Fog Health Dictionary

Surgical removal of a clot or EMBOLUS to clear an obstruction in an artery (see ARTERIES, DISEASES OF). The obstruction may be cleared by inserting a balloon (Fogarty) catheter (see CATHETERS) into the blood vessel or by surgical incision through the arterial wall. Embolectomy may be a life-saving operation when a patient has a PULMONARY EMBOLISM.... embolectomy

Modern Chinese medicine has rejected entirely the conception of disease due to evil spirits and treated by exorcism. Great advances in scientific knowledge in China have been made since 1949, removing much of the superstitious aspect from herbal medicine and placing it on a sound scientific basis. Advances in the field of Chinese Herbal Medicine are highlighted in an authoritative work: Chinese Clinical Medicine, by C.P. Li MD (Pub: Fogarty International Centre, Bethseda, USA).

Since the barefoot doctors (paramedics) have been grafted into the public Health Service, mass preventative campaigns with public participation of barefoot doctors have led to a reduction in the mortality of infectious disease.

Chinese doctors were using Ephedra 5000 years ago for asthma. For an equal length of time they used Quinghaosu effectively for malaria. The Chinese first recorded goose-grease as the perfect base for ointments, its penetrating power endorsed by modern scientific research.

While Western medicine appears to have a limited capacity to cure eczema, a modern Chinese treatment evolved from the ancient past is changing the lives of many who take it. The treatment was brought to London by Dr Ding-Hui Luo and she practised it with crowded surgeries in London’s Chinatown.

Chinese herbalism now has an appeal to general practitioners looking for alternative and traditional therapies for various diseases where conventional treatment has proved to be ineffective.

See entry: BAREFOOT DOCTOR’S MANUAL.

Address. Hu Shilin, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China. ... chinese medicine

A condition in which the pressure of the fluid in the eye is abnormally high, causing the compression and obstruction of the small blood vessels that nourish the retina. This may result in nerve fibre destruction and gradual loss of vision.

The most common form of glaucoma is chronic simple (open-angle) glaucoma, which rarely occurs before age 40 and often causes no symptoms until visual loss is advanced. It is caused by a gradual blockage of the outflow of aqueous humour over a period of years, causing a slow rise in pressure. The condition tends to run in families.

In acute (closed-angle) glaucoma, there is a sudden obstruction to the outflow of aqueous humour from the eye and the pressure rises suddenly. This causes a severe, dull pain in and above the eye, fogginess of vision, and the perception of haloes around lights at night. Nauseaand vomiting may occur, and the eye may be red with a dilated pupil.

Congenital glaucoma is due to an abnormality in the drainage angles of the eyes before birth. Glaucoma can also be caused by eye injury or a serious eye disease such as uveitis or lens dislocation.

Applanation tonometry is used to check for glaucoma by measuring the pressure within the eye. An ophthalmoscope may show depression of the head of the optic nerve due to the increase in pressure. Visual field testing will be needed to assess whether vision has already been damaged, because longstanding or severe glaucoma can result in loss of peripheral vision (see tunnel vision).

Prompt treatment is essential to prevent permanent loss of vision. Chronic simple glaucoma can usually be controlled with eye-drops (e.g. timolol) or tablets that reduce pressure in the eye. Treatment needs to be continued for life. If drugs are ineffective, surgery may be needed to unblock the drainage channel or create an artificial channel. Acute glaucoma requires emergency drug treatment, often in hospital. Surgery, usually iridectomy, may be necessary to prevent a further attack.... glaucoma