Ayurveda And Amala (Amalaki) – Gift of Nature
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Ayurveda or Ayurvedic medicine is an ancient system of health care that is native to the Indian subcontinent. It is presently in daily use by millions of people in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and indirectly through it being the major influence on Unani, Chinese and Tibetan Medicine. The word "Ayurveda" is a tatpurusha compound of the word āyus meaning "life" or "life principle", and the word veda, which refers to a system of "knowledge". Thus "Ayurveda" roughly translates as the "knowledge of life". According to Charaka Samhita, "life" itself is defined as the "combination of the body, sense organs, mind and soul, the factor responsible for preventing decay and death, which sustains the body over time, and guides the processes of rebirth" [1][2] According to this perspective, Ayurveda is concerned with measures to protect "ayus", which includes healthy living along with therapeutic measures that relate to physical, mental, social and spiritual harmony. Ayurveda is also one among the few traditional systems of medicine to contain a sophisticated system of surgery (which is referred to as "salya-chikitsa").
Amalaki :-
Amalaki or Indian Gooseberry fruit has the richest source of natural Vitamin C. It is an essential component of Chyavanaprasha, a well-known rejuvenative tonic, and Triphala, a digestive formula.
Amalaki is a small to medium-sized tree with a crooked trunk and spreading branches, the grayish-green bark peeling off in flakes. The branchlets are glabrous or finely pubescent, 10-20 cm long, usually deciduous; the leaves simple, subsessile and closely set along branchlets, light green, resembling pinnate leaves. The flowers are greenish-yellow, borne in axillary fascicles, giving way to a globose fruit with a greenish-yellow flesh and six furrows, enclosing a stone with six seeds. Amalaki is native to tropical southeastern Asia, particularly in central and southern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, southern China and the Mascarene Islands. It is commonly cultivated in gardens throughout India and grown commercially as a medicinal fruit (Warrier et al 1995, 256; Kirtikar and Basu 1935, 2220-21).
Wide Range of Benefits :
There are many benefits that Amalaki imparts that are mentioned in Ayurvedic texts. Let me list some of them:
1. Excellent source of Vitamin C. Amalaki is the most concentrated form of Vitamin C found in the plant kingdom, and when the whole fruit is used rather than an active ingredient, the Vitamin C is easily assimilated by the human body. The Vitamin C in the Amalaki fruit is bonded with tannins that protect it from being destroyed by heat or light.
2. Enhances food absorption. The regular use of Amla-Berry tablets can strengthen digestion, absorption and assimilation of food. People taking it notice that they enjoy the taste of food better. It enhances all thirteen digestive fires (Agni). But it works more slowly and gently than ginger or other digestion-enhancing herbs, so it can be taken by people with a lot of Pitta without fear of creating excess stomach acid. In addition, it improves assimilation of iron for healthy blood.
3. Balances stomach acids. Because it improves digestion but does not heat the body, Amla-Berry is ideal for calming mild to moderate hyperacidity and other Pitta-related digestive problems. It should always be taken with food in this case.
4. Fortifies the liver. Amla-Berry helps purify the Rasa Dhatu (nutrient fluid) and Rakta Dhatu (blood), thus supporting the functions of the liver. It also strengthens the liver, helping it in eliminating toxins from the body. Research shows that Amalaki helps lower cholesterol.
5. Nourishes the brain and mental functioning. Amla-Berry is good for the brain. It is medhya – nurturing for the mind and enhancing coordination among dhi (acquisition), dhriti (retention), and smriti (recall). It helps sharpen the intellect and mental functioning. It supports the nervous system and strengthens the senses.
6. Supports the heart. It is hridya, which means it nurtures the heart, blood and circulation. It supports the cardiovascular system. On the other hand, it sometimes acts as a cardiac stimulant. For this reason, if you have a heart condition, you should check with a medical doctor before using Amla-Berry tablets.
7. Strengthens the lungs. The Amla-Berry tablets help pacify Kapha dosha as well. Therefore, Amla-Berry is a wonderful tonic for strengthening and nourishing the lungs (which are a major seat of Kapha dosha in the body), and the entire respiratory tract. It also pacifies Shleshaka Kapha, which among other things governs moisture balance in the lungs.
8. Regulates elimination. Amla-Berry tablets pacify Apana Vata, thus helping with the downward flow of energy in the body. They keep the function of elimination regular and ease constipation.
9. Enhances fertility. By balancing Apana Vata and by nurturing all the dhatus (body tissues), Amla-Berry also keeps menstruation regular and healthy. Amla-Berry supports the reproductive systems of both men and women and can help overcome difficulty in conceiving. It is a vrishya herb, which means that it enhances all the seven tissues (dhatus), including the reproductive tissue. This herb nurtures the ovaries and sperm, and it has a property called garbhasthapana, which means it enhances fertility and the possibility of conception. It is especially nurturing for women, strengthening the uterus and supporting reproductive health.
10. Helps the urinary system. Because it enhances all the thirteen agnis (digestive fires) and supports Apana Vata, Amla-Berry is especially supportive to the urinary system and can be helpful if you experience a mild burning sensation while urinating. It supports natural diuretic action, but does not force water from the body like diuretic pills. In other words, it helps eliminate waste from the body but does not over-stimulate the urinary system.
11. Good for the skin. Because Amla-Berry strengthens digestion, helps the liver detoxify and is rich in Vitamin C and other minerals, it is very good for the complexion. Amla-Berry moisturizes the skin, cleanses the tissues of toxins, and supports immunity of the skin against bacterial infection. It helps enhance glow and luster.
12. Promotes healthier hair. Amla-Berry boosts absorption of calcium, thus creating healthier bones, teeth, nails and hair. It also helps maintain youthful hair color and retards premature graying, and supports the strength of the hair follicles, so there is less thinning with age.
13. Acts as a body coolant. Although Amla-Berry is good for all doshas and seasons, it is especially effective in the hot season to cool Pitta dosha. It is an especially good rasayana for people with Pitta and Vata body types.
14. Flushes out toxins. Individuals who have been eating "junk" food for a while tend to have accumulated deposits of preservatives and additives in the liver. Amla-Berry helps support the liver in flushing out chemicals and additives from the physiology.
15. Increases vitality. Because it has five tastes and supports all the doshas and many body functions and cleanses the blood and the micro-channels of the body, Amla-Berry increases energy and removes fatigue. It supports regeneration of cells-the process by which tired old cells are replaced by vital, new ones.
16. Strengthens the eyes. Amla-Berry is called chakshushya, which means "strengthening the eyes" – (Chakshu means "eye" and ayushya means "rasayana" so it is literally a "rasayana for the eyes"). It supports the health of the eye by enhancing both Ranjaka Pitta (the sub-dosha of Pitta that governs liver function and the blood plasma) and Alochaka Pitta (the sub-dosha of Pitta that governs the eyes and vision). The tridoshic nature of Amalaki also makes it a good tonic for the eyes.
17. Improves muscle tone. Amla-Berry enhances protein synthesis, which is why it is good for strengthening muscles and building lean muscle mass. Its unique Ayurvedic action offers athletes and body-builders a natural way to tone muscles and build lean mass.
18. Acts as an antioxidant. Amla-Berry tablets and other rasayanas that contain Amalaki are effective broad-spectrum antioxidants and free radical scavengers, helping to reduce disease and slow the aging process.
19. Enhances immunity. All of the benefits already mentioned make Amla-Berry a strong immunity booster.
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