Ayurvedic Herbs

Medicinal Herbs For Cardiovascular System

Ayurveda medicinal plants have their action on the function of heart and blood vessels. Ayurvedic herbs have the following effects on Cardio-vascular system.

The Cardiotonic effect, the cardiac stimulant effect and cardiac depressant effect is exerted on the heart. Hypertensive and Hypotensive effects are related with blood pressure. Plus the effects of medicinal plants on the tendency of bleeding is also described.

Action Of Ayurvedic Herbs On Heart:

1. Cardiotonic Effect: This effect is known as 'Hridaya' plants as it literally means 'beneficial for heart'. e.g. Arjuna or Terminalia arjuna, Hritapatri or

2. Cardio-Stimulant Effect: These plants stimulate the heart. e.g. Soma

3. Cardiac Depressant Effect: These medicinal plants depress the heart. e.g. Ahiphen

Action Of Ayurvedic Herbs On Blood Vessels:

1. Hypertensive Herbs: These increase the blood pressure. e.g. Adrnaline, Soma

2. Hypotensive Herbs: These decrease the blood pressure e.g. Somal

3. Local Constriction Of Blood Vessels: These medicinal plants constrict the blood vessels. These are usually astringents and help in stopping the bleeding tendency.

4. Local Dilators Of Blood Vessels: These plants produce the local dilatation of blood vessels. e.g. Mustard, Jaipal

The Ayurvedic Consideration Of Herbs:

Ayurveda places a very important and central role of heart. Heart is the seat of all the three bodily humors - It is the center of Prana Vata, it is the center of Sadhaka Pitta and it is the center of Avalambaka Kapha.

The Modern Consideration Of Heart:

Heart beats as a result of its own activity in SA (Sinoatrial) node of heart. The electrical impulses generated from this center result in the sequential contraction and dilatation of heart. Further our heart is affected by our brain through Autonomous Nervous System. The Parasympathetic nerve fibers depress the heart via Vagus Nerve. The Sympathetic nerve fibers excite the heart.

Heart needs its nutrition - oxygen and other nutrients from blood like any other tissue or muscles, rather more as it is working every second to keep us alive. Heart gets its nutrition via Coronary arteries.

'Hridaya' Or Cardiac Tonic Ayurvedic Herbs:

These plants support and strengthen our heart. Their activities are not like Cardio-tonic drugs of Medicine. Most of such plants are cold in active principle like Terminalia arjuna. Some of them are hot in active principle like Vanapalandu, Karavira root, Tamboola etc.

Ayurvedic Herbs As Cardiac Stimulants:

These stimulate the heart and increase the heart rate. Most of these plants are hot in active principle. They possess the hot and dry property. Their mechanism of action is -

1. By stimulating the Sympathetic Nervous System e.g. Cocaine, Emotional upsets

2. By exciting the nerves e.g. Soma, Suchi

3. By affecting the nerve roots or ganglia like Tobacco

4. Acting on Cardiac muscles e.g. Caffeine, Hritapatri

Ayurvedic Herbs As Cardiac Depressants:

These substances depress the heart by reducing the heart rate. These possess the dry quality. In small dosages, these provide some support and strength to heart. But in overdosage they can cause some toxic effects like nausea, loss of appetite, diarrhea and weak pulse. They act through following mechanisms.

1. By affecting the Vagus nerve like Vatsanabha, Hritapatri, Nux vomica

2. By affecting Nerve ganglia like Tobacco in small quantity

3. By stimulating the nerves like Hritapatra

4. By affecting the Cardiac muscles like Hritapatri, Vatsanabha

Hypertensive Herbs Of Ayurveda:

These plants increase the blood pressure. Usually they are hot in active principle. The Blood pressure increase through any of the following mechanisms.

1. By constriction of small arterioles

2. By increasing the Cardiac Output

3. By increasing the Viscosity of blood

Hypertensive herbs act through following mechanisms. These plants usually constrict the blood vessels and thereby increase the blood pressure.

1. Through excitation of Vasomotor center like Nux vomica, Hritapatri

2. Through stimulation of Vasomotor nerves like Soma

3. By acting on the vascular muscles like Hritapatri

Hypotensive Herbs Of Ayurveda:

These plants reduce the blood pressure. They possess Cold active principle. Fomentation increases blood pressure initially due to heat and later on it reduces the blood pressure as a result of sweating. These plants are Vaso-dilators. Their mechanism of action is -

1. By depressing the Vasomotor center like narcotic

2. By acting on vascular muscles like Somal

3. By decreasing the volume of blood as after purgation, fomentation and blood-letting.

Styptics Or Anti-Bleeding Ayurvedic Herbs:

These plants stops the hemorrhage due to their local astringent effect. Styptic plants have two set of properties.

1. Plants with Cold active principle

2. Plants with Astringent properties

Hemorrhage Tendency Promoting Ayurvedic Herbs:

These local vascular stimulants promote the bleeding tendency on topical application. They possess hot active principle. e.g. Alcohol, Sarshapa.

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