Ayurveda- Cardiac care in Ayurveda

Terminalia arjuna

I have come across T.arjuna, a significant drug of choice in Ayurvedic Cardiac Care several times during my second professional BAMS- DravyaGunaVijnana (Ayurvedic Pharmacology) lectures,field visits,practicals etc. We had even  2 or 3 Arjuna trees in our college herbal garden though  not fully grown.After graduating, when I got exposed to field of practise of Ayurvedic Medicine I came across the power of this particular herb especially in the area of Cardiac Care.In Malayalam its called 'Neermaruthu.'

Identification
Quite simple coz they are commonly found almost throughout Kerala. Often they are seen planted on sidewalks of some roads.The young leaves,as I have observed are mostly pigmented in red or brown,long,elliptic and seen in sub opposite arrangement.Flowers yellowish white in spikes and with winged fruits which are seasonal.

Clinical Importance
Apart from its widely accepted Cardiotonic or Hrdya activity,Arjuna has been used in Ayurveda for  treating conditions such as Fracture-Bhagna,Skin lesions-Kushta,Diabetes-Prameha etc...

  Useful Part
  Bark

Some Important Ayurvedic Formulations
Partharishtam

Research
As Ayurveda  is a time tested science research studies and its results can be conveniently used for convincing those folks outside its reach. Any ways am enlisting a few I found interesting and while going through for the same purpose.

i) An experimental study was carried out in 50 dogs by ligating coronary artery and T.arjuna decoction was administered(25 dogs in each group).At the end of the experiment  the histopathological study revealed that Arjuna significantly regenerated t he cardiac tissues in the infarcted area.After carrying out the  coronary angiography in dos treated with Arjuna it was noticed that new vessels developed.(Gupta,1972)

ii) Ethanolic extract of bark reduced Total Cholesterol,LDL and TG levels with out adverse effects on liver and kidney.(Ram Et al.1997).


Mode of Administration
Ksheerapaka or Decoction with milk is the best form of administration for Hridroga(Cardiac disorders).


Adverse effects
As its Hypotensive and Diuretic effects it should be administered under the advice of an Ayurvedic Practitioner only.