Amla ( Emblica offcinalis), Bhringaraja , Kesharaja, Emblic medicinal Uses, Characteristics and Constituents

Amla

Botanical Name : Emblica Officinalis
Sanskrit Name: Bhringaraja, kesharaja
English Name : Emblic
Family : Euphorbiaceae 

Plant Parts Used : Dried fruit, ripe fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark and flowers.
About Emblica Officinalis: The bark of Amla is gray in color and peals in irregular patches. Its feathery leaves, which smell like lemon, are of linear oblong shape and size 10 to 12 mm length and 3 to 6 mm width. Its flowers are monoecioius having greenish yellow color. They grow in auxiliary clusters and start appearing in the beginning of spring season.

Characteristics and Constituents :
The major constituents is Vitamin C. It content up to 720 mg / 100 g of fresh pulp and 921 mg / 100 cc of pressed juice, has been recorded. The fruit is probable the richest natural source of vitamin C. The other constituents are Enzymes, Sugar, Tannin, Alkaloid, etc

Medicinal Uses : It is aperient, carminative, diuretic, aphrodasiac, laxative, astringent and refrigerant. It is the richest known source of vitamin 'C'. It is useful in anaemia, jaundice, dyspepcia, haemorrhage disorders, diabetes, asthma and bronchitis. It cures insomnia and is healthy for hair. It is considered as one of the most rejuvenating drugs, imparting a long healthy life and weight gain. It also acts as an antacid and antitumorganic agent

Amaltas (Cassia Fistula), Medicinal uses

The Amaltas (botanical name is Cassia fistula) :- Indian Laburnum Tree is a very valuable medicinal tree and has been used in Ayurveda as a gentle laxative, which can be taken safely even by children and expectant mothers.

Also, known as golden shower flower, Amaltas has very flaming and bright yellow flowers in spring and summer in northern India. Its like North American Fall when this Tree blossoms along some roads in Chandigarh. The use of flowers in decorating hair is a specialty of Bihar, Gujrat and several other states. According to Gujrati folk songs Rama fell in love with Sita mainly due to the beautiful floral decoration of her hair.

MEDICINAL VALUES: The fruit of Amaltas helps greatly in soothing your senses in many ways. In fact, not only the fruit but seed, pulp and root of Amaltas have immense medicinal value. Amaltas is prescribed as emetics, purgatives, febrifuges and relievers of thoracic congestion.

Amaltas also helps in reliving the symptoms of asthma, leprosy, ringworm, fever and heart related diseases. If you suffering from the problem of counter constipation, then soak 1 tsp of Amaltas fruit pulp with 1tsp Tamarind, in one cup of water. Leave this for an overnight. Next morning, mash the same, in water. Remove the seeds, now strain and drink this solution. Drinking this solution for a month on regular basis can really cure you from constipation problem effectively.

If you suffer from acidity or flatulence, then believe me Amaltas can do wonders for your body. Simply warm some Amaltas fruit pulp to skin-tolerable temperature. Before turning in for the day, apply it in and around your navel area in circular motions in multiples of seven. Now massage well for about ten to twelve minutes. If you apply the same solution and effectively massage on the area for at least one month, your problem of acidity won’t take longer to get vanish away. For treating the skin eruptions caused due to blood impurities, soak some Amaltas fruit pulp and a small ball of Tamarind overnight in a cup of water. Mash both of them well in the same water next morning. Afterwards strain, sieve through a muslin cloth and drink it up. Believe it; following this herbal regimen for at least a month can help greatly in eliminating your skin eruption problem as well as getting the glow on your skin.

The vast knowledge of plant utility, geographical occurrence and biology and phenology in whatever crude manner the man understood them, resulting in such an association with them that the plants entered his folklore, idioms and phraseology. Scores of examples of this can be picked up from Indian folk literature. Plants have been used to characterize the different region of the states also. For example:

During recent conference Japan, it was agreed that a large number of disease of modern society are of life style disease and the use of herbal medicines can over comes such problems. Moreover several difficult diseases have problem related with vitality, diabetes, memory loss, could be cured effectively by use of herbal medicine, which is generally not possible by the Allopathic medicines. However, there is no systematic documentation of this information.

Ashwagandha (Winter Cherry) Withania Somnifera , Medicinal Uses , Habitat

Common Name: Winter cherry (Eng.)
Sanskrit Name: - Ashwagandha
Lt. Name: - Withania somnifera

Habitat and Botany : Ashwagandha is a small shrub that grows to 1.5 meters tall. It is related to the tomato and has small yellow flowers that turn to red fruits about the size of a raisin. This plant is native to India, parts of Africa and the Mediterranean.

Ashwagandha benefits / Medicinal Ashwagandha uses :

This herb is considered an adaptogen which is a nontoxic herb that works on a nonspecific basis to normalize physiological function, working on the HPA axis and the neuroendocrine system.
Ashwagandha is effective for insomnia but does not act as a sedative.its rejuvenative and nervine properties produce energy which in turn help the body to settle and sleep. Thus it helps the body to address a stress related condition rather than masking it with sedatives. A herb that rejuvenates the nervous system, erases insomnia and eases stress.
Ashwagandha has also been shown to lower blood pressure and is highly effective in stopping the formation of stress induced ulcers.
In arthritis, which involves joints that are painful, dry, swollen and inflamed, Ashwagandha would be the herb of choice.
One of the special properties of Ashwagandha is that it will enhance ojas. Ojas is the most subtle, refined level of the physical body and is the end result of healthy food which is properly digested. It is responsible for a healthy immune system, physical strength, lustrous complexion, clarity of mind and sense of Well being. It allows consciousness to flow within the body. With decreased ojas, we are less in touch with ourselves and more prone to diseases and having a feeling of disharmony. 'Ojakshaya' (decreased ojas) is a condition similar to AIDS/HIV
Research on Ashwagandha has concluded that extracts of the plant has a direct spermatogenic influence on the seminiferous tubules of immature rats presumably by exerting a testosterone-like effect.
Ashwagandha increases hemoglobin (red blood count) and hair melanin.It stabilizes blood sugar and lowers cholesterol.

Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) Benefits, Medicinal Uses , Origin , Indication

Shatavari
Botanical Name : Asparagus racemosus
Sanskrit -- Shatavari
Hindi -- Shatavari
English -- Indian Asparagus, Hundred Roots , Asparagus roots
Chinese - Tian men dong

Family : Asparagaceae
Parts Used : Roots (Rhizomes), Shatavari root powder and leaves.

Asparagus racemosus, is a climbing plant which grows in low jungles areas throughout India. This sweet and bitter herb is particularly balancing to Pitta Dosha.
In India, Shatavari is considered the women's equivalent to Ashwagandha. The name translates to "she who possesses 100 husbands", referring to the herbs rejuvanitive effect upon the female reproductive organs. In Australia the herb is more often used to treat gastrointestinal disorders and as an external wash for wounds.
The healing qualities of Shatavari are useful to a wide array of ailments. It is well known for it effects on the female reproductive system. It is also effective in a number of other systems of the body and is therefore of use to both men and women.
Properties :
o Nutritive tonic, rejuvenative,
o aphrodisiac,
o galactogogue
o laxative
o antispasmodic,
o Antacid
o diuretic
o antitumor
o demulcent
Indications:
Shatavari is perhaps best known as a female rejuvanitive. It is useful for infertility, decreased libido, threatened miscarriage, menopause, leucorrhea and has the ability to balance pH in the cervical area. Dry membranes, such as those on the vaginal wall, are also brought into balance through the herbs demulcent action.
Men may benefit from the herb as well in the treatment of impotence and general sexual debility. In addition to it's applications for reproductive organs, Shatavari is also quite effective for stomach ulcers, hyperacidity and diarrhea. Dry and irritated membranes in the upper respiratory tract are soothed by this herb making it useful in cases of bronchitis and chronic fevers. It is believed to bring into balance all of the body's fluids.
Medicinal Uses:Shatavari Benefits / Benefits of Shatavari:
• Shatavari supports reproductive health by toning and nourishing the female reproductive organs
• Shatavari maintains healthy hormonal balance
• Shatavari treats PMS symptoms by relieving pain and controlling blood loss during menstruation.
• Shatavari supports normal production of breast milk for nursing mothers
• Shatavari relieves menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes. By producing estrogens it makes up for low estrogen levels in women who are menopausal or have had hysterectomies or oophorectomies
• Used in India as a best-known and most often-used herb for women
• Shatavari supports normal function of the immune and digestive system
• Shatavari also increases libido..

Andrographis Paniculata , Kariyat , Medicinal Uses , Benefits And Side Effects

Andrographis paniculata

Sanskrit Name: Kariyat
English Name: Indian echinacea
Family Name: Acanthaceae
Parts used: Leaves and other parts

Medicinal uses of Andrographis paniculata  (Indian echinacea)
Andrographis paniculata possesses immuno-stimulant, aperients, anti-parasitic, tonic, anti-biotic and anti-viral activities. It is used for treating hepatitis B, HIV, flatulence, gastric acidity, bowel complaints and common cold.

Andrographis and its various components have demonstrated a variety of effects in the body. Some aspects stimulate the general immune activities, others inhibit the body's inflammatory mechanism and still others demonstrate not only anti-microbial abilities, but also are instrumental in killing certain tumor cells. Studies have also indicated that the active chemical, Andrographolide, helps to stop the clumping of blood platelets which is the clotting process that can lead to heart attacks.

Colds, Flu, Sinusitis: Andrographis compounds have shown antiviral properties which appear to inhibit glycoprotein's in the virus. This impedes the viruses ability to invade cells in the body and replicate. Also andrographolides are currently being studied for the antiviral effects they have on avian bird flu virus, ebola virus and HIV.

Andrographis has a major effect activating the general defense function of the immune system by stimulating the production of antibodies as well as non-specific immune responses such as increased macrophage phagocytosis, rather than by any direct anti-microbial activity.

Clinical studies have demonstrated its efficacy in healing colds, flu, sinusitis, pharyngotonsillitis, familial mediterranean fever and upper respiratory tract infections. It also has been demonstrated to reduce the risk of colds by 2.1 time and prevent flu and complications.

Anti-inflammatory: There appears to be a significant presence of flavanoids in the Andrographis Paniculata herb, which always have an anti-inflammatory affect. In vitro, studies have shown that the flavinoid activities supressed the genetic expression of neutrofils, an inflammatory agent. Similarly, studies have indicated that a variety of inflammatory proteins, including COX-2, are reduced by the presence of Andrographoloid.Anti-tumor: In vitro, andrographolide studies indicate an immuno-stimulating activity, as well as a marked inhibitory effect. Its presence increases proliferation of lymphocytes and production of interleukin2, TNF-alpha production and cytotoxic activity of lymphocytes against certain cancer cell lines, as well as demonstrating potential direct anti-cancer activity by the induction of cell-cycle inhibitory protein p27 and decreased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase.

Andrographis Paniculata Side Effects & Safety
Andrographis Paniculata has been widely tested and is considered safe with few if any minor side effects at commonly prescribed levels. In clinical trials with children between 4 and 11 Andrographis was effective and safe. Side effects occurred in HIV trials at a dose of 10 mg of andrographolides per kg of body weight or roughly 12 time the recommended dosage.

Precautions
Pregnant women or those trying to conceive should avoid Andrographis, animal studies have shown the possibility of contraceptive effects at high dosages. Safety during lactation is not known. Andrographis may increase glucose metabolisation which could unduly enhance blood sugar lowering medication.
Use cautiously in patients taking anticoagulant agents