Ayurvedic science updates

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Feb-March, 2005 by Virender Sodhi

Doses of turmeric: Typically 5-10 grams of turmeric is used per day. I prefer to use standardized extract in the doses of 500 mg to 2000 mg, two to three times per day.

Toxicity and side effects: No toxicity has been reported in acute or chronic administration of turmeric extract. Turmeric extract caused ulcer as evident in one rat study only at a very high dosage (100mg/kg of body weight).

Ashwagandha as potent anti-inflammatory

The word Ashwagandha comes from the Sanskrit words, Ashv meaning horse, and gandha meaning odor (from peculiar equine odor of this plant). Commonly known as winter cherry, this herb is regarded as a general tonic and is considered a Rasayana in Ayurvedic medicine. Rasayana are a special class of herbs and treatment that are rejuvenating and can be taken over long periods without causing any side effects. Ashwagandha contains steroidal alkaloids and steroidal lactones. Currently, 35 withanolides have been isolated from the plant. These withanolides serve as important hormone precursors that convert into human physiologic hormones as needed by the body. Ashwagandha exerts amphoteric properties, which means it can help regulate important physiologic processes. Whenever there are excessive hormones, it attaches itself to the cell membrane and nullifies the effect of the hormones, and whenever the hormone level is low, it helps to balance that hormone. In my opinion you get all the benefits of steroids with this plant without all the nasty side effects. I have used Ashwagandha in place of hormones and have seen amazing results.

The effectiveness of Ashwagandha in a variety of rheumatologic conditions may be, in part, due to its anti-inflammatory properties which have been studied by several authors. In animal studies, comparing the effectiveness of Ashwagandha and the prescription drug phenylbutazone in controlling inflammation, Ashwagandha was shown to be more effective. The Ashwagandha-treated group completely reduced the inflammatory proteins, whereas animals treated with phenylbutazone as well as the control groups had increased inflammatory proteins. Similar results were achieved in carrageenan-induced inflammation. In another study, Ashwagandha extract showed far superior (almost double) results when compared to the drug hydrocortisone to reduce inflammation. In another study on paw swelling with adjuvant induced arthritis, Ashwagandha caused significant reduction in the swelling and showed regeneration as observed by radiological studies. The reduction in swelling and regeneration was better than the drug hydrocortisone.

In another study, Ashwagandha root powder was given to 46 patients of rheumatoid arthritis with doses of 4, 6, or 9 grams for a period of 3-4 weeks. Pain and swelling disappeared completely in 14 patients, considerable improvement was noticed in 10 patients and 11 patients showed mild improvement.

The free radical mechanism is one of the mechanisms considered to contribute to many inflammatory diseases. Ashwagandha has demonstrated its powerful antioxidant action on the nervous system. Oral administration of Ashwagandha in animals has prevented lipid peroxidation. These effects were dose-related.