We now cannot suggest that Ayurveda is an alternate form of healing these days. Rather its growing importance and popularity has led authorities to think of including this treatment provision in health insurance policies. And this is a very useful step if we take into account the growing prices of the "invaluable" ayurvedic herbs like shallaki. Boswellia serrata is the biological name of shallaki. Shallaki is more commonly known as salai guggulu in Indian native language as it possesses similar properties as of guggulu.
Health Benefits of Shallaki
- Shows Anti-Inflammatory Properties: It has anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties and hence it is useful in conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, gout and joint pains and skeletal muscle pain. It decreases swelling and aids in joint restoration. It also increases mobility, relieves pain and cures the problem of morning stiffness. Shallaki improves blood supply to the joints and restores the integrity of blood vessels by opening up collateral blood circulation. It acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and prevents the inflammation of any part of the body by supplying blood to the affected tissues.
- Lowers Blood Cholesterol Levels: It has many cholesterol and triglyceride lowering properties.
- Displays Sedative and Analgesic Actions: The non-phenolic fraction of the gum resin has marked sedative and analgesic action and hence it is helpful in conditions like lymphadenopathy and back pain.
- Promotes Vision: It also helps in increasing vision.
- Aids in Digestion: It is helpful in tastelessness, constipation, indigestion, intestinal disturbance and stomach disorders. It is helpful in diarrhea and dysentery conditions as well.
- Serves as a Diuretic: Shallaki works as a diuretic and hence helps in fighting against urinary tract infections.
- Promotes Mental Concentration: It is very commonly used in increasing intelligence levels and mental concentration and this way, it tones up the brain.
- Improves Appetite: It acts as a mouth freshener and kills any foul smell. It also increases the functioning of the taste buds and hence improves appetite in fever or other conditions in which appetite drops.
- Acts as an Expectorant: The herb works as an expectorant and helps in eradicating extra mucus in the respiratory tract.
- Aids in Liver Functions: It helps in proper functioning of the liver and its secretions - the bile juices.
- Performs the Functions of an Aphrodisiac: It also acts as aphrodisiac and hence it helps in increasing the sperm count and quality.
Some discoveries may be still pending and the researches that are coming up every alternate day may go on delivering new facts. We may even know someday that shallaki can be used for other medical conditions as well. And who knows, we may also come across some other herb, which outshines shallaki in all its functions.
