You all might have heard the word “Triphala” and some might have already used it or using daily. Are the people new to this word might question what is Triphala?
The answer, in short, the Triphala is an herbal formula used in the ancient science of Ayurveda. That is a mixture of three fruits known as ‘myrobalan plum’ they are Amalaki, Haritaki, and Bibhitaki. The word ‘Triphala’ translates as these three fruits.There is a saying in India “No Mother” no worry if you have “Triphala”.This is an allusion which is the belief that Triphala takes care of the internal organs in the same way a mother cares for her children. Triphala also called “Triphala” has innumerable benefits, mainly due to its composition of 3 powerful healing herbs. In Ayurveda Triphala is known as ‘Rasayana tridoshic’, means it balances or has rejuvenating effects on the three main constitutional elements vata-pitta-kapha that govern human life.
It regulates Vata, maintaining metabolic processes in pitta and
balances the nervous system that supports the structural integrity in kapha.
The Properties of Triphala
The properties of Triphala depend on the properties of individual
herbs that are used in it.
1. Amalaki
Also known as Indian gooseberry has the richest source of vitamin
C among all fruits and vegetables. It is a light green fruit with a bitter
taste due to its acidic content.
The fruit is cooling and refreshing along with laxative and
purgative properties. As it is rich in vitamin C, it accelerates blood clotting
and heals wounds. It has also been used to regenerate a lost sexual vigor in
both men and women.
2.Bibhitaki
It is an herb with bitter taste also popularly known as Behra.
Like the Amalaki, it also has a property of the healing wound. It is a remedy
for a laxative, it reduces Fever and therefore it can be used as an
antipyretic drug.
3.Haritaki
It is one of the smoothest and safest used medicine in Ayurveda
for a laxative. It prevents Blood clotting, improves the functioning of the
stomach, and aids digestion.
Haritaki is used to improve the nutritional imbalances in the system and looks after the entire digestive, absorptive, assimilative, and excretory process. Triphala which is made from these three valuable herbs is a real boon to Ayurveda.
Besides this, there are also other three types of Triphala that are mention in “Nighantu and the Nirukta” the oldest Indian treatise on etymology, philology, and semantics. Below are the other types.
Types of Triphala
1.Swalpa Triphala: The combination of Draksha, kharjura, and parushaka fruits together is called “Swalpa Triphala’.
2.Madhura Triplrala: The combination of Draksha, kharjura, and kasuiarya fruits together-is called “swadu Triphala”. It is beneficial to vision, appetizer, promotes desire for food, and useful in alleviating irregular fever.
3.Sogandbi Triphala: The combination of Jatiphalam, ela, and lavangam constitute is called “Sugandhi Triphala”. It is astringent, sweet in vipaka, and useful in breaking constipation in kapha and vata doshas.
Ayurvedic Properties of
Triphala :
§ Rasa:- Kasaya
§ Gun:- Ruksha,
Sara
§ Virya:- Anusha
§ Vipaka:-
Madhura
§ Doshashnata:-
Tridoshasaniaka
§ Karma:- Chaksusys, Dipana, Vrishya, Prameha, Kustha, vishamajarnashaka, medohara
The Traditional Uses of
Swalpa Triphala
1. It Helps To Lose Weight
Obesity occurs for many reasons but one of the main reasons found
in more people is due to by congestion of the internal organs of elimination
including the liver and intestines. A recent study supports the traditional use
of Triphala in the treatment of obesity.
Researchers at (Biomedical Research Centre) found that Triphala’s active molecules bind to the cellular receptor for CCK (Cholecystokinin). This CCK is a satiety hormone that released to indicate that you are full. The research on Synthetic analogs of CCK is under development by pharmaceutical companies.
This will help controlling appetite and support a healthy weight.
Since both overeating and disrupt digestion lead to the overload of the
gastrointestinal tract including the liver and intestine resulting in obesity.
In this condition, Triphala proves to be very effective in removing the
stagnation of both the liver and intestines.
2. It Helps To Control
Diabetes
Triphala is found very effective in the treatment of
diabetes (Mellitus). It helps to stimulate the pancreas that contains
islets of Langerhans which secrete insulin. Insulin is responsible for
maintaining the appropriate level of glucose in the body.
A study done on rats by the (American Botanical Council)
demonstrated that Triphala reduced the blood glucose levels in diabetic rats.
The study concluded that the mechanism of action of these extracts in reducing
blood glucose is not known, but may decrease the effect of inflammatory release
cytokine in diabetics, which in turn may reduce insulin resistance.
Moreover, it was found that traditional medicines used to treat
diabetes also have more significant antioxidant effects.
3. It Helps In Gouty
Arthritis
There are various types of arthritis among this “gouty arthritis”
that are found in five percent of cases that have artists. It is a painful
condition that is believed to be due to the accumulation of deposits of uric
acid in the joints.
According to the theory of Ayurveda, the state of the colon is
important in determining the condition of the bones. Vata absorption by the
colon goes to the bones and causes arthritis. As Triphala believed to be good
for the colon it can be best in the treatment of arthritis.
4. If Helps In Digestion
Overall health depends on a healthy digestive system if our
digestive is not proper it may create a home of many diseases.
Here Triphala can be very helpful as it is not habit-forming one can
use in the long term without any side effects.
The regular use of Triphala will benefit
people suffering from constipation. Triphala can be used to treat
constipation in all the three doshas. It works by stimulating gastric mucosal
of the intestinal tract and balance digestion by removing toxins from the
intestinal tract.
5. It Boosts Immunity
Triphala has powerful antioxidant properties that help to regulate
the metabolism of cells and facilitate smooth functioning. This reduces the
risk of the overall production of free radicals which is supposed to be the
main reason for aging. Triphala stimulates the functioning of cell
organelles such as mitochondria, Golgi bodies, and a nucleus which play a vital
role in the proper functioning of the cell.
6. It Helps In Wound
Healing
Ayurveda text “Susruta Samhita” recommends Triphala as a remedy
that is good for the purification of a wound. There is modern research that
supports that Triphala has properties that promote healing of infected
full-thickness dermal wounds. The study was focused on two different effects of
Triphala. The results were as follows.
§ It was
shown that an alcoholic extract of Triphala has proven effective against wound
pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes.
§ An
ointment made of Triphala was proven effective in wound closure. It was found
that the effect of an ointment made of Triphala cured the infected wound faster.
Thus concluded that active ingredients of Triphala can be an excellent
therapeutic formulation for infected wounds.
7. It Has Antioxidant &
Free Radical Properties
The research has been done on in vitro antioxidant and free
radical reactions of Triphala. A study on Ayurvedic formulation and its
constituents evaluated that water extracts each healing properties from
Triphala.
The study, done on rats was found that all three compounds were
effective in inhibiting of gamma radiation breaking into the plasmid DNA.
8. It Prevents Cancer
A study on the Potential of traditional ayurvedic formulation
“Triphala” has made some very important observations on the effectiveness of
Triphala against cancer. The study was done on the cytotoxic effects of
Triphala in a cell line of human breast cell cancer and thymic lymphoma tissue
when transplanted to a mouse.
The study found that the viability of the cell lines was reduced
when Triphala concentrations were increased. Furthermore, it was discovered
that normal breast cells, along with other normal cells were not affected. This
important study points to the potential of clinical treatments of cancer with
Triphala. So it is a future hope for cancer treatment.
Note: The pregnant women must start taking any
new herbal supplements during gestation. Although amla which is one of the
ingredients used in Triphala that is recommended for lactating mother but
Triphala does not advise as there is a risk that the properties that make
cleansing may be beneficial to mothers but could prove toxic to a developing
fetus.
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