With the Love of a Mother
Triphala, meaning ‘three fruits’, is an Ayurvedic powder made of – you guessed it – three fruits, all of which are native to India. It is one of the core medicines of Ayurveda and is named in the Sushrut Samhita, a foundational text dating back to at least the 9th century. It is said in India that Triphala takes care of the inner organs “with the love of a mother for her children.”
Besides taking Triphala for the inner organs, it is also very popular as a mouthwash in Indian folk dentistry, as it is super effective at stopping tooth decay. Taking it as a mouthwash, however, might be too much for some people – because of the high level of tannins, Triphala is pretty astringent and can leave your mouth feeling sour and dry. Fortunately, we have figured out some ways to take it without too much fuss, as you can read below!
While each is of the three fruits is a powerhouse in its own right, the three combined are said to be especially beneficial to balance the doshas. In Ayurveda, it has many uses especially for ensuring a healthy digestive system, and nourishing kidney and liver function. Scientific research agrees that Thriphala is very high in anti-oxidants, is anti-viral and anti-inflammatory, and even has the ability to combat some drug-resistant bacteria. More and more of its uses are being investigated, as modern science is finally catching up with ancient knowledge.
Three Tiny Fruits
The first fruit of the Triphala trio is Amla, the Indian Gooseberry that we find growing in the wild in many places in South India. It is packed with Vitamin C, and one tiny Amla fruit (no bigger than a walnut) contains the same amount of Vitamin C as two oranges! Taking vitamin C in the form of a herbal supplement can be a much more effective method for delivering vitamins to the body than taking vitamin tablets, which often contain synthetic Vitamin C.
The second fruit is Haritaki, which has anti-inflammatory and laxative properties and helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol. According to Hindu mythology, the herb came to India’s soils when it fell to the earth from Lord Indira’s cup as a drop of nectar. It has loads of tannins and is traditionally also using as a dyeing agent – for the human body, tannins are good because of their strong anti-oxidative properties.
Finally, there is Bibhitaki or Bahera, which is good for removing accumulations of mucus in the digestive tract and acts as a detox agent.
Brought together in Triphala, the combined forces of these three fruits can greatly aid your digestive system and detox your whole body. In addition to Triphala’s internal-cleansing powers, it helps rejuvenate and nourish cells by fighting free radicals, as it’s full of antioxidants!
How to Use Triphala
Be careful to take the recommended dosage, as too much of a good thing might get you in trouble. Because of Triphala’s ability to cleanse the body, high dosage means you start releasing deep-tissue toxins too quickly, which reportedly leads to a rash or a headache. Furthermore, this process will have a slight laxative effect, which is healthy only when it is kept to mild levels.
Please make sure that when you buy Triphala, you get an organic variety that does not have any pesticides in it. Of course, we prefer organic Triphala from Aurospirul, as they are based in Auroville and only produce organic supergreens and herbals using eco-friendly practices.
If you would like to know how to prepare and consume Triphala powder in the simplest way, see here for an easy recipe for tea. If the taste is too much for you, it is also possible to dissolve Triphala in a tiny bit of warm water and take it as a shot – you’ll only have a few seconds of face-scrunching to do for the goodness to enter your stomach. Alternatively, get ready-made capsules! They taste completely neutral and are easy to take with a mouthful of any other herbal supplement that supports your health, such as Brahmi, Spirulina, and Ashwaghanda.
To get the full benefit of Triphala for your particular health problem, we advise you to get in touch with an Ayurvedic doctor, who can help you to define the best Triphala dosage and combination for you.
Have you tried Triphala before? Please let us know your experience in the comments below!
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