Safed Musli (Chlorophytum Tuberosum)

Safed musli (Chlorophytum Tuberosum): Health Benifits

Safed musli is used in all Ayurvedic medicines for strength and vigour. Safed musli is originally found in forest areas in natural form. Its botanical name is Chlorophytum tuberosum. It is considered as alternative to Viagra.

Different Species of Musli (Moosli)
In India about eight species of safed musli are reported out of them only Chlorophytum borivillianum, Chlorophytum arundinaceam and Chlorophytum tuberosum are commercially collected by our tribes from the forest. Chlorophytum borivillianum is the only species which is under commercial cultivation.

·        Chlorophytum borivillianum

·        Chlorophytum arundinaceum

·        Chlorophytum tuberocum

·        Chlorophytum malabericum

·        Chlorophytum attenuatum

·        Chlorophytum breviscapum

·        Asparagus filicinus

·        Asparagus gonoclados

Bio Chemistry of Safed Musli

Its tubers contain about 27 alkaloids, steroid saponin (2-17%), polysaccaroids (40-45%), carbohydrates, proteins (7-10%), minerals, vitamins etc. Safed musli is a wonder drug and this contains a new glycoside 5, 7-:dimethoxy myricetin 3-O- -L-.xylopyranosyl 4-0 I -D glucopyranoside from the rhizome of Curculigo orchioides. (Tiwari and Misra -- 1976). The tubers of the plant contain free sugars, 7.56 %, mucilage, 8.12 %, hemicelluloses, 12 to 15% and other polysachharides 17.01 %.

Health benefits of Safed Musli

Safed Musli has very good ayurvedic medicinal use. It is a rich source of over 25 alkaloids, vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, steroids saponins and polysachharides etc.It gives strength Mush prepared as a paste with goats milk or honey and applied locally over the face, brightens the complexion of the face. It is extensively used as an ingredient of aphrodisiac preparations. In traditional Indian medicine it is used as 'Rasayan' or adaptogen.
Kali mush is more effective than Sweta mush, which is botanically identified as Chlorophytum tuberosum. The root stock extracts is effective mainly on the urinary system and is considered to be diuretic in action. It is given in dysuria, poluria, gonorrhoea in addition to the menorrhagia, lcueorrhoea, piles and leucoderma. The drug is considered to be alternative appetiser, fattening and restorative.
It is employed in bronchitis, opthalmic conditions, vomiting, dyspepsia, lumbago, pain in the joints and in the diseases of nerves. It is considered to have carminative, tonic, aphrodisiac and anti-pyretic properties. This herb is used in laddoos for women postpartum.

The medicinal value is thought to derive from its saponin content, up to 17 percent by dry weight. The saponins and alkaloids present in the plant are the source of its alleged aphrodisiac properties. Saponins are being promoted commercially as dietary supplements and nutraceuticals. There is evidence of the presence of saponins in traditional medicine preparations

In the Ayurvedic literature, Safed Musli is celebrated as a Divya Aushad with unparalleled medicinal properties. It is a chief ingredient in the preparation of over a hundred Ayurvedic formulations. Safed Musli is also gaining increasing acceptance as a vitalizer and health-giving tonic, a curative for pre-natal and post-natal problems, a restorative for immunity-improvement and as a remedy for diabetes and arthritis.
Safed Musli has been found to be an ideal aphrodisiac with no negative side-effects associated with chemical-based aphrodisiac. Gujarat State Forest Development Corporation has lately launched a Safed Musli-based potency drug named Nai Chetna (The Indian Herbal Aphrodisiac).

Among the numerous uses and usage of Safed Musli, the most important of them include the following:
* For therapeutic application in Ayurveda, Unani and Allopathic medicines.
* As a curative for physical weakness and many illnesses.
* As a curative for natal and post-natal problems.
* As an aphrodisiac agent and vitalizer.
* As an effective alternative to The Indian Herbal Aphrodisiac.
* As a general sex tonic.
* As an Immunity-improving drug.
* As a remedy for diabetes.
* As a remedy for arthritis.

Use of Safed Musli:

Safed Musli has very good Ayurvedic medicinal use. It is rich source of over 25 alkaloids, vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, steroid, seponins and polysaccharides etc. A number of Health tonics (Sexual tonics) are prepared from Safed Musli.

Used for Sexual weakness, low libido, low sperm count etc. It is also found to be effective as a energetic one in cases of cough and asthma. Primarily used as a tonic and rejuvenative for the reproductive system. For premature ejaculation, impotence, low sperm count in men. Also used in chronic leucorrhoea. Useful during pregnancy as a nutritive tonic for mother and fetus. Post-partum it replenishes lost fluids, prana, ojas and improves the quantity and flow of breast milk.
Apart from its aphrodisiac property, Chlorophytum borivilianum has following other health benefits -

• Strengthens immunity – In asthma patients it boosts the energy. Roots are used for strengthening the body’s immune system.
• Pregnancy – The herb is used as nutritive tonic for fetus and mother both. The herb replenishes the fluids of body during parturition.
• Obesity – It controls and prevents obesity. It also helps in prevention of side-effects related to obesity.
• Diabetes – The herb is an effective cure for arthritis and diabetes.
• Leucorrhea – The herb is used in treatment of chronic leucorrhea and prevents premature ejaculation.
• Consumption of this herb increases HDL (or production of good cholesterol).
• Regular intake of the herb reduces hepatic lipid profiles and plasma.