AMLAKI (EMBILICA OFFICINALIS) AS RASAYANA - USES, BENEFITS ETC.

Amlaki as Rasayana & it’s Benefits

Used as an antioxidant for immune support, India’s famous Amla fruit, also known as Amalaki or Indian Gooseberry, has been used for thousands of years for reinforcing immune cell defense and providing adaptogenic and restorative action. It’s considered to be a cornerstone of vitality, strength, energy and whole-body wellness. Amlaki is one of the three key fruits found in Triphala, for detox, cleansing and good digestion. The active constituent present in Amalaki has antioxidant effects that help rid the body of cell damaging free radicals. Amalaki rejuvenates the skin and delay premature skin aging. Boosts up immunity by build up the natural preventive system of body against foreign particles.

Amalaki is a very great rasayana, revered in the Ayurvedic tradition.

Rasayanas are the cream of ayurvedic herbal substances, and have remarkable longevity-enhancing and rejuvenative qualities. One of the most important ayurvedic texts, the Charaka Samhita, defines a rasayana as "that which promotes strength and immunity against diseases." There are two types of rasayanas: those that are preventive and promote longevity, memory and intelligence; and those that are curative and treat disease.

The Charaka Samhita says, "Rasayana therapy has for its object the prolongation of human life, and the refreshment and invigoration of the memory and the vital organs. It deals with formulas that enable one to retain youthful vigor up to a good old age, and which generally serve to make the human nervous system invulnerable to disease and decay. Rasayanas also create ojas in the body."

Rasayanas enhance ojas in the body. Ojas is the most refined product of digestion and metabolism. Ojas is equated with immunity and strength. The more ojas your digestion produces, the greater your immunity to disease. Ojas supports bliss, intelligence and higher states of consciousness. The Sushruta Samhita says, "By Bala (strength) or ojas, the muscle tissue becomes full, all movements become free and perfectly coordinated, voice and complexion become clear, and externally and internally the activity of the organs of action and the sense organs becomes intelligent and evolutionary." Rasayanas convert easily into ojas, and thus infuse qualities of ojas into the body. The skin becomes lustrous, the eyes sparkling, the temperament stable and blissful, the mind intelligent and calm, and the body free of disease. Ojas also supports the experience of more evolved, expanded states of consciousness.

Rasayanas such as Amalaki have other actions. The ayurvedic texts mention that they promote longevity, memory, intelligence, youthfulness, stable progeny, strength and immunity of the body, strength of the sense organs, the quality of purity (sattva), a clear voice and sweet and successful speech, respectability (due to a pure nature, good health, and prosperity), and invincibility.

There are many benefits mentioned in Ayurvedic texts and experienced by people in India for thousands of years.

1. Excellent source of Vitamin C. It is the most concentrated form of Vitamin C found in the plant kingdom, and because the whole fruit is used rather than an active ingredient, it is easily assimilated by the human body. The Vitamin C in the Amalaki fruit is bonded with tannins that protect it from being destroyed by heat or light.
2. Supports food absorption. The regular use of Amla strengthens digestion, absorption and assimilation of food. It enhances all thirteen digestive fires (agnis). But it works more slowly and gently than ginger or other digestion-enhancing herbs, so it can be taken by people with a lot of Pitta without fear of creating excess stomach acid. In addition, it improves assimilation of iron for healthy blood.
3. Supports healthy levels of stomach acids. Because it improves digestion but does not heat the body, Amla is ideal for calming mild-to-moderate hyperacidity and other Pitta-related digestive problems. It should always be taken with food in this case.
4. Supports the liver. Amla helps purify the Rasa Dhatu (nutrient fluid) and Rakta Dhatu (blood), supporting the functions of the liver. It also stimulates the liver, helping it in eliminating toxins from the body. Amla also helps maintain cholesterol health.
5. Supports the brain and mental functioning. Amla is good for the brain. It is medhya, meaning it nurtures and enhances coordination among Dhi (acquisition), Dhriti (retention), and Smriti (recall), sharpening the intellect and mental functioning. It supports the nervous system and strengthens the senses.
6. Supports the heart. It is Hridya, which means it nurtures the heart, blood and circulation. It supports the cardiovascular system. On the other hand, it sometimes acts as a cardiac stimulant. For this reason, if you have a heart condition, you should check with a medical doctor before using Amla. Supports the lungs. The Amla help pacify Kapha dosha as well. Therefore, Amla is a wonderful fruit for strengthening and nourishing the lungs (which are a major seat of Kapha dosha in the body), and the entire respiratory tract. It also pacifies Shleshmaka Kapha, which among other things governs moisture balance in the lungs.
7. Supports balanced elimination. Amla also pacifies Apana Vata, thus helping with the downward flow of energy in the body. This keeps the function of elimination regular and eases constipation.
8. Supports fertility. By balancing Apana Vata and by nurturing all the Dhatus (body tissues), Amla also keeps menstruation regular and healthy. It supports the reproductive systems of both men and women and can help overcome difficulty in conceiving. It is a vrishya herb, which means that it enhances all the seven tissues (Dhatus), including the reproductive tissue. This herb nurtures the ovaries and sperm, and it has a property called garbhasthapana, which means it enhances fertility and the possibility of conception. It is especially nurturing for women, strengthening the uterus and supporting reproductive health.
9. Supports the urinary system. Because it enhances all the thirteen agnis (digestive fires) and supports Apana Vata, Amla is especially supportive to the urinary system and can be helpful if you experience a mild burning sensation while urinating. It supports natural diuretic action, but does not force water from the body like diuretic pills. In other words, it helps eliminate waste from the body but does not over stimulate the urinary system.
10. Supports the skin. Because Amla strengthens digestion, helps the liver detoxify and is rich in Vitamin C and minerals, it is very good for the complexion. Amla moisturizes the skin, cleanses the tissues of toxins, and supports immunity of the skin against bacterial infection. It helps enhance glow and luster.
11. Supports healthier hair. Amla boosts absorption of calcium, thus creating healthier bones, teeth, nails and hair. It also helps maintain youthful hair color and retards premature graying, and supports the strength of the hair follicles, so there is less thinning with age.
12. Acts as a body coolant. Although Amla is good for all doshas and seasons, it is especially effective in the hot season to cool Pitta dosha. It is an especially good rasayana for people with Pitta and Vata body types.
13. Flushes out toxins. Individuals who have been eating "junk" food for a while tend to have accumulated deposits of preservatives and additives in the liver. Amla helps support the liver in flushing out chemicals and additives from the physiology.
14. Supports vitality. Because it has five tastes and supports all the doshas and many body functions and cleanses the blood and the micro channels of the body, Amla increases energy and removes fatigue. It supports regeneration of cells — the process by which tired, old cells are replaced by vital, new ones.
15. Supports the eyes. Amla is called Chakshushya, which means "strengthening the eyes" (Chakshu means "eye" and Ayushya means rasayana, so it is literally a "rasayana for the eyes"). It supports the health of the eye by enhancing both Ranjaka Pitta (the subdosha of Pitta that governs liver function and the blood plasma) and Alochaka Pitta (the subdosha of Pitta that governs the eyes and vision). The tridoshic nature of Amalaki also prevents eye from various disorders.
16. Supports muscle tone. Amla enhances protein synthesis, which is why it is good for strengthening muscles and building lean muscle mass. Its unique ayurvedic action offers athletes and bodybuilders a natural way to tone muscles and build lean mass.
17. Acts as an antioxidant, it contains broad-spectrum antioxidants and free radical scavengers, helping to reduce disease and slow the aging process.

          18.  Amla for Healthy Blood Sugar Levels - Amla’s ability to stimulate microcirculation and to  build ojas are thought to help promote healthy blood sugar levels, particularly in conjunction with pitta imbalances.  Amla also has an affinity for the urinary tract and balanced excretion of urine and balanced blood sugar levels go hand in hand. On a large scale, Amla’s support of the entire digestive process supports the body’s ability to process food in a wholesome and efficient manner.

          19.  Amla for Digestion - From an Ayurvedic perspective, digestion begins with the experience of taste and amla contains five of the six tastes, lacking only the salty taste. Further, amla sharpens the sense of taste itself and so it is both stimulating and tonifying to the first stage of digestion. Amla also improves appetite and kindles agni (the digestive fire), which are both at the core of healthy digestion. Despite the fact that its predominant taste is sour, amla stokes the digestive fire without aggravating pitta and, amla cleanses and protects the liver, which plays a critical role in transforming food into physiologically useful nourishment. Because pitta and agni are so intimately connected, the health of the digestive fire suffers when pitta is aggravated. Amla is particularly suited to clearing excess pitta from the digestive tract; its bitter taste and cooling energy help to flush excess heat out through the bowel. Amla can be especially supportive to digestion during the summer months when heat tends to accumulate in the body, particularly for those with pitta-predominant constitutions.

Amlaki in Preparation of Ayurvedic Formulations

·         Amla in Triphala - Triphala literally means ‘three fruits’ and includes equal portions (by weight) of amla, bibhitaki, and haritaki. Triphala is the most widely used formula in Ayurveda. Like amla, triphala contains five of the six tastes—all but salty—and is primarily used to maintain a healthy digestive tract. Triphala is deeply nourishing and cleansing to all tissues and is a very effective detoxifier. Triphala also benefits the lungs, skin, and eyes, and it can be used as part of a weight loss program that includes proper diet and exercise. Triphala is typically taken as a hot infusion at night or as a cold infusion upon rising. If there are clear signs of excess heat and inflammation in the digestive tract, amla taken alone may prove more supportive than triphala.

·         Amla in Chyavanprash - Chyavanprash is a delicious nutritive jam, primarily aimed at bolstering the immune system. Chyavanprash is made with a base of fresh amla fruits and also includes a number of other herbs, ghee, sesame oil, sugar, and/or honey. It is particularly supportive of the respiratory tract as it nourishes the mucous membranes and helps keep the respiratory passages clean and clear. Chyavanprash also strengthens vata, nourishes the reproductive tissues, aides in the elimination of ama (toxins), and builds ojas. Chyavanprash can be taken on a long-term basis as part of a program designed to support overall strengthening, or recovery from an illness or stress. For others, it is more appropriately used seasonally, as a tonic in the winter months. Taking chyavanprash in milk (or almond milk if dairy is not appropriate) helps to carry its tonifying and rejuvenating qualities deep into the tissues.

Phytochemical screening of Amlaki

Amalaki is well known for its antioxidant activities. The vitamin C content of amalaki was found to be 5.38 mg/g. This amount is almost similar to reported levels of 600 mg per 100 g edible portion. However, Khopde et al. have reported vitamin C content as high as 44.65 mg/g of Amla by using titrimetric method. Khopde et al. have also estimated vitamin content by using HPLC and by this method content was found to be 32.5 per g of Amla. We have found significant level of vitamin E like activity in Amalaki. Term vitamin E like activity is being used as other compounds can also interfere with colorimetric assay using bathophenanthroline method. Vitamin C was not detected in spirulina while vitamin E like activity was found to be present though levels were lesser than of wheat grass and amalaki. In amalaki several other compounds like polyphenols, ellagic acid, gallic acid and tannins are also present in very high amount along with vitamin C. Fruits and berries are known to have very high amount of phenolic compounds in comparison to herbs and barks of the trees. Total phenolic content of spirulina is reported to be 15.4 mg/ g of dry matter of alga by Miranda et al. The phenolic compounds such as salicylic, trans-cinnamic, synaptic, chlorogenic, quimic and caffeic acids found in the methanolic extract of alga may be responsible for its antioxidant activity.

Special Instructions:

It is advisable to consult your physician before you start using the product in these situations:

• Pregnancy
• Breastfeeding
• In Conditions which require special medical care

Side Effects

·         A night dose of amla before sleep can weaken the teeth in the same way that over-exposure to citrus fruits might, eroding tooth enamel; taken in this manner, amla may also irritate the throat. Being an edible fruit, there are no other known issues with amla, even at higher doses.

Precautions / Contradictions

Amla should be avoided in cases of high ama (toxicity) or when kapha is especially aggravated. It is also ill advised when individuals of a pitta-predominant constitution have diarrhea. There is some evidence to suggest caution among individuals with an iron deficiency because amla can form chelates with iron and thus reduce the amount of usable iron in the blood. Traditionally however, amla has been used to balance and build the blood.

Bleeding disorders: Indian gooseberry might increase the risk of bleeding or bruising in some people. If you have a bleeding disorder, use Indian gooseberry with caution.

Surgery: Indian gooseberry might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking Indian gooseberry at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery

Diabetes: Indian gooseberry might decrease blood sugar levels. Diabetes medications might need to be adjusted by Ayurvedacharya.

How to use Amla

Because taste plays such an important role in the digestive process and signals the body to initiate its own supportive mechanisms, Ayurveda traditionally recommends tasting herbs. Amla can be taken internally in four forms:  powder, tablet, liquid extract, or in avleha such as chyavanprash. Banyan Botanicals makes amla available in all four of these forms:

• Amla Powder
  Amla powder offers the full experience of tasting the herb and also provides the most economical option for purchasing amla. Like triphala, amla powder can be taken as a hot or cold infusion in water, at night or upon rising. In some instances, taking amla in milk, ghee or another carrier substance may help to direct the herb to a specific tissue or organ, or guide it toward a particular kind of systemic support. An ayurvedic practitioner can advise you on the appropriate anupan (carrier) for your herbs. You can also refer to the Ayurveda’s Carrier Substances guide to better understand which anupan is most appropriate for you. A typical dose of amla powder is ¼–½ teaspoon, once or twice daily, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner.
• Amla liquid extract
  Amla liquid extract provides an alternative method of taking amla. It's convenient, easy to assimilate, and has a long shelf life. This extract is made from the same certified organic amla used in making the herbal tablets and is extracted using non-GMO, gluten-free grain alcohol. A typical dose is a dropper full (about 30 drops) taken in 1–2 ounces of water or juice, one to three times daily, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner.
• Amla in Chyavanprash
  As a rejuvenative, chyavanprash is typically taken in the morning and evening. Chyavanprash is a tasty jam, and as such offers the full experience of tasting the herbal ingredients. The usual dose of chyavanprash is 1–3 teaspoonfuls, once or twice daily, or as directed by Ayurveda expert.