Triphala Benefits for Better Health

Triphala is one of the most highly prized formulas in traditional Ayurvedic medicine and it can have some remarkable benefits for your health.

The name itself means ‘three fruits’ and it is made by combining preparations of dried and powdered bibhitaki, haritaki and amalaki (commonly known as amla).

Each of these powerful fruits have their own beneficial properties but, according to Ayurveda, when they are combined the results are amplified.

Triphala is especially revered for its ability to aid in balancing the three doshas – vata, pitta and kapha. In Ayurvedic understanding
, inbalances in the doshas can affect you not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well.

It’s beyond the scope of this page to do justice to all the complexity of the doshas in Ayurveda. But I’ve certainly found physical internal cleansing with this triphala powder has improved both my mental focus and general outlook on life since I’ve been taking it.

Triphala for Internal Cleansing and Rejuvenating

Triphala is rare in its ability to cleanse and detoxify the human body while simultaneously strengthening and nourishing it. Working as a gentle laxative, it stimulates the peristaltic actions of the intestines to improve elimination whilst removing toxins.

At the same time it is said to rejuvenate the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, providing favorable conditions for the beneficial bacteria that our immune systems rely on so much.

With your intestinal health improved, digestion and importantly assimilation of the food and nutrients you eat is also enhanced. As we’ll see ahead, this can be especially beneficial for weight loss, as well as general tiredness and fatigue and a whole host of different illnesses.

Triphala is believed to be a powerful liver cleanser and detoxifier, to improve gallbladder function and to rejuvenate and strengthen the kidneys. It is even prescribed in India as a treatment for kidney stones.

Perhaps due to its beneficial effects on the liver, triphala is often recommended as an effective blood purifier. The amla fruit it contains in particular is extremely rich in antioxidants to improve circulation and promote healthy cellular regeneration.

One important precaution though when taking triphala is that it shouldn’t be used by pregnant women. There are a couple of other potential side effects of triphala to be aware of as well that are covered on the next page.

Skin, Hair and Eyes

All of these triphala benefits not only improve your health and well-being internally, they can also enhance your appearance.

Your skin’s complexion often shows the effectiveness, or otherwise, of your internal organs at elimination and removing toxins, particularly your liver. Many people report much better skin and the clearing up of various skin diseases after effective internal cleanses. The nourishing properties and antioxidant content of triphala make it especially beneficial as a way to improve your skin from the inside.

As important as our hair may be to us, it’s right down on your body’s list of priorities. As such, it’s one of the first to miss out when nutrients are scarce and is usually one of the places that shows up long-term deficiencies and imbalances.

Whether it be with hair loss, graying hair or even just dry, brittle and lifeless strands, consistently poor hair quality is a reliable sign that you are lacking certain elements nutritionally.

Interestingly, triphala is often reported as effective at promoting hair growth. Amla, one of its three ingredients, in particular is well known for its beneficial effect on your hair. But it’s just as likely that improving your digestive system will give the hair back what it needs to grow properly.

Your eyes are another area that can be heavily impacted by a tired liver and poor intestinal health. Triphala has been described as one of the best herbal preparations for healthy eyes. It has being prescribed to treat dry eyes, strained vision, eye redness and more serious eye disorders like cataract and glaucoma.

Taking it internally for its antioxidants and other nutrients would be valuable for improving your eyes, but you can also make at triphala eye wash which many have found amazingly effective. I’ll go into detail about how to make it ahead.

Other Triphala Health Benefits

Triphala is indicated for many ailments in Ayurvedic medicine and is indeed seen as something of a cure-all due to its balancing, cleansing and nourishing properties.

Some of the most commonly reported benefits of triphala include using it as a treatment for irritable bowel syndrome, to help lower blood pressure, regulate blood sugar and as an effective weight-loss treatment.

It has antibacterial and antiviral properties to help improve your immunity and is a rich source of a broad range of antioxidants to neutralize free radical damage.

Triphala has even shown promising results in animal studies on treating arthritis, high cholesterol levels and certain types of cancer.

With such a broad range of disorders reported to respond to taking triphala, it’s perhaps best to think of it not so much as a treatment for individual diseases, but more as a natural way to bring the body back into balance and clear out blockages and imbalances, no matter what label we may put on them.

Taking Triphala

Fortunately triphala is now readily available in the States. Looking for a good formula with organic ingredients I found the Banyan Botanicals preparation and have been very happy with the results.

Some people prefer capsules and while I feel that powdered whole fruits are better personally, many report great results with these capsules.

There are different ways and times to take triphala which I’ll be covering ahead. I think there’s a lot of need for this ancient Ayurvedic healing formula in today’s world. Perhaps you know someone worth sharing this information with.

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Photo 1 credit with thanks: Joe Munday
Photo 2 credit with thanks: Alaskan Dude