Arjuna is a huge tree growing up to 25 m. It loves riverbanks and lots of water. Arjuna means ‘white’ or ‘shining’, named after its bark which literally reflects light.
Benefits of Arjuna: Heart disease, reduces blood clot, bone health, cough, dysentery, fever, fractures, indigestion, anti-poison, cirrhosis of liver, anaemia, hypertension, ulcers, diabetes.
Action: Alterative, astringent, cardiac stimulant, febrfugal, hemostatic, lithotriptic, rejuvenative.
Scientific name: Terminalia arjuna
Useful part: Bark.
Dosage: 1–6 g per day (dried bark) or 3–15 ml per day
Energetics
Rasa (taste): Astringent, bitter
Vırya(energy): Cooling
Vipaka (post-digestive effect): Pungent
Guna (quality): Light, dry
Dosa effect Tridoshic, KP
Dhatu(tissue): Plasma, blood, bone, reproductive
Srotas (channel): Circulatory, reproductive
Description: It is a large evergreen tree growing up to 25 m with buttressed trunk and spreading crown with drooping branches. Bark is smooth, grey outside and flesh coloured inside,. Leaves are simple, sub-opposite, oblong or elliptic, pale dull green above, pale brown beneath. Flowers are white, the fruits are ovoid or oblong.
Classical and common names
Ayurvedic: Arjuna, Dhananjaya, Kaakubha, Kakubha, Aartagala, Indravriksha, Paartha, Virataru, Viravriksha
English: Arjuna Myrobalan
Preparation: Decotion, powder, juice.
Botanical classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtales
Family: Combretaceae
Genus: Terminalia
Species: Terminalia arjuna