Amla: benefits and harms

Amla, amalaki or Indian gooseberry is a tree with small, round, smooth fruit with 6 smooth lines that divide the fruit into 6 equal sections. It is sour, bitter, with astringent taste, but very valuable properties. It contains many micronutrients and vitamins necessary for human health.

In ancient times, healers noticed that amla consumption improves human health.

Not only amla fruit have healing properties, leaves, flowers, seeds, bark and roots are also used. But the fruit of amla is most valuable. The effect of amla on human body can be compared with that of neem (one of the strongest natural antiseptics, which cleanses blood, lymph, liver, and fights parasites) and turmeric.

In Ayurveda, much attention is given to six tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, spicy, and astringent. If all these tastes are present in food, the food is considered balanced. Interestingly, amla has five tastes out of six possible (all except salty).

Amla is an Indian gooseberry that contains a record amount of vitamin C and can tone and rejuvenate a human body like no other plant. It contains many times more vitamin C than rosehip, blackcurrant, buckthorn, greens, and citrus fruit.

Vitamin C is essential for natural synthesis of collagen in our bodies. Its daily consumption is important, as a human body does not make reserves of it. As an added benefit, large amounts of vitamin C promote absorption of iron from other products.

The healing properties of amla are numerous. We will not list all of them in this article, but focus on the main:

• improves vision
• cleanses and restores liver, renews its cells, protects against harmful effects of toxins
• flushes out toxins from the body
• improves blood composition, enhances the transport of blood cells to and from tissues
• improves memory
• rich in fiber and is a natural laxative, helps to relieve constipation
• effective in fighting diabetes. Reduces and regulates blood sugar level, improving glucose metabolism. Lowers blood pressure. Correct dosage is important; an incorrect dose can lead to a sudden drop in blood sugar level. When choosing your dosage, consult a specialist.
• stimulates production of gastric juice and helps our gastrointestinal tract to absorb food, vitamins, and micronutrients
• is a regenerative tonic for anemic people - increases the number of red blood cells, stimulates the synthesis of hemoglobin
• is used to improve digestion and reduce acidity in ulcer and gastritis sufferers
• cleanses the blood, improves skin condition in psoriasis and other skin diseases sufferers
• relieves burning and inflammation in joints and genitourinary system
• removes burning in digestive tract, on skin and eyes
• helps with weak tissue regeneration
• eliminates chronic fatigue by improving the cardiovascular system

The ideal helper for women in skin and hair care, amla promotes growth and improvement of hair structure, fights premature hair graying and hair loss.

In Ayurveda, amla is classified as a rasayana, a rejuvenating agent. Indian gooseberry is an effective rasayana for the circulatory system, bone tissue, liver and heart. It stimulates cell renewal and growth of new tissue, triggers rejuvenation processes - slowing down aging and prolonging active youth.

When people hear about rejuvenating products, they want to immediately start taking them without preparing the body for their effects. This should not be done for several reasons:

• rasayanas are concentrated substances, for digestion of which a healthy digestive fire is required
• when doshas are not balanced, the delivery of substances to tissue cells is difficult
• accumulated toxins block absorption

As a result of these factors, the use of amla may not initially yield the desired effect. For it to work, it is necessary to strengthen digestion, balance the doshas and remove toxins from the body. Therefore, ideally, amla should be used after a Panchakarma (cleansing program in Ayurveda consisting of 5 procedures).

If it is not possible to find fresh amla fruit in your area, they can be bought in dried form. Amla is produced in different forms: pills, powder, oil, jams, granules. You can also find fruit of amla in syrup.

Chavanprash is a powerful Ayurvedic tonic. Amla forms the basis of The Chavanprash jam. The Indian gooseberry makes up almost half of it. Chavanprash is a rich source of vitamin C, minerals and antioxidants. Recommended producers: AVS, Nagarjuna, Patanjali, Kottakkal.

Also, amalaki (amla) is one of the ingredients in the following remedies:

• a well-known cleansing remedy, Triphala (a mixture of amla, haritaki, bibhitaki powders). Amla makes up a third of Triphala.
• Nishamalaki is a mixture of amla and turmeric, is also an antioxidant and antiviral agent.
• Brahmi rasayana is a memory strengthening brain tonic.
• Dhatri lauha and Navayas lauha are iron based remedies, in which amla enhances iron absorption.

Amla Murabba is amla in syrup form produced by Patanjali. Amla Murabba contains a large amount of fiber, promoting gut health. It effectively reduces constipation in adults and children. It contains amla, cane sugar and a preservative. The effects of preservatives (in this case sodium benzoate) are not fully understood; an advantage is that it does not accumulate in human body.

When buying amla in syrup or any other form, read the ingredients list carefully, choose a well-known reliable manufacturer and monitor your well-being.

In what follows we look at the use of amla in powder and oil forms.

Amla Churna is a powder made from dried fruit, it can be used as a face mask or a shampoo. The powder can also be used as a vitamin supplement any time of the year along with honey, turmeric and lemon juice.

How to use and dosage of amla powder

Powder from the amalaki can be ingested orally 1 tsp 1-2 times a day immediately after eating, washed down with warm boiled water. It is recommended not to exceed the dose of 1 tbsp per day, as it can cause a diuretic effect.

Face mask from amla

For external use, you can prepare a face mask. To prepare the mask you will need only amla powder and warm water. Mix the powder with warm water to sour cream consistency. Apply to your face, neck, and neckline. Rinse with warm water in 15-20 minutes.

Rub a small amount of warm amla oil into the scalp and spread the residual oil on your hair. You can put on a hat and wrap a towel around your head. Make sure your head does not overheat. Leave for one hour or overnight. When applying oils stay in indoors, avoid cold temperatures. Then wash off with Ayurvedic shampoo or herbal mixture, such as Amla, Shikakai, Bhringraj, Thali Podi, etc.

Amla oil can be used as a treatment for split hair. Do not apply to blonde hair, as it has a coloring effect. Amla oil is not produced in its pure form but as infusion of powder or fruit in another oil. Therefore, if you see ‘amla oil’ on a label, it is certainly a mixture with other oils (coconut, sesame, almond, etc.). All ingredients are listed on the label.

Contraindications

Much has been said about amla’s medicinal properties, but it can also cause undesirable consequences, such as diarrhea or dry skin. Amla based remedies are considered safe, but like any product, can cause individual intolerance. Do not use alma when experiencing diarrhea or suffering from acute ulcerative colitis. When down with a cold or flu, use amla carefully, mix with honey and wash down with hot water, as amla has a cooling effect.

Bless you! Ohm