Phyllanthus Emblica (Amla)

Introduction :

Amla plant known as the Indian gooseberry is one of the sacred plants worshipped in India. The Sanskrit names for the Indian gooseberry are: Amlaki, Amla, Amlak, Dhatri, Dhatrik and Anavala. In Latin, it is known as Emblica Officinalis Gaertn, Phyllanthus Emblica or Terminalia Emblica. Alma plant belongs to the Phyllanthaceae family.

Description of the plant : Amla is a deciduous tree which grows to a medium size of 8 to 18 meters. Its branchlets (a stem that grows from the main trunk or the stem) are smooth and it grows around 10-20 cm long. Its leaves grow closely to the branchlets. The flowers are greenish yellow in colour.

Amla fruit is light greenish yellow in colour and is spherical in shape. It has a smooth external appearance with six vertical stripes and a seed inside. The fruit is green in colour when unripe, but gradually turns pale greenish yellow as the fruit ripens.

Amla plant is grown in plains and sub mountain regions in India. Light and heavy soil is most conducive for its cultivation. The plant starts bearing fruits in seven years. The flowering season is from February to May and the fruit bearing season is from October to April. Maharashtra is the largest producer of amla in India.

Chemical constituents:-These fruits are reputed to contain high amounts of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and have bitter taste that may derive from a high density of ellagitannins, such as emblicanin A (37%), emblicanin B (33%), punigluconin (12%), and pedunculagin (14%). Amla also contains punicafolin and phyllanemblinin A, phyllanemblin other polyphenols, such as flavonoids, kaempferol, ellagic acid, and gallic acid.

Medicinal Properties:- Amla or Dhatri or Dhatrika means a nourishing mother. The tree is highly revered as it is associated with both Lord Vishnu and Siva.

Amla is referred to as divyaushadhi, meaning a divine medicine. This is the only fruit which has all the five tastes viz., sweet, sour, bitter, astringent and pungent (except salty) which makes the plant divine. It is a panacea for treating ailments related to all the three doshas, Vatha, Pitta and Kapha (Tridoshika). Consumption of amla is good in all seasons and for all types of body constitution.

Amla is a rich power house of properties such as anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-mutagenic, anti-hyperhidrosis, anti-inflammatory, anti-histaminic, and hypotensive relieving properties. The tree as a whole, its bark, leaves, branches and seeds, all have immense medicinal properties which are used extensively in several Ayurvedic preparations. It is the main ingredient in Triphala one of the main rasayanas in Ayurveda. For all ayurvedic preparations, fully ripe fruit is only used

Amla is used as a Rasayana in Ayurveda. According to Charaka Samhita, Rasayana is defined as "that which promotes strength and immunity against diseases. Rasayana is of two types: Rasayanas which are used in preventive healthcare, promote longevity, memory and intelligence and rasayanas used in actually treating ailments and curative. Amla is used in preventive healthcare and curative.

The Charaka Samhita says,"Amalaki is the best among rejuvenative herbs."

Ayurveda classifies the fruit as having these four properties:

1.Rasa (Taste): The fruit tastes sour, sweet, bitter and pungent.

2.Veerya (Nature): Amla has a cooling effect on the body.

3.Vipaka (Taste developed through digestion): Sweet. Vipaka is the after taste. Amla when eaten first tastes sour, but when the fruit mixes with saliva or after sipping some water, tastes sweet, which is known as Vipaka.

Guna (Qualities) :- Dry and light

1.Rich source of Vitamin C: Amla fruit is a rich source of Vitamin C. One amla fruit has 700- 921 gms of Vitamin C. Vitamin C in the most concentrated form is found only in Amla. A medium sized amla fruit contains 8.7 mg of Vitamin C equivalent to 100 mg of synthetically produced Vitamin C.

2.Improves food absorption: One of the properties of Vitamin C is that it enhances the food absorption, digestion and assimilation in the body. Regular consumption of Amla helps in absorption of iron in the food. Amla improves the thirteen digestive fires in the body. Thus regular consumption of amla makes a person enjoy the taste of food better.It is very useful for people having pitta body constitution.

3.Helps in reducing acidity: Amla with its cooling property is used in treating mild to moderate hyper acidic reactions in the body.

4.Improves liver functioning: Amla is very effective in removing the toxins from the body.It stimulates the liver and purifies the digestive juice (Bile) produced by the liver. It also purifies the blood.

5.Enhances the brain function: Amla is effective in enhancing the brain functions such as attention, registration, retention and recall. It is used in improving the nervous system.Amla fruit strengthens the senses.

6.Enhances heart functioning: Regular consumption of amla, nurtures the heart, improves blood circulation and aids in the overall cardiovascular system.

7.Strengthening lungs: Amla is used in treating phlegm. It is very effective in strengthening the lungs and clearing the respiratory tract of phlegm.

8.Eases constipation: Regular consumption of amla eases constipation.

9.Improves fertility: Amla has a property known as garbasthapana, which nurtures the sperm and ovaries. Regular consumption of amla enhances fertility in both men and women.

10.Effective in treating urinary tract infections: Amla enhances the digestive system in the body, it is also used in treating urinary tract infections like mild burning while urinating. It is a natural diuretic which removes waste water from the body.

11.Improves the skin complexion: As amla removes the toxins from the body, and is a rich source of Vitamin C, it enhances the skin complexion. It helps the skin to fight against bacterial infection. It improves the glow and luster of the skin.

12.Good Hair care: Regular consumption of amla delays premature greying and improves hair growth.

13.Calcium absorption: Amla aids in calcium absorption in the body, thus aiding in the creation of strong bones, teeth and nails.

14.As a coolant: Amla with its cooling property is very effective during summer season. It is especially useful for people with Pitta and Vatha constitution.

15.Strengthens the eyes: Amla is also known as chakshushya, which means                "strengthening the eyes"-(Chakshu means "eye" and ayushya means "Rasayana" so it is literally a "Rasayana for the eyes"). It aids in improving the vision.

16.Improves muscle tone: Amla improves the protein synthesis in the body, thereby strengthening the muscles.

17.Antioxidant property: With the anti oxidant property, amla is very effective in strengthening the overall immunity system and delay the aging process.

18.Energy booster: As amla aids in better absorption of food, purifies the blood, removes toxins from the body, it removes fatigue from the body. It aids in cell regeneration process, wherein the old cells are replaced by the healthy new cells, thus making the body more energetic.

19.Treating Hypoglycaemia: Amla is very effective in treating hypoglycaemia, (a condition when the blood sugar levels fall suddenly).

20.Inflammation and fever: As amla has a cooling nature, it is used in the treatment of inflammation or burning sensation in any part of the body. It is also used in the treatment of fever.