Herb Amla

Amla undeniably a powerhouse of nutrients. It is a very delicious fruit. Amla is also known as Indian Gooseberry. Amla Botanical name is Emblica Officinalis. This herb is a little fruit stuffed with versatile and miraculous health benefits. It is world’s best recognized herb and edible fruit rich in vitamin C. Amla is the best natural source of this vitamin which helps in keeping the skin healthy and strengthens the immune system of the body. It is also a very good antioxidant that can prevent ageing and rejuvenate the cellular structure keeping it young and healthy for a long time. The herb prevents our body from bacterial and viral aliments like cold and cough.

It is used in various forms because of its many health benefits. One can use it as an Amla fruit juice, Amla powder form or as a whole fresh fruit. In Ayurveda Amla is best used to make the equilibrium of three major powers of body (tridosha) i.e vata, pitta and kapha.

It belongs to Phyllanthaceae family. The Latin name of the plant is Emblica officinalis.

AMLA NAMES

English Name – Indian Gooseberry
Latin Name – Emblica officinalis
Hindi Name – Amla
Sanskrit Name – Amalki, Dhatri, Shriphala, Amrutaphala, Vayasya, Tishyaphala, Sheetaphala.
Malayalam Name – Nelli

Kannada Name – Nelli
Telugu Name – Useeri kaya, Usheeri kaya.
Tamil Name – Nellikai
Farsi Name– Amlaj
Tibetan Name – Kyu-ru-ra

CLASSIFICATION

Kingdom
Plantae

Family
Phyllanthaceae

Order
Malpighiales

Genus
Phyllanthus

HABITAT

Amla is a very common plant in India. It can be easily found growing in semi – arid regions and plains of northern India. Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are preferable subtropical area for cultivation of amla. The fruits are available from October till May during which time they are also collected and preserved in large numbers to be made available during the rest of the year.

A number of recipes and medicinal preparations of Amla are available which can always be enjoyed.

AMLA AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES

Hindi / Sanskrit		English
Rasa	Panch Rasa	Taste	Sour, Sweet, Bitter, Astringent, Pungent
Guna	Guru, Sheeta	Physical Property	Heavy, Cool
Virya	Sheet	Potency	Cold
Vipaka	Madhura	Metabolic Property (After Digestion)	Sweet

AMLA EFFECTS ON DOSHA

Amla balances all three doshas (Vata, Pitta & Kapha) in body.

Charak Samhita	Sushrut Samhita	Vagbhata
Jwarghna – Herb helpful in fever Kasaghna – Herb helpful in cough, cold and breathlessness. Virechnopaga – Herb help to induce purgation Kusthghana – Herb is helpful in skin disorders. Vayasthapana – Anti-ageing	Amalkyadi, Parushkadi, Triphala	Parushkadi Ghana

PRACTICAL USES OF AMLA (EMBLICA OFFICINALIS)

Amla is best anti-ageing herb (vayastapna).
It improves vision and good for overall health of eyes (chakshushya).
This herb is useful to pacify all three dosha (sarvangdosha) in various disorders of body.
It is very effective in various bleeding disorders (rakatpittaghna).
Amla is anti-diabetic and reduces sugar level in urine (premaghna).
The herb has aphrodisiac properties (virshya) and help to reduce burning sensation (dahahara).
This herb is very effective for heart (hirya) and also useful in fever (jwarghna).
It is used to improve voice, sore throat and various disorders related to throat (kanthya).
Amlaki powder is also used in the preparation of salt i.e vida lavana.
This herb protect us from various viral, fungal and bacterial infections.