Triphala has long been known in Ayurvedic medicine as a remedy for intestinal complaints. We show you which active ingredients the herb mixture has, what it is traditionally used for and which effects have actually been proven.
Triphala is a traditional “herbal mixture” from Ayurdaya, which has been used medicinally in India for over 1000 years. it consists of three herbs or fruits of different trees, that are native to Southeast Asia:
- Amalaki,
- Bibhitaki
- and Haritaki.
In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Triphala is mainly used against intestinal complaints and as a laxative. The mixture is also said to protect against tooth decay and prevent cancer. We show you which active ingredients Triphala has, how the mixture is traditionally used and which effects have actually been proven.
Ayurveda is the oldest medical system in the world. It has also been a trend for us for some time now and has even made a permanent entry into local medicine. If you want to learn more about Ayurveda and Ayurvedic nutrition, you can find more information in our guide:
Triphala and its components
Triphala consists of three herbs – strictly speaking three fruits – that grow on various trees common in Southeast Asia. They all come from the family of myrobalans, a genus of winged plants that thrive mainly in tropical areas. The individual fruits have the following properties:
- Amalaki (Emblica officinalis): The fruit of the Amla tree, the Amla berry, is also known as the “Indian goose berry”. It is popular in Indian medicine and beauty care due to its high content vitamin C, Amino acids, minerals and fatty acids popular. The one obtained from the berry Amla Oil makes hair healthier, accelerates hair growth and combats hair parasites and fungi. The berry is also edible, for example as a component of various vegetable dishes and pickled sweet or sour. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is said to help against constipation and prevent cancer with its antioxidants. Researchers were able to contribute to the cancer-preventing effect in vitro Uterus- and cervical cancer even prove it – but not yet on humans.
- Bibhitaki (Bahera tree – Terminalia bellirica): Bibhitaki is the Sanskrit name of a tree that is particularly common in Southeast Asia. The fruit of the tree has long been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a remedy for bacterial and viral infections. Especially theirs tannins and polyphenols are said to be responsible for this effect. Even against a high blood sugar level, the contained ones should gallic acid and ellagic acid help, which is why the fruit is also used against diabetes. It is also said to be anti-inflammatory. In the past, the seeds of the fruit were usually used as dice in gambling.
- Haritaki (Black Myrobalans – Terminalia chebula): The black myrobalane grows in the Middle East as well as in India, China and Thailand. The plant is called “Haritaki” in Sanskrit – its green fruits are part of the triphala mixture. In Ayurveda, this fruit is very popular and is also considered the “King of Medicine”. It is said to help against a whole range of complaints: asthma, heart diseases, stomach ulcers and others Gastrointestinal diseases, Like Bibhitaka, it contains Tannins and flavonoids, gallic and ellagic acids, That is why it also has anti-inflammatory effects, antioxidant and hypoglycemic. Haritaki, like the other ingredients, mainly helps proven in case of constipation,
Triphala: application and effects
You can take Triphala in different ways, for example as a capsule, powder or in liquid form. Depending on the complaints under which you are suffering, different forms of application are suitable. Various studies have examined the medical effects.
- As an oral drink: 1 glass of warm water with a teaspoon of triphala powder and a teaspoon honey Stir well and drink between meals. This is how the mixture works best and does not affect the digestion of your food too much.
- As a mouthwash: Add about a teaspoon of triphala powder to a glass of boiled water and rinse your mouth thoroughly repeatedly.
- An ideal amount is 500 milligrams to one gram a day. The amount was increased in some experiments only with very severe constipation.
Triphala and its components have different ingredients, some of which have been proven to have positive effects. Two major meta studies from the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine (2017) and the Chinese Medicine Journal (2018) brought together the following effects:
- Laxative effect: Triphala has been shown to have a particularly laxative effect. It has been known for this effect for hundreds of years. This is exactly why you should be careful never to consume too much of the Ayurvedic herbal mixture.
- Antioxidant & cancer preventive: The Chinese Medicine Journal identified various antioxidant polyphenols such as Flavonoids in Triphala that can help fight cancer. Triphala has been shown to help in mice stomach cancer and even a positive effect was shown in vitro Prostate and dam cancer prove.
- Good for tooth decay: By thoroughly rinsing your mouth with Triphala you can Reduce plaque and prevent inflammation of the palate,
- Good for intestinal bacteria: The active ingredients of Triphala have a beneficial effect on the growth of healthy intestinal bacteria (Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus). At the same time, they reduce the growth of harmful intestinal bacteria. The Chinese Medicine Journal blames various acids such as bile acid, chebulic acid and ellagic acid. They have an antibacterial and fungicidal effect, which is why they also help irritable bowel should help.
- Lowering blood sugar and reducing fat: Triphala is said to be one Study in mice Lower triglycerides in the blood and reduce visceral belly fat. The Mice decreased noticeably simply by adding triphala with a high-fat diet.
Caution! What to look for when taking Triphala:
- Consuming too much can flush out too many nutrients and mess up your electrolyte balance.
- Children and pregnant women should not take Triphala. There is still no clear understanding of how the mix affects these groups. Under certain circumstances, their effect could be too strong.
- Triphala can be weaken the effectiveness of medication due to the laxative effect.