Good Gain

Anjeer (Ficus Carica)
Fig is known to be one of the first plants cultivated and oldest known fruit tree by humans. Ficus carica have been indicated in the traditional systems of medicine such as unani, siddha, ayurveda and Chinese medicine for its therapeutic efficacies. Ficus carica is a remarkable and ancient source of food and medicine. Dried fig has the best nutrient score as it is an important source of vitamins and minerals among all dried fruits. Fig is rich in iron, proteins, calories and highest fibre content. It is the richest source of calcium higher than milk. Fig has nutritive index of 11 as against 6,8 & 9 for date, raisin and apple. Ficus carica is a rich source of naturally occurring antioxidant like phenolic compounds, flavanoids, phytosterols, sterols, anthocyanins and volatile compounds. Phenolic compounds and flavanoids play a vital role in preventing the health disorder which is related to oxidative stress including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases & cancer. F. carica fruit is used to treat constipation, work as laxative, purgative, antipyretic & aphrodisiac. Fig is useful in piles, gout, in liver and spleen disorders. (TANG, 2020, vol.10, issue 1)

Gokhru (Tribulus Terrestris)
Gokhru has been used for generations to energize, vitalize & improve sexual function & physical performance in men. It has been certified for its pharmaceutical activities for improving sexual function, cardiac protection and providing anti-urolithic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antioxidants effects. In ayurveda, it is used in the treatment of infertility, impotence, erectile dysfunction & low libido. Modern investigations showed that the chemical constituents steroidal saponins & flavonoids with the prominent anti-inflammatory and antiaging activities of TT were the main contributors to the traditional pharmacological activities. (Chemistry Central Journal, 2017)

T. terrestris has long been used as a tonic & aphrodisiac in Unani system of medicine. It is a very potent diuretic & tonic drug. T. terrestris shows aphrodisiac, diuretic, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, demulcent, nervine tonic, alterative, astringent, analgesic activities. A significant benefit of tribulus is the stimulation of hormone production to a balanced level, without over stimulating the secretion of hormones. It is also a testosterone enhancer. (Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, vol.5(16), 2011)

Khajoor (Phoenix Dactylifera)
P. dactyilfera is also known as date palm cultivated for its edible sweet fruits. Date fruits are a good source of low cost food and are an integral part of Arabian diet. As per ayurveda, it has sweet & astringent taste, heavy and viscous properties, cool potency and sweet post digestive effects. It is balya (tonic), hrdya (cardiac tonic) & vatahara (pacifies vata dosha). Date fruit is sweet, cooling, tonic, fattening, aphrodisiac, useful in thirst, asthma, fatigue, tuberculosis, loss of consciousness and useful in vata disease. Khajur contains easily digestible sugar mainly glucose, fructose, sucrose, dietary fiber & contain less amount of protein & fats. They also contain vitamins like riboflavin, thiamine, biotin, folic and ascorbic acid that are an essential for the body. The pulps are rich in iron, calcium, cobalt, copper, fluorine, magnesium, manganese, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, copper, sulfur, boron, selenium & zinc. Khajoor possess antifungal, antioxidant, gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antihyperlipidemic, immunostimulatory, gonadotropic activity. Administration of the extracts of date produced significant increase in weight gain. (Int. J. Res. Ayurveda Pharm. 4(3), May-Jun 2013)

Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera)
Ashwagandha is considered as an excellent rejuvenator, a general health tonic & a cure for a number of health complaints. It is used for increasing energy, endurance and acts as an adaptogen that exerts a strong immunostimulatory and an anti-stress agent. Ashwagandha stimulates the immune system, combats inflammation, increases memory & helps maintain general health & wellness. Ashwagandha is effective for insomnia but does not act as a sedative. Its rejuvenative & nervine properties produce energy which in turn helps body to settle & sleep. It rejuvenates the nervous system, erases insomnia and eases stress. Ashwagandha enhances “ojas” which is responsible for a healthy immune system, physical strength, lustrous complexion, clarity of mind & sense of well being. Ashwagandha may also help boost metabolism & eliminate irregularities in digestion. Ashwagandha being rich in iron can help build red blood cells & improve blood circulation. Ashwagandha helps to improve the conditions like senile debility, general debility, nervous exhaustion, brain fog, loss of memory, loss of muscular energy and spermatorrhoea. It also replenishes the lowered energy of body due to over work, mental exertion thus preventing early aging. Ashwagandha is approved as a greatest rejuvenative herb in Indian herbal system. (The Pharma Journal, vol. 1, No. 9, 2012)

Shatavari (Asparagus Racemosus)
Asparagus racemosus is an important medicinal plant having traditional importance as it is used in the indigenous system of medicines like Ayurveda, Sidha, and Unani. The plant has numerous therapeutic application viz. antioxidant, diuretic, antidepressant, antiepileptic, antitussive, anti-HIV, immunostimulant, hepatoprotective, cardio-protective, antibacterial, antiulcerative, neurodegenerative. A. racemosus is an important medicinal plant which is regarded as a ‘rasayana’ which means plant drugs promoting general well-being by increasing cellular vitality and resistance. Use of A. racemosus is mentioned in the ancient literature of Ayurveda (Charaka samhita). Traditionally, A. racemosus is indicated in epilepsy, vata disorders, brain tonic, helps in regulating cardiac disorders and hypertension. It is extensively used in male genital dysfunctions, oligospermia, spermatogenic irregularities and other male disorders such as painful micturition. It is also explored in Ayurvedic formulations for digestive discomfort, indigestion, amoebiasis, piles and debility. In females it is prescribed by the doctors in habitual abortions, weakness of the uterus, excessive bleeding during menstruation. Crude extract and purified aqueous fraction of A.racemosus have been demonstrated for its antioxidant effect. (IJPSR, 2014, vol. 5(3))

Ash Gourd (Benincasa Hispida)
Ash gourd is one of the best vegetable as well as a medicine. It is packed with phytonutrients and medicinal values. It is used for weight gain therapy. It is sweet in taste, have light and unctuous qualities & is cold in potency. It balances vata & pitta. It is useful in diabetes, urinary tract disorders, urinary calculi, relieves thirst, useful in bleeding disorders. It nourishes the worn out body parts, helps to improve body mass and helps to gain weight. It acts as an aphrodisiac & improves strength and immunity. Ash gourd also improves intelligence, calms the mind & improves sleep. It has nourishing and strengthening action, indicated in weak, lean patients to improve body strength. (www.easyayurveda.com)

Ayurveda practitioners recommend including ash gourd fruit regularly in food for promoting weight gain, promoting strength and for its nourishing property. In traditional practice the mature fruit is administered among malnourished children to help gain weight and establish health. The fruit is cut into pieces and boiled, after draining off the water, the pulp is mixed with ghee and jaggery and administered. A clinical trial successfully proves the efficacy of ash gourd for weight gain in malnourished children. (Int. J. Ayur. Pharma Research, 2021; 9(12) : 41-45)

Mulethi (Glycyrrhiza Glabra)
Glycyrrhiza glabra, is a commonly used herb in Ayurvedic medicine. Studies indicate that Glycyrrhiza glabra possesses antibacterial, antioxidant, antimalarial, antispasmodic, antiinflammatory and anti-hyper glycemic properties. Glycyrrhiza glabra is one of the most widely used herb from the ancient medical history of Ayurveda, both as a medicine and also as a flavoring herb. This plant species are reported in the literature for its biological activities such as anti-inflammatory and expectorant, controls coughing and has hormonal effects. It detoxifies and protects the liver. It is used as an energy tonic, particularly for the spleen and stomach, and the root is added to many formulae. Roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra being tonic, demulcent laxative emollient are used in genito-urinary diseases. Charaka prescribed 10 g madhuka powder mixed with honey, followed by intake of milk, as an aphrodisiac and as an intellect promoting tonic. (IJPSR, 2013, VOL. 4)

Mulethi is one of the most commonly used ayurvedic herbs. It is sweet in taste, has heavy and unctuous properties and has cold potency. Being heavy & unctuous and possessing sweet taste and post digestive effect, mulethi pacifies vata dosha. Due to its sweet taste and post digestive effect & also its cold potency, mulethi pacifies aggravated pitta. Mulethi promotes longevity, provides good strength & immunity, enhances color & complexion, acts as aphrodisiac, provides energy & is helpful in relieving wasting disorders and degenerative diseases. (www.easyayurveda.com)

Trikatu
“Tri” means three, “Katu” means pungent taste. Trikatu is a combination of Pippali (Piper longum Linn.), Maricha (Piper nigrum Linn.), Shunti (Zingiber officinale) in equal proportion. It is widely used in ayurveda and household preparation. Trikatu is one of the mostly used drug in ayurvedic formulation for the purpose of treating many disease conditions. It is having miraculous benefits in curing kapha and medo dhatu vitiated disease, prameha (urinary problems), kushtha (skin disease), pinasa(coryza), gulma (abdominal discomfort) and mandagni (indigestion). It has Katu rasa (pungent taste), Ushna veerya (hot potency), laghu (light), ruksha (dry), deepana(stimulating), Kapha-Vatahara property and amapachaka (digestive) effect. It is widely used for rejuvination, splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, sthaulya, gaurav and other kaphaja related disease. Trikatu has got tremendous potential to enhance the bioavailability of drugs & nutrients. It possess immunomodulatory, antiviral, expectorant, carminative, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, antiemetic and anti-inflammatory potential. It has tremendous potential to increase the bioavailability of drugs and nutrients. Trikatu churna is effective in the treatment of hypothyroidism due to its property of thermogenesis and its action as bioavailability enhancer. Ethanolic extract of trikatu possesses hepatoprotective activity. By stimulating the various enzymes in the stomach, it helps in improving digestive fire and digestion. It enhances the rate of absorption of drugs into the bloodstream and increases the availability at the site of action. Hence it is found that the bioavailability enhancing property of trikatu helps in altering the therapeutic dosages of certain drugs or routes of drug administration. Due to the preventive and therapeutic approach and multifunction of trikatu it is beneficial in many body metabolic functions. (World Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, vol. 10, issue 3, 2021)