Punarnava Benefits, Uses, Side Effects Ayurveda Insights

Medicinal Effects of Punarnava

Constitutional nutrition systems use biocharacteristics to classify the metabolic nature of food, hebs, lifestyle choices, your body, and disease.

METABOLIC NATURE / BIOCHARACTERISTICS

Metabolic Nature / Biocharacteristics
Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (vital qualtiies). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.
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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

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COLD

ABOUT COLD BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold refers to anything that reduces body temperature, metabolism, and blood flow.

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DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

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LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

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TASTES

The 6 Tastes
Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?
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PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

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AYURVEDA BODY TYPES (DOSHAS)

The Three Doshas / Body Types
Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.
Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.
Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.
Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.
The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).
Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.
Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.
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PACIFIES

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors
Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.
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PACIFIES

PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A Phlegmatic has a cold and wet metabolic nature. The coldness implies a slow metabolism, the moisture that you are well-nourished. Phlegmatics tend towards sluggishness and thickened fluids, including mucus.

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SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

A hot and oily nature with a moderate metabolism and a well nourished body makes Sanguine individuals vigorous, vivacious, outgoing and generous, and prone to impulsivity and self indulgence. Bullish and intense when out of balance.

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AGGRAVATES

CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

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MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

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Other Health Virtues

Tissue (dhatu):

Red Blood

RED-BLOOD

Red blood (Rakta Dhatu) includes red blood cells and blood vessels.

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Subdosha:

Pitta Ranjaka, Vayu Prana, Vayu Vyana

Affinity:

Anti Aging

ANTI-AGING

Geriatric conditions typically involve low agni / metabolism, poor circulation, weakness & debility, muscle weakening, poor digestion, a drop in sex hormones, and connective tissue degradation in bones & skin.

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, Cleanse And Detox, Heart Circulation Blood, Kidney Bladder Urinary, Liver Gallbladder, Respiratory Health

Family:

Nyctaginaceae

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Punarnava
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

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Digestion:

Nauseating

NAUSEATING

Brings about feelings of unease and discomfort in the stomach, often accompanied with the involuntary urge to vomit.

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Digestive

DIGESTIVE

Herbs that encourage healthy digestion.

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Emetic

EMETIC

An herb that causes vomiting and nausea.

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Cleanse & Detox:

Antilithic

ANTILITHIC

An herb that dissolves / breaks up stones (gallstones or kidney stones) so that it can be passed.

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Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

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Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

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Stimulates Front Of Brain

STIMULATES-FRONT-OF-BRAIN

Creates a feeling of awareness or tension in the area in the forehead. Activates the frontal lobe - the area responsible for motor function, emotional expression, thinking, and decision making.

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Energy Vitality:

Builds Stamina

BUILDS-STAMINA

Promotes strength, endurance and resistance in the body. Rebuilds weak tissues after a time of depletion.

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Stimulates Energy

STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

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Tonic

TONIC

A tonic herb restores function through strengthening tissue. This can happen through a combination of nourishing the tissue, and invigorating tissue metabolism. The tonic should not be withering, as in caffeine.

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Respiratory-Health:

Antitussive

ANTITUSSIVE

Cough suppressant, particularly for dry coughs or a tickle in your throat.

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Bronchodilator

BRONCHODILATOR

An herb that encourages the widening or opening of the lung airways. They are helpful in wheezing and asthma.

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Lung Tonic

LUNG-TONIC

Strengthens the lungs. Lung tonics include antifibrotic, vessel tonic, or nourishing herbs with an affinity for the lungs. They aid recovery in acute or chronic lung conditions.

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Immune System:

Adaptogen

ADAPTOGEN

Herbs that promote stabilization of physiological processes and homeostasis. Adaptogens increase the body's ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote or restore normal physiological functioning.

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Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

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Antimicrobial

ANTIMICROBIAL

An agent that kills microorganisms or inhibits their growth. Antimicrobial is an umbrella term that can be broken down into specific categories of target microorganism, such as anti-bacterials, fungals, and virals.

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Antipoisonous

ANTIPOISONOUS

An antidote for a poison. Many anti-poisonous herbs draw out a poison and are good for insect bites. Others help burn it up.

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, Immune Modulator

Heart & Circulation:

Cardiac Stimulant

CARDIAC-STIMULANT

Herbs that increase the heart rate. Useful in cardiovascular health, blood stagnation, and subjective feeling of heaviness in the chest area.

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Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

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Antioxidant

ANTIOXIDANT

An antioxidant is a molecule that inhibits oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals that lead to a chain reaction causing damage or death to cells. Antioxidants terminate these oxidation reactions.

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Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

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Cardiac Tonic

CARDIAC-TONIC

Strengthens and tones the heart (heart-tonic). Cardiac tonics are used to treat a wide range of heart issues from arrhythmia, to cardiac insufficiency.

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Hypertensive

HYPERTENSIVE

An herb that increases blood pressure.

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Hypotensive

HYPOTENSIVE

An herb that lowers blood pressure.

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Reduces Swelling

REDUCES-SWELLING

Relieves swelling / inflammation.

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Vasodilator

VASODILATOR

A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

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Kidney & Urinary:

Diuretic

DIURETIC

Herbs that promote urine formation, thereby flushing the kidneys and urinary tract while eliminating any excess water retention. As diuretics reduce water retention, they are often used to reduce blood pressure.

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Kidney Tonic

KIDNEY-TONIC

An herb that strengthens the kidneys.

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Urinary Tonic

URINARY-TONIC

An herb that tonifies and strengthens the urinary system. These can be helpful for urinary incontinence or improving function after a urinary tract infection. They can also strengthen the bladder to ward off a urinary tract infection.

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Warms Kidney

WARMS-KIDNEY

Warms the kidneys by increasing blood flow to the organ.

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Liver & Gallbladder:

Cholagogue

CHOLAGOGUE

Cholagogues stimulate the production & release of bile from the liver & gallbladder. This refreshes and cleanses these organs, as well as increases bile in the small intestines.

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Hepatoprotective

HEPATOPROTECTIVE

An herb that is capable of preventing liver damage. Many hepatoprotectives work via antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

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Weight Loss:

Hypolipidemic

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.

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Lowers Blood Sugar

LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR

An herb that lowers blood sugar.

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Reproductive Health:

Builds Semen

BUILDS-SEMEN

Herbs that increase the production of semen, often by rebuilding fluids in general.

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Promotes Virility

PROMOTES-VIRILITY

Encourages virility and potency.

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Uterine Stimulant

UTERINE-STIMULANT

Causes contractions in the uterus often by stimulating production of oxytocin. These herbs are contraindicated during pregnancy.

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Bone & Joint:

Antiarthritic

ANTIARTHRITIC

Herbs that ease arthritic pain and promote joint health.

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Strength, Muscle Health:

Antispasmodic

ANTISPASMODIC

Herbs that reduce or inhibit muscle spasms or cramping, such as in asthma, menstruation, heart palpitations, migraine, or IBS.

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Constituents:

Iron

IRON

Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen in red blood cells.

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Foods with a Similar Nature to Punarnava

Turmeric

Turmeric has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Blood-tonic, Hepatoprotective, Internal-detoxicant, Antiarthritic, Antipoisonous, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Alterative, Antimicrobial, Antispasmodic, Digestive, Immune-modulator, Vasodilator
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Mustard Powder

Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common
Vasodilator, Antiarthritic, Bronchodilator, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Antimicrobial, Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Nauseating, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-tonic, Emetic, Promotes-virility
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Mustard

Mustard has these Actions in Common
Nauseating, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-tonic, Emetic, Promotes-virility, Vasodilator, Antiarthritic, Bronchodilator, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Antimicrobial, Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic
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Mustard Seed

Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common
Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Antimicrobial, Cardiac-stimulant, Diuretic, Nauseating, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-tonic, Emetic, Promotes-virility, Vasodilator, Antiarthritic, Bronchodilator
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Turmeric Root (Fresh)

Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common
Alterative, Antimicrobial, Blood-tonic, Hepatoprotective, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Cholagogue, Hypolipidemic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antiarthritic, Antipoisonous, Digestive, Immune-modulator
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Dandelion Leaves

Dandelion Leaves has these Actions in Common
Antioxidant, Diuretic, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Cholagogue, Hepatoprotective, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antimicrobial, Digestive, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-energy, Alterative
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Stinging Nettles

Stinging Nettles has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Builds-stamina, Kidney-tonic, Tonic, Antilithic, Diuretic, Lung-tonic, Urinary-tonic, Alterative, Blood-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Promotes-virility
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Ginger (Fresh)

Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common
Antiarthritic, Digestive, Hypotensive, Stimulates-energy, Antispasmodic, Hepatoprotective, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator, Anti-inflammatory, Cardiac-stimulant, Hypolipidemic, Lung-tonic
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Caraway Seeds

Caraway Seeds has these Actions in Common
Antiarthritic, Antitussive, Digestive, Stimulates-energy, Antimicrobial, Bronchodilator, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator, Antispasmodic, Cardiac-stimulant, Lung-tonic
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Celery Seed

Celery Seed has these Actions in Common
Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Diuretic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antiarthritic, Cardiac-stimulant, Hypotensive, Vasodilator, Antilithic
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Carrot

Carrot has these Actions in Common
Antilithic, Cholagogue, Internal-detoxicant, Antioxidant, Diuretic, Lung-tonic, Alterative, Blood-tonic, Hypotensive, Tonic
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Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Punarnava

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common
Blood-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Bronchodilator, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Diuretic, Vasodilator, Adaptogen, Hypolipidemic, Warms-kidney, Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant, Antimicrobial, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antispasmodic, Lung-tonic
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Dong Quai

Dong Quai has these Actions in Common
Adaptogen, Hepatoprotective, Anti-inflammatory, Hypolipidemic, Antioxidant, Hypotensive, Antispasmodic, Internal-detoxicant, Blood-tonic, Stimulates-energy, Bronchodilator, Uterine-stimulant, Cardiac-stimulant, Vasodilator, Digestive
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Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama)

Bellows Breath (Bhastrika Pranayama) has these Actions in Common
Digestive, Adaptogen, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antispasmodic, Lung-tonic, Blood-tonic, Promotes-virility, Builds-stamina, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Cardiac-tonic
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Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama)

Breath of Fire / Shining Skull (Kapalbhati Pranayama) has these Actions in Common
Cardiac-stimulant, Stimulates-front-of-brain, Cardiac-tonic, Digestive, Adaptogen, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antispasmodic, Lung-tonic, Blood-tonic, Promotes-virility, Builds-stamina, Stimulates-energy
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Eleuthero Ginseng

Eleuthero Ginseng has these Actions in Common
Hepatoprotective, Hypolipidemic, Adaptogen, Hypotensive, Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant, Antispasmodic, Lowers-blood-sugar, Blood-tonic, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Builds-stamina, Stimulates-energy, Digestive, Tonic
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Amalaki

Amalaki has these Actions in Common
Anti-inflammatory, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antioxidant, Promotes-virility, Blood-tonic, Stimulates-energy, Builds-semen, Tonic, Cardiac-tonic, Digestive, Adaptogen, Hepatoprotective, Alterative, Internal-detoxicant
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Belly breathing

Belly breathing has these Actions in Common
Cardiac-stimulant, Cardiac-tonic, Digestive, Internal-detoxicant, Adaptogen, Lowers-blood-sugar, Alterative, Lung-tonic, Antispasmodic, Blood-tonic, Promotes-virility, Builds-stamina, Stimulates-energy
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Breathing Exercises

Breathing Exercises has these Actions in Common
Digestive, Adaptogen, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Lowers-blood-sugar, Antispasmodic, Lung-tonic, Blood-tonic, Promotes-virility, Builds-stamina, Stimulates-energy, Cardiac-stimulant, Cardiac-tonic
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Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha has these Actions in Common
Alterative, Nerve-relaxant-grounding, Anti-inflammatory, Promotes-virility, Antioxidant, Tonic, Antispasmodic, Urinary-tonic, Blood-tonic, Builds-semen, Builds-stamina, Adaptogen, Diuretic
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Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam

Chyavanprash Nutritive Jam has these Actions in Common
Alterative, Promotes-virility, Anti-inflammatory, Stimulates-energy, Antitussive, Tonic, Blood-tonic, Cardiac-stimulant, Cardiac-tonic, Digestive, Adaptogen, Internal-detoxicant
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Punarnava - Metabolic Impact Report

The reports shared below are part of an educational assignment completed by students at the Joyful Belly College of Ayurveda & Greek Medicine. These represent subjective experiences intended to help students explore principles of Ayurveda through personal observation. In each report below, students ate the selected food for 3 days and self-reported these effects. See other food & herb reports at Joyful Belly.