With the ongoing sedentary lifestyle and a massive disturbance to the usual eating schedule due to the work from home lifestyle, every day more and more people are falling prey to various gastrointestinal issues. Be it quarantine constipation, indigestion, flatulence or acidity, the increasing stress due to COVID and lack of sleep is creating a ruckus to our physical and emotional well-being. While many people seek solutions from modern medications, there is also a vast number who still stick to the age-old ayurvedic practice from alternative remedies with little to no side effects.
Want A Panacea To Uplift Overall Health? Try Some Of Our Incredible Ayurvedic Formulations!
One such potent digestive boon is Ashta Choornam. Formulated using 8 vital ayurvedic ingredients, this classical medicine not only treats loss of appetite but also increases gastric juices and stimulates bile secretion. Bestowed with strong carminative properties, this ayurvedic medicine provides an absolute remedy for intestinal gas, bloating, flatulence, incomplete evacuation, abdominal lumps, Vata disorders, Kapha disorders, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Apart from treating digestive disorders, this traditional medicine is also beneficial in treating conditions arising due to the accumulation of Ama doshas, i.e. Rheumatoid Arthritis, and even prevents worm infestation.
How To Make Ashta Choornam?
Ingredients:
1 Part Pippali - Piper longum
1 Part Maricha - Piper nigrum
1 Part Shunti - Zingiber officinalis
1 Part Sweta jeeraka - Cuminum cyminum
1 Part Krishna jeeraka - Carom bulbocastanum
1 Part Shuddha Hingu (Processed with Ghee) - Ferula asafoetida
1 Part Ajamoda - Carum roxburghianum
1 Part Saindhava - Rock salt
Method:
Purify the hingu with cow ghee.
Dry all the herbal ingredients separately till there is no moisture remaining.
Put them together in a blender and make a powder of it.
Now again keep the powder under direct sunlight to remove the presence of moisture.
Pass the entire powder through sieve no. 100 to remove any impurities or hard particles.
Store it in air-tight containers for future use.
Therapeutic Benefits Of Ingredients:
Pippali:
Pippali or Indian long pepper is extensively used for the treatment of heartburn, indigestion, diarrhoea, cholera, asthma, etc. It also improves digestion and skin health.
Maricha:
It improves the function of the digestive tract, helps in digestion and alleviates symptoms of indigestion, flatulence, constipation, dysentery, skin disorders, disorders of the liver, oliguria, common cold, cough, dental and vision problems.
Sunthi:
Sunthi or dried ginger is a potent ayurvedic remedy for promoting digestion, relieving constipation, abdominal gas and distension. It is also widely used for treating asthma, cough and cold symptoms.
Shweta Jeeraka:
Being a rich source of iron, cumin is extremely beneficial for not only anemia but also promotes digestion, regulates diabetes and facilitates weight loss.
Krishna Jeeraka:
Black cumin is good for reducing pain and inflammation in the case of arthritis. It also reduces high blood pressure, treats IBS and good for dental hygiene.
Hingu:
The potent carminative, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory properties of hing are extremely useful in treating stomach pain, bloating, asthma, high blood pressure, sting bites, menstrual problems and headache.
Ajamoda:
Ajamoda, also known as celery has potent antispasmodic, diuretic, anthelmintic, laxative and stimulant properties. It is used for treating pain and inflammation, indigestion, urinary disorder, insomnia, rheumatism, kidney problem, bronchitis, asthma, and other breathing disorders.
Lavana:
The addition of saindhava lavana in the formulation balances the electrolytes, keeps the body hydrated by meeting the ion needs, prevents muscle cramps, improves digestion, bloating and treats the common cold symptoms.
Ayurvedic Benefits Of Ashta choornam:
Relieves Constipation:
Ayurveda strongly suggests the use of this concoction in the treatment of constipation. It increases secretion of bile by the liver, which in turn, acts on the peristalsis movement of the intestines and liver, thereby allowing smooth faecal passage from the large intestine. It also plays a quintessential role in minimalizing mucous and excess fat content in the stools and preventing them from sticking to the intestinal walls and thereby allowing easy movement through peristalsis.
Promotes Digestion:
Touted as a powerful digestive stimulant, this traditional herbal formulation helps in breaking down food particles in the stomach and intestine, promotes the secretion of the digestive juices and thereby increases the absorption of essential nutrients through the intestines. It helps to eliminate abdominal gas and in turn reduces abdominal distension, bloating and gaseous cramps. It also holds high significance in treating a wide range of gastrointestinal disorders like esophagitis, heartburn, diarrhoea, flatulence, peptic ulcer and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Treats IBS
IBS also known as Grahani in Sanskrit is mostly caused due to excessive intake of food particles which are difficult to digest, unhealthy dietary choices, intake of foods that cause allergy, intake of foods low on nutrients, overeating, eating at irregular intervals, and other physical and mental factors like emotional problems, stress, etc. IBS can cause both diarrhoea and constipation. The use of trikatu (i.e. pippali, maricha and shunthi) and other powerful herbs in ashta choornam make it an effective choice for treating this painful disease.
Also Read: Irritable Bowel Syndrome: 5 Incredible Ayurvedic Herbs To Relieve IBS
Enhances Appetite
Ashta choornam is extremely crucial for patients suffering from a loss of appetite and eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia, pre-existing chronic debilitating disorders, and during convalescence from an acute or chronic infective disorder. Regular intake of this magical remedy acts as a natural appetizer and aids in the digestion of food, improves appetite and helps the person to eat.
Remedies Arthritis
The classical medicine has potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, which is extremely beneficial in reducing joint and muscle pain, thereby reducing the chances of chronic autoimmune inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis which occurs due to the vitiation of Vata Doshas. It is also beneficial for bursitis, muscle and joint pain, shoulder dislocation pain and general debility due to fever.
Prevents Anorexia
Anorexia nervosa can be defined as an eating disorder in which an individual suffers from self-starvation. It is also attached to mental health as the individual suffers from low weight issues, fear of gaining weight, lower self-esteem and an intense desire to reduce weight. Owing to its digestive and appetizing properties, ashta choornam actively helps in the digestion of food, improves appetite, promotes absorption of nutrients and thereby ensures that the person eats healthily.
Cures Diarrhoea
Imbued with powerful anti-bacterial and anti-diarrhoeal properties, this ayurvedic powder is extensively used for removing bacteria from the intestines that cause diarrhoea and other intestinal infections. It can also be used for treating a type of diarrhoea known as AMA ATISARA i.e., acute diarrhoea where the bowel is slimy, sticky, full of mucus and has a foul odour. Additionally, it not only removes toxins from the body but also effectively reduces the frequency of stools.
Manages Liver Anomalies
Ashta choornam inherently possess potent hepatoprotective and hepatostimulative properties which offers a magical remedy in treating various liver problems like hepatitis, jaundice and fatty liver. The cholagogue quality of the herbal formulation stimulates the secretion of bile from the liver into the small intestine and also actively participates in washing out the excessive bile from the body before being absorbed, thus reducing risks of spleen and liver disorders.
Effect On Doshas:
Ashta choornam is sanctified with Katu (i.e. pungent taste) and Lavana Rasa (i.e. salty taste) and Laghu (i.e. light), Ushna (i.e. hot) and Rukshna Guna (i.e. rough quality). It inherently portrays Ushna Virya (i.e. hot potency) and Katu Vipaka (i.e. pungent metabolic taste). Being rough and light, it appeases the Vata doshas (i.e. air) and Kapha (earth and water) doshas, whereas having a pungent metabolic taste, it aggravates and detoxifies the Pitta (fire and air) doshas.
Also Read: Introduction To Ayurveda: Learn About Vata, Pitta And Kapha Doshas
Therapeutic Dosage
The effective therapeutic dosage of Ashta choornam may vary from person to person depending upon the age, severity, and condition of the patient. Consultation from an ayurvedic doctor is a must, as he or she will thoroughly examine the indications and prescribe the correct dosage for a specific time period.
Adults: 1 to 3 grams twice a day, preferably with lukewarm water or cow’s ghee or as specified by the ayurvedic doctor for the specific gastrointestinal disorder.
Side Effects
Although it is an absolute remedy for digestive anomalies, care should be taken to consume it with doctor’s consultation. Overdosage of the medicine or intake without dilution with water can lead to a burning sensation in the throat, gastric irritation, acid reflux, vertigo, sour belching, and restlessness.
Conclusion
Ashta Choornam is a traditional ayurvedic remedy that holds high significance in treating umpteen health problems including indigestion, gastritis, Irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, and loss of appetite. Imbued with potent herbal ingredients, seek benefit from this powerful digestive choornam with proper doctor recommendation.
