While the world has evolved and also changed, the cures, recipes, and also home remedies stated in health have stood the test of time. Today, with increasing awareness about health and side effects of allopathic medicines, using kitchen herbs, spices, and condiments for treatment is becoming an increasingly attractive option. One of the many home remedies recommended for many simple day-to-day problems is Triphala churna.
Triphala is an Ayurvedic herbal formula composed from the three fruits called as amalaki, bibhitaki and haritaki. The word ‘phala’ in Sanskrit means fruit. Fruit is the essence of the tree itself and these three fruits have different healing properties in part due to its five different tastes.
What is Triphala?
As you all know that triphala is a combination of three fruits: haritaki, bibhitaki and amalaki. Haritaki is good for vata dosha, bibhitaki is good for kapha dosha and amalaki is good for pitta dosha.
Vata, pitta and kapha are the three Ayurvedic doshas or fundamental principles of Ayurvedic physiology. When these doshas are in balance, we experience good health. When they are out of balance, we experience dis-ease. Triphala is an Ayurvedic formula that benefits many imbalances of the doshas.
The three fruits of triphala contain five different types of tastes. This makes it a highly potent formula. Amalaki is the only cooling potency, useful for pitta dosha. Haritaki and bibhitaki are more warming or heating and useful for vata and also kapha dosha respectively.
The most popular ancient Ayurvedic herbal formula is Triphala. People in India and Tibet have used Triphala for thousands of years to support and strengthen digestive health. The health benefits of Triphala include its unique ability to detoxify the body and at the same time deeply nourish and strengthen the body. Here you will learn all the health benefits of Triphala.
The Health Benefits of Triphala
Amalaki
The first ingredient is highly regarded as a tonic for longevity because it has rejuvenating qualities. It’s well known to help many heated symptoms like inflammation, fever, liver weakness, gastritis, premature gray or balding…just to name a few.
Generally, Amalaki to contain high concentrations of bioflavonoids, tannins, amino acids, minerals and antioxidant vitamins. Amalaki is one of the best sources of antioxidant vitamins and is said to have 20 times as much vitamin C as orange juice (3000 mg per fruit).
It’s really beneficial for women because it nourishes and strengthens the blood, bones, liver, and heart and is also known to increase red blood cell count.
Bibhitaki
The name Bibhitaki means “the one that keeps you away from disease”. Bibhitaki is an exceptional herb for Kapha type conditions of the lungs such as bronchitis, cough and mucus type symptoms. It has the ability to break up accumulating mucus. It may also strengthen voice quality and promote hair growth.
Haritaki
And last but not least, Haritaki means “Life Giver” in Sanskrit and is highly revered in India. It is one of the best rejuvenating herbs for Vata type conditions such as nervous system disorders, gas, muscular rheumatism, itching and is used in treatment for both chronic constipation and diarrhea. Haritaki feeds the brain and can help to increase energy, wisdom, and intelligence.
Here are the health benefits of Triphala herb
This herb is known to be the solution to solve many health conditions. Triphala powder is often referred as the complete health supplement. Triphala has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral, anti-cancer effects.
1. For Cancer Management
Triphala contains an anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic and also anti-cancer properties that treats colon cancer cells and also helpful for human other cancer stem cells. Triphala also contains a variety of phenolics including naringin, quercetin, homoorientin, and isorhamnetin. Triphala was able to suppress the multiplication of cancer cells.
They also found that besides stopping the cancer growth, the its extract was also able to induce cell death of human colon cancer stem cells. We believe this makes Triphala a worthy candidate for further anti-cancer research.
Gallic acid is another constituent of Triphala. This compound has also shown promising anticancer activity. Especially in prostate cancer cells.
2. As A Natural Laxative & Colon Cleanser
Triphala contains flavonoids and also high antioxidant activity, when taken correctly at the appropriate time, can act as a source of nourishment and mild laxative. It is widely known to nourish the digestive tract and regulate bowel movements.
It is a natural colon cleanser. Having regular bowel movements are essential for removing bacteria, eliminating waste like heavy metals and eliminating excess fatty acids from the body.
A stool impacted colon can cause a myriad of problems ranging from fatigue, anxiety to re-absorption of toxins to outright pain. Here is how each of the constituents of Triphala help regulates digestion and elimination:
3. Triphala churna For Weight Loss
Triphala has antioxidant, free radical scavenging and antihyperlipidemic abilities, which all have a positive effect on metabolic health and discourage obesity. Triphala can help reduce weight and fight of obesity. By correcting digestion and the elimination pathways of the body, it makes way for adjusting the body’s weight management abilities.
Generally the large colonies of fungus/opportunistic bacteria/viruses/parasites living inside us are responsible for our weight problems. They even induce us to make the wrong food choices.
Like us, these organisms residing inside us need nutrients to survive and grow. And when they grow to a substantial number they impact our food choices and food quantity intake. After all, in such cases, the human host is feeding colonies of parasitic organisms besides himself!
Triphala also has anti-viral, anti-fungal and antibacterial action. This means that when it is taken consistently over a period, it will eliminate these parasitic organisms from your body.
Which means you will need less food and energy. Limiting sugars & processed foods of all kinds will hasten the process of recovery and weight loss.
4. For its anti-Inflammatory & anti-arthritic benefits
Almost all diseases involve some degree of inflammation. Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which causes pain and stiffness that can worsen with age.
Triphala contains high antioxidant and polyphenol content that make it an excellent anti-inflammatory. The triphala might be a helpful natural remedy for arthritis sufferers.
Almost every disease involves some degree of inflammation. Arthritis is definitely an inflammatory disease; it’s an inflammation of one or more joints, which causes pain and stiffness that can worsen with age.
5. Can help in Kidney dysfunction
The amla fruit that is present in Triphala are rich in antioxidants to improve circulation and promote healthy cellular regeneration.
Benefits of triphala also include being a powerful liver cleanser and detoxifier, improving gallbladder function and rejuvenating and strengthening the kidneys. It is even prescribed in India as a treatment for kidney stones.
Perhaps due to its beneficial effects on the liver, triphala is often recommended as an effective blood purifier.
6. Lowers blood sugar levels and increases insulin sensitivity
Triphala has also been shown that to be beneficial in managing diabetes and metabolic problems, but its cellular targets are mostly obscure.
Generally the molecular and signalling pathway proteins that are present in Triphala targets to stabilize glucose and lipid levels.
Type II Diabetes Mellitus concluded that an [Amalaki: Bibhitaki : Haritaki; 1:4:1] Triphala formulation could relieve multiple problems including high blood sugar and high lipid levels, and offer protection against the development of complications associated with the condition.
7. Used to treat mouth ulcers and gum disease
Antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of Triphala (Haritaki) treats mouth ulcers and also gum diseases. Haritaki is valuable fruit present in Triphala in the prevention and also in the treatment of several diseases of the mouth such as dental caries, spongy and bleeding gums, gingivitis, and stomatitis.
Haritaki extract could successfully prevent plaque formation on the surface of the tooth, as it inhibited the sucrose-induced adherence and the glucan-induced aggregation, the two processes which foster the colonization of Streptococcus mutans on the surface of the tooth.
8. Helps in Anemia
The high content of vitamin C in Triphala will assist in the absorption of iron. Ensure that you eat iron-rich foods for maximum iron absorption. Adding Lysine to the diet further hastens the absorption of iron from food.
9. Triphala helps in heart disease by lowering cholesterol levels
Antioxidant properties present in Triphala helps in lowering your cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a naturally occurring substance made by the liver and required by the body for the proper function of cells, nerves and hormones. As a result, cholesterol is actually crucial in healthy amounts, but when it’s too high, it can be problematic.
Cholesterol can combine with fat, calcium and other substances in the blood to form plaque. Plaque then slowly builds up and hardens in the arteries, causing them to narrow. This buildup of plaque, a condition called atherosclerosis, can lead to heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
Triphala has been found to reduce cholesterol and arterial plaque. One of its three fruits, bibhitaki, is mainly useful in Triphala for lowering cholesterol.
The much-maligned cholesterol is naturally occurring in foods. It is also something that our body can manufacture in the liver as required. It is essential for repair and function of cells & nerves. Also, cholesterol is the building block for hormones.
However, when it is too high, it can be problematic. Cholesterol can combine with fat, calcium and other substances in the blood to form plaque. Plaque then slowly builds up and hardens in the arteries, causing them to narrow. This buildup of plaque is called atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attack or stroke.
10. Can Improve Colitis by helping rebuild Gut flora
Gut microbiota elicits the bio-activity of Triphala. The phytochemicals present in Triphala promote the growth of beneficial gut microbes such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus species in the digestive tract. It also inhibits the growth of less desirable and potentially more inflammatory gut residents such as Escherichia coli.
The enzymatic activity of lactic acid bacteria degrades tannins in Triphala such as gallic acid. The human gut microbiota also transforms Triphala-derived polyphenols such as chebulinic acid into metabolites such as urolithins, which have the potential to prevent oxidative damage and inflammation. In other words it can help attain improved digestion as well as regulate bowel movements.
Triphala has plenty of health benefits. Above all are the benefits of Triphala. You can have Triphala in the form of capsules and also supplements.