What is Triphala?

Triphala is probably the most popular of the Ayurveda medicines. Triphala literally means 3 fruits.  The powder, coarse or fine of the ripened berries of three tropical trees mixed in equal proportions is Triphala.  The berries of Triphala are Hareetaki or Kadukka or Harada, Vibheetaki  or Tannika or Baheda and Amalaki or Nellikka or Amla. These three berries when combined together emerge as a very potent formula with a wide range of medicinal properties and hence are used as a medicine for a host of illnesses and also as a Rasayana to maintain wellness. For therapeutic purposes, the berries are combined either equally or in varied proportions for varied treatment outcomes and results.

What are the special attributes and properties of Triphala ingredients?

Charaka Samhita describes the specialties of each ingredient of Triphala. The word Hareetaki means it is the fruit that kills or destroys diseases and makes the person bask in the glow of health. The predominantly bitter-astringent berry with the scientific nomenclature of Terminalia Chebula contains chebulagic acid, chebulic acid tannic acid, and gallic acid. The word Vibheetaki means fearless of diseases and its scientific nomenclature is Terminalia bellerica. The astringent fruit contains chebulanic acid and chebulic acid

The greenish glossy gooseberry fruit with all the five tastes except salt embedded in it. Unlike the other two berries, the Vitamin C-rich immune-boosting Amalaki or Amla with the scientific nomenclature Emblica officinalis is generously used as food and medicine. It is predominantly sour with the sweetness oozing out at the end of the bite when eaten raw.  Thus, Triphala has all five tastes except salt and is a natural source of Vitamin C. Hareetaki and Vibheetaki are astringent while Amalaki is sour. The other three tastes of bitterness, pungency, and sweetishness are inherent in various proportions in the berries. The salty taste is absent. In combination, Triphala is primarily astringent in taste with a tinge of bitterness

How is Triphala prepared?

• The well-ripened, undamaged berries are collected in season from an unpolluted location
• These berries are sorted, cleaned, washed, and dried in shade taking care to prevent molds, contamination, and infestation
• The dried berries are crushed to separate the rind
• The crushed rind is powdered as either coarse or fine powder as per the requirement
• The powder is stored in a clean airtight container at 28-35⁰C away from direct sun, wind, and rain
• The shelf life of Triphala powder is 6 months
• Liquorice or Yashti Madhu is added to Triphala to prepare Triphaladi churnam
• For enhanced and fortified therapeutic clean fruit rind of the Triphala berries are soaked in water, ground into a fine paste, smeared on an iron vessel, allowed to dry scraped off after 24 hours, and powdered. This is very useful in anemia and eye diseases

What are the medicinal and therapeutic benefits of Triphala?

Triphala is a good adaptogen with anti-oxidant and anti-aging Rasayana properties. Judicious use of Triphala helps to improve quality of life and retain youthfulness. Triphala is capable of reducing the proneness to disease and disease morbidity of our body and mind.  Triphala also means three benefits or results. Triphala pacifies all the aggravation and vitiation of three Doshas of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha and ensures the three benefits of the health of the body, mind he soul. Soothing the three doshas, Triphala removes the physical and mental difficulties that we commonly see. It is a safe drug that can be used in children, adults, and the elderly alike

Triphala has been used in several diseases such as constipation, flatulence, bloating,  IBS with constipation, obesity, diabetes, prediabetic condition, cholesterol, etc.  Triphala can also help absorb iron content in people with anemia.  Triphala is one of the most important medicine in the treatment of eye diseases.  Triphala decoction used for washing or irrigation is very good for healing diabetic ulcers, varicose ulcers, and other non-healing chronic ulcerations and wounds. Triphala is used in hair fall, hair loss, and skin allergies.  Triphala decoction is also a good disinfectant. Triphala is used in cancer and its evident chemoprotective property makes it a useful medicine between two sessions of chemotherapy for cancer.

What is the dosage and what are the precautions to be followed while using Triphala?

The dosage of Triphala is very important. Though it is relatively a safe drug, continuous use can be habit-forming, especially about bowel movements, and also there is a possibility of developing drug resistance. The general dose of Triphala is usually 5-10 g in adults i.e., one to two teaspoons. Overdose may cause dryness. To prevent or mitigate dryness it is advisable to include a teaspoon of sesame oil or cow ghee in food within six to eight hours of consuming Triphala

Precautions:

• Diabetics and pregnant women should use Triphala strictly under supervision
• Triphala should not be used with milk
• Milk should not be used for 1 hour before or after taking Triphala
• Triphala should be used as a prescribed medicine
• Triphala should not be continued for long durations unless advised by an Ayurveda doctor
• Dosage of Triphala is also important. Overdose, wrong timings, and wrong diet like milk immediately after or before taking medicine can lead to side effects
• No medicine is completely safe. If medicine has a potent action, it can also react if not properly used

What are the combinations of Triphala and what are the common Ayurveda medicines with Triphala?

Combinations: All three berries are combined in equal proportions generally. Variations include 1:2:4 or 1:2:3 combinations. Senna is added for constipation. Iron is added for anemia. Nethra Triphala is used in eye diseases

Common Medicines: Triphala Choorna, Triphala Kashayam, Triphala Ghritham, Triphaladi Thaila, Triphala Mashi and Triphalaguggulu

For more details and queries on Triphala and its uses please feel free to

• Talk to Dr. Lathika PK Medical Director of Sarathy Ayurvedic Hospital, with a clinical experience of 35 years

• Mail us at mails2sarathy@gmail.com
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