The moment the scorching heat arrives, people in cities rush towards coolers, air conditioners and chilled water from the fridge. In the villages, however, the story is a little different. Rural communities still place their deepest trust in the old, traditional remedies handed down by their elders to fight the blazing summer. One such time-tested home remedy is especially popular in the Baghelkhand region of MP, and with the temperature climbing, it has once again become the talk of the town.
The traditional remedy in question
The remedy is Arjuna bark. Across many rural pockets of Baghelkhand, it has been used for generations to escape the wrath of the harsh summer. Locals and elders believe that nature has blessed the Arjuna tree with several special qualities. Its biggest strength is that the bark has a naturally very cooling effect on the body. That is precisely why this remedy remains as talked about in the villages today as it ever was.
How it protects against heatstroke
When the heat is at its peak, drinking a limited amount of an extract or decoction made from Arjuna bark gives the body instant relief. It cools the body from within, which in turn reduces the effect of heatstroke. In other words, this is not merely surface-level cooling but relief that reaches deep inside the body, and this is exactly why village folk continue to embrace this indigenous remedy.
Relief from blood pressure and stress
In today's fast-paced life, blood pressure and mental stress have become the biggest problem for nearly every second person. Vishnu Kumar Tiwari, an expert on medicinal trees, explained its benefits in detail. According to him, on a physical level Arjuna bark is considered highly effective in keeping blood pressure normal. It eases the tension in the nerves, which automatically brings down the stress level. Consuming it also offers considerable relief from a day's fatigue and mental restlessness.
A boon for heart health
Arjuna bark has always been regarded as extremely beneficial for heart health. It plays a key role in quickly controlling raised cholesterol levels in the body. When cholesterol stays under control, the risk of several serious heart-related problems is automatically averted. On top of that, it works to fully relax our muscles as well. Interestingly, it is not just Ayurveda but many allopathic medicines too that make wide use of Arjuna bark and Arjuna wood.
How to use it at home
Getting the full benefit is remarkably simple. First, dry the Arjuna bark thoroughly in the sun, and once dried, grind it into a fine powder. You can then either mix this powder into your everyday tea or boil the bark directly in water to prepare an excellent decoction to drink. If you cannot get the bark straight from a tree near you, there is no need to worry. It is easily available in the market as powder, bark pieces or tablets, which you can use during the summer.
