Arjuna Terminalia arjuna


  • Common Names
  • Arjuna
  • Botanical Name
  • Terminalia arjuna
  • Family
  • Combretaceae
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Medicinal Uses & Benefits of Arjuna

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How to Use: Arjuna


Arjuna is among the most frequently prescribed herbs for cardiovascular health in ayurvedic medicine. Modern studies confirm its benefical effects on managing lipid levels and hypertension.1 The bark of the arjuna tree contains calcium salts, magnesium salts, tannins, and saponin glycosides which may be the primary source for arjuna's beneficial effects on the heart. Other traditional uses include : hemorrhages, diarrhea, dysentery, edema, skin problems, and fractures. In addition, it has been found to have antibacterial and antimutagenic properties. 2

Preparation Methods & Dosage :Arjuna is commonly available as powdered extracts in capsule form. Arjuna is usually combined with other cardioprotective herbs in Ayurvedic formulas.


Ayurvedic Medicine ayurvedic medicinea The arjuna bark has been used in traditional Ayurvedic herbalism for several centuries as a heart tonic, similar in use to hawthorn in the West.

Arjuna Side Effects: Since arjuna has a powerful effect on heart muscle, it should be taken for angina or congestive heart failure only after consulting a physician.

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Plant Description


  • Flowers:Yellow
  • Tree: Reaching heights over 100 ft.
  • Leaves:conical
  • Bark: The bark is the part used medicinally
  • Distribution:Found throughout India, and native to the Indian subcontinent. Terminalia is a genus of large trees of the flowering plant family, Combretaceae, comprising around 100 species distributed in tropical regions of the world. This genus gets it name from Latin terminus, referring to the fact that the leaves appear at the very tips of the shoots.

Regional Traditions :Ayurvedic *


History and Traditions & Folklore


References:
books citedWorks Cited
  1. Grenato H. Promoting cardiovascular wellness Health Supplement Retailer. 2003;March:18-27. American Botanical Council
    Guggul (from Commiphora mukul) was used by Ayurvedic physicians to manage lipids and has been reported effective in modern studies. Another Ayurvedic herb, arjuna (Terminalia arjuna), has been used for hypertension and CHD. It also assists with cholesterol levels and has been found in Indian studies to protect against oxidation and to promote heart health even in men with existing angina
  2. Bell, Stacey; Balch, CNC, Phyllis A. (2012-04-03). Prescription for Herbal Healing, 2nd Edition: An Easy-to-Use A-to-Z Reference to Hundreds of Common Disorders and Their Herbal Remedies (p. 24). Penguin Group. Kindle Edition.
    The primary benefit of arjuna is improvement of cardiac muscle function and improved pumping activity of the heart.