Ayurvedic Herbs: Health Benefits of Ayurvedic Herbs Dosage, and Interactions

Ayurveda's core principle is to strike a balance between the body, mind, and environment to prevent and cure health ailments. Ayurvedic herbs such as Amalaki,(Indian gooseberry) bibhitaki, and bacopa monnieri play a vital role in the science of Ayurveda—India's traditional medicinal system. Ayurvedic herbs detoxify the body, boost disease resistance, and keep the mind, body, and spirit in tune with each other. Ayurvedic herbs are rarely used on their own; they are usually used as part of a specifically crafted wellness plan that includes nutrition, yoga, massage, aromatherapy, and meditation along with other therapies.

In Ayurveda, a patient can be treated at a holistic level, and not just at a level of a specific disease or injury. It makes use of more than a thousand plants to treat ailments, using medicinal ingredients derived from various parts of trees like the leaves, roots, flowers, and bark, but before delving deep into the world of Ayurvedic herbs and their benefits, let’s understand the science of Ayurveda.

The Science of Ayurveda

Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine, is the science and knowledge of life. The three principal books of Ayurveda, Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, and Astanga Hridaya, known as the Great Trilogy of Ayurveda, were published in Sanskrit over 2,000 years ago. Ayurvedic medicine has been practiced in India for about 5,000 years, based on three basic principles known as doshas, namely Vata, Pitta, and Kapha.

It is believed that the five fundamental elements of the universe unite in human bodies to generate these three forces of life. Individualized treatments in Ayurveda are crafted for people considering their unique mental and physical constitution and balance of these three doshas in their bodies. According to Ayurvedic practice, the doshas in each person's body must be brought back in the state of balance or equilibrium to treat that person at a holistic level.

Important Ayurvedic Herbs

Ayurvedic herbal therapies are classified based on their health benefits, such as pain-relieving herbs, adaptogens, immunity-boosting herbs, and so on. Ayurvedic herbs have numerous benefits, in fact, they act as home remedies. They balance your doshas and entirely cure all existing ailments in the body while addressing your health holistically. As a result, in addition to the main problem, ayurvedic treatment helps to cure all of your underlying health conditions. They boost immunity and strengthen the body's natural healing system, which leads to well-being improved fitness, and strength.

• Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a herbal plant with thick, prickly, spotted leaves, green in color, which is commonly planted in houses and has a lot of herbal remedies. According to the Ayurvedic scriptures, it is beneficial in blood purifying and toxin-releasing and has anti-aging properties. aloe vera soothes heat-induced headaches and its cooling properties make it an effective herb for treating burns, including sunburns, unintentional human-caused skin burns, and those caused naturally because of skin overheating from within. Depending on how one consumes it, aloe vera is also a perfect moisturizing and hydrating agent for the head, skin, and body. It is also rich in purgative (or laxative) properties and is beneficial for people suffering from constipation by assisting in proper bowel movement.

Aloe vera juice and gel are ingested orally. There is no standard dose for aloe vera, therefore, the risk of side effects varies depending upon the age, weight loss journey, and current health being status of the user. Side effects like skin irritation and redness are possible, but they are usually very minor. People who are allergic to garlic or onion might develop allergies and are advised to stop the usage at once if they face any such side effects.

• Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha, a major ayurvedic herb, has been used for thousands of years now to reduce stress and inflammation and boost libido. This small woody shrub plant needs abundant sunlight to grow and its roots and leaves are used as an aphrodisiac and a sedative.

Ashwagandha is a combination of two Sanskrit words, Ashwa, which means horse, and Gandha, which means smell. According to the traditional ayurvedic description, Ashwagandha can help gain the strength and stamina of a horse while nourishing the reproductive and nervous systems.

Its roots are used for preparing ayurvedic remedies and can be consumed in the form of a powder, tablet, or liquid extract. It can also be taken with or without food at any time. Ashwagandha boosts the immune system, enhances memory and cognition, improves sleep patterns, maintains normal testosterone levels in males, and improves the health of our hearts.

• Brahmi
  

  

Brahmi is a traditional ayurvedic herb that has been used specifically to treat neurological disorders but it also has numerous medicinal properties that are anti-aging and help in curing epilepsy, anxiety, and stomach ailments. It improves memory and is used as a general tonic to fight stress. Brahmi plants prefer consistently moist to wet soil and can even be grown in water gardens. The leaves of Brahmi are considered very pure and effective as it works to improve memory, concentration, and intelligence, and at the same time reduces stress and depression by keeping in check symptoms like hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It also works as a great antioxidant and helps to fight cancer-producing cells.

If taken medically, Brahmi may have some side effects and can interact adversely with other medications. It is advised to consume ayurvedic herbs like Brahmi only under the guidance of authorized practitioners.

• Triphala

Triphala is a blend of three Ayurvedic herbs - Amla, Chebulic Myrobalan, Centella Asiatica, and Belleric Myrobalan) have antioxidant properties that neutralize free radicals and protect cells from any damage caused over time. It helps to develop immunity against many age-related ailments, from heart diseases, active brain function to cancer. Triphala is regarded as a tridoshic Rasayana in Ayurvedic medicine, which means it contains characteristics that support all three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha). These properties of Triphala help improve strength and immunity and is complementary to people with obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, stabilizes blood sugar levels, cures eczema, flatulence, diabetes and improves their digestive health. This tridoshic Rasayana helps with stress relief, inflammation relief, and the treatment of many bacterial and fungal illnesses.

Triphala comes in powder, liquid, syrup, extract, capsule, and tablet form, and has become widely available both offline and online markets. It is a laxative that can induce gas, bloating or cramps in some people. If diarrhea or other adverse effects occur, it is suggested to reduce the dose when the symptoms are minor, but if things don't get better, one should stop consuming it altogether.

• Shatavari 

Shatavari, popularly known as the "Queen of Herbs," is a medicinal plant that has saponins, which contain antioxidant qualities. This plant has hundreds of fusiform roots that are succulent, tuberous, and spindle-shaped, as the name suggests. The roots of this plant are rich in therapeutic properties and are widely utilized in the preparation of ayurvedic formulas. It strengthens the immune system and is extremely beneficial to the female reproductive system. Shatavari has been used as a hormone balancer and general tonic to improve female health and libido for eons.

Ayurveda, the holistic science of herbal medicines, has frequently mentioned this herb for various ailments in several ayurvedic scriptures because of its health benefits such as improving stomach fire, regulating digestion, stimulating appetite, improving breathing, preventing nausea and vomiting, rejuvenating the entire body, improving muscle strength, relieving cough and sore throat, treating heart and eye problems, trapping infertility, and numerous others.

The appropriate therapeutic dosage of Shatavari varies from person to person and is determined by the patient's age, bodily strength, appetite, the severity of the condition, et cetera. It is strongly recommended to seek the advice of an Ayurveda practitioner, who would assess the patient's symptoms and recommend dosage accordingly.

• Neem 
  
  
  

The term "Neem" is derived from the Sanskrit word “Nimba”, which means "provider of good health." It is a well-known herb due to its bitter flavor and exceptional healing powers. It is used to treat a wide range of diseases and is present in nearly 75% of Ayurvedic medicines. It is often referred to as the wonder plant because of its various benefits for almost every part of the human body. It contains up to 130 physiologically active compounds that aid in the improvement of various body regions' health. Thus, it is an important ayurvedic herb for holistic health improvement. 

Especially during the monsoons, infections are more prevalent, and skin and hair require particular care. The change in weather might cause your scalp's pH balance to shift, leaving your hair oily, frizzy, or prone to dandruff. Neem's antimicrobial characteristics help to cure pimples and black or whiteheads and aid in the treatment of minor skin and hair conditions, such as rashes, irritation, burns, infections, dandruff, dry scalp, and many more.

Owing to its anti-inflammatory properties, neem is great for intestinal health as well because it calms the entire digestive tract. It improves blood circulation and its antibacterial and antifungal properties help to reduce plaque buildup as well as the microorganisms that cause gum diseases.

Conclusion

In ancient times, over more than 3000 years, only 1200 to 1500 plants that are utilized for therapeutic reasons in the Indian subcontinent have been included in the official ayurvedic pharmacopeia. Boswellia, Gotu Kola, Licorice, Manjistha, Amla, Haritaki, Cumin, Turmeric, Bitter Melon, Cardamom, and many other ayurvedic herbs are highly significant in Ayurveda therapies, in addition to the aforementioned important ayurvedic herbs.

Ayurvedic medicines have been utilized to cure a wide range of ailments, some of which were previously thought to be incurable by other medical disciplines. The leaves, flowers, fruits, seeds, roots, bark, and resin of these plants are all utilized to make medicine. These herbal medications have the potential to sustain mental and spiritual equilibrium; thus, mindfully include ayurvedic herbs in your lifestyle and witness their life-altering effects!

Authored By: Bhavishya Pahwa

About the Author : Bhavishya Pahwa is a budding writer who has always confided in a pen. He believes that art is a cure-all and that introspection followed by writing can add to the sanity of the world.