Āmalakī

Description

Nelli (Phyllanthus emblica) is a medium-sized deciduous tree found throughout India. The fruits are small, round, greenish-yellow, and sour in taste, rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants. In Ayurveda, Āmalakī is revered as a Rasāyana (rejuvenative), forming a major ingredient of Triphala and Chyavanaprāsha. It balances all three doṣas, strengthens immunity, improves digestion, and promotes longevity.The tree is small to medium in size, reaching 1–8 metres (3+1⁄2–26 feet) in height. The bark is mottled. The branchlets are finely pubescent (not glabrous), 10–20 centimetres (4–8 inches) long, usually deciduous. The leaves are simple, subsessile and closely set along branchlets, light green, resembling pinnate leaves. The flowers are greenish–yellow. The fruit is nearly spherical, light greenish–yellow, quite smooth and hard on appearance, with six vertical stripes or furrows. The fruit is up to 26 millimetres (1 in) in diameter, and, while the fruit of wild plants weigh approximately 5.5 grams (0.2 ounces), cultivated fruits average 28.4 g (1 oz) to 56 g (2 oz)

Useful Parts

Fruits, seeds, leaves, root bark

Benefits

1. Antioxidant Properties:Rich in antioxidants, Amla combats free radicals, reducing cell damage and supporting overall health. 2. Skin and Hair Health:It lightens skin tone, prevents photo-aging, promotes collagen production for skin anti-aging, and is used as a hair tonic to combat premature greying. 3. Gastrointestinal Health:Amla demonstrates gastroprotective effects and can be used for various gastrointestinal disorders, including peptic ulcers and indigestion. 4. Anti-inflammatory Effects:The plant possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can help manage conditions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 5. Immune System Support:It has immunomodulatory properties, helping to enhance the body's immune function. 6. Antidiabetic Properties:Amla has been shown to be effective in managing blood sugar levels, making it beneficial for people with diabetes. 7. Cardioprotective Effects:It offers benefits for heart health and is used to treat cardiac disorders.

Pharmacological Action

Antioxidant, immunomodulator, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, adaptogenic, digestive, laxative, hair tonic, anti-ageing.

Rasapancakam

Rasa: Predominantly Amla but also has all five tastes except Lavaṇa – Amla, Madhura, Kaṭu, Tikta, Kaṣāya.

Guna: Laghu, Ruksha

Virya: Sita

Vipaka: Madhura

Dosha Karma: Tridoṣa shamaka