Ayurveda Research

Electronics Media - A Necessary Evil In Child Development

2008-01-02T19:38:00.001-08:00

Child development is the study of mechanisms that operate during the biological and psychological process of growth of a child to adolescence, from dependency to increasing autonomy. Milestones are the major focus of child development stages. Developmental disability is a term used to describe life long disabilities attributed to mental or physical or both combination of mental and physical impairments. This use of term is synonymous with the use of term learning disability, intellectual disability or cognitive disability.
Many theories have been put forward on child development. The basic idea behind them is that, children learn in stages. Each stage can have lasting effects on adult personality. Many Children develop defence mechanisms against unpleasant ideas or threats. Unpleasant childhood experiences could leave lasting scars, which would affect how that person would react to new situations and events. One of the most famous theories about how a child's mind develops was put forward by Swiss psychologist, Jean Paiget. The central concept of Paiget's theory is the schema. A schema is a kind of cognitive, or 'mental' structure, which the child uses as it interacts with the outside world. A schema contains all the ideas, memories and information about a particular object that a child associates with that object. Once the schema is developed, it will be applied to other situations if at all possible. Many people think that intelligence is inherited, but this could be environmental too. So we can conclude easily that the later stages of growing up are not as important, as the foundations have already been laid by the child's experience at a very early age.
In the 21st century Television, Computers, Mobiles, Electronic games are among the many advances and they represent a mixed blessing for developing children and their parents. New interactive digital media have become an integral part of children’s lives. The electronics media industries are multimillion dollar industries and growing day by day. The electronics market in India, at US$ 11.5 billion in 2004, will be the fastest-growing electronics market worldwide over the next several years. This market is expected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 23% by 2010 to reach US$ 40 billion, yet there is little research substantiating the educational claims of many of these products. Parents take their decisions based on marketing assertions or advertisements, not third-party research, and the little research that does exist about the effects of electronic media on children is limited to television.

Electronics media is source of information in our present day lives but this information can be right or wrong and also can contain good or bad content and we are free to see and choose which one is right and which one is wrong. But what about Children? They are in different developing stages, so can hardly differentiate between wrong and right or good and bad.

Children And Television -
The most ubiquitous source of exposure to violence for children in the new era is Television. The average child of 2-5 years of age watches 1-2 hour of television a day. Many children are growing up in homes where the TV is an ever-present companion. Many children live in homes where the TV is left on at least half the time or more, even if no one is watching, and some live in homes where the TV is on always or most of the time. According to the study, children who have a TV in their bedroom or who live in heavy TV households spend significantly more time watching than other children do, and less time reading or playing outside. Background media (media not intended for children) could also impact infants and toddlers by distracting the child from play or other activities, by inhibiting the child's inner monologue, by enhancing attention to play or other activities, or by hindering parent/child interactions. Research with older children has found that effects of foreground media (media intended for children) depend on the content (e.g., viewing aggressive television leads to aggressive behavior and viewing educational content leads to positive educational outcomes). For infants and toddlers, foreground media may displace other activities, have negative effects no matter what the content, or have positive or negative effects depending on the content.
Approximately 3500 studies have examined the association between media violence and violent behavior, all but 18 have shown a positive relationship. Although exposure to media violence can not be equated to exposure to real life violence but many studies confirm that media violence desensitizes children to the meaning and impact of violent behavior.
A study which was conducted in America confirmed that in the case of destruction of world Trade Towers among children whose parents did not try to restrict television viewing, there was an association between the numbers of hours of television viewing and the numbers of reported stress symptoms. Violence affects children psychologically and behaviorally. It may influence how they view the world and their place in it. Children can come to see the world as a dangerous and unpredictable place. This fear may thwart their exploration of the environment, which is essential to learning in childhood. High exposure to electronic media in children correlates with poorer performance in school, symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Children And Computer Use-
Present century is the century of the information technologies and computers are the necessities of today. They are becoming the part of our daily lives. To understand computers, a child is required to know how to use them and child is allowed to use the computer at an early age, so that he or she is able to develop his or her computer skills faster. But, in exposing children to computers in the home at an early age is right or wrong, this is a big question. There is no doubt that computers will play a major role in our lives in the near future. But there is no evidence to show that computers can increase a child's intellect, however we also can not say that they are harmful. One can not deny the role of school education in the development of child because no machine can replace the inspiration given by a teacher. Computers could be used as an aid at home to complement school education.
Some Doctors and Pediatricians advise that computers don't belong in early childhood and elementary school settings. Computers can damage the health as well as intellectual and social development of young children. Children need stronger bonds with their parents, yet powerful technologies are distracting children and adults from each other. It also argued that children learn through interactions and play, and by interacting with nature, and computers displace these normal learning experiences. Socialization and values are critical components of early education and it is very hard to imagine that the computer enhances these qualities. Even a young child can suffer from physical ailments such as neck pain and back pain, due to spending too much time on the computer on unbeneficial activities.
Children who always play violent video games on their computers show significant increases in aggressive behavior, aggressive cognition, aggressive affect, and physiological arousal, and with significant decreases in helping behavior.
Children who use internet can interact with any one in the world who is connected through the net without knowing him/her .Internet can now take the user all over the world anytime, anywhere. That means, lots of information in the form of texts, pictures, sounds, games, and videos coming to life on the screen. The internet makes possible activities such as shopping, mailing, reading books, listening to music etc. Even though this technology is wonderful, one needs to be reminded that it is all still simulation. None of it is really real, even though the user may feel as if he/she is actually interacting with society, all they are infact doing is sitting at a terminal in isolation. Internet user can interact with the world but don’t know about his/her neighbors. This is a very disturbing thought in the social development of a child.
The Internet has many dangers. There are many wholly inappropriate Web sites which can pop-up even when child is not searching for them. In fact, the number of pornographic Web pages jumped from 14 million in 1998 to 260 million in 2003. This represents a nearly 2,000 percent increase of online pornography in just five years. When children are exposed to pornography, it creates an unhealthy view of human sexuality. Pornography becomes a building block in a child's mental and emotional development. According to one study, early exposure to pornography (under the age of 14) is related to greater involvement in deviant sexual practices, particularly rape. In addition, studies suggest that exposure to pornography can prompt kids to act out sexually against younger, smaller, more vulnerable children. A U.S. study of teenagers exposed to pornography showed that "Two-thirds of males and 40 percent of females reported wanting to try out some of the behaviors they had viewed." In addition, 31 percent of males and 18 percent of females admitted doing some of the sexual things they had seen in pornographic images within a few days after exposure.
If young child is using the computer for large periods of time doing activities that are of little benefit to his or her education, this is in effect a waste of precious childhood. The computer can be extraordinarily seductive to a child.

Children And Mobile Phone Use –
Now a days mobile phones are common in use. In india there has been 25-fold increase in mobile subscriber base in a span of just five years from 2000-01 to 2005-06. During the same period, mobile-density has increased more than 23-fold from 0.35 in 2000-01 to 8.12 in 2005-06. Growth in mobile-density has been phenomenal during the last 5 years or so. Mobile-density in the country has increased more than 23-fold from 0.35 in 2000-01 to 8.12 in 2005-06.
Now research studies worldwide are showing biological effects from low-level, non-ionizing radiation similar to that used in wireless communications. So If there are currently unrecognized adverse health effects from the use of mobile phones, children are at more risk because of their developing nervous system, the greater absorption of energy in the tissues of the head . Studies showed that radiation penetrated deeper into the heads of teenagers and children resulting in more exposure to potentially harmful radio waves than adults.
The German Academy of Paediatrics issued a statement- advising parents to restrict their children's use of mobile phones. They advised that all mobile phone users should keep conversations as brief as possible but that additional precautions are appropriate for children in view of "special health risks" associated with their growing bodies. Moreover, the increase in the use of mobile phones in children can increase occurrence of various disorders, often misdiagnosed in patients as psychosomatic:
1. Headaches, migraines
2. Sleeplessness, daytime sleepiness
3. Tinnitus
4. Susceptibility to infection
5. Nervous and connective tissue pains
So on a precautionary basis, parents should tell their children to limit the use of wireless phones, and that when using an earpiece, pregnant women should keep the phone away from their bellies and teenagers and children should keep it away from their developing sex organs.

Conclusion-
So we can easily assess that Electronics media are mixed blessings to the human beings. We can not ignore the use of Television, Computers, and Mobile phones in our life but excessive use will certainly affect the mental, physical and social development of a child. Perhaps the most sobering consequence is that over exposure of Electronic media to the children may change the way that children view their future. They can use alcohol, drugs, misbehave with their parents and teachers. These children are at more risk for Psychogenic, Social, Academic, and Physical problems. So parents and teachers should control their child’s Television, Computer, Cell phone use. The common recommendations for using electronic media are –
1. Limit the use of Television, Computers, and Cell phones.
2. Don’t make the Television the focal point of house.
3. Electronics media should be out of children’s bedroom.
4. Lock the adult channels so that children can not see sexual explicit materials.
5. Always use Filter software in the computer when children surf internet.
6. Find out what sites your child likes to visit online, and ask or answer questions about these sites.
7. Look for safe site lists that can be trusted.
8. Discourage the use of violent video games.

References –
1. What Americans Need to Know about Radiation (or EMR) from Wireless Communications; Margaret Meade Glaser
2. Children and mobile phone use: Is there a health risk? The case for extra precautions; Don Maisch
3. W. L. Marshall, "The Use of Sexually Explicit Stimuli by Rapists, Child Molesters, and Nonoffenders," The Journal of Sex Research 25, no.2 (May 1988); 267-88.
4. Home Computers An Aid or Hinderance to Child Development; Burhan Ul Haque and Faisal Hussai
5. An update on the effects of playing violent video games, Journal of Adolescence, vol.27, (2004) ; 113-122
6. F. Miller, N. Varman, "The effects of psychosocial factors on Indian childrten's attitudes toward computers," Journal of Educational, Computing Research; Vol:10 Iss:3 ;1994
7. Fool's Gold: A Critical Look at Computers in Childhood ;Alliance; September 2000
8. http://www.eagleforum.org/educate/2004/jan04/computers.html
9. http://www.latitudes.org/articles/electrical_sensitivity_articles.html
10. http://kaisernetwork.org/healthcast/kff/28oct03
11. Ghai Essential Pediatrics ; O.P.Ghai, Piyush Gupta, V.K. Paul.
12. Melson Textbook Of Pediatrics; Behrman, Kliegman, jenson.

A Scientific Approach Towards The Pharmacology Of "Guggulu"

2007-12-06T02:00:00.000-08:00

Guggulu is the one of the most used and potent drug of Ayurveda , which literally means that ‘It protects body from those diseases which may otherwise decrease the strength of body’.

Whole Ayurvedic science is based upon three dosas namely Vata, Pitta and Kapha in which Vata is the main causative factor of most of diseases. Total eighty specific diseases (Nanatmak Vyadhis) are caused by only Vata which are more than the specific diseases totally caused by Pitta and Kapha ( Ch. Su.20 ) and Guggulu, alone or in combination, is most potent and important drug to fight against Vata disorders. Charak and Vagbhatta also prescribed Guggulu as a most important drug for Vata vaydhi and medoroga (obesity)

“Guggulurmedoanilharanam” (A. S. Su. 13)

“Medoanile gugguluh” (A. H. Ut. 40)

Bhavprakash described total five varieties of Guggulu i.e. Mahishaksha, Mahanila, Kumuda, Padma and Hiranya. According to him only Hiranya guggulu is beneficial for human being. Now a days two types of guggulu are available i.e. ‘Kana Guggulu’ with translucent small particles and granular form and ‘Bhainsa Guggulu or Mahishaksha guggulu’ with greenish tinge like buffalo’s eye.

The Guggulu of commerce is the pale yellow or brown aromatic gum resin. The gum oleo-resin is located in ‘gum oleo-resin ducts in the parenchymatous bark as pale-yellowish milky juice . The gum oleo-resin consists of irregular roundish masses of varying sizes about 0.5 cm to 2 cm. It is opaque and slightly sticky to touch. This resin melts in the intense summer and solidifies in winter. Gugglu gum is graded into three categories on the basis of shape, colour and purity –

Grade 1– Contains translucent guggulu free from bark, sand and adulterants

Grade 2 - Guggulu mixed with bark and sand, dull coloured.

Grade 3- Guggulu of inferior quality, mixed with lot of extranematters

Adulteration –

Gum Boswellia serrata (Shallaki) and Hymenodictyon excelsum are used as common adulterants in the gum resin of guggulu. Other common adulterants are Albizia lebbeck (shirish), Butea monosperma (Palash), Moringa olifera (Sehzan), Acacia nilotica (Babbul) and Acacia catechu ( Khair) etc.

So the resin must be tested for quality before use. The variety which bursts in to flame when put in to fire, melts and evaporate on heating, dissolves easily in hot water, is best for use.

The water soluble extractives, alcohol soluble extractives, ash value, acid insoluble ash, weight loss on drying of guggulu gum are as followings –

1) Water soluble extractives - < 48.42%
2) Alcohol soluble extractives - < 39.49%
3) Ash value - < 5.57%
4) Acid insoluble ash - < 3.35%
5) Loss on drying - <>

Essential oil can also be obtained by steam distillation. The yield is 0.5% V/W.

Chemical constituents –

Guggulu resin is produced more abundantly and is stronger during winter and summer. The primary chemical constituents of Guggulu include Phytosterol, Guggulipid and Guggulsterols. Guggulu gum is mixture of 61% resin, 29.3% gum, 6.1% water 0.6% volatile oil and 3.2% foreign matter. Chemical compounds whose are isolated from guggulu gum by many scientists are followings -

1) Oleo-fraction -

(I) Myrcene

(II) Dimyrcene

(III) Polymyrcene Compound

2) Gum fraction A7-

(I) α–arbinose

(II) D-galactose

(III) L-flucose

4) Gum fraction B -

(I) 6-D (4-D-methyl-β-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)

(II) D-galacto pyranose

5) Resin fraction -

(I) Guggul sterol- I
C27 H44O4
(II) Guggul sterol-II;
C27H46O3
(III) Guggul sterol-III;
C27H44O3
(IV) Guggul sterol –IV;
Cholestane-50-ol-3, 6- dione
(V) Guggul sterol-V;
Cholestance-3β, 50 c-diol-6-β- aceltate
(VI) Guggul sterol-Z
(VII) Guggul sterol-E
(VIII) Nonadecan-1,2,3,4-tetrol
(IX) Diterpene alcohol
C20H34O
(X) Octadecan-1,2,3,4-tetrol

Many pharmacological studies have been done on a standardize ethyl acetate extract of guggulu. This extract has been named “Guggulipid” and has been standardized to contain 4 gm of Z and E-guggulsterons per 100 gm

Pharmacological Action –

In Ayurveda there is no mention of concept Cholesterol but our classical texts prescribed Guggulu for the treatment of Medoroga and this very closely resembles with the symptoms of High cholesterol.

Ketone fraction that is extracted from the resin contains the most potent cholesterol lowering compounds. This is composed of C21 or C27 steroids with major component being Z-guggulsterones and E-guggulsterones and commonly known as Guggulsterons. These compounds have been known to provide Lipid Lowering Agent. To find out Hypolipidaemic effect of guggulu, a study was conducted in AIIMS, New Delhi. The study was to evaluate the effect of Petroleum ether fraction of Guggulu (Fraction ‘A’) on

1) Serum Lipid

2) Tissue lipid

3) Body weight

4) To decide its effect on Cholesterol metabolism

In this study the effectiveness of Fraction ‘A’ of guggulu was compared with Clofibrate, an established hypolipidaemic agent. Conclusion confirmed that fraction ‘A’ of Guggulu increases the rate of excretion of cholesterol from body same as Clofibrate and it is more potent than Clofibrate because fraction ‘A’ increased fecal excretion of sterol by 59% while Clofibrate increased it only 49.3%.

Thus it is proved that Fraction ‘A’ of guggulu is a potent hypolipidaemic agent and can be administered safely and continuously over a prolonged period. There is no tolerance to the drug with major side effects. This study brings out that hypolipidaemic effect of guggulu is possibly due to-

1) Increase in rate of removal/excretion of Cholesterol via Gut

2) Decrease in the input or synthesis of Cholesterol.

3) Mobilization of cholesterol from tissues.

Several studies were published in Indian Journal of medicine , Indian pharmacopoeia and in Journal Of Association Of Physicians in India about the hypolipidaemic activity of Guggulu extract but these studies only showed Lipid lowering activity of guggulu extract but not able to find out the exact action of guggulu extract. In U.S.A. (University of Texas and Bayer college) it is confirmed that Guggulu extract blocks the activity of Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) which is found in liver and responsible for regulating cholesterol and affecting bile salts.

Word Cholesterol is made up of Greek word Cole (Bile), Stereos (Solid) and the suffix ‘–ol’ from an alcohol. There are two sources of cholesterol in our body –

1) Food Cholesterol

2) Cholesterol synthesized from active acetates in the body.

The term bad cholesterol is used for LDL (low density lipoprotein) which is harmful for our body and good cholesterol for HDL (High density lipoprotein) which is beneficial for our body. One of the aims of the treatment of atherosclerotic disorder is to lower plasma or body cholesterol.

Bile acids are principal oxidative product of hepatic cholesterol metabolism. They are exclusively synthesized by the liver and secreted via the bile duct in to intestine to facilitate the absorption of dietary fat and insoluble vitamin. Nearly 95% of the bile acids secreted in to the intestine, are reabsorbed by terminal ileum and returned to the liver through the portal system where they are again utilized. Nonetheless, the bile acids and biliary cholesterol that are not reabsorbed represent the major route of removal of cholesterol in the body. The two major bile acids Cholic and Chenodeoxycholic acid are produced from 7α-hydroxycholesterol, which is formed from cholesterol by the action of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), the rate limiting enzyme in bile acid synthesis. Bile acid synthesis is under feedback regulation with cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids inhibiting the activity of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1). The Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) has recently been identified as a bile acid activated nuclear receptor and is considered as an orphan. It controls bile acid synthesis, conjugation as well as lipid metabolism.

The major pathway of bile acid synthesis can be controlled by controlling the activity of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase. Bile acid activates the nuclear receptor Farnesoid X Receptor in the liver which indirectly results in the suppression of CYP7A1 transcription by orphan nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner (SHP) partenered to the liver receptor homolog-1 (LRH-1). Besides CYP7A1, many of the genes modulating the dynamics of entero-hepatic circulation of bile acids are also FXR regulated indicating the importance of controlling their activity in response to bile acid concentrations. Guggulsterones blocks the activity of Farnesoid X Receptor so the feedback inhibition of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) activity is released, leading to increase in the bile acid synthesis. This increased diversion of cholesterol in to bile acid synthesis causes an apparent decrease in the pool of intracellular cholesterol.

This way Guggulu decreases Cholesterol level and is used in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Cholesterol level may be less likely to develop erectile dysfunction or impotency due to atherosclerosis which may impede blood flow to and from the penis. So Guggulu can also be used for the treatment of Impotency.

Guggulu reduces the stickiness of platelets and this helps in the lowering of coronary artery diseases. A direct anti-inflammatory action has also been shown by guggulsterones. Researches on the animals show that guggulu can enhance Thyroid function and can increase Basic metabolic rate (BMR) by increasing the level of triiodothyroxin (T3). So it can be used in the treatment of Obesity or Medoroga. But little is known about the action of guggulu on human thyroid.

Properties and Uses -

Properties of guggulu gum are viscous, light, penetrating, and drying. It is hot in potency (Virya) and post-digestive effect (Vipak), Vata and Kapha pacifying, and Pitta aggravating. Its actions are antiseptic, carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, uterotonic, alternative, stomachic, and sedative. It can be used alone or in combination for Obesity, Gout, Sciatica, Hemiplegia, Dyspepsia, Cough, Dysmenorrhoea, Amenorrhoea and Urinary calculus etc. The Guggulu gum is used as an anti-inflammatory, anthelminic, antiseptic, and as a nervine tonic.

Guggulu gum Side Effects -

Guggulu gum is generally well tolerated. The common side effects are Diarrhea, Anorexia, Abdominal discomfort and skin rashes. So the guggulu should be used with caution in the persons with liver diseases, in cases of inflammatory bowel disease and diarrhea.

Guggulu Drug Interactions

Guggulsterones may increase the potency of anti-inflammatory drugs due to its anti-inflammation property, drugs used to lower blood pressure, muscle relaxants (Valium), lithium, and diuretics. It may reduce the effects of anti-arrhythmic (such as digoxin) and anti-diabetic drugs.

Dose -

Daily recommendations for guggulu are typically based on the amount of guggulsterones in the extract and condition of the patient and disease. Most extracts contain 5-10% guggulsterones. So the dose can vary from 25 mg to 75 mg TDS.

References

1)Cultivation Of Guggulu – C.C.R.A.S. ; New Delhi

2)Essential Medical Pharmacology- KD Tripathi

3)Basic and Clinical Pharmacology – Lange

4) The Pharmacological basis Of Therapeutics-Goodman and Gillman

5) Clinical Pharmacology – Melmon and Morrelli

6) Clinical trials with guggulipid. A new hypolipidaemic agent. J Assoc Physicians India 1989 May; 37(5):323-8 Nityanand S, Srivastava JS, Asthana OP.

7) The farnesoid X receptor: a novel drug target, Authors: Thierry Claudel; Ekkehard Sturm; Folkert Kuipers; Bart Staels

8) The farnesoid X-activated receptor mediates bile acid activation of phospholipid transfer protein gene expression.
Urizar NL, Dowhan DH, Moore DD; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas USA

9) Medicinal Plants Of India

10) Ayurvedokta Oushadhamala – Dr. J.L.N. Shastry

11) Guggulsterone is an FXR antagonist in coactivator association assays but acts to enhance transcription of bile salt export pump. Cui J, Huang L, Zhao A, Lew JL, Yu J, Sahoo S, Meinke PT, Royo I, Pelaez F, Wright SD.

Tagara -A Useful Herb For Insomnia

2007-12-05T23:57:00.000-08:00

Tagara has an important place among medicinal herbs in Ayurveda. It is one of the herbs mentioned in all scriptures of Ayurveda. In Dhanvantri Nighantu and Bhavaprakasha its activity is cited on the central nervous system. Tagara is beneficial for the eyes, alleviates the diseases of the head, works as an anti- toxin, antiepileptic, useful in hysteria and also destroys the evil powers. This drug is very useful in the case of insomnia. Acharya Charaka has mentioned Tagara as ‘Shitaprashamana’ (relieves cold sensation on the skin) drug. Bhavaprakasha mentioned Tagar under ‘Karpooradi varga’.

Description

English Name - Indian Valerian

Latin Name - Valeriana wallichi

Family - Valerianaceae

Classical Names -

Tagar

Kutila

Nata

Nahusha

Vakra

Morphological Type - This is a slightly hairy perennial herb.

Habitat - It is found abundant in Western Himalayas and is

reported in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Indian

Valerian is collected in Kashmir, Garhwal and other places of West Himalayas in India.

Parts Used : Roots

Properties : Rasa - Tikta, Katu, Kshaya

Guna - Laghu, Snigdha

Virya - Ushna

Vipaka - Katu

Chemical Constituents :

The rhizomes contain 0.5-2% essential oils. The constituents identified are arachidic acid, valerianic, behemic, caproic, isovaleric acetyl valerianic acids, α and β- valenes, valerian phenol caffeinic and chlorogenic acid, tannins and alkaloids and valerine and chetine. Calcium and heavy metals like lead, iron, zinc, magnesium and copper have been identified. Isoveleric and caproic acids obtained from alkaline hydrolysate of a compound, isolated from rhizomes and roots. An iridoid glucoside (I) isolated and characterised. It showed CNS depressant activity at 316-100mg/kg doses in mice. Valepotriates which are iridoid substances have been identified as the sedative principles. Out of these alkaloids valerianic acid is the major alkaloid.

Ayurvedic Properties :

Tagara is bitter, pungent, sweet and astringent in taste (rasa) pungent in the post digestive effect (vipaka) and has hot potency (virya). It alleviates all the three doshas. It possesses light (laghu) and oily (snigdha) attributes. It is antieptleptic, analgesic and is beneficial for eyes. Tagar is Mastishkashamaka, Hridya Utejka and reduces blood pressure in larger doses. It is very useful in the patients of Insomnia.

Pharmacological Action :

=> Analgesic

=> Laxative

=> Anticonvulsant

=> Hepatostimulant

=> Antispasmodic

=> Cardiostimulant but in large doses cause hypotension

=> Appetizer

=> CNS depressant

=> Sedatives

=> Nervine tonic

Mode of Action :

The Valerian extract diminishes the irritability of brain and spinal cord and is the principal remedy of insomnia especially due to nervous exhaustation and mental overwork. The CNS depressant and sedative action of Valerian extract finds a use in Ayurvedic therapy of delirium, insomnia, epilepsy and behavioral disorders.

Dose :

=> 1-3gms

=> 2-8 Ratti (Bhavaprakasha)

Adverse Reaction :

This herb is can be administered safely and continuously over a prolonged period. There is no tolerance to the drug with major side effects. But overdose can cause vomiting, giddiness, hiccup, cold limbs and bradycardia.