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.