amalaki :

Morphology:

Deciduous tree medium in height grows up to 8 meter with slightly curved trunk. Branchlets are finely pubescent 10-20 cm long. Leaves are finely and closely set along the branchlets. Leaves have pinnate resemblance, very tiny, simple and attached by the base to branchlets. Color of flowers are yellowish. This tree contains hard, smooth and spherical fruit yellowish green in color with six vertical stripes. Taste of Indian gooseberry is sour, bitter and astringent and edible fruit is a great source of fiber.

Seed kernel qualities

Amla seed kernel is sweet and astringent. It is

Vrushya – natural aphrodisiac

Pradara – uterine bleeding disorders such as menorrhagia, metrorrhagia etc

Chardi – vomiting

Balances Vata and Pitta

Kasahara – relieves cold and cough

But seed kernel should be avoided during excessive diarrhea, abdominal colic, purpueral disorders and in pure Vata conditions.

Laghu – light to digest

Kashaya – astringent

Balances Kapha and Vata Dosha

Madakrut – can cause intoxication on excess use.