Emblica officinalis (amla) is a medium-sized deciduous tree of the Euphorbiaceae family. It is commonly known as amalaka and adiphala in Sanskrit, amla in Hindi, Indian gooseberry in English, amala in Nepali, haliilaj or ihliilaj in Arabic, ma kham pom in Thai and anmole in Chinese. The plant has aperient, antidiarrhoeal, antispasmodic, antioxidative, aphrodisiac, astringent, carminative, diuretic, expectorant and laxative properties.
Herbal Remedies with Amla (Indian gooseberry)
Amla acts as an antioxidant due to its high vitamin C (ascorbic acid) content. It is also rich in tannins and other polyphenols, such as ellagic acid, gallic acid, flavonoides and kaempferol. Experimental preparation of the amla extract has shown potential efficacy against laboratory models of disease, such as for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. The plant has also undergone preliminary research studies, exhibiting in vitro antimicrobial properties. Amla has been used to treat various health-related problems dating back centuries. Learn more about the herbal remedies with amla in treating and preventing some of the common diseases of the modern lifestyle.
- For indigestion and constipation: Prepare herbal formulation of amla (2 tbsp) with Isubgol (Plantago ovate) husk (2 tbsp), harra (Terminalia chebula) fruits (1 1/2 tbsp), kalinga (Holarrhena pubescens) bark (1 tbsp) and Swarnamukhi (Cassia senna) leaves (2 tbsp). Administer a tablespoon to the patient before going to bed.
- For acidity: Powder dry amla fruits, and add a pinch of asafetida (Ferula Asafoetida) and rock salt to it. Take a teaspoon of the mixture with lukewarm water after meals.
- For dysentery: A teaspoon of dried amla fruit powder taken with equal proportions of harra (Terminalia chebula) powder is said to be effective against dysentery.
- For fever: Boil 6g each of powdered amla, chitrak (Plumbago zeylanica) and ghost tree (Ficus religiosa) fruit in 50ml water for about 30 minutes. Filter and administer the extract to the patient thrice a day.
- For bronchial asthma: Prepare a mixture of powdered amla (1 tbsp), mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra) roots (4 tbsp), guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) stems (2 tbsp), ginger (Zingiber officinale) roots (1/2 tbsp), harra (Terminalia chebula) fruits (1tbsp), nagarmotha (Cyperus rotundus) roots (1tbsp) and chirchira (Achyranthes aspera) leaves (1/2 tbsp). A teaspoonful of the formulation should be taken after meals with water.
- For insomnia: To treat insomnia, drink a cup of amla juice with coarse nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) powder daily.
- For immunity: Shade dry and powder amla fruits. Store the prepared powder in an air-tight container. Drinking a teaspoonful of the amla powder with water every day helps improve immunity.
- For arthritis: Prepare a herbal mixture of amla fruit powder (1 tbsp), pipli (Piper longum) fruits (1 tbsp), kantakari (Solanum virginianum) whole plant (1 tbsp), ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) roots (1 tbsp), harra (Terminalia chebula) fruits (1 tbsp), bahera (Terminalia bellirica) fruits (1 tbsp), kachur (Curcuma zedoaria) roots (1 tbsp) and eranda (Ricinus communis) roots (1 tbsp). Take a teaspoon of the preparation with lukewarm water before meals.
- For diabetes: Mix a tablespoon of amla fruit juice in a cup of fresh bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) juice. Have it daily for two months to control diabetes.
- For weight loss: Prepare a mixture of powdered amla (1 tbsp), gokshura (Tribulus terrestris) fruits (2 tbsp), harra (Terminalia chebula) fruits (2 tbsp) and ginger (Zingiber officinale) roots (1 tbsp). A tablespoon of the mixture can be taken with warm water after meals.
- For conjunctivitis: In this condition, drink a cup of amla juice with honey twice daily.
- For throat infection: Mix powdered amla (1 tbsp) with mulethi (Glycyrrhiza glabra) roots (3 tbsp), pipli (Piper longum) fruits (1 tbsp), harra (Terminalia chebula) fruits (1 tbsp), kungyi (Sida cordifolia) roots (1 tbsp) and bahera (Terminalia bellirica) fruits (1 tbsp). One teaspoonful of the formulation can be administered twice a day with water.
- For scurvy: Mix half a teaspoon of amla powder with equal quantity of sugar. Take it with milk three times a day.
- For skin disorders: Mix powdered amla fruits (1 tbsp) with neem (Azadirachta indica) bark (1tbsp) and a pinch of turmeric (Curcuma longa). Apply a paste of this herbal preparation over the affected skin.
- For healthy hair: Soak two tablespoons each of powdered amla and reetha (Sapindus emarginatus) fruits overnight. Next morning, use it for hair wash. This formulation is also known to strengthen the hair roots and make hair healthy.
For further reading, see Garima Sancheti, Outsmart diabetes with herbal remedies, suite101.com, 27 November 2010.
Sources
- Sancheti G, Jindal A, Kumari, R, Goyal PK, Chemopreventive action of Emblica officinalis on skin carcinogenesis in mice. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 6(2):197-201. April-June 2005
- Saeed S, Tariq P, Antibacterial activities of Emblica officinalis and Coriandrum sativum against Gram negative urinary pathogens. Pak J Pharm Sci 20 (1): 32–5. Jan 2007.
- Habib-ur-Rehman, Yasin KA, Choudhary MA, et al. Studies on the chemical constituents of Phyllanthus emblica. Nat. Prod. Res.21 (9): 775–81. Jul 2007.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Garima Sancheti - Dr Garima Sancheti is a PhD in Radiation and Cancer Biology from Rajasthan University, India. She has written various research articles in ...
