Herbal plants

ALFALFA

Botanical Name - Medicago Satina

Indian Name - Alfalfa

ALFALFA is nutritionally on of the most versatile herbs yet discovered. It is a leguminous herb which grows up to 50 cms in height. It has rich green alternate leaves, purplish flowers and adapts itself to widely varying conditions of soil and climate. Alfalfa appears to have been discovered by the Arabs who called it the 'king of kings' of plants and the father of all foods. Alfalfa is a native of Europe. It is now widely cultivated in the temperate regions, the subtropics and higher altitudes in the tropics. It is grown through out India. Alfalfa is a valuable source of vitamins A, B, D, E and G. It also has some vitamin C and K. The rich quality and quantity and proper balance of calcium, magnesium and phosphorous, chlorine, sodium, potassium and silicon is of special value in Alfalfa.

Properties :- The seeds, leaves and stems of the alfalfa plant have important properties- derived from the root of the plant which reach up to 12 meters in the subsoil and absorb the elusive trace minerals from the depths. The most important this trace minerals is manganese which is vital to the human digestive system in its manufacture of insulin. Alfalfa is an outstanding alkalizing food. Alfalfa build up for a healthy and vigorous old age and resistance to infection.

ANISEED

Botanical Name - Pimpinella anisum

Indian Name - Velaiti saunf

Anise is an annual culinary herb belonging to ajwain or celery family. Its fruit, known as aniseed, is one of the oldest spices. The seed is ground-grey to greyish-brown in colour, oval in shape and 3.2 to 4.8 mm in length. It requires sunshine and warmth and does not grow satisfactorily in the tropical lowlands. Aniseed is a native of the Middle East. It was cultivated by ancient Egyptians, who valued its medicinal properties and culinary uses.Anise oil is a colourless or pale-yellow liquid, with the characteristic odour and taste of the fruit.

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Properties :- Aniseed is esteemed in medicine for its properties to relieve flatulence and to remove catarrhal and phelgm from the bronchial tube. These properties are due to the presence of the essential oil. The seed also copious perspiration and increases the volume and discharge of urine.

    ARJUNA Top

Botanical Name - Terminalia arjuna

Indian Name - Kahu

Arjuna is a dense tree attaining a height of 20 to 27 meters. It has long ,cone-shaped round leaves and white bark which gives out milky juice when cut. Mainly the bark of the tree is used in medicines.

This tree has been named Nadisarjja in the early Sanskrit treatises, wherein its bark has been described as a cardiac tonic. Arjuna tree is indigenous to India. It is found throughout the sub-Himalayan tracts, the Deccan regions Myanmar and Srilanka. It grows chiefly along water channels or marshy belts. The bark contains unusually large quantities of calcium, aluminium and magnesium. It also contains a crystallic compound arjunine, lactone, arjunetin, essential oil, sugar and the colouring matter. In ayurveda the arjuna is beneficial in the treatment of asthma.

Properties :- The bark of the arjuna tree is a cardiac stimulant and has cooling and tonic effects. It is useful in arresting secretion or bleeding. It helps to relieve fever. It is also useful in removing calculi or stones formed in the urinary system.

ASAFOETIDA

Botanical Name - Ferula northex

Indian Name - Hing

Asafoetida is a resinous gum of a tall perennial herb, with robust carrot-shaped roots. It is dirty yellow in color with a pungent smell.    

It is used as a flavouring agent and forms a constituent of many spice mixture. Asafoetida has several varieties which are distributed from the Mediterranean region to central Asia. An analysis of Asafoetida shows it to consist of carbohydrates 67.8 per 100 gms, moisture 16.0 per cent, protein 4.0 per cent, fat 1.1 per cent, minerals 7.0 per cent and fibre 4.1 per cent. Its minerals and vitamin contents include substantial calcium besides phossphorus, iron, carotene, riboflavin and niacin.

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Properties :- Asafoetida has been heald in great esteem amongst indigenous medicines from the earliest times in India. It is reputed as a drug which expels wind from the stomach and counteracts any spasmodic disorders. It is also a digestive agent and a sedactive.

Diseases and treatments

 

Ayurvedic treatment, knowledge of prakriti is very important. For e.g., a knowledge of vata prakriti is always likely to get vatika type of diseases and in him diseases of other type don't give much trouble or are easily curable. To prevent the occurrence of diseases, the individual having vata prakriti should always avoid such factors as would aggravate vata and resort to vata-alleviating food,

drinks and regime. Food ingredients which are unctuous and hot are likely to suit him most whereas to a pitta prakriti man cold things will be more suitable. Similarly while administering medicines, other things being equal, a pitta prakriti patient is to be given cooling medicine and kapha(cough) prakriti patient is to be given heating medicine having bitterness, dryness, roughness etc.

 

Diseases

   LUMBAGO

Lumbago is a pain caused by severe and prolonged spasm of the muscles in the lower back region. It is usually caused by fibrositis. It is always accompanied by muscle tenderness and pain either in the centre or the back or on one side. The onset of this disease is often very sudden and acute. Sprain or chronic constipation precipitates this disease.It is usually occurs in old age and is found more in males than in females.

  Treatment Method

Prasarani is the drug of choice of the treatment of this condition. It is used both externally and internally. The juice of this plant is boiled with gingelly oil by following a specific process and this oil, when warm is used for massage over the afflicted part, 2-3 times a day. The juice of this plant is given to drink in a dose of 120 ml. three times a day. For relieving constipation , the patient should be regularly given castor oil in a suitable dose early in the morning. The refined castor oil of BP. or. I.P quality may be given to the patient in the dose which gives him a clear motions. This should be repeated daily for about two months or till the pain is over. Prasarani should be taken for about a month.

  Diet

Sour and fried things and pulses are strictly prohibited in this condition. Wheat, bjra and jawar are better than rice.

  Other regimens

After taking food, the patient should be advised to walk or lie down. He should not sit for 15 minutes .Morning walk is useful. Exposure to cold, strain and weightlifting are strictly prohibited.

  GOUT

This is painful metabolic disease resulting in inflammation and chalky deposits in the joints due to disturbance of the purine metabolism in the body. In ayurveda this is known as vatarakta. The characteristic features of this disease are the involvement of the big toe in the beginning which becomes acutely painful and swollen. Gradually other joints are involved and the patient experiences difficulty in walking, talking and even moving.

 

Treatment Method

This disease is caused by vata in the beginning Panchatikta ghrita is given to the patient in a dose of two teaspoonfuls twice daily, on the empty stomach mixed with warm milk. This should be continued for about 1 days. For external application Guduchyadi taila is to be given. the important ingredient of this medicated oil is guduchi.

Kaishora guggulu is the drug of choice for the treatment of this condition. It is given in a dose of five tablets three times a day. This should be followed by 60ml of decoction of manjistha . Bowels of the patient should be kept clear, and if required the powder of haritaki should be given to the in a dose of two teaspoonfuls at bedtime with warm water. The root bark of ashvattha tree is useful in this condition. In a decoction form it is given in a dose of 60ml. daily.

  Diet

Freshly harvested rice and wheat should not be given to the patient. Old rice, wheat, moong dal, meat soup, garlic, onion, bitter gourd, papaya and green banana can be taken to the patient. Curd and any other sour articles of food , heavy food articles and fried things are prohibited.

  Other regimens

The patient should not perform any violent exercise. He should not sit idle either. Exposure to cold wind and rain, and cold water bath are strictly contraindicated.

  RHEUMATISM

Rheumatism is a disease marked by inflammation and pain in joints and muscles, usually recurrent and often caused due to exposure to cold. It is at time associated with fever. It is not treated in time it may be affect with heart. In Ayurveda it is known as amavata. This disease is caused by production and circulation of a substance called ama in the body. This ama is produced by improper digestion as well as metabolism, and it gets lodged in joins etc.

 

Treatment Method

The suitable medicine for the treatment of this condition are Simhanada guggulu. The main ingredient of the medicine for this treatment is guggulu. The patients having constipative tendency Simhanada guggulu is more useful. For any other type of patients, Mahayogaraja guggulu is a better medicine.

The dose of both of them is , in the beginning , two tablets 3 times a day. After the intake of this medicine , healthy patients should be given a cup of warm water. For a weak and emaciated patients a cup of milk is indicated.

  Diet

Curd, other sour things, pulses and their preparation are contra-indicated in this condition. Fried things and exceedingly cold things should be avoided as far as possible.

  Other regimens

Sleep during daytime is prohibited. The patient should resort to only restricted physical exercise. Long walks at a fast speed and any exercise involving violent movement should be avoided.

  RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Rheumatoid arthritis a generally progressive disease affecting primarily the joints which become swollen and painful. The muscles, ligaments, synovial membrane and the cartilages get inflamed and therefore movement of the joints becomes extremely painful. If it goes unchecked and the joint remains immobilized for long periods, ankylosis occurs. This leads to deformity and difficulty in movement.

  Treatment Method

Mahayogaraj guggulu is given to the patient. In winter season it is given in a dose of two tablets 4 times a day. In summer season it is given in the dose of two tablets two times a day. Hot water or milk is given to the patient after these tablets. They are more effective when taken on empty stomach. Meditated oil namely Mahanarayana taila should be used for gentle massage over the joints.

In the beginning the disease is affects the small joints in fingers. Stiffness of the small muscles of the hands is generally the next event and the fingers tend to get curved and ultimately become fixed. The infection then spread towards the trunk involving the wrist joints, ankle joints, elbow joints, knee joints, shoulders, hip and jaw. If the bigger joints are affected then Brihadvata chintamani is the drug of choice. It is given in the dose of .250gm 2 or 3 times a day, depending on the intensity of the pain. The condition of the patient has become chronic, Mahayogaraj guggulu and Brihadvata chintamani , a decoction called maharasnadi kwattha should be given to the patient.

  Diet

Sour things, including curd are strictly prohibited. Pulses and preparations of pulses, fried things and constipating food should be shunned. Garlic and ginger are useful for the patient, it should be given to the patient twice daily along with food. Rice should be avoided.

  Other regimens

Light and gentle exercise are always needed for the patient. He should not expose himself to cold wind or rain. Taking bath in cold water is also avoided. He should not drink iced water.

  HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

During the contraction of the pressure exerted on the walls of the arteries is called systolic pressure, and during dilatation of the heart, the pressure exerted is called diastolic pressure. Blood pressure varies from person to person depending upon age, sex, physical and mental work. Blood pressure increases during fear, anger and excitement. Blood pressure goes up because of the vitiation of vayu.

 

Treatment Method

Lasuna or garlic is an excellent drug. Garlic produces a heating effect on the body when taken raw. Garlic made into paste and mixed with buttermilk is very effective in the treatment of the condition. Sarpagandha is commonly used in the treatment of high blood pressure by Ayurvedic physicians. The drug is also used very widely in the allopathic system of medicine.

In ayurveda the root of the root of this drug is used in raw state. The powder of the drug is given to the adult patient half teaspoonful 3 times a day. The patient suffering from chronic hypertension, dhara therapy is most effective. Meditated oil boiled with bala and milk is used in this therapy. The oil prepared by boiling bala with milk one hundred times is known as Shatavartita kshirabala taila. Five drops of this oil should be given to the patient internally with a cup of milk every day . This is effective in reducing high blood pressure.

  Diet

The patient should not be given hot and spicy food and should avoid salt as far as possible. Hydrogenated oil should be strictly avoided. Vegetables like bitter gourd, drumsticks, patola and bimbi are most useful. He can take all types of dry fruits. Orange, apple, banana and guava are very useful. Fruits and boiled vegetables are better than cereals and pulses for these patients.

  Other regimens

The patient should not be permitted to remain awake for a long time at night. Mental strain at any form should be avoided. He can undertake physical exercise to some extent.