Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has presented unprecedented health challenges across all strata in society throughout the world. The COVID experience has caused us to reflect on quality of life, health and well-being and, just as important, end of life. During this time, spiritual care forms a vital component of holistic health management, especially in terms of coping, coming to terms with illness, suffering and ultimately death. The relationship with the transcendent or sacred has a strong influence on a people’s beliefs, attitudes, emotions and behaviour. Populations, communities, families and individuals have always found solace through their religious or philosophical beliefs during times of personal adversity and widespread anxiety or disaster. Although spiritual care has always been a part of the domain of religious beliefs, a more contemporary perspective is that spiritual care forms part of the human psyche and thus forms part of human care, health and well-being for families, patients and healthcare workers. Spiritual care deals with the provision of compassion and empathy during periods of heightened stress, distress and anxiety within care. This article provides insights into the necessity of providing spiritual care as a means of coping and well-being for families, patients and healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: Herbal immunomodulatory preparations are increasing in popularity. In vitro, in vivo and clinical trial studies are needed to ensure safety, quality and efficacy of these herbal medicines. SeptilinTM, a proprietary herbal medicinal product has been reported to have immunomodulatory effects. Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) is a commercialised South African (SA) tea recognised for its phytopharmaceutical potential. Artemisia afra is a well known SA herbal medicine used for various inflammatory conditions. This study assessed the effects of Artemisia afra, Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) and SeptilinTM on inflammatory biomarkers using RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line.Materials and Methods: RAW 264.7 cells and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated RAW 264.7 cells were treated with various concentrations of the above mentioned samples after which the culture supernatants were assayed for specific inflammatory biomarkers namely, IL-6 and nitric oxide (NO).Results: Artemisia afra, Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) and SeptilinTM were shown to be non-cytotoxic on unstimulated RAW 264.7 cells across all concentrations tested (31-1000μg/ml). Addition of Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) to unstimulated RAW 264.7 cells significantly up regulated (P<0.001) NO and IL-6 production at concentrations of 500μg/ml and 1000μg/ml when compared to the control, whilst SeptilinTM and Artemisia afra had no effect. Artemisia afra and Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) were shown to be noncytotoxic on stimulated RAW 264.7 cells across all concentrations tested (31-1000μg/ml). However, SeptilinTM significantly (P<0.001) decreased metabolic activity at the highest concentration tested (1000μg/ml). Addition of Artemisia afra to stimulated RAW 264.7 cells significantly down regulated (P<0.001) NO and IL-6 production when compared to the control. Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) and SeptilinTM samples had no effect on the synthesis of NO and IL-6 in stimulated RAW 264.7 cells when compared to the controls.Conclusion: Artemisia afra has anti-inflammatory effects while Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) up regulated the immune system. This study also shows that SeptilinTM had no effects on RAW 264.7 cells.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 03 No. 03 July’19. Page: 134-145

Abstract:Many prominent Greco-Arab (Unani-Tibb) physicians contributed to the advancement of medicine with their observations, practice, experience and experiments which gave priority to the preservation of health over the curing of ailments. Tibb an-Nabawi (Prophetic Medicine), the foundation of Islamic medicine placed great emphasis on preventative measures relating to lifestyle incorporating the spiritual, emotional and physical aspects of man. The key component to linking man's inter-relationship with his environment was understood through the concept of temperament. This concept remains at the core of Unani-Tibb up until today in terms of research and practical application within the clinical setting. Central to the understanding of temperament are the associated qualities of heat, cold, moisture and dryness, the combination of which describes each individual's unique constitutional make-up including personality traits, physical appearances and disease predispositions. Historically this formed the basis to the understanding of pathology and up until today it continues to guide physicians on individualized treatment regimes. All classical references of Tibb an-Nabawi attribute the onset of illnesses to the disturbance or imbalance of one's temperament. This paper aims to shed light on the concept of temperament as explained in the classical texts of Tibb an-Nabawi and Unani-Tibb and its practical application for health promotion and disease prevention.

African plants have been used for medicinal purposes for many centuries. Many of these African medicinal plants are assumed to be safe but have yet to be scientifically validated. Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) is a commercialised South African tea recognised for its phytopharmaceutical potential. Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) has been gaining popularity globally for its health benefits and accepted as a nutraceutical due to the growing evidence of its efficacy. The bioactive constituents found in Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) have been reported to exert both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity however a few in vitro studies has suggested otherwise. Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) has shown to modify the actions of the immune system by influencing the regulation of messenger molecules like cytokines and nitric oxide however most of these studies have been conducted in vitro with a very few studies reaching in vivo application. Divergent in vitro cell models has shown to produce varying results regarding cytokine and nitric oxide NO activity of Aspalathus linearis (rooibos). This review highlights recent studies on the (NO) and cytokine activities of Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) both in vitro and in vivo. Most studies report on its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity however a few in vitro studies suggests opposite effects which should be considered for prolonged use especially when prescribed in a supplementation form. Many studies have looked at aspects of safety and toxicity of Aspalathus linearis (rooibos) however no complete toxicological studies have been done as yet.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 03 No. 03 July’19. Page: 150-157

Objective: The use of herbal immunomodulatory preparations to prevent and treat immunological complications is increasing in popularity. Rigorous in vitro, in vivo and clinical trial studies are needed to ensure safety, quality and efficacy for the wellbeing of patients. SeptilinTM, a proprietary herbal medicinal product has been reported to have immunomodulatory effects. This study investigated the in vitro effects of SeptilinTM on biomarkers of specific immune pathways by using whole blood culture assays (WBC).Materials and Methods: Stimulated and unstimulated WBC have been incubated with the product. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assays have been used to screen for IL-6, IL-10, and IFN γ as biomarkers for inflammation, humoral immunity, and cell mediated immunity, respectively.Results: SeptilinTM had no effect on the release of IL-6 production by (lipopolysaccharide) LPS stimulated WBC across all concentrations tested. However, SeptilinTM induced significant higher levels (P<0.001) of IL-6 release in unstimulated WBC across all concentrations between 0µg/ml-258µg/ml. SeptilinTM had no effect on the release of IL-10 release in unstimulated WBC across all concentrations. However the presence of SeptilinTM in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulated WBC induced significant higher release (P<0.01) of IL-10 release at concentrations between 64.5µg/ml- 258µg/ml when compared to the control. The presence of SeptilinTM in unstimulated WBC had no effect on the release of IFN γ production across all concentrations. The presence of SeptilinTM in PHA stimulated WBC release of IFN γ is inconclusive.Conclusion: This study shows that SeptilinTM has immunomodulatory effects on WBC in vitro.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.17(2) 2018 p.238-244