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Ayurvedic HerbsHerbs For Digestive System(1)Ayurvedic herbs have a prominent role in disorders of Digestive system. Some of the major actions of Ayurvedic herbs in Digestive system are grouped in following five categories.
Ayurvedic Herbs As Sialogogues:These medicinal plants increase the secretion of saliva from salivary glands. Saliva is dominant in Kapha and Pitta. So Sialogogues are naturally dominant in Water and Fire elements. Herbs with sour and pungent taste are Sialogogues. Saliva secretion regulation is done by Autonomous nervous system. Sympathetic stimulation reduces the saliva and Parasympathetic stimulation increases the secretion of saliva. Some other factors also affect salivation like the taste, smell of food, Psychic reflex, chemical stimulation and the mechanical act of chewing the food. Sialogogues act through the following mechanisms -
Anti-Sialogogues:These plants reduce the secretion of saliva. These possess dry quality and are dominant in Earth and Air element. They act in following ways -
Herbs For The Pathological Thirst:These medicinal plants reduce the excessive thirst in various disorders. These plants are usually Anti-Vata and Anti-Pitta. This action is mediated in two ways.
Mouth Freshening Ayurvedic Herbs:These herbs are fragrant and with volatile oils and are good for the hygiene of the mouth. These reduce the putrefaction and resulting malodor from the mouth. e.g. Lavanga, Ela. Ayurvedic Herbs Reducing The Sliminess In Mouth:These herbs are not Anti-Sialogogues but they reduce the sliminess as a result of excessive salivation. These are Anti-Kapha and are with bitter, pungent and astringent taste. e.g. Tambula, Puga. Herbal Dentifrices:These herbs are beneficial for our teeth. They are either antiseptic or astringent. Herbal Toothbrush-cum-Paste:These herbs are used like the toothbrush and toothpaste. The difference is that both the functions are served by the soft branch of the tree. The end is crushed by the mouth into a brush and it is rubbed over the teeth. This herbal toothbrush cum toothpaste cleans the teeth and is antiseptic as well. These herbs are bitter and pungent like Neem, Karanja, Karavira. Herbal Dental Astringents:These herbs are astringent in taste and help in loose gums particularly. Plus they help in stopping the bleeding from the gums. e.g. Triphala, Babul.
Anti-Satiety Ayurvedic Herbs:Satiety is the condition in which one does feel that one's stomach is full and there is no desire to eat anything. In extreme situations, one begins to hate the food. This condition results from Kapha. Anti-Satiety herbs are like Shunthi, Chitraka. These are dry, astringent, pungent, bitter and hot in active principle. Herbs Promoting Relish Or Taste In Food:In this condition one does eat the food but he didn't find any taste in the food. He feels indifference toward food. This condition is also caused by Kapha - particularly by suppression of Bodhaka Kapha that is responsible for helping in sensing the taste of food. Sour taste substances are capable to produce taste or relish. This condition is caused by all the three humors particularly Kapha. During the dominance of Vata, Pitta and Kapha one does feel respectively following taste in the mouth - astringent, pungent-sour, salty. Stomachic Ayurvedic Herbs:The herbs that promote the hunger or in literary language promotes the digestive fire. By using these plants, one begins to feel hunger. These are dominant in Fire and Air element. These Appetizer herbs like Saunfa, Maricha increase the secretion of gastric juices (particularly acid) in stomach. These act in following ways.
Digestive Ayurvedic Herbs:These herbs doesn't increase the appetite but they aid in digestion. They might increase the gastric juice (especially pepsin part) and the intestinal secretions responsible for digestion. These herbs possess chiefly Fire element with some Air element. e.g. Chitraka. Some of the herbs can be both appetizer as well as digestive aid.
The Overview Of
Ayurvedic Herbs Indian Ayurvedic Medicine
- Features Of Ayurvedic Medicine
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