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Arjuna is an unique herb
that helps in maintenance of a healthy heart and reduction of nervousness ,
stressand anxiety. Vagbhatta was the first acharya to prescribe the use of
arjuna bark in treating cardio vascular diseases. Later
Chakradutta described it as a heart tonic.Bhava Mishra Nighantukara
recognised the bark as possessing some cooling, cardiotonic, wound healing
and intoxicating effects.
Morphology
Arjuna is a large size
deciduous tree. The height of the Arjuna tree reaches upto 60 -85 feet. It
is an evergreen tree with the yellow flowers and conical leaves. It has a
smooth gray bark. Fruit is 2.5 -3.5 cm long, fibrous woody, glabrous with 5
hard wings, striated with numerous curved veins. It has a buttressed trunk
and a vast spreading crown from which the branches drop downwards. Its
leaves are dull green above and pale brown beneath oblong or elliptic oblong
in shape. At the base of the lamina two glands are present .Arjuna flowers between
March to June and fruits between September to November. Flowers are green
with star like spikes and smooth calyces .Fruits are truncate fibrous and
woody.
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Useful parts: Stem,
Bark
Chemical composition:
The bark is rich in saponnins, natural
anti-oxidants (flavonoids-arjunone, arjunolone, leteilin) gallic acid,
ellagic acid, oligomeric proanthocyanidins, phytosterols, rich in minerals
like calcium, magnesium,zinc and copper.
It also contains triterpine
glycosides such as arjunetosides I, II, III, IV, arjunine and arjunetein.
Medicinal Properties:
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Hypolipidemic action - reduces LDL-cholesterol
levels and helps in recovering HDL components in hyperlipidemia.
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It has salutary effect
in cases of liver cirrhosis.
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Hypotensive- Due to diuretic property
and hypolipidemic activity, it helps in reducing hypertension.
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It is astringent, cooling and used as a
cardiac tonic.
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It has Prostaglandin enhancing &
Coronary risk modulating properties.
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It also has Aphrodisiac property.
Medicinal uses:
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Cardiomyopathy like Myocardial
infraction, Angina ,Coronary artery disease, Heart failure,
Hypercholesterolemia , Hypertension.
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Used as an Ischemic &
Cardioprotective
agent in Hypertension & Ischemic heart disease (IHD).
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Bark powder of Arjuna has diuretic
properties that cures cirrhosis.
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Juice of leaves is used in ear ache (Otalgia)
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Arjuna leaves are used to cover Ulcers
& Sores externally.
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The powder of bark works well in Acne
when applied as a paste mixed with honey.
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Arjuna bark ash is used in Scorpian
sting.
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Hot infusion of powder of bark treats
Asthma.
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The decoction of bark helps in treating
Diarrhoea, Dysentry
Dose: Powder 3 – 6 gm,
Ksheerpaka 50- 100 ml
Important formulations: Arjunarishta
, Arjuna churna, Arjuna ghrita
Precaution:
Arjuna supplements must not be consumed
by obese people as it adds fats content to the body. This may make the
cardiovascular condition even more severe. |
