Vidhara: A ‘Rambaan’ For Countering Debility & Promoting Sexual Wellness

 

Get this: According to the World Health Organization, “It is estimated that about 80% of the world’s population relies on herbs for their primary healthcare needs.” Then, it is hardly surprising, that people oftentimes enquire about a useful Ayurvedic herb/aushadhi (medicine) that is evergreen, ornamental, and more importantly, medicinally-valuable. Vidhara is one such Rasayana herb. This perennial and evergreen plant that resembles a ‘Kuttiya/hut’ – all thanks to its creeper-like properties. Simply put, this plant acts like a literal and figurative umbrella, offering health advantages and aesthetic beauty to your surroundings.

Like other Ayurvedic herbs, Vidhara (Hindi name) too is known by many names such as Elephant Creeper (English name), Argyreia Speciosa (Latin name), or Murva/Deerghvallari (Sanskrit name). This plant grows well in the tropical climate and is found abundantly throughout different parts of India. It belongs to the Convolvulaceae family of plants. Let’s look at the plant intricacies in greater detail now.

“Ayurveda is not just about nutrition or herbology, it has a unique tool for diagnosis, diagnosis of understanding the human constitution is different from person to person. Each one has a unique metabolic system.” ― Maya Tiwari

 

Vidhara’s Anatomy, Dissected & Discovered

Vidhara Plant
Vidhara Plant

One of nature’s most beautiful plants, the Vidhara plant has the capability to cover your entire home and surroundings. Its leaves demonstrate a silvery-soft woolly appearance. Typically, the plant parts used include roots, leaves, flowers and seeds. Moving on, here’s a snapshot of how different parts of this plant come together to offer multi-purpose health benefits:

 

Plant Part Health Benefit
Vidhara Roots It is bitter and offers aphrodisiac, diuretic, alterative, and tonic-like properties. Plus, it helps to treat gleet, gonorrhoea, strangury, chronic ulcers, rheumatism and diseases of the nervous system. 
Vidhara Leaves Acting as a potent emollient and vesicant, the leaves are used externally used in the treatment of ringworm, eczema, itch and other skin diseases. Plus, it also helps to cure boils and swellings, thereby acting as a local stimulant and rubefacient. 
Vidhara Seeds The seeds are edible and can treat cough, cold, mucous and phlegm. Plus, the seed oil offers antiseptic properties.
Vidhara Flower Treats gout and sexual issues.

 

 

Did You Know?

Ancient tribal groups use the Vidhara leaf to heal wounds and cuts on the skin. All you have to do is heat the leaf and apply on the affected area. You’ll notice that it’ll heal in no time!

 

Vidhara’s Medicinal Properties: At a Glance

Vidhara Plant
Vidhara Plant
  • Anti-diabetic
  • Adaptogenic
  • Anti-septic
  • Anti-arthritic
  • Anti-oxidant
  • Anti-fungal and anti-viral
  • Brain Enhancer
  • Thermogenic
  • Emollient
  • Anti-bacterial
  • Anti-ageing
  • Rejuvenator
  • Nervine Tonic
  • Expectorant
  • Appetizer
  • Nootropic
  • Aphrodisiac
  • Spermatogenic

 

Recommended Dose:

  • Juice: 5-10 ml
  • Decoction (kadha): 15-30 ml
  • Powder (churna): 2-4 gm
  • Seed powder: 0.5-1 gm

Fair warning: Vidhara is bitter, pungent, and astringent in nature and taste. Plus, it is light in characteristics and hot in potency. Additionally, know that it is known to pacify the Vata and Kaphas doshas in the body.

Important: Please consult your doctor to understand the right dosage for you, on the basis of your health history, underlying health issues, unknown allergies, body type, etc.

 

Vidhara’s Health Uses

 

“A person becomes intelligent, with good memory and without any signs of aging if he takes Vidhara mool powder, which is already treated with the juice of Shatavari seven times.” – Bhaishajya Ratnavali

 

Vidhara Health Benefits And Side Effects
Vidhara Health Benefits And Side Effects

Vidhara helps to treat a host of issues across the health spectrum. These include:

  • General debility
  • Gout
  • Filariasis
  • Gangrene
  • Urinary issues and related pain as well as swelling
  • Skin issues such as wounds, cuts, and swelling
  • Diabetes
  • Blood purification
  • Stomach issues
  • Headache
  • Immunity booster
  • Arthritis
  • Anorexia
  • Anaemia
  • Nerve disorders
  • Viral infection
  • Ulcer
  • Syphilis
  • Sperm-count booster and decreases inflammation in the uterus
  • Leucorrhea
  • Swelling in the testicles
  • Hemiplegia paralysis

 

Did You Know?

You can also treat dog bites using theVidhara herb.

 

Vidhara’s Diverse Benefits: An Overview

Vidhara’s health benefits are nothing short of miraculous. These include:

 

Skin Issues Such As Eczema, Chickenpox etc.

Take 2 parts mishri, 1 part vidhara mool, half part Haldi (turmeric), and one-fourth part black pepper powder. Take 5-6 gm of this mixture along with water. You can also apply this mixture on the affected area. Within six days, you’ll notice great results.

 

Gangrene

One of the fastest-growing infections, gangrene can be extremely painful. In fact, despite amputating the affected part, the infection can come back and grow! In such cases, Vidhara can prove to be a powerful natural remedy.

Suggested Home Remedy: Acharya Balkrishna suggests that you take Vidhara leaves and grind so that you can extract its juice. Wash the affected area with this juice regularly. If the cut is quite deep, you can take a piece of cotton and dip it in the leaf extract juice. Apply this cotton to the wound and let it sit awhile. Then, take fresh Vidhara leaves and some ghee. Warm the leaf with the ghee inside and tie this to the wound. Apply a bandage on top and let it rest for 11-12 hours. Change the leaf once done and repeat the process. Eventually, you’ll notice that the wound starts to dry up.

 

Bedsores

It’s common knowledge that bedsores can be extremely painful for patients.

Suggested Home Remedy: In such cases, take the juice extracted from fresh Vidhara leaves and dip cotton in it. Then, apply this cotton of the affected areas for immediate relief.

 

Ulcerative Colitis And Blood Dysentery, Excessive Menstrual Bleeding

For women experiencing heavy bleeding during menstruation and for treating ulcers and life-threatening blood dysentery, here’s the home remedy you can try: Take 2-3 fresh Vidhara leaves and extract its juice. Then add a teaspoon of mishri and a cup of water. Consume this mixture on an empty stomach early in the morning.

 

Cough, mucous, and cold

If you’re suffering from incessant cough and cold, Vidhara’s seeds can help.

Suggested Home Remedy: Take Vidhara’s seed and toast in on the gas for a bit. Grind it to a fine powder. Add 1 gm of this powder along with a teaspoon of honey in a glass of warm water/milk.

 

General Body Pain And Weakness / Arthritis

If exhaustion and body pain have become your everyday buddies, it’s time to take vidhara.

Suggested Home Remedy: Take 10 gm of vidhara root extract in 400 gm water and boil it. Once the quantity gets reduced to 100 gm, strain the mixture and drink. Ideally, you should consume it twice a day, morning and evening for desired results.

 

Headache

For treating blinding headache, here’s the suggested Home Remedy: Take 10 gm of Vidhara root and grind to a paste using rice water. Apply this paste on the forehead for immediate relief.

 

Obesity

If you wish to lose weight, try this Home Remedy: Make a paste of the roots with rice water and massage your body with it. It aids in weight loss. Alternatively, you can mix vinegar and the sap, and rub it all over the body to reduce obesity.

 

Stomach Ache

Oftentimes, you may experience stomach ache due to an underlying condition such as gas, indigestion, piles, acidity etc. In such cases, you can take Vidhara which aids in better digestion.

Suggested Home Remedy: Take the juice extract of 5-10 Vidhara fresh leaves and add 1 teaspoon of honey to it. Consume this mixture for best results.

 

Piles

If you’re suffering from piles, here’s the suggested Home Remedy: Take Vidhara powder, Bhallatak powder and saunth in equal amounts. Take 2-4 gm of this churna (powder) along with jaggery to get rid of piles.

 

Diabetes

To tackle diabetes, vidhara helps in lowering blood sugar levels in the body.

Suggested Home Remedy: Take 2 gm Vidhara churna along with honey.

 

Pregnancy

If you’re unable to get pregnant, you can take the root extract of Vidhara and Plaksh and make a kadha (decoction). Consume this for a year (apart from the days when you’re menstruating) for best results.

 

Testicle Swelling

To treat swelling the testicles, here’s the Home Remedy:  Take 2-3 vidhara leaves and heat it. Add it to erand oil and tie it to the affected area. The swelling will reduce in no time.

 

Eye Pain, Itching And Swelling

To treat eye issues, take 5 ml vidhara juice and mix it with a teaspoon of pure and organic honey. Apply this mixture as a kajal in your eyes and see the benefits unravel right in front of your eyes (pun intended).

 

Inflammation In The Joints

To treat joint swelling, inflammation, and pain, you can consume vidhara root powder along with little castor oil and warm milk.

 

Did You Know?

Research claims: “Aqueous extract of roots at doses of 100-200  mg/kg significantly improved memory and successfully reversed amnesia induced by diazepam, scopolamine and natural ageing. Plus, it  also  reduced acetylcholinesterase  level  in  brain  homogenate indicating  its  potential  in attenuating  learning  and memory deficits especially in aged mice.”

 

Vidhara’s Side Effects & Precautionary Measures

  • Take care to not consume food for at least 4-6 hours before you consume the vidhara seeds.
  • Make sure to chew the seeds properly.
  • In some cases, it can cause nausea and stomach upset so make sure to consult your doctor before self-prescribing this herb.

 

 

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Vidhara Elephant Creeper Benefits Side Effects Pinterest Graphic
Vidhara Elephant Creeper Benefits Side Effects Pinterest Graphic
Summary
Article Name
Vidhara: A 'Rambaan' For Countering Debility & Promoting Sexual Wellness
Description
Vidhara, Argyreia Speciosa, Elephant Creeper, Murva, Deerghvallari For Debility, Promoting Sexual Wellness & Other Benefits, Uses, Side Effects
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Honeyfur

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