Indian Gooseberry: FAQs and Facts of Amla Fruit - Phyllanthus Emblica Buying & User Guide

Table of Contents

1.  Introduction

The word Amalaki means which has the ability or properties of removing Mala (Toxins) from the body. Phyllanthus originated from the Greek words "Phyllon", which means a leaf, and anthos, which means a flower. Amalaki is a wonder herb and is known as "Divya" and "Amrit" fruit, which means a fruit of heaven or a nectar fruit. It is the most precious gift of nature; it contributes greatly towards health and longevity.
Ayurvedic physicians and Hakims used this herb commonly in their medicines and regarded it as a medicine for heart health and many health problems. They also advise external applications due to their cool and astringent properties. The fruit is acrid, cool, refreshing and laxative. It increases the volume of urine. The raw fruit is a mild laxative, and the tree's flowers are cooling, refreshing, and mildly purgative. The root and the bark of the tree are useful in arresting and secreting or bleeding.

2. Mythological Significance

Indian Gooseberry has been considered a sacred tree in Hindu mythology, it is worshipped as Mother Earth and is believed to nurture mankind because of its nourishing properties. The leaves of the tree are offered to Lord Vishnu, Shiva, and Gauri, it is believed that Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi reside in this tree. The Amalki tree is ritually worshipped on Ekadashi in the past month of Phalgun to get the blessings of the deity, and the day is celebrated as an Amalaki Ekadashi.

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3. Ayurvedic Significance

Indian gooseberry has been used as a valuable ingredient of indigenous traditional medicines in India and the Middle East. It is one of the oldest medical plants mentioned in Ayurveda and not only treats various aliments but also promotes positive health. Owing to its multiple health benefits, it is known “King of Rasayana”. Sushrut, the great authority on Ayurveda, considered it the best of all acid fruits and most useful for treating diseases. It is believed that by using Amalaki, a great sage Chyawan rejuvenated himself and regained his virility.

It is the key ingredient of Triphala and Chawanprasha. Rajvallabha quoted that if one is willing to get rid of all doshas, then they should take Amala fruit daily before or after food. Besides its medicinal value, it is well known as a rich source of vitamin C, and it is frequently used in Indian kitchens for making curries, pickles, jams, jellies, candies, and juices. Amalaki juice has the highest concentration of vitamin C in comparison to other citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, etc.

4. Vernacular Names

• Indian Gooseberry
• Amalaki
• Dhatriphala
• Nelli
• Emblic
• Awla
• Nellikai
• Usirikaya
• Amala
• Amalika
• Emblica Officinalis
• Phyllanthus Emblica
• Aonla
• Amalakamu
• Aavla
• Nellikkai
• Amlokhi
• Malacca Tree
• Myrobalan

5. Synonyms

• Amla - It has the property of removing mala (toxins) from the body.
• Amrita - The fruit is as potent as nectar and have rasayana.
• Amritphala - Its fruit is enriched in rasayana properties.
• Dhatri - Its fruit nourishes a person like a mother.
• Shivam - Fruit is beneficial in all ways.
• Vayastha - The fruit is used to maintain youthfulness.
• Vrishya - It has aphrodisiac properties.

6. Classical Categorization

• Charaka Samhita – Vayasthapana
• Sushrut Samhita – Parushakadi
• Ashtanga Hridya - Parushakadi
• Dhanvantari Nighantu – Guduchyadi varga
• Madanpal Nighantu – Abhyaadi varga
• Kaiyadev Nighantu – Oshadi varga
• Raj Nighantu – Amraadi varga
• Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Haritakyadi varga

7. Distribution

Amalaki is a native plant of tropical southeastern Asia, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Malaya, India, China, and Myanmar. It is abundantly distributed in the dry deciduous forests of central and southern India, particularly in the regions of Madhya Pradesh, Gujrat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.

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8. Morphology

Indian Gooseberry is a small or middle-sized deciduous tree with pale green flowers usually in small dense clusters. The height of the tree is 8 to 15m. The fruits are fleshy, round with their contours indistinctly marked into 6 pale green or yellowish lobes. The fruit has a seed inside.

Leaves

Leaves are simple, many, subsessile, closely set along the branchlets, about 3mm wide, 1.5 to 2mm long, linear oblong, with round base and obtuse or acute apex, more than 100 leaves are arranged distichously on the branchlets, giving a false appearance of pinnate compound leaves, slightly dark green from the above and light green from beneath.

Flowers

Greenish yellow, in axillary fascicles on the leaf-bearing branchlets, often on the naked portion below the leaves.

 Fresh Fruit

Globose, 2.5 to 3.5 cm in diameter, fleshy, smooth with six prominent lines, green when tender, changing to light yellowish or red color when mature, with a few dark specks.

Seeds

Single, green, and trigonous.

Bark

Thin light-gray bark with exfoliating small, papery, irregular flakes.

Root Bark

Root barks occur in pieces, 4 to 8 cm long, 2 to 4 cm broad, curved. The outer surface is rugged, often scaly without lenticels, color greenish-sepia to mouse-gray with cracks and fissures, recurved edges, and irregular wrinkles. The plant is propagated through seeds and stem cuttings.

9. Types of Indian Gooseberry

There are two types of Indian Gooseberry available in the market.

Wild (Vanya) – Smaller in size, hard and stony seeds and it is less pulpy.

Cultivated (Gramya) – Bigger, fleshy, and smooth.

10. Chemical Constituent

It is the richest source of vitamin C (200-900 mg per 100g of edible portion). It also contains gallic acid, ellagic acid, tannins, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, glycosides, flavonoids, pectin, various polyphenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids. The study shows that every 100 grams of fresh fruit provides 470 to 680 mg of vitamin C. The vitamin C value of amla increases after juice extraction. The dehydrated berry provides 2428 to 3470 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams.

Even when it is dried in the shade and turned into powder, it remains as much as 1780 to 2660 mg of vitamin C. The seed of Indian gooseberry contains a fixed oil, phosphatides, and an essential oil. The fruit, bark and the leaves of the tree are rich in tannin.

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11. Identity, Purity, and Strength 

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 2%
• Total Ash – Not more than 7%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 2%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 40%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 50%
• Moisture content – Not less than 80%

(Source: The Ayurvedic Pharmacopeia of India 1989)

12. Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Actions

Ayurvedic Actions

Bhavamishra considered it similar to Haritaki fruit in properties, in addition, it is highly aphrodisiac, rejuvenator, diabetes. Charak considered it as the best dravya for vyasthapana. In other Ayurvedic treatise and Nighantus, amla is considered as astringent, coolant, relish, cardio tonic, laxative, tonic for eyes, soothing to throat, hair tonic, skin tonic, wound healer. The roots, bark and the ripe fruit are reported to be astringent, whereas the unripe fruit is coolant, diuretic, and laxative. Flowers are refrigerant and aperient.

• Doshakarma - Tridoshashamaka, especially pittashamaka.
• Dhatukarma - Rasayana.
• Malakarma - Malashodhaka.

Pharmacological Actions

It has been reported to have antipyretic, antimicrobial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, adaptogenic, antiulcerogenic, hypolipidemic, diuretic, cardioprotective, antitussive, antiproliferative, immune modulator and neuroprotective effects.

13. Health Benefits

Traditionally, fruit is extensively used for the treatment of hyperacidity, peptic ulcer, thirst, burning sensation, diabetes, hemorrhagic, fatigue, flatulence, constipation, blockage, inflammation, asthma and skin diseases. It also eliminates toxins from the body. In addition, the pulp of the fruit is smeared on snake bite, scorpion bite and headache and dizziness.  

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14. Therapeutic Uses

Amla fruit can be used externally or internally for different health ailments, here are some suggestions.

External Uses

Epistaxis – Make a paste of fine amla powder fried in ghee with water or kanji and apply it on the forehead daily. It will control nasal bleeding.

Graying of Hair – Apply a paste of amla, Mandura, and Japa flowers on the hair before bath or for a week, apply Triphala powder soaked in water overnight to promote hair growth and prevent premature graying hair. One can use Amla-rich oils and shampoos too.

The fruit, cut into pieces, is dried, preferably in shade, and boiled in coconut oil till the solid matter is charred. The darkish oil is excellent in preventing the greying of hair, and the water in which dried amla pieces have been soaked overnight, also nourishes hair and is used as the last rinse while washing the hair.

Freckles – Tender fruits of Amla are kept in cow’s urine (Gomutra) for a week and then mixed with aja ksheer to make a paste. The paste is applied to the face to clear off freckles.

Internal Uses

For Rejuvenation – Daily intake of 1tsp of amla powder with amla juice, honey, and candy sugar, twice a day, helps to increase longevity, imparts youthfulness, and enhances immunity, strength, and vigor. It also improves eyesight, luster, and complexion and promotes hair growth. Daily eating 2-3 fresh amla fruit or 10 to 20ml amla juice also gives the same effects.

For Hemorrhagic – Amla juice or amla churna with honey helps in controlling hemorrhagic disease.

For Acidity – Take an equal quantity of each powder, Amla, Shahtvari, and Sharkara, mixed with an equal quantity of honey. Take this mixture with milk or ghee, helps to give relief from acidity. You can also try 3 gm of amla powder or 10 ml of amla juice with coconut water twice a day also gives relief from acidity.

For Diabetes – A tbsp. of amla juice with a cup of fresh bitter gourd juice, taken daily for two months stimulates the pancreas and enables it to secrete insulin thus reducing the blood sugar. It also prevents eye complications in diabetes.

Soak 1 tbsp. of fenugreek seeds overnight, do not drain soaked water. Take a wok and put it on heat (only aluminum) add 1tbsp cooking oil, add cumin, soaked fenugreek, and remaining water, and add 3 fresh Indian gooseberries, ½ tsp each salt, red pepper, turmeric, and coriander powder.

Mix it well, cover the lid on the wok, and cook on low flame for 15 minutes or until the water evaporates. Eat this with bread, Indian bread, or rice, which helps to control diabetes.

For Piles – Drinking buttermilk with a 1tsp of amla powder, is an effective remedy for piles.

For Eye Disorders - The juice of Phyllanthus Emblica is beneficial in treating conjunctivitis and glaucoma. It helps to reduce intraocular tension.

For Heart Disorders - Indian gooseberry is considered an effective remedy for preventing heart disease, it helps to tone up the functioning of all organs of the body and strengthens health by destroying the heterogeneous or harmful and disease-causing elements. It also renews energy.

For Bleeding Diarrhea – Intake of amla leaf juice with honey, ghee, and milk controls bleeding diarrhea.

For Anemia – Drinking amla juice and sugarcane juice with honey cures anemia or taking amla powder daily with honey is beneficial.

For Dysuria – Take amla juice with sugarcane juice and honey daily to get relief in hematuria and dysuria.

For Hypercholesterolemia – Take amla powder and mix it with sugar candy, store this mixture in a glass bottle, and take one tsp of this mixture every day on an empty stomach. This will help to maintain the cholesterol level.

For Scurvy – Take dry amla powder and mix it with an equal amount of sugar taken in doses of one tsp, thrice a day with milk provide enough vitamin C.

For Vomiting – Intake of a drink which is prepared by mixing amla fruit, grapes, jaggery, and honey, take this four times with water, helps to alleviate vomiting caused by tridosha.

For Digestion and Constipation - Take 25 grams each of carrot, beetroot, tomato, spinach, orange, and Indian gooseberry 3 pcs. Chop them all into small pieces.

Put all the vegetables in the blender with ½ tsp of black salt or sea salt and ½ tsp black pepper. Blend them all and sieve the juice in a glass, add 1 tsp honey or sugar if you prefer.

Drink the freshly made juice after lunch or dinner, do not refrigerate, or keep the juice for a long time.

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15. Uses of Amla for Dosha Balance

For Vata Imbalance

• Consume Amla juice or fresh Amla regularly to nourish tissues and strengthen the nervous system.
• Add Amla to warm, nourishing foods like porridge or soups to soothe Vata.
• Use Amla oil for self-massage (Abhyanga) to promote relaxation and grounding.

For Pitta Imbalance

• Drink Amla juice or Amla-infused water to cool down and alleviate acidity.
• Include Amla in salads or chutneys to benefit from its cooling properties.
• Apply Amla paste on the scalp to soothe Pitta-related scalp issues.

For Kapha Imbalance

• Consume Amla chutney or pickles to stimulate digestion and balance Kapha.
• Mix Amla powder with honey or ginger to promote warmth and reduce congestion.
• Use Amla oil for body massage to invigorate and stimulate circulation.

13. Ayurvedic Properties of Indian Gooseberry

1. Rasa (Taste): Amla is believed to have five tastes: primarily sour (Amla), followed by sweet (Madhura), bitter (Tikta), astringent (Kashaya), and pungent (Katu).
2. Virya (Potency): It is cooling in nature (Sheeta Virya).
3. Vipaka (Post-digestive taste): The post-digestive taste is sweet (Madhura Vipaka).
4. Dosha Effects: Amla helps balance all three doshas—Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. However, its cooling nature can be particularly beneficial for Pitta dosha imbalances.

17. General Dosage

• Juice – 10 to 20ml
• Powder – 3 to 6 gm

18. Formulations

Chyawanprash, Amalkyadi churna, Dhatri Ioha, Triphala churna and Brahma rasayana.