A voice for
herbal medicine

We share traditional, scientific and practical insights written by experienced herbalists and health experts from the world of herbal medicine and natural health

Arjuna improves cholesterol and encourages cellular regeneration

Back to herbs

Arjuna

Terminalia arjuna – Cortex (Combretaceae) Combretaceae

Arjuna means ‘white’ or ‘shining’ named after its bark that literally reflects light wherever this huge tree grows. Its name is also associated with ‘Arjuna’ one of the heroes of the great Indian epic, the Mahabharata. The pale white bark of the Arjuna tree ‘moults’ off naturally once a year; its new skin bringing new life. It is harvested when the tree is mature, thus attesting to its ability to prolong life, protect the elderly and strengthen the heart.

  • How does it feel?

    Arjuna is a large evergreen tree with typically pink-grey bark that peels away from the main frame of the trunk. It can grow up to 25 metres in height. The leaves can reach lengths of 15cm and the flowers are cup-shaped and a pale yellow. The fruits are fibrous and woody and shaped into five ‘wings’ appearing between September and November. The tree is normally found alongside river banks and is native to central and southern India.

  • What can I use it for?

    Arjuna bark influences an increase in levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione levels. This action provides protection against oxidative stress, with a particular affinity for heart tissue. Arjuna also displays a positive inotropic action upon heart muscle, balancing any irregular contractions and promoting a healthy blood pressure.

    Arjuna mediates the inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis within the liver, improving cholesterol metabolism and also encouraging general hepatic cellular regeneration.

    Arjuna has demonstrated anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-mutagenic activity against certain strains such as salmonella, E.coli and HIV. In addition, it has also shown the ability to heal damaged and wounded skin cells, and prevent the growth of tumours.

  • Into the heart of Arjuna

    Arjuna is first and foremost a cardio tonic. Arjuna is specifically indicated for all heart based conditions, strengthening, nourishing and repairing heart and blood vessel tissue. It will influence a reduction in any inflammation and congestion that may be impairing heart function but also support any emotional tension and anxiety affecting the organ.

    The regenerative effect that this herb has on the liver, also makes it incredibly rejuvenative to the liver as an organ, improving overall efficiency and metabolism, with the added ability of improving cholesterol metabolism.

    Arjuna is also an excellent healer and rejuvenative to skin and bone tissue, supporting the body’s natural healing process with a particular focus upon broken skin and bones and damage caused by chronic viral and bacterial infection.

    Arjuna is specifically indicated in angina, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia, and hypertension. All have showed signs of improving in human clinical trials. It has also been shown to reduce human total cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It reduces inflammation and congestion that can damage the heart. It can be used to treat emotional disturbance and ‘broken heart’. It strengthens the muscles of the heart as well as toning the capillaries and improving flexibility which helps to prevent high blood pressure. It helps to balance the movement of vyana vayu in the heart and regulate circulation.

    Arjuna’s affinity for the chest directs it to the lungs and to alleviate productive coughs with copious mucus in bronchitis and asthma. It can also treat haemoptysis influenced by increased heat and inflammation.

    Arjuna improves liver function and inflammation, making it highly indicated in cirrrosis.

    Arjuna is useful as an alterative for clearing the skin of inflammation typical in acne, acne rosacea, pruritus and urticaria.

    The wound healing ability of Arjuna is demonstrated in post-trauma healing of scars, post-operative recovery and repairing fractures. It can also be used internally and externally for healing diabetic ulcers.

    The astringency of Arjuna prevents premature ejaculation and uterine bleeding.

  • Traditional actions

    Alteratives

    Alteratives are herbs that ‘alter’ the condition in a tissue by eliminating metabolic waste via the liver, large intestine, lungs, lymphatic system, skin and kidneys. Examples include Burdock root (Arctium lappa), Dandelion root (Taraxacum officinalis), Cleavers (Galium aparine), Poke (Phytolacca decandra) and Nettle leaf (Urtica dioica).

    Diuretics

    Diuretics are herbs that stimulate the flow of urine, and help remove fluids from the body. Common examples are Dandelion leaf (Taraxacum officinalis), Burdock root (Arctium lappa) and Corn silk (Zea mays).

    Vulneraries

    Vulneraries are wound-healing herbs used internally and externally. Astringent herbs such as Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) and Shepherd’s Purse leaf (Capsella bursa-pastoris) directly stop bleeding and promote the formation of an eschar (scab). Mucilaginous herbs such as Plantain leaf (Plantago lanceolata) and Selfheal leaf (Prunella vulgaris)  soothe inflammation. Some vulneraries are used internally to speed tissue healing, including Marigold flower (Calendula officinalis), Plantain leaf (Plantago lanceolata), Selfheal leaf (Prunella vulgaris), and Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis).

  • Did you know?

    Arjuna is also the name of the legendary hero figure of the Mahabharata. He brings strength, fortitude and protection to his family just as Arjuna brings these qualities to the body. Arjuna is also one of the species whose leaves are fed on by a particular moth that produces ‘tassar’ silk; a wild silk that is of great commercial importance.

Additional information

  • Safety

    No drug herb interactions are known.

  • Dosage

    1–6g/day dried bark or 3–15ml/day of a 1:3 at 45% tincture

  • Traditional energetics

    • Rasa (taste) Astringent, bitter.
    • Virya (action) Cooling.
    • Vipaka (post-digestive effect) Pungent.
    • Guna (quality) Light, dry.
    • Dosha effect: Tridoshic, KP-.
    • Dhatu (tissue) Plasma, blood, bone, reproductive.
    • Srotas (channels) Circulatory, reproductive.

Related herbs

Ashwagandha

Valerian

Related conditions

Insomnia

Burnout

Related articles

Stress relax relief nature woman breath breathe

Beta blockers? 10 herbs to consider

Aphrodisiac plants used in Ayurveda: Complex formulas, ancient and modern

Aromatic
An ‘aromatic’ remedy, high in volatile essential oils, was most often associated with calming and sometimes ‘warming’ the digestion. Most kitchen spices and herbs have this quality: they were used both as flavouring and to ease the digestion of sometimes challenging pre-industrial foods. Many aromatics are classed as ‘carminatives’ and are used to reduce colic, bloating and agitated digestion. They also often feature in respiratory remedies for colds, chest and other airway infections. They are also classic calming inhalants and massage oils, and are the basis of aromatherapy for their mental benefits.
Astringent taste
The puckering taste you get with many plants (the most familiar is black tea after being stewed too long, or some red wines) is produced by complex polyphenols such as tannins. Tannins are used in concentrated form (eg from oak bark) to make leather from animal skins. The process of ‘tanning’ involves the coagulation of relatively fluid proteins in living tissues into tight clotted fibres (similar to the process of boiling an egg). Tannins in effect turn exposed surfaces on the body into leather. In the case of the lining of mouth and upper digestive tract this is only temporary as new mucosa are replenished, but in the meantime can calm inflamed or irritated surfaces. In the case of open wounds tannins can be a life-saver – when strong (as in the bark of broadleaved trees) they can seal a damaged surface. One group of tannins, the reddish-brown ‘condensed tannins’ are procyanidins, which can reduce inflammation and oxidative damage.
Bitter
Bitters are a very complex group of phytochemicals that stimulate the bitter receptors in the mouth. They were some of the most valuable remedies in ancient medicine. They were experienced as stimulating appetite and switching on a wide range of key digestive functions, including increasing bile clearance from the liver (as bile is a key factor in bowel health this can be translated into improving bowel functions and the microbiome). Many of these reputations are being supported by new research on the role of bitter receptors in the mouth and elsewhere round the body. Bitters were also seen as ‘cooling’ reducing the intensity of some fevers and inflammatory diseases.
Blue-purple colouring
Any fruits with a blue-purple colouring contain high levels of the polyphenols known as anthocyanins. These work 1) on the walls of small blood vessels, helping to maintain capillary structure to reduce a key stage in inflammation, and improving the microcirculation to the tissues; 2) to improve retinal function and vision; 3) to support connective tissue repair around the body.
Cooling
Traditional ‘cold’ or cooling’ remedies often contain bitter phytonutrients such a iridoids (gentian), sesiquterpenes (chamomile), anthraquinones (rhubarb root), mucilages (marshmallow), some alkaloids and flavonoids. They tend to influence the digestive system, liver and kidneys. Cooling herbs do just that; they diffuse, drain and clear heat from areas of inflammation, redness and irritation. Sweet, bitter and astringent herbs tend to be cooling.
Hot
Traditional ‘hot’ or ‘heating’ remedies, often containing spice ingredients like capsaicin, the gingerols (ginger), piperine (black or long pepper), curcumin (turmeric) or the sulfurous isothiocyanates from mustard, horseradich or wasabi, generate warmth when taken. In modern times this might translate as thermogenic and circulatory stimulant effects. There is evidence of improved tissue blood flow with such remedies: this would lead to a reduction in build-up of metabolites and tissue damage. Heating remedies were used to counter the impact of cold, reducing any symptoms made worse in the cold. .
Mucilaginous
Mucilages are complex carbohydrate based plant constituents with a slimy or ‘unctuous’ feel especially when chewed or macerated in water. Their effect is due simply to their physical coating exposed surfaces. From prehistory they were most often used as wound remedies for their soothing and healing effects on damaged tissues. Nowadays they are used more for these effects on the digestive lining, from the throat to the stomach, where they can relieve irritation and inflammation such as pharyngitis and gastritis. Some of the prominent mucilaginous remedies like slippery elm, aloe vera and the seaweeds can be used as physical buffers to reduce the harm and pain caused by reflux of excess stomach acid. Mucilages are also widely used to reduce dry coughing. Here the effect seems to be by reflex through embryonic nerve connections: reduced signals from the upper digestive wall appear to translate as reduced activity of airway muscles and increased activity of airway mucus cells. Some seed mucilages, such as in psyllium seed, flaxseed (linseed) or guar bean survive digestion to provide bulking laxative effects in the bowel. These can also reduce rate of absorption of sugar and cholesterol. .
New-mown hay aroma
The familiar country odour of haymaking, of drying grass and other plants, is largely produced by coumarins (originally isolated from tonka beans – in French coumarou) and widely used in perfumery. They are chemically categorised as benzopyrone lactones and are important phytochemicals, with strong antioxidant activity in the laboratory and likely effects in modulating inflammation. They were most often associated with the calming effect linked to their use in stuffing mattresses and pillows and plants, high In coumarins were commonly used for these properties.
Resinous
Resins are most familiar as tacky discharges from pine trees (and as the substance in amber, and rosin for violin bows). They were most valued however as the basis of ancient commodities like frankincense and myrrh (two of the three gifts of the Three Wise Men to the baby Jesus) and getting access to their source was one benefit to Solomon for marrying the Queen of Sheba (now Ethiopia). Resins were the original antiseptic remedies, ground and applied as powders or pastes to wounds or inflamed tissues, and were also used for mummification. With alcohol distillation it was found that they could be dissolved in 90% alcohol and in this form they remain a most powerful mouthwash and gargle, for infected sore throats and gum disease. They never attracted much early research interest because they permanently coat expensive glassware! For use in the mouth, gums and throat hey are best combined with concentrated licorice extracts to keep the resins in suspension and add extra soothing properties. It appears that they work both as local antiseptics and by stimulating white blood cell activity under the mucosal surface. They feel extremely effective!
Salty
The salty flavour is immediately distinctive. A grain dropped onto the tongue is instantly moistening and a sprinkle on food enkindles digestion. This easily recognisable flavour has its receptors right at the front of the tongue. The salty flavor creates moisture and heat, a sinking and heavy effect which is very grounding for the nervous system and encourages stability. People who are solid and reliable become known as ‘the salt of the earth'.
Sharpness
The sharp taste of some fruits, and almost all unripe fruits, as well as vinegar and fermented foods, is produced by weak acids (the taste is generated by H+ ions from acids stimulating the sour taste buds). Sour taste buds are hard-wired to generate immediate reflex responses elsewhere in the body. Anyone who likes the refreshing taste of lemon or other citrus in the morning will know that one reflex effect is increased saliva production. Other effects are subjective rather than confirmed by research but there is a consistent view that they include increased digestive activity and contraction of the gallbladder.
Sweet
In the days when most people never tasted sugar, ‘sweetness’ was associated with the taste of basic foods: that of cooked vegetables, cereals and meat. In other words sweet was the quality of nourishment, and ‘tonic’ remedies. Describing a remedy as sweet generally led to that remedy being used in convalescence or recovery from illness. Interestingly, the plant constituents most often found in classic tonics like licorice, ginseng are plant steroids including saponins, which also have a sweet taste.

Sign up to our Newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to receive the very latest in herbal insights.

Sign up to our newsletter