Hemorrhoids and Piles,

Do's and don’t: PILES to SMILES.

DO's 
  • 1. The first precaution to take is that piles (hemorrhoids) patient are to prevent constipation and straining.
  • 2. Take adequate fiber in the diet. Fresh fruit, raw and cooked vegetables, whole grain slices of bread and cereals, prunes, raisins, popcorn, figs, pears, and beans are rich sources of fiber.
  • 3. Please see the fiber content in diet is abundant in quantity, gradually, as sudden Increase in fiber intake can cause diarrhea as well as pain in the stomach.
  • 4. Try fiber supplements (as advised by the doctor) which will keep the stool soft and regular.
  • 5. Drink plenty of fluids (at least 8-10 glasses of water daily)
  • 6. Reduce the intake of coffee, tea, and spicy food as they may act as irritants and cause; pain during a bowel movement. Lose weight, if you are overweight.
  • 7. Exercise regularly as it helps to improve blood circulation as well as keep the extra calories off.
  • 8. Train yourself for a regular bowel movement.
  • 9. Use stool softeners, which may help in softening the stools.
  • 10. If suffering from a cough or sneezing bouts (they too tend to increase the intra-abdominal pressure) get immediate treatment from the doctor.





DON’Ts

  • 1. Do not ignore an urge for a bowel movement.
  • 2. Avoid excessive straining at stool.
  • 3. Do not sit in the toilet for long periods.
  • 4. Do not use laxative regularly, as it may become a habit and cause the bowel to lose its the ability to function normally.
  • 5. Avoid lifting heavy objects. Even if you lift anything heavy, exhale and do not hold your breath.
  • 6. Avoid sitting for long periods as this can exert pressure in the anal area and aggravate the problems of piles (hemorrhoids). Even if your job requires continuous sitting, take short breaks in between and walk around for some time. This will ease the pressure in the anal area.
  • 7. Keeps the anal area clean using a very soft or moist toilet paper after each fecal excretion? This will help in relieving itching and prevent further swelling.

Fruits for good health

EATING FRUIT.

We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think.
It's important to know how and when to eat.

DON'T EAT FRUIT AFTER MEALS!
FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

It will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.

FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so.
In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.

Eat fruit on an empty stomach or before meals! People complain, "Every time I eat watermelon I burp; when I eat apples, my stomach bloats up; when I eat a banana🍌 I feel like running to the toilet, etc " This will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. Fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas, hence you will bloat!
Gray hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under eyes will NOT happen by taking fruit on an empty stomach.

There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon 🍋are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. Master the correct way of eating fruits, and you will  have beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight.

Drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. Cooking destroys all the vitamins.

Eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!

KIWI: A good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.

APPLE: Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.

STRAWBERRY: have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals.

ORANGE :Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessening the risk of colon cancer.

WATERMELON:Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. A key source of lycopene  the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.

GUAVA & PAPAYA: for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fibre, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; good for your eyes.
Drinking Cold water after meals = Cancer!

It will solidify the oily stuff you have just consumed and  slow down digestion... Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. This will turn into fats and lead to cancer. Better to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE': Not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of pain in the jaw line. You
never have chest pain during a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are common symptoms. Sixty percent who have an attack while asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can awaken you. 

A cardiologist says if everyone sends this message to 10 people, you can be sure it'll save at least one life.

PCI: PHARMACY COUNCIL OF INDIA

If anyone ask what are you doing? and if answer is I am doing Medicine, means he/who is not engaged in manufacturing drugs or owns a chemist's shop. he/she is doing Medical education or dong M.B.B.S.,

Being a pharmacist, we come across many many common misconception being practiced by Chemist Shop owners is the term 'Medical shop' actually is wrong and being used in India for more than 50 years. It should actually be used as Chemist Shop. i.e. Retail Chemist or Wholesale chemist if someone engaged in wholesale drugs.

The term Medical shop is wrong because, there is a MCI: Medical Council of India to look after the transactions of Graduation of Doctors, Post graduate Doctors and to approve new college admissions Hospitals or Postgraduate Courses as MD., MS., etc.

In a similar manner PCI; Pharmacy Council of India is also doing the same business, that is. issuing licences and approving educational institutions and registering a pharmacist who are newly graduated.

Medical council is nurtures Medical Doctors, and Pharmacy Council of India nurtures Pharmacist provides registration of B.Pharm Graduate, Diploma Pharmacy, and M.Pharm Post Graduate Pharmacy degree holders and one can run a retail chemist i.e.Chemist and Druggists.

Meanwhile, there is Dental council of India nurtures Dentists and Nursing Council of India nurtures Nurses welfare education and welfare of the society.

Sneezing in india is considered as fore teller, if sneezes once it is bad, if twice it is good!






Cassia fistula

Name: ARAGVADHA
Description:
Botanical name: Cassia fistula
Family : Caesalpiniaceae
SANSKRIT SYNONYMS: Aragvadha, Kritamala, Rajavriksha, Chaturangulam, Deerkhaphala

AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa : Tikta, Madhura
Guna : Guru, Mrudu, Snigdha
Virya : Seeta

PLANT NAME IN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES
English : Indian laburnum, Purging fistula
Hindi : Amaltas, Girimala
Malayalam : Konna, Kanikonna

Distribution:- Throughout India in deciduous forests

PLANT DESCRIPTION:-A medium sized deciduous tree grows up to 20 meters in height. Bark rough grayish; leaves innately compound, leaflets 4-8 pairs, ovate, acute, bright green above and silvery pubescent beneath; flowers bright yellow in lax pendulous racemes fruits long cylindrical pods seeds broadly ovate, horizontally arranged in the sweetish pulp.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES:-Plant pacifies vitiated pitta, vata, constipation, burning sensation, leucorrhea, skin disease, fever, cough, bronchitis, inflammations and rheumatism.

Useful part:- Whole plant.

CURD- AYURVEDIC VIEW


CURD:- Coagulated milk; used to make cheese

     Food and lifestyle routines are considered the most important medicine. According to Ayurveda food is medicine and medicine is food. Eating correctly is very important and the sense of taste is a natural guide map towards proper nutrition. Curd is used since ages to gain its nutritional health benefits.

     Curd is widely used and no Indian meal is complete without a cup of curd. Ayurveda, the Indian system of medicine explains the benefits of curd based on different types of curds. These types are explained as per the taste and method of production. If used wisely curds can be an excellent Ayurveda's home remedy for many health conditions. In this article we will see about the different types of curd and its qualities.

PROPERTIES OF CURD IN GENERAL:-Curd is unctuous, heavy, and hot in potency. It has little astringent taste and it is sour at the end of digestion, binds feces, increases pitta, kapha (fat) and oedema. It is good for dysuria, rhinitis, and intermittent fevers with chills, diarrhoea, anorexia and emaciation. It increases strength and sperm count.

TYPES OF CURD ACCORDING TO BHAVA PRAKASHA:-The 5 types of curd as mentioned in Bhava Prakasha Nigantu are Manda (Semi formed and thick curd), Swadu (Sweet and thick curd), Swadamla (Sweet – sour curd), Amla (Sour curd) and Atyamla (Excessively sour curd). Their properties are as follows.

Semi formed and thick curd:- The curd which is not well formed and has no distinct taste is semi formed curd. It increases the production of urine and feces, increases tridoshas and causes burning sensation. It is generally not suitable.

Sweet and thick curd:- The curd which is formed properly and which is sweet in taste is Sweet curd. It is an aphrodisiac, increases fat and kapha whereas mitigates vata and is good for bleeding disorders.

Sweet:- Sour curd  – The curd which is sweet and little sour in taste increases appetite and increases pitta and kapha. It also increases disorders of blood.

Sour curd:- This is the curd which is properly formed but sour in taste. This curd increases pitta dosha, kapha dosha and blood.

Excessively sour curd – The curd which is excessively sour when consumed produces tingling sensation in teeth and burning sensation in throat. This promotes appetite and increases vata, pitta and disorders of blood.

PROPERTIES OF CURD DEPENDING UPON SOURCES:-Curd from Cow's milk – It is sweet and sour in taste. It promotes taste, increases appetite, strength and good for heart. It mitigates vata and is the best among all type of curds.

Curd prepared from Buffaloes' milk:- It is unctuous, heavy to digest and mitigates vata and pitta but increases kapha and vitiates the blood. It is an aphrodisiac.

Curd from Goat's milk:- It is best and light to digest and bind feces.It helps in overcoming breathing disorders, cold, cough, hemorrhoids, and emaciation and also mitigates the tridoshas.

Curd prepared from fat free milk:- It is unctuous and heavy. It promotes strength, stoutness and taste. Mitigates vata and increases kapha. When it is added with sugar or honey, it does not increase pitta.

PROPERTIES OF SWEET CURD:-  When sugar or jaggery is added to curd and taken, it relieves thirst, improves blood circulation, mitigates vata and pitta, increases sperm count and is good for health.

CONTRA INDICATIONS OF EATING CURD DURING NIGHT TIME:-Ayurveda explains curd as having sour mixed sweet property and it increase Kapha dosha in the body. The mucus generation is also attributed to the effect of Kapha. During night period, there is natural predominance of Kapha in the body. So, curd consumption at night will further increase kapha leading to many complications. When curd is taken at night for longer period of time it may cause problems like fever, cold, anaemia, jaundice, herpes, skin disorders and giddiness.

EFFECT OF INTAKE OF CURD ACCORDING TO SEASONS:- It is best to take curd during cold and dewy season, in winter or in rainy season. It is to be avoided during autumn, summer and spring seasons. In autumn, summer and spring seasons, buttermilk is good to be taken.

PREPARATION OF BUTTERMILK:- To prepare buttermilk, add one scoop of curd and 4 times of water. Churn it well and remove the fat, then add little salt to taste. You can add little crushed cumin also.

REFRESHING CURD RICE RECIPE:-Ingredients: 1 cup boiled Rice, 2 cups of plain curd, 2 tbsp. Oil, finely chopped coriander leaves, 1-2 green chilies, 1 tsp. chickpea, 1 tsp. split black gram, 1 tsp. mustard seeds, 1 1/2 tsp. finely chopped ginger and 1/2 tsp. salt.

Procedure:- In a saucepan heat 2 tsp. of oil and add mustard seeds to the oil. When the mustard seeds start popping add chickpea and split black gram. After a minute, add ginger, coriander and green chilies and saute them for a minute. Remove from fire. Mix salt. Just before serving, mix well all the ingredients with curd and add rice. Curd rice is ready to be served.

PRODUCT OF THE MONTH – PITTA HERBAL TEA:-
Ingredients:-Ushira, Dhanyaka, Mishreya, Taruni, Guduchi.
Method of Use:-Take one sachet of tea and put in a cup of hot water for 2 minutes. You can add natural sweeteners if needed.
Benefits:- Balances Pitta.

Winter cherry: Ashwagandha; Withania somnifera

Introduction
Common Name: Ashwagandha Plant
Chemical Constituents
Cultivation
Aeroponic system for cultivation
YIELD
Ashwagandha as Medicinal Herb
Ashwagandha Side Effects
Ashwagandha Benefits
Economics
Recent research
Reference

Introduction
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), also known as Indian ginseng, and as Indian Winter Cherry is an important ancient plant, the roots of which have been employed in Indian traditional systems of medicine, Ayurveda and Unani. It grows in dry parts in sub-tropical regions. Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are the major Ashwagandha producing states of the country. The estimated production of Ashwagandha roots in India is more than 1500 tonnes and the annual requirement is about 7000 tonnes necessitating the increase in its cultivation and higher production.
Ashwagandha, the Indian ginseng or winter cherry has been used as a quiet valuable herb in the Ayurvedic and indigenous medical system for over 4000 years. The roots, leaves and fruits (berry) possess tremendous medicinal value. A famous Ayurvedic rejuvenative botanical used in many tonics and formulas, Ashwagandha is the best rejuvenation that helps maintain proper nourishment of the tissues, particularly muscle and bones, while supporting the proper function of the adrenals and reproductive system.

Common Name
English - Winter cherry
Latin - WITHANIA somnifera
Sanskrit - Ashwagandha
Hindi - Asgandh
Tamil - Asuragandhi, Amukkira
Kannada - Keramaddinagaddi
Telugu - Vajigandha, Pennerugadda
Malayalam- Amukkuram, Trittavu.
Marathi - Askandha
Marathi - Asgundh, Kanchuki, Askandha
Bengali - Ashvagandh
Punjabi - Asgand
Urdu - Asgandanagaori
Chinese - 睡茄 (Shui Qie)

Ashwagandha Plant
Ashwagandha is an erect branched under shrub up to 1.25 m in height, minutely stellate tomentose. Root fleshy, tapering, whitish brown. Leaves ovate, flower greenish. It grows in dried parts in subtropical regions.
Stem: Ashwagandha stem is terate, branched, cylindrical, solid, clothed with mealy, stellate-hoarytomentun
Root: Ashwagandha roots are straight, um-branched, thickness varying with age. Its roots bear fiber like secondary roots, outer surface buff to gray yellow with longitudinal wrinkles. Stem bases variously thickened; nodes prominent only on the side from where petiole arises, cylindrical, green with longitudinal wrinkles; fracture, short and uneven. Roots odour is characteristic; bitter and acrid. The roots when dry are cylindrical, gradually tapering down with a brownish white surface and pure white inside when broken
Leaves: Ashwagandha leaves are cauline and ramal, simple, exstipulate, petiolate, ovate, acute, entire and up to 10 cm long. Petioles up to 1.25 cm long.
Flowers: Ashwagandha flowers are ebracteate, pedicellate, complete, hermaphrodite, pentamerous, actinomorphic and hypogenous, gamosepalous, 4-6 mm in diameter, lucid-yellow or greenish. Its flowering time is in Winter
Fruits: Ashwagandha fruits a berry enclosed in the green persistent calyx, 5 mm in diameter, smooth, more or less globose, green when unripe, orange-red coloured in ripening stage
Seeds: Ashwagandha seeds are bean shaped, endospermic, yellow and orange-red coloured, somewhat scurfy.

Chemical Constituents
The methanol, hexane and diethyl ether extracts from both leaves and roots of Ashwagandha were found. Alkaloid percentage in roots ranges from 0.13 to 0.31%. The roots of Withania somnifera are alterative, aphrodisiac, deobstruent, diuretic, narcotic, sedative and restorative in nature. The pharmacological activity of the root is attributed to the alkaloids and steroidal lactones. The total alkaloid content in the roots of Indian types has been reported to vary between 0.13 and 0.3, though much high yields (up to 4.3 per cent) have been recorded elsewhere. Many bio-chemical heterogeneous alkaloids, including choline, tropanol, pseudotopanol, cuscokygrene, 3- tigioyloxytropana, isopelletierine and several other steroidal lactories. Twelve alkaloids, 35 withanolides and several sitoindosides have been isolated from the roots of the plant have been studied.
A sitoindoside is a biologically active constituent known as withanolide containing a glucose molecule at carbon 27. Indian ginseng’s pharmacological activity has been attributed to two main withanolides, withaferin A and withanolide D. Withaferin-A is therapeutically active withanolide reported to be present in leaves. In addition to alkaloids, the roots are reported to contain starch, reducing sugars, glycosides, dulcitol, withancil, an acid and a neutral compound. The amino acids reported from the roots include aspartic acid, glycine, tyrosine, alanine, glutamic acid and cysteine.

Cultivation
W.somnifera grows well in sandy loam or light red soil, having pH 7.5-8.0 with good drainage. It can be cultivated between 600-1200 m altitudes. The semi-tropical areas receiving 500-750 mm rainfall are suitable for cultivation of this rained crop. The crop requires dry season during its growing period. Temperature between 200C to 350C is most suitable for cultivation. Late winter rains are conducive for the proper development of the plant roots

LAND PREPARATION
Ashwagandha is usually grown in fields which are not well covered by the irrigation systems. The field on which food crops cannot be taken profitably for the above reason may be used for Ashwangandha cultivation. The soil of the field selected for Ashwagandha cultivation is well pulverized by ploughing, disking and/or harrowing. The field may be then levelled by the application pata.

PLANTING
The crop can be sown either by broad casting or in lines. Live to line method is preferred as it increases root production and also helps in performing intercultural practices properly. The seeds are usually sown about 1-3 cm deep in June- July in nursery. A light shower after shower after sowing ensures good germination. About 500-750 gm seeds are sufficient for 1 ha. Field. Seeds can be treated, with Thiram or Indofil or Dithane medicinal plants - 45 (@ 3 gm/kg seed), before sowing to protect seedlings from seed borne diseases. The seedling after 25-35 days after sowing can be transplanted in the field marinating 60 x 60 cm. Spacing between the plants & the rows. It may be noted that since 'Ashwagandha' is a rainy season Kharif crop, the time of sowing is decided by date of arrival of monsoon in that area.

THINNING AND WEEDING
The seeds sown by broadcasting or in the line in furrows should be thinned out by hand at 25-30 days after sowing to maintain a plant population of about 30-60 plants per square meter (about 3.5 to 6 lakh plants/hectare). The plant density to be used may depend on the nature and fertility of the soil. On the marginal land the population is kept high. If some fertiliser (N: P: K: 20:20:0) is applied then the population should preferably be kept at a lower level. One hand weeding at an early stage is sufficient to enable the Ashwagandha plants to take over the growth of weed which get suppressed by its smothering effect.

MANURES, FERTILISERS AND PESTICIDES
The medicinal plants have to be grown without chemical fertilizers and use of pesticides. Organic manures like, Farm Yard Manure (FYM), Vermi-Compost, Green Manure etc. may be used as per requirement of the species. To prevent diseases, bio-pesticides could be prepared (either single or mixture) from Neem (kernel, seeds & leaves), Chitrakmool, Dhatura, Cow's urine etc.
Withania somnifera is prone to several pests and diseases. Leaf spot disease caused by Alternaria alternata is the most prevalent disease, which is most severe in the plains of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh. In some cases insects or mite infestations are noticed. To spray pest repellents such as roger or nuvan 3 per cent diluted in one litre of water three times a week to control this infestation.
Damping off is a major disease in Withania somnifera at seedling stage and results in heavy seedling mortality under field condition. However, it can be controlled by application of Dithane M-45 (0.3%) as foliar spray.

IRRIGATION
Light shower after transplantation ensures establishment of seedlings. There is no need of irrigation if rainfall is at regular intervals. Excessive rainfall/water is harmful to the crop. Life saving irrigations may be applied, if required.

HARVESTING/ POST HARVESTING
The plants start flowering and bearing fruits from December onwards. The crop is ready for harvest in January- March at 150 to 180 days after sowing. The maturity of crop is judged by drying out of leaves and yellow red berries. The entire plant is uprooted for roots which are separated from aerial parts by cutting the stem 1-2 cm above the crown. The roots are then either cut transversely into small pieces (7 to 10 cm) or dried as it is in the sun. About 650-800 kg roots can be obtained from 1 ha on drying it comes to 350-435 kg. Berries are hand plucked separately. They are dried and crushed to take out the seeds.
The dried roots, entire or transversely cut into smaller pieces, have to be further cleaned, trimmed and graded. The roots are beaten with a club which removes adhering soil and breaks off the thin, brittle lateral rootlets. Lateral branches, root crown and stem remains on roots are carefully trimmed with the help of knife. Roots are collected 6 months after the sowing of crop.

Aeroponic system for cultivation
Ashwagandha traditionally grown outdoors in soil, the UA team decided to use an entirely non-traditional method - Aeroponic - to produce bulk amounts of withaferin A needed for biological evaluation. In Aeroponic, plants are set over enclosed chambers where their suspended roots are misted with water and nutrients, instead of growing in soil. The Withania plants grew about five times larger using this method than if they had been grown in soil.

"Using the Aeroponic system for cultivation, we were able to produce more than 20 grams of withaferin A in a single greenhouse. It normally costs around $195 for just 10 milligrams," Gunatilaka said. "Also, it usually takes two to three years to mature to sizeable roots to be commercially viable, but here it takes just six to nine months." Not only did the Aeroponic method yield bigger plants faster, with more withaferin A than usual, it also unexpectedly stimulated the plants to produce large amounts of the new natural product - a water-soluble sulphate form of withaferin A.

Upon testing, this new form demonstrated the same bioactivity as withaferin A. It was able to inhibit the proliferation and survival of tumour cells, disrupt tumour formation and induce the healthy cells' heat-shock response to reduce stress and increase survival, according to the researchers.

The difference is that the sulphate form of withaferin A is slower acting and water-soluble; it can be converted to withaferin A in cell culture media. The researchers, expecting that this withaferin A form will convert to its active form when metabolized in the body, are pursuing further testing in animal models. The patent will be held by the UA and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

YIELD
On an average, the yield from 1 hectare of commercial cultivation is approximately 3 to 5 q. / of dry roots and 50 to 75 kg of seeds. A maximum yield can be procured up to 6.5 to 7.0 q/ha. There are instances where farmers have achieved root yields as high as 1 tonne. Commercially, 6 to 15 mm diameter and 7 to 10 cm length root species are better. Alkaloid percentage in roots ranges from 0.13 to 0.31%. And an average yield from one hectare land under commercial cultivation is approx 3-5 quintals of dried roots and 50-75 kg seeds.

Ashwagandha as Medicinal Herb:-Ashwagandha is considered to be one of the best rejuvenating agents in Ayurveda. Its roots, seeds and leaves are used in Ayurvedic and Unani medicines. Ashwagandha root drug finds an important place in treatment of rheumatic pain, inflammation of joints, nervous disorders and epilepsy. Dried roots are used as tonic for hiccup, cold, cough, female disorders, as a sedative, in care of senile debility, ulcers, etc. Leaves are applied for carbuncles, inflammation and swellings. Leaf juice is useful in conjunctivitis. Bark decoction is taken for asthma and applied locally to bed sores. Ashwagandha and its extracts are used in preparation of herbal tea, powders, tablets and syrups.

Ashwagandha has anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, anti-stress, antioxidant, mind-boosting, immune-enhancing, and rejuvenating properties. Ashwagandha root has also been noted to have sex-enhancing properties. Ashwagandha is mentioned in the ancient Kama Sutra as an herb to be used for heightening sexual experience. Ashwagandha has the ability to restore sexual health and improve overall vitality while promoting a calm state of mind. A 2002 laboratory study indicates Ashwagandha stimulates the growth of axons and dendrites. A 2001 study in rodents showed Ashwagandha had memory boosting ability. A 2000 study with rodents showed Ashwagandha to have anti-anxiety and anti-depression effects.

The plant has been used as an aphrodisiac, liver tonic, anti-inflammatory agent, and more recently to treat asthma, ulcers, insomnia, and senile dementia. Clinical trials and animal research support the use of Ashwagandha for anxiety, cognitive and neurological disorders, inflammation, and Parkinson's disease. Incorporation of Ashwagandha in the diet may prevent or decrease the growth of tumours in human.

It helps in providing progressive, long lasting results for various health concerns like aging, anaemia and slow growth, arthritis, fatigue, waning memory, sports fitness and stress-disorders. Pharmacological studies and research so far have indicated that Ashwagandha has anti-tumour, anti-stress, antioxidant boosting, haemopoeitic and rejuvenating properties. It is also an exceptional nerve tonic and nourishes the nerves and improves nerve function to maintain calm during stressful conditions. It also nourishes crucial mind and body connection and psychological immune response.

Ashwagandha Side Effects:-Ashwagandha does not have any significant side effects reported in the medical literature. Safety in pregnancy has not been fully established for Ashwagandha.

Ashwagandha Benefits
Ashwagandha benefits all parts of the body and can be used as a tonic or in oral form. Several studies have shown that Ashwagandha is useful in addressing the following health problems:
1) Osteoarthritis: A study in 2008, scientists tested Ashwagandha effects on human cartilage and found that the herb may help protect against inflammation and cartilage damage associated with osteoarthritis.

2) Anxiety: In an animal-based study published in 2000, researchers found that Ashwagandha had an anti-anxiety effect similar to that of lorazepam (a medication used to treat anxiety disorders). The herb also appeared to ease depression.

3) Type 2 Diabetes: Ashwagandha may help normalize high blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity, according to preliminary, animal-based research published in 2008.

4) Cancer: In a 2003 study, tests on human tumour cell lines revealed that Ashwagandha may slow the growth of lung, breast, and colon cancer cells. Published in 2007, another study on human cells shows that Ashwagandha may inhibit tumour growth without harming normal cells.

5) Anti-Oxidant: Ashwagandha used as an anti-oxidant, as studies have shown that it can eliminate free radicals from your immune system. Free radicals are the agents that cause the breakdown of your body’s tissue, alternatively known as aging.

6).Provide energy: Studies show that supplementing with Ashwagandha can provide the energy needed to get through long workouts while also allowing for maximum recovery and cell re-growth.

7) General tonic: Ashwagandha is a tonic, which increases sperm count and sexual potency. In the rural areas vegetable made out of this plant is given to tuberculosis patients. It also increases the iron content in the blood.

Economics
Unit cost: The unit cost for development of 1 ha transplanted Ashwagandha cultivation is Rs.22,400/-. The details of the income assumed are also presented in the given table.
Income (Rs. /ha)
From roots 35000
From seeds 3600
Total gross income 38600
Cost 22400
Net income 16200

The estimated production of Ashwagandha roots in India is more than 1,500 tonnes and the annual requirement is about 7,000 tonnes necessitating the increase in its cultivation and higher production. The most important trade centre of the country for availability of Ashwagandha is Nimach Mandi in Madhya Pradesh and other trade centres
are Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi and Amritsar. Market for medicinal plants is volatile and the economics may vary.

HELP: For details on cultivation and marketing details some of the following institutes can be contacted:
* National Medicinal Plants Board, Department of AYUSH, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, Chandralok Building, 36, Janpath New Delhi - 110001, Phone: 011 - 23319255, email: nmpbindia1@indiatimes.com
* Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, P.O. - CIMAP, Near Kukrail Picnic Spot, Lucknow - 226 015, Indiaphone: 0522-2359623 E-mail: director@cimap.res.in
* Medicinal Plants Unit, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore: 641 003, phone: 0422-5511365, email: herbs@tnau.ac.in
* Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Research Station, Odakkali, Asamanoor post-683549, Ernakulam district, phone: 0484-2658221, email: amprs@satyam.net.in
* Gandhi Krishi Vigyan Kendra, University of Agricultural Science, Bangalore-560065, phone: 080-55315598, email: vasunuthan@rediffmail.com
* Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic plants, Allalasandra, GKVK post, Bangalore- 560 065, phone: 080-28460563.
* National Research Centre for Medicinal and Aromatic plants, Boriavi-387 310, Anand, Gujarat, Phone: 0268-2578602, or 0268-2578644, email: nrcmap@wilnetonline.net
* College of Agriculture, Medicinal and Aromatic plants division, Mandsaur-458001, Madhya Pradesh., Phone: 07422- 242289.

Recent research
New anti-cancer drug from Ashwagandha University of Arizona scientists have used a new quick-growing technique to produce a water-soluble form of withaferin A compound that combats cancer and encourages the survival of healthy cells. Research trials are under way on this sulphate form of withaferin A, which could develop into a new anti-cancer drug. Scientifically studied since the 1960s, withaferin A reduces tumour mass by preventing the growth of blood vessels that make a tumour malignant.

The compound is derived from the roots of a winter cherry plant, the extracts of which have been used for more than 3,000 years in India as a general tonic to build stamina, improve mental concentration, relieve stress and enhance health. "Finding a water-soluble analog of withaferin A is significant, especially if it turns out to be a clinically useful drug," said Leslie Gunatilaka, director 

Products Research and Commercialization
Recent studies on benefits of Ashwagandha herb reports, how it is effective in the treatment of bone cancer, nerve problems, rheumatism, diabetes, bipolar disease, constipation and impotency. Research of scholars from Banaras Hindu University shows that, elements of Ashwagandha acts as an antioxidant, helps to increase memory power, relieve inflammation, stress and anxiety.
Ashwagandha Cure Alzheimer's: New research has revealed this herb may also fight off the devastating effects of Alzheimer's disease. Researchers at the National Brain Research Centre (NBRC) have conducted studies on mice that suggest Ashwagandha extract may reverse memory loss and improve cognitive abilities in those with the disease. Initially, mice with Alzheimer's were unable to learn or retain what they learned, but after receiving Ashwagandha for 20 days, this improved significantly. After 30 days, the behaviour of the mice returned to normal.

Other research work found that
* Free radical scavenging activity of Ashwagandha root powder was found in 15 days of experimental studies on rats.
* Liver and kidney protective roles of Ashwagandha were proved in metal-induced toxicity in experimental studies on mice in Indore.
* Ashwagandha tablets improved the physical and mental health of pre-school children in clinical trials in Chennai.
* In a reported study, this herb was given to 30 mental patients suffering from anxiety neurosis in doses of 40
ml/day. (In two equally divided doses.) For one month. At the end of the month, most of the anxiety disorders, panic attacks and similar mood phobias, had disappeared.

Reference
1. Ashwagandha About Herbs. New York: Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre.
2. Ahmad, M. K.; Mahdi, A. A.; Shukla, K. K.; Islam, N.; Rajender, S.; Madhukar, D.; Shankhwar, S. N.; Ahmad, S. (2010). Withania somnifera
3. Mirjalili, M. H.; Moyano, E.;Bonfill, M.; Cusido, R. M.; Palazón, J. (2009). "Steroidal Lactones from Withania somnifera, an Ancient Plant for Novel Medicine".
4. Abraham, A., I. Kirson, E. Glotter and D. Lavie.1968. A chemo taxonomic study of Withania somnifera
5. Ven Murthy, M. R.; Ranjekar, P. K.; Ramassamy, C.; Deshpande, M. (2010). "Scientific Basis for the Use of Indian Ayurvedic Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders: Ashwagandha".
6. Van Der Hooft, C. S.; Hoekstra, A.; Winter, A.;De Smet, P. A.; Stricker, B. H. (2005). "Thyrotoxicosis following
the Use of Ashwagandha"
7. Sandhya Singh, Sushil Kumar: Withania somnifera: the Indian ginseng Ashwagandha, Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 1998.
8. Dhalla, N.S., K.C. Gupta, N.S. Sastry and C.L. Malhotra: "Comparative studies of Withania somnifera Dunal and Withania Ashwagandha Kaul"
9. Archana, R., Namasivayam, A., 1999. Anti stress effect of Withania somnifera
10. Davis, L., Kuttan, G., 2000, Immunomodulatory activity of Withania somnifera
11.Dhalla N.S., Sastry, M. S. and Malhotra , C. L. 1961. Chemical studies of Withania somnifera -J. Pharm. Sc.

CAPSULES: DEFINITION TYPES AND STANDARD TESTS:


CAPSULES:  A small container, A pill in the form of a small rounded gelatinous container with medicine inside



 DEFINITION TYPES AND STANDARD TESTS:



Capsules are solid dosage forms in which the drug or a mixture of drugs is enclosed in hard gelatin capsule shells in soft soluble shells or gelatin or in hard or soft shell of any other suitable material of various shapes and capacities.



Following are the Types of Capsules:



1. Hard Capsules. 2. Soft Capsules. 3. Modified release Capsules. 4. Enteric Capsules.



Empty Gelatin Capsules Sizes.

HARD GELATIN CAPSULES: - These sizes are designated by numbers.


1. 000(Triple Zero) --- Biggest Size

2. 00(Double Zero) 
3. 0(Zero)
4. 1(One)
5. 2(Two)
6. 3(Three)
7. 4(Four)
8. 5(Five) --- Smallest Size 


SOFT GELATIN CAPSULES: These are classified depending upon the shapes, sizes and capacities.



The numbers represents capacities in minims.



1. Round - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 28, 40T, 80T and 90.

2. Oval - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.5, 10, 12, 16, 20, 40, 60, 80, 85 and 110. 
3. Oblong - 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9.5, 11, 14, 16, 20, 90 and 360.
4. Tube - 5, 6, 8, 17.5, 30A, 30B, 35, 45, 55, 65, 90, 160, 250, 320 and 480. 
5. Misc. - 6, 17, 30, 35, 60 and 80. 


CAPSULES: Standards and Limits:



1. Description: It should comply with Specifications of Product.



2. Content of Active Ingredients.

Limit: 90 to 110% of label claim. 


3. Uniformity of Weight.

Average weight of Capsules content Less than 300 mg
Percentage Deviation 10%
Average weight of Capsules content 300 mg and more
Percentage Deviation 7.50%


4. Disintegration Test.

Hard Capsules - Disintegration time shall not be more than 30 minutes.
Soft Capsules - Disintegration time shall not be more than 60 minutes.


Enteric Capsules - Acidic Medium – Shall not disintegrate for 2 hours and in alkaline 

Medium capsules shall disintegrate within 30 minutes.