Serving size: 2 Vegi caps
Servings per container: 30
Each 500 mg capsule contains: Ashoka

Dosage: One to two Ashoka capsules could be taken twice a day, after meal, or as directed by your physician.

The glands in the cervix secrete fluid comprising of mucus and worn out cells of the vaginal lining. The fluid, known as vaginal discharge, helps to clean the vagina naturally. Small amount of vaginal discharge is necessary for supporting the health of the vagina. After ovulation, the vaginal discharge becomes thicker. It also thickens when you are sexually excited and during breastfeeding. Abnormal changes in vaginal discharge are symptoms of an underlying vaginal infection or vaginitis. Vaginitis is accompanied by increase in vaginal discharge. The vaginal fluid might become too thin or excessively thick like cottage cheese. It might contain blood. The color of the vagina discharge also changes. It might becoming gray, yellow or white. Vaginal irritation, burning, itching, fishy odor, inflammation and pain in the vulva or vagina are other common signs of vaginal infection.

Yeast overgrowth in the vaginal is a common cause of vaginal yeast infection. It occurs if the normal microbial flora in the vagina is disturbed owing to some reason. Antibiotic medications might cause microbial imbalance in the vagina by killing the beneficial microbes along with the harmful microbes. The healthy bacteria inhibit growth of disease causing fungi in the vagina. Diabetic women are vulnerable to vaginal yeast infection. Yeasts tend to thrive in vagina if the genital area remains wet for a long time. The exact causes of bacterial and yeast infections in the vagina are often unclear. In some cases, bacterial vaginosis is transmitted during sexual intercourse.

Gynecological problems in women often manifest in the form of abnormalities in the menstrual cycle. Heavy menstrual bleeding or menorrhagia causes physical discomfort and increases the risk of anemia owing to excessive blood loss. In a large number of women, the exact cause of menorrhagia is often unclear. In others, hormonal imbalance, uterine fibroids and uterine polyps are responsible for this disorder.

Pain and abdominal cramps during menstruation is another common problem. Known as primary dysmenorrheal, in medical jargon, menstrual pain is largely experienced owing to the contraction of the uterine muscles.

Abnormal vaginal discharge and menstrual disorders tend to reduce sex drive. To restore your normal desire for sex, these problems should not be ignored.

Saraca indica or Saraca asoka is a small evergreen tree native to India. It is popularly called Asoka or Ashoka, Ashok or Sita Ashok. Ashoka is considered as a sacred tree in India having religious importance.

Ashoka’s leaves are paripinnate and the leaflets are 6-12 in number, oblong and rigidly sub-coriaceous. The flowers of the herb are orange or orange-yellow in color, eventually turning vermillion, very fragrant, in dense axillary corymbs

Ashoka’s pods are flat, leathery and the seeds are 4-8 in number, ellipsoid-oblong and compressed.

In Sanskrit, Saraca indica is known as Ashoka. It is taken internally to treat gynecological disorders. In Ayurveda, Ashoka is classified as a Garbhasaya Rasayana or an herb that rejuvenates the womb.

Prevents gynecological disorders

In the traditional Indian medicine system, Ashoka is widely recommended for treating dysmenorrhea or painful periods. The herb helps to strengthen the uterus muscles. By easing uterine and vaginal contraction, it helps to reduce pain during menstrual periods. Irregularities in menstrual cycle could be reduced with the help of this herb. It is recommended in Ayurveda for reducing abnormal vaginal discharge or leucorrhea. Excess menstrual bleeding or menorrhagia could also be healed by taking Ashoka. In traditional medicine, Ashoka is recommended for pregnant women prone to miscarriages. (Satyavati GV, Prasad DN, Sen SP, Das PK. “Further studies on the uterine activity of Saraca indica Linn.” Indian J Med Res. 1970 Jul;58(7):947-60).

Prevents bacterial and fungal infections

Saraca indica or Ashoka is a potent antimicrobial herb. (Sainath RS, Prathibha J, Malathi R. “Antimicrobial properties of the stem bark of Saraca indica (Caesalpiniaceae)” Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2009 Sep-Oct;13(5):371-4). It could protect the vagina from bacterial and fungal infections.

Improves sex drive

The active components of Ashoka mimic the ‘love hormone’ oxytocin. The oxytocic effect of the herb helps to boost sex drive. (Satyavati GV, Prasad DN, Sen SP, Das PK. “Oxytocic activity of a pure phenolic glycoside (P2) from Saraca indica Linn. (Ashoka): a short communication.” Indian J Med Res. 1970 May;58(5):660-3).

Although the exact causes of vaginal infections are often unclear, the risk of infections might be reduced by following a healthy lifestyle. Cleanliness of the genital areas is necessary for preventing vaginal infections. However, using too much water or douching for cleaning the area could flush out the beneficial microbes that help to prevent overgrowth of infection causing fungi and bacteria from the region. The chemicals in the douching solution might irritate the vagina. It also increases the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease.

Do not use perfumed or colored toilet paper. Perfumed sanitary napkins and tampons might irritate the vagina and increase the risk of overgrowth of harmful microbes in the region. Do not apply sprays or deodorants around the vaginal area. By simply cleaning the genital area daily with water and a mild soap, and patting the area dry, with a soft towel, could reduce foul odor in the vagina. Hot tubs and bubble baths are harmful for the vagina. Vaginitis might develop if the bacteria in the rectum are transported to the vagina. Hence, to prevent vaginal infections, after defecation, wipe the area from front to back.

Always wear cotton undergarments. The natural fiber eases air circulation in the genital area, helping the genital tissues to breathe. On the other hand, underwear made out of silk or a synthetic fabric would restrict air circulation in the genital area. It is advisable not to wear underwear in the night. Do not wear tight underwear and pants. Always use a mild detergent for cleaning the underwear. Wash the underwear thoroughly to remove all traces of detergent. Do not use perfumed detergent for washing the undergarments. The perfume might irritate the vaginal tissues, increasing the risk of infections. You can consider using a fabric softener so that the underwear does not become too rough after washing.

The condom or birth control gel used by your partner might irritate your vagina and increase the risk of vaginal infections. Sexually active women should avoid having sex with a partner suffering from infections. Having sex without condom further increases the risk of sexually transmitted infections. If a sexually transmitted disease is responsible for your abnormal vaginal discharge, you as well as your partner should avoid sex until the disease is completely healed.

Eating probiotics with live Lactobacillus bacteria could prevent overgrowth of harmful microbes in the vagina. Yogurt is a natural source of these beneficial bacteria. It is especially advisable to take probiotics when you are on antibiotic medications.

Vaginal discharge might increase during pregnancy. To reduce the discomfort, you can use panty liners.

Diabetics should keep their blood sugar level under control to reduce the risk of recurrent vaginitis.

Excessive blood loss during menstruation increases the risk of iron-deficit anemia. It is estimated that about 10% menstruating women suffer from anemia due to menorrhagia. To reduce the risk of anemia, you should consume sufficient iron rich food daily. The exact minimum iron requirement varies from women to women depending upon the amount of iron lost during menstruation. The daily minimum average iron requirement for a healthy woman with normal menstrual bleeding is around 1.36mg. However, if you lose more than 80ml blood during periods, your daily iron requirement might rise to 2.27 to 2.84mg per day. Meat, poultry, fish, green leafy vegetables, legumes and pulses are the common sources of iron in our daily diet. To enhance absorption of iron from food, you should consume vitamin C rich foods and fermented soy foods along with the iron rich foods. Do not consume tea, coffee, red wine, cocoa, bran, peas and beans with iron rich animal products.

To prevent prolonged menstrual bleeding you can take oral contraceptives. If you are not planning conception, the birth control pills could come to your aid in regulating the menstrual cycle.

Menstrual pain is usually a harmless condition that tends to decrease with age. However, by modifying your diet, you can alleviate pain and discomfort during menstruation. Calcium helps to regulate muscle contraction. Increasing your dietary calcium intake might help to reduce menstrual pain by strengthening and easing contraction of the uterus muscles. Regular exercises would help to tone the muscles of your body. Moderate workouts for at least 30 minutes, at least five times a week, could help to reduce menstrual pain and discomfort. Discomfort during menstruation might be diminished by avoiding coffee, colas, alcohol and sugary treats before the beginning of the menstrual periods. Consuming magnesium rich foods could attenuate abdominal cramps during periods. You can consider taking a magnesium supplement for three days before the menstrual bleeding starts. Vitamin E is also effective in reducing menstrual pain.

Applying heat to the abdominal area might help to reduce menstrual pain.

It stimulates the ovarian tissue and facilitates hormone utilization.The bark of Ashoka tree has been subjected to many studies to document its benefits as a uterine tonic for menstruation- related discomforts, including PMS (The Indian Practitioner, Vol 51, April 1998, p.269).

The benefits of Ashoka are derived from classic Ayurveda 'tonics' combined with more specific herbs containing phyto-estrogens or having an action on the central nervous system as well as on the ovaries. Ashoka (Saraca indica) have been shown to increase estrogen levels and to normalize the endometrium during menstruation (The Antiseptic, Vol.95, October 1998, p.329).

The Ashoka possesses great antibacterial activity according to research in Indian J Med Res. 1985 Aug;82:188-9 for Antibacterial activity of flowers & flower buds of Saraca indica Linn. By Pal SC, Maiti AP, Chatterjee BP, Nandy A

Another study was performed to evaluate Ashoka’s favorable effects on uterus. The study showed great benefits of the herb for its uterine activity as researched in Indian J Med Res. 1970 Jul; 58(7):947-60 for Further studies on the uterine activity of Saraca indica Linn by Satyavati GV, Prasad DN, Sen SP, Das PK