Naladadi ghritam is an Ayurvedic medicine for improving health and immunity. In the present scenario, it is used widely as an immunity modulator in chronic diseases where immunity is compromised and even after chemotherapy.
Benefits of Naladadi ghritam
This combination is explained as a rasayana which means it is nourishing the whole body. It helps in anti-ageing too.
Naladadi ghritam is very effective in fatigue, lethargy and tiredness without any reason. It improves the general health and mood of the person. By boosting the immunity, the severity and frequency of infections reduce. As such it works as a preventive measure from diseases.
In the traditional Ayurveda, this combination is used for speech disorders, memory loss and poor intellect. It improves the quality of speech, confidence of the person and boosts memory. It adds to concentration.
It is used in children with special needs especially ASD. It improves language and communication skills.
Children and adults who are underweight or malnourished can be managed by Naladadi ghritam after proper de-worming and Amapaachana.
It is beneficial in chronic diseases with metabolic derangement like tuberculosis, aids, cancer etc.
Indications of Naladadi ghritam
Jadopi vagmi – Even the dumb can talk
Srutadhaari – Can grasp everthing by hearing once
Pratibhaanavaan – Good intellect and skills
Aroga – Without diseases
Ingredients of Naladadi ghritam
| Asian pigeonwings | Sankhupushpi | Convolvulus pluricaulis |
It is used for treatment of hypertension, neurodegenerative diseases, ulcers, high blood pressure, epilepsy, vomiting, diabetes, sun stroke and bleeding. In addition, it can also be used to improve memory and decrease cholesterol. It works as a nervine tonic
| Spikenard | Nalada | Nardostachis jatamansi |
It is a proven memory booster. It has anti-ischaemic, anti-oxidant, anti-convulsant, neuro-protective and anti-cancerous properties.
| Yellow gentian, Hellebore | Katurohini | Picrorhiza kurroa |
It is used for Dyspepsia, fever and in purgatives. Although it shows anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities, it is most valued for its hepatoprotective effect.
| Giant potato | Payasya | Ipomoea mauritiana |
It is a known diuretic, depurative, carminative, anthelmintic, anti-oxidant, and anti-bacterial herb. It is a rejuvenator and restorative tonic for brain and body. It is anti-ageing, spermatogenic, immune-modulator, aphrodisiac, anti-inflammatory, galactagogue, and cardiac tonic.
It can be used in emaciation, tuberculosis and other conditions of malnourishment. It is beneficial in some cardiovascular diseases, hepato-splenomegaly, fertility disorders, menopausal syndrome, sexual debility, and disorders of sperm quality & quantity.
| Liquorice | Madhuka/ Yashtyahwa | Glycyrrhiza glabra L. |
It has anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-malarial, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-viral, anti-fungal, anti-hyperglycaemic and hepato-protective properties.
| Indian sandalwood | Chandana | Santalum album |
It is famous for its anti-tumour and anti-cancerous properties. It has a very expensive essential oil made from it, makes it famous in the cosmetic industry. It is an anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, and anti-proliferative agent. It is beneficial for treatment of acne, psoriasis, eczema, common warts and molluscum contagiosum.
| Indian sarsaparilla | Sariba | Hemidesmus indicus (L.) SCHULT |
It is a coolant and a potent detoxifier. It is demulcent, alterative, astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, tonic, anti-pyretic, and blood purifier. It is used in leprosy, other skin diseases, fever, asthma, bronchitis, syphilis, pruritus, diseases of the urinary tractand leucorrhoea.
| Calamus root/sweet flag | Ugragandha | Acorus calamus L. |
The root is aromatic. It has stimulant, emetic, expectorant, emmenagogue, aphrodisiac, laxative, diuretic, antispasmodic, carminative, and anthelmintic properties. It is slightly tonic, and excitant, and forms a useful adjunct to other tonics and stimulants. It may be used in cases of flatulent colic, atonic dyspepsia etc.
| Chebulic myrobalan | Haritaki/Pathya | Terminalia chebula RETZ. & WILLD. |
It is one of the main drugs in Ayurveda, one of the Rasayana drugs. It is used in a wide variety of diseases as it possesses anti-bacterial anti-fungal anti-viral anti-diabetic anti-mutagenic anti-oxidant anti-ulcer and wound-healing properties.
| Beleric myrobalan, Bahera | Vibheetaki/Aksha | Terminalia bellirica (GAERTN.) ROXB. |
A very good healer of gastric diseases, common cold, leukoderma and also cures digestive disorders. It has laxative and anti-inflammatory actions.Other properties for which it is used are as health tonic and as rejuvenator. It is used in treatment of piles also.
| Amla, Indian gooseberry | Amalaki/Dhatri | Emblica officinalis GAERTN. |
Amla exhibits strong antioxidant activity. It is one of the most important plants in the traditional Ayurvedic medical system as well as in other traditional health systems for immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antiulcer and hepatoprotective actions. It is widely used for anti-diabetic effect.
Trikatu Churna is helpful in following health conditions.[36]
• Constipation with mucous or sticky stool.
• Loss of appetite.
• Indigestion.
• Gas or flatulence.
• Bloating.
• Abdominal distension.
• Irritable bowel syndrome.
• Common cold (acute phase during running nose).
• Cough with thin white phlegm.
• Asthma (chest congestion due to phlegm).
• Weight loss (obesity).
• Body aches with feeling of heaviness in the body.
• High cholesterol levels.
• Atherosclerosis.
• High blood pressure due to hypercholesterolemia
| Dried ginger | Sunthi | Zingiber officinalis |
It is unctuous and hot in potency with pungent taste but becomes sweet after digestion. It is an aphrodisiac and balances Vata and Kapha.
It improves ability to taste and promotes digestion. Relieves cough cold and other respiratory problems. It is not a laxative, rather causes constipation.
| Black pepper | Maricha | Piper nigrum L. |
Black Pepper is extremely useful for respiratory disorders and asthma. In conditions like hoarse voice, dental caries, in removing bad breadth (halitosis), the gargling of Black Pepper Powder along with salt and warm water may be used. Black pepper is also used in case of Heavy diets as it aids digestion. Black pepper is also used in the weakness and loosening of the anal sphincter especially in case of piles. For Headache and migraine, nasal drops of Black pepper powder prepared in milk is used. It helps to remove the chronic headache. The same preparation can also be used as local application on fore head in the form of paste. Black pepper reduces itching and discharge through the lesions when used in the form of local application on skin disorders.
| Long pepper | Pippali | Piper longum |
It has carminative action and maybe used as appetizer. The fruit and root of Pippali are used in the form of powder to treat fever, diarrhoea, piles, cough, hiccough, asthma, hoarseness of voice, flatulence, colic, vomiting, acid gastritis, oedema, diseases of mouth, eye diseases, diseases of semen, diseases of women, jaundice, and earache.
Pippali mixed with honey alleviates cough, dyspnoea, fever splenomegaly, and hiccough.
| Turmeric | Haridra | Curcuma longa L. |
Turmeric is used to help with heartburn or bowel problems like diarrhoea, intestinal gas, and bloating. It is famous for its anti-cancerous and detoxification effects. It is widely used in skin diseases. Some may use it to help with memory problems or problems with the liver or gallbladder. It may also help to lessen swelling and help with signs of arthritis. It has marked anti-inflammatory and antiseptic action.
| Indian barberry/chutro/tree turmeric | Darvi | Berberis aristata |
It has anti-bacterial, anti-fungal anti-diarrhoeal and anti-cancerous properties. It is used in the treatment of ophthalmic infections.
| Pointed gourd | Patola | Trichosanthes dioica Roxb. |
It has ant-diabetic, hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and wound-healing properties. It has anti-oxidants. It is useful in lowering cholesterol and skin diseases. It acts as a laxative.
Lavana – Rock salt
Details of the manufacturing
As already discussed, Naladadi ghritam has 18 ingredients
All these ingredients should be washed well and dried up in shade.
For preparation of ghrithakalpana,
We use
- Snehadravya – 1 parts Cow’s ghee
- Dravadravya
Swarasa of sankhupushpi -3 parts
Cow’s milk -3 parts
- Kalkadravya (For making paste) -1/4parts
All 18 ingredients mentioned earlier
Take the prescribed swarasa, milk, ghruta and kalkadravya in an earthen pot. Make it boil and then cook in the open vessel with low fire. Reduce the quantity into the quantity of ghrutha. Make sure to mix it in between with a ladle. Also, the fire should be kept low to make sure that all the active ingredients in the herbs needed are absorbed well into the water. Continue cooking and stir in between. Check the Paaka as per Snehapakavidhi. Once the desired Paaka is attained, filter the ghruta and keep it in air tight glass bottles after cooling. Ghrutha can be used for a longer period of time without any preservatives.
Dosha Dooshya Predominance with roga marga.
Naladadi ghritam is Vaata pitta hara and medhya.
It acts on aabhyantara, baahya and madhyama rogamarga
Dosage and Usage of Naladadi ghritam
Dosage:
Depends upon the digestive power of the person. Usually it is given 15g-20g twice daily in a person with good appetite and digestion as samanasneha.
Usage:
When used as Samanasneha, Ghritam is advised to take in empty stomach, once the ingested food is digested well and when the person has appetite.
Usage of ghritam with prescribed prakshepadravyas according to the condition of disease and the patient gives the best results mostly.
Exercises and Yoga.
As Naladadi ghritam targets mainly the mind and immunity, stretching and relaxing type of exercises are advised. Also, specific Yogacharya including naadisuddhi pranayama, bhujangaasana, is recommended.
Regular exercise helps improve the bioavailability of medicine and food ingested and leads to positive health.
Yoga can maintain harmony within the body and with the surrounding system.
Nadisudhi pranayama
Bhujangasana
Simple exercises for lungs and heart health
All the exercises and physical exertions must be decided and done under the supervision of a medical expert only.
Recommended diet and behaviour
Diet:
- To be avoided
Heavy meals and difficult to digest foods – cause indigestion.
junk foods- cause a disturbance in digestion and reduces the bioavailability of the medicine
carbonated drinks – makes the stomach more acidic and disturbed digestion
refrigerated and frozen foods – causes weak and sluggish digestion by weakening Agni (digestive fire)
curd – causes vidaaha and thereby many other diseases
- To be added
Light meals and easily digestible foods.
Drinking water boiled with dried ginger.
Green gram, soups, milk, ghee, fruits and vegetables, dry fruits and nuts in moderate quantity.
freshly cooked and warm food processed with cumin seeds, ginger, black pepper, ajwain, etc
Behavior:
Protect yourself from an extreme hot & cold climate.
Better to avoid exposure to excessive sunlight, wind, rain, or dust.
Maintain a regular food and sleep schedule.
Avoid holding or forcing urges like urine, faeces, cough, sneeze, etc.
Side effects and contraindications
No known side effects reported.
Contraindication
People with derangement in fat metabolism; may it be Hyperlipidaemia or obesity or hypercholesteremia or atherosclerosis or hypertension. Most of these, associated with weak digestion, too. In such people, the ghee preparation may worsen the condition rather than curing it. But the same herbs in a water-soluble form in the decoction can act as the cure for many such derangements, even for hypercholesterolemia.
Classical reference
ASHTANGAHRUDAYAM UTHARASTHANA 1/46-47
Equivalent medicines.
Indukantham ghritam
Brands Available
Research papers
Naladadi ghrutha
Nalada
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25886964/
Vacha/Ugragandha
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7230970/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23049196/
Sariba
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