Arjun Tree -The cardio protector..

Arjuna( Arjuntree) is a potential cardioprotective plant belonging to the Combretaceae family. It is an ayurvedic remedy that has been mentioned in many ancient Indian medicinal texts including Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Astang Hridayam.

Main varieties.

Arjuna – Terminalia arjuna – white variety ,common variety.

Kakubha – Terminalia alata (Terminalia tomentosa) -black variety.

Arjuna is widely used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases, including heart diseases and related chest pain,  and high cholesterol. Arjuna tree also has strong anti-hypertensive property and helps reduce high blood pressure.The effectiveness of Terminalia arjuna as an anti-ischemic agent and as a potent antioxidant in preventing LDL formation, ischemic injury to the heart and its potential to reduce atherogenic lipid levels have been sufficiently demonstrated in different experimental and clinical studies.It is also used for earaches and diseases of the urinary tract.

Ayurvedic medicinal properties

• Rasa (Taste) – Kashaya (astringent)

Because of its astringent properties, it is also used as Stambhana, useful in bleeding disorders and menorrhagia. It heals fracture and wounds quickly, pus in urine, UTI and dysentery.  It is used as an ingredient in tooth powder sand also helps to treat bleeding gums.

• Guna (qualities) – Rooksha (dryness),  Laghu (lightness)
• Vipaka- Katu – Undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion.
• Veerya or potency – Sheeta – cold potency
• Effect on Tridosha – Balances Kapha Pitta Dosha
• Special property: Hridya- cardiotonic.

Chemical Constituents

Saponins (arjunic acid, arjunolic acid, arjungenin and arjunic acid), flavonoids, gallic acid, ellagic acid and phytosterols.

The scientific basis for the use of arjunolic acid as cardiotonic in Ayurvedic medicine is proven by its vibrant functions such as prevention of myocardial necrosis, platelet aggregation and coagulation and lowering of blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol levels. 

Antioxidant property of Tannins and glycosides present in Arjuna bark  protects the heart muscles and blood vessels against damage caused by free radicals. 

Co-Q10, an important coenzyme for heart muscles, is abundantly found in Arjuna tree bark. Co-Q10 has been shown to help improve heart health and blood sugar regulation, assist in the prevention and treatment of cancer and reduce the frequency of migraines. It could also reduce the oxidative damage that leads to muscle fatigue, skin damage and brain and lung diseases.

Arjuna is beneficial in the management of chest pain (angina). Studies suggest that the bark of Arjuna shows a significant reduction in chest pain by lowering the level of cortisol i.e., the stress hormone. Arjuna also increases exercise tolerance, improves HDL levels and reduces blood pressure in people with stable angina.Arjuna has antibacterial property and helps in the management of urinary tract infection.

Part used, dosage

• Part used-bark
• Dosage- Powder 3-6 g.

Ayurvedic Formulations containing Arjuna

• Parthadyarishta
• Arjuna ghrita
• Arjuna Ksheera pak. etc..

1. Arjuna Milk Decoction

The therapeutic potential of T. arjuna is well defined in the traditional literature and also validated as an adjunct therapy to prevent coronary artery disorder via its anti-inflammatory and cardioprotective effects.

Milk is taken in a quantity of 8 times that of the medicine and water should be 4 times that of milk. (Med: Milk:water=1:8:32) .

All are mixed together and heated on mild fire until all the water evaporates and only the milk remains. By this time the active principles of the drug would have come to the milk. This helps to treat Pitta Hridroga esp. along with other medications as prescribed bythe doctor. 

Reference: Bhaishajya Ratnavali, Chapter 33, HRIDAY ROGA CHIKITSA, Verse 11

2. Arjuna tea

The concept of Arjun tea is based on Arjun Ksheera pak. This helps to prevent many heart ailments. Here the medicine can be taken in 1 to 3 gm, 1 glass milk and  1 glass water quantity, reducing it into 1 glass milk. 1 to 3 gm Cinnamon powder , 1 to 3 gm cardomom powder is also added . Jaggery or honey(should be added to luke warm tea)  can be used as per taste.

Ayurveda Prakrithi and its Significance.

What is Prakriti 

The literary meaning of the word "Prakriti" is "natural condition or the state of  anything in its natural form'. It is opposite of 'Vikruti' which indicates  change or effect. 

Prakriti is an inherent nature of an individual formed at the time of conception,cemented at the time of birth and carried throughout the lifetime. In Ayurveda 'Prakriti' is indicated  as  one's constitution dependent on the prominent Doshas at the time of  conception.

Types of  "Doshas"

"Vata" is the energy entity in the "Thridoshas" that governs all the biological movements of body and mind. It derives from the combination of Air and Space among "Panchamahabhutas"

"Kapha" One of the three biological humors (tridoṣa) is translated as mucus or phlegm. The word Kapha has been defined as the product of water. "Kapha" is stated to be developed with a predominance of the Ap (water) and Prithvi (earth) bhutas. 

"Pitta" is the dosha of transformation. It is the energy that regulates all the metabolic activities, body temperature  and hormonal functions in the body. Pitta derives from the elements of Fire and Water.Pitta governs all processes related to conversion and transformation throughout the mind and body.

Prakrithi Determining Factors

According to Ayurveda ,the prakriti of the foetus (an unborn or unhatched offspring of a mammal) is determined  by the 4 factors,,

• Time and season during the conception.
• Healthy functioning of the uterus.
• Quality of the sperm and ovum.
• Maternal food and lifestyle.

Aspects of Prakriti 

There are two aspects of Prakriti,

 (1) Genotype and (2) Phenotype.  

 

The factors like diet and other environmental changes may have direct  effect on genotype Prakriti ; However, factors mentioned before may  have  very limited or no affect on ones phenotype.

When is "Prakriti" analysed

 

Prakriti analysis is not Disease diagnosis .Ideally Prakriti of a person is confirmed during optimal health. In case of illness, there are effects of the pathological process  on the body that will mask some of the characters for Prakriti analysis.It is always better to have record of one's Prakriti confirmed in one's healthy state.

Types of "Prakriti" 

1. Sharirika Prakriti (Body constitution)
2. Manasika Prakriti (Mind constitution)

There are seven types of Body constitution 

1. Vata Prakriti.
2. Pitta Prakriti.
3. Kapha Prakriti.
4. Vata-pitta Prakriti.
5. Pitta-Kapha Prakriti.
6. Kapha-vata Prakriti.
7. Tridosha- Vata pitta kapha Prakriti.

Three types of Mind constitution based on three "Gunas":

1. Satvika.
2. Rajasika.
3. Tamasika.

Body constitution 

According to Ayurveda, each individual is different. Hence identifying the Prakriti (normal constitution) and Vikriti (diseased stage) is very important prior to further treatment. 

A balanced "tridosha prakriti (Vata-Pitta-Kapha)" is considered as ideal. Individuals with tridosha ,prakriti will have exceptionally good health, mental functions, and longevity. 

Among "Eka dosha prakrithi" or single body constitution Vata persons are more prone to diseases, Pitta persons have moderate health and Kapha persons have good resistance power against diseases.

But,most people  have a combination of two "doshas" or "dwanda dosha". They can be two dosha combination with one dosha predominant.

Understanding the Prakriti is very important in the selection of Diet, Lifestyle, Medicines and Treatments.

Significance of prakriti analysis

 

Prakriti analysis is an important part of Ayurveda as there is no other  contemporary science that emphasises on "Prakriti" analysis. "Prakriti" analysis will help the individual to understand self constitution better, to have diet and lifestyle modifications in order to    prevent the diseases and to maintain optimum health.

1.Understanding the Genotypes     

                                                

World  have realised that classification of humans in major groups is not sufficient, and individual classification is required. Knowledge of Prakruti or genotypes will be useful in these experiments. Genetic mapping for predicting many dreadful diseases and managing them using genetic engineering is possible. 

                                                        

2.Power to predict future illnesses 

Prakriti indicates proneness of that individual for specific diseases by which his Prakriti is decided. That means an individual who belongs to Vata predominant Prakriti will get Vata vitiated diseases more frequently and easily than an individual of Pitta or Kapha Prakruti.The severity of diseases will  also be more, if the dosha Prakruti and vitiatiated dosha are the same.

3.Prevention of Diseases

        

Diagnosis of Prakriti helps for selecting Diet and Lifestyle modification that suits that Prakruti. This advice is accepted without  doubt and is  considered as something innovative in prevention of many dreadful diseases.

4.Selection of Medication 

Prakriti of a person is made use  for deciding the possible drug,       medication or methods of treatment.If the constitutional dosha & vitiated dosha are the  same, selected drugs has to be stronger as the disease will be intense.

Even if two individuals are suffering from vitiation of a  particular dosha, the selection of drugs will be different for each individual depending on their Prakriti.

If the constitutional dosha and vitiated doshas are different, a drug must  be such that it will pacify the vitiated dosha, at the same time,would not vitiate the constitutional dosha. This is particularly true in case of Vata & Kapha whose qualities are contrary to each other.