Ayurvedic Herbs for Good Health

Ayurveda advocates complete health model for treatment, and lays stress mostly on the prevention of disease. By following ayurvedic principles and its model of lifestyle, one can bid farewell to ailments for ever.

Unique principles of Ayurveda

Its recommendations are often different for different persons regarding which foods and which lifestyle they should follow in order to be completely healthy. It focuses on complete lifestyle.

Everything which Ayurveda advocates is validated by real-life experiences and knowledge derived from the ancient Indian texts which were written by the Gods' own people (Sadhus and Rishis).

It understands that there are high energy forces that influence nature and human beings. These forces are called the Tridoshas.

Ayurveda advocates a strong connection between the soul and the body, advocates that the soul and body are two independent entities, which unites together to make life.

Ayurveda advocates 3-step model of attaining good health. If one lacks in any one area of health, then that person is not healthy. Three areas of health are:

1. Physical Health of body
2. Mental Health
3. Social Health

Ayurveda advocates that everything in this world, including the human body is made up of five elements, popularly known as PanchMahaBhootas in Sanskrit (language of ancient India). The Panchamahabhutas are classified as:

• Akash (Space)
• Vayu (Air)
• Agni (Fire)
• Jal (Water)
• Prithvi (Earth)

Thses elements are omnipresent. They are mixed in an infinite variety of relative proportions such that each form of matter is distinctly unique. Although each element has a range of attributes, only some get evident in particular situations. Constantly changing and interacting with each other, they create a situation of dynamic flux that keeps the world going.

List of Few Ayurvedic Herbs: 

 

ARJUN (Terminalisa arjuna)

Part Used: Bark

Properties: Wound healer, Anti-obese, Diabetic wound healer, Useful in vitiated condition of kaph & pitta

Specific Property: Heart vitilliser

Dosage: Milk Processed : 5 - 10 gm.

Decoction: 50 - 100 ml.

Expressed juice: 10 - 20 ml.

Powder: 3 - 6 gms.

Uses:

• In Cardiac Disorders : Milk processed with arjun bark should be used.
• In Intrinsic Haemorrhage : Bark of arjun, udumbar, vetas should be used combinely or separately to checks intrinsic - haemorrhage.
• In Koch's : Powder of arjun bark mixed with expressed juice of vasa leaves should be given with purified sugar.
• In wound, fracture and inflammatory connditions : It is used internally and externally.
• In Meno-mettrorrhagia, Leucorrhoea : Decoction of arjun bark & white chandan should be used.

 

ASWAGANDHA (Withania somnifera)

Used: Root

Properties: Health promotor, Spermo-poietic, Rejuvinating, Anti-Inflammatory

Specific Property: Kaph-vata-samak

Dosage: Powder - 3 - 6 gms.

Uses:

• As Rasayan - One who takes powder of Aswagandha root in late winter mixet with honey and ghee alongwith milk regains youth fulness even if old.
• In Bronchial Asthma - Theash(alkali) of ASvagandha should be taken with honey and ghee.
• The powder of Asvagandha mixed with sugar & taken with ghee alleviates insomnia.
• In Cardiac disorder - The powder of Asvagandha and Bibhitak mixed with jaggeryand taken with tepid water alleviated vata located in heart.
• Suppression of urine - Decoction of Asvagandha removes suspression of urine and promote surination.

 

ASHOK (Saraca asoca)

Part Used: Bark, Seed, Flower

Properties: Complexion promotor, Anti- thirst drug, Refrigerant, Anthelmentic, Antidote, Blood-purifier

Specific Property: Kaph-vata-samak

Dosage: Decoction - 50 - 100 ml.

Powder : 3 - 5 gms.

Uses:

• In Meno-metrorrhagia, Leucorrhoea, Dysmenorrhoea & other Uterine disorders -One should take milk boiled with the decoction of Ashok bark.
• In Intrinsic haemorrhage -Ashok flowers are used.
• Ashok seed taken with water alleviates suppression of Urine & Calculus.
• One should use it in case of burning sensation.

 

AMALKI (Emblica officinalis)

Part Used: Fruit & seeds

Properties: Digestive, Stomachic, Canninative

Specific Property: Tridoshar (Specially pittahar)

Dosage: Powder - 3 - 5 gms.

Expressed juice: 10 - 20 ml.

Uses:

• In Opthalmic disorders -Juice coming out of the mature fruit of Amalaki staring on the plant after piercing with nail alleviates, numerous diseases of eye caused by aggravationat vata pitta kaph.
• In Fever - Juice of Amalaki fruit fried with ghee alleviates fever.
• In Anaemia - One should take the powder of Amalaki with Honey.
• In Jaundice - Juice of grapes and Ama1aki is useful.
• In vomiting - Cold soup of green gram mixed with Amalki juice should be taken.
• In Amalpitta -Powder consisting of Amalki,Satavari and sugar, all is mixed with equal quantity of honey & taken with milk.
• In Pradara (Leucorrhoea) - Powder of Amalaki should be administered with honey.
• Greying of hair One who applies the paste of manduta,Amalaki and Japa flowers on hair before taking bath is freed from the disease.

 

KATPHAL (Myrica esculenta)

Part Used: Bark

Properties: Antipyretic, Bronchial sedative, Voice promoter, Appetiser

Specific Property: Kaph vata samak

Dosage: Powder - 3 - 5 gms.

Uses:

• In Rhinorrhoea, Stomatitis, Asthma & Ch.Laryngitis- Decoction of Katphal should be used with Dalchlni.
• In Haemorrhoid- Local application of Katphal with ghee is effective.
• In Dysmenorrhoea - Gaggery&Katphal powder should be taken with keshar&black sesamum.
• Oil cooked with Katphal powder is useful in Arthritis & Wound.
• In Toothache -It is used as tooth powder.

 

Kantak Karanj (Caesalpinia bonducella)

Part Used: Fruit, Seed, Root

Properties: Anti inflammatory, Anti-Malarial

Specific Property: Kaph vata samak

Dosage: Powder of Seed - 10 - 20 ratti

Powder of root: 10-05 ratti

Expressed Juice of Leave: 1-2 tola

Uses:

• In Rheumatic Arthritis & Osteo-arthritis- The oil of Karanj should be used.
• In Malaria - The powder of Karanj seed with black pipper or the decoction of leaves is useful.
• It should be used in case of weakness due to fever.
• It is used in koch's & Br. Asthma.
• Useful in Dysurea.
• Oill of seed is useful in skin diseases & vataja rogas.