Benefits of Triphala

Triphala is One of the Most Often Used Herbal Combos in Ayurveda and A Powerful Rejuvenator and Cleanser*

Triphala means “three fruits”. Those three fruits are Amalaki, Haritaki, and Bhibitaki. Each one is great in its own right, but combined they become Triphala, one of the most important herbs in Ayurveda for balancing the five elements. It is a powerful rejuvenative to all constitutions, a Rasayana suitable to all three doshas.

Both Amalaki and Haritaki contain all five tastes, and thus are powerful herbal supplements (Bhibitaki contains three). Loaded with antioxidants!

Triphala has been used for thousands of years in India, proving its usefulness. It’s popular mainly for its colon cleansing actions.* In Ayurveda, the colon is the seat of good health. Regular consumption of Triphala gently and slowly purifies the entire digestive system, rejuvenating down to the cellular level.* This actually helps more food absorption to take place leading to healthy weight-loss (more energy from food means fewer calories to eat) and boosting one’s quality of life.*

Amalaki

Also known as Indian Gooseberries or Amla, Dhatri, Emblic Myrobalan and in Latin, Emblica officinalis. A fair amount of preliminary research has been done on Amalaki.

It is known as “the nurse” and has the following effects:

• Anti-Viral*
• Anti-Microbial*
• May Induce Apoptosis (Programmed Cell Death) in Arthritic and Osteoporosis Cells*
• Supports Pancreatic Function and Blood Glucose Levels*
• High in Antioxidants and Polyphenols*
• Laxative*
• Particularly great for Pitta Constitutions*
• Rebuilds and Maintains Tissue*

Haritaki

It’s also one of the highest known sources of Vitamin C with 3000 mg per fruit. Amalaki is so revered it even has a National Holiday in India, known as Amalaki Ekadashi.

Called the “King of Medicines” in Tibetan medicine, haritaki is also known as Chebulic Myrobalan and Terminalia chebula.

• Improves Digestion*
• Promotes Absorption of Nutrients*
• Regulates Colon Function*
• Detoxifier*
• Nervine, feeding the Brain and Nerves*
• Specifically great for Vata Constitutions*

Bhibitaki

This fruit also is known as Baheda and Beleric Myrobalan, in Latin as Terminalia billerica.

Its effects are said to be astringent, tonic, rejuvenatic, expectorant, laxative, anthelmintic, antiseptic and lithotriptic.*

• Powerful Rejuvenator*
• Creates Balance in the Body*
• Purifies Blood*
• Nourishes the Voice, Hair, and Eyes*
• Detoxifier*
• Tonic to Kapha Constitutions*

Research on Triphala

In India, where Triphala has been used for thousands of years quite a few research studies have been done, showing the wide range of effects. What is also important to note is that in many cases the combination of the three fruits provides greater effects than any one of them alone.

• Antiviral*
• Antifungal*
• Antibacterial*
• Helps Fight Stress*
• Adaptogenic*
• Antioxidant*
• Radio and Chemoprotective*
• Helps Lower Blood Glucose Levels*
• Antiobesity*
• Immunomodulatory*
• Rejuvenates Debilitated Organs*
• Help Heal Wounds and Lessens Pain (Antinociception)*
• Gastroprotective*

While Lost Empire Herbs no longer carried Triphala we do recommend these two herbs that work similarly Shilajit, Schisandra, and Goji Berry.

References:

1. The Yoga of Herbs: An Ayurvedic Guide to Herbal Medicine
   by David Frawley, Vasant Lad .January 25, 1986
2. The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs: A Contemporary Introduction and Useful Manual for the World’s Oldest Healing System
   Karta Purkh Singh Khalsa , Michael Tierra,  August 14, 2008
3. Antibacterial efficacy of triphala against oral streptococci: An in vivo study
   Jyotsna Srinagesh – Pushpanjali Krishnappa – Shivarajn Somanna – Indian Journal of Dental Research Indian J Dent Res – 2012
4. Efficacy of ‘Itrifal Saghir’, a combination of three medicinal plants in the treatment of obesity; A randomized controlled trial
   Seyed Kamali – Ali Khalaj – Shirin Hasani-Ranjbar – Mohammad Esfehani – Mohammad Kamalinejad – Omidmalayeri Soheil – DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences DARU – 2012
5. Triphala and its constituents ameliorate visceral adiposity from a high-fat diet in mice with diet-induced obesity.
   Gurjar S, Pal A, Kapur S. Altern Ther Health Med. 2012 Nov-Dec;18(6):38-45.
6. Significant Increase in Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes and Natural Killer Cells by Triphala: A Clinical Phase I Study
   Pratya Phetkate – Tanawan Kummalue – Yaowalak U-Pratya – Somboon Kietinun – Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine – 2012
7. Scientific validation of the ethnomedicinal properties of the Ayurvedic drug Triphala: A review
   >Manjeshwar Baliga – Sharake Meera – Benson Mathai – Manoj Rai – Vikas Pawar – Princy Palatty – Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine Chin. J. Integr. Med. – 2012
8. Triphala and Its Active Constituent Chebulinic Acid Are Natural Inhibitors of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A Mediated Angiogenesis
   Kai Lu – Debanjan Chakroborty – Chandrani Sarkar – Tingting Lu – Zhiliang Xie – Zhongfa Liu – Sujit Basu – PLoS ONE – 2012
9. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activity of Triphala recipe
   S Sireeratawong – K Jaijoy – N Soonthornchareonnon – African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines Afr. J. Trad. Compl. Alt. Med. – 2013
10. Triphala , Ayurvedic Formulation for Treating and Preventing Cancer: A Review
    Manjeshwar Baliga – The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine – 2010
11. Triphala inhibits both in vitro and in vivo xenograft growth of pancreatic tumor cells by inducing apoptosis
    Yan Shi – Ravi Sahu – Sanjay Srivastava – BMC Cancer – 2008
12. Hypoglycemic effect of triphala on selected non insulin dependent Diabetes mellitus subjects.
    Rajan SS, Antony S. Anc Sci Life. 2008 Jan;27(3):45-9.
13. In vitro antioxidant studies and free radical reactions of triphala, an ayurvedic formulation and its constituents
    G. Naik – K. Priyadarsini – R. Bhagirathi – B. Mishra – K. Mishra – M. Banavalikar – Hari Mohan – Phytother. Res. Phytotherapy Research – 2005