Natural Herbs used in Ayurvedic Medicines for Epilepsy Control
I have copied the verbiage below from a book on Ayurvedic Medicine.
(1) BRAHMI
Common name Bacopa (E), Herpestis (E), Jalabrahmi (H) Sanskrit Brahmı Latin Bacopa monniera–Folium (Scrophulariaceae)
Brain Brahmi helps to improve memory, learning ability and concentration. It is used in mental disorders, epilepsy (apasmara), mania and hysteria (unmada)(Astanga Hrdaya Samhita, Bone 2003). It specifically enhances the quality of sadhaka pitta and this directly influences the nature of consciousness.
Nerves - Used to aid recovery from exhaustion, stress and debility with aggravation of vata. A specific herb for all conditions with a deficient majja dhatu. Consider using in Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome, autism, depression and drug addiction. Brahmi is very useful in skin conditions with an underlying nervous imbalance.
SAFETY - No drug–herb interactions are known but caution is advised with antiepileptic and antidepressant medication.
(2) GOTU KOLA
Common name Indian pennywort (E), Gotu kola (S), Kula kudi (H) Sanskrit Man
du.¯ka-par.nı Latin Centella asiatica–Folium (Apiaceae) Syn. Hydrocotyle asiatica
Nerves - In conditions of stress, insomnia, epilepsy, emotional turbulence; beneficial with pitta/vata aggravation. It relaxes the central nervous system. Useful in behavioural and developmental imbalances such as autism, sperger’s syndrome or ADHD (Tillotson 2001)
Mind - Improves concentration, intelligence, memory and alertness. Used in Alzheimer’s disease, senility, stroke, and to slow ageing as it benefits sadhaka pitta which promotes intellect. It nourishes majja dhatu and this protects the brain and by reducing ‘stress’ it prolongs life.
Skin - Gotu kola is a specific herb for inflammatory skin conditions: eczema, urticaria, acne, STDs. Gotu kola balances all three dosas and has wondrous effects on the skin and bhrajaka pitta.
CONTRAINDICATIONS - Large doses can be narcotic and cause a vata headache or dizziness. Caution during pregnancy.
SAFETY - As it inhibits liver enzymes responsible for barbiturate metabolism it should not be used with benzodiazepines or barbiturates. Caution with hypoglycaemic and cholesterol-lowering medication.
(3) HINGU
Common name Asafoetida (E), Devil’s dung (E), Hingu (H) Sanskrit Hin . gu, Sahasra-vedhı - Latin Ferula asafoetida/foetida–Resin (Umbelliferae)
Digestion - Its sharp, hot and unctuous property helps to clear high vata in the digestive tract, treating bloating, flatulence, colic and undigested food in the stool; it moves samana vayu and draws apana vayu down. Hingu is useful for addressing flora imbalance, especially Candida albicans and worms (Tierra 1992, Bhavaprakas ´a). Its hot quality strengthens agni but can easily aggravate pitta (Bhavaprakas ´a).
Nerves - An excellent antispasmodic in cough, asthma, cramps and intestinal spasm. It prevents apana vayu from reversing its flow upwards and sends it down (Lad & Frawley 1994). It is of benefit in high vata conditions such as paralysis, sciatica and epilepsy as it nourishes majja dhatu. Useful for stagnation in the nervous system due to exhaustion or blockages.
Gynaecology - It immediately enters artava srotas via rasa dhatu and has a powerful influence on menstruation. It can specifically clear leucorrhoea with a kapha pathology. It has a beneficial effect on ovulation and menstruation as it warms the uterus and prevents spasms.
CONTRAINDICATIONS - High pitta; inflammatory conditions of the liver and brain; pregnancy.
SAFETY - No drug–herb interactions are known.
(4) JATAMAMSI
Jatamamsi means ‘whose flesh is like a dreadlock’; it is known as jatamamsi because its roots resemble the matted hair of the Himalayan ascetics. It has a superb rejuvenating effect on the mind. It is a sought-after nervous relaxant and antispasmodic.
Nerves - Hysteria, nervousness, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and
insomnia. It cools and nourishes a ‘hot’ and ‘exhausted’ nervous system; clears pitta, calms vata, reduces kapha. By virtue of its benefiting majja dhatu-agni it enhances the intellect and induces mental clarity. Its ‘penetrating quality’ is useful in clearing headaches and ‘muzzy’ head syndrome.
SAFETY - No drug–herb interactions are known but caution with sedative, antihypertensive and antidepressive medication.
(5) MANJISHTHA
Common name Indian madder (E), Manjith (H) Sanskrit Man - jistha Latin Rubia cordifolia–Radix(Rubiaceae)
Manjishtha is a perennial climber and like a vine it ‘spreads’ throughout the whole system, especially working on the arterial, circulatory system and skin. It literally means ‘bright red’ attesting to its red roots, which have an affinity for the blood; the red pigment can be seen in the urine.
Mind - Its cooling effect on sadhaka pitta has a balancing effect on the emotions and is used in epilepsy and agitation with high pitta (Paranjpe 2001).
(6) SHANKHAPUSHPI
Common name Shankhapushpi (H), Shankhahuli (H) Sanskrit Sankhapuspı -, Sankhinı - Latin Evolvulus alsinoides–Folium (Convolvulaceae)
Shankhapushpi means ‘the plant with flowers shaped like a conch’. The conch or shankha is one of Lord Shiva’s sacred instruments often used in ritual worship. This is an auspicious plant. It effectively calms the nervous system.
(7) VACHA
Common name Calamus root (E), Sweet flag (E), Vach (H) Sanskrit Vaca, Ugragandha Latin Acorus calamus–Rhizoma (Araceae)
Vacha literally means ‘speech’. Calamus thrives in wet, damp marshland and is a semi-aquatic perennial. Its qualities treat similar ‘terrain’ in the whole system; sluggish, congested, heavy and wet conditions, like those of a marshland, are opposed by the warm, drying, penetrating and stimulating qualities of vacha.
(8) TURMERIC
Common name Turmeric (E), Haldi (H) Sanskrit Haridra - Latin Curcuma longa–Rhizoma (Zingiberaceae)
Turmeric is a perennial grown throughout the tropical parts of Asia. It favours a warm and humid climate. Haridra - literally means ‘yellow’ and its strong yellow colour signifies its use as a liver herb that is good at drying damp and moving stagnation in the blood.
BIOMEDICAL ACTION - Emmenagogue, blood tonic, carminative, antibacterial, cholagogue, alterative, vulnerary, antiinflammatory, antiplatelet, hypolipidaemic, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic
I have copied the verbiage below from a book on Ayurvedic Medicine.
(1) BRAHMI
Common name Bacopa (E), Herpestis (E), Jalabrahmi (H) Sanskrit Brahmı Latin Bacopa monniera–Folium (Scrophulariaceae)
Brain Brahmi helps to improve memory, learning ability and concentration. It is used in mental disorders, epilepsy (apasmara), mania and hysteria (unmada)(Astanga Hrdaya Samhita, Bone 2003). It specifically enhances the quality of sadhaka pitta and this directly influences the nature of consciousness.
Nerves - Used to aid recovery from exhaustion, stress and debility with aggravation of vata. A specific herb for all conditions with a deficient majja dhatu. Consider using in Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome, autism, depression and drug addiction. Brahmi is very useful in skin conditions with an underlying nervous imbalance.
SAFETY - No drug–herb interactions are known but caution is advised with antiepileptic and antidepressant medication.
(2) GOTU KOLA
Common name Indian pennywort (E), Gotu kola (S), Kula kudi (H) Sanskrit Man
du.¯ka-par.nı Latin Centella asiatica–Folium (Apiaceae) Syn. Hydrocotyle asiatica
Nerves - In conditions of stress, insomnia, epilepsy, emotional turbulence; beneficial with pitta/vata aggravation. It relaxes the central nervous system. Useful in behavioural and developmental imbalances such as autism, sperger’s syndrome or ADHD (Tillotson 2001)
Mind - Improves concentration, intelligence, memory and alertness. Used in Alzheimer’s disease, senility, stroke, and to slow ageing as it benefits sadhaka pitta which promotes intellect. It nourishes majja dhatu and this protects the brain and by reducing ‘stress’ it prolongs life.
Skin - Gotu kola is a specific herb for inflammatory skin conditions: eczema, urticaria, acne, STDs. Gotu kola balances all three dosas and has wondrous effects on the skin and bhrajaka pitta.
CONTRAINDICATIONS - Large doses can be narcotic and cause a vata headache or dizziness. Caution during pregnancy.
SAFETY - As it inhibits liver enzymes responsible for barbiturate metabolism it should not be used with benzodiazepines or barbiturates. Caution with hypoglycaemic and cholesterol-lowering medication.
(3) HINGU
Common name Asafoetida (E), Devil’s dung (E), Hingu (H) Sanskrit Hin . gu, Sahasra-vedhı - Latin Ferula asafoetida/foetida–Resin (Umbelliferae)
Digestion - Its sharp, hot and unctuous property helps to clear high vata in the digestive tract, treating bloating, flatulence, colic and undigested food in the stool; it moves samana vayu and draws apana vayu down. Hingu is useful for addressing flora imbalance, especially Candida albicans and worms (Tierra 1992, Bhavaprakas ´a). Its hot quality strengthens agni but can easily aggravate pitta (Bhavaprakas ´a).
Nerves - An excellent antispasmodic in cough, asthma, cramps and intestinal spasm. It prevents apana vayu from reversing its flow upwards and sends it down (Lad & Frawley 1994). It is of benefit in high vata conditions such as paralysis, sciatica and epilepsy as it nourishes majja dhatu. Useful for stagnation in the nervous system due to exhaustion or blockages.
Gynaecology - It immediately enters artava srotas via rasa dhatu and has a powerful influence on menstruation. It can specifically clear leucorrhoea with a kapha pathology. It has a beneficial effect on ovulation and menstruation as it warms the uterus and prevents spasms.
CONTRAINDICATIONS - High pitta; inflammatory conditions of the liver and brain; pregnancy.
SAFETY - No drug–herb interactions are known.
(4) JATAMAMSI
Jatamamsi means ‘whose flesh is like a dreadlock’; it is known as jatamamsi because its roots resemble the matted hair of the Himalayan ascetics. It has a superb rejuvenating effect on the mind. It is a sought-after nervous relaxant and antispasmodic.
Nerves - Hysteria, nervousness, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease and
insomnia. It cools and nourishes a ‘hot’ and ‘exhausted’ nervous system; clears pitta, calms vata, reduces kapha. By virtue of its benefiting majja dhatu-agni it enhances the intellect and induces mental clarity. Its ‘penetrating quality’ is useful in clearing headaches and ‘muzzy’ head syndrome.
SAFETY - No drug–herb interactions are known but caution with sedative, antihypertensive and antidepressive medication.
(5) MANJISHTHA
Common name Indian madder (E), Manjith (H) Sanskrit Man - jistha Latin Rubia cordifolia–Radix(Rubiaceae)
Manjishtha is a perennial climber and like a vine it ‘spreads’ throughout the whole system, especially working on the arterial, circulatory system and skin. It literally means ‘bright red’ attesting to its red roots, which have an affinity for the blood; the red pigment can be seen in the urine.
Mind - Its cooling effect on sadhaka pitta has a balancing effect on the emotions and is used in epilepsy and agitation with high pitta (Paranjpe 2001).
(6) SHANKHAPUSHPI
Common name Shankhapushpi (H), Shankhahuli (H) Sanskrit Sankhapuspı -, Sankhinı - Latin Evolvulus alsinoides–Folium (Convolvulaceae)
Shankhapushpi means ‘the plant with flowers shaped like a conch’. The conch or shankha is one of Lord Shiva’s sacred instruments often used in ritual worship. This is an auspicious plant. It effectively calms the nervous system.
(7) VACHA
Common name Calamus root (E), Sweet flag (E), Vach (H) Sanskrit Vaca, Ugragandha Latin Acorus calamus–Rhizoma (Araceae)
Vacha literally means ‘speech’. Calamus thrives in wet, damp marshland and is a semi-aquatic perennial. Its qualities treat similar ‘terrain’ in the whole system; sluggish, congested, heavy and wet conditions, like those of a marshland, are opposed by the warm, drying, penetrating and stimulating qualities of vacha.
(8) TURMERIC
Common name Turmeric (E), Haldi (H) Sanskrit Haridra - Latin Curcuma longa–Rhizoma (Zingiberaceae)
Turmeric is a perennial grown throughout the tropical parts of Asia. It favours a warm and humid climate. Haridra - literally means ‘yellow’ and its strong yellow colour signifies its use as a liver herb that is good at drying damp and moving stagnation in the blood.
BIOMEDICAL ACTION - Emmenagogue, blood tonic, carminative, antibacterial, cholagogue, alterative, vulnerary, antiinflammatory, antiplatelet, hypolipidaemic, antioxidant, anticarcinogenic
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