What is Indian Gooseberry?
Indian Gooseberry botanical name is Phyllanthus Emblica and its other common name are amla, emblic, emblic myrobalan, myrobalan, Malacca tree, Amalaki. It is mainly found in India, China, Nepal, and Pakistan. In India, it is a religious tree, ladies do fast on Amla Navami and worship the tree with flowers and food.
It is a deciduous tree with thick dropping branches closely overlapping with each other, leaves are dark green in color, simple, sub sessile, and closely set along the branchlets, the roots are enriched with lupeol and ellagic acid.
The fruit of the tree is called amla, it is green and yellow in color, slightly round, and has a fleshy fruit wall. It has reddish seeds. The edible part of the plant is its fruit Amla, which is also used for medicinal purposes.
Indian Gooseberry fruit, seed, leaves, root, bark, and flowers are used for medicinal preparations, and for other works. Some important uses of Indian Gooseberry tree parts are mentioned below:
Tree Wood
Its wood is suitable for firewood and produces good quality charcoal, it can be used for the construction of furniture, and implements; it is very durable and strong.
Root
The root powder of the amla tree is very useful to treat inflammation in the mouth, take one tsp of amla root powder and mix it with honey.
Bark
The bark powder is used to treat diarrhea or stomach pain.
Leaves
The leaf’s decoction is used to treat skin problems like rashes, inflammation, acne, and pimples.
Seeds & Flowers
Both are used to treat diseases, seeds are used to treat asthma, bronchitis, and biliousness, whereas flowers are credited with refrigerant and laxative properties.
Fruit
The fruit is full of vitamin C and contains rich nutrients and minerals, it is used in Ayurveda for treatment for medicinal purposes.
What are the Benefits of Amla Fruit?
Indian gooseberry has antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic, adaptogenic, hepatoprotective, antitumor, and antiulcerogenic properties.
Phyllanthus Emblica or Amla has high nutritional value, it is a rich source of vitamin C, vitamin B1 and B2minerals, and amino acids, you can say it is an important dietary source of vitamin C, and it is a king of citrusy and vitamin C fruits. The taste of the Amla is bitter, sour, and astringent, it is a juicy fruit, full of fibers.
In Ayurveda, it is one of the most important plants which is beneficial to the treatment of diseases.
It is used as a rejuvenating to promote longevity, enhance digestion, treat constipation, reduce fever, purify the blood, reduce cough, promote heart health, provide anti-aging effects, improve immune function, and reduce heartburn severity and cancer risk.
It is also beneficial for hair growth, enhances liver health, improves kidney health, maintains blood sugar level, and manage cholesterol level. It is known to fight both viral and bacterial ailments.
What are the uses of Amla?
Amla is a versatile fruit and herb which is used in many ways, raw fruit, juice, dried fruit, and powders. It is used to treat heart problems, blood sugar, hair & skin, digestion & constipation problems. Here are some tips on how to use Indian Gooseberry.
For Digestion and Constipation
Take 25 grams each carrot, beetroot, tomato, spinach, orange, and Indian gooseberry 3 pcs. Chop them all into small pieces.
Take a blender and 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.
For Hair & Skin
Strong & Long Hair
Take an iron wok, add 1 tbsp. each powder, Amla, Reetha, Shikakai, Brahmi, Fenugreek Seeds, Mustard oil, Yogurt. Mix all of them and make a fine paste.
Leave it overnight, and apply it to clean hair on the scalp, roots, and tips. Wash after half an hour with normal water.
Grey Hair
To reduce the grey hairs, take a bowl to add one tbsp each powder, amla, onion seeds, fenugreek seeds, Aloe vera gel, and mustard oil. Leave it overnight, and apply it to clean hair on the scalp, roots, and tips. Wash after half an hour with normal water.
For 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 and 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.
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Tangy Amalaki Fruit Jam Recipe
Tangy amla jam is a sweet and sour recipe, which you can keep for a long time and eat with bread.
Ingredients
For 3 persons
Fresh & boiled Indian Gooseberry – 1 kg
Sugar or Jaggery powder – ½ kg
Salt – 2 tbsp
Green Cardamom – ½ tsp
Fennel Seed powder – 1tsp
Black Pepper powder – 1tbsp
Water – 1cup
Method of making Amla Jam
- Separate all the seeds from the amla and keep them aside.
- Take a wok and put it on medium heat, add sugar, water, salt pepper, fennel seed powder, and Amla, mix it well, and cook to make a sugar syrup.
- Once the sugar started thick, turn off the gas. Add cardamom powder and mix it. Let it cool down
- Now blend this mixture in a blender for a jam, you can also eat it without blending.
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Other Benefits of Amla, visit Yipisale -
Indian Gooseberry: Introduction, Amla FAQs