The arjuna tree, Terminalia arjuna, is an Indian evergreen tree with bark which has been used for cardiac conditions for centuries. A growing body of information suggests that it is effective for certain heart illnesses. Nonetheless, more well-designed studies are needed to delineate arjuna’s healing properties and its effectiveness in human subjects. Arjuna should be used under the guidance of a qualified health practitioner due to its cardiac effects.
History
According to EcoIndia, arjuna is one of the sacred trees of India. Flowers and leaves from the arjuna are given in offerings to the gods Ganesh and Vishnu during rites in their honor. Its smooth gray bark has been used for hundreds of years in Ayurvedic medicine for a number of conditions.
Chemical Makeup
The components of arjuna bark include glycosides, antioxidants including flavenols, proanthocyanins and tannins, arjunic and terminic acids, magnesium salts and calcium salts.
Uses in Traditional Medicine
Arjuna is used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat heart ailments. It is also used for earache, dysentery, cirrhosis, asthma and the treatment of intestinal parasites. It is said to have diuretic and antioxidant effects. EmpowHer says that it is also used in other forms in treating skin ulcers, irregular menses, wounds, fractures and acne.
Effects
Arjuna relaxes cardiac muscle. Research suggests that it may be useful in treating heart-related chest pain and ischemic mitral regurgitation. Other research indicates that it may be useful in treating high cholesterol and fatty plaques in blood vessels, a condition known as atherosclerosis.
Supporting Research
In the May 1995 issue of the International Journal of Cardiology, Bharani and colleagues reported on a double-blind, cross-over study of 12 patients with chronic congestive heart failure who were treated with either a placebo or with an extract of arjuna bark. Recipients of arjuna had overall improvement of cardiac function, including more efficient left ventricular function. While small, this study nonetheless shows that arjuna has promise as a cardiac drug. Another significant study by Bharani, et al., in 2002, indicated that arjuna was helpful in reducing mitral regurgitation and chest pain after heart attack, and that its effects were similar to those of the cardiac medication isosorbide mononitrate. More studies need to be done which include women in the study design and which use larger study populations to confirm the results of these studies.
In an article published by the Oxford Journals in December 2009, Saravanan and colleagues reported an animal study which indicates that arjuna may be useful in preventing or reducing atherosclerotic plaques. However, further research is needed to pinpoint which of the tree’s compounds are producing this effect and to determine arjuna’s effectiveness in humans for control of atherosclerosis.
Warning
Other studies assessing arjuna’s antimicrobial and antifungal properties are very preliminary. Studies addressing the side effects of arjuna and its toxicity are lacking. Because of this, persons using arjuna should beware of claims supporting these uses or stating the lack of side effects. Any herb or supplement with cardiac effects must be used with caution and under the supervision of a competent health care provider.
References
- Unbound Medicine Abstract: Terminalia arjuna in chronic stable angina
- EcoIndia: Arjun Tree
- Anti-atherogenic Activity of Ethanolic Fraction of Terminalia Arjuna Bark on Hypercholesterolemic RabbitsOxford Journals:
- EmpowHer: Terminalia arjuna
- PubMed: Salutary effect of Terminalia Arjuna in patients with severe refractory heart failure
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