Author: Dr. Vikram Chauhan

March 16, 2019

Benefits of Terminalia Arjuna in Treating Ulcerative Colitis

Overview

Ulcerative Colitis is the inflammation and ulceration in the colon and rectum. This problems begins in the rectum and spreads to the entire colon. We can say it is the combination of ulceration and inflammation which leads to discomfort and results to frequent emptying of the colon. Ulcerative Colitis is caused because of the unusual and abnormal response of our immune system. People of any age group can be diagnosed with it.

ulcerative colitis treatment in ayurveda

What are the causes which lead to inflammation of the colon that results to Ulcerative Colitis?

  • Autoimmune factors
  • Food allergies
  • Collagen disorders
  • Genetic factors
  • Infection

When one is suffering from Ulcerative Colitis what are the sign and symptoms seen?

  • Irregular bowel movements
  • Undigested food particles in stool
  • Diarrhea
  • Diarrhea with blood
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Unexplained fatigue
  • Unpleasant body odor
  • Weight loss
  • Distended abdomen
  • Poor appetite
  • On and off rectal pain
  • Burning sensation-chest and throat
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Low-grade fever
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Skin lesions
  • Sounds from the abdomen

The symptoms and causes of ulcerative colitis lead to complications which really needs attention and to be managed.

  • Severe bleeding
  • A hole in the colon (perforated colon)
  • Severe dehydration
  • Liver disease (rare)
  • Bone loss (osteoporosis)
  • Inflammation of your skin, joints, and eyes
  • An increased risk of colon cancer
  • A rapidly swelling colon (toxic megacolon)
  • Increased risk of blood clots in veins

According to Ayurveda

  • According to Ayurveda ulcerative colitis is Pittaj Grahani. Ayurveda says it is a complication due to vitiated Pitta Dosha, with the involvement of Vata. With consumption of foods that are Pitta-aggravating and the lifestyle followed damages rakta dhatu (blood tissue) and mamsa dhatu (muscle tissue), which results to the formation of ama that gets deposited in the intestines.
  • Due to it, the Vata Dosha is also aggravated and it blocks the Pitta and Kapha channels, resulting in inflammation, mucus accumulation, and edema. Ulcerative Colitis when treated by Ayurveda, involves removing the ama and restoring the healthy digestion.
  • Our nature is full of herbs and there are many herbs which help in managing and controlling the causes and symptoms of ulcerative colitis. But today we will discuss Arjun ( Terminal arjuna) the herb which has the potency to balance all the three doshas- Vata, Kapha, and Pitta. Arjun is loaded with properties which makes it useful and beneficial in Ulcerative colitis.

The Ayurvedic medicinal property of Arjuna which tells its qualities are-

  • Rasa (Taste) – Kashaya (Astringent)
  • Guna (Qualities) – Rooksha (Dryness), Laghu (Lightness)
  • Vipaka – Katu- Undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion
  • Veerya – Sheeta – cold potency

The properties and the qualities of Arjun which makes it helpful in Ulcerative Colitis are-

  • Anti-inflammatory— The use of Arjuna help in reducing the inflammation in the colon which is the cause of ulcerative colitis.
  • Antioxidant– Helps in repairing the damages made to the body by the ulcers and inflammation.
  • Wound healing- Arjuna helps in healing the ulcers which are formed in the colon
  • Antacid- helps in controlling acidity and gastritis.
  • Antiulcerogenic– As per the property it gives a soothing effect to the ulcerative patients and helps in healing the ulcers as well.
  • Mucolytic– This property of Arjuna helps in controlling and treating the formation and excretion of mucus through stool.
  • Astringent– This property of Arjuna helps in controlling and managing the blood loss in the ulcerative Antitoxin– Arjun helps in removing the accumulation of toxins in the form of Ama.
  • Antihemorrhagic– Helps to control the excessive bleeding in the ulcerative patients.

Health Benefits of Arjuna

  • As Arjun is cooling, strengthening, soothing, and nutritive by nature which makes it helpful and useful in pacifying the aggravated Pitta Dosha. It also helps in gastritis and severe burning. The use of Arjuna increases the metabolism, production of enzymes which are required and are helpful in digestion, restores and refreshes the functioning of the liver.
  • Arjuna tree has calcium, copper, magnesium, and zinc which are inbuilt in it which gives it the properties of healing wounds Hence it stop the bleeding, heal the ulcers in the digestive tract, control diarrhea, improve hemoglobin levels in the blood, remove toxins from the body, reduce inflammation, and make the body strong.

Along with ulcerative colitis it is also useful in many other health issues and they are-

  • Coronary artery disease.
  • Heart failure.
  • Hypercholesterolemia.
  • Hemorrhages.
  • Edema due to heart disease.
  • Asthma.
  • Leucorrhea.
  • Obesity.

Heartburn

  • Due to the formation of Ama the digestive fire is affected which disturbs the digestive system causing heartburn. Intake of Arjuna will remove the Ama and ease the heartburn problem.

Gastritis

  • Due to poor digestion the food is undigested which leads to the formation of gas Arjuna helps in it.

Peptic ulcers

  • The use of Arjuna in it will control the bleeding, heal ulcers and remove the toxins.

Wounds & Skin Ulcers

  • Terminalia arjuna is used for treating wounds and skin ulcers. The use of the herb kills microbes, especially several strains of bacteria, and promotes wound healing.

Dysentery

  • Terminalia arjuna is very helpful in treating dysentery when given in combination. This herb reduces bleeding in stools, the frequency of defecation, and eradicates the infection.

Atherosclerosis

  • Terminalia arjuna herb has anti-atherogenic and hypolipidemic properties which makes it useful in reducing low-grade inflammation of the blood vessels and the antihyperlipidemic action of the herb lowers down the serum concentration of total cholesterol. It also reduces the atherogenic index.

Hemorrhages & Bleeding Disorders

  • Presence of astringents substances in Arjuna Bark has anti-hemorrhagic property, which helps to reduce the bleeding. Arjuna herb is commonly used in Ayurveda for treating bleeding disorders with a combination of other herbs.
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March 13, 2019

Yogic Exercise and Pranayam to keep Heart Health

Introduction

Doing yogic exercises is the best way to enhance your body’s flexibility, strengthen your muscles, boost stamina, erase stress from your mind, get more disciplined and rejuvenate the whole body. Yoga helps in cleaning the whole body, both from inside and from outside, boosting your immune system and keep a check on the health of other organs.

It enhances the blood circulation as well as it is a tonic for weight loss, a major problem the whole world is facing these days. Any posture you choose, enhances your heart’s health. Most of its postures require you to be stagnant at a particular position with deep breathing. Today we are going to discuss some of the yogic exercises and pranayams that help in keeping the heart healthy.

Yoga for Healthy Heart

Anjali Mudra:

  • Just like you do namaste, sit cross legged on the floor with your palms together and your fingers stretching out near the center of your chest (heart chakra). This posture represents the harmony of your body’s both sides,left & right. Now close your eyes at a snail’s pace and inhale slowly & deeply, hold your breath for as long as you can and then exhale slowly. Keep repeating this pattern for a few minutes, the longer, the better.

Anjali mudra

The Warrior Pose (Veerabhadr-asana):

  • This posture means going into a mountain pose. Stretch one of your legs to the backside, but the leg has to be straight and the other leg should be carried forward and bend at a 90° and stretch your hands with palms joined right above your head towards the sky (or the roof, if you are exercising in the indoors). Now inhale slowly & deeply with closed eyes and hold your breath and hold it for as long as you can and exhale slowly. Repeat this pattern for some time.
  • You can do this posture in another way, here you bring your folded hands in front of your chest. Bring your back side leg to point outwards, while your folded leg remains at the original position. Now stretch your hands outside that they are parallel to the earth but are stretched farthest.
  • Now close your eyes and inhale slowly & deeply, hold your breath for some time and exhale slowly. This pattern can be done by altering the both legs. Spend some time doing these postures. It will help in retaining heart’s health.

The Bridge Pose (Setu Bandhasana):

  • Lie on your back, with hands stretched out sideways. Fold your knees and raise your body from the pelvis area. Stay there for as long as you can or take the support of your hands if you are finding staying at that position is getting difficult. Inhale slowly when you are rising your body, try to hold for as long as you can, exhale while coming back or when your body remains up. This posture is extremely beneficial for your thighs, hips, stomach and back.

Triangular Pose (Trikonasana):

  • Begin by stretching you left leg out. Now stretch your left hand that it touches your left foot and your torso comes above the left leg and is parallel to the earth, now rotate your face and your eyes look at the sky (or the roof, if you are exercising in the indoors).
  • Stretch the right hand keeping the arm straight to the other side, towards the sky. Hold on for some seconds or minutes and do deep breathing. You can also alter the legs & arms.

Surya namaskar;

  • A very popular and widely practiced posture, surya namaskar means saluting the Sun. It has 12 different poses that enhance the health of different organs, and boosts the health of the whole body. All these 12 poses are encompassed into one posture, known as surya namaskar,. You have to stay stagnant in such poses and breath deeply and at a sluggish pace.

Surya namaskar

Bhujang-asana (cobra pose)

  • This is a pose which works wonderfully for spine, shoulder, abdomen, also relieves your stress & fatigue. Lie down on your stomach while keeping your hands on the ground, right next to your chest. Now slowly lift the front of your body upwards after getting the help of your hands. Hold it when your arms become straight. Concentrate on your breathing and feel  the stretch in your abdomen, also feel the fatigue going through your spine and vanishes in the hips.

Seated Forward Pose (Paschimottasana):

  • Just sit on the floor with legs stretched, but both are joined together. Now try to reach the feet with your hands, without folding your legs at the knees. Bend so much that your head comes over your knees, keep practicing,
  • One fine day you can touch your forehead with your knees. This pose is great for enhancing the flexibility. It facilitates by bringing down a fast heart beat and relaxes your whole body. When your hands touch your feet, try deep breathing.

The Mountain Pose (Tadasana):

  • This one is very easy to do and is one of the basic ones. This pose eradicates stress and concentrates more on deep breathing. Stand with your legs slightly apart, bring your hands folded near the chest. Take deep breaths and stretch your body.

Savasana:

  • Just lie on your back with arms resting alongside body and palms facing the sky or roof. Let your ankles fall outward. Inhale slowly, but deeply as you feel melting into the floor with every breath, than exhale sluggishly. Do this pose for more than 5 minutes.

Natural Ways to Prevent Heart Disease

  • If you have a difficulty in doing these different postures, take the help of yoga expert. Planet Ayurveda’s Heart Care Pack is wonderful in heart related ailments. Take Planet Ayurveda’s Heart Care Pack, which is made from the extracts of best quality, herbal plants.
  • It is 100% made of natural & authentic herbal, which is free from any chemicals, additives and preservatives. It is the best remedy for your heart to function normally and it doesn’t cost a fortune. Well, what are you waiting for? Its available online at planetayurvda.com
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