What Are The Three Fruits of Triphala and Who Can Benefit?
The short answer, according to Ayurvedic herbalism, is absolutely everyone. Triphala is considered the most balanced of all herbal compounds. It is designed to support normal digestion, assimilation, and elimination which is important to us all. In the United States it is most commonly relied upon as a cornerstone to a botanical cleansing program, and to support a healthy bowel system.
Triphala is especially beneficial for those who tend to have a sluggish gastrointestinal tract due to sedentary lifestyles and overconsumption of red meat, refined carbohydrates, and dairy products.
Amla (Emblica officinalis): Amla is one of the most commonly used health-promoting fruits of India. Also known as Indian gooseberry, it is extremely sour and astringent. According to the late, two-time Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Linus Pauling, amla contains the highest concentration of all fruits of heat-stable vitamin C, noted for its powerful antioxidant activities. Amla is the primary nourishing component of the Triphala formula.
Behada (Terminalia belerica): In Ayurveda, behada is classified as sour, astringent, and warming. Though it is considered the most cleansing of the three ingredients, it also contains up to 31% linoleic acid and is rich in phenolic compounds.
Harada (Terminalia chebula): Of the thousands of Ayurvedic herbs, harada is the most commonly used. It is considered so precious that it is said “do not worry if you do not have a mother as long as you have harada.” Like the other fruits, harada is strongly astringent, and is often used for the health of the mucosa. This three-fruit combination balances each of the different bodily systems identified in Ayurveda, in order to maintain and restore balance to the entire system.