Amla undeniably a powerhouse of nutrients. It is a very delicious fruit. Amla is also known as Indian Gooseberry. Amla Botanical name is Emblica Officinalis. This herb is a little fruit stuffed with versatile and miraculous health benefits. It is world's best recognized herb and edible fruit rich in vitamin C. Amla is the best natural source of this vitamin which helps in keeping the skin healthy and strengthens the immune system of the body. It is also a very good antioxidant that can prevent ageing and rejuvenate the cellular structure keeping it young and healthy for a long time. The herb prevents our body from bacterial and viral aliments like cold and cough.

It is used in various forms because of its many health benefits. One can use it as a Amla fruit juice, Amla powder form or as a whole fresh fruit. In Ayurveda Amla is best used to make the equilibrium of three major powers of body (tridosha) i.e vata, pitta and kapha.

It belongs to Phyllanthaceae family. The Latin name of the plant is Emblica officinalis.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF AMLA PLANT

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

SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT AMLA PLANT

विद्यादामलके सर्वान् रसांल्लवणवर्जितान्||१४७||
रूक्षं स्वादु कषायाम्लं कफपित्तहरं परम्|

Above mentioned shalok is from Charak sutrasthana 27. In this shalok special feature of amla is described that this contain all five rasa except salt. This plant is rooksha (dry), astringent and swadu (sweet) in taste. It helps in making balance of kapha and pitta.

AMLA NAMES

• Amla English Name – Indian Gooseberry
• Amla Latin Name – Emblica officinalis
• Amla Hindi Name – Amla    
• Amla Sanskrit Name – Amalki, Dhatri, Shriphala, Amrutaphala, Vayasya, Tishyaphala, Sheetaphala.
• Amla Malayalam Name – Nelli
• Amla Kannada Name - Nelli
• Amla Telugu Name – Useeri kaya, Usheeri kaya.
• Amla Tamil Name - Nellikai
• Amla Farsi Name– Amlaj
• Amla Tibetan Name – Kyu-ru-ra

CLASSIFICATION

• Kingdom - Plantae
• Family - Phyllanthaceae
• Order - Malpighiales
• Genus - Phyllanthus

HABITAT

Amla is a very common plant in India. It can be easily found growing in semi – arid regions and plains of northern India. Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are preferable subtropical area for cultivation of amla. The fruits are available from October till May during which time they are also collected and preserved in large numbers to be made available during the rest of the year.

A number of recipes and medicinal preparations of Amla are available which can always be enjoyed.

AMLA AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES

AMLA EFFECTS ON DOSHA

Amla balances all three doshas (Vata, Pitta & Kapha) in body.

ANCIENT VERSE ABOUT AMLA (EMBLICA OFFICINALIS)

Vaysya, amalaki, vrishya, jatifala, shiv, dhatrifala, shrifala, and amritfala are various synonyms of this herb. Amalak, dhatri, tishyafala and amrita are Sanskrit names of amla. All the effects of this herb are equivalent to haritaki. Special features of this herb is to cure bleeding disorders (rakta pitta) and diabetes (prameha). It is aphrodisiac (virshya) and anti-ageing (rasayan). Its sour taste is used to pacify vata dosha, sweet taste and cool effects help to pacify pitta dosha and dry (rookash) and pungent taste pacifies kapha dosha in body. Hence this herb is used to make the equilibrium of tridosha. Virya of seeds and fruits are also same.

PRACTICAL USES OF AMLA (EMBLICA OFFICINALIS)

• 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.e vida lavana.
• This herb protect us from various viral, fungal and bacterial infections.

DOSAGE

• Powder/churna – 1-3 gm