My Two Cases Using Jonesia Ashoka

Case 1: Infertility with Polycystic Ovaries

A few years back, I received a huge packet of medical reports.  It was impressive and very helpful. It was from a married, 24 years old woman from India. Based on her reports, she was overall a young healthy woman, except that she had polycystic ovarian syndrome with many “small follicular cysts in the ovaries”. She narrates her story like this:

“I am 24 years old, and married for one and a half years. I want to conceive but doctors say (according to their findings) that it is very difficult because I have polycystic ovaries. I have been under their treatment for over one year, but with no success. My periods are not regular and I don’t have them every month. In addition, I get vaginal discharge. My husband is fit. Last week, my mother in law started yelling at me that she wants a baby in the house, or I should quit from there. I am very nervous and looking for quick results, please help me.”

This letter made me sad, but I was not surprised because this is the culture. I wanted to help her, but how? I started reading Materia Medica and found several remedies for polycystic ovaries. By chance, I saw the remedy Ashoka Q. I heard a lot about this Holy Indian tree, but never tried it. I knew this woman was impatient. Tthe overall drug picture of Ashoka aligns with the general symptoms of polycystic syndrome.

I asked her to take 5 drops three times a day for at least 2 months, and then let me know. She started the medicine.

In two months, her periods were regular. I told her to continue, and she did. After 6 months she gave me a call and was extremely happy. She said she was pregnant. I told her to take care herself and that my job is over. By the grace of God, she gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy.

What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility. Those women, who manage to get pregnant with PCOS are at higher risk for miscarriage, pre-term birth and other health conditions. [1] PCOS is a set of symptoms, which are related to a hormonal imbalance in women. It usually affects women in their reproductive age. Each month, if the ovaries produce an abundance of egg follicles, but fail to release any egg, then a series of small cysts form, that often appear as a “pearl necklace”. [2] PCOS may result in menstrual cycle changes, increased facial and body hair and acne, cysts in the ovaries, and infertility. [1]

Why Ashoka?

Ashoka (Saraca Asoca or Jonesia Ashoka) is made of the bark of a sacred Indian tree. The word Ashoka means “cure of all diseases”. It is believed in some cultures, that the flowers of this tree strengthen the female reproductive system and helps  women become pregnant.

Ashoka was mentioned in Boericke’s Materia Medica by Dr. ND Ray, Calcutta. Ashoka has “extensive sphere of action on female organs.” [3] Ashoka is a specific remedy for fertility. It is an excellent remedy for all kinds of menstrual disorders. The Ashoka patient is generally loving, hasty, and depressed, with a strong desire to conceive. The patient has delayed and irregular menses. The patient has leucorrhea. Dr. Kashi Ram statged that he treated 59 patients in a year and a half for menstrual disorders, and 33 of them were cured just by taking Ashoka. [4]

My patient clearly had an imbalanced reproductive system. She had PCOS related infertility, which was the main issue.  She had irregular, delayed periods and she suffered from leucorrhea. Her physiological and mental symptoms aligned with Ashoka.

Case 2: Infertility with hydrosalpinx

After this successful case, by the grace of God, I was confident with the use of Ashoka. I took another case of a young married women of 29. She had a daughter and wanted to conceive again, but it was in vain. She was under treatment for the past two years. She did not have polycystic ovaries like the first case, but rather  hydrosalpinx (blockage of fallopian tubes, accumulated with fluid). This specific case was treated on pathology. I chose Ashoka because of its “extensive sphere of action on female organs”, since I had limited symptoms to support the case. She took Ashoka Q, and in 3 months, she was pregnant. Since then she had a baby boy.

1. PCOS. Retrieved from https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/pcos/Pages/default.aspx
2. Causes of PCOS. Retrieved from https://www.womenshealthnetwork.com/hormonalimbalance/causes-of-pcos.aspx
3. HOMŒOPATHIC MATERIA MEDICA by William BOERICKE, M.D. Retrieved from http://www.homeoint.org/books/boericmm/j/joan.htm
4. Encyclopedia of Homoeopathic Drugs by Dr. Kashi Ram, M.D. (Hom.)