Amla or Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis) is the fruit of this deciduous tree found mainly in India. This plant belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae. The fruit of this plant is round shaped with vertical stripes. It is greenish yellow in color and tastes sour. The fruit is fibrous in nature. The fruit is sometimes eaten along with salt. Amla is rich in natural vitamin C. This fruit is used as the main ingredient in the ayurvedic tonic Chyavanprash. It is also used along with several other herbs as an ayurvedic tonic.
The Indian gooseberry or Amla has cooling, diuretic and laxative properties. It helps in cleansing the mouth, and strengthens teeth and bones. It increases the red blood cell count and helps to promote good health. It helps to reduce pitter. It also has antioxidant properties. Apart from vitamin C, amla also contains cytokine like substances such as zeatin. The dried Amla fruit is useful in the treatment of Hemorrhage, diarrhea, and dysentery.
Amla has laxative properties and therefore useful in the treatment of constipation and piles. It also has antibacterial properties and helps in preventing infections and healing ulcers. It also helps in preventing skin infections. Amla has cell rejuvenating properties and therefore used in maintaining good health of skin and hair. It is widely used in preparation of hair shampoos. Amla helps to keep the hair glossy and shining.
It also helps to prevent dandruff. Amla is also known to have anti aging properties.
Amla is the richest source of natural vitamin C .It provides upto 900mg/ 100 g of juice of the fresh fruit. It has the same amount of ascorbic acid or vitamin C present in two oranges. Due to high Vitamin C content Amla has anti oxidative properties. Amla also has carminative properties. It helps in maintaining a health y digestive system. It is used in the preparation of many gastrointestinal ayurvedic tonics. Amla also has many therapeutic properties. It is used as a cardiotonic, aphrodisiac, and antipyretic medicine. Some research studies have shown that Amla acts as antidiabetic too. Amla also helps to prevent respiratory disorders such as common cold, bronchitis, and other respiratory tract infections. The high content of vitamin C helps to boost the functioning of the immune system of the body and thereby helps in preventing a wide range of diseases. Amla is therefore included in most of the ayurvedic tonics as a general ingredient.
Amla also helps in improving body weight. It helps in increasing the total protein level due to positive nitrogen balance. Thus it is known to give an anabolic effect in the body. Amla is considered as one of the highly nutritious fruit. Apart from Vitamin C, Amla also provides many other essential minerals to the body. These minerals help in maintaining proper functioning of the metabolic activities of the body. Amla contains minerals such as chromium, zinc, and copper. The chromium present in it helps in its anti diabetic effect. Amla is also used in the treatment of gastritis. It was found to be very effective in the treatment of heartburn due to increased hydrochloric acid secretion of the stomach. Amla helps patients suffering from epigastric pain.
