Triphala
Triphala (/triːˈfɑːlə/ or /triːˈfælə/; Hindi/Sanskrit: त्रिफला, triphalā [trɪˈpʰɐlaː], “three fruits”)[1] is an Ayurvedic[2] herbal rasayana formula consisting of equal parts of three myrobalans, taken without seed: Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), Bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica), and Haritaki (Terminalia chebula).[1]
Contents
Medicinal use
In traditional Ayurvedic medicine, Triphala is used for:
- immune system stimulation[3]
- improvement of digestion[1][4]
- relief of constipation[1][4]
- gastrointestinal tract cleansing[4]
- relief of gas (carminative)[1]
- treatment of diabetes[1]
- treatment of eye disease[1]
These health claims have not been yet tested in clinical trials on humans. Even within the practice of Ayurvedic medicine, there are controversies about the composition (amlaki, haritaki and bibhitaki), preparation, and medicinal uses of Triphala.[5]
Active constituents
The active constituents are unknown. Triphala contains several compounds that have been proposed to be responsible for its claimed health benefits, including gallic acid, chebulagic acid, and chebulinic acid.[6][7]
Contemporary research on triphala
There is preliminary evidence that Triphala contains compounds with antioxidant properties in isolated cells and rats, but this has not yet been demonstrated in people.[6][8][9][10] Triphala has significant immunostimulatory effects on cellular immune response, especially cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells.[11] Triphala extract significantly prevents selenite induced experimental cataractogenesis in vitro and in vivo for rats.[12]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia committee. The Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, 2nd English ed. New Delhi: Controller of Publications; 2003
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Juss SS. Triphala - the wonder drug. Indian Med Gaz 1997;131:94-6.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Nadkarni AK. Indian Materia Medica. 3rd ed. Mumbai: Popular Press; 1976. p. 1308-15.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Pawar V, Lahorkar P, Anantha Narayana DB. Development of a RP-HPLC method for analysis of Triphala curna and its applicability to test variations in Triphala curna preparations. Indian J Pharm Sci [serial online] 2009 [cited 2010 Aug 1];71:382-6. Available from: http://www.ijpsonline.com/text.asp?2009/71/4/382/57286
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
