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Ayurvedic Herbs – Magical Herbs From India
Like chinese medicine, ayurveda, the Indian traditional healing system,
is literally an instructional discipline for enhancing life. The effective
ayurvedic herbs work to address issues
with the three major bodily
functions (the tridosha): kapha, pitta, and vata. So, for instance,
the benefit of ashwagandha herb might be traditionally described as
balancing vata and kapha but aggravating to pitta. Herbs are only
one element of the overall practice of ayurveda.
These are difficult concepts for the Western mind with its chemical,
biological, and experimental understanding of medical science to grasp.
The tridosha is a complex business since its effects are both spiritual
and physical, but essentially the three elements are carried in the
body by wind, bile, and phlegm. In Western terms ashwagandha, then,
is a sedative that steadies the nerves, acts as an anti-inflammatory
and stimulates the breathing.
How Does Ayurveda Classify
Herbs?
In the practice of ayurveda, decisions about how a given herb will
affect the body are made based on the origin of the herb in relation
to the five elements of matter, the habitat from which the herb is
harvested, and action taken by the herb on the doshas.
ORIGIN
The ayurvedic system classifies herbs by their origin in the five
elements. These elements are ether, air, fire, water, and earth (parthiv,
apaya, taijas, vayaveeya, and akasheeya). Together these elements
form the basis of all matter.
HABITAT
There are four habitats used in classifying natural ayurvedic herbs:
sthalaj, jalaj, vruksharuha, and vrukshadan. Sthalaj are land-based
trees and plants. Jalaj refers to water plants. Vruksharuha are plants
which grow on trees but do not feed on them and vrukshadan plants
both live on and feed on trees.
ACTION
Action refers to the effect of an individual herb on one of the three
doshas. Doshprashaman pacifies effected dosha. Dhatupradushan exaggerates
the dosha and swasthahita maintains and increases good health. (Collectively
then the three categories of action are pacification, agitation, or
maintenance.)
How are These Herbs Used to Treat Ailments?
There are many herbs commonly used in the practice of ayurveda. Their
uses range from correcting imbalances and problems in the female reproductive
system to weight loss or body building. What follows is but a sampling
of herbs used in the practice of ayurveda.
AMALAKI
Known popularly as Indian Gooseberry, amalaki which is rich in Vitamin
C (four times the content of oranges) and bioflavonoids, has a balancing
influence. It will reduce glucose levels for diabetics and is an antioxidant,
an antacid, and a mild laxative. Its properties are so wide ranging
that it is used to treat a range of diseases from cataracts to migraines.
When used with hirada and behada, amalaki forms triphla powder which
is one of the most popular formulations in ayurveda for balancing
the doshas.
ARJUNA
Ayurveda uses the bark of the Arjuna herb for heart ailments, which
also reduces the effects of stress and nervous conditions. It suppresses
the absorption of lipids in the blood thus lowering cholesterol levels
and is a mild diuretic so it will help to lower minimal hypertension.
Since arjuna reduces the ability of the blood to coagulate it should
be used with great caution by those taking blood thinners. The suggested
use is 250 mg. in capsule form one to two times daily.
ASHOKA
The bark, seeds, and flowers of the ashoka plant (translated as “without
sorrow”) have traditionally been used to regulate the female
menstrual cycle, as well as to treat uterine fibroids. It is also
good for bleeding hemorrhoids and for depression. Ashoka is grown
all over Indian, even in the higher elevations, and in its common
use has not shown any side effects. Doses vary by formulation (seed
powder, flower powder, or compounds of both).
ASHWAGANDHA
Ashwagandha, or winter cherry, as mentioned earlier, steadies the
nerves, acts as an anti-inflammatory and stimulates the breathing.
It also considered as an ayurvedic body building herb for its ability
to enhance periods of sustained effort in the body. It regulates nourishment
of the tissues, muscles, and bones and supports adrenal function.
The suggested use is one to two 250mg tablets twice a day taken with
food.
Continue to : Herbs Used to Treat Ailments
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