What is Triphala?
In Sanskrit, Triphala translates to ‘three fruits’. This traditional medicine or product is a combination of Indian gooseberry, black mayrobalan and belleric myrobalan. This medicine serves as a multi-purpose treatment and promotes overall health and longevity.
In the recent times, consumption of ayurvedic products has proved positive results for a large section of consumers. With this development, consumption of ayurvedic medicine has also seen a steady rise.
The Triphala is one of the most common ayurvedic product consumed by a large section of people who lead ayurvedic lifestyles. In ayurvedic medicine, triphala is considered a trodoshic rasayana , which translates to the remover of three doshas.
Here is everything you need to know about Triphala and its immense benefits!
Triphala combines a wide range of benefits to a person’s health, ranging from simple stomach ailments to chronic diseases. Many of its possible health benefits are attributed to its laxative effect or ability to ‘cleanse the system’.
Triphala is an ayurvedic polyherbal formation. Which means it consists of several medicinal herbs. This product is available n form of powder, juice, extract or capsule forms. Triphala can be found in supplement stores or on online.
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The Three Fruits for your well-being
Triphala is a mixture of 3 dry fruits of the native Indian plants.
The Indian gooseberry: Also called as the amla, Indian gooseberry is rich in antioxidants, vitamin-C, compounds like phenols and tannins, amino acids among others. Amla help regulate the health of pancreas. It also helps to promote bone health and manage cholesterol levels.
Black Mayrobalan: Also known as bibhitaki, myrobalan helps to regulate cholesterol levels in body and promotes strong muscles and bones. It is packed with a range of nutrients like ellagic acid, gallic acid, lignans and tannins.
Bellaric Mayrobalan: Also known as the Haritaki, bellaric myrobalan is a nut shaped fruit packed with anti-inflammatory properties.Loaded with phytochemicals such as terpenes, polyphenols and flavonoids, the herb helps to treat all kinds of digestive issues.
Major Benefits of Triphala
Disclaimer: Some of the information may seem slightly technical and complex. Do not fret; the headline of each point should be enough to motivate you to give Triphala a go! 🙂
1. Helps you lose Weight
In a 2012 study by the Center for Alternative Health and Medicine, it was prescribed that daily dose of triphala has contributed to reduction of body fat, decrease in the overall cholesterol levels, decrease in Triglycerides and lower bad LDL cholesterol.
Triphala also exerts gastroprotective effect on stress induced ulcers in stomach. These benefits are attributed to the ability of triphala as a detoxifier which helps to flush out all kinds of toxins that contribute to overweight.
Triphala also keeps your digestive system healthy and smooth, which can help you fight constipation.
2. Reduces Inflammation
Triphala contains several antioxidants that perform protective functions in the body. Daily consumption of triphala reduces inflammatory markers as well as bone and cartilage degradation.
Trusted sources and studies have suggested that prescribed triphala treatment has suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators, intracellular radicals and inflammatory enzymes in the body.
This can help you severely cut down the risk of heart diseases, certain kinds of cancers, diabetes, arthritis and premature aging.
3. Improves Cardio Vascular Health
In one of the major studies on Triphala, it was proved that Triphala can reduce factors that affect cardiovascular health like total levels of cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, and fatty acids.
These benefits are attributed to the induction of hypolipidemic effects by Haritaki, one of the herbs of triphala. In this context, it can be said that triphala addresses imbalances in the entire cardiovascular system and prevents heart diseases.
4. Reduces stress levels
Stress induced disorders such as anxiety, hyper tension and sometimes overwhelming amounts of gastro effects represent leading causes of adult disability worldwide. Triphala has showed protection against these stress induced effects.
Triphala has shown adaptive response against cold induced stress. These biochemical changes are attributed to increase in lipid peroxidation and corticosterone levels.
Triphala also creates overall metabolic changes by mediating immune response to stress situations.
5. Helps to prevent Cancer
In a trusted lab study, it was proved that this ayurvedic mixture can curb the growth of cancerous cells. The compounds present in triphala can inhibit the growth of lymphoma as well as stomach and pancreatic cancers.
The antioxidants, gallic acids and polyphenols also help to fight cancer.
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6. Prevents Diabetes
Triphala is well known for helping patients with type 2 diabetes. A recent study published in the International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine revealed that triphala helps to regularize blood sugar and cholesterol levels in the body.
Bhibitaka and phytochemicals promote insulin secretin from the pancreas there by lowering sugar levels and improving resistance of insulin.
7. Anti-ageing and longevity
Triphala extracts affect the very gene expression of human cells and stimulates collagen and elastin synthesizing genes that contribute to your anti-ageing and longevity of life.
The photochemicals of this composition prevents cell damage and increases cellular antioxidants. These protective potential of triphala helps you live a long and healthy life.
8. Improves your Hair and Skin Quality
Triphala is also known to be popular for improving quality of hair in both males and females. Since, triphala aids digestive health, it inadvertently also makes your hair strong and luscious.
The antifungal and anti-bacterial properties of triphala can help you deal with skin conditions like severe acne and eczema.
To conclude
Ayurveda and Ayurvedic products have gained wide acceptance and momentum all around the world. This ‘Rasa Shastra’ or the science of herbs is being used to treat a number of health conditions.
What started in Apna Bharat has spread across the Mediterranean, United States and Canada, and Western Europe. It’s about time more of us desis adopt the Triphala route to a holistic lifestyle!
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