Sources of homoeopathic drugs and its relations with the taxonomical classification of plants and animal kingdom

Varshika Sahu

ABSTRACT
Drug is a therapeutic agent, prepared pharmaceutically from standardized drug substances. In Homoeopathy, drugs are potentised for use. Drugs used in medicine obtained from nature or from synthetic origin. This study shows the relationship of sources of homoeopathic drugs and its relations with the taxonomical classification of plants and animal kingdom. This study is helpful for Homoeopathic drugs, to makes it easy to collect the component for the formation of drug.

KEYWORDS: Taxonomy, Homoeopathic medicine, Plant Kingdom, Animal Kingdom.

INTRODUCTION

The word “Drug” is derived from the French word ‘drogue’ meaning a dry herb.

Drug is a therapeutic agent, prepared pharmaceutically from standardized drug substances according to the rules and regulations of pharmacopoeia, which is sufficiently capable of affecting the sensations and the functions, even the structural change and may be even cause of death, if continued for a sufficient time and dose.

In Homoeopathy, drugs are potentised for use. In potentised form potential of the drug is much higher than in the crude form. Drugs used in medicine today are either obtained from nature or are of synthetic origin.

Different sources of homoeopathic drugs are-

• Vegetable kingdom
• Animal kingdom
• Mineral kingdom
• Nosodes
• Sarcodes
• Imponderabilia
• Synthetic source
• Allersodes
• Isodes

The two broad kingdoms are classified taxonomically- Plants/Vegetable kingdom and Animal kingdom. In Homoeopathy we have large variety of medicine from the two kingdoms.

Classification of plants and animals is the arrangement of animals and plants in taxonomic groups according to their observed similarities and dissimilarities.

Taxonomical classification categorizes organisms in different ranks of taxonomy which are Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species.

Carolus Linnaeus “Father of Taxonomy” developed this way of classification in 1700’s. He wrote around 180 books, three of his books which fascinates botanist are (i) Systema naturae (ii) Genera plantarum (iii) Species plantarum. It helps to categorize organisms so we can more easily communicate biological information.

There systems for the classification of plants are (i) Artificial system- given by Carolus Linnaeus, classified on the basis of conditions of stamen and carpel (ii) Natural classification- classified on the basis of morphological classification, given by George Bentham and Joseph Dalton Hooker (iii) Phylogenetic system, developed after the publication of Darwin’s Origin of Species in 1859 on the basis of fossil records. Taxonomical classification of plant kingdom we used here was given by August Wilhelm Eichler in 1886.

These are further divided into families. Different parts of plants are used for the purpose of drug preparation. Some of the examples according to taxonomical classification are given below.

THALLOPHYTA

Subdivision	Examples	Common name	Part used
Algae	Fucus vesiculosus	Sea oak	Whole algae
Fungi	Agaricus muscarius	Toad stool	Whole fungus
	Agaricus emeticus	Vomiting russula	Fresh fungus
Lichens	Cetraria  islandica	Iceland moss	Whole lichen
	Usnea barbata	Beard moss	Tree lichen

 BRYOPHYTA

Families	Examples	Common name	Part used
Polytrichaceae	Polytricum juniperinum	Juniper haircap moss	Whole herb

 PTERIDOPHYTA

Families	Examples	Common name	Part used
Lycopodiaceae	Lycopodium clavatum	Club moss/ Nagbeli	Spores
Equisetaceae	Equisetum hyemalis	Rough horsetail	Green shoots
Aspidiaceae	Aspidium oleoresin	Male fern	Rhizome

 GYMNOSPERMIA

Families	Examples	Common name	Part used
Pinaceae	Abies nigra	Black spruce	Amber resin
	Abies Canadensis	Hemlock spruce	Fresh bark
Cupressaceae	Thuja occidentalis	American arbor-vitae	Leaves and twigs
Taxaceae	Taxus baccata	Yew	Bark

 ANGIOSPERMIA

1. Monocotyledons

Families	Examples	Common name	Part used
Araceae	Arum triphyllum	Bog onion	Roots
Gramineae	Avena sativa	Oat /jey	Seeds
	Saccharum officinarum	Sugarcane	Leaves and stem
Liliacae	Allium sativum	Garlic	Bulb
	Aloe socotrina	Mocha	Inspissated juice of leaves
Zingiberaceae	Curcuma longa	Turmeric	Rhizome
	Zingiber officinale	Ginger	Rhizome

2. Dicotyledons

Families	Examples	Common name	Part used
Anacardiaceae	Anacardium orientale	Marking nut	Resinous juice of seed
	Rhus toxicodendron	Poison oak	Leaves
Cactaceae	Cactus grandiflorus	Night blooming cereus	Flowering stems
Cannabinaceae	Cannabis indica	Hashish	Leaves
	Cannabis sativa	Hemp	Flowering tops
Compositae	Arnica Montana	Leopard’s bane	Whole plant+roots
	Calendula officinalis	Marigold	Fresh flowering tops and leaves
Cucurbitaceae	Bryonia alba	Wild hops	Roots
	Colocynthis	Bitter gourd	Pulp of fruit
Ericaceae	Kalmia latifolia	Broad leaved laurel	Leaves
	Ledum palustre	Wild rosemary	Whole plant
Leguminosae	Melilotus alba	Sweet scented clover	Flowering tops
	Baptisia tinctoria	Wild indigo	Bark of root
Ranunculaceae	Aconitum napellus	Monk’s hood	Whole plant
	Pulsatilla nigricans	Wind flower	Whole plant
Rubiaceae	Cinchona officinalis	Peruvian bark	Bark
	Coffea cruda	Coffee	Seeds
Solanaceae	Belladonna	Deadly night shade	Whole plant
	Dulcamara	Bitter-sweet	Whole plant
Umbelliferae	Circuta virosa	Water hemlock	Roots
	Asafaetida	Heeng	Gum-resin

These are further divided into different classes and families. From animal kingdom drugs are prepared form living or dried whole animals, different body parts, secretions, venoms of different animals and even form the milk and milk products. Some of the examples accordingly are given below.

ARTHOPODA

Class	Example	Common name	Part used
Crustacea	Millipedes	Saw bug	Whole animal
	Astacus fluviatilis	Cray fish	Whole animal
Insecta	Apis mellifica	Hive bee	Whole animal
	Blatta orientalis	Cockroach	Whole animal
Arachnida	Tarantula hispanica	Spider	Whole dried animal
	Scorpio europus	Scorpio	Whole dried animal

 PORIFERA

Class	Example	Common name	Part used
	Spongia tosta	Roasted sponge	Skeleton

 COELENTERATA

Class	Example	Common name	Part used
Anthozoa	Corallium rubrum	Red coral	Skeleton
Scyphozoan	Aurelia medusa	Jelly fish	Whole animal
Hydrozoa	Physalia	Portuguese man of war	Whole animal

 ANNELIDA

Class	Example	Common name	Part used
Hirudinea	Sangeuisuga officinalis	Leech	Whole animal

 MOLLUSCA

Class	Example	Common name	Part used
Cephalopoda	Sepia succus	Cuttle fish	Juice
Gastropoda	Murex purpurea	Purple fish	Juice
Bivalvia	Calcarea calcinata	Oyster	Egg shell
	Fecten	Scallop	Egg shell

 ECHINODERMATA

Class	Example	Common name	Part used
Asteroidean	Asterias rubens	Starfish	Whole animal

 VERTEBRATES

Class	Example	Common name	Part used
Osteichthes	Gadus lata	Cod-fish	Backbone
	Pyrara	River fish	Whole animal
Amphibian	Bufo rana	Toad	Poison
Reptilian	Lachesis trigonocephalus	Surukuku snake	Poison
	Naja tripudians	Gokshura snake	Poison
	Vipera berus	Viper	Poison
Aves	Calcarea ovarum	Egg of Hen	Toasted egg shell
	Ovi gallinae pellicula	Egg shell of hen	Membrane of egg shell
Mammalian	Lac caninum	Dog	Milk
	Lac felinum	Cat	Milk

CONCLUSION
This method of studying is easy to understand and memorize. Action of drugs can be related to their classes and the features. Hence, the properties of the drugs resemble the features of the particular taxa. It provides the scientific names for every species which is used worldwide. It makes it easy to collect the components for the formation of drug.   

Acknowledgment
Author wants to acknowledge Dr Rajesh K. Meena and Dr Astha Mathur, for guidance and support.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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Author and Correspondence:
VARSHIKA SAHU (BHMS)
University College of Homoeopathy,
(Constituent College of Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur),
Old CHC Building, Ajmeri Gate, Kekri – 305404.
Email:  varshikasahu03@gmail.com

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