Herb to improve female libido

Shatavari, meaning ‘a woman possessing hundred husbands’, is a versatile herb used in the Indian traditional healing system to help balance the female hormonal system.  It is also known to promote positive emotions while calming fiery emotions such as hatred, resentment, anger, irritability, and jealousy.

 

Botanical name: Asparagus racemosus (Family: Liliaceae) 
English name: Wild asparagus
Hindi name: Shatavari, Satamul

Shatavari is a climbing under shrub with woody stems and recurved or rarely straight spines.

Roots: tuberous and succulent; up to 1 m in length, smooth, tapering at both ends.
Young stems: very delicate, brittle and smooth.
Leaves: chaffy scales and spines.
Flowers: white, fragrant, in simple or branched racemes.
Fruits: globular 3 lobed, purple berries, purplish black when ripe.
Seeds: seeds have hard and brittle testa (outer covering).

Parts used as medicine: roots, stem, and leaves.


Ayurvedic recommendations

Shatavari is bitter sweet in taste. It has constipating, aphrodisiac, diuretic, carminative, anti-spasmodic, and rejuvenating properties. It acts as a nervine tonic and appetizer. In Ayurveda, shatavari is recommended for conditions such as nervous diseases, dyspepsia, diarrhea, dysentery, tumors, inflammations, burning sensation, eye disorders, nephropathy, hepatopathy, throat infection, cough, bronchitis, gonorrhea, leucorrhea, leprosy, epilepsy, hyperacidity, colic, piles, cardiac debility, hypertension, abortion, general debility and all female reproductive diseases, and vitiated conditions of Vata and Pitta.


Therapeutic uses
1.    The root extract is useful in diarrhea, chronic colic, and dysentery.
2.    In folk medicine, milk processed with shatavari root is given to those with bilious dyspepsia and diarrhea.
3.    In Ayurveda, boiled leaves of shatavari dipped in clarified butter (ghee) are applied to boils and small pox eruptions to prevent their confluence.
4.    Juice of the bark mixed with milk is given as tonic to women to strengthen their reproductive system and as treatment for gonorrhea.
5.    Shatavari extracts help fight problem related to menstrual cycle and menopause.
6.    The juice of the roots boiled with ghee, milk and honey is a good recipe for seminal weakness and general debility.
Side effects

1.    Sensitivity to asparagus may cause skin reactions and pulmonary allergic reactions in some people.
2.    According to Natural Standard, patients with edema due to kidney disorder or impaired heart function should not be using shatavari.
3.    Not advised for pregnant women or nursing mothers due to lack of enough scientific evidence.


Research

1.    A research was undertaken to evaluate the effect of alcohol and water extracts of Asparagus racemosus for its anti-diarrheal potential in experimental rats.  The results published in the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences suggest the possible anti-diarrheal effect of the herb extracts and substantiate its use as non-specific treatment for diarrhea. [J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2005 Feb 25; 8(1):39-46.]

2.    The roots of Shatavari are useful for its steroidal saponin content. A study was designed to investigate its cholesterol metabolism regulation as well as anti-oxidant potential in experimental animals. The results published in the journal Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine indicated that the potent phyto-components present in the roots of A. racemosus could be responsible for elimination of excess cholesterol and elevation of hepatic anti-oxidant status in hypercholesteremic (high cholesterol) conditions. [eCAM 2009 6(2):219-226; doi:10.1093/ecam/nem091]

 

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Cure Poly Cystic Ovaries With Ayurveda (Case Study with Clinical Findings)

Case study Poly Cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

History: 28 years old unmarried girl history of delayed menses, additional hair growth in the face, weight gain, mental irritability since 2 years

Personal History

Diet	Vegetarian
Appetite	Good, Able to take little quantity, often feels hungry
Bowels	Normal
Urine	Normal
Sleep	Normal
Prakruti	Pitta and Kapha
Desired taste	Spicy, salty, warm foods and drinks

Patient details

Registration date	22.01.2010
Family history	No relevant family history (One girl child)
Disorder history	Diagnosed with PCOD with USG
Medication history	Ovaral –G (Combination of estrogen and Progesterone) – one tablet daily for 21 days with a gap of 7 days for six months. Menses were normal in this period but general health conditions were not improved.
Menstrual history	Menarche at the age of 12 years. Past MC – 4-5/ 28-30 day cycle; Moderate flow and mild pain Since last six month menstrual cycle – 2-3/ 40-45 days, scanty flow and sometimes pain Last menstrual cycle: 29.11.2009

Physical examination

General examination	Build & Nutritional status: satisfactory Pallor: Mild No evidence of thyroid enlargement BP 120/80 mm/Hg / Pulse 72 per minute Height: 156 cm Weight: 69 Kg Respiration rate 19 per minute
Systemic examination	Cardio Vascular system Heart sounds (S1, S2) – Normal, No added sound, HR-62 per minute Respiratory system Clear, equal air entry, no added sound Per abdomen Soft, No palpable mass and no organomegaly, No abnormality detected
Investigations	Hemoglobin – 12.6 mg/dl (11 – 14 gm/dl) TLC, DLC and ESR, within normal range
	Hormone profile Prolactin – 18.12 ng/ml (3.24-29.15 ng/dl) L H – 3.09 mIU/ml (1.00-18.00 mIU/ml in follicular phase) PSH – 6.34 mIU/ml (4.00 mIU/ml/ml in follicular phase)
	Thyroid profile TSH – 3.2 mU/ ml (0.49-4.67 mIU/ml) Thyroxin – 0.87 ng/dl (0.71-1.85 mg/dl) Tridothyrixine – 2.36 pg/ml (1.45-3.48 pg/dl) Insulin – fasting – 4.9qU/ml (0-9 qU/ml)
Radiology	USG – 20.12.2009 – Enlarged ovaries with multiple small follicles in peripheral distribution with increased stromal echogenecity suggestive of poly cystic ovaries Follicular study 29.11.2009 – Anovulatory cycle X Ray – PA view – No abnormality detected

Clinical evaluation of the patient on clinical and biochemical basis on frequent follow ups

Clinical findings	On registration date (22.01.2010)	2 nd follow up (07.03.2010)	5 th follow up (01.11.2010)
Lethargy	++++	++	Nil – Fresh and Energetic
Pallor	++	Nil	Nil
Irregular periods	Last menses on 29.11.2009 (3 days, scanty and painful)	On 40 th day (01.03.2010), 3-4 days	Every 30 th day, regular for 4-5 days
Amount of menses	Scanty	normal	normal
Weight	62 Kg	59.2 Kg	50 Kg (Unchanged since 4 months)
Investigations	07.03.2010	18.05.2010	25.10.2010
Hb gm%	11.6 gm/dl	12.1 gm/dl	14.6 gm/dl
Prolactin	16.12 ng/dl	18.11 ng/dl	15.46 ng/dl
LH	Normal	Normal	Normal
PSH	Normal	Normal	Normal
Free Testosterone	Normal	Normal	Normal
Thyroid profile	Normal	Normal	Normal
Ultra sound scan	Enlarged in volume, Increased number of cyst (Peripherally )	Ovaries enlarged with fair amount of cysts with mild stromal thickening	Ovaries normal, no visible cyst mass, No stromal thickening, Normal study
Follicular study	Anovulatory cycle	Anovulatory cycle	Ovalatory cycle, Ovulation occurs at Day 16

Diagnosis

Anemia and thyroid disorder are ruled out. Hormonal studies and USG exhibits Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

Management Done

Food – Green gram, Red rice, wheat, Green, fresh vegetables, Milk etc
Avoid – spicy, salty, fermented foods and drinks, canned foods and drinks, curd
Exercises – 30 minutes walk every day with Pranayama and meditation for 10-15 minutes

Medicines advised

1. Saptasaram Kashayam Tablets
     3 tablets – with warm water 30 minutes before breakfast and Dinner
2. Kalyanaka Kshara (21)
     250 mg after food with curd water thrice daily after food
3. Satavari gulam
     5 gm at bed time followed by 200 ml of warm milk

Conclusion

In PCOS is a condition caused by abnormalities of hypothalamic – pituitary axis and ovarian or adrenal steroidogenic pathway. Ayurveda names this condition as ‘Arthava Dushti’ – means abnormalities in the functions elements of the menstrual cycle. This condition is termed under easily treatable disorders section.

At rVita we combine best of the ancient Indian systems like Ayurveda and Yoga with modern diet and nutrition plans with a unique personalization based on the bio energy or Prakriti analysis. This helps the person to attain the self healing in due course of time and the disease is cured permanently.

rVita currently enrolling patients for PCOD program (Women health) with unique Online patient Management system which enables to upload all the medical records and monitor health etc online. 

Call 9940079511/ Write to drkgowthaman@gmail.com for consultation and remedies for female infertility, Poly Cystic Ovaries (PCOD/ PCOS) etc

Manage your weight with Ayurveda

Ayurveda For Obesity

Obesity, Weight loss, diet for weight management, simple slimming tips – is most searched terms in internet today. Even the medical and cosmetics industry too spends billions to research about this. Still, with the current medical treatment, the failure rate remains to be high. And in most cases, there is a strong tendency to regain weight; about one-third of lost weight is regained within a year, and almost all within five years.

Obesity is basically assessed by BMI. Many health surveys conducted in India shows that Indians are going towards the red zone on obesity and still 25% of men and women in India think that they are not Obese.
Ayurveda and Obesity

Obesity is not a new condition as we think. Ayurveda one of the oldest systems of medicines explains better about obesity, its pathogenesis, management, Prevention and better cure etc were elaborately described in Ayurveda. Some of the Integrative medical experts still claims that Ayurveda have better solutions than any other available solutions to prevent and tackle this problem.

How Ayurveda is special?

Ayurveda’s understanding of obesity is different from Modern medicine or any other systems of medicine. Ayurveda try to evaluate the weight gain through its unique Prakriti analysis which can be compared as a genetic coding of an individual. This helps the Ayurveda doctor to understand the cause, pathogenesis, management and recommend better result oriented treatment program or life style modification.
Let Us Understand Obesity Better

On a family of four with same food habits, exercise habits, life style still one or two become obese. Why? Ayurveda answers it well.

Because every human react differently to foods depending upon their metabolism which is still modern medical system is clue less. Just like finger prints, genetic codes every human metabolic systems are different, these metabolic system directs the body organs to convert the nutrients into energy tissues. In Ayurveda, this understanding is divided in to three functional elements that air (Vata), Fire (Pitta) and Water (Kapha) attributing to three primary kind of genetic codes.

In Ayurveda, Prakriti refers to a person's psychological and physical characteristics, including the tendency toward imbalance with the universe, and his ability to resist and recover from illnesses and conditions etc. This play a vital role in understanding and addressing personalized obesity solutions. According to Ayurveda, the person belongs to Water predominant life energy most likely to experience this trouble.
‘Sthaulya’ – the term for Obese is marked by accumulation of Medo Dhatu (Fat tissues) under skin and all over the body. Some Ayurveda texts terms “Medo Roga” as it is related to accumulation of Medo Dhatu.
Ayurveda and Fat tissues (Medo Dhatu)

Ayurveda explains about seven body tissues elements responsible for nourishment and life termed them as Dhatu, Fat tissue or Medo Dhatu is one among the seven. Ayurveda explains the fat tissue is one of the life preserving factor and the primary functions are as follows create and maintain body heat, cushion protecting the deep organs, filling up the hollow spaces and fills the human body and gives shape and beauty. When the body losses its equilibrium and start accumulating only Medo Dhatu due physiological or pathological reasons termed as Medo Roga or Sthaulya Roga.

Ayurveda opines the following are the common causes for Obesity intake of excessive sweet, cold, oily foods and drinks, lack of physical or psychological exercises and sex, day sleep, Irregular food habits, stress, anxiety and Ayurveda too mentions that hereditary as one of the primary causes for obesity.
Ayurvedic pathogenesis of Obesity

The obstruction of the fat, the movement of food is confined to (Koshtha) abdominal viscera resulting in the stimulation of the digestive power and absorption of food. The individual digests food quickly and becomes a voracious eater. In the event of disproportionate increase of fat, the body becomes vulnerable to many diseases. Owing to an excessive increase of fat and muscle tissue, the buttock, abdomen and breast become pendulous and the body strength becomes disproportionate to physical growth.
Symptoms of obesity

a. Reduction of longevity
b. Premature ageing
c. Lower sex drive
d. Poor sexual performance
e. Bad odour and excessive sweating
f. Breathlessness on exertion, difficulty in breathing, difficulty in walking
g. Uncontrollable hunger, thirst, tiredness
h. Loss of vitality
i. Irritability and mental confusion
Complications

Obesity is not just a problem related personality or beauty. It also related to serious medical problems like Diabetes, Hypertension, Fistula, Lipoma, Hyperacidity, Hyper-hydrosis and kidney disorders etc.
Ayurveda treatment pedagogy

In Ayurvedic medicine, there is no single approach to treating obesity. Depending on the Prakriti the medications, purification therapies and diet varies.
For example, for a vata dominant person, the vata purification therapies like cleansing and Oleation enemas are part of the treatments. Abhyanga and herbal steam bath does play a major role in Vata type of person’s treatment plan. For Kapha type obesity, treatment plan includes external powder applications with giner, mustard etc. If the obesity is due to excessive accumulation of toxins (Ama dosha) both internal medications and external applications are advocated.

Ayurvedic guide lines for Medo Roga

a. Usage of Barley, Green gram, Red gram and Horse gram is recommended
b. Honey is recommended in minor doses
c. Always drink warm water to eliminate the toxins
d. For cooking Sesame oil/ Mustard oil is indicated. Spices like turmeric, black pepper, ginger and rock salt are advised for obesity.
e. Vegetables with astringent, bitter and pungent taste, soup with such vegetables as diet improves the weight loss
f. Avoid sweets prepared from wheat, cakes, pastries, milk and sugar, cold drinks, alcohol, deep fried foods and non vegetarian diet.
g. Active physical life is very important to prevent and manage weight gain. Staying awake at night and day sleep will increase the Medo Dhatu which in turn ends up in Obesity.
h. Ayurveda recommends herbs like Amrutha (Tinospora cordifolia), Mustaa (Cyperus rotundsa) Haritaki (Terminalia Chebula), Bibhitaka (Terminalia belerica) and Aamalaka (Embica officinalis) for prevention and management of this condition.
i. Ayurveda recommends a special weight loss recipe called “Takra Arishta” – Fermented buttermilk for active weight loss
Conclusion

As we all are genetically different with different constitutions and patterns, we respond to treatments in many different ways. Hence Standard Ayurvedic Treatments for obesity are always individually formulated. In Ayurvedic medicine, there is no single approach to treating obesity. After taking the pulses and examining the patient, an Ayurvedic practitioner designs a treatment plan to bring the doshas back into balance which in turn addresses obesity swiftly and permanently.

Call 91 9940079511/ write to drkgowthaman@gmail.com for Ayurveda consultation for Obesity, Weight Management, Weight Loss etc