Amalaki Health Benefits, Properties, and Uses

Amalaki is also known as amla or Indian gooseberry. Its botanical name is Emblica officinalis or Phyllanthus emblica and it’s a fruit tree native to India. The amalaki plant is know for growing what are referred to as gooseberry fruits. Indian gooseberries, or amalaki, are pale or light green globular fruits. They have a sour or bitter taste, which is what the “amla” means in Hindi.^{1 2} Amalaki fruits have been used in traditional Ayurvedic and Asian medicines for thousands of years to treat a variety of ailments.^{1 2} It is one of three main ingredients used in combination to create triphala. Triphala is a traditional Ayurvedic medicine used to regulate the bowels and is recommended for constipation.²

Amalaki Health Uses and Health Benefits

Amalaki benefits include being a fruit with a high nutritional profile that provides lots of important vitamins and nutrients for better health. In particular, amalaki is known to be very high in vitamin C as well as tannins—an antioxidant. Amalaki also contains calcium, vitamin A and iron.^{1 2 3} Amalaki benefits include:^{1 2 3}

• Supporting metabolic health
• Lowering inflammation
• Protecting the liver
• Fighting bacterial infections
• Boosting cognitive function and memory
• Preserving digestive health
• Improving eye, skin, nail and hair health
• Boosting immune system function

Amalaki uses include being a traditional tonic for improving energy levels, reproductive health, respiratory system and blood flow.¹ Amalaki uses for curing ailments and preventing health conditions include:

• Alzheimer’s Disease - Amalaki is an important natural remedy for improving cognitive function, particularly memory loss. This makes amalaki a natural remedy for helping to slow the progress of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Andropause - Amalaki is believed to be able to help in balancing hormone production. This makes it a potential remedy for treating andropause, a condition characterized by decreased testosterone in males.
• Diabetes - Amalaki uses include being a treatment for diabetes and prediabetic conditions.
• Emphysema - As a tonic, amalaki can help improve respiratory health, which can help treat symptoms of emphysema.
• Glaucoma - Amalaki is known to help improve eye health, which can benefit people with glaucoma.

Amalaki Side Effects and Precautions

There are not many known amalaki side effects. However, some people have reported that it may cause throat irritation or weakened teeth when taken before bed. As an edible fruit, there are no other known amalaki side effects or precautions even when taken in higher doses.¹

References

1. https://www.banyanbotanicals.com/info/ayurvedic-living/living-ayurveda/herbs/amalaki-amla/
2. https://www.drweil.com/health-wellness/balanced-living/healthy-living/is-amalaki-juice-worthwhile/
3. http://www.homeremediess.com/amalaki-benefits-and-uses/