Introduction:

The Botanical name of ‘Tulsi’ or the Basil Plant is OCIMUM SANCTUM. This plant is considered to be a sacred plant by the Hindus. It is also known by several other names such as; Vishnupriya, Tulasi, Divya, Bharathi and Krishna Mul.  This is a highly scented plant and is considered to be of great spiritual and medicinal value.

Legend has it that Binda, the wife of Sankhachura was favored by Lord Krishna and transformed and immortalized as this herb and it is therefore considered to be a sacred plant.

In Malaysia the leaves of this plant are used to strew over the graves of dead persons for the peace and benefit of the departed souls.

Medicinal Properties:

In Allopathy it has been used as a demulcent, expectorant and the Tulsi leaf powder has been used as a snuff to destroy maggots. In the days gone by the medicated oil was used in the ear for earache. It was also tried with limejuice on common ringworm skin infections.

In Ayurveda, it has been recommended by Masters like Charaka, Harita, Chakradatta and others for colds, coughs, scorpion bites, fevers and constipation.

In Homeopathy, it has been used after potentization for diseases of the kidneys, bladder and urethra.  It has also been found to be useful in persons who are forgetful and have a difficulty in concentration.  It has also found limited use in liver disorders and dyspepsia.  This remedy has been found to be useful in Influenza associated with bone pains, soreness of the muscles and terrible headaches.

Conclusion:

The Holy Basil plant indeed has an ancient traditional background.  But, it has a lot of scientific uses too.  In addition to medicinal properties, it has been used to remove the bad and filthy odor and arrest putrefaction of dead bodies and has the ability to kill pathogenic bacteria and control infections. The Holy Basil plant has also the ability to drive away mosquitoes and finds its use in preventing Malaria. The Holy Basil plant (Tulsi) is an example where the sages of the yore preached hygienic doctrines through spiritual tradition.

Introduction:

The Ashoka tree is a noted plant in our country. The Botanical name of this plant is JONOSIA ASOKA.  It is regarded as one of the sacred plants in India.  Married Hindu females worship this plant and the festivity for worshipping it falls in spring. The word Ashoka literally means ‘remover or all ailments.’

It is a sovereign remedy for alleviating all sorts of menstrual troubles and uterine disorders.  Even the ‘rishis’ of the yore have a high opinion about this plant and recommend this to women who should take it on the festive day fixed to get rid of all menstrual disorders and despondency in sterile women. This herb is said to fulfill the craving for sterile women for motherhood.

Medicinal Properties:

The Ayurvedic physicians like Charakadatta have recommended the bark of the Asoka plant in bloody leucorrhoea and also in the suppression and retention of the urine. Surprisingly Charaka, Sushrutha and Rajnirghanta have not mentioned the value of this herb in their writings in its ability to cure leucorrhoea. Charaka has in fact placed it in the list of insipid remedies, which is quite surprising.

But, the modern day Ayurvedic pharmacy is full of remedies containing Asoka Cordial, Asoka Ghrita, Asokarishta and similar preparations for the uterine complaints, ranging from leucorrhoea, menstrual disorders and sterility.

The Homoeopathic Physicians have proved it and have found it useful in correcting menstrual disorders, leucorrhoea, menstrual colic pain, and in symptoms suggestive of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease.

Allopathic research has found that the bark of the Asoka tree has Tannins, Catechins, and organic substances containing iron. No alkaloids or essential oils were found during the research.

Conclusion:

The extract from the bark of the Asoka tree has found its place in uterine ailments. It is useful both when the menstrual flow is excessive and uncontrollable and also whenever there is a reduction of the menstrual flow.

It is also useful in complaints of females occurring during menopause.

This remedy is also useful to control bleeding piles when the patient experiences stiffness in the back and suffers from constipation.

Introduction:

The twentieth century and the new millennium have seen tremendous strides of science.  It has also seen a population explosion and with it several new disease entities.  Among the diseases that plague this era, is  ‘Mental Depression’.  Mental depression is the cause of many suicides, a lot of morbidity, loss of precious man-hours in industry and a drain on already over-stretched medical resources.

Mental depression is an under-recognized aspect of Medicine.  Off late, Physiologists have understood the biochemical mechanisms in the brain and more information on the neurotransmitters in the brain have resulted in the development of newer classes of Anti-depressive remedies.  We have today come a long way away from Valium           (Diazepam) and there are several allopathic medications for combating depression. But, the allopathic medications are not without their undesirable side effects, prohibitive cost and addictive potential.  At the same time there have been few proven herbal or holistic medications, which have been investigated and proven useful in depression.

St. John’s Wort Extract is useful in depression:

WORT is an old English word for ‘plant’ and this plant is dedicated to St. John, the Baptist, because this herb blooms every year on his birthday, which falls on June 24^th.  This plant is known for centuries, and has been used for healing by various cultures.

The Chemical composition of the St. John’s Wort:

This herb has complex diverse, chemicals such as Hyperforins, xanthones, flavonoids, hypercins and other dianthrones.

HYPERFORINS are modulators of monoamine oxidase inhibitors in the brain and thereby act as mood enhancers.  Hyperforins also exhibit potent anti-microbial activity and help in healing wounds.

XANTHONES have Serotonin boosting properties and thus decrease the Serotonin degradation and this helps in increasing feelings of happiness or pleasure.

Flavinoids act as antioxidants and exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and have anti-viral properties and this helps to bolster the immune system.

DIANTHRONES help fight viruses.

EMBELICA OFFICINALIS is a component that has anti-oxidant and cardiac tonic properties.

Indications for the St. John’s Wort extract:

• Mild to moderate depression
• Seasonal affective disorders, where subjects feel depressed during particular seasons.
• Mood regulation
• As an Immune system enhancer, antioxidant and wound healing, especially in old age.

Safety of the St. John’s Wort Extract:

This remedy is generally safe and does not interact with other medications and does not have undesirable side effects like other allopathic anti-depressants, some of which cause dryness in the mouth and even some cardiac toxicity.

Precautions:

• It should not be used in pregnant or lactating mothers.
• It should not be given to those taking anti-depressant medications.
• It should not be used in patients who show an increased sensitivity to sunlight, because this herb causes a darkening of the skin.

Conclusion:

The St. John’s Wort is not the ultimate panacea for mental depression.  Although, this herb is holistic in nature, it should be combined judiciously with Yoga, Pranayama, Mental relaxation techniques and proper counseling.

“To the uninformed, naturopathic medicine, as well as the entire concept of natural medicine, appears to be a fad that will soon pass away. To the informed, however, it is quite clear that naturopathic medicine is at the forefront of the future.”

-Michael Murray, N.D.

Introduction:

Dr. Ann Wigmore from the Hippocrates Institute, Boston popularized Wheat Grass therapy. Many leading Naturopaths consider wheat grass to be a panacea on the earth.

Wheat grass is a humble weed that is a powerhouse of nutrients and vitamins for the human body. In the form of fresh juice, it has high concentrations of chlorophyll, active enzymes, vitamins and other nutrients. According to Dr. Preety Agarwal a famous Alternate therapist, one ounce of wheat grass juice is equivalent in food value to two and a half pounds of green leafy vegetables.

Chemical composition of wheat grass:

Wheat grass is also called as “Green Blood” because its close structural similarity to Hemoglobin.  Wheat grass contains many nutritious and prophylactic ingredients.  It is rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, B, E, K, Laetrile (Vitamin B17 – which has a marked anti-cancer effect) and several useful enzymes.

Clinical uses of Wheat Grass:

Dr. Ann Wigmore found Wheat grass useful in as many as 350 diseases.

Heart and Cardio-vascular system.

• Anaemia
• High Blood pressure
• Atherosclerosis
• Internal hemorrhage

Respiratory System.

• Common cold
• Asthma
• Bronchitis

Digestive system.

• Constipation
• Dyspepsia
• Nausea and vomiting
• Peptic ulcer disease
• Diabetes
• Worm infestations

Teeth and gums.

• Caries
• Septic gums
• Bleeding gums

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Joints.

• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis

Brain and Nervous system.

• Parkinson’s disease
• Weakness
• Headaches

Skin diseases.

• Eczema,
• Pimples
• Boils
• Burns

Wheat grass therapy has also been used with great success in kidney, ear diseases and in several cancers.

How is Wheat Grass administered?

Wheat grass can be grown at home and small shallow pots. The wheat has to be sprouted first prior to sowing it.  For a normal person about 100 grams of wheat grass per day are quite adequate to maintain positive health. Wheat grass can be chewed or drunk as a juice and it can also be administered as an enema.  It is very important to note that the juice must be consumed as soon as it is extracted; otherwise the vital elements in the juice will lose its efficacy.

Conclusion:

During the last ten or twenty years there has been a tremendous explosion of information in the scientific literature to support the use of natural medicine.

Wheat grass therapy teaches that is that it is nature, which cures the patient and not the physician. With the progress of civilization, we are perhaps violating the laws of nature and that is why there is an increase in disease.  To be optimally effective, Wheat Grass Therapy must be combined with exercise, a stress free life and proper diet.