TERMINALIA

OTHER NAME(S):

Abhaya, Amandier Indien, Amandier Tropical, Arale, Arjan des Indes, Arjuna, Axjun Argun, Badamier, Badamier chebule, Badamier Géant, Baheda, Bahera, Bala Harade, Balera, Behada, Beleric Myrobalan, Belleric Myrobalan, Belliric Myrobalan, Bhibitaki, Bibhitak, Bibitaki, Black myrobalan, Carambole Marron, Chebulic Myrobalan, Chebulische, Dhavala, Gall nut, Gallnut, Hara, Harad, Harada, Harade, Haritaki, Haritali, Harra, Harro, He li le, He Zi, Hirala, Indian Almond, Indian gall nut, Indian gallnut, Indian gall-nut, Indradru, Ink nut, Jangalii harro, Kadukka, Kadukkai, Kadukkaya, Kakubha, Kalidruma, Karkchettu, Karshaphala, Kumbuk, Manja lawai, Mirobalanos índicos, Mirobaran no ki, Myrobalan, Myrobolan Bellirique, Myrobolan Chébule, Myrobalanenbaum, Nadisraja, Partha, Pathya, Rispiger, Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia bellirica, Terminalia chebula, Terminalia chebulic, Thuulo harro Tropical Almond, Veeravriksha, Vibhitaki.<br/><br/>

Overview

Overview Information

Terminalia is a tree. Three species of terminalia are used for medicine. These species are Terminalia arjuna, Terminalia bellerica, and Terminalia chebula.

In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Terminalia arjuna has been used to balance the three “humors”: kapha, pitta, and vata. It has also been used for asthma, bile duct disorders, scorpion stings, and poisonings.

The bark of Terminalia arjuna has been used in India for more than 3000 years, primarily as a heart remedy. An Indian physician named Vagbhata has been credited as the first to use this product for heart conditions in the seventh century A.D. Research on terminalia has been going on since the 1930s, but studies have provided mixed results. Its role, if any, in heart disease still remains uncertain.

Nevertheless, people today use Terminalia arjuna for disorders of the heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular disease), including heart disease and related chest pain, heart failure, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It is also used as “a water pill,” and for earaches, dysentery, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), diseases of the urinary tract, and to increase sexual desire.

Terminalia bellerica and Terminalia chebula are both used for high cholesterol and digestive disorders, including both diarrhea and constipation, and indigestion. They have also been used for HIV infection.

Terminalia bellerica is used to protect the liver and to treat respiratory conditions, including respiratory tract infections, cough, and sore throat.

Terminalia chebula is used for dysentery.

Terminalia bellerica and Terminalia chebula are used as a lotion for sore eyes.

Terminalia chebula is also used topically as a mouthwash and gargle.

Intravaginally, Terminalia chebula is used as a douche for treating vaginal infections.

In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Terminalia bellerica has been used as a "health-harmonizer" in combination with Terminalia chebula and Emblica officinalis. This combination is also used to lower cholesterol and to prevent death of heart tissue.

How does it work?

Terminalia contains ingredients that help stimulate the heart. It might also help the heart by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure.

Uses

Uses & Effectiveness?

Possibly Effective for

  • Chest pain (angina). Some research shows that taking Terminalia by mouth with conventional medications improves symptoms in people experiencing chest pain after a heart attack. Other research shows that taking Terminalia by mouth improves symptoms and reduces the need for chest pain medication in people with long-term chest pain.
  • Heart failure. Research shows that taking Terminalia by mouth with conventional medications for 2 weeks improves symptoms in people with heart failure.

Insufficient Evidence for

  • Heart disease. Early research shows that taking Terminalia by mouth might improve cholesterol levels in in people with heart disease.
  • Earaches.
  • HIV infection.
  • Lung conditions.
  • Severe diarrhea.
  • Urinary problems.
  • Water retention.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of Terminalia for these uses.

Side Effects

Side Effects & Safety

Terminalia arjuna is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth for 3 months or less. But don’t use it without medical supervision. It might affect your heart.

Not enough is known about the safety of Terminalia bellerica and Terminalia chebula. It’s best to avoid use until more is known.

Special Precautions & Warnings:

Pregnancy: There is some evidence that Terminalia arjuna is POSSIBLY UNSAFE during pregnancy. The safety of the other two species during pregnancy is unknown. It’s best to avoid using any Terminalia species.

Breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about the safety of Terminalia if you are breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Bleeding disorders: Terminalia might slow blood clotting. This might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding in people with bleeding disorders.

Diabetes: Terminalia might lower blood sugar levels. Your diabetes medications might need to be adjusted by your healthcare provider.

Surgery: Terminalia might interfere with blood sugar control and increase the risk of bleeding during surgery. Stop taking Terminalia at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
Interactions

Interactions?

We currently have no information for TERMINALIA Interactions.

Dosing

Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

  • For chest pain: 500 mg of the powdered bark of Terminalia arjuna has been taken three times per day along with conventional treatment for chest pain for up to 3 months.
  • For heart failure: 500 mg of the powdered bark of Terminalia arjuna has been taken three times per day along with conventional treatment for heart failure for up to 2 weeks.

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View References

REFERENCES:

  • Murali, Y. K., Anand, P., Tandon, V., Singh, R., Chandra, R., and Murthy, P. S. Long-term effects of Terminalia chebula Retz. on hyperglycemia and associated hyperlipidemia, tissue glycogen content and in vitro release of insulin in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Exp.Clin Endocrinol.Diabetes 2007;115(10):641-646. View abstract.
  • Patel, R. K., Gondaliya, D. P., and Subramanian, S. Evaluation of commercial "Haradae" (Terminalia chebula). Indian Journal of Natural Products (India) 2004;19:511-518.
  • Rao, N. K. and Nammi, S. Antidiabetic and renoprotective effects of the chloroform extract of Terminalia chebula Retz. seeds in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. BMC.Complement Altern.Med 2006;6:17. View abstract.
  • Sabu, M. C. and Kuttan, R. Anti-diabetic activity of medicinal plants and its relationship with their antioxidant property. J Ethnopharmacol. 2002;81(2):155-160. View abstract.
  • Senthilkumar, G. P. and Subramanian, S. Evaluation of antioxidant potential of Terminalia chebula fruits studies in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Pharmaceutical Biology (Netherlands) 2007;45:511-518.
  • Anand KK, Singh B, Saxena AK, et al. 3,4,5-Trihydroxy benzoic acid (gallic acid), the hepatoprotective principle in the fruits of Terminalia belerica-bioassay guided activity. Pharmacol Res 1997;36:315-21. View abstract.
  • Aneja KR, Sharma C, Joshi R. Antimicrobial activity of Terminalia arjuna Wight & Arn.: an ethnomedicinal plant against pathogens causing ear infection. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2012;78(1):68-74. View abstract.
  • Arseculeratne SN, Gunatilaka AA, Panabokke RG. Studies of medicinal plants of Sri Lanka. Part 14: Toxicity of some traditional medicinal herbs. J Ethnopharmacol 1985;13:323-35. View abstract.
  • Bharani A, Ganguli A, Mathur LK, Jamra Y, Raman PG. Efficacy of Terminalia arjuna in chronic stable angina: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study comparing Terminalia arjuna with isosorbide mononitrate. Indian Heart J. 2002;54(2):170-175. View abstract.
  • Bharani A, Ganguly A, Bhargava KD. Salutary effect of Terminalia Arjuna in patients with severe refractory heart failure. Int J Cardiol 1995;49:191-9. View abstract.
  • Chevallier A. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. New York, NY: DK Publishing, 1996.
  • Dwivedi S, Agarwal MP. Antianginal and cardioprotective effects of Terminalia arjuna, an indigenous drug, in coronary artery disease. J Assoc Physicians India 1994;42:287-9. View abstract.
  • Dwivedi S, Jauhari R. Beneficial effects of Terminalia arjuna in coronary artery disease. Indian Heart J 1997;49:507-10. View abstract.
  • el-Mekkawy S, Meselhy MR, Kusumoto IT, et al. Inhibitory effects of Egyptian folk medicines on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase. Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1995;43:641-8. View abstract.
  • Gupta R, Singhal S, Goyla A, Sharma VN. Antioxidant and hypocholesterolaemic effects of Terminalia arjuna tree-bark powder: a randomized placebo-controlled trial. J Assoc Physicians India. 2001;49:231-235. View abstract.
  • Hamada S, Kataoka T, Woo JT, et al. Immunosuppressive effects of gallic acid and chebulagic acid on CTL-mediated cytotoxicity. Biol Pharm Bull 1997;20:1017-9. View abstract.
  • Jagtap AG, Karkera SG. Potential of the aqueous extract of Terminalia chebula as an anticaries agent. J Ethnopharmacol 1999;68:299-306. View abstract.
  • Kurokawa M, Nagasaka K, Hirabayashi T, et al. Efficacy of traditional herbal medicines in combination with acyclovir against herpes simplex virus type 1 infection in vitro and in vivo. Antiviral Res 1995;27:19-37. View abstract.
  • Malik N, Dhawan V, Bahl A, Kaul D. Inihbitory effects of Terminalia arjuna on platelet activation in vitro in healthy subjects and patients with coronary artery disease. Platelets. 2009;20(3):183-1190.
  • Pettit GR, Hoard MS, Doubek DL, et al. Antineoplastic agents 338. The cancer cell growth inhibitory. Constituents of Terminalia arjuna (Combretaceae). J Ethnopharmacol 1996;53:57-63. View abstract.
  • Phadke SA, Kulkarni SD. Screening of in vitro antibacterial activity of Terminalia chebula, Eclapta alba and Ocimum sanctum. Indian J Med Sci 1989;43:113-7. View abstract.
  • Ram A, Lauria P, Gupta R, et al. Hypocholesterolaemic effects of Terminalia arjuna tree bark. J Ethnopharmacol 1997;55:165-9. View abstract.
  • Sato Y, Oketani H, Singyouchi K, et al. Extraction and purification of effective antimicrobial constituents of Terminalia chebula RETS. against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Biol Pharm Bull 1997;20:401-4. View abstract.
  • Shaila HP, Udupa SL, Udupa AL. Hypolipidemic activity of three indigenous drugs in experimentally induced atherosclerosis. Int J Cardiol 1998;67:119-214. View abstract.
  • Shiraki K, Yukawa T, Kurokawa M, Kageyama S. [Cytomegalovirus infection and its possible treatment with herbal medicines]. Nippon Rinsho 1998;56:156-60. View abstract.
  • Suthienkul O, Miyazaki O, Chulasiri M, et al. Retroviral reverse transcriptase inhibitory activity in Thai herbs and spices: screening with Moloney murine leukemia viral enzyme. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 1993;24:751-5. View abstract.
  • Thakur CP, Thakur B, Singh S, et al. The Ayurvedic medicines Haritaki, Amala and Bahira reduce cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. Int J Cardiol 1988;21:167-75. View abstract.
  • Yukawa TA, Kurokawa M, Sato H, et al. Prophylactic treatment of cytomegalovirus infection with traditional herbs. Antiviral Res 1996;32:63-70. View abstract.

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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is provided by Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version. © Therapeutic Research Faculty 2009.