Helpful Health Tips

Since ancient times, the tuber root and rhizome of Safed Musli has been used to cure human ailments and infections. Safed Musli is a plant with small, usually white flowers, produced on spare panicles up to 120 cm long. In some species, the panicles also bear plantlets that take root when they touch the ground.
Commercial cultivation of this plant has begun in various regions of the world as it has been found to be an effective aphrodisiac. It has also become a key ingredient in many Ayurvedic preparations due to its unparalleled therapeutic and medicinal properties. As it boosts the general immune system, it is increasingly being used as a health tonic. The climatic conditions and temperature of the central zones of India are conducive to its growth and it is found growing wild here. Sandy, loamy soil, with suitable drainage, is the perfect soil type for growing Safed Musli. The Medicinal Board of India has recognized it as the sixth most important herb, to be preserved and protected, due to its many medicinal uses.

Plant Chemicals

Safed Musli HerbCarbohydrates (35-45%), fiber (25-35%), alkaloids (15-25%), saponins (2-20%), and proteins (5-10%).

Benefits and Uses of Safed Musli:

Safed Musli is often prescribes for enhancing male potency and battling signs of fatigue. It is a very popular aphrodisiac and shows no side effects. Individuals with a low sperm count or a low libido find it particularly useful. The general immune system of the body is strengthened by the roots of the herb and it is regarded as an energy booster in asthmatic conditions.Safed Musli

The tuber roots are used in Ayurvedic medicines even today to make a nutritive tonic for sexual weakness. It also proves useful during pregnancy as a nutritive tonic for both the mother and the child and during the post-partum stage is used to replenish body fluids. The quantity and flow of breast milk in feeding mothers is also improved by this herb.

Obesity and its many side effects can also be effectively controlled by this plant. It also enhances the activities of vitamin C and antioxidant enzymes. Its use in curing diabetic and arthritic condition has been proven by research. Natal and Post-natal problems can also be treated.Safed Musli

Increase in levels of high Density Lipoprotein and decrease in plasma and hepatic lipid profiles have been observed with regular use. It also prevents premature ejaculation and chronic leucorrhoea apart from rejuvenating the reproductive system.

While there are no known side effects of Safed Musli, excessive doses may lead to gastrointestinal upsets.

Tags:

Botanical Name: Zingiber Officinalis
Family Name: Zingiberaceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Zingiberales
Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Zingiber
Species: Z. officinale
Popular Names: Adrakam, Race Ginger, Jamiaca Ginger, African Ginger, Black Ginger, Adrak, Root Ginger, Sunth, Sheng Jiang
Parts Utilized: Dried and fresh rhizomes
Habitat: Throughout India and South East Asia.

Portrayal

Zingiber OfficinalisThis is a crawling herb with branching, thick bulbs and upright, muscular stems with 15 to 30 centimeters long spear shaped leaves. The flowers are green-yellow in color with dark purple lip with yellow linings. The fruits of this plant are very much alike to fleshy capsules. This plant grows best in moist, well drained and fertile soil. The areas which are considered best for growing ginger are California, Hawaii, Florida, India, China and tropical areas. In Indian regions, this herb is also known as aadrak in Urdu and Bengali, adrak in Gujarati, allam in telugu, shunti in Kannada, alay in Marathi, aduwa in Nepali and inji in Malayalam and Tamil.

Chemicals which are found in the plant

Zingiber OfficinalisShogaols including 6-shogaol, 8-shogaol, 10-shogaol, (+) – volatile oil including arcurcumene and zingiberene, geranial and neral, arcurcumene and beta-bisabolene, geranial, linalool and neral, beta-phellandrene, D-camphor, mixture of cis- and trans-beta-eudesmol and E)-alpha-farnesene, gingeroils including 6-gingeroil, 8-gingeroil, 10-gingeroil and other various chemicals like zingiberene and bisabolene.

Usages and advantages of Ginger

• This herb also helps in curing diarrhea, arthritis, rheumatism, motion sickness, bronchitis, diabetes, other digestive problems and stomach aches.
• It has cholesterol reducing and blood thinning properties which reduces the risks of getting heart problems.
• This also helps in getting rid of nausea due to morning sickness, chemotherapy and seasickness or during pregnancy.
• Ginger with 3 or 4 Tulsi leaves helps in curing cough, cold and congestion.
• In West, dried ginger root powder is consumed in capsule form.

Zingiber Officinalis

• Chinese make a delicious remedy with ginger to cure cold. They cook some sliced ginger in water with along cola or brown sugar to prepare it.
• Burmese make an excellent remedy to prevent flu by adding boiled mixture of a sweetener which is made from juice of palm tree with ginger.
• Indian use ginger paste on the temples to cure severe headaches.

Zingiber Officinalis
Cautions to be taken
Ginger is a restricted herb for children under 2 years. Ginger powder can cause nausea, bloating, gas or heartburn so it should be used after consulting your doctor.

Tags:

Ashwagandha has a long history in medicine which goes back 4000 years. Its scientific name is Withania Somnifera. It is considered to be a very important drug by Ayurveda which is the Indian traditional medicine system. This herb is used in the treatment of many infectious diseases, tremors and arthritis.

AshwagandhaAshwagandha is a delicate plant which is found India Sri Lanka and Pakistan. It is defined by branched limbs, green leaves, and yellow flowers. It has a stunning appearance and is considered an important herb in Ayuerveda. This herb has a very long history and had been considered to be a holistic herb for the past 4000 years and used in the treatment of various ailments like inflammation, tremors, sexual enhancement, longevity and various infectious diseases.

AshwagandhaAshwagandha is used in Indian food and used to thicken milk. African tribes also use this herb in the treatment of fever and inflammation. It is crushed and mixed with other herbs to for traditional formula know as shilajit. It has the similar properties as ginseng and is used to stimulate the immune system of the body, increase memory, stop inflammation and helps in maintaining health and wellness. It is also known to increase the bone marrow and semen. It is also considered to inhibit the aging process.

AshwagandhaThere are various medical uses of Ashwagandha. It had been used in the treatment of the mental health problems from quite a long time. In a study done 30 patients who were suffering from anxiety disorder were given 40 ml doses twice a day. After 30 days a lot of improvement was seen in the patients. In some patients symptoms of anxiety like panic attacks and paranoia totally disappeared. It has also been used to treat depression, schizophrenia and alcoholism. It is also helpful in increasing memory and learning skills.

AshwagandhaStudies have been conducted in order to prove the effectiveness of Ashwagandha in treating arthritis, tumors and other inflammation. These studies proved that it acts as an anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor agent as the naturally occurring steroidal content is higher than hydrocortisone which is used for treatment of cancer.

You should be careful while taking Ashwangandha as a medicine. Overdose of herbal medicine can be equally lethal and dangerous as any other drug. You should never take it if it is congested, during pregnancy and breastfeeding. You should first consult your doctor if you are taking it for the treatment of cancer or AIDS.

Tags:

Asparagus Racemosus is an Ayurvedic rejuvenative tonic for female. It belongs to Liliaceae family and is also known as Shatamuli and Shatwari, it’s botanical name is Asparagus Racemosus. Shatwari means who has a hundred of husbands. It is used for sexual infertility and debility in both sexes. It can also be used for treating menopausal symptoms and to increase lactation. It is found in the forests of Northern India which are around 8000 feet high.

Asparagus RacemosusChemical composition and key active constituents

It contains steroidal saponins which are also called shatavarins 1-4. Shatwari 1 is the main glycoside which has 3 glucose & rhamnose moiteis attached to sarsasepogenin. Shatwari 4 on the other hand has proteins, alkaloids, tannin, and starch. It also has Isoflavones which includes 8 methoxy 5,6,4 trihydroxyisoflavone 7-0-beta D glucopyranoside. It contains asparagamine, a polycyclic alkaloid and Racemosol which is a cyclic hydrocarbon. The roots contain polysaccharides.

Asparagus RacemosusThe shatwari plant has Immunostimulant properties. It helps in preventing post operative adhesions. In a study done on mice it was found that Asparagus racemosus has a protective effect against the myleosupressions which is induced by single or multiple doses of cyclophosphamide. The study found that it has almost the same activity as lithium and glucan. The galactogogue activity is also found in asparagus racemosus. Saponin mixture from the extaract of Shatavari has uterine blocking activity which is spontaneous and induced by hormones like oxytocine and acetylcholine. It can be used during pregnancy for threatened abortion.

Asparagus RacemosusIt is used for increasing the production of breast milk after birth of a baby. It can also be used as an immunomodulator. Shatavari is also considered to have aphrodisiac property which can increase the sex drive in people. It is used in the treatment of diarrhea as it has anti diarrheal properties. It is considered to be good for health as it has antioxidants and antibacterial properties. It is used as a remedy for mucilaginous, refrigerant, diuretic, nutritive tonic, demulcent, antispasmodic, adaptogen, anti dysenteric, anti oxtocic and cytoprotective.

Asparagus RacemosusIt can be used in the form of powder, ghee, oil and decoction. For diseases like cancer you can one or more ounces every day. The formula for preparing the mixture is 1:2 root extract in about 25 % alcohol. You can take about 30-60 ml dose every week.

Tags:

Pain or discomfort during or just before a menstrual period is called Dysmenorrhea. When the menstrual cycle begins the uterine muscles contact due to the release of chemical substances called prostaglandins be the cells in the lining of the uterus. If an excessive amount of this chemical is produced the contraction becomes a strong and painful spasm. The spasm temporarily cuts off blood flow depriving the uterine muscles of oxygen. This causes a cramp. Contractions of the smooth muscles of the intestinal tract are also caused by the excessive release of prostaglandin. This causes diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Furthermore high levels of prostaglandin can also cause headaches and dizziness.

DysmenorrheaDysmenorrhea may affect up to 75% of women at one time or another. Incapacitating pain is experienced by 5-6% of women.

A doctor may be able to diagnose whether the cramps are caused by Dysmenorrhea by looking at the patients’ medical history and pelvic exam alone. The pelvic exam is normal between menses during primary Dysmenorrhea. Examination during menses may produce no abnormal results and only a slight discomfort.Dysmenorrhea

There may be findings during a physical exam in the case of secondary dysmenorrhea. Additional tests such as radiologic studies (ultrasound) and laparoscopy (a tiny flexible lighted tube is inserted into an incision just below the navel to view the internal abdominal and pelvic organs) may be needed to be performed.

Most doctors prescribe antiprostaglandin drugs or NSAID’s (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) for the treatment of primary dysmenorrhea. NSAID’s include aspirin, ibuprofen, ketoprofen or naproxen. These drugs lessen the contractions of the uterus and reduce menstrual flow but inhibiting synthesis of prostaglandins. To prevent inadvertent use during early pregnancy these drugs should be started at eh onset of bleeding. Stopping ovulation and decreasing the levels if prostaglandin also helps eliminate cramps. To do these oral contraceptives may be helpful.Dysmenorrhea

The cause of secondary dysmenorrhea determines the treatment that can be applied. One of the most common causes of secondary dysmenorrhea is endometriosis. Conservative drug therapy such as androgens, progestins, oral contraceptives and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists or even surgical procedures may be needed depending on the age of the patient and the stage of the disease.Dysmenorrhea

A hysterectomy may be needed in case the problem is adenomyosis. Pelvic inflammation may be treated with antibiotics. Surgery can often treat uterine fibroids, fibroid tumors and pelvic tumors as well as cervical narrowing.

A hot water bath can do wonders to ease menstrual cramps as can a heating pad. Regular exercise helps control the cause of the problems.

Tags: