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Terminalia arjuna is a herb that has been utilised for ages in the ancient health and longevity discipline Ayurveda. Indians are well aware of the therapeutic characteristics of this prized tree and use them in traditional medicine.
Arjuna is now an active element in many herbal supplements due to its biologically active compounds, which provide numerous health benefits. That is why it is critical to understand how and when arjuna can assist.
What exactly is the Arjuna?
Terminalia arjuna is a tree that grows to a height of 20-25 metres. It typically grows in dried-up riverbeds and is found primarily in India and West Bengal. This is a herb having anti-oxidant qualities that has been used for millennia. The bark of the tree has long been used in traditional Indian medicine to treat cardiovascular and respiratory issues, as well as haemorrhage, diarrhoea, liver and skin diseases, and wound healing. The herb has just recently been used in our country, yet it is referenced in several old literature in India.
Arjuna extract is frequently utilised in complex antioxidant formulae, medicines that boost heart and liver health, and wound healing lotions.
The health benefits are attributable to the high concentration of bioactive components such as cardenolide, tannins, flavonoids, and triterpenoid saponins. It also has elaginic acid, gallic acid, and other ingredients.
The use of arjuna in traditional medicine
It protects the heart and regulates blood pressure.
Arjuna is regarded as a cardiac tonic. It aids the cardiovascular system’s operations. In Ayurveda, the bark of the Arjuna Terminal is used to treat numerous cardiac problems. This is due to the plant’s high concentration of bioactive components like as glycosides, tannins, and flavones.
The extract of the tree’s bark has antioxidant, antibacterial, antihypertensive, and antihypertrophic properties that combat the common causes of different cardiovascular disorders in humans. Clinical trials including arjuna have revealed improvements in patients suffering from myocardial ischemia, excessive blood pressure, and heart failure. The herb aids in the rehabilitation process of those who have had a heart attack, with a demonstrable good effect after two weeks of taking arjuna.
One of the risk factors for major cardiac issues is high blood pressure. As a result, controlling it is critical for preserving cardiovascular system health. Arjuna is a herb that can help decrease blood pressure.
Arjuna is also in charge of lipid metabolism. High levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood cause substantial harm to the cardiovascular system, increasing the chance of an accident. Arjuna has the ability to modulate these levels and hence has a positive influence on the heart and blood vessel activities. It inhibits 15-lipoxygenase, a crucial enzyme involved in the oxidation of harmful cholesterol (LDL).
The herb can help you avoid coronary heart disease. The plant has also been clinically demonstrated to be beneficial in the prevention of cardiac necrosis. It has an effect on platelet aggregation and binding, which lowers blood pressure and improves heart rate and cholesterol levels.
Free radicals are prevented from causing harm.
In the human body, free radicals are produced during the generation of energy from the food we consume. They can also be caused by the body’s exposure to external stressors such as tobacco smoke, pollution, toxins, alcohol, and processed meals, among other things. Free radicals can cause cell damage throughout the body, causing premature ageing and contributing to diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Many experts believe that arjunolic acid is a potent antioxidant and free radical scavenger. Because of its potent antioxidant activity, the herb fortifies the body’s defences. It can help combat chronic inflammation brought on by poor diet or significant sickness. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, ceruloplasmin, glutathione, alpha-tocopherol, which is a type of vitamin E, myeloperoxidase, and vitamin C are all increased by taking arjuna.
Improves athletic endurance and energy levels
During exercise, human muscles require extra oxygen, and the heart must pump enough blood to meet the demands of aerobic activity. The more oxygen we utilise when exercising, the more energy the body creates. Arjuna boosts aerobic capacity and cardiac function efficiency during cardio workout. This is especially beneficial for somebody who routinely exercises and requires additional energy.
A study on the subject found that ingesting arjuna for two weeks increased the endurance of the experiment participants. The maximal volume of oxygen that a person needs during severe physical exercise was increased by around 5% during these 14 days. Experts recommend combining arjuna and ashwagandha to improve muscle strength and physical endurance.
Aids in the management of diabetes
Arjuna is a wonderful aid in maintaining regular blood sugar levels. In the blood serum and major organs, the herb has a hypoglycemic effect. The tannins, flavonoids, and saponins found in the bark aid in the breakdown and absorption of glucose. Arjuna not only decreases but also normalises blood sugar levels. It protects the cells of type 1 diabetes patients from hyperglycemic intoxication. By improving kidney function, it alleviates the adverse effects of type I and type II diabetes.
It safeguards the kidneys and liver.
Arjuna has the capacity to protect the kidneys and liver, which serve as filters in our bodies, from the detrimental effects of different toxins. The herb aids in the removal of toxins from these organs and the body as a whole. It combats oxidative stress, which can be caused by poor nutrition, overuse of medications, strenuous activity, a sedentary lifestyle, and other things.
Arjuna is thought to have anticancer properties. These herb’s properties are still under investigation.
Acts to counteract the negative consequences of smoking
Quitting smoking is the healthiest option, but as smokers know, it’s not easy. As a result, it is important to take care of the suppression of the detrimental effects of smoking, which arjuna can help with. The cells on the interior of blood vessels begin to malfunction as a result of oxidative stress. This could be an early indicator of atherosclerosis, a condition in which the arteries constrict and blood circulation is interrupted, resulting in heart difficulties. Arjuna contains potent antioxidant qualities that aid in the treatment of several blood vessel issues. A study was conducted in which a group of smokers were given the herb for two weeks and the deposit on the walls of blood vessels was dramatically reduced.
It promotes wound healing and prevents fungal infections.
Arjuna’s tannins and saponinite compounds aid in the healing of wounds. They promote the rapid healing of wounded tissues, both on the skin’s surface and throughout the body.
Again, the herb is utilised in Ayurveda as an antifungal for skin infections due to the alkaloids it contains, such as tannins and saponins. The plant is also beneficial in the treatment of bothersome acne.
It helps with stomach disorders and diarrhoea.
The herb contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory qualities that are second to none. They inhibit the operation of some bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori, which cause major digestive issues. Helicobacter pylori is a sneaky bacterium that can cause gastritis and ulcers. Arjuda is an excellent aid in the treatment of diarrhoea and altered intestinal flora.
One of her lesser-known talents was assisting with irregular menstruation.
What is the Arjuna used for?
Arjuna is most commonly used as a dietary supplement in the form of capsules. The following diseases are recommended: the entire pathology of the cardiovascular system; heart ischemia, excessive blood pressure, and heart failure; angina pain, cardiac necrosis, thrombocytosis; antitoxic, antimutagenic, and antibacterial activity.
People in their forties and fifties who have recently decided to live a more active lifestyle or get in shape through sports benefit greatly from using the Arjuna Terminal. Athletes, rowers, swimmers, and other aerobic activities, barring weightlifting, are another target group.
Terjuna arjuna extract can be found in a variety of herbal antioxidant formulas, nutritional supplements to improve cardiovascular health, liver health supplements, diabetic-specific food supplements, as a dry extract or isolated form of arjunolic acid, and sports supplements to improve endurance and aerobic capacity.
The healing benefits of the food supplement are attributed to the presence of bioactive substances such as flavonoids, saponins, triterpenoids, tannins, minerals, and, most importantly, the unique arjunolic acid (Arjunolic acid). Arjunolic acid is well-known in alternative medicine for its several applications. It is a triterpenoid saponin that was originally isolated from the Arjuna Terminal and then from Combretum nelsonii, Leandra chaeton, and other plants.
Arjuna is regarded safe for use for up to three months. It is provided without the requirement for a prescription because it is a dietary supplement. It is recommended that the herbal medicine be taken under the supervision of a doctor, especially if you have cardiovascular disease or type I or type II diabetes.
Arjuna is an antioxidant herb with centuries of use that is still relevant now, and this is being confirmed by an increasing number of people who trust in the efficacy of the ancient Indian system of natural and holistic medicine Ayurveda.
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