Sarpagandha is an ayurvedic medicine used for high blood pressure and insomnia. Derived from the root of the Indian Snakeroot plant, Sarpagandha medicine is found between March to May in the Andaman Islands, north, south, and east India, Eastern, and the Western Ghats.
Sarpagandha’s scientific name: Rauvolfia serpentina
Sarpagandha's Botanical Name: Indian Snakeroot plant
Also read: How to Take Ashwagandha | Best Time to Take Ashwagandha
Sarpagandha Health Benefits
Sarpagandha For Better Sleep
- Sarpagandha, also known as a Nidra Janak or a sleep generator, improves sleep quality and reduces tension.
- Sarpagandha solves Vata Insomnia, characterized by difficulty falling asleep due to an active or anxious mind.
- Studies state that Sarpagandha can increase sleep duration and reduce daytime drowsiness.
- It is non-habit-forming which means that it is non-addictive.
How to Use Sarpagandha to Improve Sleep?
Sleep Tea made with Sarpagandha powder, valerian root, and lavender.
Schedule an appointment with a doctor to get all of Sarpagandha's medicinal benefits
Sarpagandha For Anxiety
- Studies say that Sarpagandha Ghan Vati - containing herbs like Jatamansi, Piplamool, and Ajwain - is prescribed to reduce anxiety in patients.
- Sarpagandha reduces adrenaline and noradrenaline in the nerves. Sarpagandha provides a tranquillizing feeling to the nervous system and reduces nervousness in patients. Reduced anxiety improves mental health and decreases sleep problems like insomnia.
It is best to use Sarpagandha with medical administration for the best results.
Sarpagandha For Hypertension
- It's no wonder that ayurvedic tablets for blood pressure or hypertension contain Sarpagandha. Sarpagandha is a vasodilator that reduces the tone of blood vessels to reduce blood pressure. It is known to reduce the patient's cholesterol and increase BMI.
- Studies show that Sarpagandha is effective against blood pressure within 2-4 weeks of consumption. This largely depends on the extent of the patient's health and dosage of Sarpagandha.
- Sarpagandha can be used to reduce blood pressure for up to a year without any side effects. If you stop taking your Sarpagandha medicine within ~2 weeks, you will see the sarpagandha's effects fade.
How to use Sarpagandha for Hypertension or High BP: In the form of Sarpagandha Ghan Vati.
Sarpagandha dosage: Varies based on patient's blood pressure.
Sarpagandha For Spasms
Sarpagandha has medicinal properties that can reduce leg muscle spasms. It has vasodilating properties - that expand blood cells and ensure better blood circulation throughout the body, including the legs. One can also use Sarpagandha tablets as painkillers.
How to Use Sarpagandha?
- One can use Sarpagandha in the form of powder or tablets. One derives Srpagandha powder by crushing the roots of the Sarpagandha plant (rauwolfia serpentina plant). Sarpagandha Ghan Vati is a popular form of Sarpagandha that contains other beneficial herbs that work with Sarpagandha for improved health.
- Sarpagandha tablets are formulated to tackle a specific problem - lack of sleep, anxiety, high blood pressure.
Side Effects Of Sarpagandha
- Taking Sarpagandha without speaking to a doctor is highly harmful. Either you will be taking too little (making it ineffective) or taking too much, which can result in diarrhea, stomach cramps, nasal congestion, vomiting, and convulsions in some cases.
- It is unsafe for pregnant and lactating women to take Sarpagandha without a doctor's consultation since it contains chemicals that can harm the baby.
- Avoid taking Sarpagandha if you have problems with your gallbladder, intestine, or stomach ulcers. It may only make the situation worse.
- Despite Sarpagandha's medicinal uses, avoid taking it at least two weeks by those going through surgery of any sort. Sarpagandha's uses include speeding up the nervous system and possibly increasing one's heartbeat.
Schedule an appointment with a doctor to reap all of Sarpagandha's medicinal benefits!
Also read: Shatavari for Men | Dosage, Uses & Benefits of Shatavari for Men
References
- Dhanpat Mishra and Basavaraj R. Tubaki; Effect of Brahmi Vati and Sarpagandha Ghana Vati in management of essential hypertension – A randomized, double-blind, clinical study - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6938844/
- Douglas Lobay, June 2015; Rauwolfia in the Treatment of Hypertension - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4566472/