Arjunarishta: Benefits, Uses, Side Effects & More
What Is Arjunarishta?
Arjunarishta has been a herbal preparation for cardiac health for over 1,000 years. Arjunarishta is an ayurvedic herbal combination made from arjuna bark and other herbal components.
Arjunarishta was traditionally used as a cardiotonic by Ayurvedic practitioners to maintain heart health and cure heart-related problems. It is advisable to add arjunarishta for heart health, blood pressure and other cardiac disorders.
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Arjunarishta Uses
● Anti-ischemic
Arjunarishta is cardioprotective due to its anti-ischemic properties.
● Strong Antioxidant
Antioxidants in this preparation neutralize unstable molecules called free radicals.
● Hypolipidemic
Herbs in arjunarishta may help to lower cholesterol and triglycerides. It's beneficial to use arjunarishta for cholesterol control.
● Antiatherogenic
If the question is, is arjunarishta beneficial for blockages? Yes, it prevents blockages and atherosclerosis.
● Cancer protective
Ingredients of arjunarishta may have some anticancer properties that prevent cancers.
● Antianginal (angina pectoris)
Herbal tonic is known to support cardiac health. Thus arjunarishta is beneficial in angina pectoris.
● Anti asthmatic
The components of arjunarishta reduce lung inflammation.
Ingredients Used in Arjunarishta
● Arjuna tvak bark (Terminalia arjuna bark)
● Dhataki Pushpa (Woodfordia fruticosa flowers)
● Madhuka Pushpa (Madhuca Indica flowers)
● Mridvika or draksha or dry grapes (Vitis vinifera)
● Guda or jaggery
● Water for decoction
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Benefits of the Ingredients Used
● Arjuna bark
Vagbhata mentions arjuna bark in the treatment of wounds, blood pressure, preventing haemorrhages and ulcers. The ayurvedic texts of Acharya Nityanandam Shree have written that Arjuna bark strengthens the nerves and improves the heart's performance. Apart from heart health, this plant is beneficial in treating chronic respiratory problems, diabetes, and fat loss.
● Dhataki Pushpa
These medicinal herbs have immuno-modulatory properties. This flower is known to strengthen the immune system. It is beneficial in treating wounds and skin infections. Dhataki Pushpa helps in treating piles, diarrhoea, dysentery, white discharge in women, migraine, and type 2 diabetes.
● Madhuka Pushpa (Madhuca Indica flowers)
The Madhuca Indica tree's flower extracts are known to soothe inflammatory skin disorders. Madhuca flowers provide relief from itching and burning caused by burns, scalds, and eczema.
● Mridvika or draksha
Mridvika, also known as draksha, is a dry grape. Grapes are beneficial for the treatment of eye, cancer and heart diseases.
Dry grapes are also rich in vitamins and minerals. This is the reason grapes are good during fever, anaemia and acidosis. The fibre content of mridvika helps in constipation relief.
● Gud or jaggery
The addition of gud or jaggery to this combination gives arjunarishta syrup a sweet flavour. Arjunarishta syrup gets thick consistency due to jaggery. Jaggery aids in the fermentation process. Jaggery is a potent health booster that increases immunity. Jaggery improves digestion and relieves constipation.
Arjunarishta Benefits
1) Maintains cardiac health
The Arjuna plant's bark extract has hypotensive and inotropic properties, which enhance coronary artery flow. The cardiotonic features improve abnormal heart rhythms. arjunarishta benefits cardiac health both in bradycardia and tachycardia. For an irregular heartbeat, Ayurveda recommends taking the arjunarishta syrup with other herbal formulations.
2) Regulating blood pressure
Arjunarishta syrup is a natural antihypertensive medication that helps to regulate blood pressure. Arjunarishta benefits in both high and low blood pressure situations. For fluctuating blood pressure, start taking arjunarishta for heart benefits and stable blood pressure. It is recommended to use arjunarishta for cholesterol reduction.
3) Treating kidney dysfunction
Arjunarishta is known to prevent gout by excreting excess uric acid. Arjunarishta benefits the kidney with its anti lithiasis (stone forming) properties. Arjunarishta syrup may also treat polycystic kidneys and cystitis.
4) Treatment of respiratory disorders
Respiratory benefits are lesser-known arjunarishta uses. Arjunarishta is useful in the treatment of cold, cough, asthma, and bronchitis.
5) Enhancing male fertility
Arjuna bark and the herbs in it enhance spermatogenic properties. Its antioxidant properties improve male hormone production. Improving spermatogenesis and male fertility is one of the arjunarishta uses.
How to Take Arjunarishta?
One must know how to take arjunarishta before using it. It is advisable to take this syrup with lukewarm water or milk. Those who don't know how to take arjunarishta must take guidance from an ayurvedic doctor.
Dosage
The dosage of arjunarishta should not exceed 60ml in one day. Ideally, the medicine is divided into two doses per day.
● Children (5 years and above) 10 ml
● Adults 20 ml
● Seniors 20 ml
Effect on Doshas
The herbal tonic's herbal constituents elevate Vata (air) doshas. At the same time, this concoction balances Pitta (fire and air) and Kapha (earth and water) doshas.
Arjunarishta Side Effects
There is limited research on arjunarishta side effects. According to research on arjunarishta, it may cause some adverse effects.
Arjunarishta side effects include nausea, body ache, headache, and constipation.
Arjunarishta is not suitable for pregnant and breastfeeding women. People with diabetes should consult a doctor before consuming arjunarishta because of the increased amount of jaggery in the tonic.
References:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21315570/