Amalaki (Emblica officinalis / Phyllanthus emblica) or Indian gooseberry (Emblic Myrobalan) is a divine plant even as the Indian mythology or history is considered. Ayurveda – the oldest system of medicine on Earth has been using Amalaki since ages for its unparalleled medicinal, healing and rejuvenative properties.
Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) and Amalaki are regarded as the best Rasayana’s (Rejuvenation medicines).
रक्तपित्तप्रमेहघ्नं परं वृष्यं रसायनम्॥
हन्ति वातं तदम्लत्वात्पित्तं माधुर्यशैत्यतः।
कफं रूक्षकषायत्वात्फलं धात्र्यास्त्रिदोषजित्॥ {भा.प्र.नि}
According to Ayurveda, any process of disease sets in due to the contamination of one or more of the 3 Doshas i.e. Vata, Pitta or Kapha and their subsequent attack on the tissues. Amalaki has a unique property of controlling and balancing all the Doshas and thus balancing the dynamics of Body-mind health.
Pic1: Amalaki fruit and plant
Action of Amalaki on Tri-Doshas:
According to Bhavaprakasha Nigantu –
- Amalaki balances (mitigates) the vitiated Vata due to its Amla Rasa (Sour Taste)
- Amalaki counteracts Pitta due to its Madhura (Sweet taste) and Sheeta (Cold) nature which are antagonistic to Pitta
- Amalaki also controls the vitiated Kapha by the virtue of its Ruksha (Dryness) and Kashaya (Astringent taste) nature which are antagonistic to Kapha
Health Benefits of Amalaki:
Amalaki is the best:
- Rasayana – Rejuvenator
- Vrishya – Aphrodisiac
Amalaki is said to effectively ward off:
- Raktapitta – Bleeding disorders
- Prameha – Diabetes Mellitus and Urinary Disorders
Acharya Charaka tells that Amalaki has almost all the properties of Haritaki with the exception of Veerya (potency) – Haritaki is Ushna veerya (Hot potency) and Amalaki is Sheeta Veerya (Cold potency). Thus let us consider the benefits of Haritaki in this context as said by Charaka (Cha.Chi.Sth.1/1-25-36) since they also belong to Amalaki
Properties, Qualities and Medicinal uses of Amalaki according to Charaka:
हरीतकीं पञ्चरसामुष्णामलवणां शिवम्।
दोषानुलोमनीं लघ्वीं विध्याद्दीपनपाचनीम्॥
आयुष्यां पौष्टकीं धन्यां वयसः स्थापनीं परम्।
सर्वरोगप्रशमनीं बुद्धीन्द्रियबलप्रदाम्॥
कुष्ठं गुल्ममुदावर्तं शोषं पाण्ड्वामयं गदम्।
अर्शांसि ग्रहणीदोषं पुराणं विषमज्वरम्॥
हृद्रोगं सशिरोरोगमतीसारमरोचकम्।
कासं प्रमेहमानाहं प्लीहानमुदरं नवम्॥
कफप्रसेकं वैस्वर्यं वैवर्ण्यं कामलां क्रिमीन्।
श्वयथुं तमकं छर्दिं क्लैब्यमङ्गावसादनम्॥
स्रोतोविबन्धान् विविधान् प्रलेपं हृदयोरसोः।
स्मृतिबुद्धिप्रमोहं च जयेच्छीघ्रं हरीतकि॥
तान् गुणांस्तानि कर्माणि विध्यादामलकीष्वपि।
यान्युक्तानि हरीतक्या वीर्यस्य तु विपर्ययः॥ {च.चि.स्था.१/१-२५-३४, ३६}
Properties of Amalaki:
- Pancharasa – Amalaki has 5 tastes among the 6 explained in Ayurveda. They are: Sweet (Madhura), Sour (Amla), Hot (Katu), Bitter (Tikta) and Astringent (Kashaya)
- Sheeta Guna – Cold in nature
- Laghu Guna – Light
- Vipaka (Post DIgestion Effect) – Madhura (Sweet)
Special qualities of Amalaki
- Shivam – Auspicious and good in all aspects
- Doshanulomanam – Propels Doshas in downward direction for elimination
- Deepanam-Pachanam – Good in kindling the metabolic fire (appetizer), aids digestion and metabolism, Digests ama (metabolic wastes) and prepares tehm for elimination
- Aayushyam – Good for life, enhances the life quality of each and every cell
- Poushtikam – Nutritive
- Dhanya – The person taking Amalaki regularly lives a disease free life devoid of any fear and thus is blessed
- Vaya Sthapana – Enhances and establishes the life span of an individual (and of every individual cell also)
- Sarvaroga prashamaneem – Alleviates many diseases
- Buddhi-indriya-balapradam – Strengthens brain, intellect and senses
Medicinal uses of Amalaki
Amalaki when taken individually or in combination with other beneficial and compatible compounds is said to alleviate the below said diseases effectively:
Pic2: Amalaki fruits
- Kushta – Skin ailments
- Gulma – Abdominal tumors
- Udaavartam – Retrograde movement of Doshas and body components
- Shosham – Depletion of tissues, Consumption
- Pandu – Anaemia, Effects of blood loss
- Arsha – Piles / Haemorrhoids
- Grahani dosha – Metabolic errors of small intestine, Sprue, Irritable bowel, Malabsorption
- Purana Jwaram – Chronic fevers
- Vishama Jwaram – Inconsistent fevers of chronic nature
- Hridroga – Heart disorders
- Shiro Roga – Diseases pertaining to head
- Atisaram – Diarrhoea
- Arochakam – Anorexia
- Kasa – Coughs
- Prameha – Diabetes, Urinary disorders
- Aanaaha – Flatulence, Bloating
- Pleeha – Spleno-Hepatomegaly
- Udaram – Abdominal disorders of recent onset
- Kaphaprasekam – Excessive salivation, Water-brash
- Vaisvaryam – Disorders of voice
- Vaivarnyam – Discolouration of body due to various diseases and causes
- Kaamalam – Jaundice and other liver related diseases
- Krimi – Worm infestations
- Shvayathu – Swelling and inflammation
- Tamakam – Dyspnoea, Breathing disorders, Asthma
- Chardi – Vomiting
- Klaibyam – Impotency, Sexual disorders
- Angaavasaadanam – Fatigue syndrome
- Vividha srotovibandhaan – Removes many blocks in the cells and channels of the body
- Hridaya-urasaha-pralepam – Heavyness and a constricted feeling in the chest and region of heart
- Smriti pramoha – Diseases affecting the memory process
- Buddhi pramoha – Diseases affecting the intellect
Isn’t the list enough to tell us that this small fruit comes in with a whole “package of goodness”?
Amalaki is not only used in curing many diseases but is more often used in the prevention of diseases.
Amalaki can be individually administered as a single entity or as a part of a compound. Ayurveda makes adequate use of Amalaki in various preparations especially Rasayana’s (Rejuvenators) and Vajikarana’s (Aphrodisiacs), It is used in wet (juice) and also in dry (powder) form.
Amalaki is the riches source of Vitamin-C and is a powerful anti-oxidant and anti-ageing agent.
Medical research has established the anti-viral, anti-microbial and anti-arthritic properties of Indian Gooseberry
Amalaki is a simple explanation of a bumper offer where it is quoted “Take 1 get 2 free”…wrong….here we change the quote of the offer and write as “Take1 Get 99 free”…..Wanna miss this one!!!!!!!!!!!
‘Prevention is better than Cure’ is an old saying and it holds good even as we go ahead in civilization and become more and more scientific….
Pictures:
Pic1: Courtesy: www.frlht.org
Pic2: Courtesy: www.cuidavida.com
Dr Raghuram Y.S.
MD(Ay), Ayurvedic Rheumatology
Consultant Ayurvedic Physician
Speciality: Joint and Spine care
Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Ph: +91-9480071422
Email: drraghuramys@gmail.com
Skype: raghuramsastry1973
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