HEALTH

HERBS AND HEALTH
Common herb, special uses
by DR. R. VATSYAYAN

ALOE is a common medicinal plant that is found all over India. It is a perennial herb that is about two-foot tall with a short stem and shallow root system. Its large, thick and fleshy leaves have small thorns on the edges. Aloe is cultivated for commercial use, but in many homes, it is still grown in flowerpots. As the herb imparts youthful energy and enhances femininity, its Sanskrit name is kumari.

Ayurveda describes aloe as a bitter, cold, unctuous, sticky and heavy herb that alleviates three doshas — vata, pitta, and kapha. It is categorised as bhedniya (accumulation-breaking herb), netrarogaghna (alleviating ophthalmic diseases) and pleeharogaghna (ameliorating diseases of the spleen).

The medicinal part of aloe is its fleshy and shining gel-like portion that is extracted by cutting its leaves. This gel, if dried in sun, turns into a non-transparent wax-like material called kumarisar or musabbar. It is bitter, hot in potency and produces a pungent post-digestive effect. Aloe is made of three alkaloids — barboloin, isobarboloin and beta barboloin. It also contains a volatile oil.

Aloe is known to be digestive, carminative and liver stimulant. A big dose of it kills the intestinal parasites. It is diuretic, anti-inflammatory and blood purifier as well. Aloe improves the uterine circulation of blood and facilitates its contractions. An old Indian scholar of applied botany, Bhavaprakash, has written that aloe is a good rejuvenative.

Aloe is extensively used in preparation of various cosmetic products. Experiments on aloe show its cosmetic value and healing properties. It is used as a skin conditioner and in the treatment of blemishes, non-healing wounds and burn injuries. It also has a moisturising and nourishing effect on the skin.

Being a good carminative and digestive herb, aloe is commonly used in Indian homes. It is roasted in desi ghee and given to those who suffer from poor appetite and sluggish liver. It also helps in reducing the inflammation of the liver and the spleen.

Aloe is a common household remedy for burn injuries. For treating small burns, application of the aloe paste is effective. Local application of the aloe pulp helps in treating sunburn and blemishes on the face.

In painful and delayed menstrual cycle, regular use of aloe at least a week before its commencement is beneficial. It improves the pelvic circulation and removes spasm.

Aloe is used in the treatment of many geriatric problems like neuro-muscular weakness and osteo-arthritis. It also strengthens the immune system.

Classic ayurvedic medicines like kumariasava and rajaprivartine vati contain aloe and are administered in diseases of women and those of the abdomen. The common dose of aloe is 10 to 20 gm a day.

SPORT

Sport meet from Feb 16
From Our Correspondent

SAHNEWAL, Jan 22 — The sport meet of the local Panchayati Raj Sports Club will be held from February 16 to 18,2001. This was stated by Mr Baljinder Singh Mohta, president of the club, at a meeting of the club members. Mr Shamsher Singh Kaile, president of the local nagar panchayat, was appointed as the supervisor, Mr Surinder Pal Singh Toni, vice-chairman and Mr Darshan Singh Dhaliwal as financer of the sport meet. Mr Avtar singh Sandhu, convenor, and Mr Tejinder Singh, senior vice- president, appealed to the government to release the pending grant to make the sport meet a grand success.

Annual tournament
The annual tournament of Maksoodra village, organised by the Youth Sports Club and villagers, would be conducted from February 2 to 4, 2001. The main events of the show include football (open), trolley races, races and kabaddi.

ADMINISTRATION

DC orders removal of encroachments
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Jan 22—The district administration has decided to dispossess all the unauthorised encroachments from the 10 acres of government land in Kuliawal village of Ludhiana East and to initiate strict action against the guilty revenue officials, who committed irregularities by not recording girdawari in accordance with the spot.

Giving details, Mr S .K. Sandhu, Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana, said that the inquiry on the directions of the Punjab Chief Minister regarding the illegal encroachments on this land has been completed, which established the encroachments by preparing false documents in connivance with some dubious land dealers.

He said that the criminal proceedings were also being initiated against those people who had committed fraud by getting the ownership of plots transferred by preparing false agreements. The Deputy Commissioner said that as per the revenue record the whole 80 kanals of land belongs to the Punjab Government and some people had illegally sold the plots to the people by preparing false documents. Mr Sandhu informed that the administration has also taken the legal opinion of the District Attorney and the legal process required would also be initiated. He said that the Tehsildar East has been asked to register the cases under the Punjab Public Premises Eviction and Rent Recovery Act in the court of SDM East to get the eviction orders passed at the earliest.

He said that the administration had also deputed the concerned officials to put up boards in the area of government land and the Deputy Commissioner warned the public not to execute any deal with any unlawful element regarding the sale or purchase of this land. He further said that the Municipal Corporation has also been written not to provide any kind of civic amenity to the encroachers in this area.

DC's directive to revenue officials
Tribune News Service

LUDHIANA, Jan 22 — The Deputy Commissioner, Mr S.K. Sandhu, has ordered that all the official revenue work of general public relating to patwari, kanungo and circle revenue officers would be disposed of on every second Saturday of the month at the tehsil headquarters so that the people do not have to pay frequent visits of the offices to get their work done.

Disclosing this here today, Mr Sandhu said that under the prevailing system general public had to make a number of rounds of the offices of these revenue employees for getting copies of revenue documents, jamvandis and other verifications which cause unnecessary harassment. He pointed out that on certain occasions due to the engagement of these officials in some other job, people had to return after wasting their time without getting their work done. He directed all the officials concerned to bring the required revenue record with them on every second Saturday and remain at the tehsil headquarters the whole day to clear the applications of the people.

He claimed on the one hand, the people would get substantial relief in getting their work done and on the other it would help in reducing the unnecessary rush in the revenue offices on all working days. He called upon the people to make the maximum use of this facility and in case of any problem they should immediately contact tehsildar or the SDM concerned.