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Terminalia Chebula
Ayurvedic Herbal Rejuvenating Herb
Haritaki or Terminalia chebula - the great herbal base and
additive with mild Colonic cleanse properties. It is a good herbal detox that
can be used daily without any ill effects and with great side benefits. In
Ayurveda, its potential is fully explored and used holistically.
Sanskrit Name:
Haritaki, Abhaya (banishing
the fear of diseases), Pathya (The good even as dietary aid), Sudha (for
purification or as good as nectar), Bhisakpriya (lovely to Ayurveda Doctors),
Vayastha (stabilizing youthfulness).
English Name:
Chebulic myrobalan, Myrobalan,
Ink nut, the Ink tree, Indian gall-nut, Gallnut.
Latin Name:
Terminalia chebula;
Family:
Combretaceae.
French Name:
Badamier chebule.
German Name:
Rispiger Myrobalanenbaum.
Medicinal Parts:
Dried fruit, urnipe fruit and
ripe fruit, galls; mostly the outer dried part surrounding the seed is used.
Dosage Of Terminalia
chebula:
3-6 gm. of the powder or decotion or
extract (equivalent) in liquid, syrup, tablet or capsule form. Mostly with other
herbal formulations as well.
Habitat:
It is abundant in Northern India and southwards to
Deccan region.
About The Plant:
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The tree is tall about 50-80 ft. in height.
It has rounded crown and spreading branches.
-
The bark is dark brown
with some longitudinal cracks.
-
Leaves are ovate and
elliptical, with two large glands at the top of petiole.
-
The fruit or drupe is about 1-2 inches in size. It has five lines
or five ribs on
the outer skin.
-
Fruit is green when unripe; and yellowish grey when ripe.
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Fruits are collected from January to April.
Fruit formation starts from November to January.
Species In Ayurveda:
|
S.No. |
Species Name |
Feature |
Use |
Place of Origin |
|
1) |
Vijaya |
Oval |
All the diseases |
Vindhya |
|
2) |
Rohini |
Circular |
In wounds and Ulcers |
Pratisthanka |
|
3) |
Putana |
Little, very hard |
As a dressing |
Sindha |
|
4) |
Amrita |
Thick outer Layer |
For purification purpose |
Champa, Bhagalpur |
|
5) |
Abhaya |
Having 5 lines |
For eye disorders |
Champa, Bhagalpur |
|
6) |
Jivanti |
Golden color |
For all diseases |
Saurastra, Gujarat |
|
7) |
Chetaki - White |
Having 3 lines |
For purgation |
Saurastra, Gujarat |
|
8) |
Chetaki - Black |
Having 3 lines |
For purgation |
Himachal |
-
For
practical purposes, the fruit of myrobalan is of three types -
actually these are the different stages of maturity of fruit. 1) Small
myrobalan - the unripe fruit. 2) Yellow myrobalan - After the development of
seed, the adult stage of the fruit. 3) Large myrobalan - the fully matured
fruit.
Chemical Composition Of The Fruit
Of Terminalia Chebula:
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The myrobalan fruit has tannin (24-32%).
-
The chief constituents of this tannin is
Chebulagic acid,
Chebulinic acid, Corilagin and gallic acid.
-
It has 18 amino acids, sugar, phosphoric acid, sucicinic acid
and some other acids in minute quantities.
-
The concentration of tannin decreases in fruit as it matures
and the acidity increases.
-
Resin and purgative
principle of anthraquinone and sennoside nature is also present.
-
The seed pulp has a yellow colored oil.
The Ayurvedic Properties Of
Terminalia Chebula:
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Qualities: light, dry.
-
Taste: Astringent dominant, with
5 tastes without Salt;
(Astringent, sweet, sour, bitter, pungent).
-
Vipaka: Sweet.
-
Active Principle: hot.
-
Special effect: Normalizing all the three humors.
Ayurvedic Herbal
Compounds Of Terminalia chebula:
There is a large
number of Ayurveda products that contain haritaki. Some of them that has
chebulic myrobalan as chief ingredient are -
-
Abhaya modaka or Large tablet - very useful in constipation
-
Abhayaristham - a low alcoholic auto fermented liquid
preparation useful in abdominal problems, constipation and piles.
-
Pathyadi vati or tablet
- good for abdominal problems, piles.
-
Pathyadi decoction - useful in headaches of all kinds.
-
Vyaghri Haritaki - The herbal gem or electuary preparation
very useful in bronchitis, cough, cold.
-
Chitraka Haritaki - The herbal electuary very useful in
Sinusitis, Nasal allergy, Chronic Coryza etc.
-
Agastya Haritaki - The herbal gem useful in bronchitis,
Tuberculosis, Asthma, cough etc.
-
Danti Haritaki - The herbal gem very useful as purgative.
-
Haritaki Khanda -The sweet granules preparation useful in
Urticaria, Constipation and Headache.
-
Pathyadi Powder - The herbal powder useful in abdominal
disorders.
-
Triphala - The combination with equal quantities of three
myrobalans - chebulic, belleric and embelic.
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