Amla- Indian Gooseberry Fruit | All about Emblica Nellikai Amalaki

Several animal studies have shown that amla can help prevent a toxic build-up of heavy metals – caused by frequent exposure to metals like aluminium, lead and nickel. When vitamin C alone was used – equivalent to that found in amla fruit – only partial protection from heavy metals was provided.

However, when the whole amla fruit was used almost complete protection was achieved. This indicates that it is the combined action of the various ingredients found in the fruit that effectively helps shield DNA from heavy metal poisoning (Dhir, H.A. Agarwal; A. Sharma, and G. Talukder. Cancer Letters 59.9 18, 1991; Giri, A.K. Cytologia 51, pp 375-380, 1986).

According to the Ayurvedic system of classification, Amla fruit has these properties:

Rasa (taste): sour, astringent are dominant, but fruit has five tastes, including sweet, bitter, and pungent

Veerya (nature): cooling

Vipaka (taste developed through digestion): sweet

Guna (qualities): light, dry

Doshas (effect on humors): pacifies all three doshas: vata, kapha, pitta, especially effective for pitta

Antacid: Clinical studies were conducted to investigate the effect of Emblica officinalis in amlapitta (gastritis syndrome). The drug was found to be effective in 85 per cent of cases.

Cases of hyperchlorhydria with burning sensation in abdominal and cardiac regions and epigastric pain were also benefited with Emblica officinalis.

Dyspepsia: The therapeutic efficacy of Amalaki in cases of dyspepsia was evaluated and the results clearly indicate the efficacy of Emblica officinalis, in relieving the dyspeptic symptoms as well as in promoting ulcer healing.

Anti-inflammatory: Anti-inflammatory activity was found in the water fraction of methanol extract of the plant of Emblica officinalis leaves.