Triphala, is perhaps among the best-known wonders of ayurveda, a rasayan par excellence for all the three doshas and across age groups. As the name suggests, it is a combination of three fruits, namely—amla, harar, and baheda, in equal quantities.
Triphala can easily be prepared at home by grinding these three fruits together, after removing the seeds. Triphala paste should first be kept in an unused iron vessel for 24 hours. One teaspoon of this paste with one teaspoon of honey and warm water should be taken every morning. A diet rich in fat (cow’s ghee is most beneficial) must be maintained with this recipe. CharakaSamhita says, “using this recipe for a complete year frees a person from ageing and diseases and increases the life span to a hundred years.”
Traditionally triphala powder taken with honey and ghee (half the quantity of honey) is highly beneficial in curing eye disorders and promoting eyesight. Besides triphala is considered to be the best amongst cleansing agents and purgatives.
Ayurveda says, and Western medicine agrees that health and disease begin in the colon. Triphala thus can be seen as foundational formula as it promotes efficient digestion, absorption, elimination, and rejuvenation.
CHAMPION OF GASTROINTESTINAL HEALTH
Studiesconfirm that triphala plays an active role to prevent diarrhea, induce enteroprotective effects reduce constipation, mucous, abdominal pain, hyperacidity, and flatulence while improving the frequency, yield, and consistency of stool. Triphala has also been found to reduce colitis.
STRESS-REDUCING
Studies have shown that triphala protects against cold-induced stress and reverses stress-induced behavioral alterations and biochemical changes. It is also found to reduce noise-induced stress in studies.
ANTIOBESOGENIC AND ANTIDIABETIC
Studies have demonstrated the potential of triphala as a therapeutic agent for weight loss and reduction of body fat.
Past studies report that triphala may exert actions similar to diabetic pharmaceutical drugs by inhibiting digestive enzymes and may decrease absorption of glucose through inhibition of glycolytic enzymes, thereby reducing blood glucose levels. Triphala may also protect diabetics and those predisposed to diabetes through inhibition of glycation enzymes.
FOR HEALTHY HEART
Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and hypercholesteremia is an important risk factor. Studies have reported the hypercholesteremic effects of triphala. Another study revealed that harad, one of the herbs in triphala, induced hypolipidemic effects in the herb-treated group.
ANTIMICROBIAL POTENTIAL
Both triphala water decoctions (12 per cent) and ethanol extracts (14 per cent) have demonstrated antibacterial activity in vitro against bacterial isolates derived from patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus. In addition, other studies report that these extracts also exert broad-spectrum antimicrobial action against antibiotic-resistant bacteria isolated from human subjects. In addition to antimicrobial effects against oral bacteria, triphala has also demonstrated the potential to eradicate enteric pathogens in vitro.
In addition to antibacterial effects, triphala is also known to exhibit antifungal properties.
ORAL CARE
Numerous controlled clinical trials have shown that triphala significantly reduces the abundance of oral bacteria, dental plaque, caries and gingivitis in human subjects.
RADIO-PROTECTIVE
Studies have concluded that triphala may help prevent and reverse DNA damage and mutagenesis.
ANTI-CANCER
Numerous studies have shown that triphala exerts an antineoplastic effect on many cancer cell lines, including those of the breast, prostate, colon, and pancreas.
EYE HEALTH
Triphala is a rich source of vitamin C and flavonoids. Antioxidant effects of triphala have the potential to help maintain eye health.
ANTIAGING
Research showed that triphala extract exerted highly protective antiaging effects on human skin cells in vitro, such as increasing collagen and elastin, increasing cellular antioxidants, and decreasing hyperpigmentation.
Download the Dhyan Foundation – Sanatan Kriya App for Android here and for iOS here.
