Ayurveda is the traditional medicine system of India and one of the oldest in the world. It finds its roots in the subcontinent’s ancient Vedic culture and follows a comprehensive approach to health and healing.
It does not only focus on treating the body but also the mind and the spirit, along with promoting dedicated guidelines for a healthier and fulfilled lifestyle, a vital part of disease precaution according to this ancient methodology.
- Vijaya in Ayurveda
Vijaya is one of the many potent and valuable herbs in Ayurveda. It comes with immense medicinal properties. Known by many names, including “God Herb” and “Herb of the Immortal”, it is believed that the guardian angels live in its leaves, and hence it is the plant of the Gods.
According to Hindu mythology, cannabis was created when the Gods and demons stirred the heavenly oceans using Mount Mandara. As a result of churning (Samudra Manthan), a drop of immortality nectar came from the ocean’s depth and fell on the ground to sprout a cannabis plant.
It grows wild in the Himalayas and has been used by Ayurvedic practitioners to manage various medical conditions. People living in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, etc. use it. It helps them cope with the intense winters and aid their digestive and genital health.
Its immense potency is well known in India since time immemorial. It finds its mention in the great sacred texts and classic Ayurvedic scriptures such as Sushruta Samhita, Charaka Samhita, Shargandhara Samhita, Anandakanda, Bhava Prakashah, etc.
The 4 Vedas are the most ancient and the most important scriptures. Out of them, the Atharva Veda deals with diseases, cures, and everyday life procedures. It acknowledges Vijaya as one of the five most sacred and potent plants, in Book 11, Hymn 8, Verse 15.
Total 157 formulations were found where Bhanga is used as a pharmaceutical processing agent. Levigation with Bhanga may be to activate receptor mediated endo-cannabinoid system to avail the broad spectrum advantages of Cannabis sativa Linn. More than 150 formulations reported in present available Rasa and Chikitsa grantha texts are levigated with Bhanga.
- Volubility of Vijaya
Vijaya possesses immense detoxifying and healing properties. Furthermore, it has extensive pain-relieving characteristics. Trailokya Vijaya Vati is a classic Ayurvedic formula used for treating chronic pains and arthritis pains. It is even effective in relieving muscular spasms, sciatica pain, menstrual cramps and colic pain.
- It can help treat diseases like epilepsy, glaucoma, schizophrenia, osteoarthritis, tuberculosis, and impotence.
- With proper usage, it can even improve your reproductive health.
- In Ayurveda, its predominant use was for the treatment of the digestive and respiratory tracts.
- It is also known to heal anxiety, infections, mental illnesses, and UTI-related problems.
- It can increase libido and help treat sexual dysfunctions.
- You can also increase your taste sense, the body fires, like digestive fire and desire with its guided usage.
- Sushruta Samhita mentions Vijaya as a potent medicine to treat diarrhoea, improve appetite and aid digestion.
- It induces quick sleep, reduces anxiety and thus treats insomnia. Trailokya Vijaya Vati is prescribed by Ayurvedic doctors to improve sleep and restore normal sleep cycles.
- It is known to prevent mucus production and treat phlegm.
- In some cases, expert practitioners have also used it to treat diseases like irritable bowel syndrome, nervous system disorders, Crone’s disease, diarrhoea, fever, nasal catarrh, etc.
- You can also use it as a general tonic. Vijaya is known to promote homoeostasis, the steady-state of mind and body.
- Vijaya has been increasingly being recommended for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. It is also found beneficial in restricting tumour growth.
- Pain Relief
One of the essential uses of Vijaya is to relieve pain. It helps treat all kinds of pain by altering the perception pathways in your brain. Vijaya is one of the most vital herbal remedies for rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, researchers at Harvard medical school report that it can replace harmful NSAIDs. They included Naproxen and Ibuprofen, which show adverse side effects.
- Digestive Stimulant
Vijaya has excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, it helps in the effective treatment of gastrointestinal disorders with inflammatory conditions. It includes Crohn’s disease and irritable bowel syndrome. It also supports treating anorexia-related eating disorders, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, and acid reflux. Furthermore, it also treats constipation and gastric ulcers. It also encourages food consumption.
- Relief from Menstrual Cramps
Nine out of ten women face cramping during their menstruation. In some cases, it can be severe enough to affect their daily lives adversely. Since inflammatory compounds in the body cause these menstrual cramps, Vijaya can effectively provide relief due to its anti-inflammatory characteristics. It relaxes the muscles and aids in reducing stress. Additionally, research has found that the female reproductive system has cannabinoid receptors that cannabis can bind to and provide relief.
- Assistance with ADD/ADHD
People with ADD/ADHD have issues with simple tasks like sitting still, paying proper attention, and self-control. Their brain development, cognitive performance, concentration, and cerebral activity gets adversely affected. Vijaya helps in encouraging focus and treating the above symptoms. It is also a safer alternative to dangerous stimulants like Ritalin and Adderall.
- Aphrodisiac
Experts have found that certain Vijaya strains act as an aphrodisiac. They are effective in increasing libido and improving sexual intercourse. In addition to that, they can treat related problems like erectile dysfunction and sexual anxiety. Specific studies conducted in this field have reported reassuring effects. Experts are still conducting further research.
- Improves Sleep
According to the Neurological Society of India, insomnia is prevalent in 9% of our population. At least 28% of people face sleep disorders at some time in their lives. Vijaya can help solve this issue as it has been known to aid in sleeping since ancient times. It is demonstrated to help treat insomnia, reduce the time needed to initiate sleep, increase sleeping time and improve sleep quality.
- Aids in Cancer Treatment
Vijaya attracted numerous pharmacological experts worldwide to endorse its cancer-treating potential. Doctors have reported it as a safe medication for cancer patients. And since it heals various side effects stemming from cancer treatment, more people rely on it than standard drugs for their relief. That includes treating poor appetite, nausea, and neuropathic pain. It is also found to be effective in inhibiting tumour growth.
- Alleviating anxiety
Anxiety is unfortunately one of the most common mental issues among people today. But Ayurveda has a marvellous cure for this. With its endocannabinoid compounds, Ayurvedic Vijaya stabilizes moods and helps ease mental problems. It has positive effects on the complete system including body, mind and soul.
- Supports Bone Repair
Vijaya reduces inflammation in joints. Moreover, it can effectively aid and fasten the healing process of broken bones. Hence, people deploy Vijaya to mend bones too. Research shows that it also ends up strengthening the bones in the treatment process.
- Chronic Fatigue Remedy
Different reasons can cause chronic fatigue. Be it lack of sleep, lack of appetite, depression, stress or chronic pain. As you might have guessed by now, Vijaya treats all those symptoms. It can very smoothly rid your fatigue and rejuvenate you.
- Conclusion
In ancient India, the yogis and saints knew its value and communicated their knowledge. Hence, its consumption has been going on for thousands of years. Medical practitioners and Ayurvedic experts today concede its immense value, which has been proven by numerous clinical studies. They also recommend it for treating many ailments.
Cannabis have received renewed interest in recent years due to their diverse pharmacology activities such as appetizer, digestive, antiemetic, antispasmodic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, hypnotic, anti-psychotic & cataleptic, memory enhancer, antiasthmatic, cardio-protective, anaesthetic, anti-epileptic, anti-fertility, cell growth inhibition and anticancer etc. thus giving lead to use of this drug in various clinical syndromes. The drug has showed promising outcomes in conditions like Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), fever, insomnia, migraine, cancer, tumor regression and cancer therapies induced side effects etc.