Rudraksha (Elaeocarpus Ganitrus) Benefits & Uses

by Dr. Jagdev Singh

Rudraksha (also spelled as Rudraksh) is the seed of medicinal plant botanically known as Elaeocarpus Ganitrus. It has great religious significance and used in Indian Folk Remedies & ayurvedic medicines for a wide range of diseases.

Rudraksha is helpful in the management for high blood pressure, diabetes, restlessness due to fever, chicken pox, small pox, tuberculosis, chronic cough, asthma, sciatica, heart diseases, memory loss, cancer etc.

Botanical Description

Botanically, Rudraksha is Elaeocarpus Ganitrus. The seeds are known as Rudraksha, which have several types depending on their structure.

Botanical Classification (Plant Taxonomy)

Kingdom	PLANTAE
Sub-Kingdom	VIRIDIPLANTAE
Infra Kingdom	STREPTOPHYTA (land plants)
Super Division	EMBRYOPHYTA
Division	TRACHEOPHYTA (TRACHEOPHYTES or Vascular Plants)
Sub Division	SPERMATOPHYTINA (SPERMATOPHYTES or Seed Plants)
Class	MAGNOLIOPSIDA
Super Order	ROSANAE
Order	OXALIDALES
Family	ELAEOCARPACEAE
Genus	ELAEOCARPUS L (DICERA)
Species	ELAEOCARPUS GANITRUS (Rudraksha)

Plant Description

Rudraksha tree is a large evergreen tree, which can grow up to 50 to 200 feet.

Type of Plant	Perennial
Native Range (Geographic Distribution)	North-East India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Philippines, Manila, Myanmar
Height (grows up to)	50 to 200 feet
Habitat (type of environment)	Tropical and sub-tropical areas with temperature ranges of 25 to 30⁰Celsius
Stem	Cylindrical with coarse textured dirty white bark
Leaves	pyramidal shape
Flowers	White with fringed petals
Fruits	Bears fruits in 3 to 7 years
Seeds	When Fruits fully ripened, blue color outer shell (husk) covers the Rudraksha beads. Rudraksha Seeds are sweet in taste. Rudraksha colors can vary with brownish shades.

Medicinal Parts

Rudraksha seeds and its powder are used in ayurvedic medicines. There are different types of seeds based on structure are available. Ancient texts believe that each has its unique properties and provides specific benefits.

Phytochemistry (Chemical Composition)

Gas chromatography and C-H-N Analyzer are used for determination of elemental composition of Rudraksha. Its beads contain:

Gaseous Elements	Percentage
Carbon	50.031%
Nitrogen	0.95%
Hydrogen	17.897%
Oxygen	30.53%

Active Constituents

The following active constituents are present in Rudraksha:

Extraction with Petroleum	PHYTOSTEROLS & FIXED OIL FATS
Extraction with Ethanol	ALKALOIDS, TANNINS, CARBOHYDRATES, PROTEINS & FLAVONOIDS
Extraction with Water	TANNINS, PROTEINS & CARBOHYDRATES

Main Alkaloids

ALLOELAEOCARPILINE
EPIELAEOCARPILINE
EPIISOELAEOCARPILINE
ISOELAEOCARPINE
PSEUDO-EPIISOELAEOCARPILLINE

Rudraksha also contains:

RUDRAKINE
QUERCETIN
GALLIC ACID
ELLAGIC ACID

Medicinal Properties

Rudraksha has following healing properties.

Antacid
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-arthritic
Anti-pyretic
Anti-hypertensive
Demulcent
Expectorant
Carminative
Digestive Stimulant
Anti cancer
Anti-mutagenic
Hypo-glycemic
Lowers bilirubin
Anti-gout
Analgesic
Muscle relaxant
Antioxidant
Adaptogenic
Anti-stress
Antidepressant
Antipruritics

Ayurvedic Properties

Taste – RASA	MADHURA (Sweet)
Main Quality – GUNA	GURU (Heavy), SNIGADH or SNEHA (Unctuous or Oily)
Potency – VIRYA	SHEETA (Cold)
Resultant – VIPAKA	MADHURA (Sweet)
Therapeutic Effect – PRABHAVA	Rejuvenation & Supplement
DOSHA KARMA (Effect on Humors)	Pacifies VATA & PITTA
Effects on Organs	All Organs

Therapeutic Indications

Rudraksha is helpful in following health conditions.

Restlessness and body ache in fever
Diabetes
Chicken pox and small pox
Acne vulgaris and pimples
Tuberculosis (rarely used with Vanshlochan)
Cough
Asthma
Burning sensation in whole body – used with rose water or GULAB ARKA (Aqua Rosae, Air Mawar)
High blood pressure
Low blood pressure – used with Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) and cow’s milk
Sciatica
Heart diseases
Memory loss
Mouth ulcers
Gastritis
Indigestion or dyspepsia
Leukoderma (vitiligo)
Bleeding piles
Hair fall
Metrorrhagia
Leucorrhea
Jaundice
Joint pains due to osteoarthritis, gout or rheumatoid arthritis
Cancer
Bronchitis in children
Constipation
Insomnia
Laziness
Flatulence
Abdominal distension
Eyesight improvement
Prostate enlargement
Impotency

Benefits & Medicinal Uses

According to ancient texts, Rudraksha has several types based on its structure. Each has unique benefits and specific uses.

Key Benefits of Rudraksha

Rudraksha provides strength to the body and helps as adjuvants in various diseases to reduce debility due to them.
It reduces headache and beneficial in mental disorders.
Rudraksha acts as blood purifier, which reduces blood impurities and increases blood circulation. By this effect, it helps reaching the nutrients to every cell and tissue in the body.
Immunostimulatory property of Rudraksha provides protection against common infections.
It helps as adjuvant therapy in breathing disorders and chronic cough.
The antihypertensive and cardio-protective properties of Rudraksha maintain blood pressure at normal level and prevent heart diseases.
Rudraksha powder paste with rose water increase skin glow and brings charming effect on the face.
When taken with milk, Rudraksha increases memory and brainpower.
It helps in liver disorders and abdominal diseases.
Rudraksha fruit or bark is a good remedy for controlling epilepsy.

Benefits Based on Rudraksha Types

Here is a brief description of benefits for each type of Rudraksha.

1 Mukhi Rudraksha

Beneficial in all diseases
Mostly used for preventing mental disorder and maintaining optimum health
Good health tonic and provides supplementary benefits
Provides peace to mind, so it is used for stress disorders, depression and anxiety

2 Mukhi Rudraksha

It is used in epilepsy. It helps prevent epileptic attacks.
It is beneficial in all types of psychological disorders including depression, behavior disorders and social anxiety

3 Mukhi Rudraksha

Diabetes: 3 Mukhi Rudraksha is beneficial for diabetes.
High blood pressure: It reduces elevated blood pressure and provides strength to heart muscles.
Fertility: It increases fertility and reproductive power.

4 Mukhi Rudraksha

Good in Vocal cord disorders
Eye diseases – improves eyesight and prevent eye diseases
Thyroid disorders – may have influence on thyroid gland functions, so it may help in hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism

5 Mukhi Rudraksha

Liver disorders – improves liver functions
Kidney diseases
High blood pressure – lowers blood pressure
Prostate enlargement
Depression
Delays aging and keeps healthy

6 Mukhi Rudraksha

Memory loss
Skin diseases
Impotency
Kidney diseases
Heart diseases
Eye disorders

7 Mukhi Rudraksha

Intestinal disorders
Infertility
Abdominal disorders

8 Mukhi Rudraksha

Abdominal disorders
Eye diseases
Cough
Asthma
Bone disorders like osteoporosis

9 Mukhi Rudraksha

Fever
Abdominal pains
Skin diseases

10 Mukhi Rudraksha

Schizophrenia
Diabetes

11 Mukhi Rudraksha

Anti-toxins
Increases intelligence

12 Mukhi Rudraksha

Osteoporosis
Fractures of bones
Heart diseases
Increases glow
Increases physical strength

13 Mukhi Rudraksha

It increases communication skills of a person and helpful in social phobia.

14 Mukhi Rudraksha

It increases imagination power and thinking capacity of person

15 Mukhi Rudraksha

It helps maintain health.
It increases ability of critical thinking

16 Mukhi Rudraksha

It increases immunity and protects from several diseases.

17 Mukhi Rudraksha

It increases memory.
It helps reducing mental agitation and other psychological disorders

18 Mukhi Rudraksha

It is beneficial for pregnant women. It protects the developing fetus from various diseases. It also helps preventing diseases after birth of the child.

19 Mukhi Rudraksha

It helps prevent cardiovascular and neurological diseases.

20 Mukhi Rudraksha

It provides peace to the mind along with conscience and wisdom.

21 Mukhi Rudraksha

It is believed that it provides happiness and makes person wealthy to live a very conformable life.

22 Mukhi Rudraksha

It provides happiness and makes person to live a joyful life.

23 Mukhi Rudraksha

It increases self-confidence and provides inner strength.

Rudraksha exerts the benefits either by bearing it touching the skin or by oral intake. Generally, for therapeutic benefits, it is taken internally in powder form or applied over the skin in skin diseases.

Rudraksha as Preventive Medicine

Rudraksha Prevents Diseases and Maintains Optimum Health

However, preventive action of Rudraksha requires more scientific research studies, but Indian people believe that bearing Rudraksha touching with skin using cotton thread (without using any metal chain) provides protection against infectious diseases and has several health benefits.

Prevention of Recurrent Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Children

Internal intake in form of Rudraksha powder (125 mg) with warm water may have immunity enhancer effects, so it is used in prevention of recurrent upper respiratory tract infections in children.

Preventing Heart Disease

Soaking Rudraksha (7 Mukhi Rudraksha) in water and leaving it for overnight, then drink the water on empty stomach in early morning helps preventing heart diseases.

Therapeutic Benefits & Medicinal Uses of Rudraksha

The main influence of Rudraksha is on brain, nerves and alimentary canal. The detail of its therapeutic benefits with appropriate adjuvants is given below:

Restlessness & Body Ache in Fever

Rudraksha makes person feel better in fever. It has ameliorative effects. The studies show it has immunostimulatory effects. Therefore, it can also helps as adjuvant to fight off infections.

Taking Rudraksha Churna (Churna = Powder) (1 to 3 grams) with Shadanga Paniya or warm water helps reduce restlessness, body aches and burning sensation due to high fever. However, this remedy is not commonly used, but it can be used to relieve excessive restlessness and irritability due to fever.

Shadanga Paniya is made by mixing 30 ml of Shadangam Kashayam in 200 ml of water boiled and cooled and is taken from time to time for quenching thirst.

Diabetes

Research studies show the potential antidiabetic effects of Rudraksha. The significant reduction is observed in blood sugar level in experimental animals.
Taking 1 gram Rudraksha Churna with 10 ml Juice of Neem Leaves (Azadirachta indica) helps controlling blood sugar level. The following Rudraksha Combination is also helpful in diabetes management.

Rudraksha Churna (Churna = Powder)	1000 mg
Jamun leaves (Syzygium cumini)	1000 mg
Tulsi – Holy Basil Leaves (Ocimum tenuiflorum)	1000 mg

This mixture should be taken on empty stomach and twice a day.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Rudraksha has antihypertensive and cardioprotective effects, so it is a good alternative measure against hypertension. The research studies suggested that soaking Rudraksha in water in copper vessel, then taking it in the morning on empty stomach is more beneficial high blood pressure. Copper may increase the antihypertensive property of Rudraksha.
Ayurveda has suggested following ways to use Rudraksha to manage high blood pressure.

Take 250 ml water in a copper vessel and soak Rudraksha in this water overnight. Drink the water on empty stomach.
Alternatively, eating 2 grams Rudraksha powder with water kept in copper vessel is more beneficial as compared to first one.
The decoction made with 400 ml water and 5 grams Rudraksha powder and then reduced to 100 ml water is also beneficial in hypertension.

Chicken Pox

Rudraksha helps reducing severity of chickenpox symptoms. It reduces malaise, tiredness and headache. Further, it decreases burning sensation and pain on chicken pox rashes. It speeds up recovery process and prevents complications.

Acne & Pimples

Rudraksha anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties help curing acne and pimples. Its local application is more helpful, reduces recurrence, and provides soothing feeling by alleviating acne symptoms. The following combinations using Rudraksha are used in ayurveda.

Mix Rudraksha powder and Arjuna bark powder (Terminalia arjuna) in equal proportion. Take a teaspoon of this mixture and mix it with 2 to 3 teaspoons honey. Make a thin paste. You can add more honey in this mixture. Apply this Rudraksha paste on the affected parts or on whole face. Wait for 30 minutes and then rinse your face with warm water.

This remedy provides glowing effect to the face and skin. It also reduces acne and prevents recurrence.

Rudraksha powder can be mixed with lemon juice to make paste and applied on the face.

This remedy is more beneficial for improving skin glow. It makes you feel fresh.

Black Spots & Blemish

Rudraksha fades dark spots and reduces blemishes. It is used internally as well as externally.
Internal Use: Internally, Rudraksha is taken with Mulethi (Licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra), Amalaki (Indian Gooseberry, Phyllanthus emblica) and Manjistha (Rubia cordifolia). The mixture of these four herbs is beneficial internally to reduce hyperpigmentation, black spots and blemish. A teaspoon (5 grams) powder should be taken with water an hour after meal twice a day.
External Use: Fine powder of Rudraksha mixing with rose water is applied over the skin with dark spots, hyperpigmentation and blemishes. The regular use fades the dark spots and makes skin clearer.

Burning Sensation

If patient feels burning sensation in whole body, then the decoction of Rudraksha powder and sandalwood (Chandan, Cendana) is used in amount of 50 to 100 ml. It gives relief in burning sensation.
If patient has burning sensation on the skin, the Rudraksha paste made with rose water is applied over the skin.

Cough

Rudraksha is rarely used for treating cough, but its powder can be used with honey to cure cough. It is more beneficial when patients have cough with chest tightness and cough starts with irritation in the throat.

Breathing Problems & Asthma

Rudraksha is beneficial in severe cases of asthma and breathing troubles.

Rudraksha Powder	2000 mg
Turmeric Powder – Haldi Churna (Curcuma longa, Kunyit)	2000 mg
Honey	10 ml

Rudraksha and Turmeric powder are mixed in equal amount with honey as above proportion. In acute attach, the patient is asked to lick the paste after every 15 to 30 minutes. In chronic cases, this mixture should be taken 2 to 3 times a day.

Tuberculosis

However, now we have better treatment for tuberculosis, but our ancient doctors were using the following Rudraksha combination.

Herbs	Quantity per Dose
Rudraksha Powder	2000 mg
Rudanti Powder – Capparis Moonii	2000 mg
Vanshlochan – Bamboo Manna	1000 mg

This Rudraksha mixture was given to patients with tuberculosis. Now, it can be used as supportive therapy along with Swarna Bhasma and Vasant Malti Ras in case of Multi Drug Resistant Tuberculosis. Vanshlochan should be added in higher possible dosage to protect and strengthen the lungs.

Vanshlochan is siliceous concretion discharged from the joints of female bamboo (Bambousa arundinacae) plant and generally found inside the hollow stems. It is white-bluish, hard, opaque and found as irregular fragments. It absorbs great deal of water but does not get easily dissolved in water. It is known as Tabasheer in Unani and Bamboo manna in English.

Tabasheer (Hindustani: तबाशीर or طباشیر) or Banslochan (बंसलोचन, بنسلوچن), also spelt as Tabachir or Tabashir, is a translucent white substance, composed mainly of silica and water with traces of lime and potash, obtained from the nodal joints of some species of bamboo. It is part of the pharmacology of the traditional Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine of the Indian subcontinent. It is also an ingredient in many traditional Chinese medicines.

Dosage & Administration

The general dosage of Rudraksha is as follows.

Children	500 mg to 1 gram *
Adults	1 gram to 3 grams *

* Twice a day with appropriate adjuvant

Safety Profile

Rudraksha is LIKELY SAFE & WELL TOLERABLE in most people within the dosage of Rudraksha as described above.

Side Effects

There are no side effects observed with Rudraksha.

Sumber:
https://www.ayurtimes.com/rudraksha-elaeocarpus-ganitrus-benefits-uses/

Minggu, 15 Januari 2017