Navahridaya Kalpa is proprietary medicine from Sri Sri Ayurveda. It is a combination of medicinal herbs and used in the management of hypertension. Navahridaya Kalpa contains herbs which are well-known for treating heart problems.
Sri Sri Ayurveda (SSA) is now known as Sri Sri Tattva. It is a GMP certified Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing company started by Sri Sri Ravishankar. It is part of the Art of Living Foundation group of organizations established by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.
What is High BP?
Hypertension or High blood pressure is a common and dangerous condition. Blood pressure is measured using two numbers. The first number is called systolic blood pressure and indicates pressure in blood vessels when the heart beats. The second number, called diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure in blood vessels when the heart rests between beats.
If the measurement reads 120 systolic and 80 diastolic, it is written as 120/80 mmHg. Blood pressure less than 120/80 mmHg is normal. A blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg or more is too high. People with levels between 120/80 and 140/90 have a condition called prehypertension, which means they are at high risk for high blood pressure.
High blood pressure can cause serious problems such as stroke, heart failure, heart attack, and kidney failure. High blood pressure can be controlled through healthy lifestyle habits such as exercise and the diet and taking medicines if needed.
Here is given more about this medicine, such as benefits, indication/therapeutic uses, composition, and dosage.
- Manufacturer: Sri Sri Ayurveda
- Availability: Online and at medical stores
- Type of medicine: Proprietary Herbal Medicine
- Main Indication: High blood pressure
- MRP/Price: Navahridaya Kalpa is available in a packing of 60 tablets for Rupees 140.
Navahridaya Kalpa Composition
Ingredients present in this formulation are given below:
- Ashwagandha Withania somnifera 58.15 mg
- Red Lotus Nelumbo Nucifera 46.52 mg
- White Lotus Nymphaea Lotus 46.52 mg
- Bilva Aegle Marmelos 46.52 mg
- Punarnava Boerhavia Diffusa 34.89 mg
- Bhringraj Eclipta Alba 34.89 mg
- Arjuna Terminalia Arjuna 34.89 mg
- Maricha (Black Pepper) Piper Nigrum 23.26 mg
- Sonth (Ginger Rhizome) Zingiber Officinale 23.26 mg
- Pippali Piper Longum 23.26 mg
- Peepal (Sacred Fig) Ficus Religiosa Bark 23.26 mg
- Sarpagandha (Indian Snakeroot) Rauwolfia Serpentina 23.26 mg
- Neem Azadirachta Indica 17.45 mg
- Tulsi (Holy Basil) Ocimum Sanctum 17.45 mg
- Rasna Pluchea Lanceolata 11.63 mg
- Yashtimadhu Glycyrrhiza Glabra 11.63 mg
- Shankhpushpi Convolvulus Pluricaulis 11.63 mg
- Preservatives:
- Potassium Sorbate 1.2 mg
- Sodium Benzoate 0.6 mg
- Excipients Q.S.
Ashwagandha
Ashwagandha is sedative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory and generally indicated for increasing energy, endurance, and acts as an-adaptogen that exerts a strong immunostimulatory and anti-stress agent.
In Ayurveda, Ashwagandha is indicated for cold and coughs, ulcers, emaciation, diabetes, conjunctivitis, epilepsy, insomnia, senile dementia, leprosy, Parkinson’s disease, nervous disorders, rheumatism, arthritis, intestinal infections, bronchitis, asthma, impotence and a suppressant in HIV/AIDS patients.
Ashwagandha promotes a stronger immune system, physical strength, lustrous complexion, clarity of mind and sense of Well-being.
High dosages of alkaloids from Withania exhibit prolonged hypotensive, bradycardia and respiratory stimulant actions, may also have a depressant effect on higher cerebral centers; sedative effects have also been demonstrated.
Use Ashwagandha with caution in peptic ulcer disease as it may cause gastrointestinal irritation. People who are sensitive to the Solanaceae family should use this herb with caution. It should not be used in the high uric acid count.
Sarpagandha (Rauvolfia serpentine)
Rauvolfia serpentina is known by many common names such as SERPENTWOOD, The Himalayan snakeroot, Serpentina root, Serpentine root, Rauwolfia, Chandrabhaga, and Sarpagandha. Sarpagandha is a medicinal plant and its leaves and roots are used mainly for therapeutic purpose. It is the main herb for hypertension.
Sarpagandha is prescribed in the treatment of high blood pressure, insomnia, epilepsy, asthma, acute stomach ache, and painful delivery and for mental illness (neuropsychiatric disorders, psychosis, schizophrenia). It is used in snake-bite, insect stings, and mental disorders.
Biomedical Action of Navahridaya Kalpa
- Adaptogen: Substance considered to help the body adapt to stress.
- Antidepressant: Prevent or treat depression.
- Anti-inflammatory: Reducing inflammation by acting on body mechanisms.
- Antioxidant: Neutralize the oxidant effect of free radicals and other substances.
- Sedative: Promoting calm or inducing sleep
- Tonic: Restore or improve health or well-being.
- Cardiac: Related to the heart.
- Cardioprotective: Protects the heart.
- Hypolipidemic: Lowers lipid level in blood.
Navahridaya Kalpa Health Benefits
Navahridaya Kalpa is a herbal formulation containing medicinal herbs such as Arjuna, Sarpagandha, Ashwagandha and other supporting herbs beneficial for the heart.
- It strengthens the heart.
- It reduces stress.
Navahridaya Kalpa Therapeutic Uses
Navahridaya Kalpa is the formulation for the heart and indicated in mild to moderate hypertension. It can be helpful to control blood pressure.
- Blood Pressure control
- Cholesterol control
Navahridaya Kalpa Dosage
- The recommended dosage of medicine is 2 tablets.
- It should be taken twice or thrice a day, in the morning and evening.
- It is to be taken with water, after the meal.
- Or take as directed by a doctor.
Suggestions, Contraindications, Interactions, Side-effects, and Warnings
- Do check the list of ingredients and their contraindications to avoid any side effects.
- Duration of treatment and onset of action with the medicines depends on various factors like severity & symptoms of the disease, age & physical conditions of the patient, etc.
- Effectivity of herbal medicine depends on many factors. A medicine suitable for one person may not essentially give the same result in another person.
- The exact dose depends on the age, strength, digestive power of the patient, the nature of the illness, the state of the viscera and humors, and the properties of individual drugs.
- Keep away from the sight and reach of children.
- Please maintain a gap of at least an hour between intake of any allopathic drug and Ayurvedic medicine to avoid drug interaction, if any.
- Do not use many different medicines for the treatments of the same disease.
Related Information
What are the cautions while taking Ashwagandha?
- Ashwagandha should be taken cautiously in excess Pitta and Ama with congestion, pregnancy and thyroid problem.
- Some studies contraindicate the use of Ashwagandha (spasmolytic activity on the uterus) during pregnancy.
- Do not take this herb with other sedatives or anti-anxiety drugs.
- Large doses can cause diarrhea, stomach upset and Ashwagandha may have blood-glucose-lowering effects, these seem to be mild, and would not generally be expected to affect the control of diabetes with conventional medicines.
- Ashwagandha may affect the reliability of digoxin assays, and interfere with the control of hypo- and hyperthyroidism.
- Limited evidence suggests that Ashwagandha increases thyroid hormone levels and therefore interferes with the control of hypo and hyperthyroidism.
- High dosages of alkaloids from Withania exhibit prolonged hypotensive, bradycardia and respiratory stimulant actions, may also have a depressant effect on higher cerebral centers; sedative effects have also been demonstrated.
What is Ama or Aam Dosh?
Ama is undigested food toxins produced in the body. It means unripe, uncooked, immature and undigested. Ama can be defined as the unmetabolized waste that is not utilized by the body. It is sticky, heavy, viscous, slimy, unctuous, wet, cold, sweet and is the root cause of most of the diseases in the body, resulting from excess Vayu or Kapha (or both). Ama Dosha in the body causes blockage of the channels, mucus congestion, loss of strength, lack of movement and reverse flow of Vata, accumulation of wastes, oedema, low digestive fire, bloating, constipation, itchy anus, thick tongue coating, sluggish and slippery pulse, lack of enthusiasm and stagnation in the tissues.
Accumulation of thick, white coating on the tongue indicates Ama inside the body. If the tongue is thick, greasy, yellow, swollen than it indicates fermentation of Ama.
Ama is increased in the body by the intake of sweet and cold food items such as sweets, sweet fruits, potatoes, mushrooms, beans, nuts, seeds, salt, non-vegetarian food items, fried foods, oils, coffee, cold liquids, dairy, and sweet juice. Difficult to digest foods, phlegm increasing foods, weakness of digestive fire, overeating, incompatible foods, gaseous food, etc. all increases Ama.
Ama is decreased in the body by intake of foods which are pungent, hot in potency and pungent after digestion (Katu Vipak). Spices such as dry ginger, black pepper, long pepper, Chilies, etc. burn the Ama (Ama-Pachana).
For the treatment of Ama, expectorant and emetic herbs, Trikatu, Guggulu, and Garlic are used.
What are the contraindications of Sarpagandha?
Sarpagandha has teratogenic (disturb the development of an embryo or fetus) and abortifacient action and must not be used in pregnancy.
It is contraindicated in patients with a history of mental depression, bleeding disorders, gastric and duodenal ulcers, pregnancy, breastfeeding, asthma, ulcers, and kidney pain, decreased renal function, and in patients receiving Electroconvulsive therapy (ECTs). ECT is formerly known as electroshock therapy, and often referred to as shock treatment, is a psychiatric treatment in which seizures are electrically induced in patients to provide relief from psychiatric illnesses.
Side effects include depression, dizziness, drowsiness, dyspnea, erectile dysfunction, lethargy, rash, and reactive changes (dangerous while driving), reduced sexual potency, and stuffy nose.
Drug interactions occur with appetite suppressants, barbiturates, digitalis glycosides, levodopa, neuroleptics, and sympathomimetics.
When taken with cough/flu medicines or with appetite lowering medicine it causes a significant initial increase in blood pressure.
Do not use with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, beta-blockers, levodopa, tricyclic and antidepressants.
It should not be used with alcohol as it severely increases the impairment of motor reactions.
Excessive dose causes drowsiness, weak-slow pulse, slow breathing, diarrhea, lower body temperature and contraction of pupils.
What are cautions while taking Licorice?
- Side effects have been noted in cases of prolonged use of excessive intake including hyperkalemia, pseudo-aldosteronism, and hypertension.
- It may cause muscle pain or numbness in the arms and legs.
- Any licorice product for longer than 4 to 6 weeks is contraindicated.
- While taking ACE inhibitors and diuretics for high blood pressure, DO NOT use licorice products.
- In a small dose, it stops vomiting. But in a high dose, it induces vomiting.
- It inhibits calcium and potassium absorption and hence should be taken with caution in osteoporosis.
- 4-6 weeks continues use can cause Hypokalaemia.
- When taken in combination with thiazide diuretics, laxatives, it may increase potassium loss.
- Its use along with diuretics, cardiac glycosides, corticosteroids, stimulant laxatives or other medications which may aggravate electrolyte imbalance is not recommended.
- It can increase the effects of a high salt diet.
- It may reduce the effects of the contraceptive pill.
- The use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age has not been established due to lack of adequate data.
- Patients taking Licorice medication should not take other Licorice containing products as serious adverse events may occur such as water retention, hypokalemia, hypertension, cardiac rhythm disorders.
- Licorice medication is not recommended to be used in patients affected by hypertension, kidney diseases, the liver or cardiovascular disorders or hypokalemia, as they are more sensitive to the adverse effects of Licorice.
- Licorice appears to have anti-estrogenic and estrogenic activity, where the constituent glabridin has estrogenic activity at low concentrations and anti-estrogenic activity at high concentrations.
- Licorice may decrease testosterone production in young healthy men.
- A person prone to potassium deficiency should not use licorice.
- Co-administered deglycyrrhizinized licorice increased the bioavailability of nitrofurantoin.
Is Glycyrrhiza glabra safe during pregnancy?
No, it is unsafe to use it during pregnancy and lactation. It may cause premature birth. Some studies suggest that taking licorice during pregnancy can increase the risk of stillbirth.
It is unknown if the removal of the glycyrrhizin constituent in licorice makes DGL safe during pregnancy. There are no reports in the literature of DGL being either safe or contraindicated during pregnancy.