Uses of the Arjuna Herb

Terminalia arjuna is a species of tree native to India. The bark of Terminal arjuna is coveted as both a nutritional supplement and a medicine. The soft bark is stripped off, dried and ground into powder. The use of arjuna may date back thousands of years. The Indian school of healing called ayurveda that first employed arjuna is thought to be at least 5,000 years old.

Endocarditis

• As a folk remedy, arjuna has long been prescribed for heart ailments. Scientific studies have proven that arjuna does have some antimicrobial properties that target heart infections, in particular bacterial endocarditis. Endocarditis is an inflammation of the heart chambers, often caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis, a bacterium against which arjuna proved effective in laboratory studies published by "Current Science" in 2007.

Angina

• Angina is chest pain brought on by restriction of blood flow to the heart's tissues. The University of Maryland Medical Center -- in its web page on the subject of angina -- lists arjuna as an herbal treatment for angina. The UMMC angina page states that tentative studies have shown arjuna as effective as the angina drug, isosorbide mononitrate (Imdur), but warns that more studies are needed to confirm these results.

Asthma

• Asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder characterized by acute inflammation that either constricts the bronchial passages or blocks those passages with mucus. Ayurvedic practitioners have long treated asthma with arjuna, as do other herbalists. Arjuna has expectorant properties that are consistent with opening airways blocked by mucus. The typical ayurvedic preparation is to add the powder to a solution of rice boiled in cow's milk.

Kidney Stones

• When some minerals crystallize inside the body, they create a hard substance called a calculus. If calculi accumulate inside the kidneys, they create a very painful condition known as kidney stones. These stones are passed through the ureter, often tearing tissue along the way. Ayurvedic practitioners use arjuna for kidney stones; the claim for arjuna is that it actually causes partial disintegration of the renal calculi, making it easier to "pass" the stones.

Co-Enzyme Q-10

• Arjuna contains significant quantities of a substance called co-enzyme Q-10. It is not clear that low co-enzyme Q-10, which is a problem that accompanies a number of medical conditions, can be treated with supplements of Q-10. It is also not proven that supplements are ineffective. Q-10 is an antioxidant, and it is necessary for many cellular and neurological functions. Like any antioxidant, arjuna's Q-10 does have a salutary effect in slowing cell damage.