Everything you need to know about Triphala

The Ayurveda Experience May 19, 2021

Triphala is one of the most famous and widely used Ayurvedic product. Tri means three, Phala means fruit. Triphala is a traditional combination of three fruits namely
Haritaki – Chebulic myrobalan,
Vibhitaki – Belleric myrobalan and
Amalaki – Emblica officinalis

Haritaki

Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) is an astringent dominant. It has mild laxative action and balances Vata Dosha. This nourishing fruit can be eaten as a food and is beloved for its therapeutic properties. Haritaki, like the other two, supports proper elimination and has anti-inflammatory and immunity boosting properties. Its ability to support detoxification is thought to come from its anti-oxidant effects, particularly on the glutathione system.

Bibhitaki

Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica) is highly astringent and a bit drying. But it is high in antioxidants and is useful as a diuretic. It is widely used in the treatment of diseases of skin, intestine, blood and respiratory system.

Amalaki

Famously known as Amla, it is a rich source of bioavailable Vitamin C. Amalaki is eaten fresh readily and is also made into chutney, pickles etc. In Ayurvedic products, it is used both in fresh and dry forms.
Amla is administered orally and also externally. Amla hair oil is very famous to improve hair growth, luster and shine. According to Ayurveda, amalaki, being coolant, balances Pitta dosha. Traditional uses of amalaki include its ability to help regulate blood sugar levels, promote hair growth, improve vascular strength, calm the excessive acidity in the digestive system, improve skin glow, quicken wound healing, boost immune system and decrease inflammation.

Benefits **of Triphala:**

Triphala is a powerful source of anti-oxidants.
It helps to calm all the three dosha, but mainly Kapha and Pitta. It means, it is useful in diseases like obesity, cholesterol, constipation etc.
It is also used in the treatment for diabetes, due to its rich anti-oxidant property.
Water decoction/Kashaya prepared with Triphala powder is used to treat non-healing wounds.
It is extremely beneficial in skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis and tinea infection.
It is good for improving eye sight and to treat computer vision syndrome. An herbal ghee, prepared with it, called Triphala is used externally and internally in the treatment of various eye disorders.
It helps to improve taste, useful in anorexia.
It is used in the treatment of chronic fever.
Triphala churna is useful to relieve lethargy. As per Ayurveda, undigested toxic material accumulated in the digestive system is one of the causes for lethargy. Triphala detoxifies the colon, help the digestive system to improve enzyme production and thus useful in relieving lethargy and fatigue.
Triphala for weight loss - It is also used in the treatment of obesity.
Triphala churna is very useful in treating Irritable Bowel Syndrome associated with constipation.

Triphala Dosage:

Triphala churna dosage is 1 - 3 grams with honey, ghee or warm water, before food.
Triphala tablet 1 - 2 tablets - once or twice a day, usually before food.
Triphala capsule 1 - 2 capsule - once or twice a day, usually before food.

If you are taking Triphala to improve taste, or to treat oral ulcers, then it makes sense to take it in churna (powder) form. For any other purpose, it can be taken in tablet or capsule form.

Rasa panchaka **of Triphala:**

Dravya (substance)	Haritaki	Vibhitaki	Amalaki	triphala
Rasa (taste)	Pancharasa (Kashaya) Astringent	Katu (pungent)	Pancharasa (Kashaya)	Kashaya
Guna (property)	Laghu, Ruksha	Laghu, Ruksha	Laghu, Ruksha, Sheeta	Laghu, Ruksha, Sara
Veerya	Ushna	Ushna	Sheeta	Anushna
Vipaka	Madhura	Madhura	Madhura	Madhura
Prabhava	Rasayana	Chedana	Rasayana	Rasayana
Dosha Karma	Pacifies Tridosha, especially effective onVata	Pacifies Tridosha,especially effective on Kapha	Pacifies Tridosha, especially effective on Pitta	Tridosha
Karma	Anulomana, chakshushya, deepana, hridya, medhya, sarva dosha prashamana	Chakshshuya, keshya, bhedaka, kriminashana, kasahara	Vrishya, chakshushya	Rasayana, chakshushya, deepana, vranaropana, ruchikara, medohara, anulomana

**Side effects of Triphala:**

Burning sensation in the body
Triphala capsule - Increased dryness
Lack of sleep.

As it is a mild laxative, it can cause stomach upset, cramps and diarrhea.

It is used as a daily tonic by many, due to its rich anti-oxidant activity. People with diabetes need to inform doctor, if they are taking Triphala choornam.

Triphala with milk:

Triphala contains Amla fruit, which has sour taste. Sour tasting fruits along with milk is contra indicated as per Charaka Samhita, 27th Chapter.
It is also seen that Triphala, when added to milk, curdles it. Hence, Triphala, if taken along with milk can cause digestion, weakness and bloating. Hence it is best to avoid milk with Triphala.
If you take Triphala, it is best to wait for at least 30-60 minutes before taking milk.

Indications

**How to use Triphala for weight loss?**

Triphala is very useful in the treatment of obesity.

Triphala is consumed in a dose of 1 teaspoon, 2 times a day, after food with a cup of water, for the purpose of weight loss.
Triphala is administered in a dose of 1 teaspoon mixed with a teaspoon of honey. This paste is swallowed with water, before or after food, once or two times a day.

**How to use Triphala for Fistula problem?**

Curing fistula just with Triphala cannot be guaranteed. However, symptoms can be improved.
Oral intake of 5 grams of Triphala - once or twice a day, after food for 1 month is useful in healing the fistula faster.
A big teaspoon of triphala is added to hot water or to a bucket of heated water. This water is used for sitz bath to relieve pus formation and to disinfect the anal region.

**Research on usage of Triphala Churna for weight loss:**

As per an experimental study conducted on effect of  Triphala and its constituents on ameliorate visceral adiposity from a high-fat diet in mice with diet-induced obesity, conducted by Gurjar S, Pal A, Kapur S, the following conclusion was drawn -
The research team's results showed that mice fed a High fat diet for 10-week period, supplemented with herbal preparation(s) of triphala or its constituents, resulted in significant reductions in body weight (P < .0001), energy intake, and percentage of body fat (P < .001), Herbal treatment significantly improved the lipid profiles of the mice by lowering serum total cholesterol (Total-C), TG, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C)

Triphala for hemorrhoids:

Triphala is administered along with buttermilk for the treatment of hemorrhoids (Charaka Chikitsa Sthana 14th chapter).

**About Triphala with 1:2:4 combination of ingredients:**

Usually Triphala is - all the three in equal parts.
Some sell it with 1:2:4 (Haritaki, Vibhitaki, Amalaki) based on some rare traditional references. The difference is - the amount of Amalaki is more in the 1:2:4 combination and

a. it is ideal for those who have diarrhea and who do not wish to have the laxative effect and
b. it is ideal for those having high Pitta.

The excess of Amla, being coolant, nullifies the hotness of haritaki and vibhitaki. So, Triphala is such is slightly hot. But 1:2:4 Triphala is quite heat neutral.

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