Author Archives: AyurvedicOils

β-Caryophyllene

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Caryophyllene or (−)-β-caryophyllene, is a widespread plant natural product. It is a naturally occurring bicyclic sesquiterpene that is seen as a major composition of many essential oils. This compound is found especially in the oil extracted from the stems and flowers of cloves, the essential oil of rosemary, hemp, cannabis and hops.

It is a FDA approved food additive, and is the first dietary cannabinoid; β -caryophyllene contributes to the unique fragrance linked with plant oils. It’s also highly present in African black pepper.  A study in 2008 first identified caryophyllene as a cannabinoid. This study also brought to light the medicinal benefits of the compound.

Biological activities of β-Caryophyllene:

Cannabinoids are a terpenophenolic compound making its sub-set of terpenes. Since cannabinoids and terpenes are related, terpenes trigger the body’s endo-cannabinoid receptors.

Anti-inflammatory – Decreases inflammation and swelling gradually.

Antibacterial – Curtails the growth of bacteria.

Neuro-protective – Restrains harm to the brain and the nervous system.

Anti-proliferative – Hinders the growth of cancerous cells.

Antidepressant – Mitigates various indicators of depression.

Antioxidant – Thwarts oxidative damage to the molecules in the body.

Analgesic – Alleviates pain.

Anxiolytic – Aids alleviate anxiety.

Relative studies on β-Caryophyllene:

As an analgesic:

A study in 2014 was conducted to identify the activity of β-Caryophyllene as an analgesic. It was found that the widespread plant volatile beta-caryophyllene (BCP) was identified as a natural selective agonist of the peripherally expressed cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2), and is found in high concentrations in many spices and food plants.

This study focused on the orally administered BCP which reduced inflammatory (late phase) pain responses in the formalin test in a CB2 receptor-dependent manner, while it had no effect on acute (early phase) responses.

In conclusion of the study, oral BCP was more effective than the subcutaneously injected synthetic CB2 agonist JWH-133; meaning that the natural plant product BCP may be highly effective in the treatment of long lasting, debilitating pain states. The results have important implications for the role of dietary factors in the progression and inflection of chronic pain conditions.

As an anti-carcinogenic:

β-Caryophyllene also seems to have a play in the role as an anti-carcinogenic constituent in essential oils. A study that focused on beta-caryophyllene that analyzed the anticancer properties of alpha-humulene, Isocaryophyllene and paclitaxel was carried out in the year 2007.

The study’s focus was on the potentiating effect of beta-caryophyllene on the anticancer activity of alpha-humulene, Isocaryophyllene and paclitaxel against MCF-7, DLD-1 and L-929 human tumor cell lines was evaluated. During the study, the intracellular buildup of paclitaxel-oregon green was determined in combination with concentrations of beta-caryophyllene ranging from 2.5 to 40 microg mL(-1).

This effect was due to beta-Caryophyllene, which significantly increased the intracellular build up to 64%. Another aspect understood during the process is that, beta-caryophyllene induced intracellular buildup of calcein but not verapamil, which is an inhibitor of P-glycoprotein.

These two constituents are multidrug resistance related protein transporters, indicating that beta-caryophyllene encourages drug accumulation by a different mechanism of action. These results indicate beta-caryophyllene allows the passage of paclitaxel through the membrane and thus potentiates its anticancer activity.

As an anti-depressant:

A study was carried out on mice to check the activity of β-Caryophyllene as a remedy to depression. It was performed to understand how β-Caryophyllene, a CB2 receptor agonist produces multiple changes in behavioral patterns in accordance to depression and anxiety seen in mice.

The aim of the research experiment carried out was to determine capabilities and actions of the CB2 receptor potent-selective agonist β-caryophyllene (BCP) in animals subjected to models of anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects.

These preclinical results suggest that CB2 receptors may provide alternative therapeutic targets for the treatment of anxiety and depression. Recent evidence suggests that the cannabinoid receptor subtype 2 (CB2) is in co-ordinance with anxiety and depression disorders, and the study also proved the same.

Reference Links:

  1. Caryophyllene by Wiki
  2. β-Caryophyllene by the leaf online
  3. Beta-caryophyllene is a dietary cannabinoid by University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, published in PNAS.
  4. Potentiating effect of beta-caryophyllene on anticancer activity of alpha-humulene, Isocaryophyllene and paclitaxel, published in the Journal of Pharmacology and PubMed

Ayurvedic Ways of Treating The Disgusting Dysmennorhea

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Dysmennorhea is often sickening and agonizing. Severe menstrual pain that comes before or on the onset of cyclical menstrual periods is referred to as Dysmennorhea. It lasts for 1 to 3 days of menses and is often accompanied by vomiting, dizziness, depression, headache, nausea, stress, fatigue and bloating. The discharge of the prostaglandins and oxytocin hormones during menstruation is the basic reason for primary Dysmennorhea. The best way to treat this threatening physical condition is with the use of Ayurvedic treatment that can completely cure Dysmennorhea without any adverse side effects.

It’s nature’s law and the beauty of nature often ends up in gifting all the biological complexities to the most elegant, steel-hearted and the greatest creation in the world, none other than ‘Women’. Generally women scrawl in pain during their regular menstruation and whisper a solid statement that says ‘Why everything for women? Right from menstrual pain to labor pain, why everything for women and nothing for men?’ Young ladies, never curse your creation and love to cherish it as Ayurveda considers human body as a temple and appreciates your individuality.

Blessed are women: Men have higher risks of heart disease than women as the female hormone called estrogen is active till menopause and the impurities in the blood are often discharged during your cyclic menstrual period. You are safe because of your reproductive cycle!

Ayurvedic treatment for Dysmennorhea: Ayurveda has its own magnificence in treating each health condition. It treats Dysmennorhea according to the Vata, Pitta and Kapha body types.

  • Ayurvedic herbs: The science of life suggests the use of effective herbs like Sweet fennel, Lemon balm, Pasque flower and Dong Quai, popularly known as the tonic for assisting the reproductive health of women. It also suggests the use of combination of Aloe vera with black pepper.
  • Ayurvedic essential oils: Using Ayurvedic essential oils with emmenagogue, analgesic and antispasmodic properties are trusted to treat womanly problems like Dysmennorhea, Amenorrhea, Leucorrhea and much more. Few such special essential oils with emmenagogue properties are Clary Sage essential oil, Rosemary essential oil, Angelica essential oil, Lavender essential oil, Juniper essential oil, sweet fennel essential oil, Jasmine essential oil, Myrrh essential oil and Peppermint essential oil can balance your hormones and help alleviate the painful menstrual cramps. Gently massage any of these essential oils or a blend of two or three to calm your nerves and soother your abdominal pains.
  • Yoga asanas: Ayurveda suggests practicing asanas like Padmasana for lessening menstrual pain as it gradually improves blood circulation in the lower part of the body while steadily enhancing metabolism, treating hormonal imbalances and control menstrual pains.

Ayurveda recommends the intake of healthy diet with green leafy vegetables, fresh fruits, and food items rich in magnesium like banana, barley, whole grains, broccoli, spinach, artichoke, beans and few others. Drink lot of water to restore the energy levels. Ayurveda also insists on the detoxifying system called Panchakarma that cleanses and removes the toxic substances from your body assisting in improved circulation and stress-free living.

Reference Links:

  1. Painful Menstrual Periods / Dysmennorhea – Symptom Evaluation by Med India
  2. Aging and Heart Disease by Heart Health Women.Org
  3. Angelica Sinensis by Wikipedia
  4. Padmasana and Benefits by answers.myYOG.com

What Can You Expect From Your First Ayurvedic Consultation?

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Every task in this world has a system to adopt and a strategy to follow, Ayurvedic treatment also fits under this ceiling. Just by hearing about certain random facts, you cannot pluck the leaves in your backyard to cure an illness because there’s a heap of things to be done before kick starting your Ayurvedic therapy. Only a skilled Ayurvedic professional can hit the nail for you the first time itself. So you are ready to take up this holistic approach for your well-being. It is at this stage that you’ll be inquisitive in knowing about the things that you can expect from your first Ayurvedic consultation. It’s time to pull the plug and here you go with the occurrences that you can look for in an initial Ayurvedic session.

1st Stride: Most of the Ayurvedic institutions ask you to fill in a short form with your personal details along with the ground reason for the actual visit. After which the sitting with your Ayurvedic expert is set upon. The first consultation may last for about 1 to 2 hours and the follow-up sessions will be for about 30 minutes.

2nd Stride: Here starts the assessment where most of your physical functions are tested thoroughly by the Ayurvedic practitioner. We’ll take a quick look at the different tests you’ll undergo:

  • Every Ayurvedic consultant will start with the pulse checkup to determine the strength, regularity, degree, association and warmth of your body. This test aids in weighing the function of your cell system, endocrine system and your cardiac system.
  • Your pulse analysis is followed by a breathing test for finding the speed and disparities in breathing. This helps in tracing out the fortitude, level of stress dynamics, wetness and time-span of the flow and robustness of your lungs.
  • Now the Ayurvedic specialist will look into your eyes analyzing its shape, color, glow and movement that will help him discover the working of your brain, pancreas, gall bladder and liver. This also assists in concluding the level of toxins in your body.
  • Your tongue is then checked for thickness, color, texture and shape revealing the condition of your digestive system, pancreas and gall bladder and discloses the presence of bacteria or other micro organisms in the body.
  • Mineral, vitamins and other nutrition deficiencies along with the mucus content are assessed by testing the surface of your skin and palm reading is also done to test out the planetary influence on your system.

This step helps in verifying the contemporary condition of your vital organs along with the psychosomatic structure (Doshas) of your body according to Ayurveda.

3rd Stride: This is the time when you need to wear your heart on your sleeve. Yes! Open up and never hide any of your personal details as every small thing has a greater influence in deciding your treatment composition. At this step you’ll be inquired about your medical history and that of your blood relations like father, mother, brother, sister, grandparents and your children. Along with this, you also need to answer questions on your routines, eating and other customary habits, lifestyle, your food and other general preferences, any events that have affected or moved you and any other physical or mental problems that have been bothering you persistently in the past.

At the end of these 3 steps, your Ayurvedic consultant will come to a conclusion on your natural inheritance known as Prakriti, current health condition or imbalances of body types called as Vikriti and estimate your health condition in the near future. After which he’ll prescribe you the right Ayurvedic treatment in the form of powder, capsules, decoction or massage therapy with Ayurvedic essential oils for handling your current illness and to confiscate the actual root cause for the disorders along with a pertinent diet, meditation and other physical exercises for enlightening your lifestyle. Your Ayurvedic specialist will also confirm you the date for your follow-up consultation for better and complete results.

Reference Links:

  1. Ayurvedic Consultation by Yatan Holistic Ayurvedic Center
  2. Prakriti by Wikipedia
  3. Dosha by Wikipedia
  4. Vikriti: Your Current Condition-Test by Banyan Botanicals Ayurvedic Herbs