Herbal Medicine and Supplements

Archive for July, 2011

Sida Cordifolia is an erect hairy plant which grows up to 180 cm. It grows as a weed throughout tropical and subtropical regions of India and Srilanka. Sida Cordifolia belongs to family Malvaceae. It has heart shaped leaves (hence name Cordifolia) and yellow coloured flower. Seeds are black or grey coloured.

Ayurveda acharyas have grouped this plant under Balya (body strengthening herbs), Brimhaniya ( body bulk increasing herbs), Prajasthapana ( herbs used to cure infertility), Madhura skanda (herbs with sweet taste) and Vatasamshamana (Herbs which normalize vata dosha).

According to ayurveda principles the plant Bala is light to digest and increases moistness of tissues. It is sweet to taste and acts as body coolant.

Medicinal properties of Bala (Sida Cordifolia)

This plant normalizes Vata and pitta. Hence it is used in diseases which are caused due to vitiation of vata and pitta.

Bala has anti inflammatory properties. Its preparations are used as external applications in swelling of wounds and inflammation of eyes. Oils prepared using this herb are very useful in arthritis and other diseases which affect joints. These oils help to reduce pain and inflammation.

Bala normalizes vata and sooths excited nerves. For this reason the oil prepared using this herb is used to massage patients who suffer from paralysis, cervical spondylosis, facial paralysis etc.

Sida Cordifolia controls motility of large intestine. It helps to absorb water and nutrients from intestines. Hence its preparations are widely used in Grahani or Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

This herb is a very good cardiac tonic and reduces petechial hemorrhage. Ayurveda acharyas recommend use of this plant in these conditions.

Bala is known for its “shukrala” properties. Shukrala means increasing shukra dhatu. Because of this property bala is used in ayurvedic preparations which increase sperm count and sperm motility. It helps to increase quality and quantity of semen. This herb is mainly used in male and female infertility. Texts of ayurveda praise the herb Bala as Vrishya (aphrodisiac). Hence this herb is used in conditions like erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.

The herbal preparations which are used in Female infertility contain this herb as main ingredient as it acts as a very good uterine tonic.

The diuretic properties of this herb help in cystitis and it rejuvenates urinary system.

Bala is a very good rasayana herb. Hence it is widely used in convalescing patients as it supplies essential nutrients. It helps to build a healthy body and strengthens body immune system.

This herb is used in African folk medicine to treat various conditions like bronchitis, asthma, nasal congestion, stomatitis etc.

The herb Guduchi is a climber. It belongs to Minispermaceae family and has a botanical name Tinospora Cardifolia. This herb usually grows in tropical regions and is available in abundance in India, Myanmar and Srilanaka. The climber bears heart shaped leaves and yellow colored flowers. The fruits are round and turn to bright red color when ripe. It is also known as Giloy in Hindi.

Herbalists all over the world laud the adoptogenic properties of Tinospora Cardifolia. (Adoptogenic herbs boost body resistance; reduce stress, anxiety and fatigue). Diterpene, tinosporone, cardifoliside, berberine, giloin are the important constituents of this herb.

Guduchi is being used in ayurveda system of medicines since ages. According to texts of ayurveda Guduchi has both bitter and astringent tastes. It increases moistness of body tissues, has hot potency and is heavy to digest. Due to these properties this herb normalizes all the three doshas, kapha, vata and pitta when used with honey, ghee and sugar respectively.

Medicinal properties of Guduchi:

External uses: Guduchi is very effective in skin disorders. It helps to boost resistance of skin to microbes and is found effective in leprosy and ulcers formed due to gout. This herb heals the herpes lesions and also accelerates the healing process of wounds in venereal diseases.

Digestive system: Usage of Guduchi is indicated in conditions like indigestion, excess thirst, acidity, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), dysentery and vomiting. It is a good anti spasmodic and reduces stomach pain which arises due to intestinal spasms. Giloy is a very good hepatotonic.Preparations of this herb is very effective in jaundice, hepatic fibrosis and other diseases related to liver. This herb expels toxins accumulated in liver.

Circulatory system: Texts of Ayurveda eulogize this herb as a cardiac tonic as it strengthens the heart. Guduchi helps to purify blood and expel the toxins which are circulating in it. Because of this property it is useful in gout to control blood uric acid level.

Respiratory system: It strengthens the lungs and reduces chronic cough.

Reproductive system: Few herbal aphrodisiac preparations contain guduchi as their ingredient. Due to aphrodisiac properties it increases sperm count and sperm motility. Its adaptogen properties revitalize the male reproductive system and help in conditions like erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.

Excretory System: Guduchi strengthens the urinary system and increases the resistance of inner layers of bladder and urethra to fight repeated urinary tract infections.

Giloy is very effective in diabetes and reduces fever. It boosts immunity and increases body energy level. Due to its anti microbial property the growth of micro organisms is inhibited in body. This boosts body resistance to diseases. Herbal preparations of this wonder herb help immensely in diseases of joints like arthritis and gout.

There are lots of herpes herbs offered on the net. Some claim to kill the virus. Some claim to prevent herpes outbreaks. Very few have a money back guarantee, which says a lot. In this article I am going to give you some of my thoughts, on both types of herbal products.

First, let’s look at the herbal products which claim to kill the virus. Well, some of them probably do kill the virus. That is, they kill the viruses that are at the surface, causing the outbreak. (This applies to cold sores too). By killing the virus topically like this, it can reduce the healing time, which is a good thing of course. But it means you still suffer with outbreaks, though they may be shorter in duration. But the virus is still in your system after an outbreak heals. It has just gone into remission, and will surface again. And again, unfortunately.

If you find a site that has a product that promises to kill all of the viruses in your whole body, it is probably bogus. This would actually be a cure for herpes. And when and if the day comes that there is a cure for herpes, it will be big news!! It will be on the cover of Time Magazine, and on CNN! If such products really worked like they say they do, it would be an overnight sensation and everyone would be talking about it. (Well, at least those of us with herpes, would be talking about it. We are 1 in 5, which is a huge percentage of the population.)

Second, there are herpes products which claim to prevent outbreaks, and this group is more credible. Some use Chinese herbs which have been used for centuries in China, and some Chinese herbs have verifiable results. Well, how can herbs prevent herpes outbreaks? These herbal products are much different than herbs which are claimed to “attack” or “destroy” or “kill” the herpes virus. The herbs do not actually interact with the herpes virus at all.

What these herbs for herpes do is strengthen your immune system. When your immune system is strong, it is able to keep the virus in remission, so you do not have outbreaks. Think about this…. you probably had measles, chicken pox or the mumps when you were a child. Well, those viruses are still in you! But in a normal adult with a reasonably healthy immune system the viruses are kept in remission quite easily. About half the people who get herpes don’t have outbreaks. It is because they have been blessed with a stronger immune system than the other half of the people who do have outbreaks. They are able to keep the herpes virus in remission just like most people are able to keep their chicken pox or measles viruses in remission. When is the last time you gave a thought about getting the measles? How the herpes herbs work is to strengthen your immune system, so that you too can keep the herpes virus in remission.

With all the health scares making their way in the news, it’s no wonder why people are now choosing more natural herbal products for their health needs. If you find yourself wanting to try the said items, here are some Q&A’s that could help you find out more about it.

Have I consulted my doctor about it?

People who want to try natural herbal products should always consult their doctor first to see if the doctor will approve. Your doctor is your first and perhaps your best shot at getting the healthy lifestyle you crave. It’s vital to get his or her word when it comes to anything you’ll have to drink or eat because all these may have an impact on the drugs he or she prescribes to you. Since your doctor is an active medical professional, he has more experience and more knowledge regarding health and supplements than you can even imagine. Your physician’s input will be vital if you don’t want to suffer from any complication brought about by something as harmless-sounding as natural herbal products. If you don’t consult with your doctor, you’ll be taking a big gamble on your health and money. There may even be a chance that you can just keel over and die if you decide to take this risk.

Is it safe?

While there are many companies advertising their products as natural, you should still read the labels carefully. The labels on the products will usually indicate how “natural” the product really is. Some companies state that their products are “all natural,” but in truth when one reads the labels there may be 50% artificial ingredients there. Reading the label is always a must if you don’t want to end up ingesting something you don’t want inside your body.

Another cautionary measure you should employ is to see if the marketed natural herbal product falls under FDA guidelines. You can try contacting this government agency to see if this product is legal in the US to safeguard your health. You can also check the manufacturer’s background online to see if they have business and health licenses to operate in your area.

How much is it?

It depends on where you’ll buy it because some stores may charge higher prices than the others. This situation happens because of factors such as store prestige and location, which can inevitably add to their prices. For instance, if the store is in a popular mall or in a well-known business center, then chances are they could charge customers higher for their location convenience. Knowing this should have you checking which stores near your home or workplace have the best prices offered. You can also try buying herbal supplements online as there are some herbal online companies that offer bigger discounts. Some web-based companies can even provide lowered prices especially if you buy their herbal supplements online by the bulk.

You can buy natural products on the website of Himalaya Herbal Healthcare. This legacy of researching nature forms the foundation of Himalaya’s operations. Himalaya uses the tools of modern science to create pharmaceutical-grade ayurvedic products. They have pioneered research that has converted Ayurveda’s herbal tradition into a complete range of proprietary formulations dedicated to healthy living and longevity.  Today, these products have found acceptance with medical fraternities and serve the health and personal care needs of consumers

The stated suggestions are there to give you a better view on natural herbal products. If you think this can be for you, it may be useful to buy it in small portions first to see its effectiveness. Buying small is playing safe in this case because you won’t have to spend large amounts on something that won’t work in the end.