https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/37095 2026-04-05T10:02:47Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21359 Title: The uses of plants and herbs in medicine Authors: Boffa, Charles J. Abstract: Various plan ts have been used thousands of years ago, in efforts to cure certain ailments in Mediterranean countries and elsewhere. As early as around the 4th and 5th century in Greece, Hippocrates was recommending asparagus and garlic for their diuretic and health aid qualities, willow leaves to relieve pain and headaches, poppies to help insomnia. In fact one of the ingredients of aspirin comes from the willow tree and some of the drugs used to treat certain heart problems come from the foxglove. Likewise in Sicily, Italy, France, Greece and Egypt, extensive use of certain plan ts were utilized in antiquity with a view to cure or allay diseases. 2005-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21358 Title: Man in antiquity and much later time capsules Authors: Boffa, Charles J. Abstract: The Maltese Islands have sustained a stream of human life since the very early people, probably from Sicily first settled here around 5500 B.C., and gradually developed mostly in fertile areas where water was available. The first settlers were agriculturists. Looking back, one can realize that their survival depended mainly on a widening of their understanding of nature and a deepening of their knowledge on how to handle and use what nature provided. Aside this, they tried to safeguard themselves as much as possible against disease, accidents and catastrophe. 2005-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21357 Title: Five steps in the management of high blood pressure Authors: Cilia, Saviour Abstract: Check up for high blood pressure (HBP) is one of the most common encounters in general practice. The prevalence ofhypertension increases with advancing age to the point where over half of the people 60-69 year of age and about three-fourths of those over 70 years of age are affected. The primary goal of treating patients with HBP is to prevent complications and reduce the long-term total risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This requires treatment of all the reversible risk factors identified (smoking, dyslipidaemia or diabetes) and the appropriate management of associated clinical conditions, besides treatment of the raised BP per se. 2005-06-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/21356 Title: Secretary's report of the college's main activities in 2003-2004 Authors: Caruana, Noel Abstract: 1. Council Set up Following the Council elections, Council posts were assigned as follows during the first council meeting: • Dr Pierre Mallia- President and Secretary for Ethics • Dr Andrew P Zammit - Vice President • Dr Noel Caruana - Honorary Secretary • Dr Michael Cordina - Honorary Treasurer • Dr Michael Borg - College Registrar • Dr].K. Soler - Secretary for Research and Publications • Dr Mario R. Sammut - Secretary for Education • Dr Savior Cilia - Secretary for Information and Communications • Dr Anthony Xuereb - Member • Dr Anthony Azzopardi - Member • Following the resignation of Dr Azzopardi, Dr Philip Sciortino was by-elected The post of The Secretary for Quality Assurance was vacant until a suitable candidate was to be nominated. Doctors Jurgen Abela, Mario Grixti and Adrian Micallef were co-opted members of the council during the first council meeting. Subsequently Dr Mario Grixti was elected council member following the resignation of Dr Wilfred Galea. It was also decided that the following subcommittees would be set up to facilitate the working of the Council. It was stressed that the aim of the council would be to involve the college members as much as possible. The subcommittees set up were: l. Statute subcommittee 2. Research subcommittee 3. Ethics subcommittee 4. SAC sub committee 5. Education Subcommittee In October 2003 Dr Adrian Micallef was co-opted as Secretary for Quality Assurance. 2. MCFD·RCGP Teachers' Course The second Teachers Course. It was decided by council that a second Teachers course was to be organized. It was to be open to all college members. Preparatory work involving contacts with the RCGP started in October 2003. The members were asked to express their interest in participating in an eventual Course through mailing of information and through the Newsletter (October 2003) and the College's website. Following the encouraging response, a call for application was mailed to the members in February 2004. There were 19 applicants 18 ISSUE 01 JUNE 2005 of which 14 eventually accepted to participate in the two, five- day Teachers' Course. The first module was held in May 2004 with the second module being held in October 2004. Following approval by members at the EGM in April, the College contributed to part of the expenses, with the rest of the cost being paid by the participants. 2005-06-01T00:00:00Z