| What is Ayurveda and Its Importance?Ayurveda is a | | | | parameters as compared to placebo therapy." Result |
| traditional holistic healing. Translated from Sanskrit, | | | | on Clinical Research Conducted.Improvement of |
| Ayurveda means 'the science of life'. ayur means | | | | cardiac muscle function and subsequent improved |
| "life" and veda means "science. India system which | | | | pumping activity of the heart seem to be the |
| largely depends on plant support to form major | | | | primary benefits of Terminalia Arjuna.Brahmi (Bacopa, |
| Chunk of its medicine. Most of the herbs, spices, | | | | Gotu Kola) - Brahmi is known as "the food for brain". |
| seeds, roots, leaves, stems, petals and flowers are | | | | Traditionally Brahmi is used as a mental tonic, to |
| deeply ingrained in all Indian homes where 'home | | | | rejuvenate the body, as a promoter of memory and |
| remedies' are popular. Even certain family members in | | | | as a nerve tonic. It promotes a calm, clear mind, and |
| some family are adept in curing even intricate | | | | improves mental function.Modern Research claims |
| disorders by simple and cost effective formulations | | | | that brahmi improves memory and helps overcome |
| which, at times, have shown marvelous and | | | | the negative effects of stress. Brahmi is especially |
| astounding results.All over the world today we are | | | | suitable for students as it enhances the minds ability |
| looking for a natural system of healing that is | | | | to learn and to focus and for an elderly person |
| comprehensive and complete, that is not merely | | | | hoping to regain their memory. It is unique in its ability |
| some curious form of folk healing but a real and | | | | to invigorate mental processes whilst reducing the |
| rational system of medicine that is sensitive to both | | | | effects of stress and nervous anxiety.As a nervine |
| nature and the Earth. This is exactly what Ayurveda | | | | tonic, Brahmi has been used to help those affected |
| has to offer, for it has a many thousand year-old | | | | by stroke, nervous breakdown or exhaustion and |
| clinical tradition and a comprehensive natural method | | | | Attention Deficit Disorder. The best Ayurvedic brain |
| of treatment ranging from diet, herbs and | | | | and memory formulas contain brahmi, as do many of |
| massage.With Ayurveda we learn the right diet for | | | | the long life promoting compounds.Guggulu (Shuddha |
| our individual type, how to improve our immune | | | | Guggulu, Guggul, Commiphora Mukul) - Modern |
| system, he keys to right use of sexual energy and | | | | Research shows that it is the prime Ayurvedic herb |
| rejuvenation,a nd a conscious way of life that can lift | | | | for treating obesity and high cholesterol. Studies |
| us to a new level of awareness in all our | | | | shows that guggulu lowers serum cholesterol and |
| endeavors.Without such natural wisdom as Ayurveda, | | | | phospholipids, and that it also protects against |
| we may find ourselves not only unhealthy, but | | | | cholesterol- induced atherosclerosis. Guggulu were |
| unhappy and spiritually confused.Ayurveda Principles | | | | seen to lower body weight in these clinical |
| and TheoryAyurveda system is the prominent user | | | | studies.Guggulu also as anti-inflammatory properties |
| of herbs and its basic theory revolves round | | | | and is effective in treating arthritis and other joint |
| imbalance and vitiation of three humors | | | | pains.Karela (Bitter Melon, Bitter Gourd, Momordica |
| (Doshas).Ether (Akash), Air (Vayu), Fire (Agni), Water | | | | Charantia) - At least three different groups of |
| (Jal) and Earth (Prithvi) are the great five elements | | | | constituents have been reported to have blood sugar |
| which underline all living systems. these elements are | | | | lowering actions in bitter Mellon. These include a |
| constantly changing and interacting and can be | | | | mixture of steroidal saponins known as charantin, |
| simplified into three Vitiations (Doshas). When these | | | | insulin-like peptides, and alkaloids. Scientific studies |
| doshas remain under harmony and balance, health of | | | | have consistently shown that bitter melon lowers |
| body does not get disturbed but, when their balance | | | | blood sugar level of Type 2 Diabetes.It could |
| gets disturbed, a diseased state sets in.The three | | | | probably reduce the patients intake of antidiabetic |
| doshas are vata (Wind), Pitta (Bile) and Kapha | | | | drugs. Also Bitter Melon has two proteins which are |
| (Phlegm) and due to predominance of the one dosha, | | | | thought to repress the AIDS virus.Recently, the |
| a person's personality is determined that is ' | | | | Department of Health in the Philippines has |
| Vata-Prakriti', 'Pitta- Prakriti' or 'Kapha Prakriti'Vata | | | | recommended bitter melon as one of the best herbal |
| formed from ether and air, governs all movement in | | | | medicines for diabetic management.Neem |
| the mind and body and must be kept in good | | | | (Azadirachta Indica) - Neem is an extraordinary blood |
| balance.Pitta formed from fire and water, governs "all | | | | purifier, good for al skin diseases like acne, eczema, |
| heat, metabolism and transformation in the mind and | | | | psoriasis and teeth and gums. Neem is included in |
| bodyKapha formed from earth and water, cements | | | | most Ayurvedic Skin products because it is as |
| the elements in the body, providing the material for | | | | effective on an external application as through |
| physical structureEach person has an individual blend | | | | internal indigestion.In Ayurveda it has been safely |
| of the three doshas, with one or sometimes two | | | | used for over five thousand years and are a good |
| doshas predominating.Common Herbs used in | | | | immunity booster to prevent colds, fevers, infections |
| Ayurvedic MedicinesAmalaki (Amla or Indian | | | | and various skin diseases.Shilajit (Mineral Pitch, |
| Gooseberry or Emblica officinalis) - The fruit is | | | | Asphaltum) - Shilajit is one of the prime Ayurvedic |
| reputed to have the highest content of vitamin C of | | | | compounds for rejuvenating the body. it is an |
| any natural occuring substance in nature. It maintains | | | | aphrodisiac, anti-aging herb and to treat diabetes and |
| balance amongst three doshas and effectively | | | | debilitating urinary problems.The Charaka Samhita |
| controls digestive problems, strengthens heart, | | | | states that a person must use shilajit for a minimum |
| normalises cholesterol, prevents cancer, builds up and | | | | of one month before starting to realize he |
| sustain defence mechanism, improves eye-sight and | | | | regenerating effects. It is also used to treat |
| detoxifies the body.Amla is said to have 20 times | | | | impotency and infertility. it is well known that Shilajit |
| more vitamin C than orange. The vitamin C content | | | | would return the libido of people to level of |
| of amla is between 625mg - 1814mg per 100gms. | | | | teenagers.There is a folk saying by the indigenous |
| Other studies show that amla increases red blood cell | | | | people who live in the Himalayan region that Shilajit |
| count and hemoglobin. A research tem discovered | | | | makes the body strong as a rock. It is an adaptogen, |
| that when Amla is taken regularly as a dietary | | | | (Rasayna), that helps to combat immune disorders, |
| supplement, it counteracts the toxic effects of | | | | urinary tract disorders, nervous disorders and sexual |
| prolonged exposure to environmental heavy metals, | | | | dissatisfaction.Shallaki (Boswellia Serrata, Salai Guggul) |
| such as lead, aluminium and nickel.Ashwagandha | | | | - Modern Research indicate that the Boswellia herb |
| (Winter Cherry or Withania Somnifera)- Ashwagandha | | | | may assist in treating joint mobility, pain, and may be |
| is one of the main herbs for promoting ojas and | | | | a useful remedy for a variety of inflammatory |
| rejuvenating the body in Ayurveda. It is a well known | | | | diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. A |
| semen promoter and it treats impotency and | | | | recent clinical trial suggests positive effects of |
| infertility.Clinical studies show that Ashwagandha has | | | | Boswellia serrata extract in knee |
| antibacterial, antitumor, anti-inflammatory and | | | | osteoarthritis.Boswellia has also been found to be |
| immunomodulating properties. The strong anti-stress | | | | useful for a number of other disorders and best for |
| actions, increases memory and learning capabilities. It | | | | treating Back Pain, Knee Pain, Joint Pain and Arthritis. |
| has also found to be useful in Rheumatic and Arthritic | | | | This herb has also been proposed as a possible |
| disorders like pain, swelling etcSumming up, it is a | | | | therapy for Crohn's disease and ulcerative |
| strong Aphrodisiac and has Immunomodulating, anti- | | | | colitis.Triphala (Amalaki, Bibhitaki, Haritaki) - Triphala |
| inflammatory, anti tumor and anti stress properties | | | | has got the properties of three famous nutrients: |
| which clearly shows why Ayurveda has such a high | | | | amla, haritaki and bibhitaki. The advantage of this |
| opinion of this herb as a general tonic.Arjuna | | | | formula is that it is milder in action and more balanced |
| (Terminalia Arjuna) - It is a cardiac tonic of high | | | | than any of the three alone.It has cleansing and |
| quality. Terminalia arjuna, is known to be beneficial for | | | | detoxifying action. Used regularly it is good for gentle, |
| the treatment of heart ailments since 500 BC. Clinical | | | | slow detoxification of the digestive tract and then |
| research has indicated its usefulness in relieving | | | | the deep tissues. It also has the ability to normalize all |
| anginal pain, and in the treatment of coronary artery | | | | three humors with continued use.As a daily |
| disease, heart failure, and possibly | | | | supplement triphala is hard to beat; that' s why in |
| hypercholesterolemia."Terminalia arjuna bark extract, | | | | India they say "even if your mother leaves you, |
| 500 mg 8 hourly, given to patients with stable angina | | | | every thing will be fine if you have triphala"Tulsi (Holy |
| with provocable ischemia on treadmill exercise, led to | | | | Basil, Ocimum Sanctum) - Its very name Holy Basil |
| improvement in clinical and treadmill exercise | | | | certifies to its sacred nature. |