Iron is very important trace mineral required by our body. It is required for energy metabolism, protein synthesis, oxygen transport, cell growth, normal brain function, enzyme reactions and gene regulation. But it is also a fact that the most prevalent nutritional deficiency among all age group and gender is iron deficiency.

Range of haemoglobin

The normal range of haemoglobin for children is 11-13 gm/dL. The same for adult male is 14-18 gm/dL and for female is 12-6 gm/dL. Haemoglobin level less than this range indicates anaemia.

Problems cause by Iron deficiency

Deficiency of iron in body causes decreased work capacity, low immunity, low IQ, delayed brain maturation, weakness, fatigue, impaired temperature regulation and recurrent body infections.

Anemia during pregnancy can cause retarded foetal growth, increased risk of pregnancy complications and even premature delivery. There are few symptoms that signals the deficiency of iron in body.

Symptoms of Anaemia

• Weakness, lethargy, extreme fatigue or tiredness
• Thin, brittle and white finger nails with spoon-shaped appearance
• Pale skin on the lining of the eyes, the inner mouth and nails
• Reduced immunity and recurrent infections
• Rapid and forceful heartbeat
• Shortness of breath during exercise
• Sore, smooth and reddened tongue
• Angular stomatitis (cracks at mouth corners)
• Low appetite and taste disturbances
• Desire to eat non-foods (such as ice, paint or dirt or pica)
• Abdominal pain, frequent headache, brittle hair
• Ringing in ears
• Restless leg syndrome

If iron deficiency is suspected then it is better to ascertain this condition through blood tests, haemoglobin level measurements and manage the same through supplements and dietary changes.

There is a very common condition characterised by cracks or red fissures at corner of mouth. Initially small cracks appears which gradually becomes deep inflamed fissures. Sometimes scaling and fissuring of upper and lower lips can appear. This causes soreness, burning, pain and discomfort. These can be either on one side or both sides.

This clinical condition is called angular cheilitis, cheilosis or angular stomatitis. This condition is common in individual suffering from nutritional deficiency, debilitated person, diabetic and person taking antibiotics for long duration. This problem can be symptom of nutritional deficiency of iron and vitamin B complex (especially riboflavin and pyridoxine).

The treatment of angular stomatitis involves taking vitamin B complex group and adding more vitamin B2 in daily diet.

Food source of this vitamins are soybeans, milk, egg, cheese, yogurt, spinach, avocados, asparagus, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and nuts.

For getting relief from pain and discomfort lip balms, medicated chap sticks, creams, Vaseline can be applied.

In case cracks become infected, an OTC broad spectrum antibiotic ointment such as Neosporin can be applied 4-5 times per day. There are few other topical antifungal creams which can be used as ointment.

Somnath Ras is herbo-mineral Ayurvedic medicine indicated in treatment of Soma-roga (diabetes), leucorrhoea and urinary problems. It is alterative, tonic and rasayana. Some pharmacies such as Baidyanath prepare this medicine with Swarna (gold) and Rajat (silver) Bhasma. Due to diabetes there is continuous loss of nutrients from body that causes weakness, fatigue, low energy, burning in hands and feet, pain in body etc. In such conditions Somnatha rasa is taken with Prawal bhasma, Sitopaladi churna, Shudha Shilajit and honey.

Ingredients of Somnath Ras

Shudh (purified) Parad, Shudh Gandhak, Loh Bhasma, Ela, Tamalpatra, Haridra, Daruharidra, Jambu, Usheer, Gokshur, Vidang, Jeerak , Patha, Amalaki, Dadim Twak, Shudh Tankan, Shwet-Chandan, Shudh Guggul, Lodhra, Shaal Twak, Arjun Twak, Rasanjan, processed in goat milk

Uses of Somnath Ras

• Urinary problems
• Polyuria (excessive or abnormally large production or passage of urine)
• Obstruction to urine passage
• Hastimeha (continuous urine discharge without force and mixed with lymph)
• Ikshumeha (urine solidifies if left for some time)
• Lalmeha (slimy urine)
• Leucorrhoea
• Gonorrhoea

Dosage of Somnath Ras

125-250 mg with honey twice a day or as directed by physician.

Black Pepper or Kali Mirch is native to south-western India. Nowadays black pepper is cultivated in tropical regions around the world. It is dried unripe fruit of trailing vine Piper nigrum. Everyone is familiar with its use as spice and condiment. In Ayurveda it is used in formulation of various medicine useful in treating digestive and respiratory disorders. In Sanskrit it is called Maricha. It is one of the three herbs used in formulation of Trikatu churna.

Pepper has stimulant, antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-parasitic, antidepressant, antifungal, anti-diarrhoeal, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-spermatogenic, antitumor, anti-thyroid, digestive, diuretic, liver stimulant, and nervine activities.

Black pepper is light, dry, pungent, bitter and hot in potency. It increases pitta and decreases vaat and kapha. It is useful in treating respiratory and digestive problems.
Pepper is an excellent herb to improve digestive fire, appetite and cleansing of liver. Piperine, present in black pepper can stimulate the digestive enzymes of pancreas and intestines, also increases biliary bile acid secretion and production of saliva. Piperine also prevents and minimize diarrhoea produced by various oil and chemicals. Black pepper also stimulates nervous system. It has anti-parasitic action and cures intestinal parasites. In case of fever it causes perspiration and brings down the fever.

The standard dosage of black pepper is approximately 500 mg to 1 gm, eaten twice and thrice a day.

Latin name: Piper nigrum Linn
Family: Piperaceae

Vernacular name

Here are some simple remedies to treat various digestion problems with black pepper

• For treating gastric causing pain in cardiac region, abdominal gas, Vishamagni (irregularity in digestion), Mandagni (weakness of digestion):
  Take a cup of water and squeeze lemon (1/2). Now add black pepper (5-6) powder. Drink this preparation twice a day after meals
• For treating Mandagni (long time taken to digest even the smallest quantity of food, Mandagni is associated with Kapha Dosha):
  Prepare a churna or powder by mixing equal quantity of black pepper powder, dry ginger powder (Sonth), cumin powder and sendha namak. Take this mixed formulation (1 gm) after meals twice a day with lukewarm water.
• For treating indigestion and abdominal gas
  Take powder of black pepper, dry ginger powder, pippali and harad in equal amount. Take 1 gm of this powder with honey.
• For treating intestinal parasite
  In a cup of butter milk, add black pepper (4-6) powder and drink empty stomach in morning.
• For treating food poisoning, vomiting, nausea, diarrhoea
  Grind black pepper (4-8) and add in butter (1 teaspoon). Take this in small doses at frequent intervals.

Black Pepper is known as king of spices. It is a spice which is well known all over the world. Pepper is present in our kitchen and is used almost every day in food preparation. In term of international trade of spices, black pepper is highest among all other spices. It is used for variety of purposes.

Black pepper is prescribed as an effective cure for indigestion, fever, delirium (acute confusional state), piles etc. You may be wondering how much black pepper to take in a day for using this condiment for medicinal purpose. The standard dosage of black pepper is approximately 500 mg to 1g, eaten twice and thrice a day.

Latin name: Piper nigrum Linn
Family: Piperaceae
English: Black Pepper
Ayurvedic:  Maricha, Vellaja, Uushna, Suvrrita, Krishnaa
Unani: Filfil Siyaah, Safed
Siddha/Tamil: Milagu, Milaguver (root)
Habitat: Native of the Indo-Malaysian region; cultivated in Western Ghats, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Assam and Kerala

Recipe of Pepper tea

• Boil a cup of water on stove.
• Add black pepper powder ¼ -1/2 teaspoon in this boiling water.
• You may also add ginger juice (optional).
• Boil for 2-3 minutes.
• Steep for few minutes.
• Add honey and drink as tea twice or thrice a day.

Benefits of Pepper tea

• Antioxidant, reduces free radicals
• Gives relief in symptom of cold, cough, respiratory problems and fever
• Relieves pain during menstruation
• Good for improving digestion, appetite and digestive system problems such as gas, diarrhoea
• Increases bile acid secretion from liver and saliva production

Caution while taking Black pepper

Individual having pitta prakrati should take pepper cautiously as it increases pitta inside body.
Persons suffering from ulcers, inflammatory condition of digestive organ, urticaria, skin rash, and high pitta should avoid black pepper use as it can aggravate the problems.

Balchaturbhadra Churna is poly-herbal Ayurvedic digestive tonic for kids.  It is useful in treating cold, cough, loose motions etc in children. It is a safe and effective medicine for routine digestive complaints of children. It improves digestion, immunity and promotes healthy physical growth.

Balchaturbhadra Churna is prepared from four medicinal herbs viz.  Motha, Ativish, Pippali and kakar singhi. All four herbs are taken in equal proportion and dried.  The dried herbs are pulverized for few times till a fine powder or churna is obtained. This powder is called Balchaturbhadra Churna.

This medicine is also available in form of syrup which is known as Balchaturbhadra Syrup. The syrup is has same ingredients as of churna. The dose of syrup is 5-10 drops (6 month baby), 10-20 drops (for 6-12 months baby) for 3-4 times a day before feed or as directed by physician.

Ingredients of Balchaturbhadra Churna

Aconitum Heterophyllum, Pistacia Integerrima, Piper Longum, Cyperus rotendus

Uses of Balchaturbhadra Churna

• Diarrhoea (atisaar), dysentery
• Nausea, vomiting
• Asthma, Cough, common cold (zukham), fever
• Improves appetite, digestion and immunity
• Promotes proper nutrient absorption and growth
• Anti-spasmodic and carminative action which gives relief in abdominal gas, pain
• Protects child from recurrent infections

Dosage of Balchaturbhadra Churna

0.25 gm (for age: 1 year ), 0.5 gm (1-8 years),  1 gm (8-15 years) of churna thrice a day with honey depending on weight of child or as directed by physician.
In case of children exact dose of medicine is dependent on age and weight of child which is prescribed by physician.

Punarnavadi Kashayam is polyherbal Ayurvedic medicine indicated in various diseases. This medicine is also known as Punarnavadi Kwath/kvath. It has diuretic action and useful in inflammatory conditions, edema, swelling etc.  In various diseases Punarnavadi Kashayam is given in combination of other medicines.  In endometriosis, this medicine is given in combination of chandraprabha vatika to cure pain and inflammation in pelvic region.

Kashayam are concentrated decoction of medicinal herbs prepared in water. The usual dosage of Kashayam is about twelve ml of decoction in four times water. If the kwath is available in form of powder then decoction is prepared by boiling churna in recommended amount of water. Nowadays, kwath are also available in tablet form for easy administration. Such tablets are prepared by concentrating decoction till they can be given pill shape.  Generally one tablet is equivalent to 5-6 ml of decoction and at a time 2-3 tablets are taken twice a day.

Ingredients of Punarnavadi Kashayam

Boerhaavia diffusa, Cedrus deodara, Curcuma longa, Picrorrhiza kurroa, Trichosanthes dioica, Terminalia chebula, Azadirachta indica, Cyperus rotundus, Zingiber  officinale, Tinospora cordifolia

Uses of Punarnavadi Kashayam

• Urogenital disorder
• Fluid retention, swelling, Ascites
• Renal diseases
• Fever, cough, Dyspnoea, Bronchial complaints
• General weakness, anaemia

Dosage of Punarnavadi Kashayam

12 ml of decoction twice a day before meals or as directed by physician.

Kashayam/ qwath tablet is made from 12gms of crude drug and is equivalent to 6ml of concentrated qwath/ kashayam.

What is the recommended dosage?

We recommend a dosage of 2-3 tablets twice daily before food with hot water.

Respiratory infections are very common during weather change. Here is a recipe of powder or churna which you can prepare at home to get relief from common respiratory infections such as common cold, coughing, hoarseness of voice, asthma, difficult breathing, bronchitis etc.

The formulation is easy and requires only two ingredients viz. black pepper powder and mishri.  Mishri is Rock Candy or Crystal Sugar. It is a type of confectionery composed of relatively large sugar crystals. It has demulcent action that helps to ease coughing by soothing the bronchial tension and gives relief in any type of cough.

The other ingredient is black pepper (Piper nigrum) or kali mirch, which is very well known for its medicinal qualities. It has antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-asthmatic, spasmolytic (able to relieve spasm of smooth muscle) and bronchodilatory effect. Black pepper is very useful in treating asthma, cough, cold, fever, and other respiratory diseases. So the combination of black pepper and sugar candy works effectively against respiratory diseases.

The process involves grinding black peppercorns repeatedly to get very fine powder. This powder is sieved through thin cloth. Now in this powder add Mishri or sugar powder in equal amount. Store this powder in air tight container.

The dosage of this powder is 1-2 gms twice a day with honey. Honey further enhances its affectivity.  You may also take this powder while suffering from asthmatic attack, coughing, difficult breathing to stop such sudden attack.

Kalyanavaleha is poly-herbal Ayurvedic preparation. This medicine is referenced from Bhaishajya Ratnavali and indicated in problems related to speech and memory. It is said in Bhaishajya Ratnavali that a person who takes this medicine for 21 days in recommended dosage develops great memory and voice. He can remember each word that has been uttered for only one time. 

Ingredients and preparation of Kalyana Avaleha

Take ten gram, fine powder of each Haldi (Turmeric), Vacha (Acorus calamus), Kushta (Saussurea lappa), Pippali (Piper longum), Shunti (Dry ginger powder), Jeera (Cumin seeds), Ajamoda (Trachyspermum roxburghianum), Mulheti (Glycyrrhiza glabra) and Saindhava Lavan (Rock salt). Mix all the powders and triturate their mixture in 200 gm Gau-ghrita. This preparation is Kalyanavaleha.

Uses of Kalyana Avaleha

• Improves memory
• Makes voice smooth and clear
• Removes disturbance of voice
• Cures hoarseness of voice, Aphasia (a language disorder that results from damage to the brain)

Dosage of Kalyanavaleha

12 gm daily in divided dose with lukewarm water or milk for 21 days or more.

Dadimashtaka choornam is poly-herbal Ayurvedic medicine.  This medicine is indicated in treatment of digestive system disorders such as diarrhoea, impaired digestion etc. This powder is prepared from pericarp of pomegranate, anar chilka or Dadima (in Sanskrit) with other medicinal herbs. Pomegranate peel has antibacterial properties and useful in stopping loose motions.

Ingredients of dadimashtaka Churna

Pericarp of punica granatum (Pomegranate peel), mesua ferrea (nagakesara), carum roxburghianum (ajamoda), piper longum (pippali), zingiber officinale (shunti), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), piper cubeba (kabab chini), sugar etc.

Uses of dadimashtaka Churna

• Promotes digestion
• Improves appetite
• Controls loose motion and grahani
• Useful in Sprue syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Malabsorption syndrome, Indigestion

Dosage of dadimashtaka Churna

3-5 gm of churna twice or thrice a day with buttermilk or honey one hour before meal or as directed by physician.

Kushmanda Rasayanam is poly-herbal Ayurvedic formulation useful in treating various diseases. It is semi solid, malleable, sticky preparation, dark brown in colour with spicy odour and pungent, sweet taste. The main ingredient in this formulation is white gourd. White Gourd or white pumpkin is known as Kushmanda in Sanskrit. It contains amino acids, mucins, mineral salts, starch, calcium, vitamin B and C. It offers several health benefits. The other ingredients are pippali, maricha, dhania, tejpatta, elaichi, ghee, honey etc.

Ingredients of Kushmanda Rasayana

White Gourd Benincasa hispida fresh fruit, Gau ghrita, Khanda sugar candy, Pippali Piper longum, Sunthi Dry ginger powder, Shewta jeeraka Cuminum cyminum, Tvak Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Ela Elettaria cardamomum, Patra (Tejaptra) Cinnamomum tamala, Marica  Piper nigrum, Dhaniya  Coriandrum sativum, Honey

Uses of Kushmanda Rasayana

• Kasa (Cough), Svasa (Dyspnoea), Sinusitis, Chronic fever
• Chest wound, chronic respiratory
• Raktapitta (bleeding disorder)
• Chardi (Emesis), Thirst
• Shukra kshay (deficiency of semen)
• Daurbalya (weakness)
• Emaciation (extreme weight loss and thinness due to a loss of subcutaneous fat)
• Svarabheda (hoarseness of voice)
• Pthisis (pulmonary tuberculosis or a similar progressive wasting disease)

Dosage of Kushmanda Rasayana

20 g daily in divided doses or as directed by physician.
The Anupan (fluid vehicle or drink with medicine) for this medicine is water or milk.

Mridwikadi Lehyam is poly-herbal Ayurvedic preparation. It is dark brown coloured, semi-solid, malleable, sticky preparation with a pungent, slightly sweet and sour taste.

This medicine is prepared from four ingredients viz. Draksha, pippali, sugar and honey. This medicine is useful in treating cough, bronchitis and similar disorders.

Ingredients of Mridwikadi Lehyam

• Mridvika (Vitis vinifera)
• Pippal? Piper longum
• Sugar, Honey

Mridwikadi Leham can be used to treat following

• Cough, Bronchitis
• Vomiting, Low appetite
• Persistent cough in children

Dosage of Mridwikadi Lehyam

25 g daily in divided doses. The Anupan (fluid vehicle or drink with medicine) for this medicine is water or milk.

Puga Khanda is a granular preparation made with the 32 ingredients. This formulation is useful in treating various gynaecological problems such as leucorrhoea, infertility, vaginal discharge etc. It is an Ayurvedic medicine that prevents repeated and threatened abortions due to the weakness of the uterus. It is an ideal preparation to preserve pregnancy.

Puga Khanda is health tonic that cures general physical weakness, facial paleness and anemia. It is a nerve tonic and indicated in fatigue, back-ache, anxiety and uneasiness.

Key Ingredients of Puga Khanda

Areca catechu Puga phala, Asparagus racemosus Shatvari, Phyllanthus emblica amla, Mesua ferra Nagkeshara, Cyperus rotundus Musta, Santalum album Chandan, Zingiber officinale Shunthi, Piper nigrum, Piper longum Pippali,  Buchanania lanzan Priyalasthi, Cinnamomum zeylanicum Tvak, Elettaria cardamomum Ela, Cinnamomum tamala Tejpatta, Cuminum cyminum Shwet jeerak, Carum carvi Krishna jeerak, Trapa natans Srngataka, Bambusa bambos, Myristica fragrans Vamsaja, Myristica fragrans Jatiphala, Syzygium aromaticum Lavanga, Coriandrun sativum Dhanyaka, Piper cubeba Kakkola, Aristolachia india Nakuli, Valeriana wallichii Tagara, Coleus vettiveroides Ambu , Vetiveria zizanioides Ushir, Eclipta alba Bhringraj, Withania somnifera Ashwagandha

Medicinal Uses of Puga Khanda

• Syncope (temporary loss of consciousness or fainting)
• Infertility, Excessive vaginal discharge, anaemia, foetal anomaly
• Loss of appetite, thirst, weakness
• Dyspepsia, constipation
• Obstruction in urinary tract, Tuberculosis
• Improves strength, immunity, complexion and vision
• Oligospermia, Bleeding piles
• Nausea, vomiting, Pain, hyperacidity, Senility

Dosage of Puga Khanda

12 g daily in divided doses. The Anupan (fluid vehicle or drink with medicine) for this medicine is milk.

Vyaghri Haritaki Avaleha is poly-herbal Ayurvedic medicine. It is a blackish brown, semi-solid sticky paste with bitter , astringent taste and spicy pleasant odour. The medicinal herbs used in its preparation are Kantkari, haritaki, Trikatu and Chaturjat churna.

Ingredients of Vyaghri Haritaki Avaleha

Solanum surattense, Haritaki Terminalia chebula, Jaggery, Zingiber officinale, Piper nigrum, Piper longum, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Cinnamomum tamala, Elettaria cardamomum, Mesua ferrea, Honey

Uses of Vyaghri Haritaki Avaleha

• All varieties of cough (vaataj, pittaj and kaphaja)
• Chronic Bronchitis, Asthma
• Cough, coryza
• Aphasia, hoarseness of voice
• Chronic rhinitis or sinusitis
• Tuberculosis

Dosage of Vyaghri Haritaki Avaleha

5 to 15 g twice a day before food for 12 weeks, take this medicine with water or milk.

Chaturjat churna is poly-herbal Ayurvedic medicine prepared by mixing four medicinal herbs in equal amount viz. barks of Cinnamommum zeylanicum (Cinnamon), seeds of Elettaria cardamomum (Cardamom), leaves of Cinnamommum tamala (Bay Leaf) and flowers of Mesua ferrea (Saffron). This churna is indicated for vata and kapha dosha. It is also useful in improving appetite and digestion.

Ingredients of Chaturjat churna

Cinnamommum zeylanicum Tvak, Cinnamommum tamala Tamal patra, Elettaria cardamomum Ela, Mesua ferrea Nagakeshara

Uses of Chaturjat churna

• Cough
• Anorexia, low appetite
• Curing hepatic and renal disorders
• Improves complexion

Dosage of Chaturjat churna

1-3 gms with honey or as directed by physician.

Bad breath causes embarrassment and affects day to day life. It directly affects communication and person's self-confidence. The common reasons for oral malodour are poor oral hygiene, inflammation around tooth, coated tongue and digestive problems.

The main reasons for bad breath are microorganisms in oral cavity. These bacteria are present on tongue coating and tissues surrounding teeth.

Here are few tips that helps to manage this bad breath effectively

• Clean Tongue coating
  Daily scrap your tongue with tongue cleaner to remove bacterial colony responsible for bad breath.
• Take care of dental problem
  If you are suffering from dental plaque, cavities, or have unclean acrylic dentures than first address these problems.
• Keep hydrated
  Drink adequate amount of water throughout the day.
• Massage with lemon peel
  Take lemon peel, sprinkle some salt on it and gently massage teeth and gums.
• Use mouthwash
  Prepare neem mouthwash, by boiling handful of leaves in water. Rinse mouth with this water. You may also Rinse mouth frequently with saline water to dilute oral bacteria.
• Add Vitamin C in diet
  Add vitamin C rich fruits and vegetables in your diet. This will improve body immunity and keep bad breath away.
• Have good oral hygiene
  Maintain good oral hygiene. Rinse your mouth after every meal and clean your tongue. This helps to wash away food particles responsible for bacterial growth and bad breath.
• Chew cardamom, clove or fennel seeds
  This helps to mask bad breath of your mouth.
• Keep away from constipation
  Your bad breath can be related to your digestive problem. The reason can be bacterial overgrowth in small intestine. So first cure underlying cause. Have fibre rich diet, keep hydrated and if necessary take some herbal medicine for constipation cure.
• Gargle with apple cider vinegar
  Dilute one tablespoon apple cider vinegar in glass of water and use this for gargling.
• Brush with baking Soda
  Take a pinch baking soda, add some water and apply on toothbrush. Brush your teeth and gums with it.

Jamun (Eugenia jambolan Linn.) is a large evergreen tropical tree native to India. It is distributed throughout India up to an altitude of 1800 meters. The habitat of Jamun tree starts from Myanmar and extended to Afghanistan. This tree is also found in other countries like Thailand, Philippines, and Madagascar. All parts of this tree are used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases.

• Vernacular Names of Jamun
• The Bark of Jamun
• The Seeds of Jamun
• The Leaves of Jamun

Latin name: Syzygium cuminii (Linn.) Skeels, Eugenia jambolana Lam., S. jambolanum (Lam.)

Kingdom: Plantae, Order: Myrtales, Family: Myrtaceae, Genus: Syzygium, Species: S. cumini

Vernacular Names of Jamun

The Bark of Jamun

The bark of Jamun tree is astringent, sweet, refrigerant, carminative, diuretic, digestive, anti helminthic, febrifuge, constipating, stomachic and antibacterial. It is also a good blood purifier.

The bark of Jamun tree contains pentacyclic triterpenoid betulinic acid. Betulinic acid is a naturally occurring tri-terpenoid, which has demonstrated selective cytotoxicity against a number of specific tumor and active against a verity of infectious agent such as HIV, malaria, etc. It also shows immunomodulatory and anti- inflammatory activities. All parts of this tree contains sterol Β-sitosterol, which has same chemical structure with cholesterol. The bark is useful in lowering blood cholesterol and blood sugar. The presence of gallo- and ellagi-tannins in bark is responsible for its astringent property.

Here are few remedies that can be done at home using Jamun bark to cure various diseases

• Diarrhoea (with blood)
• For arresting blood in diarrhoea, pulverise bark of Jamun tree to get its powder. Mix this powder (2-5 gm) with honey (2 teaspoon) and take twice a day.
• Dysentery, chronic diarrhoea
• Prepare a decoction of bark, by boiling ten gram bark, in half litre water till water reduces to one fourth. Take this decoction (20 ml) thrice a day.
• Excessive bleeding, raktapitta
• For stopping excessive bleeding, take Jamun tree bark powder (1/2-1 teaspoon) with milk.
• Sprue
• Mix Jamun bark juice with goat milk and take few times a day.
• Ulcerative colitis
• Mix dried bark powder (1 gm) with Kutuj bark and take twice a day. This reduces bleeding from intestinal ulcers.

The Seeds of Jamun

The seeds (Jamun Guthali) of Jamun tree contains alkaloid, jambosine, and glycoside jambolin or antimellin responsibLE for stopping diastatic conversion of starch into sugar. Seeds are also rich in flavonoids and phenolics, which are antioxidant and scavenges free radicals from body. Jamun seeds are sweet, astringent to the bowels and good for treating diabetes.

Here are few remedies that can be done at home using Jamun seeds to cure various diseases

• Bed-wetting: Take powdered seed (3-6 gm) of Jamun with water before going to bed to cure problem of urinating in bed while sleeping.
• Diabetes: Dry Jamun seeds in sun and prepare its powder. Take this powder (5-10 gms) thrice a day for at least one month.
• Diarrhoea: Pulverises dry Jamun seed (Guthali in hindi) and take with half cup of water thrice a day. This cures loose motion and blood.
• Dysentery: Take powdered seeds with sugar 2-3 times a day.
• Nocturnal emission: For curing night fall, take Jamun seed powder (4 gm) with water twice a day.
• Sores, ulcer: Grind and extract juice of Jamun seeds. Apply this juice on affected areas.
• Leucorrhoea: Take Jamun seed powder (1 tsp) with boiled rice water for few days.
• Stone: Take powdered seeds with curd.

The Leaves of Jamun

Jamun leaves contain an essential oil with pleasant odour. This essential oil is reported to be responsible for the antibacterial activity of the leaves. The leaf extract shows antibacterial activity against Escherchia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The leaves also exhibits anti-oxidant activities due to presence of phenolic compounds.

Here are few remedies of Jamun leaves that can be easily done at home to cure various clinical conditions

• Female infertility due to ovarian or endometrium functional disorder: Prepare infusion of Jamun leaves in water and drink with honey or extract juice of fresh tender leaves of Jamun tree and drink. You may add honey in juice.
• Diarrhoea, dysentery, indigestion: Take tender leaves of Jamun tree and wash well to clean dirt and soil. Pound and extract one tablespoon juice. Add honey (1 teaspoon) and drink thrice times a day.
• Bleeding piles: Extract fresh Jamun leaves juice (10 ml) and take this juice with one glass cow milk for a weak to arrest bleeding in piles or prepare leaves chutney by adding water. Add jaggery and take to cure bleeding.
• Vomiting: Prepare decoction of handful of mango and Jamun leaves in half litre water and drink throughout the day to cure vomiting due to aggravated pitta.
• Kidney stones: Take fresh tender leaves of Jamun tree (10-15 gm). Wash and extract juice of these leaves. Add black pepper (3) powder in the juice and drink twice a day for few days.
• Wounds: Apply paste of Jamun leaves on cuts and wounds for faster healing.
• Mouth Blisters: Prepare mouth wash of 5-6 Jamun leaves and gargle frequently to cure moth blisters. Or chew fresh tender Jamun leaves.
• Nasal bleeding or Epistaxis, nausea and vomiting due to indigestion, gastritis: Extract 10-20 ml juice of Jamun leaves and drink to stop nasal bleeding.

Jamun vinegar is prepared from fruits of Jamun(Syzygium cumini). This vinegar is good for digestive system. It has cooling, digestive, carminative, stomachic and diuretic properties. It offers several health benefits.

Here are some medicinal uses of Jamun vinegar

• Effective in controlling Diabetes
• Effective in kidney related problems
• Urinary Tract Infection
• Common Health benefits of Jamun vinegar

Effective in controlling Diabetes

Jamun vinegar slows the rise of blood sugar levels after you have eaten a meal and when taken at bed time, vinegar lowers morning blood sugar levels.

Infomation: Drinking jamun vinegar slows the rise of blood sugar after the consumption of a high-carbohydrate meal.

Effective in kidney related problems

• Pain or burning with urination
• Kidney-specific symptoms that may occur along with other kidney symptoms like changes in urine colour, changes in urine composition
• Foul-smelling urine
• Low urine output
• Frequent urination that often produces only a small amount of urine
• Pain of the back, sides or abdomen

Urinary Tract Infection

• Frequent urination
• Painful and burning sensation while urinating
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Muscle aches, abdominal pain due to UTI

Common Health benefits of Jamun vinegar

• Nutritious, antioxidant
• Useful in spleen enlargement and liver diseases
• Useful in diabetes management, jaundice
• Acts as astringent in chronic diarrhea
• Cures abdominal gas and pain
• Gives relief in indigestion and urine retention
• Improves appetite
• Gives relief in hyperacidity
• Beneficial in digestive system problems
• To get relief from migraine pain one can apply Jamun vinegar on affected area along with other treatments.

Jamun vinegar can be taken in dose of 10 – 15 ml in a day.

Note: Never over dosage vinegar other wise it can cause sever side effects like headache, stomach upset, nausea.

Dhatryadi Ghritam is polyherbal Ayurvedic medicated ghee. This medicine is greenish yellow in colour with pleasant odour and sweet taste. Dhatryadi Ghritam is indicated in anaemia, dizziness, burning sensation in body, menorrhagia, gonorrhoea, leucorrhoea and various other diseases to vitiation of pitta dosh.

Ingredients of Dhatryadi Ghrita

Amla Phyllanthus emblica (Emblica officinalis), Vidhari ras Pueraria tuberosa, Sugar cane Saccharum officinarum, Shatavari  Asparagus racemosus, Kushmanda Benincasia hispida, Gau ghrita, Godugdha Cow’s milk, Draksha Vitis vinifera, Shunti Glycyrrhiza glabra, Shwet Chandan Santalum album, Mishri Sugar candy

Uses of Dhatryadi Ghritam

• Diseases due to Pitta dosha
• Lump due to pitta or Pittaj Gulma
• Intoxication, alcoholism
• Unconsciousness or Syncope
• Insanity, Female Infertility, Anaemia
• Bleeding disorder or raktapitta
• Excessive vaginal bleeding
• Gout, discharge from bones

Dosage of Dhatryadi Ghritam

12 grams daily in divided doses with water or milk or as directed by physician.

Balaguluchyadi oil is poly-herbal Ayurvedic medicated oil prepared from twelve medicinal herbs. The main ingredients (Kwath dravya) of this oil are Bala, giloy and devdaru. The other ingredients (Kalka dravya) which are present in lesser quantity are Jatamansi, Kushtha, Chandan, Kunduru, Tagar, Ashwagandha, Sarla and Rasna. The base oil is either Til or Coconut oil.

Ingredients of Balaguluchyadi Thailam

Sida cordifolia Bala, Tinospora cordifolia Guduchi, Cedrus deodara Devad?ru, Nardostachys jatamansi Jatamansi, Saussurea lappa Kushtha, Pterocarpus santalinus Rakta chandan, Boswellia serrata Kunduru, Valeriana wallichii Tagara, Withania somnifera Ashwagandha, Pinus roxburghii Sarala, Alpinia galanga Rasna, Sesamum indicum Til taila

Uses of Balaguluchyadi Thailam

• Gout (Vaat-rakta condition), Arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis
• Frozen shoulder
• Pain, swelling, burning sensation in gout and similar condition
• Oedema

How to use Balaguluchyadi Thailam?

This is oil is for external use ONLY. It should be applied externally on affected areas.