Herbs
- Amalaki
Latin
-- Emblica officinalis Gaertn., Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia emblica
Sanskrit -- Amalaki
Hindi -- Amla
English -- Emblic Myrobalan
Parts Used:
Dried fruit,
ripe fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark and flowers. Each part has a different
therapeutic value and must be prepared in its own way for maximum benefits.
Amalaki fruit requires a meticulous 21-step process at low heat to maintain
potency of the vitamins and minerals as well as the biological intelligence
of this remarkable plant.
Traditional
Ayurvedic Uses:
Balances all
three Doshas (Vata, Pitta, Kapha), especially Pitta.
It contains five
of the six tastes, which a very rare and valuable property because it indicates
how this one herb balances all the laws of nature operating in the mind and
body.
Because of its
well-known rejuvenative and revitalizing properties, Amalaki is a powerful
Rasayana (longevity enhancer) all by itself. It therefore is often used by
itself even in the Maharishi Ayurveda health system, which usually recommends
using herbs only in expert combinations. As a Rasayana, Amalaki helps to culture
the full potential of the mind and body.
It is the most
concentrated source of vitamin C in the plant kingdom, and the C has a special
form that makes it very easy for the human body to assimilate. In addition
to this, the vitamin C in Amalaki fruit is precisely bonded with tannins that
protect it from degradation from heat and light.
Amalaki is well-known
for its ability to boost bioavailaibity and absorption of calcium for healthier
bones, teeth, hair and nails.
It also improves
assimilation of iron for healthy blood.
It is especially
nourishing for the eyes, heart, and digestion.
Amalaki is also
extremely effective for balancing stomach acids.
Amalaki has a
special action to promote strength and lean muscle mass when used with a diet
rich in protein and quality nutrients.
It is most commonly
seen along with Bibhitaki and Haritaki as an ingredient in the popular Ayurvedic
formula known as Triphala, which aids digestion and nourishes all the bodily
tissues (the Dhatus). Triphala also acts as a laxative, helps scrub the colon,
and supports the action of other ingredients in any well-balanced formula.
The ayurvedic
physicians of Maharishi Ayurveda do not recommend the use of single herbs
for self-care due to several important reasons (see the index page of the
ayurvedic herb section for details).
One of the specialties
of ayurveda is the science of herb combining that has been perfected over
thousands of years of clinical practice. From this ayurvedic perspective,
the study of herbs from scientific research which is based on single ingredient
formulas is not very practical. This is because an herb can give a number
of different effects depending on the other herbs it is combined with as well
as a number of other factors such as dosage, how the herb was processed, etc.
If one focuses just on the results of a study based on one ingredient, while
it may be interesting, it does not give the full insight into the complete
range of effects available from that particular herb.
