Safed Musli

HABITAT

The herb grows naturally in the central zones of India, as the temperature and climatic conditions prevailing there are suitable for its growth. Sandy loam soil, with suitable drainage system, is perfect for the growth of Safed Musli.

INTRODUCTION

Safed Musli or White Musli is a wildly grown white-coloured herb. It is often referred to as "White gold" or "Divya aushad”. The holistic science of Ayurveda knows this potent herb as ‘Safed Musli’ and also termed as “Indian Viagra” or “Herbal Viagra”, this herb has been used to treat various sexual problems and other disorders in both men and women since ancient times. This powerful herb is extensively mentioned in ancient ayurvedic scriptures of Charaka Samhita and Raj Nighantu. It is a chief ingredient in the preparation of over a hundred Ayurvedic formulations. It is also gaining increasing acceptance as a Vitalizer and health-giving tonic, a curative for pre-natal and post-natal problems, a restorative for immunity-improvement and as a remedy for diabetes and arthritis.

BENEFITS

Powerful Sex Tonic: Safed Musli might help improve sexual performance by increasing libido. It also helps enhance testosterone levels. A study states that Safed musli can also be used to prevent premature ejaculation as well as to improve the sperm count. It also enhances strength and stamina. Thus, Safed musli is used as a good aphrodisiac and a revitalizer agent.

Ayurvedic View: Safed Musli acts as Vajikarana (aphrodisiac) and Rasayana (rejuvenating) which makes it effective to improve sexual performance.

Improves Erectile Dysfunction (Impotency): Safed Musli has spermatogenic property and helps in improving the sperm quality as well as the sperm count. It also improves the testosterone levels which further enhances blood circulation to the genitals for lengthier erections. Thus, it might be effective in male infertility and other sexual disorders like erectile dysfunction.

Ayurvedic View: Safed Musli acts as Vajikarana (aphrodisiac) and might lower the risk of impotence and sexual disorders. Safed Musli also improves the quality of sperms and quantity of semen due to its Guru and Sita virya property.

Helps with Arthritis: Saponins present in Safed Musli have anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activities. It inhibits the inflammatory mediators like histamine and prostaglandins that are responsible for pain and inflammation in arthritic patients.

Ayurvedic View: According to Ayurveda, bones and joints are considered a site of Vata in the body. Pain in the joints is mainly due to an imbalanced Vata. Safed Musli helps to reduce joint pain due to its Vata balancing property.

Helps in Managing Diabetes: Safed Musli might help manage diabetes by lowering blood glucose levels. It also has antioxidant property which prevents damage to the pancreas. This helps improve the insulin level.

Ayurvedic View: Safed Musli has a property of Rasayana which helps to control high blood sugar level.

MECHANISM OF ACTION

The mechanism may act by elevating male testosterone levels, which has been shown to influence virility and sex drive in men. The two active saponin constituents present in musli are stigmasterol and hecogenin, out of which stigmasterol possesses aphrodisiac properties and shows activities similar to the hormone testosterone, whereas hecogenin helps in the synthesis of anabolic hormones, which allows men to build strong muscles.

CLINICAL STUDIES & REFERENCES

Thakur M., Dixit VK., Effect of Chlorophytum borivilianum root extracts on androgenic and sexual behavior in male rats, Indian Drugs 2006; In Press.
Rath SK, Panja AK.Clinical evaluation of root tubers of Shweta Musali (Chlorophytum borivilianum L.) and its effect on semen and testosterone.Ayu. 2013; 34(3): 273–275.
Giribabu N, Kumar KE, Rekha SS.Chlorophytum borivilianum root extract maintains near normal blood glucose, insulin and lipid profile levels and prevents oxidative stress in the pancreas of streptozotocin-induced adult male diabetic rats.Int J Med Sci. 2014; 11(11): 1172–1184.
Kenjale R, Shah R, Sathaye S.Effects of Chlorophytum borivilianum on sexual behaviour and sperm count in male rats.Phytother Res. 2008 Jun;22(6):796-801.
Das S, Singhal S, Kumar N.Standardised extract of Safed musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) increases aphrodisiac potential besides being safe in male Wistar rats.Andrologia. 2016 Dec;48(10):1236-1243.