Amla/Indian Gooseberry (Indian Herbs Series)

Amla

Medicinal Plant: Indian Gooseberry
Latin Name: Emblica officinalis

All parts of the plant are used in various Ayurvedic/Unani medicine

According to Ayurveda, amla fruit is sour and astringent in taste, with sweet, bitter and pungent secondary tastes.

Its qualities are light and dry, the postdigestive effect is sweet, and its energy is to cooling.

According to Ayurveda, amla balances all three doshas.  While amla is unusual in that it contains five out of the six tastes recognized by Ayurved, it is most important to recognize the effects of the "virya", or potency, and vipaka", or post-digestive effect.
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Amla is particularly helpful in reducing pitta due to its cooling energy and balances both Pitta and Vata by virtue of its sweet taste.  The Kapha is balanced primarily due to its drying action.  It may be used as a rasayana(rejuvenative) to promote longevity, and traditionally to enhance digestion, treat constipation, reduce fever, purify the blood, reduce cough, alleviate asthma, strengthen the heart, benefit the eyes.

Indian gooseberry is a common constituent, and most notably is the primary ingredient in an acient herbal rasayana called Chyawanprash.

In Chinese traditional therapy, this fruit is called 余甘子, which is used to cure throat inflammation.

Emblica officinalis tea may ameliorate diabetic neuropathy.

Amla is used in many hair tonics.  It enriches hair growth and hair pigmentation.  It strengthens roots of hair, maintains color and luster.  Eating fresh fruit or applying its paste on hair roots improves hair growth and color.  Amla oil is very popular in India as it serves as a very good hair growth booster thereby preventing hair loss.

Taking Gooseberry juice with honey is good for improving eyesight. It improves nearsightedness and cataract.  It reduces intraocular tension.

Gooseberry contains chromium.  It has a therapeutic value in diabetes.  Indian Gooseberry or Amla stimulate the isolated group of cells that secret the hormone insulin.  Thus it reduces blood sugar in diabetic patient.

Gooseberry strenghtens heart muscles.  So heart pumps blood flawless throughout the body.

Infection:  Due to its antibacterial and astringent attributes the Indian Gooseberry protects against infection.  It improves body resistance.

Due to its strong, cooling and laxative properties, Gooseberry is useful for remedies for diarrhea, and dysentery.  It is a great relief for gastic syndrome and hyperchlorhydria.

Consuming Gooseberry powder with butter and honey before meal improves appetite.  It helps in balancing Nitrogen level and thus increases weight in a healthy way.

Amla prevents health related hyperlipidaemia through attenuating oxidative stress in the aged process.

Gooseberry is a good source of vitamin C.

Scientific studies show that amla has anti-flammatory and antioxidant properties that can help maintain healthy hair.

Other studies conclude that topically applied amla has exfoliating and anti-bacterial properties and may help maintain a healthy scalp and promote hair growth.

Treat your hair with the amla powder mixture about once every two weeks.  Between treatments, try using a shampoo and conditioner containing amla.  You also can use amla oil on your hair between treatments for extra shine.

100 grams of amla contains 700mg Vitamin C.  If amla is dried in the shade then much of the vitamin C is retained.  To get the maximum out of amla it should be taken raw with very little salt.

Constipation causes infrequent stool, anal and perianal pain and abdominal discomfort.  This persistent straining during the defecation leads to bleeding piles.  Amla being rich in fibre regulates the bowel action and keeps constipation at bay.  Juice of amla taken with 250mg of giloy extract(Guduchi) provides an effective remedy for hemorroids.

If your blood cholesterol troubles you then take amla.  The vitamin C in amla helps in dilating the blood vessels and thereby lowering the blood pressure. Grind dried amla into a fine powder and mix it with sugar candy.  Store this mixture in a glass bottle and take one teaspoon of this mixture every day empty stomach.  This will help maintain the cholesterol level.

Amla has anti diabetic quality.  Make a mixture of equal quantity of amla, jamun and bitter ground powder.  Take one teaspoonful of this mixture once or twice a day.  This mixture is also useful in treating conjunctivitis and glucoma.

In case of acidity take 1 gram of dry amla powder with a little sugar in milk or water twice a day.

1 tablespoon of paste of amla leaves, mixed with honey is an effective treatment for diarrhoea.

For promoting hair growth and prevent premature graying of hair one can use amla rich oils and shampoos.  For a quick home remedy soak amla powder in water for a week.  Then use it wash hair.  This preparation is a 3 in 1 shampoo, conditioner and hair day. 

Amla helps in restoring Vitamin C level in elderly, diabetic patients, hypertensive and women using estrogen contraceptives.

Deficiency of Vitamin C makes a person lethargic, susceptible to infections, rheumatic pains and intestinal disorders.  Consuming amla removes this lethargic feeling and makes one vibrant and upbeat.

According to a research low vitamin C levels puts a person at risk of developing gallbladder disorders.  Taking amla saves one from gallbladder infections.

In children low vitamin C levels leads to disturbed growth and fragile disorders. For a person with low vitamin C level healing of wounds and fractures is a slow process.  For quick healing, one must consume amla.

Amla is also a cure for scurvy.  Dry amla powder mixed with an equal quantity of sugar taken in doses of one teaspoon twice a day with milk provides enough vitamin C to beat scurvy.

Amla also works wonder with pregnant and lactating mothers.

It also reduces the incidence of cancer of the gastrointestinal and respiratory tract.

Amla is nature's best antioxidant.  Food rich in antioxidants combat free radicals naturally and without any side effects.

Triphala is the best formulation of amla.  It is a household name in India.  As the name suggests it is a combination of 3 herbs - amla, harad and beheda.  Triphala is prepared by mixing the powder of these three herbs together.