What Are the Benefits of Triphala?
The benefits of Triphala may include reducing inflammation and protecting against some cancers. It may also help with constipation, dental issues, and weight loss.

Though you may have never heard of Triphala, an ancient Ayurvedic treatment used a healing remedy for over 1,000 years.

This herbal concoction consists of three medicinal plants native to India.

It’s a staple in traditional Ayurvedic medicine, one of the world’s oldest medical systems that originated in India over 3,000 years ago (1Trusted Source).

Due to its many purported health benefits, Triphala has become increasingly popular around the world.


What Is Triphala?
Triphala has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine since ancient times as a multi-purpose treatment for symptoms ranging from stomach ailments to dental cavities. It is also believed to promote longevity and overall health

It’s considered a polyherbal medicine, meaning it consists of several different medicinal herbs.

Polyherbal formulations are popularly used in Ayurvedic medicine, a traditional system that emphasizes disease prevention and health promotion.

It’s believed that combining synergistic herbs results in extra therapeutic effectiveness and is a more powerful treatment than any one component taken alone.

Triphala is a mixture of the dried fruits of the following three plants native to India.

Amla (Emblica officinalis)
More commonly known as Indian gooseberry, amla plays an important role in Ayurvedic medicine.

It is one of the oldest edible fruits known to India.

Indian gooseberries are the edible fruit of a small to medium-sized tree that grows throughout India.

The berries have a sour, sharp taste and a fibrous texture.

For this reason, the berries are often pickled, soaked in sugar syrup or cooked into dishes to increase palatability.

Indian gooseberry and its extract are used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat symptoms like constipation and also used in cancer prevention.

Indian gooseberries are very nutritious and high in vitamin C, amino acids and minerals (5).

They also contain powerful plant compounds like phenols, tannins, phyllembelic acid, rutin, curcuminoids and emblicol (6Trusted Source).

Several test-tube studies suggest that Indian gooseberries have potent anti-cancer properties.

For example, in test-tube studies, Indian gooseberry extract has been shown to inhibit the growth of cervical and ovarian cancer cells (7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source).

However, there is no evidence that Indian gooseberries prevent cancer in humans.

Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica)
Terminalia bellirica is a large tree that commonly grows in Southeast Asia.

It’s known as “Bibhitaki” in Ayurvedic medicine, where the fruit of the tree is used as a treatment for common ailments like bacterial and viral infections.

Bibhitaki contains tannins, ellagic acid, gallic acid, lignans and flavones, along with many other powerful plant compounds that are thought to be responsible for its medicinal qualities (9).

This potent herbal remedy has a variety of uses and may help treat a wide array of medical issues.

In particular, Bibhitaki has been researched for its anti-inflammatory properties.

In one study, 500 mg of Terminalia bellirica substantially reduced uric acid levels in patients with gout, an inflammatory condition characterized by the buildup of uric acid in the body (10Trusted Source).

Bibhitaki is also commonly used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat diabetes and blood sugar dysregulation.

This is because Bibhitaki is high in gallic acid and ellagic acid, two phytochemicals that have beneficial effects on blood sugar levels, insulin sensitivity and body weight

These plant chemicals help promote insulin secretion from the pancreas and have been shown to reduce high blood sugar and improve insulin resistance in animal studies (13, 14Trusted Source).

Haritaki (Terminalia chebula)
Terminalia chebula is a medicinal tree that grows throughout the Middle East, India, China and Thailand.

This plant is known as “Haritaki” in Ayurveda, where the small, green fruit of the Terminalia chebula tree is used as medicine. It is one of the main components of Triphala (15Trusted Source).

Haritaki is held in high esteem in Ayurveda and often referred to as the “king of medicines.”

It has been used since ancient times as a remedy for a number of conditions, including heart disease, asthma, ulcers and stomach ailments (16Trusted Source).

Haritaki contains phytochemicals such as terpenes, polyphenols, anthocyanins and flavonoids, all of which have powerful health benefits.

Studies have shown that haritaki has powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Additionally, Haritaki is popularly used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat digestive issues like constipation.


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