Triphala Churna । Health Benefits And Uses

You all might have heard the word “Triphala Churna” and some might have already used it or using daily. There are different types of churna such as Swalpa Triphala churna, Madhura Triphala churna, Sogandbi Triphala churna, etc.

People new to this word might question what is Triphala. The answer, in short, the Triphala is an herbal formula used in the ancient science of Ayurveda. That is a mixture of three fruits known as ‘myrobalan plum’ they are Amalaki, Haritaki, and Bibhitaki. The word ‘Triphala’ translates to these three fruits.

There is a saying in India “No Mother” no worry if you have “Triphala”.This is an allusion which is the belief that Triphala takes care of the internal organs in the same way a mother cares for her children.

Triphala also called “Triphala” has innumerable benefits, mainly due to its composition of 3 powerful healing herbs. In Ayurveda, Triphala is known as ‘Rasayana tridoshic’, which means it balances or has rejuvenating effects on the three main constitutional elements vata-pitta-kapha that govern human life.

It regulates Vata, maintains metabolic processes in pitta, and balances the nervous system that supports the structural integrity in kapha.

The Properties of Triphala Churna

The properties of Triphala depend on the properties of individual herbs that are used in it.

1. Amalaki

Also known as Indian gooseberry has the richest source of vitamin C among all fruits and vegetables. It is a light green fruit with a bitter taste due to its acidic content.

The fruit is cooling and refreshing along with laxative and purgative properties. As it is rich in vitamin C, it accelerates blood clotting and heals wounds. It has also been used to regenerate lost sexual vigor in both men and women.

2. Bibhitaki

It is an herb with a bitter taste also popularly known as Behra. Like the Amalaki, it also has the property of the healing wound. It is a remedy for a laxative, it reduces Fever and therefore it can be used as an antipyretic drug.

3. Haritaki

It is one of the smoothest and safest used medicine in Ayurveda for a laxative. It prevents Blood clotting, improves the functioning of the stomach, and aids digestion.

Haritaki is used to improve the nutritional imbalances in the system and looks after the entire digestive, absorptive, assimilative, and excretory process. Triphala which is made from these three valuable herbs is a real boon to Ayurveda.

Besides this, there are also other three types of Triphala that are mentioned in “Nighantu and the Nirukta” the oldest Indian treatise on etymology, philology, and semantics. Below are the other types.

Types of Triphala

1. Swalpa Triphala Churna: The combination of Draksha, kharjura, and parushaka fruits together is called “Swalpa Triphala’.

2. Madhura Triplrala Churna: The combination of Draksha, kharjura, and kasuiarya fruits together is called “swadu Triphala”. It is beneficial to vision, and the appetizer promotes the desire for food and is useful in alleviating irregular fever.

3.Sogandbi Triphala Churna: The combination of Jatiphalam, ela, and lavangam constitute is called “Sugandhi Triphala”. It is astringent, sweet in vipaka, and useful in breaking constipation in kapha and vata doshas.

Ayurvedic Properties of Triphala :

• Rasa:- Kasaya
• Gun:- Ruksha, Sara
• Virya:- Anusha
• Vipaka:- Madhura
• Doshashnata:- Tridoshasaniaka
• Karma:- Chaksusys, Dipana, Vrishya, Prameha, Kustha, vishamajarnashaka, medohara

The Traditional Uses of Swalpa Triphala

1. It Helps To Lose Weight

Obesity occurs for many reasons but one of the main reasons found in more people is congestion of the internal organs of elimination including the liver and intestines. A recent study supports the traditional use of Triphala in the treatment of obesity.

Researchers at (Biomedical Research Centre) found that Triphala’s active molecules bind to the cellular receptor for CCK (Cholecystokinin). This CCK is a satiety hormone that is released to indicate that you are full. The research on Synthetic analogs of CCK is under development by pharmaceutical companies.

This will help control appetite and support a healthy weight. Both overeating and disrupting digestion lead to the overload of the gastrointestinal tract including the liver and intestine resulting in obesity. In this condition, Triphala proves to be very effective in removing the stagnation of both the liver and intestines.

2. It Helps To Control Diabetes

Triphala is found very effective in the treatment of diabetes (Mellitus). It helps to stimulate the pancreas which contains islets of Langerhans which secrete insulin. Insulin is responsible for maintaining the appropriate level of glucose in the body.

A study done on rats by the (American Botanical Council) demonstrated that Triphala reduced the blood glucose levels in diabetic rats. The study concluded that the mechanism of action of these extracts in reducing blood glucose is not known, but may decrease the effect of inflammatory release cytokine in diabetics, which in turn may reduce insulin resistance.

Moreover, it was found that traditional medicines used to treat diabetes also have more significant antioxidant effects.

3. It Helps In Gouty Arthritis

There are various types of arthritis among this “gouty arthritis” that are found in five percent of cases that have artists. It is a painful condition that is believed to be due to the accumulation of deposits of uric acid in the joints.

According to the theory of Ayurveda, the state of the colon is important in determining the condition of the bones. Vata absorption by the colon goes to the bones and causes arthritis. As Triphala is believed to be good for the colon it can be best in the treatment of arthritis.

4. If Helps In Digestion

Overall health depends on a healthy digestive system if our digestive is not proper it may create a home of many diseases. Here Triphala can be very helpful as it is not habit-forming one can use it in the long term without any side effects.

The regular use of Triphala will benefit people suffering from constipation. Triphala can be used to treat constipation in all three doshas. It works by stimulating gastric mucosal of the intestinal tract and balances digestion by removing toxins from the intestinal tract.

5. It Boosts Immunity

Triphala has powerful antioxidant properties that help to regulate the metabolism of cells and facilitate smooth functioning. This reduces the risk of the overall production of free radicals which is supposed to be the main reason for aging. Triphala stimulates the functioning of cell organelles such as mitochondria, Golgi bodies, and a nucleus which play a vital role in the proper functioning of the cell.

6. It Helps In Wound Healing

Ayurveda text “Susruta Samhita” recommends Triphala as a remedy that is good for the purification of a wound. There is modern research that supports that Triphala has properties that promote the healing of infected full-thickness dermal wounds. The study focused on two different effects of Triphala. The results were as follows.

• It was shown that an alcoholic extract of Triphala has proven effective against wound pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes.

• An ointment made of Triphala was proven effective in wound closure. It was found that the effect of an ointment made of Triphala cured the infected wound faster. Thus concluded that the active ingredients of Triphala can be an excellent therapeutic formulation for infected wounds.

7. It Has Antioxidant & Free Radical Properties

The research has been done on in vitro antioxidant and free radical reactions of Triphala. A study on Ayurvedic formulation and its constituents evaluated that water extracts each healing property from Triphala.

The study, done on rats found that all three compounds were effective in inhibiting gamma radiation breaking into the plasmid DNA.

8. It Prevents Cancer

A study on the Potential of the traditional ayurvedic formulation “Triphala” has made some very important observations on the effectiveness of Triphala against cancer.

The study was done on the cytotoxic effects of Triphala in a cell line of human breast cell cancer and thymic lymphoma tissue when transplanted into a mouse.

The study found that the viability of the cell lines was reduced when Triphala concentrations were increased. Furthermore, it was discovered that normal breast cells, along with other normal cells were not affected.

This important study points to the potential for clinical treatments of cancer with Triphala. So it is a future hope for cancer treatment.

Note: Pregnant women must start taking any new herbal supplements during gestation. Although amla which is one of the ingredients used in Triphala is recommended for lactating mothers Triphala does not advise it as there is a risk that the properties that make cleansing may be beneficial to mothers but could prove toxic to a developing fetus.