HEALTH

Harad — king of medicinal plants

HARAD (Sanskrit — Abhya, Pathya and Haritaki; Botanical — Terminalia chebula) is a well-known plant of ayurvedic pharmacopoeia. Its medium-sized tree is found in the forests of hilly areas up to the height of 5000 feet. Ancient texts have classified harad according to the place of its origin, but practically what matters is the size of the fruit of harad, which constitutes the medicine. So it can be classified as small, medium and large-sized, and has different uses.

It is mainly acrid and often gives many types of after-tastes. Hard is light but hot in effect and has the unique distinction of balancing all three doshas in the body — vata, pitta and kapha. Its chemical composition consists of tannin, chebulagic acid along with many types of amino acids. Its smooth and shining piece, with a weight of 10 to 20 gm is considered the best .

Ancient ayurvedic texts have extolled harad as having rasayan effect on the body. Any herb or medicine, which cures the disease, raises body immunity and protects the system from symptoms of pre-mature old age, is called a rasayan. Harad is anti-inflammatory, brain tonic, healer of wounds and beneficial for nervous system. It increases appetite and is also a mild laxative. From common cough and cold to bronchitis and asthma and from distension of abdomen and piles to sluggishness of liver, harad is a dependable medicine which is used to cure a variety of diseases, singularly or with combination of other herbs, since time immemorial.

Ayurveda has described that harad should be used in a specific way according to different seasons of the year. In rainy season, it is best if used with rock salt, and in winter with powder of piper longum whereas in summers it should be taken with a little of jaggery. Similarly, it has digestive effect if taken with meals, acts as laxative when used powdered and for tonic effect, it is taken roasted in ghee.

Harad is used in a variety of ancient ayurvedic formulations such as abyarishta, pathyadi qwath, chitrak haritaki and the well known- triphla churna. If harad is to be used singularly, its dose is 3 to 6 gm. Though it is generally safe, it should be used with caution in pregnancy and also in very weak and debilitated persons. Prolonged use of harad in all other conditions must be carefully monitored.

Rotary Club to start campaign against polio
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 16 — The Rotary Club Ludhiana Southend yesterday honoured former Test cricketer Yashpal Sharma and Mr Hari Bassi, an expert in quality control, and announced launching of a campaign against polio in the city in near future.

The two were honoured as part of the club’s tradition of honouring services of eminent Personalities at a function organised by Prerna Millennium Intercity.

Former district governor and presently chairman Pulse Polio Campaign Rotary District Governor A. Mohindroo informed the gathering that the club would shortly launch a campaign against polio in the city as part of its social service activities. The campaign would include installing hoardings at various sites informing the public about the disease. Advertisement slides in cinema halls besides advertisements in Siti cable would also be launched by the club.

The club will also honour teachers helping in the awareness against polio. It will also give awards to social workers helping in the cause.

Earlier, Mr A D Kaushal former Chief Justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court, in his lecture on ‘Inspiration and Action’ talked about the need of inspiration to do good work. Giving example of the recent historic judgement against a former Prime Minister, Mr Kaushal said such cases have exposed only a minuscule of the corruption rampant in the country. He lamented that once considered honest profession, the judiciary is also not free of corruption now.

Mr Kaushal called upon, people to emulate good points of the western society . He said we should adopt their work culture and commitment towards country and our duties.

Mr Daljit Singh Pannu, second guest of honour at the function, gave a talk on ‘Devotion Key to success’. He said devotion should not only be limited to one’s religion and involve one’s devotion towards the country also.

SPORT

SDP College wins debate
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 16 — Industrial Pollution Control Committee, an off-shoot of Ludhiana Citizens Health Council, organised an inter-college debate on “Ludhiana : rich in wealth and poor in health” at the Government College for Women here today.

Twenty students, one boy and 19 girls, from 10 city colleges participated in the contest. The participants spoke on the menace of pollution, population explosion and health-related problems like cancer, dengue and malaria.

The team of Shivani Jain and Poonam Bhatt from Sanatan Dharam Pracharak College won the first prize. Poonam Bhatt also won the first individual prize with a cash award of Rs 11,000. Mohammad from S.D. Government College was declared second and Jasmeet Kaur from Christian Medical College and Hospital stood third.

Gaganjot Dhillon from the Guru Nanak College for Women, Barkha from the Government College for Women and Mandeep Kaur from Baba Jaswant Singh Central College received consolation prizes. The judgement was pronounced by Dr P.S. Brar, Mr M. Miglani, General Secretary, Ludhiana Knitwear Club, and Mrs Vinay Jain, housewife.

While presiding over the function, Mr M.M. Vyas, Chairman, Ludhiana Improvement Trust, said, “With the coming up of more than 50 yoga and meditation centres, Ludhianvis gradually seem to be becoming health conscious. To bring more awareness on health issues, it is very important to organise such seminars in the city.”

Mr V.K. Dua, Member-Secretary, Punjab Pollution Control Board, Patiala, was the chief guest. He spoke on the need to implement state-of-art technology in the industries to cut out waste.

Mr K.C. Gupta, Chairman, Industrial Pollution Control Committee, said that an inter-college poster making and a skit competition on poverty and population explosion would be held at the Guru Nanak Khalsa College for Women on November 1. 

Ludhiana girls win overall title
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 16 — Ludhiana athletes dominated the proceedings at the Punjab State Women’s Games that concluded on Saturday at Hoshiarpur.

In the final match of the handball event, Ludhiana lost to Amritsar, 25-26, after leading, 11-0, at the breather. The basketball team of the district that was the defending champion, had to be satisfied with the fourth position this time.

City needs cricket stadium: Yashpal
By Kamal Kishore Shankar

LUDHIANA, Oct 16 — Yashpal Sharma , a gutsy middle order batsman of the Indian cricket team and the only cricketer of repute produced by this industrial city, is a sad man when it comes to the prevailing facilities of cricket here.

In an interview with “Ludhiana Tribune” here today, after being felicitated by the Rotary Club Ludhiana Southend, the cricketer who made a significant contribution to the country’s World Cup victory in 1983, lamented that in spite of being a town of rich industrialists it lacked basic facilities for cricket.

“Talent is abundant here”, he claimed; but in the absence of proper facilities no other cricketer of the city has shown much promise.” According to him a cricket academy is a must for the town and both government and Industrialists should come forward to help in this direction.

The cricketer, who is working as a coach of the Uttar Pradesh cricket team these days said whenever he visits the city he visits playgrounds and schools and watch the youngsters playing in whatever open space they could find. “I wish if there was a stadium for such enthusiast of the game, the talent would not have gone waste.

Punjab & Sind Bank sport meet
From Our Correspondent

LUDHIANA, Oct 16 — Bara Singh and Mohan Singh stole the show in the two-day Annual Sports meet of the Punjab and Sind Bank (Ludhiana zone) that concluded here, yesterday. Bara Singh and Mohan Singh won three golds each in athletics. T.S. Monga, R.S. Arora and Gursagar Singh were in the limelight in table tennis, badminton and carrom copmpetitions respectively.

Mr H.S. Lamba, Deputy General Manager, Punjab and Sind Bank (Ludhiana zone) distributed the prizes. He opined, “It is necessary to promote sports because it encourages team spirit and healthy competition among the employees of the bank.”

The results are as follows :
100 m — Bara Singh 1, Mohan Singh 2; 200 m — Bara Singh 1, Mohan Singh 2; 400 m — Mohan Singh 1, Gurcharan Singh 2; 800 m — Gurcharan Singh1, Mohan Singh 2; 1500 m — Mohan Singh 1, Mohan Singh Kalay 2.

High jump — Mohan Singh 1, Harjit Singh 2.

Long jump — Bara Singh 1, Mohan Singh 2.

Discuss throw — Gurmit Singh 1, Kulwant Singh 2.

Shot put — Gurmit Singh 1, Mohan Singh Kailay 2.

Hammer throw — A.S. Walia 1, Kulwant Singh 2.

Indoor games: Table tennies (singles) — T.S. Monga 1, M.P. Singh 2.

Table tennies (doubles) — T.S. Monga and surinder Vir Singh 1, M.P. Singh and Taranjit Singh 2.

Badminton (singles) — R.S. Arora 1., G.S. Sandhu 2.

Badminton (doubles) — R.S. Arora and G.S. Sandhu 1, Mohan Singh and Daljit Singh 2.

Carrom (singles) — Gursagar Singh 1, M.S. Pardesi 2.

Carrom (doubles) — Gursagar Singh and M.S. Pardesi 1, T.S. Monga and Arun Bhagava 2.