Dr. Sarin T.

Assistant Professor, Department of Dravyaguna Vijnana Shree Swaminarayan Ayurvedic Medical college, Kalol, Gandhinagar Gujarat

A WONDER DRUG WITH MANY REMEDIES Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) or Indian mulberry is an important medicinal plant used in India and worldwide. It is a small evergreen tree or shrub 3 to 10 m in height which grows in wide variety of habitats like shady forests as well as on sandy shores or open rocky plains. Noni is being cultivated for more than 1000 years in countries like Polynesian where it is used as a coloring agent, medicine and food. The fruit which has a pungent odour when ripening, is known as cheese fruit or vomit fruit which is…

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Chronic liver diseases are a major concern for morbidity and mortality across the globe. According to WHO estimates 46% of global diseases and 59% of the mortality are attributed to chronic diseases with almost 35 million people in the world dying because of chronic diseases. From recent data available it is evident that globally, 1.5 billion persons had chronic liver disease (CLD) frequently resulting from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Hepatitis B virus infection, Hepatitis C virus infection and alcoholic liver disease. In such a scenario, Bhumyamalaki is one of the promising herbal drugs used in Ayurveda for various liver disorders.…

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Millet is a common term to categorize small-seeded grasses that are often termed Nutri-cereals or Dryland-cereals. They are non-allergenic grains which are gluten free and used as a rich source of nutrition. Millets are of two types – Major Millets and Minor Millets; this classification is based on the size of grain. Millets includes Sorghum (Jowar), Pearl Millet (Bajra), Finger Millet (Ragi), Little Millet (Kutki), Foxtail Millet (Kakun), Proso Millet (Cheena), Barnyard Millet (Sawa), Kodo Millet (Kodon) and other millets. They are hardy, resilient crops that can withstand high temperatures, grow on poor soils with little or no external inputs…

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Ficus religiosa or Sacred fig or Ashvattha (commonly known as Peepal tree in India) is one of the oldest trees mentioned in Indian literature which grows very large in size with wide spreading branches. This sacred tree is significant to major religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. It is believed that Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment while meditating underneath a sacred fig. Hindu and Jain ascetics worshipped and often meditated under the shade of this sacred tree. The Bodhi tree is counted one among the Nakshatra vana and represents the Pushya Nakshatra or Cancri in the Cancer constellation. All parts of…

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PIPPALI -AN ENIGMA OF FLAVOUR Long pepper or Pippali is considered as an important & potent drug in Ayurveda having multi-spectral properties. In Indian literature, the first reference about Pippali is found in Vedas, the sacred literature of Hindus where it is believed that Pippali originated during the time of Samudra Manthan. Pippali is a perennial aromatic shrub with a pungent taste. The plant is mainly found in the tropical rainforests of Nepal, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka. In India, the plant is distributed from the central Himalayas to Assam, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka,…

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Khadira or Acacia catechu commonly known as Black cutch is a medium sized, thorny deciduous tree known for its potent medicinal properties for generations. Khadira is considered as the best remedy for the treatment of skin disorders in Ayurveda. The use of Khadira as tanning agent (cutch) in India is believed to go back as far as history relates. In the 17th Century, a European writer first described A. catechu as ‘cacho’ and mentioned it as being exported from Cambay to Malacca. The leaves, bark, and heartwood of Khadira possesses broad spectral pharmacological activities and are used in various systems…

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Vasa (Adhatoda vasica) or Malabar nut, is an evergreen shrub which is indigenous to India and is seen all over India. The leaves of Vasa show stimulant effect on the respiratory system which are used for centuries for treating respiratory conditions like asthma, chronic bronchitis etc. The soothing action helps subside the irritation in the throat and the expectorant will help loosen phlegm deposits in the airway. As per Ayurveda, Vasa (Adhatoda vasica) is used commonly in treating conditions like asthma, bronchitis, blood disorders, heart complaints, thirst, skin disorders, fever, vomiting, loss of memory, leukoderma, jaundice, tumours, sore-eye, fever, and…

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Kanchanar or Mountain Ebony (Bauhinia variegate Linn.) of family Caesalpinacea is a medium-sized, deciduous tree which is found in the Sub Himalayan tract from the Indus eastward and throughout the forests of India and Burma. This tree is grown as ornamental tree in gardens and along the roadsides. The plant is commonly known as Kanchnara because of having golden yellow coloured flowers. The leaves of the tree are shaped like a camel’s hoof print. It bears beautiful aromatic pink, white or yellow flowers in spring season. It is a nitrogen fixing tree that helps to enrich the soil fertility. Kachnara…

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Punarnava (Boerhavia diffusa) or hogweed is one of the best diuretics known among a variety of herbs mentioned in the Ayurvedic text. Punarnava as its name suggests means tendency to rejuvenate or ‘bring back to life’. Punarnava (Hogweed) grows wild as a creeper which dries during the summer. The plant is bitter, stomachic, laxative, diuretic, expectorant, diaphoretic, and emetic. Root is purgative, anthelmintic and febrifuge. There are two varieties of Punarnava, one with a red flower known as Rakta Punarnava and the other with white flower called Sweta Punaranava. The white variety is efficient in oedema, anaemia, heart diseases, cough,…

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Guggulu is a gum resin (oleoresin) that exudes spontaneously from an injury of the bark of Commiphora mukul Hook. Commonly, the term ‘Guggulu’ is used for denoting, the plant as well as its gum, oleoresin. In Sanskrit, ‘Guggulu’ means that which protects against disease. Its synonym in Sanskrit ‘Palankasha’ means one which reduces the flesh (pala-flesh and kash-reduce). Guggulu is an arid zone species; found growing in the open scrub jungles of Gujarat & Rajasthan, particularly in Bhuj and Rann of kutch. It is also distributed in Sind & Baluchistan areas of Pakistan and in Arabia. It is a small…

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