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Pankaj
Oudhia
Updated
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Comments of
Traditional Healers of Indian State
Chhattisgarh on Ayurveda Formulations. 16.
Ashwagandha Rasayanam. [Updated document, year
2009]
Pankaj
Oudhia
Abstract
The
Traditional Healers of Indian State Chhattisgarh
are having additional information on ancient
formulations of herbs. This information is not
available in ancient literatures. This series is
an effort to document this valuable knowledge in
form of research articles.
Document
Ashwagandha is known
as Indian Ginseng. The standard Ayurveda
literatures write about this formulation in
detail. This formulation is among popular Ayurveda
formulations available in national and
international markets. Internet is full of
information about these formulations. Modern
studies have been conducted to establish the
science of its effects. But it is bare fact that
all formulations available in market are not same
in effect. Still pure formulation is available
with the traditional experts especially with the
Traditional Healers. I am taking comments of these
experts about this formulation since a decade. I
have collected much information on this
aspect.
In
commercial Ayurveda when drug-manufacturing
companies purchase Ashwagandha roots they give
emphasis on its size. Root thickness is one of the
main factors for good quality roots. Many
companies check its alkaloid contents also. The
Traditional Healers give no emphasis on size of
roots. According to them even slender roots
possess desired properties. Although this herb is
under cultivation in many parts of India
but its wild population is also present. For
farming agrochemicals are used. Through these
inputs the roots of desired thickness can be
obtained but the roots with desired medicinal
properties cannot be obtained. The Healers depend
on wild population and in case of unavailability
they raise it in their Badi organically. They take
no care of this herb. According to them it is
natural stress that enriches it with medicinal
properties. The Traditional Healers of
Chhattisgarh practice Traditional Allelopathic
Knowledge in order to enrich it with medicinal
properties. Roots are collected on specific time
and day. Freshly harvested roots are used to
prepare the formulation.
In
Ayurveda literatures it is mentioned that root
powder can be taken with milk, ghee, lukewarm
water or oil. It makes the thin person full of
vigor and strength. It is recommended for natives
of all age group. The Traditional Healers of
different regions of Chhattisgarh are having
different opinions regarding use of this
formulation. Most of the Healers consider winter
as best season for its use. They are not in favor
of its round the year use. Many say that round the
year use is harmful whereas other says that Mother
Nature has provided different herbs for different
seasons. Specific herb gives specific effects. The
late Kharif crop Ashwagandha matures in winter.
Freshly harvested roots are considered best for
its consumption. But through long chain of
marketing when it reaches to consumers in form of
commercial product they get one year old roots in
form of powder. This is one of the reasons for
poor performance of commercial formulations.
The
Healers suggest its use with lukewarm cow milk.
One Teaspoonful of root powder with a glassful of
cow milk is given before sleep. Many companies
sell it as Aphrodisiac but the Healers consider it
as Rasayana means tonic for general health. It
develops natural resistance and helps the natives
to perform perfectly in every field including in
sexual life. The Healers are having information
about long list of side effects due to over doses
of the root powder. According to them its use with
ghee requires much physical efforts. It is
suitable only for hard working natives.
Most of the Healers
prepare this formulation by their own hands for
patients. They don’t sell it in markets. I have
experienced the miraculous effects of formulation
prepared by these Healers. I feel that in order to
get real miraculous effects of Ayurveda
formulations the commercial companies must adopt
the traditional methods of preparations. These are
tedious but much better in effects.
This additional
information must be added in modern version of
ancient literatures, as in use of any formulation
judicious use is must. Keep reading my research
articles at Ecoport for new updates.
New comments
added on November 2,
2009
Many senior
Traditional Healers suggest patients having
different types of allergies to take this
formulation with much care. During surveys I met
number of patients “reactive” to this formulation.
They were using commercial products. According to
the Healers this formulation is “reactive” but not
to this extent. Most probably the bad reactions
are due to poor quality of products. They added
that this year due to poor monsoon roots are
bitterer in taste. Such roots must not be used in
formulations but who cares it in bulk herb markets
where roots are purchased in bulk seeing its size
not its quality.
The
senior Healers of Chhattisgarh Plains have
shocking finding. They claim that people sensitive
to allergy weed Parthenium hysterophorus must
avoid number of herbs especially during time of
attack. Ashwagandha is one of these herbs. Through
this research document I would like to request the
researchers around the world to examine this claim
as Parthenium is present everywhere in India
and Parthenium allergy is very common.
When I shared this
information with other Healers they claim that
such situation can be avoided by using Pueraria
tuberosa with Ashwagandha. They have used it many
times but not in such specific case of Parthenium
allergy.
In
Chhattisgarh and many other states, air pollution
due to sponge iron and other industrial units are
becoming common. In every house you will find
thick layer of black dust. This black dust causes
cancer and as immediate effect shows respiratory
symptoms. The Ayurveda experts as well as
Traditional Healers are using many formulations
for natives affected due to this life threatening
pollution. This formulation is one of the
frequently used formulations. According to the
experts it makes body enough strong to tolerate
this extreme level of pollution. It means black
dust is accumulating in lungs but due to this
formulation natives ‘feel” unaffected. God knows,
how long they feel the same.
During recent
interaction the Healers of GhataRani region
informed that one must take one freshly harvested
Aonla fruit half an hour before taking this
formulation. It enhances its performance. If it is
taken twice in a day then Aonla must be taken
twice. They confirmed that winter is best season
for its use. “Start taking Aonla alone up to at
least one week then start this formulation with
Aonla. At the end of winter, at first stop using
this formulation and then one week after it stop
Aonla. This is best method for year round effect.”
They explained.
During surveys in
Charama region, I got opportunity to meet a
patient using this formulation. “Please examine
his head specially back side, you will find big
sized boils in group. These are very painful.
According to him, whenever he takes this
formulation these boils appear. I have suggested
him to stop using it for sometime. Also suggested
to apply black soil on boils in order to get
relief effectively.” The Healer gave his opinion.
“In fact he is bachelor and less engaged in sexual
activities but takes this formulation sincerely
without any break. I have observed that such
patients get such painful boils in this condition.
This is typical observation but varies from
patient to patient.” He explained further. I
suggested him to try Mucuna based formulations
along with this formulation. It is better to take
it in alternate days. The Healer thanked me and
promised to try it.
The
Healers recommending its round the year use, have
invited me in January 2010 for detailed
interaction. I am hoping to get more information
on this aspect.
Original
Research Document:
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=903&page=-1
How to Cite
this Research Document
Oudhia, P. (2009).
Comments of Traditional Healers of Indian State
Chhattisgarh on Ayurveda Formulations. 16.
Ashwagandha Rasayanam.. [Updated Document, year
2009]. http://www.pankajoudhia.com
© Pankaj
Oudhia
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