Jul 25, 2014

Raktachandana - Ratha chandanam






Botanical Name: Pterocarpus santalinus
Sanskrit: Harichandana, Raktachandana, Tilaparni, Valgu, Arka, Kshudrachandana
Hindi: Lalchandan, Rakhta Chandan
Tamil: Senchandanam, Sivappuchandanam, Ratha chandanam
Telugu: Agarugandhamu, Raktachandanamu, Shandanamu,
Malayalam: Patrangam, Raktachandanam, Tilaparnni
Kannada: Agaru, Honne, Kempugandha, Patranga, Raktashandana
Bengali : Lalchandan, Raktachandan
Gujarati: Ratanjali

Description:
Red Sanders-(Pterocarpus Santalinus L.f) belongs to the family of Fabaceae. Is an endangered and endemic taxon in the Eastern Ghats of India. Red Sanders is renowned for its characteristic timber of exquisite color, beauty and superlative technical qualities ranks amongst the finest luxury wood in the world.

Morphology:
Red Sanders is a moderate-sized deciduous tree with clear trunk and dense rounded crown. It attains a height of 10 m and a girth of 0.9–1.5 m under favorable growing conditions. The blackish-brown bark is fissured and resembles crocodile skin. The inner bark, when injured or cut, oozes red colored ‘santolin’ dye. The wood is extremely hard and dark red in color, with a specific gravity of 1.109.

Habit & Habitat:  
A medium sized deciduous tree distributed in Kadapa, Kurnool, Chittoor & Nellore districts in Andhra Pradesh and adjoining areas of  Tamil Nadu.

Common Uses:
It is an astringent and a cooling agent and is used in several skincare preparations. It is used in the treatment of pimples, acne, wrinkles etc. Much used as a perfume for different purposes. The wood is used for making fancy articles and is much carved. It has been used in Ayurvedic medicine as an anti-septic, wound healing agent and anti-acne treatment. A paste of the wood is used as a cooling external application for inflammations and headache.

Medicinal Uses:
A paste of the wood is used in the treatment of pimples, acne, wrinkles etc
A paste of the wood is used to give cooling effect, applied externally for inflammations and head-ache.
It is useful in bilious affections and skin diseases.
The wood is bitter in taste with a flavor, anthelminthic, aphrodisiac, and alexiteric useful in vomiting, thirst, eye diseases, cures diseases of the blood vata and kapha, mental aberrations and ulcers.
The wood is in treating headache, skin diseases, fever, boils and to improve sight.
The wood and fruit is used in treating diaphoretics, bilious infections and chronic dysentery.

Cosmetic Uses:
- A paste of the wood is used in the treatment of pimples, acne, wrinkles etc

- A paste of the wood is used to give cooling effect, applied externally for inflammations and head-ache.

- Removes the marks caused by acne, Pimples and it also removes the skin tan by the sun light. Regular usage gives a fair look and glowing face.

How to apply?
Mix the powder with Rose water or Curd and apply it on face for 15 minutes minimum or even over night and wash it thoroughly with water. Use it twice or thrice in a week to get a better result.

Jul 4, 2014

Kumuda - Venthamarai
























Common names: White Lotus, Waterlily
Botanical Name: Nymphaea Alba
Family: Nymphaeaceae
Hindi: Kumuda
Tamil: Venthamarai, Vellambal
Malayalam: Vellambal, Neerambal
Sanskrit: Kumuda
Bengali: Shaluk
Kannada: Kannaidile
Assamese: Nal
Manipuri: Tharo Angouba

Popular Name(s): Tiger Lotus, Wild Pond Lily, Egyptian White Water Lily, Sweet-Scented Pond Lily, Sweet Scented Water Lily, Toad Lily, Pond Lily, Water Lily, Cow Cabbage, Sweet Water Lily, Water Cabbage, Blue Lotus, Blue Water Lily, Sacred Blue Lotus, Blue Lily of the Nile.

Description 
A species of water lily, white lotus is a perennial plant growing to a height of 45 cm. Also known as tiger lotus, it grows in clear, warm, still and slightly acidic waters. The lily pads can be seen floating on water, while the blossoms rise above the water. The flowers are white in color sometimes, with a pink tinge. The leaves vary from green to red-brown, with a number of purple spots. Tiger lotus is native to the Nile and is grown in various parts of East Africa and Southeast Asia. It is often used as an aquarium plant.

Parts used:  Rhizome, flowers

Useful components: Alcaloids, glycosides, resin, tannins

Medicinal use: 
White Lotus is considered to be an astringent, antiseptic, anesthetic, anaphrodisiac and sedative. It can be used in treatment of bronchial congestion, and it can disperse the stagnated mucus from the chest. A decoction made from the root is beneficial in treatment of diarrhea caused by irritable bowel syndrome, and also in treatment of dysentery. White Lotus flowers are considered to reduce sexual drive and to have a soothing and sedative effect on the nervous system. Therefore, they can be used in treatments of insomnia and different sorts of anxieties.

Venthamarai poo choornam a is very effective for management of hypertension and given in the dose of 3 – 5 grams with milk before food twice a day.


Note: Siddha treatment is based on complete physical examination of the patient, Naadi diagnosis, and other diagnostic criteria of the disease. The content given in this article is purely meant for information and education purpose only. Kindly consult a Siddha physician before any sort of self medication.

Jul 3, 2014

Sarsija - Thamarai





Botanical name: Nelumbo nucifera   
Family: Nelumbonaceae (Lotus family)
Synonyms: Nelumbium speciosum

Common name: Lotus, Sacred lotus, East Indian Lotus
Hindi: Kamal, Pundarika, Padma
Sanskrit: Sarsija, Pankeruha, Sharada, Ambuj
Tamil: Chenthaamarai, Tamarai, Ambal, Thamarai
Malayalam: Tamara, Aambal
Manipuri: Thambal
Marathi: Pandkanda, Kamal
Telugu: Tamara, Erra-tamara
Kannada: Tavare-gadde
Bengali: Komol, Padma
Oriya: Padam
Urdu: Nilufer
Assamese: Padam
Gujarati: Motunkamal

Plant name : Thamarai
“The flower of this plant is effective in management of Thamaraga noi (Cardiac ailments)”.

Description
Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) has been used throughout Egypt, the Middle East, India and China since ancient times, primarily as a food, but also for gastrointestinal and bleeding related disorders. The flowers, seeds, leaves, and rhizomes of the lotus are all edible. The petals of the flower are used as a wrap for foods in Asia and the rhizome is a common ingredient in soups and stir-fry.

The lotus flower has been used as a medicinal herb for generations in Asia. Lotus leaf juices alone are used for diarrhea and sunstroke when mixed with licorice. The flower is used for abdominal cramps, bloody discharges, bleeding gastric ulcers, excessive menstruation and post-partum hemorrhage. The flower stamens of the lotus are used in urinary frequency, premature ejaculation, hemolysis (the breakdown of red blood cells), epistasis (gene interaction) and uterine bleeding.

The fruit is used for agitation and fever. Lotus seed has been shown to lower cholesterol levels and to relax the smooth muscle of the uterus. It has been used for poor digestion, enteritis (inflammation of the small intestine), chronic diarrhea, insomnia, and palpitations. Currently, there is not enough scientific evidence to recommend the use of lotus for any indication.

Actions : Coolant, Nutrient, Expectorant, Cardiac tonic.

Siddha Medicinal Uses :
-          For burning sensation of body Lotus flower can be ground as a paste and applied over the externally. The rhizome paste along with milk can be given internally for increased body heat and burning micturation.
-          For toxic snake bites the Lotus flower can be ground well and given along with water internally at regular intervals.
-          The juice of the flower can be administered for diarrhoea. It is good for Heart too.
-          The decoction of the flower is good for fever due to pitham. It also acts as a Cardiac tonic.
-          The manapagu prepared from Lotus flower can be given for Cough, Bleeding piles, Bloody diarrhoea etc.

Lotus may lower blood sugar levels. Caution is advised in patients with diabetes (high blood sugar) or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and in those taking drugs, herbs, or supplements that affect blood sugar. Serum glucose levels may need to be monitored by a qualified healthcare professional, including a pharmacist and medication adjustments may be necessary.

Few adverse effects in humans have been reported for lotus. Lotus may cause flatulence (gas), constipation and other gastrointestinal irritation. Avoid in patients with constipation and stomach distension (swelling).

Dosages: 
After Breakfast and Dinner mix 5grm powder with Honey or boiled with palm jaggery and drink or as advised by the naturopaths