In the high altitude Himalayan region of Nepal,  yaks graze freely in large natural pastures.  The wild grasses and herbs that grow in these pastures are among the world's most sought after for their health benefits and longevity promoting qualities.  These wild grasses and medicinal herbs are what make up the yaks diet and, as a result, they are the healthiest animals of their kind in the world.  The people of Nepal have been utilizing yak milk  for centuries in many forms for its ability to keep them healthy and strong in the harsh altitudes and long winters when vegetation is scarce.


In the same way that a mother's milk will carry elements of the diet she chooses while breastfeeding, so too does the yak's milk carry attributes of the herbs listed below.  It is simply another reason that Churpi Durka®  is one of the healthiest foods you can give your pet - in a chew he already loves.




One of the herbs in particular (Bergenia Ciliata - see below) is very useful for contributing to healthy gums and teeth, due to its' marked anti-inflammatory properties.



Ashwaghanda 










Ashwaghanda, also known as Indian Ginseng, has a wide range of health benefits, including its ability to fight against cancer and diabetes, as well as reduce inflammation, arthritis, asthma, hypertension, stress, and rheumatism. Furthermore, it boosts your supply of antioxidants and regulates the immune system. It also has antibacterial and anticonvulsant properties.

Ashwagandha has had a great significance in Oriental medical schools, especially in the ancient Indian system of medicine, Ayurveda, for many centuries. It had also been used by Native Americans and Africans in effort to keep away several types of infections.[1]

Ashwagandha is also believed to possess anti-stress properties. Traditionally, it had been administered to induce a soothing and calming effect on people and animals. The active ingredient that is responsible for this activity is still unknown, but various anti-stress properties have been observed in research experiments. The results of these studies show that Ashwagandha leads to significant reduction in levels of stress in animals put under extreme temperature and oxygen and restraint conditions.[2]

A list of Ashwaghanda’s main documented health benefits are listed in the chart below. [1]















 



Yarsa Gumba

(Cordyceps Sinensis)










Cordyceps sinensis has been described as a medicine in old Chinese medical books and Tibetan medicine. It is a rare combination of a caterpillar and a fungus and found at altitudes above 4500m in the Himalayan regions. Traditional healers and local people of these regions recommend the mushroom, also known as Yarsa gumba or Keera jhar, for all diseases either as a single drug or combined with other herbs.  It is the most highly sought after medicinal product in Nepal and neighbouring regions. 

Yarsa Gumba is recommend for “all illnesses” as a tonic, because it improves energy, appetite, stamina, libido, endurance, and sleeping patterns.  It has a strong reputation of being a longevity-promoting herb.[3] Animals that graze the Himalayan regions and consume Yarsa Gumba, as well as the other herbs and aromatics listed here, are among the healthiest and longest-living species of their kind in the world. 

Shilajit










Shilajit is a blackish-brown powder or an exudate from high mountain rocks, especially in the Himalayans mountains between India and Nepal, although it has been found in neighbouring regions.  It is a substance created by a mixture of fulvic and humic acids.    Yaks grazing in the high altitude regions of Nepal actually lick the Shilajit from the ground or rocks, as part of their diet in contributing to their energy and mineral needs.


As created by nature, organic fulvic acids are created by soil-based micro-organisms ("SBO's") to make minerals and other nutrients assimilable by plants.[4]  The SBO's consume decayed prehistoric plant matter in humate deposits and excrete the substance known as "fulvic acid", or "fulvic acids".

Fulvic acid is an organic natural electrolyte that can balance and energize biological properties it comes into contact with [4]. An electrolyte is a substance that is soluble in water or other appropriate medium that is capable of conducting electrical current.

 Shilajit has been known and used for centuries by the Ayurvedic medicine, as a rejuvenator and as an anti-aging compound. There are two important characteristics of any compound in the ancient Indian Ayurvedic medicine: that is, to increase physical strength and to promote human health.[5]

Shilajit is an important, known component of the ayurvedic medicine given its characteristics as a rasayana. Rasayana is a Sanskrit word, with the literal meaning: Path (āyana) of essence (rasa). It is a term that in early ayurvedic medicine means the science of lengthening lifespan. In this context, health benefits such as an increase in longevity, rejuvenating, and arresting aging roles have been attributed to the use of Shilajit.

Swertia Chirata










"Chiretta‟ , as it is locally known, is gathered from dried plants of Swertia species. Swertia chirata is primitive to moderate Himalayan regions observed in the higher altitude regions of 1200–3000 m.  

Chiretta is used in Indian medicinal practices as therapy for different kinds of disorders such as diarrhea, fever, anemia, liver function disorders and bronchial asthma. It has also been used as a remedy for ulcers, gastrointestinal diseases, skin diseases, cough, hiccup, kidney diseases, and neurological disorders. It is also commonly used as apurifier of breast milk, and as a laxative and carminative.[6]

Bergenia Ciliata










Bergenia Ciliata, a flowering plant native to particular areas of India, Nepal, and Bhutan, has shown significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-cancer activity during multiple laboratory research experiments.  In other studies performed, it was shown to have a significant anti-diabetic effect, lowering the insulin response of test subjects by 40-70%[7].

Dactylorhiza

Hatagirea









Dactylorhiza Hatagirea is native and near endemic to Indian Himalayan region.

It is widely used to cure dysentery, diarrhea, chronic fever, cough, stomachache, wounds, cuts, burns, fractures and general weakness, particularly in debilitated women after delivery and to increase regenerative fluids.[8] 





 

 References:

 [1] OrganicFacts.Net,  https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-ashwagandha-or-indian-ginseng.html

[2] Parvinder Kaur, Sheenu Mathur, Meenakshi Sharma, Manisha Tiwari, K. K. Srivastava, Ramesh Chandra, A Biologically active constituent of Withania Somnifera (Ashwagandha) with Antistress activity, Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, 2001, Vol.16(2), pp. 195

[3] Panda, A. K., & Swain, K. C. (2011). Traditional uses and medicinal potential of Cordyceps sinensis of Sikkim. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 2(1), 9–13. doi:10.4103/0975-9476.78183


[4] http://www.supremefulvic.com/documents/html/fulvic_acid.php#One_of_the_most_powerful_natural

[5] Carrasco-Gallardo, C., Guzmán, L., & Maccioni, R. B. (2012). Shilajit: A Natural Phytocomplex with Potential Procognitive Activity. International Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, 2012, 674142. doi:10.1155/2012/674142, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3296184/

[6]Sobia Tabassum, Sidra Mahmood, Javeria Hanif, Maryam Hina, Bushra Uzair  An Overview of Medicinal Importance of Swertia Chirayata, International Journal of Applied Science and Technology, Vol.2 (1), January 2012.

[7] Rajani Chauhan, Km.Ruby, Jaya Dwivedi, Bergenia Ciliata Mine of Medicinal Properties: A Review, International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Review and Research, Vol.15 (2), 20-23, July 2012.


[8] Shreekar Pant and Tsewang Rinchen, Dactylorhiza hatagirea: A high value medicinal orchid, Journal of Medicinal Plants Research, Vol. 6(19), pp. 3522-3524, 23 May, 2012