amalaki :

General Use:

Amla is best anti-ageing herb (vayastapna).
It improves vision and good for overall health of eyes (chakshushya).
This herb is useful to pacify all three dosha (sarvangdosha) in various disorders of body.
It is very effective in various bleeding disorders (rakatpittaghna).
Amla is anti-diabetic and reduces sugar level in urine (premaghna).
The herb has aphrodisiac properties (virshya) and help to reduce burning sensation (dahahara).
This herb is very effective for heart (hirya) and also useful in fever (jwarghna).
It is used to improve voice, sore throat and various disorders related to throat (kanthya).
Amlaki powder is also used in the preparation of salt i.evidalavana.
This herb protect us from various viral, fungal and bacterial infections.

Therapeutic Uses:

Amla for weight loss

Amla being rich in nutrients and anti oxidants is useful in weight loss. For this purpose, its powder – half a teaspoon 2 times a day before food is advised along with a teaspoon of honey. Honey being anti kapha, is useful in weight loss and also it potentiates the effect of amla

Amalki with Aloe vera juice – for liver health, radiant skin and long hair.

Gooseberry, mint leaves and jaggery in hot water – useful to have a calm stomach, useful in acid peptic disorders.

Amla candy – usually made with sugar or jaggery. It is good for gastritis, to gain weight and to cool down the body during summer.

Amla for skin diseases

Charaka Chikitsa Sthana 7/70

Administration of Lelitaka (purified Sulphur) along with the with the juice of Amla together with honey is the remedy par excellence for the cure of 18 types of Kustha (skin diseases).

Amla in Takradhara

Use of Amla in Takradhara procedure:

Takradhara is a traditional Ayurvedic procedure used for the treatment of psoriasis, hypertension etc. Here, medicated buttermilk is poured over a particular body part for a specified period of time.

To prepare the medicated buttermilk (Takra), amla is used, as below.

The powder of Amalaki and water are taken in the mentioned proportions

They are heated on moderate fire on the stove until 1/6th of water remains (i.e. until 38 tola – 456 grams)

The contents are filtered

To this equal quantity of sour buttermilk – 38 tola (456 grams) is added

The medicine for Takra Dhara is ready for use

Amla for dysuria

Tree turmeric (Daruharidra) with the juice of Amalaki – Phyllanthus emblica mixed with honey is useful in curing Paittika type of Dysuria. – Charaka Chikitsa Sthana 26/53

Amla during periods

During periods, Vata and Pitta Dosha can go up. Amla balances both these two Doshas, hence very useful during periods. But if the bleeding is less or periods are occurring late (once in more than six weeks), then it is best to avoid Amla.

Amla remedies for grey hair

(consult your doctor for the right advice)

Amla with Coconut Oil: 1 cup coconut oil + 2 tbsp amla powder.

Boil coconut oil in a pan and add this powder to it. Heat it till this mixture turns dark brown. Store this oil in a bottle and use regularly.

Amla With Almond Oil: heat almond oil and add this powder to it. Allow it to boil until it becomes dark in color. Let this oil cool and then pour it into a bottle.

Amla With Lemon Juice: Mix gooseberry powder with a few drops of lemon juice and 1 tbsp of curd to make a smooth paste. Apply this paste on the scalp and leave for 45 minutes. Wash it off with warm water. Repeat this remedy every alternate day until you see positive results

Can I leave amla powder on hair overnight?

It may cause dryness of hair.

If you wish to leave amla powder on hair, better to make a paste with sesame oil or coconut oil, Apply it on hair. Next day, morning, wash the hair. This way, there will not be dryness of hair and you will benefit due to the good effects of Amla.

The same thing can be done with other herbs that benefit hair – such as hibiscus flower powder or Bhringaraja or wild indigo.

Systemic Use:

It is one of the intelligence promoter widely used in the form of rasAyana chikitsa.

AmalakI is beneficial to patients with itching sensation, obstinate skin diseases, fever, uncontrolled thirst, burning sensation within the channels of the body, anorexia etc.

The fresh juice and raw fruits of AmalakI is cold in potency, tastier to drink, sweetish in taste, alleviates kapha doSha, reduces fever and burning sensation. It promotes virility and increases the lifespan of the individual when taken in the prescribed format of dosages and rasayana therapy modality.

Administration:

Amla is extensively used in many Ayurvedic anti ageing medicines such as Brahma Rasayana, Chyawanprash etc. Amla fruit alone is also an excellent anti ageing recipe.

Charaka explains usage of amla fruit in the following manner for rejuvenation benefits:

Source: Charaka Chikitsa Sthana, 1.3/9-14

A person among the cows, living on cow milk for one year, mentally reciting Savitri Mantra with Celibacy (Brahmacharya) and controlled senses should at the end of the year,
On a suitable day of the white fortnight (15 days, leading to full moon day) of Pushya (January- February), Magha (February- March) or Phalguna (March-April), observe fast for 3 days and
Enter into a garden of Amalaki – Indian gooseberry fruit – Emblica officinalis.
He should then climb upon an Amalaki tree laden with big fruits.
Holding one such fruit in hand, he should stay there reciting Brahma Mantra (Omkara chanting) till the fruit gets impregnated with Amruta (Ambrosia).
Ambrosia will come to that fruit for a moment due to the Sacred effect of Mantra, these fruits become sweet like sugar and honey in taste, unctuous and soft.

Benefits:

Long life with youthfulness regained, depending on number of Amla fruits he takes in this process.

He becomes brilliant, like the Gods. He will be blessed with Shree (auspiciousness), the Vedas (knowledge) and Vak (Divine oration power) .