Health Benefits and Medicinal Properties of Vidanga (Embelia Ribes)

Introduction

Vidanga (Embelia Ribes) is a shrub, having medicinal importance. It is a woody creeper shrub having a flexible and brittle stem. It is also known as False black pepper due to its color and appearance similar to Black pepper. White flowered embelia is it’s another common name. This herb is found in the hilly areas of India like the lower and central Himalayas, Western Ghats, Deccan, South India,  Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. It is also found in  Bhutan, China, Pakistan and Nepal.

Parts Used

Fruits, roots

Ancient Verse about Vidanga

It is also found in our Classic reference, as follows-

Meaning

This Shloka explains about various synonyms and properties of herb Vidanga. Various synonyms for Vidanga are – Amogha, chitartandul, krimighna, jantunashan, vidanga  and tandul,vail. It is pungent in taste with hot potency. It is dry in nature, light to digest and is used to stimulate digestive fire. This herb pacifies Kapha and Vata dosha and is very beneficial in Ascites, worm infestation, flatulence and abdominal pain.

Medicinal Properties of Vidanga

These are as follow

• Rasa (Taste) – Kashaya, Katu (Pungent, Astringent)
• Guna (Physical property) – Laghu, Ruksha, Teekshan (Light, Dry, Piercing)
• Virya (Potency) – Ushna (Hot)
• Vipaka (Metabolic Property-After Digestion) – Katu (Pungent)
• Anti-helminthic  – It is the herb used to treat parasitic worms (helminths)
• Anti-diarrheal – It is the herb used to treat diarrhea
• Kushthghna – It is the herb used to cure skin disorders
• Krimighna –  It is the herb used to treat worm infestation
• Truptighna –  It is the herb used in relieving satiation
• Janthuhari and Krimighna – It is the herb  helpful to remove parasites

Health Benefits of Vidanga

In Ayurveda, Vidanga is known to be a versatile herb and is used to treat a variety of diseases. It is used to make balance between imbalanced vata and kapha and is very effective to improve anorexia and digestive fire.

It’s health benefits are as follow-

1. In Skin Ailments Like Acne or Pimples

Vidanga is a good blood purifier, reduces inflammation, gives radiant and bright skin, and also acts on lymph. It helps to eliminate acne and pimples when used both externally and internally. It also gives good results in inflammation of nose. It possesses anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties which makes it capable to treat skin problems. Mainly fresh leaves or paste of leaves is used for skin problems.

2. In Constipation

Vidanga helps in treating indigestion and gives relief in constipation by improving the digestive fire and due to its laxative property. It helps to normalize Agni and improves the digestion. In tea form it is very useful in emptying the bowel.

3. In Diabetes

Vidanga is very helpful to control blood sugar levels and also helps in reducing obesity because it works on medha dhatu.

4. In Intestinal Parasites

This herb has anti-helminthic property due to which is very helpful in eliminating intestinal worm infestations like Tapeworm, roundworm, and threadworm. This herb is also very useful in infants.

5. In Indigestion

Vidanga is a good appetizer. It increases the Agni and helps in improving pain, bloating, and flatulence and improves the digestion. It also provides energy to the body and is good for overall health.

6. In Hemorrhoids or Piles

It increases the motility of the intestine and helps in bladder evacuation. As it increases the Agni and cures constipation which is related to Piles, so very helpful in piles and anorectal disorders.

7. For Weight Loss

According to Ayurveda fat cells are dependent on Kapha dosha, when this dosha gets vitiated it gives rise to increased fat cells. Vidanga is considered as a very important fat burner and a potent weight loss herb as it dries up the moist content of fat cells and balances Vata and Kapha. It helps in boosting metabolism. This herb increases urine output helps to reduce water retention. Vidanga helps in normalizing Kapha dosha and it also reduces the volume of fat cells in obese people thus helping in weight loss.

8. In Blood Purification

Vidanga acts as a blood purifier and is use to clear harmful toxins that are circulating in lymphatic system and human plasma.

9. In Neurological Disorders

This herb is used to treat various disorders associated with nervous system like paralysis and epilepsy and is very beneficial for human nervous system.

10. In Dental Aailments

This herb is very useful in dental problems like pain, swelling, caries, etc.

11. In Generalized Weakness

This is very beneficial in improving generalized weakness and fatigue. It also gives good results to treat chronic cough, fever, tuberculosis, and snakebite poisoning.

12. In Sore Throat

This herb is very helpful in treating mouth ulcers and sore throat.

Planet Ayurveda Products Containing Vidanga as an Ingredient

Planet Ayurveda offers the following products which contain Vidanga as their main ingredient. All these products are chemical-free, preservative-free, side effect free, and are pure, natural, and vegetarian.

These products are-

1. Vidanga Powder

It is a pure extract of the herb Vidanga (Embelia Ribes) and serves many health benefits to us. This powder can be used internally as well as externally.It has anti-helminthic, anti-inflammatory properties and also works against the worms such as hookworm, ringworm, tape worm, etc. It is also used to treat the infectious skin problems, relieve abdominal bloating and pain, improves digestion and appetite, relieves constipation, maintains metabolic functions of the body and eliminates toxins. It is also very useful in oral infections like dental caries.

2. Punarnava Mandur

It is in the form of tablets have many health benefits and consist of Punarnava, Trikatu, Aamlaki, Chavya, Haridra, Chitrak mool, etc. This is very useful in treating hemorrhoids, gout, all kind of anemia, liver problems, chronic colitis, hyperuricemia and all kinds of splenomegaly. This herb is safe to use in pregnancy. It is also very helpful to treat hypertension and edema due to diuretic properties.

3. Sanjivani Vati

It also comes in the form of tablets and is composed of vidanga, triphala, pippali, ginger, etc. It helps to balance Pitta and Vata dosha in our body and also helps in eliminating toxins (Ama) from the body. It is used to treat dyspepsia, gastritis, indigestion, abdominal bloating, cholera, burning sensation, diabetes, etc. It has anti-viral, anti-bacterial properties, hence useful in case of viral infections like fever, etc. This product is also beneficial in poisonous insect bites, metabolic disorders and is serving good health benefits.

4. Chanderprabha Vati

It is a classical preparation which is composed of Shilajit, Guggul, Aamlaki, Chavya, etc. It balances the Kapha and Vata dosha in the body, serves various health benefits and also is a good generalized tonic, used to treat genitourinary problems, diabetes and its complications, dysuria, renal calculi, urinary tract infection, inflammatory pelvic disorder, cysts, general debility, low back pain and prostate enlargement. It also provides strength and boosts our immunity.

5. Kaishore Guggul

Kishore Guggul is a Rasayana (rejuvenative) medicine, mainly used to treat pitta dosha in the body, serves so many health benefits, and is used to cure all inflammatory problems, psoriasis,urticaria, dermatitis, acne, etc. It also balances diabetes, uric acid levels, and treat joint problems and is a good blood detoxifier, useful in blood disorders. It also promotes early healing of the wounds and has anti-aging benefits on the skin.

6. Weight Gain Formula

This is the best Ayurvedic formulation offered by Planet Ayurveda for weight gain and other health benefits. It is the combination of various herbs like haritaki, amalaki, Ashwagandha, saunf, pippali, jeerak, etc. All these herbs work synergistically and help in gaining weight naturally by regulating the body’s metabolism.

Dosage:- Powder – 3-5gms

Decoction – 3-15ml