Chemicals in Industry and Health

 

 

 
10.1 Traditional Medicine, Modern Medicine and Complementary Medicine
 
1.
 
  Traditional medicine
Explanation A medical treatment that uses plants, animals and natural substances that are specifically applied or combined for diagnosis and treatment of disease
Criteria

Effectivenness of the treatment is slow and takes time

Treatment using natural substances from plants and animals

Low treatment cost

Effectiveness proven with experience

Inherited and practised from generation to generation

 
  Modern medicine
Explanation The combination of the art of medicine in various field of science that relate to health science and biomedical
Criteria

Treatment uses synthetic medicine

High treatment cost

Clinically test

Using modern methods such as surgery, laser treatment and radiotherapy

Treatment effective and fast

 
  Complementart madicine
Explanation

Various methods of health care that originates from many cultural background

natural product

Mind

Body practices

Criteria

Does not involve surgery and stitches on body

Considers the views of modern and traditional medical practitioners

Does not use medicine, drug and synthetic chemical substances

2. Medicines used in traditional, modern and complementary medicine

(a) Traditional medicine

 
Medicine Uses
Aloe vera

To reduce pain due to sunburn or exposure to hot objects

Ginseng

To maintain good health

Ginger

To relieves swelling, bodily pain and bloadtedness

Hibiscus plant

To relieve headache

To prevent hair loss

Quinine

To make medicine for malaria

 
2. Modern medicine
 
Medicine Uses and Examples
Analgesics

To relieves pain

Example: 

Aspirin

Paracetamol

Codeine

Antibiotics

To kill or inhibit the growth of infectious bacteria

Example:

Penicillin 

Streptomycin

Psychotherapeutic

To treat psychiatric patients

Example:

Stimulants

Antidepressants

Antipsychotics

 
3. Complementary medicine
 
Medicine Uses
Acupuncture

To relieve pain

Chiropractic

Effective for back and neck pain, joint pain, headaches and sport injuries

Traditional massage

Soothes anxiety, pain, fatigue, muscle tension and nerve problems

Homeopathy

To strengthen the body;s immunity against infectious disease

Herbal therapy

To cure diseases

 
4. Man-made medicines and medicines from natural resources
 
Man-made medicines Medicines from natural resources
Made in the lab and commercialised for the use of consumers Derived from plants and animals
Must be taken regularly or stopped when the sickness has healed Must be taken or used continuously for a long time to be effective
Evidence of healing is based on clinical test Evidence of healing by trust and past experiences

There is risk of side effect if 

used without the advice of a doctor

the patient does not follow the correct dosage

There is a risk of side effect if

used without the advice of a doctor

the patient does not follow the correct dosage

Vitamin C as pills in pharmacies Vitamin C from fruits
 

5. The effect of misuse of medicine

  • Causes death
  • Causes the medication to be less effective 
  • Causes severe side effects
  • Cause addition
 
10.2 Free Radicals
 

1. Free radicals: atoms or molecules that lack one electron which makes the atoms or molecules unstable, reactive and tend to attack other atoms or molecules

2. Internal factors that produce free radicals in the body

  • metabolism
  • inflammation

3. External factors that produce free radicals in the body

  • cigarette smoke
  • exposure to radiation
  • sunlight 
  • air pollution

4. Effect of free radicals to our body

  • damage our DNA
  • cause mutation and cancer
  • cause diseases such as cardiobascular disease and infertility
  • damage the kidneys, liver and lungs
  • cause premature aging conditions such as wrinkles and grey hair
 
10.3 Antioxidant Substances
 

1. Antioxidant: chemical substances that are needed by our body to slow down or to stop the oxidation process

2. Antioxidant protects body cells from damage by free radicals

3. Examples of antioxidants found in food

 
Antioxidant Explanation and food source
Beta carotene

Commonly found in most red, yellow or orange coloured food

 

Example: 

Carrots

Mangoes 

Sweet potatoes

Lutein

Often associated with healthy eyes

Found in high quantities in green leafy vegetables

 

Example: 

Spinach

Cabbage

Broccoli

Lycopene

Found in fruits

 

Example: 

Papaya

Guava

Watermelon

Tomato

Apricots

Grapefruit

Oranges

Vitamin C

Water soluble vitamin

Ascorbic acid

 

Example: 

Citrius fruits

Spinach

Broccoli 

Kiwi fruit

Strawberries

Cranberry

Cabbage 

Green pepper

Cereals

Vitamin E

Alpha-tocopherol

Found in many types of oil

 

Example: 

Palm oil

Wheat grem oil

Corn oil

Soybean oil

Apricots

Broccoli

Legumes

Mangoes

 
10.4 Health Products
 

1. Active ingredient: specific components of a product that have effects on the cure or prevention of disease

2. Use of health products available in the market

  • To treat diseases
  • To maintain our health
  • Can guarantee normal growth
  • To prevent disease