World Health Organization's (WHO) - Traditional Herbal Remedies for Primary Health Care

World Health Organization's (WHO) -

Traditional Herbal Remedies for Primary  Health Care

                                                      

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World Health Organization's (WHO) -

Traditional Herbal Remedies for Primary  Health Care

                                                         PREVIEW

World Health Organization's (WHO) -

Traditional Herbal Remedies for Primary  Health Care

Traditional Herbal Remedies - Ashvagandha powder for malaise

Traditional Herbal Remedies 

Ashvagandha powder for malaise

Ashwagandha, one of the most powerful herbs in Ayurvedic healing, has been used since ancient times for a wide variety of conditions, and is most well-known for its restorative benefits. In Sanskrit Ashwagandha means “the smell of a horse,” indicating that the herb imparts the vigor and strength of a stallion, and has traditionally been prescribed to help people strengthen their immune system after an illness.

Ashwagandha is frequently referred to as “Indian ginseng” because of its rejuvenating properties, even though botanically, ginseng and Ashwagandha are unrelated.

Belonging to the same family as the tomato, Ashwagandha is a plump shrub with oval leaves and yellow flowers. It bears red fruit about the size of a raisin. The herb is native to the dry regions of India, northern Africa, and the Middle East, and today is also grown in more mild climates, including the United States.

Why Use Ashwagandha?

Do any of these common symptoms sound familiar?

·         Stress

·         Fatigue

·         Lack of energy

·         Difficulty concentrating

The use of the Ayurvedic herb, Ashwagandha can help alleviate these symptoms and support an energetic and rejuvenating sense of wellbeing.

Benefits and Healing Effects

Ashwagandha contains many useful medicinal chemicals, including withanolides (steroidal lactones), alkaloids, choline, fatty acids, amino acids, and a variety of sugars. While the leaves and fruit have valuable therapeutic properties, the root of the Ashwagandha plant is the part most commonly used in Western herbal remedies.

Medical researchers have been studying Ashwagandha for years with great interest and have completed more than 200 studies on the healing benefits of this botanical. Some key examples of the healing effects of Ashwagandha are:

·         Protects the immune system

·         Helps combat the effects of stress

·         Improves learning, memory, and reaction time

·         Reduces anxiety and depression without causing drowsiness

·         Helps reduce brain-cell degeneration

·         Stabilizes blood sugar

·         Helps lower cholesterol

·         Offers anti-inflammatory benefits

·         Contains anti-malarial properties

·         Enhances sexual potency for both men and women

Ashwagandha as an Adaptogenic Herb

In Ayurveda, there are specific herbs with adaptogenic benefits, Ashwagandha is one of them. Adaptogens are substances (a combination of amino acids, vitamins, and herbs) that modulate your response to stress or a changing environment. Adaptogens help the body cope with external stresses such as toxins in the environment and internal stresses such as anxiety and insomnia.

How to Add Ashwagandha to Your Daily Diet

According to Ayurveda, our bodies are woven from food. The nutrients we ingest are metabolized into the energy and information that form our cells, tissues, and organs. Every day our bodies need essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to maintain our body’s delicate balance. Taking an Ashwagandha supplement is a highly effective way to create that balance.

Ashwagandha is typically ingested in capsule form. Ashwagandha is included in the single Ayurvedic herb collection of at the Marketplace. The typical recommended dose is 600 to 1,000 mg. twice daily. For people who suffer from insomnia and anxiety, having a cup of hot milk that contains a teaspoon of powdered Ashwagandha before bedtime is beneficial.

Medical Caution: Always consult with your healthcare practitioner before using Chopra Center signature supplements if you have any health conditions. Ashwagandha is not recommended for women who are pregnant.

Traditional Herbal Remedies - Amalaki powder for acidity and gastritis

Traditional Herbal Remedies 

Amalaki powder for acidity and gastritis

Heartburn is due to excessive secretion of gastric acid or its reflux to the food pipe along with delayed gastric emptying and fermentation of food. Gastric acidity and inflammation of the stomach is called gastritis, which produces a common symptom of burning sensation in the middle part of the upper half of the abdomen, while acid reflux causes throat and heartburn and delayed gastric emptying with fermentation leads to gaseous distension of abdomen and belching. These abnormalities lead to symptoms like nausea, loss of appetite, indigestion and mild to moderate upper abdominal pain and distress. Frequent dietary irregularities and ingestion of irritant materials like too spicy and sour foods, alcohol and analgesic drugs like aspirin are the common causes of acidity and gastritis. Mental stress significantly aggravates the symptoms of acidity and gastritis.

Ayurveda designates the symptom complex of acid peptic disease as Amlapitta attributed to the impairment of digestive juices and protective lining of stomach. Improperly treated acidity may lead to peptic ulcer due to damage in the mucosal lining of the stomach and duodenum. Judicious use of Amalaki powder is effective in successful management of acidity and gastritis with certain do’s and dont’s described in the Ayurvedic texts:

It is advisable not to overeat and have 

(1) long gaps between meals. Small frequent meals of soft and easily digestible food items should be taken.

(2) Consumption of raw and leafy vegetables, fried, spicy, sour, salty, heavy and improperly cooked food, sheep’s milk, alcohol, curd, sesame seeds should be avoided.

(3) Use of vegetables with bitter taste such as bitter gourd, banana flowers, and pumpkin, pomegranate, honey, boiled and cooled water and food grains like wheat, rice and barley is beneficial in patients with acidity and gastritis.

(4) Suppression of natural urges, particularly of vomiting and passing stools should be avoided.

Amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica Linn.)

The formulation is made from the dried mature fruits of Amalaki, which is a small or medium-sized tree found abundantly in mixed deciduous forests and cultivated in gardens and home yards. Ripe fruits are collected in late winter or early summer and are dried in shade. Dried fruits are then separated from the seeds and are kept in airtight plastic bags or boxes under dry storage conditions. Extensive uses of Amalaki as medicine and tonic are described in Indian Medicine and the medicinal plant is included in the Ayurvedic Pharamacopoeia of India.

Composition: The formulation is a fine powder made of single herbal

ingredient Amalaki.

English name : Indian gooseberry

Latin name : Phyllanthus emblica (Linn.)

Family : Phyllanthaceae

Plant part used : Fruit

A leafy branch of Amalaki with fruits

Dried fruits of Amalaki

Main chemical constituents: Vitamin C, minerals and amino acids.

Quality standards

Purity and strength of dried mature fruits of Amalaki is determined

on the basis of:

Foreign matter Not more than 3%

Total ash Not more than 7%

Acid insoluble ash Not more than 2%

Acid-soluble extractive Not less than 40%

Water-soluble extractive Not less than 50%

Method of preparation

(1) Seedless dried fruits of Amalaki are cleaned and ground into fine powder using a grinder or pulverizer.

(2) Powder is sieved through mesh 80 to remove coarse particles and fibers.

(3) The powder should be kept in a dry airtight container to prevent exposure to moisture.

(4) Potency of the properly preserved dried fruits lasts for one year.

Dosage form: Fine, sour-tasting grayish to blackish powder.

Therapeutic properties4: Antacid, anti-ulcer, anti-emetic, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulator, rejuvenator and a rich source of vitamin C.

Dose and mode of administration

In adults, the dose of Amalaki powder is 3 to 6 grams and in children 500 mg to 1 gram, twice a day, to be swallowed on an empty stomach or just before meals with water.

Indications and uses

(1) Hyperacidity, gastritis, anorexia, vomiting during pregnancy and anaemia associated with chronic acid peptic disease are the common indications for Amalaki powder.

(2) Clinical trials have proven Amalaki to be effective in the management of acidic gastritis, non-ulcer dyspepsia and duodenal ulcer with significant prevention of recurrence of symptoms.

(3) Amalaki powder can also be used as a natural supplement of vitamin C in nutritional deficiencies, pregnancy and chronic diseases.

Precautions and safety aspects

(1) Amalaki powder is generally a safe medicine. No toxic or adverse effects are reported even with continuous use. Assay study for cellular toxicity of crude alcoholic extract of Amalaki has proved it safe. Safety of Emblica officinalis is attributed to its anti-mutagenic, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, anti-oxidant, anti-tumour and immuno-modulatory activities and numerous indications for its use in children and pregnant women. It is also safe to the baby if the nursing mother is taking this medication.

(2) Individuals sensitive to sour taste should add sugar to the formulation or consume it in capsule form. Mixing it in warm water or with sugar or honey makes ingestion of Amalaki powder easy.

(3) Amalaki has a cooling property and hence individuals intolerant to cold should consume it with ginger powder and warm water or honey. Even then if symptoms worsen, medication with Amalaki powder may be stopped.

(4) It is advisable for patients of acidity and gastritis to avoid the intake of spicy, hard, heavy, dry and raw foods, particularly leafy vegetables and salad. Tendency of overeating and frequent munching and use of alcoholic beverages should be avoided.

Traditional Herbal Remedies - Trikatu powder for common cold

Traditional Herbal Remedies 

Trikatu powder for common cold

Common cold or coryza is a common respiratory problem caused by a variety of viral infections; commonest among them is the influenza virus and its variants. Individuals show considerable variation in susceptibility and environmental exposure is a contributory factor. The word “cold” is a catch-all term that describes symptoms such as sneezing, wet nose, running nose, scratchy throat, heaviness in head, body ache, headache, indigestion, nausea, stomach ache, vomiting, diarrhoea and fever. Frequent attacks of cold are a reflection of a temporary dip in immunity that is most often caused by insufficient rest; too many rich foods, stress and exposure to cold and dampness can also precipitate its occurrence. Frequent colds can make the individual vulnerable to secondary lower respiratory tract infections. Early and consistent attention, along with adequate time for convalescence, keeps all colds from becoming problematic. Trikatu is a simple herbal preparation with which common cold can be managed successfully taking prescribed precautions: Patients suffering from common cold should 

(1) prevent direct exposure to cold wind, intake of heavy meals, drinking of cold water, suppression of natural urges of stools, urine and flatus, sleeping on the floor and during daytime.

(2) Light meals with spicy, sour and salty taste, curd, garlic, frequent drinking of warm water, fresh radish, brinjal (eggplant), and hot soup of green gram are helpful in common cold.

(3) Covering head with cap or any warm cloth, steam bath, head massage, gargles with warm water and avoidance of anger facilitate recovery from the common cold. 

Trikatu powder 

Trikatu powder is a simple formulation made by mixing fine powders of three commonly used herbal drugs in equal quantity namely dry ginger (Shunthi), black pepper (Maricha) and long pepper (Pippali). Trikatu, literally means ‘three pungents,’ because all the three ingredients are predominantly of pungent taste. All the three are spices used commonly in the kitchen and traded widely from India since ancient times. 

Composition

Trikatu powder consists of fine powder of three pungent drugs viz. Shunthi, Maricha and Pippali in equal proportion. Shunthi is the dried rhizome of ginger. Maricha is the dried fruit of black pepper and Pippali is the dried fruit of long pepper.

1. Dried rhizomes of Shunthi   2. Dried fruits of Maricha          3.Dried fruits of Pippali.

Main chemical constituents of Shunthi1: Essential oil, pungent constituents (gingerol and shogoal), resinous matter and starch.

Main chemical constituents of Maricha2: Alkaloids (piperine, chavicine, piperidine and piplartine) and essential oil.

Main chemical constituents of Pippali3: Essential oil and alkaloids (piperine, sesamin and piplartine).

Quality standards

Method of preparation

Take 50 grams of each of the three ingredients, 

(1) dry them further to remove the moisture for easy powdering.

(2) Take an equal quantity of each drug of Trikatu and mix well in a dry container.

(3) Grind the mixture in a grinder or pulverizer till fine powder is obtained.

(4) Sieve the powder through 85 size mesh to remove the coarse fibers and other particles if any.

(5) Keep Trikatu powder in an air-tight dry container of glass or food grade plastic; store in a dry cool place away from direct sunlight. It is good to use the powder within one year.

Dosage form: Blackish-brown fine powder.

Therapeutic properties: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, expectorant, digestive, carminative.

Dose and mode of administration

Adult dose of Trikatu is 2 grams given three times a day preferably with warm milk or water or honey. In children the dose may be reduced according to the age and can be given in a dose of 125 mg to 500 mg thrice a day. Another way is – add Trikatu powder to one cup of milk, boil it for a few minutes and take it warm.

Indications and uses

Trikatu is used in combination with honey to alleviate diseases such as colds, rhinitis, cough, breathlessness, asthma, dyspepsia and obesity7. It also improves the digestive power. 

Precautions and safety aspects

(1) No side effect or toxic effect of Trikatu has been mentioned in the classical literature. Clinical studies have also shown no adverse effects in patients treated with recommended dose of Trikatu powder alone as well as in combination with other herbal preparations.

(2) Since Trikatu powder is hot in nature, large dose should be avoided as the patient may complain of burning sensation, burning micturition, etc. In such conditions, the use should be stopped immediately and the patient should be advised to take cooling agents and milk in plenty till the complaints subside completely.

(3) Take simple diet with warm, light, soft and liquid foods. Avoid cold drinks, cold juices, ice cream, spicy, oily and too dry foodstuff. Stay in a warm and well ventilated room.

(4) Warm saline gargles, steam inhalation and fomentation help in relieving cold symptoms.

(5) Medication with Trikatu is not advisable for pregnant women. However, it is safe for the baby if a nursing mother is taking this medication.