
30
days
45
days
60
days
75
90
days days
Glucose
before food
350
300
275
260
225
200
180
2.
Creatinine
4.5
4
3.8
3.6
3.3
2.7
2.5
3.
Urea
110
100
88
76
70
62
62
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
Urea
150
Creatinine
100
Glucose before food
50
0
0
15
days
30
days
45
days
60
days
75
days
90
days
From the table, it is clear that there is gradual reduction in all the three
parameters as the treatment progresses. This shows that the combination is effective
in purifying the blood.
The treated person showed gradual rejuvenation of the affected part of
the limps. Rejuvenation is demonstrated by a reduction of blackening of the colour of
skin and the tissues resuming the original colour. The wound heals by ejecting the
damaged tissues and regenerating new cells and tissues. Hand in hand with the
wound healing, angiogenesis takes place, ultimately resulting in enhancing the blood
circulation and removal of impurities from the blood.
The following figures (plate 1, 2, 3 & 4) demonstrate the step by step
healing of four different diabetic patients, who suffered from diabetes, having
different patterns of acute infection.
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PLATE - I
Stages of curing of patient suffering from dry gangrene of the foot.
Note the blackened portion - the degenerated tissues were removed four times
by surgery. The next stage the affected portion is to be amputated.
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
45 days after starting treatment-Note the
living tissue developed at the location.
Angiogenesis is demonstrated by the
bleeding tissues.
Figure 4
After 90 days
After 120 days
The stage at which herbal combination
started
Figure 5
3 years after cure
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PLATE – II
Different stages of curing of a patient having chronic foot ulcer
Figure 1
Figure 2
stage of the wound after 10 days of
starting the dose of Dia-Healths
After 45 days of application of Dia-Healths
Figure 3
Figure 4
After 60 days
After 90 days
Figure 5
After 3.5 years
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PLATE – III
Stages of healing of food ulcer of a paralasied patient to whom amputation of
limp followed by dialysis was prescribed
Figure 1
Figure 2
Bed ridden weak patient before
One week after starting - healing of the
starting herbal combination.
wound initiated
Figure 3
Figure 4
After 90 days, the cavity of the ulcer filled
with living tissues.
After 150 days, the healing of the
wound demonstrated the newly
developed skin to cover the wound.
Figure 5
The patient with completely healed foot
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PLATE – IV
A patient whose left leg was amputated at the region above the knee and was
advise amputation of other limp by doppler test (95% block)
Figure 1
Figure 2
Ulcer affected big toe.
Before starting herbal
combination
Figure 3
Figure 4
The damaged big toe was removed and
wound is being healed. Note the regenerative
tissues around the wound.
The wound after 150 days of
treatment
Figure 5
Patient 2 years after cure
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Discussion
The present study brings out a gradual cure of infected persons through
wound healing, angiogenesis and rejuvenation of nervous system. Improvement of
health accompanied by normalization of the functioning of the foot to a great extent
was also observed. The healing of the wound is due to regeneration of new tissues
and development of new blood vessels. Enhancement of the blood circulation by
eliminating the impurities from the body. The rejuvenation of the tissues ultimately
brings back the sensation of the affected region.
Application of other medicine very often brings about only temporary
healing of the wounds followed by secondary infection at same or some other
location. In the present studies show healing of the affected part was found to be
permanent without any secondary infection.
Several plants in the Dia-Healths product, Centella asiatica, Aloe-vera,
turmeric, Punica granatum, have been already reported to have wound healing and
anti-inflammatory effect. (Archana etal, 2009., Nagarathnam et al, 2010).
Antidiabetic effect has been reported in Aloe-vera, Aegle marmelos, Syzygium
cumini, Emblica officinalis, Centella asiatica, etc. (Davis and Maro, 1999., Raina
etal, 2008). Antioxidant activity has been reported in Terminalia bellerica,
Terminalia chebula, Emblica officinalis and Curcuma longa. (Sudaram et al, 2009,
Hazra et al, 2010. Sing et al, 2010). In the present study the combination applied
contains extract of plants reported to have anti-diabetic, antioxidant, antiinflammatory and wound healing effects. The effectiveness of the Dia-Healths
combination is due to the synergistic effect of the various compounds contained in
the plant extracts. The Dia-Healths preparation demonstrated all the effects
demonstrated by the components, of course, in an enhanced manner.
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