Triphala
is a popular Ayurvedic remedy that has a good number of adherents who vouch for
its gentle way of providing countless health benefits and curing various
disease conditions. With the Ayurveda
way of life spreading far and wide, it is no wonder that almost everyone knows
of Ayurvedic remedies like ashwagandha churna, shatavari churna, asokarishta,
chyavanprash, and Triphala to name a few.
Not many in the west knew of these a few decades ago. While the exorbitant cost of conventional
treatment and the adverse side effects of the conventional drugs forced
everyone to look for an alternative, the rapid increase in the number of people
affected by chronic lifestyle diseases and the ineffective treatment rendered
by the conventional system was yet another reason that intensified this
search.
It was
the effectiveness of Ayurvedic system in treating some of the lifestyle
diseases that led to the rapid proliferation of this old medicinal system the
world over. Its time tested remedies
have been effective in curing a number of so called ‘incurable’ diseases. Naturally, some Ayurveda formulations have
become household names. Triphala is one
such time tested remedy.
What is Triphala?
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| Constituents of Triphala |
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| Top 12 Health Benefits of Triphala |
Indian
Gooseberry (Amalaki)
This
fruit is cultivated throughout India. It
is found in home gardens as well as grown commercially in a large scale. It is well known for its Vitamin C content
and can be used as a Vitamin C supplement.
It is used medicinally for treating anemia, peptic ulcer, diarrhea,
jaundice, weak memory to name a few.
Terminalia
Chebula (Haritaki)
An
important constituent in a number of Ayurvedic formulations, Terminalia Chebula
(Haritaki) is used in treating asthma, vomiting, biliousness, bleeding piles,
bladder diseases, heart conditions etc.
It is an excellent laxative. It
is also used in treating dysentery and diarrhea.
Terminalia
Bellerica (Bibhitaki)
This
fruit is found in deciduous forests of India and Burma. The bark of the tree is used in treating
asthma and vitiligo. It is useful in
treating bronchitis, sore throat and diseases of urinary bladder. The powder of this herb helps arrest
bleeding. The oil made using this herb helps
luscious hair growth.
What is Triphala
Churna?
The
powder obtained on crushing the dry fruits and mixing them in required
proportions is called Triphala Powder or ‘Triphala Churna’. The usual proportion of ingredients is
1:1:1. The three fruits are dried and
finely powdered and then mixed in equal proportion by weight. This is the general Triphala formulation
available in the market.
Health Benefits
of Triphala
- Used as a mild and gentle laxative for chronic constipation.
- Rich in anti-oxidants, relieves oxidative pressure.
- Gently detoxifies the body and restores the efficacy of the digestive tract.
- Aids digestion
- Cures sore throat.
- Improves immunity.
- Improves eyesight.
- Helps proper assimilation of food.
- Improves liver function.
- Relieves arthritic pain and reduces inflammation in the joints.
- Helps lose weight
- Helps keep diabetes in check
- Helps fight cancer
- Takes care of allergies
- Helps hair growth
- Eliminates dandruff.
- Brings down excessive cholesterol to normal levels.
- Nourishes skin
- Clears dark circles around eyes
- Improves hair color
- Clears acne
With such
a wide range of medicinal property in its possession, it is no wonder Triphala
is used extensively in Ayurveda for treating various disease conditions. Now we will see briefly the medicinal
benefits of Triphala powder.
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| Triphala for Constipation |
It is the
non habit forming and non addictive nature of Triphala that has endeared most
of its enthusiasts. Most would have
encountered the remedy the first time as a solution for their
constipation. The first choice of an
Ayurvedic physician for constipation is Triphala unless the disease conditions
suggest otherwise. Triphala activates
the secretion of the digestive juices in stomach. It also stimulates the peristaltic movement
of the large intestines, thus relieving constipation and cleansing the colon.
For
chronic conditions a dose of this powerful remedy (3-5 gm) is taken and mixed
in warm water and taken three times a day.
A smaller dose (2-3gm) is recommended as a preventative in case there is
a tendency to constipate often. This
dosage relieves constipation and eases bowel movement.
Triphala
aids Weight Loss
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| Triphala for Weight Loss |
Triphala
stimulates liver and improves the ability to get rid of toxins from our
body. Triphala’s action as a colon
cleanser helps weight loss as a healthy colon gets rid of waste in an efficient
manner. Also Triphala helps in proper
assimilation of food as well as elimination of waste matter. It also fights chronic inflammation usually
observed in obese people, thus helping the body to get back into fat burning
mode. Being a laxative and cleanser, it
expels toxin and excess water resulting in a quick and safe weight loss.
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| Triphala for Cancer |
Triphala for
Cancer
Triphala
is found to stop the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. Triphala is an excellent scavenger of free
radicals and has radio protective properties.
This leads to a sort of cancer cell death (cytotoxicity of cancer
cells). Further studies on the efficacy
of Triphala in combating various types of cancer are ongoing in India and other
countries. Breast cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic and
blood cancer respond very well to Triphala.
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| Triphala for Skin Care |
Triphala
for Skin care
It is
well known fact that accumulation of toxins over a period of time impedes the
normal functioning of various organs and also manifests as skin eruptions,
boils and other skin diseases. With
Triphala being a gentle laxative and excellent detoxifier, it is only
reasonable to expect regular intake of Triphala to benefit the skin. Triphala can also be applied externally to
remove skin blemishes. It adds glow and
vitality to the skin.
Indian
gooseberry (amlaki) is rich in Vitamin C.
It has excellent anti-inflammatory properties that help the skin regain
its lost vitality. Chebulic myrobalan
(haritaki) is a well-known laxative that keeps constipation at bay. It eases bowel movement and increases
frequency of stools. It also clears
fungal infection of the skin. Terminalia
bellerica (bibhitaki) is a well known purgative. It promotes hair growth and cures premature
greying. It improves immunity and
promotes good health.
Triphala
for Eyes
Eyesight
diminishes with age, due to certain diseases like diabetes, or due to
decreasing immunity. Triphala improves
immunity and Triphala decoction cooled and strained can be used as eyewash to
take care of various conditions like red eyes, conjunctivitis, glaucoma
etc.
How to
take Triphala?
This
wonder remedy was taken in powder form since it came into existence. The taste of the powder is not easily
palatable and hence with widespread usage, more easily palatable forms like tablet,
capsule and syrup were introduced.
Triphala
Churna
Triphala
powder is called Triphala churna. This
can be taken once a day, either in the morning or at night. Ideal dosage would be 1-2 teaspoonfuls per
day. Mix the powder in hot water and
allow it to room temperature. Drink the
remedy warm. For best results it is
advised to take the powder well in advance of breakfast or dinner, say 30-45
minutes.
Triphala
Tablet/Capsule
Triphala
tablets offer the same benefits as the powder sans the difficult taste and
reach the stomach more easily. Two
tablets make a spoonful of Triphala powder.
It is not advised to take Triphala in any form when suffering from
diarrhea.
Triphala
Syrup/Juice
A
completely harmless and easy to use alternative to the churna and tablet/capsule
is the Triphala juice. Triphala juice
can be prepared using 8 ounces of warm water.
A lemon is squeezed to this water and a tablespoon of honey is also
added. Now one tablespoon of Triphala
powder is added to this water and mixed thoroughly. Triphala juice is ready for consumption. Taking Triphala in this form aids weight
loss.
Triphala Oil
When
Triphala powder is added to hot coconut or sesame oil and then allowed to cool
to room temperature the ensuing oil is called Triphala oil. This oil has excellent wound healing
properties. The oil can be applied on
non-healing chronic ulcers. Regular
application helps heal the ulcers. This
oil can also be used to take care of skin blemishes, rashes and other
conditions.
Side
effects of Triphala
Most of
the side effects occur due to a prolonged excessive dosage of Triphala. Although Triphala is safe for consumption,
care should be taken when taken along with conventional medications as this can
cause undesirable effects. Hence it is
advised that you consult with your physician before taking this remedy.
Ayurveda
physicians recommend pregnant women to not take Triphala. Also Triphala should not be taken when
suffering from diarrhea. In some rare
cases Triphala can cause allergic reactions like breathing obstruction, itching
and rashes on skin, swelling of throat etc.
Some may experience insomnia and find it difficult to fall asleep in the
initial phase which can gradually fade away with regular usage. In case of experiencing any mild discomfort,
it is advised to stop taking the medicament and start again after a few days at
a lower dose.
The
health benefits of taking Triphala is huge and the side effects if any can be
totally eliminated with a judicious adjustment of the dosage. An Ayurvedic
expert can guide you in the right direction.
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