Ayurvedic Herbs - Continue..

Dashmul

Latin Name
None

Sanskrit Name
Dashmula

Hindi Name
Dashmul

English Name
Ten Roots formula

Parts Used

These are all roots. Each plant has a different therapeutic value and must be prepared in its own way for maximum benefits.

Traditional Ayurvedic Uses

• Dashmula is the most highly prized ayurvedic formula for fatigue. Extracts of these herbs are the most effective, but powders are used in tablets in larger quantities.
• This formula is used as an ingredient in many of our herbal combinations. It aids cellular regeneration to hasten removal of dead or weak cells and replace them with fresh, vital ones.

Note: Dashmula is actually a mixture of ten herbs in equal proportion: Aegle marmelos, Premna mucronata, Ailanthus excelsa, Stereospermum suaveolens, Phaseolus trilobus, Teramnus labialis, Tick Trefoil, Uraria picta, Solanum indicum, Solanum xanthocarpum.


Gulancha

Latin Name
Tinospora cordifolia

Sanskrit Name
Guduchi, Amrita, Soma-valli

Hindi Name
Gulancha

English Name
Heart-leaved Moonseed

Parts Used

Stem and root. Each part has a different therapeutic value and must be prepared in its own way for maximum benefits.

Traditional Ayurvedic Uses

• Considered the best herb for clearing the microcirculatory system and other bodily channels (Shrotas). It is especially effective and unique in its ability to remove both exogenous and endogenous toxins (from external and internal sources). Therefore it is very often included in comprehensive Ayurvedic formulas, since such toxins interfere with all bodily functions and are a factor in almost all diseases. It clears out brain toxins that hinder mental activity.
• Guduchi also has a direct Medhya Rasayana effect, which means that it enhances all aspects of mind power, including comprehension (Dhi), memory (Dhriti) and recollection (Smriti).
• Because of its ability to cleanse the channels, it aids delivery of nutrients from your foods and from the herbs in a formula.
• Guduchi balances and purifies fat tissue, to make fats easier to break down. Fats are an important raw material for building healthy bones.
• Guduchi also aids all other aspects of healthy metabolism (the 13 Agnis). It aids digestion, assimilation and proper formation of all the bodily tissues (7 Dhatus).
• It helps balance liver function and aids proper assimilation.
• It aids purification of the urinary tract and intestines, by balancing lubrication (Shleshaka Kapha) and the downward energy of the body (Apana Vata).
• By supporting proper function of Shleshaka Kapha, Guduchi also aids proper communication and coordination between all the various cells and their many related functions for better overall health. This has the added benefit of nourishing the mind-body connection and enhances the psychoneuro immune response (called the PNI).
• Guduchi is also a powerful Rasayana (longevity enhancer) even by itself, but especially when combined with complementary herbs. It increases the quality and quantity of Ojas, the master coordinator between mind and body. It helps consciousness slide into the physiology and aids development of full potential.
• Guduchi has another rare effect -- it balances all three laws of the physiology (Vata, Pitta, Kapha) at the same time.
• Guduchi has a Keshya effect, which means that it directly nourishes the hair for better quality and strength.
• Guduchi has now been researched to verify its powerful immunomodulatory effects, meaning that it enhances overall immune function.
• When you cut a fresh sprig of Guduchi from the tree and hang it from a cord in the air, it will continue to grow without any visible means of support, gathering its life energy from the five elements in its environment. This makes it very valuable for its ability to bring life into the body. For this reason it is sometimes called Amrita, the Sanskrit word for immortality.

Gugal

Latin Name
Commiphora mukul, Balsamodendron mukul

Sanskrit Name
Guggul

Hindi Name
Gugal

English Name
Gugal

Parts Used

Resin. Every plant has a different therapeutic value and must be prepared in its own way for maximum benefits. This plant grows in Bengal, Mysore, Rajputana, Sind, Assam, Berars and Khandesh districts of the Indian continent.

Traditional Ayurvedic Uses

• Enhances all 13 of the metabolic processes (Agnis) that create all 7 categories of bodily tissues (Dhatus).

More Ayurvedic Herbs

Asgandh

Latin Name
Withania somnifera

Sanskrit Name
Ashwagandha

Hindi Name
Asgandh

English Name
Winter Cherry

Parts Used

Root and leaves. Each part has a different therapeutic value and must be prepared in its own way for maximum benefits. This shrub is common in Mumbai (Bombay) and Western India and occasionally found in Bengal.

Traditional Ayurvedic Uses

• Ashwagandha has many significant benefits, but is best known for its powerful adaptogenic properties, meaning that it helps mind and body adapt better to stress. It nourishes the nerves and improves nerve function to help you maintain calm during stressful situations.

• It is also good for people who do physical labor or exercise a lot, to help the body adapt to physical stress.

• It is a powerful Rasayana, meaning that it acts as an overall tonic for greater vitality and longevity.

• It nourishes all the bodily tissues (Dhatus), including the joints and nerves.

• It is also a powerful Medhya Rasayana, which means that it enhances all three aspects of mind power (Dhi -- comprehension; Dhriti -- memory; and Smriti -- recollection).

• Ashwagandha nourishes the crucial mind-body connection and psychoneuro immune response (called PNI). It helps coordinate the mind and senses, as well, which is essential for good quality sleep.

• It balances the mind (Prana Vata). This is essential for happiness in the face of mental or emotional stress.

• It increases the quality and quantity of Ojas, the master coordinator between the body and consciousness. It helps pure consciousness slide into the physiology.

• It has a Sothara effect -- which means it helps clear impurities (Ama) from the various channels of the body.

• Ashwagandha enhances virility and has aphrodisiac properties, especially for men.

• It is also well known for its powerful immune enhancing benefits.

• It is considered among the best of all substances for balancing Vata. It also pacifies Kapha at the same time, which is a rare combination.

• As with almost all single all herbs, there is one small caution. Ashwagandha should always be used with other herbs such as licorice to balance out possible heating effects (especially for the heart).

Khareti

Latin Name
Sida cordifolia

Sanskrit Name
Bala

Hindi Name
Khareti

English Name
Country Mallow

Parts Used

Roots, leaves, seeds and stems. Each part has a different therapeutic value and must be prepared in its own way for the maximum benefits.

Traditional Ayurvedic Uses

• This is one the most often used Ayurvedic herbs because it simultaneously balances all three laws of the physiology (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), a rare effect.

• Bala is primarily known for giving stamina or inner strength.

• It helps balance proper amounts of the male hormone, testosterone, and increases sexual desire.

• Bala has a Vrishya effect, meaning that it enhances the quality and quantity of reproductive fluids (Shukra Dhatu) for conception of healthy offspring.

• It builds general immunity (the word Bala can actually be translated as immunity).

• It is a good Rasayana (overall tonic and longevity enhancer).

• Bala is a good tonic for the lungs.

• Bala contains five of the six tastes, a very rare property indicating that it provides nourishment of all aspects of nature's intelligence (the five Mahabhutas).

NOTE: As with most single herbs, Bala should always be taken in balanced combinations with other herbs, to prevent aggravation of any existing congestion.

Ayurvedic Herbs - Importance of Herbs in our life.

Its been quite a while i have been writing this blog. Not sure if it was really useful to anybody out there in cyberspace, but friends incase it was helpful please leave your comments.

Today i am gonna talk more about Herbs, We use them in our regular life without knowing there importance. Lets see how are they useful.

Amla

Latin Name
Emblica officinalis Gaertn, Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia emblica

Sanskrit Name
Amalaki

Hindi Name
Amla

English Name
Emblic Myrobalan



Parts Used

Dried fruit, ripe fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark and flowers. Each part has a different therapeutic value and must be prepared in its own way for maximum benefits. Amalaki fruit requires a meticulous 21-step process at low heat to maintain potency of the vitamins and minerals as well as the biological intelligence of this remarkable plant.

Traditional Ayurvedic Uses

• Balances all three Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), especially Pitta.
• It contains five of the six tastes, which a very rare and valuable property because it indicates how this one herb balances all the laws of nature operating in the mind and body.
• Because of its well-known rejuvenative and revitalizing properties, Amalaki is a powerful Rasayana (longevity enhancer) all by itself. It therefore is often used by itself even in the Maharishi Ayurveda health system, which usually recommends using herbs only in expert combinations. As a Rasayana, Amalaki helps to culture the full potential of the mind and body.
• It is the most concentrated source of vitamin C in the plant kingdom, and the C has a special form that makes it very easy for the human body to assimilate. In addition to this, the vitamin C in Amalaki fruit is precisely bonded with tannins that protect it from degradation from heat and light.
• Amalaki is well-known for its ability to boost bioavailaibity and absorption of calcium for healthier bones, teeth, hair and nails.
• It also improves assimilation of iron for healthy blood.
• It is especially nourishing for the eyes, heart and digestion.
• Amalaki is also extremely effective for balancing stomach acids.
• Amalaki has a special action to promote strength and lean muscle mass when used with a diet rich in protein and quality nutrients.
• It is most commonly seen along with Bibhitaki and Haritaki as an ingredient in the popular Ayurvedic formula known as Digest Tone , which aids digestion and nourishes all the bodily tissues (the Dhatus). Triphala also acts as a laxative, helps scrub the colon, and supports the action of other ingredients in any well-balanced formula

Arjun

Latin Name
Terminalia arjuna

Sanskrit Name
Arjuna

Hindi Name
Arjun

English Name
Arjuna Myrobalans



Parts Used

Bark (inner bark is the potent part, but many companies include the dry inactive outer portion to increase profits. MAPI uses only the inner portion and protects the tree by harvesting amounts that the tree can repair.)

Traditional Ayurvedic Uses

• Arjuna is a very large tree. The bark is used in certain herbal combinations as a powerful, soothing tonic for the heart. It is good for both the physical heart as a muscle, as well as for the emotions associated with the heart.
• Arjuna is used for loneliness, sadness and frustration. It strengthens the emotions to decrease excessive response to stress and trauma.
• It helps strengthen the body's natural rejuvenative processes, hastening the replacement of dead or weak cells with fresh, vital ones.
• In proper combinations, Arjuna helps stabilize an erratic heart beat.
• Arjuna helps balance all three doshas at once (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), a rare and very valuable property.
• This tree herb bears the same name as Arjuna, son of Pandu -- a great hero of the Bhagavad-Gita. The Gita is a treasured poem from the Vedic epic called the Mahabharata.