What are the Health Benefits of Arjuna (Terminalia Arjuna)?

Arjuna is a herbal tree. The Latin name of it is Terminalia arjuna. This herbal plant has the properties which has the quality to balance all the three doshas- Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. It is a deciduous evergreen tree that grows at a height of 100 feet in a throughout wet, marshy, sub-Himalayan regions of India and Sri Lanka. The flowers of this herbal tree are white or yellow in color which grow in clusters and the leaves are cone-shaped. The thick bark of Arjuna tree molts once in a year and is harvested when the tree is mature.

 

What is the Classification of Arjuna

• Kingdom – Plantae
• Family – Combretaceae (Combretums)
• Species – Terminalia arjuna

What are the Medicinal Properties that Make Arjuna Beneficial?

• Cardiac tonic
• Anti-inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Analgesic
• Cardioprotective
• Antiarrhythmic
• Wound healing
• Anti-arthritic
• Antacid
• Antiulcerogenic
• Mucolytic
• Anti-obesity
• Antitoxin
• Antitumor
• Antihyperglycemic
• Anti-ischemic
• Cardiac Stimulant
• Antianginal
• Anti-atherogenic
• Inotropic (modifies the speed or force of muscle contractions)
• Antihyperlipidemic
• Anti-thrombotic
• Antihypertensive
• Antihemorrhagic
• Anti-osteoporotic
• Anti- viral (especially herpes virus)

The Other Names of Arjuna are

• English Name- Arjun tree, Arjunolic Myrobalan
• Hindi & Bengali Name- Arjun
• Manipuri Name- Maiyokpha
• Telgu Name- Tella Maddi
• Marathi Name- Sadaru

What are the Ayurvedic Medicinal Properties of Arjuna?

• Rasa (Taste) – Kashaya (Astringent)
• Guna (Qualities) – Rooksha (Dryness), Laghu (Lightness)
• Vipaka – Katu- Undergoes pungent taste conversion after digestion
• Veerya – Sheeta – cold potency

What are the Ayurvedic benefits of Arjuna?

• Pittakapha Vrana- Helps in relief of ulcers which are due to Pitta and Kapha imbalance
• Medohara- Helpful in reducing fat and manages the cholesterol level
• Mehahara- Beneficial in diabetes
• Hrudroga- Useful in cardiac disorder
• Bhagna – Heals the fracture
• Kshata- helpful in injuries
• Kashayahara – Beneficial in chronic respiratory disorder, i.e TB-Tuberculosis
• Shramahara – Relives tiredness, fatigue
• Trushnahara – Relives thirst
• Asrajit- Helps in the bleeding disorder

Therapeutic Indications of Arjuna Herb

• Dyslipidemia
• Coronary artery disease
• Heart failure
• Hypercholesterolemia
• Angina pectoris
• Arrhythmia (especially used for Tachycardia)
• Hemorrhages
• Edema due to heart disease
• Asthma
• Leucorrhea
• Obesity
• Bone fractures
• Low bone mineral density
• Osteoporosis
• Chronic low-grade fever associated with fatigue and weakness
• General weakness & Fatigue
• Cough associated with weakness and fatigue
• Heartburn
• Gastritis
• Peptic ulcers
• Dysentery
• Bleeding piles
• Burning sensation in urine
• Urinary tract infections
• Pyuria
• Metrorrhagia

As we know Arjuna is one of the magical herbs which has been used since ages due to its overloaded medicinal properties. Let's discuss few of its benefits and its use in it.

Fights Damage from Free Radicals And Inflammation

Arjuna has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties which makes it helpful to fight against the damaging effects of free radicals. The free radicals can damage DNA and cells and that are implicated in the aging process. It also leads to diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.

Protects The Heart

Arjuna herb is a well known cardiotonic because the properties of it boost the heart function, repair and heal the cardiac injury or trauma. It is also helpful to the people who’ve had heart attacks or angina. The use of this herb improves the symptoms of heart failure, congestion, a condition where the heart is not able to pump properly.

Fights Lipid Disorders

The use of Arjuna herb helps in managing and controlling the high cholesterol and triglyceride level. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of the herb help to boost the cholesterol metabolism.

Shortness of Breath

Shortness of breath is usually the complaint or suffered by one who has narrow coronary arteries and the supply of oxygen to heart decreases and it is with the heart patients. Terminalia arjuna has the quality to reduce narrowness of the blood vessels by treating inflammation. It also reduces the deposited plaque in the blood vessels, thus it is helpful in breathing problems.

Angina Pectoris

The powder made of Arjuna Bark has Antianginal and Cardioprotective properties. The herb reduces the systolic blood pressure and increases the good cholesterol level.

Hemorrhages & Bleeding Disorders

Presence of astringent substances in Arjuna bark makes it an anti-hemorrhagic, which helps to arrest the bleeding and treats hemorrhages. Arjuna herb is commonly used in Ayurveda for treating bleeding disorders with combination of other herbs.

Bone Fractures

The paste made of Arjuna Bark is used and is beneficial in bone fracture. The Sandhana property of Arjuna makes it helpful in bone fractures. The application of bark powder is repeated twice a day until recovery.

Chronic Low-Grade Fever

The Ksheera Pak prepared from Arjuna bark is used for the treatment of chronic low-grade fever which is connected with extreme fatigue and physical weakness. When given with the combination of other herbs it fights against infections and fever. It also reduces the fatigue and weakness in the body and restores the physical strength.

Dysentery

Terminalia arjuna is very helpful in treating dysentery when given in combination with other herbs. This herb reduces bleeding in stools, the frequency of defecation, and eradicates the infection.

Wounds & Skin Ulcers

The decoction made from the bark of Terminalia arjuna is used for washing of wounds and skin ulcers. The use of the herb kills microbes, and promotes wound healing.

Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation (IMR)

Terminalia arjuna reduces the Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation (IMR) and angina pain. It also improves the E/A ratio, which shows the improvement in the function of the left ventricle of the heart.

Atherosclerosis

Terminalia arjuna herb has anti-atherogenic and hypolipidemic properties which makes it useful in reducing inflammation of the blood vessels and the antihyperlipidemic action of the herb lowers down the serum concentration of total cholesterol. It also reduces the atherogenic index.

Herb is used in many forms-

Powder - 1 to 3 gm twice or thrice in a day as guided by the physician.

Decoction -50-100 ml as guided by the physician.

There is no side effect and can be taken by pregnant and lactating mothers on the guidance of the physician.