Jamun is a very important Ayurveda herb. Jamun seeds are mainly used in Ayurveda treatment. Among other things, it is especially beneficial in controlling blood sugar levels in diabetics. India was previously called as Jambudveepa – an island where Jambu trees are abundant. Its botanical name is Syzygium cumini or Eugenia jambolana or Myrtus cumini. It belongs to Myrtaceae. It is also known as Jamoon and Jambul.
Table of Contents
Vernacular names, Sanskrit synonyms
Hindi name: Jamun, Jambul
English name: Jamun, Jamoon
Bengali name: Kala Jam
Punjabi name: Jamalu
Telugu name: Neredu Chettu
Tamil name: Saval naval
Malayalam name: Naval
Kannada name: Nerale
Sanskrit synonyms:
Mahaphala – Its fruit is relatively big
phalendra – Fruit is regarded as one of the best
Kokileshta
Pikabhaksha
Surabhipatra – Leaves have aroma
Jambava
Mahaskandha – Plant has very big and strong trunk
Classical categorization
Charaka Samhita
Mutrasangrahaniya – Group of herbs that cause urine retention
Pureeshavirajaneeya – Group of herbs that are used to restore normal colour of feces
Chardinigrahana – Group of herbs that are used to treat vomiting
Sushruta and Vagbhata – Nyagrodhadi group of herbs.
Varieties
Bh.P. Ni – Raja jambu, Ksudra jambu
Ra. Ni – Jambu, Mahajambu, Kaka jambu, Bhumi jambu
Morphology
An evergreen tree
Root – Tap root, branches
Stem – Erect, woody, branched, thick, solid, cylindrical with grey bark
Leaf – Simple, opposite, stalked, 10- 14 cm long, petiolate, exstipulate with reticulate venation, gland dotted
Flower – White, small, crowded, on inflorescence, inferior ovary
Fruit – Berry, succulent, globose, dark purple
Seed- Single, endospermic
Phytoconstituents
quercitin, beta sitosterol, gallo tannin, eugenin
Seeds contain gallic acid, oxalic acid, citric acid
Medicinal qualities
Rasa (Taste) – Kashaya (astringent), Madhura (sweet), Amla (sour)
Guna (qualities) – Laghu (light to digest), Rooksha (dry)
Vipaka (taste conversion after digestion) – Katu (pungent)
Veerya (potency) – Sheeta (cold)
Effect on Tridosha – It increases Vata but balances Kapha and Pitta.
Jamun uses
Grahi – absorbent, useful in malabsorption syndrome and diarrhea
Vatakara – increases Vata
Shramahara – relieves tiredness
Pittahara, Dahahara – balances Pitta and its symptoms like burning sensation.
Kantarti hara – relieves throat pain
Useful in
Shosha – Emaciation
Krimi – worm infestation, infection
Shwasa – Asthma, COPD, wheezing, breathing difficulty
Atisara – diarrhea, dysentery
Kasa – cough, cold
Vishtambhini – causes constipation, useful in diarrhea and dysentery
Rochana – improves taste, useful in anorexia
Pachani – Improves digestion.
कषायमधुरप्रायं गुरु विष्टम्भि शीतलम्|
जाम्बवं कफपित्तघ्नं ग्राहि वातकरं परम्||१४०||
kaṣāyamadhuraprāyaṃ guru viṣṭambhi śītalam|
jāmbavaṃ kaphapittaghnaṃ grāhi vātakaraṃ param||140|| – Charaka Sutrasthana 27
Madhura – sweet
Kashaya – slightly astringent,
Guru – heavy
Vishtambhi – producer of wind in abdomen, causes bloating
Sheetala – coolant
Balances Kapha and Pitta,
Grahi – absorbent, bowel binding
Vatakara – aggravates Vata.
It is useful in the treatment of overactive bladder.
Pharmacological activities
Anti diarrhoeal
Anti diabetic
Anti inflammatory
Anti viral
Anti pyretic
Qualities as per Bhojana Kutuhalam
According to Bhojana Kutuhalam, Jamun is astringent and sweet in taste, it helps in treating fatigue, vitiation of pitta, burning sensation, throat pain and cures worm infestation, dyspnoea, diarrhoea, cough etc. It causes constipation, improves taste perception and promotes digestion.
Part used, dose
Part used: Fruit, seed, leaf, stem bark.
Dose:
Fresh juice – 10 – 20 ml
Powder – 3- 6 grams in divided doses per day.
Overall, you need to remember these two main usage of jamun –
1. Diabetes.
2. Astringent and styptic, hence used in quick wound healing, in diarrhea, menorrhagia etc where the bleeding or extra flow needs to be stopped.
Interaction with medicines, supplements
Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.
Can
this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets,
Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most
of the dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product
per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.
With western
medicines
Seek your
doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western
(allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern
medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is
best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the
Ayurvedic medicine.
Ayurvedic medicines
Ayurvedic medicines with Jambu as ingredient:
Puhsyanuga Churna– A powerful herbal powder, used in menstrual disorders.
Musli Khadiradi Kashayam – Another useful medicine for gynecological disorders.
Ushirasav– Used in bleeding disorders, UTI etc.
Sir can many Jamun fruits be eaten in a day, or is large consumption not advised according to ayurveda?? i just checked my copy of sushruta samhita and the best fruits listed in it were Amalaki, Kharjura, pomegranate, Grapes, besides lesser known fruits
like Parushaka, rajadana and matulunga. Can other popular fruits like musambi, orange, jujube, jamun, lemon, kokum,etc also be considered among the best?? Also why ‘best fruits’ like parushaka, rajadana and matulunga are unknown to indians now??
Also I’m having doubts with respect to badari fruit or jujube. There are 2 fruit trees listed in wikipedia. Ziziphus mauritiana and Ziziphus zizyphus. Are they referred to as kola and badari in sanskrit?? Could you write articles on these 2 trees with names in sanskrit and local languages and ayurvedic properties??
Big thanks.
Hi, Better to go with something like Triphala Churna – one teaspoon at night, after food with lukewarm water. Avoid this remedy during pregnancy.
Or consult your Ayurveda doctor personally.
Great.Full details easy to use.
How a recurrent UTI patient take jamun fruit ….at night, before sleep ?
Does jamun guthli powder help in early diabetes
plz advise sir consuming jamun seed powder for sugar control does adversely affect people having their english medicines for diabetes.
Please do consult an ayurvedic physician before taking any medicine related to Diabetes.
Does jamun powder heals spleen…
really helpful…..good effort
Here are some benefits of Jamun seeds:
• Jamun dry seeds powder contains jamboline, a type of glucose, which helps to control the conversion of starch into sugar.
• Jamun seeds are used as an effective agent to treat acne
• Helps in getting rid of blemishes and light scars.
• Is an excellent home remedy to relieve fatigue and strain.
• Seed powder is used as a cure for digestive disorders
Sir, can an asthma patient with diabetes take Jamun powder?
Sir, can epilepsy patients have jamun fruit juice daily? any positive or negative effect?
An epileptic patient can take Jamun fruit juice but I have not found it to be particularly good for treating epilepsy.
Can we eat raw jamun seeds while eating the fruit? Please suggest.
Great article! Very informative. Could you tell me if jamun is the best for bleeding hemorrhoids?
dear sir iam only eat jammu powder for diebetis type 2 pls advise me is this posible for controling my sugar leble or not ?
You can use Jammu seed juice in place of powder. But powder is more effective.
Jamun vinegar should be taken befor food or after food for indigestion problems soes it have any side effects
After food. No side effects. Usually well tolerated.
I get cold whenever I eat jamun fruit. Is there any way I can avoid this condition. Please suggest
Please have it with a piece of ginger.
I started consuming one tsp jamun powder in water since last two days .
I feel awfully nauseatic and feel warm inside my body.
I am diabetic since last 30 yrs but under control and am on allopathic medicine but no insulin . I am also hyper acidic .
Pls Adv if the jamun powder hs such Side effecrs . Thanks
Hi, some people may not tolerate it and it can produce the said symptoms.
Thank you Dr. is there any other natural alternative or combination with jamun powder to avoid the side efffects I hv .
Hi, it might be due to infested powder of jamun seeds. It is not due to jamun seed itself.
Sir I m have bleeding gums problem and I also lose my teeth enamel how to cure it
Can you lose weight with jamun powder? How to take?
I am a diabetic patient for the past 3 years. I have 30 ml of Jamun juice on an empty stomach every morning. Should this be consumed on an empty stomach? is consuming in the seed form better? After consuming the juice should I wait for , say 15 minutes, before I take anything else
I have chewed and swalled a seed of jamun as a dare given by my friends. From then on I am experiencing problems like warm body , nausea and dysentry. Has this problem occurred due to chewing of jamun seeds? If it has please give a remedy to this problem. And does it heal overtime without taking any?
jamun powder can be had only if we are diabetics or we can have it as a precautionary measure to avoid diabetics
No need to take it as a precautionary measure. Healthy lifestyle, exercise are good enough.
Does Jamun seed powder contain sand like particles? I recently purchased Jamun seed powder from an online seller which had fine sandlike particles that shine under light. One can also feel the sand like particles when consuming the powder with water.