Samudra Manthan or Churning of the Ocean of Milk is one of the most popular episodes from Ancient India. The story appears in the Bhagavata Purana, the Mahabharata and the Vishnu Purana.
Once there was a battle between the Devas ( gods) and Asuras (demons), in which the Devas were defeated. The Asuras,led by king Bali gained control of the universe. Devas sought help from the god Vishnu. On his advise, the Devas formed an alliance with asuras to jointly churn the ocean for the nectar of immortality and to share it among them. However, Vishnu told Devas that, He would arrange that they alone obtain the nectar.
The churning of the Ocean of Milk was an elaborate process. Mount Mandar was used as the churning rod, and Vasuki, the king of serpents, who abides on Shiva's neck, became the churning rope. The demons demanded to hold the head of the snake, while the gods taking advice from Vishnu, agreed to hold its tail. As a result the demons were poisoned by fumes emitted by Vasuki. Despite this, the gods and demons pulled back and forth on the snake's body alternately, causing the mountain to rotate, which in turn churned the ocean. However, once the mountain was placed on the ocean, it began to sink. Vishnu, in the form of a turtle Kurma, came to their rescue and supported the mountain on his back.
During the Samudra Manthan, several herbs came out of the ocean and also 14 Rantans (jewels). One such herb was the Amrita. This herb is also called Giloy or Guduchi. It has great health benefits and has been used in India since the ancient times. The modern medicine is just discovering the secrets of the divine herb. Recently, there have been several outbreaks of Dengue, Malaria, Chronic fevers, Swine flu, Bird flu and several other fevers of unknown origins. Giloy is one herb, which has been effective in fighting these fevers where modern medicine is still struggling to find cures.
Giloy has a long list of medicinal properties- it is anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-pyretic, anti-arthritic, diuretic and detoxifying in nature. Some of the health benefits of this wonderful herb are :
For treating arthritis and gout: The anti-inflammatory action of giloy makes it beneficial for treating inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Boosts immunity: Giloy acts as a rasayana (rejuvenating agent) on account of its anti-oxidant properties. It is known to boost immunity (by enhancing the efficiency of white blood cells) and aids the removal of toxins from the liver and kidneys and protects from damage caused by free radicals. It also provides protection against disease causing bacteria. Giloy can be used to combat a large number of ailments such as liver diseases, urinary tract infections.
Treating chronic fever: Being an anti-pyretic in nature, giloy can be used to treat chronic fever effectively. It is beneficial for increasing blood platelet count, which makes it useful for alleviating dengue fever. Giloy extract taken daily can help relieve chronic fever. It can be combined with honey and used as a home remedy for malaria.
Digestive health: This herb is an effective means to get rid of digestion related ailments. It can be taken along with amla (Indian Gooseberry) for diabetics. Giloy juice taken along with buttermilk is a classic remedy for indigestion. The same remedy is effective for piles as well.
Diabetes support: Studies have established that Giloy is an effective hypoglycemic agent, with the ability to reduce blood sugar and lipid levels considerably.This makes it very useful for treatment of type2 diabetes. Diabetics can consume Giloy juice daily to lower blood sugar levels.
Adaptogenic herb: Giloy is used as an adaptogenic herb, that is, it has the ability to relieve mental stress and anxiety. It is also known for its ability to promote memory and longevity by reducing oxidative damage to cells and clearing away brain toxins. Thus, it can also be considered as an anti-aging herb.
Other benefits: Giloy has been found useful in fighting various other health problems. It is known to help in decongestion of lungs, making it useful for respiratory problems such as asthma and chronic cough.It is also used to treat skin disorders such as acne, eczema and psoriasis. The juice can be applied on eyes for healing conjunctivitis. It can also be used for cardiac debility, anemia, jaundice and leprosy.
Following are the links to scientific studies to support the medicinal claims of Giloy:
Sometimes the most difficult problems have the simplest of solutions.Like most chronic fevers can be cured by an unassuming creeper in the garden. So lets simplify, uncomplicate life.
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