Amazing Amla [Indian Gooseberry]

Amla, is acclaimed for its contribution in digestion, beauty, and many other physiological benefits.

By PRASANNA K G in Dietary SupplementsDiscuss | 21 Nov 2007

AmlaAmla, or Indian gooseberry, is considered as dhatri, or motherly figure. Thanks to its health benefits, amla has also been worshipped in Indian culture since ages.

Ayurveda, which is the oldest health system in the world, appreciates and uses amla to treat a host of diseases and promote positive health.

Amla [Emblica officinalis, or emblic myrobalan], is called amalaki in Sanskrit. It is extensively used as a rejuvenator in ayurveda. It is also used widely in combination with other two [chebulic and belleric] myrobalans [fruit-bearing plant species] as triphala. Amla is, indeed, the key ingredient in the popular ayurvedic recipe, Chyavanaprasha. More than anything, it may be called as "King of Rasayana" [rejuvenation], owing to its multiple health benefits.

Amla in ayurveda

Ayurveda describes amla as a cooling, astringent, digestive, laxative, stomachic, and aphrodisiac medicine. It also has anti-pyretic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties. Due to its numerous therapeutic effects on various organs and systems, it has been found to be useful in problems ranging from chest diseases such as cough, asthma, and bronchitis, digestive ailments like dyspepsia, hyperacidity and ulcers and anaemia, jaundice, diabetes, bleeding conditions, eye diseases, allergic and other skin problems to gynaecological problems.

Food and digestion

Amla strengthens absorption and assimilation of food. It improves digestion and stimulates our taste buds to relish food better. It can be used by everyone without fear of gastric irrita-tion, or increased acidity. It can also be used to ease "too much heat" - a popular belief - in the body. It aids in better absorption and assimilation of iron from the gut. It also acts as a laxative in large doses due to its high fibre content.

Amla is best used as an ingredient in our diet regularly. It can be used as an alternative to tamarind, lemon or such other fruits to add flavour to food. It can be used as dry powder, fresh juice; or for dressing, by grating it coarse, or fine. It can also be used to prepare chutneys [paste] to be used as an adjuvant in our meals. It can be preserved for a long time in sugar syrup or as pickle and used regularly.

Amla is one of the best sources of natural vitamin C. It contains 20 times more vitamin C than an orange. Even when it is dried, or baked, it contains tannins, which prevent loss of vitamin C. Vitamin C, an anti-oxidant, fights free radicals, which cause many chronic and grave diseases like arthritis, high blood pressure, heart problems, Alzheimer's, cancer, and so on. Vitamin C is also required for our body's natural defences and healing mechanisms.

Look good

Amla boosts absorption of calcium. Thus, it helps in the formation, maintenance, and repair of bones, teeth, nails and hair. It also helps maintain youthful hair colour and retards premature greying. In addition, it supports the strength of the hair follicles. This translates to less thinning of hair with age.

Amla enhances protein synthesis by means of which bodily tissues, especially the muscles, are strengthened and toned up. It is, therefore, very useful to athletes and those who exercise regularly for maintaining muscular health and eliminating toxic products, the result of muscle activity.

Physiological benefits

Amla is useful in reducing LDL ["bad"] cholesterol and thus preventing arterial blockages that may cause heart attack or stroke.

Amla, when consumed in its natural form, as raw fruit or dry powder, can reduce chest congestion and facilitate the removal of sputum from the respiratory tract. It can soothe and heal inflamed airways and thus, is useful in cough, bronchitis, and other problems of the respiratory system.

Amla is also known to act as a very good brain and nerve tonic. It improves memory, tolerance, and nervous function.

Exposure to chemicals and consumption of chemically-treated food or drinks results in the accumulation of toxins in body tissues. This affects the functioning of the liver. Amla helps in elimination of toxins. It strengthens the liver in the process. Regular use of amla will result in an efficient defence system in the body against harmful substances.

The fresh juice of amla acts as a diuretic; it also normalises acidic urine. It is helpful in burning urination and urinary infections.

It is known that amla is beneficial during chemotherapy and radiotherapy due to its adaptogenic[balancing effect on your body's systems] and rejuvenating properties.

Amla for common ailments

Dry Cough

Take half tsp amla powder mixed with a little ghee [liquefy the ghee]. Take frequently.

Piles

Take wild amla juice, or powder, with cream top of yoghurt, twice a day.

White vaginal discharge [leucorrhoea]

Take 1 gm amla powder with one tsp honey and one tsp crystal sugar mixed together, thrice a day.

Internal bleeding [Rakta Pitta]

Wild amla one gm, with one tsp honey, thrice a day.

Hiccups

Wild amla powder with long pepper [or, black pepper]. One gm amla, with 3-4 pinches of pepper.

Slow and burning urination

Juice of amla, half cup [approx 30 ml], twice a day. This should be supplemented with extra fluid intake and/or liquid diet.

Diabetes

Amla and turmeric, as juice or powder, twice a day, before food; use two tsp each for juice and half tsp each for powder.

Despite its supreme safety and therapeutic value, it is useful to consult an expert in ayurveda or herbal medicine to have a more specific and individualised prescription to suit your amla needs - especially when you have medical, or surgical, concerns.

Add Amla to Your Diet

Amla fruits are available at local fruit sellers. Amla is seasonally available from, October to January in India. You can buy fresh amla and make a murabba [sugar syrup preparation] with either whole fruits or grated amla. You could also make an amla pickle that is tangy and spicy. In case you prefer a drink, you can choose Amlana, which is a cool appetizer, or an amla-ginger punch.

Ready-to-eat packaged Amla also is available in a number of stores. Normally these are local brands. Options like dehydrated amla, amla in tablet form, packaged amla juice, amla pickles, amla chutney, amla candy are a good bet for trial.

You could even start off on Triphala or Chyawanprash both of which contain amla as a major ingredient.

You said it!

  • rajeshri said, on 25 Jan 2010

    sir/mam

    Pl send me recipe of amla candy and juice.

  • Seth said, on 16 Jan 2010

    Does anyone know of a recipe for amla? I bought some fresh amla and interested to make a good dish out of it...

  • veena said, on 13 Jan 2010

    can eating raw amla helps in hair regrowth?

  • Raja Henry said, on 03 Jan 2010

    You can take amla juice with aloe vera [if you are not affordable to have Aloe Vera , then amla is enough] in empty stomach that could be a good remedy for b/p and heart related deceases.You can prepare it in your home itself. You should not any other food for half an hour after taking this combination of juice.
    I'm sure you can feel the change in your stamina.

  • SHYAMAL CHAKRABORTY said, on 30 Dec 2009

    i am suffering high b.p , knee pain and cholesterol not severe , can i take raw aloe vera with amla juice home made daily as tonic. pls advice

  • Mrs. Sheeba Joseph said, on 15 Dec 2009

    I am suffering from ulcerative colitis and it is under control with allopathy treatment. Please suggest how to increase my hemoglobin level with gooseberry.

  • tarwinder said, on 06 Dec 2009

    Due to diabeties, i'm eating 2 or 3 amlas after every meal. Is it good? and work for my diabeties and hope no harm to the body taking too much.

  • MOHD JAMIL NOMANI said, on 17 Nov 2009

    Really, Amla is a good source of every problem related to human body. It rejunvate entire system & make helathy immune system
    Really it is great fruit from nature

  • Fauzan said, on 15 Nov 2009

    pls tell me how to make amla candy
    by Fauzan

  • an said, on 11 Nov 2009

    i m 24. male. i wanna take amla in my diet. i wanna eat it as a raw fruit. At what time in a day shall i take. can i take it after my meal? what is the right quantity & right time to consume?

  • JEnnifer Sandoval said, on 02 Nov 2009

    HEllo there,
    I wanna know where I can buy this amla. I live here in Gladesville, NSW which is 15-20 minutes away from the Sydney CBD. Thank you. I look forward to having this amla in my diet.

    Jenny

  • riya purkait said, on 29 Oct 2009

    i m 24. female. i wanna take amla in my diet. i wanna eat it as a raw fruit. i wanna take it only in lunch and dinner. can i take it after my meal? what is the right quantity to consume?

  • palak said, on 10 Oct 2009

    sir
    plz tell me i have 80%grey hair at the age of 30. how can i use amla.i am taking raw amla daily for the past 2 month.is it helpful

  • Manjari singh said, on 29 Sep 2009

    suffering from hair loss. how much amla is helpful?

  • Panda said, on 27 Sep 2009

    For healthy hair eat lots of protein rich food like
    sprouted grains, dry fruits, etc. Also drink lot of water, min 4 liters per day increase according to climatic conditions.

    After extracting the juice, you can apply the leftover pulp onto your hair and rinse off, do not use any shampoo. You can also use the leftover pulp for bathing
    instead of soap.

  • Patricia said, on 24 Sep 2009

    I want to know if fresh amla juice [without adding anything] twice daily is good for health? That is in the morning empty stomach and at night when u go to be... pls sirs let me know.

    thanks regards,
    patci

  • Preeti said, on 19 Sep 2009

    Is it ok to have amla after lunch and not in the morning? pls tell me the recipe of amla juice & were it wil be get? waiting for reply

  • Deo Maskey said, on 30 Aug 2009

    Does Amla cure urine problem,like urine hesitation,feeling of residual urine in the bladder and air locked sensation in the urinal track ect.?

  • khalida said, on 13 Aug 2009

    hi! can you tell me where i can buy fresh amla from. thanks.

  • mahendra kapadia said, on 04 Jul 2009

    Dear Sir.

    I like Amla very much.Pls send me details that How to make amla juice easily at my home?

    Thanks MAHENDRA KAPADIA

  • harpreet said, on 06 May 2009

    can amla juice by swami ramdev by applied on hair for hairloss as it has preservatives? pls reply

  • dinesh paneri said, on 09 Apr 2009

    How does one preserve amla making juice and drying

  • ANCY DSOUZA said, on 11 Mar 2009

    Sir,

    Pl send me amla pickle recipe.

    thank you
    ANCY

  • Aruna said, on 13 Feb 2009

    Dear Sirs,
    I have been readingon the value of Amla as a health preserving food. Some literature say Amla can be preserved in sugar syrup,
    my question is how about sun drying and preserving in bee's Honey? does it augment the medicinal value of Amla due to the theraputic value of honey. Pls give yr views.

  • Nilesh said, on 28 Jan 2009

    Hi I am overseas, do you know any producers who package amla juice and send overseas to Australia.

  • namesh khandelwal said, on 19 Jan 2009

    i have amla can u tell me how to make amla candy

  • anil phadnis said, on 17 Jan 2009

    i want to grow amla trees in my farm.and i want detail knowledge regarding the same

  • shishir said, on 09 Dec 2008

    Actually we have extracted juice from Amala, it is fully raw juice, we havent add any preservatives and nothing else,
    I want to know that how to use this raw juice of amala& how many days it can be put in freeze without any damage.

  • ria said, on 01 Dec 2008

    is applying raw amla juice on hair helps in hair growth?

  • Manoj said, on 27 Nov 2008

    Four amlas a day are more than sufficient for any age. Two per day are also enough. Keep it up.
    If hair is your concern, then a balanced diet is the best bet. Vitamin B-complex supplements are also known to help in reducing hairfall.

  • Varun said, on 26 Nov 2008

    Hello

    I am eating 4 raw amla per day, 1 before breakfast and then after breakfast,lunch and dinner. I want to have good hair growth and to stop hair falling problem.Is this quantity sufficient for my Body(23 Age).

  • reema said, on 25 Nov 2008

    i am a regular user of amla juice . please tell me how to make amla candies since children don't drink juice .
    waiting 4 reply
    reema

  • Rajendra goud.N said, on 19 Nov 2008

    Dear sir
    Article is very good.I also started taking daily in the morning.
    Sir can you send me details about anti microbial activity of Indian Gooseberry on pathogenic microorganisms.

    Thanking you sir

    Regards
    Rajendra goud.
    nrgouds@gmail.com/yahoo.com

  • Sanjay Prajapati said, on 19 Nov 2008

    Actually we have extracted juice from Amala, it is fully raw juice, we havent add any preservatives and nothing else,
    I want to know that how to use this raw juice of amala.
    Presently we are taking 1 or 2 teaspoon daily morning including my son aged 3 years. I want to know more usage of this juice and also the fibres which is dried without fruit juice...
    please guide me..
    waiting for your reply,
    my mail Id is praval.sanjay@aol.in

    Sanjay Prajapati

  • V N Mittal said, on 11 Nov 2008

    A highly useful article on Amla.
    Just for minor correction, In Sanskrit Amla is known as Amalaka and not Amalaki as mentioned in the article.In Bengali, Amla is known as Amlaki.

  • nitsukhijasodhi17@gmail.com said, on 07 Nov 2008

    Hi !

    Is Amla green berry helps in weight lost.

    Thanks !

    Nits

  • abhijit said, on 05 Nov 2008

    yes u can take baba ramdev amla and aloe vera juice twice at night and in the morning u will see after two months your problem will be solved

  • cdevivek@yahoo.com said, on 25 Sep 2008

    sir,
    can we apply raw amla juice on the hair to blacken my hair.
    my hair is damaged due to the bad water and it has become red.
    pl let me know asap.
    thank you
    devi

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