Nidra Yoga and Ayurveda and other diseases

  Melatonin was first extracted and discovered from the pineal gland of cow by the dermatologist Aron B Lerner at the Yale University of School of Medicine. This purified product was chemically identified as N-acetyl-5-methoxy-tryptamine and is termed as Melatonin. One of the characteristic of the chemical is that it is mainly secreted during darkness and hence it is also known as hormone of darkness 1 . In the subsequent years melatonin has also been identified in many plants and a wide variety of animals. Presence of melatonin in a wide variety of bacteria gives an emphasis that this chemical is an ancient molecule that has been retained throughout the evolutionary process of all organisms. Primitive bacteria like cyanobacteria and α-proteobacteria are thought to be engulfed by the prokaryotes and they evolved into chloroplasts and mitochondria so that all the unicellular and multicellular organelles produce this indolamine into their organelles. With the evolutionary process the mel

  The Suprachiasmatic nucleus is present in the hypothalamus and is regarded as the pacemaker for the maintenance of the circadian rhythm. Signals from the SCN travels via several multiple synaptic pathways by the involvement of several intrahypothalamic connections for the regulations of circadian rhythm by the secretion of melatonin. Photosensitive melanospin retinal ganglion is activated by light having short wave length and communicate suprachiasmatic nucleus via the retinohypothalamic tract. The neurons of the retinohypothalamic tract release the glutamate and pituitary adenylate cyclase and it activates the polypeptide which mediates the expression of clock gene in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. γ – Aminobutyric neurons of the SCN send direct inhibitory projection to the paraventricular nuclei of the hypothalamus. Neuronal cells of the PVN activate the preganglionic neurons of the intermediolateral cell columns and they are responsible for the control of secretion of the melatonin

  The discovery of melatonin binding sites has been done in the year 1984 by Vakkuri and it has been achieved by the synthesis of 2 indomelatonin. It has now been used in several studies to understand the melatonin biding sites in a range of tissues and species.  The discovery of this radioligand and autoradiograph studies have paved the way of many hidden insights to light. Using this radioligand both the high and low affinity binding sites has been affirmed and has been named as ML 1 and ML 2. and the peculiarity of the binding sites are the low affinity of expression. In humans the tissue distribution of MT 1 and MT 2 levels has been studied mainly in the brain. The expressions of the receptors are mainly seen in suprachiasmatic nucleus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, cerebellum and cerebral arteries. MT 1 is expressed in retina, adipose tissue and the kidney tissue and MT 2 is expressed in the adipose and kidney tissues as well. Another MT 3 melatonin receptor has been identified as

  Introduction Alzheimer’s is the most common and one of the most profound degenerative conditions of the brain that is affecting the age old society from ages. Although the disease can be seen in every age group but it is mostly prevalent in elderly age group. The incidence of clinically diagnosed Alzheimer’s disease is similar throughout the world, and it increases with age, approximately 3 new cases yearly 100,000 persons younger than age 60 years and a staggering 125 new cases per 100000 of those older than 60 years. Several etiological factors such as birth order, mother’s age at birth and a family history of Down’s syndrome may have a possibility of developing Alzheimer’s disease in the later part of the life. The familial occurrence of Alzheimer’s disease has been well established. In less than one percent of such cases there is a dominant inheritance pattern with a high degree of penetration and appearance of disease at younger age group. Reports of substantial familial aggre

    Traditional use of herbs by Bodo community people of Assam,India Scientific Name:  Centella Asiatica Linn Family:- Apiaceae Bodo Name:- Gader Assamese Name:- Bor Manimuni Hindi Name:- Manduki Indian Name:- Indian pennywort.  Used in dysentery (Das. et. al. 2006), liver trouble, stomach disorder and nerve problem.  It stimulates appetite, taken with milk to improve memory, good for skin disease and act as a blood purifier, given to women after child birth (Paul et. al.2011a).  7 leaves of Centella asiatica Linn. were ponded with black salt and 1 spoonful of the preparation was prescribed daily 2- times after meal in the treatment of malaria (Paul et. al. 2013.)   Scientific Name:-  Colocasia esculenta (Linn.) Schott. Family:- Araceae Bodo Name:- Gusum Taso Assamese Name:- Kola Kacchu Hindi Name:- AAluki  English Name:- Taro Leaves used for blood coagulation in small injuries, roots used in pharyngitis, steam use in inner ear problem, iron deficiency (Dhira Mani Das et. al.). Petiole