This article is based on author's reflections born out of a live programme to strengthen the Primary health care in a tribal area (Karjat) in Maharashtra State.

Swarna - Vanga, an Ayurvedic preparation, is used in the treatment mainly of Pramehas (genitor urinary and metabolic disorders), Sveta Pradara (Leucorrhoea), Kasa - Swasa (Respiratory disorders), etc. The drug contains tin and sulphur as major components along with traces of mercury, iron and aluminum. According to modern point of view certain metals have been claimed toxic to both human and animal. Since Svarna - Vanga contains these metals, it is essential to screen out its toxic effect, if any, although it is claimed in Ayurveda that when a metal is processed as prescribed, it become non - toxic or the least toxic. Considering the above facts, an animal experiment was carried out for short duration (14 days) to screen the toxic effects of Svarna - Vanga (SV) in increasing doses of the drug starting from the maximum therapeutic dose (12.5 mg / 100 gm b.wt / day). The drug was found to have no toxic effects in tissues of the animal at doses of 12.5 mg and 25 mg / 100 gm b.wt. / day. Fine fatty vacuolization in liver and focal superficial mucosal degeneration and necrosis of small intestine confined to one animal each at dose of 50 mg / 100gm b.wt. and 100 mg/ 100 gm. b.wt. / day were observed. Our study indicates that the drug has no toxic effect on tissues at therapeutic dose.

Nimbidin, the crude bitter compound from neem has been investigated for its gastric anti secretory activity in rats and cats. It exhibited significant anti - secretory activity in pylorus ligated rats and cats. In lumen - perfused rats it suppressed the basal as well as histamine and carbachol stimulated gastric acid output at 40 mg/kg (i.v). However it had no effect on ASA - induced back - diffusion of H+ ions. This anti secretory activity of nimbidin was found to be similar to that of H2 - receptor antagonists, which are reported to suppress the histamine induced gastric secretion in animals and man.

A detailed review on Guggulu, covering its botanical, Chemical Pharmacological and Ayurvedic aspects, is presented here.

A preliminary investigations was carried out to study the antibacterial activity of the water soluble extracts of five and ten years old barks of Eugenia Jambolana Lam. (fam. Myrtaceae) on dysentery and diarrhoea forming micro organisms. It was observed that the barks of young plants have a better inhibitory effect on micro - organisms like Salmonella viballerup, Shigella dysenteriae 10, Shigella boydii 5, Sgigella dysenteriae 2.

The behaviour of so called traditional patients has been the topic of anthropological research for the last thirty years. Myths have been and constructed and rejected, one being that patients with chronic and less incapacitating illness see rather traditional healers than allopathic medical treatment. The case study with which we are concerned in this paper is the illness of a young girl who is the age in which she is expected to accept a marriage contract. Since she is obviously not willing to do she adopts an illness behaviour which enables her to postpone all role expectations of her age group. She performs a behaviour which is socially accepted and guarantees all the support from her family which she needs and requires. The paper investigates the causes, reason and development of her spirit possession and relates it to the cultural grammar of the patient's group of reference. The data of this case study were obtained at a Muslim shrine in Gujarat, India.

Attempts have been made to correlate the processes involved in Raja - Yoga with the portions of nervous system, as described by Swami Vivekananda. Further scientific research in this field is invited.

Volatile fatty acids are produced during the digestion of dietary fibre and contribute to the body's energy supply. Their detection in humans has proven that the colon is intimately connected with nutrition, which suggests that they can be associated with the Ciratposana of Prans.

The effect of acetone extracts of Foeniculum vulgare Mill., seeds at different dose levels (50/ug, 150/ug and 250/ug/100gm body wt.) on mammary glands and oviducts of castrated rats was investigated. The extract was found to increase nucleic acids and protein concentration as well as the organ weights in both the tissues. The medium and high doses were very effective. The results confirm the estrogenic nature of the seed extract.