The ancient Indian medicine system, Ayurveda has given huge importance to herb Haritaki. It is often called the ‘King of Medicine’ for its powerful health benefits. Ayurveda has a holistic definition of health. As per Ayurveda, a person is considered healthy if all 3 doshas: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha are balanced. Often Haritaki is known for balancing Vata, however, it helps balance all three doshas: Vata, Kapha, and Pitta. This makes the herb Haritaki beneficial for everyone, regardless of their body constitution. Haritaki churna is one of the widely used formulations of Haritaki. Haritaki churna benefits are derived from its various beneficial elements. In this article, we will talk about some of the amazing haritaki churna benefits.
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What is Haritaki Churna?
Haritaki churna is a powdered form of haritaki extracted from the plant material of Terminalia chebula (haritaki).
The churna contains many beneficial compounds such as polyphenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, and sterols.
Let us know a bit about Haritaki.
Image courtesy: Wikimedia.org (Terminalia chebula fruits)
What is Haritaki?
Haritaki is a powerful herb which is widely used in Ayurvedic formulations.
It is known for balancing the body’s energies, improving digestion, and detoxification, and enhancing overall health and vitality.
The botanical name of Haritaki is Terminalia chebula.
According to Wikipedia, Terminalia chebula is native to South Asia from Pakistan, India, and Nepal east to Southwest China (Yunnan), and south to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
Terminalia chebula is a medium to large tree that can grow up to 30 meters (98 feet) tall.
Image courtesy: Wikipedia.org (Leafless Terminalia chebula)
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Many parts of the Terminalia chebula plant are useful, including leaves, bark, fruit, seeds, and galls.
The fruit is known as Haritaki and is used in many Ayurvedic medicines.
Haritaki is known to offer the following health benefits:
- help with digestion,
- reduce inflammation,
- fight parasites,
- support heart health,
- supports the functioning of important organs like the colon, lungs, liver, and spleen,
- boost sexual health,
- improve intelligence,
- increase awareness,
- boost energy, and
- help restore overall strength and wellness.
Image courtesy: flickr.com
Ancient Ayurvedic text Charak Samhita has mentioned that Haritaki has five of the six tastes (except salty) and is described as hot, beneficial, and easy to digest.
It is described in the text as an herb that promotes long life, youthfulness, and strength.
Also Read: WellHealth Ayurvedic Health Tips
Which Haritaki Type is Used for Making Haritaki Churna? – Types of Haritaki
Ayurveda has mentioned seven types of Haritaki fruits with their sources, identity features, and therapeutic uses.
These fruits are Vijaya, Rohini, Putana, Amrita, Abhaya, Jivanti, and Chetaki.
The National Library of Medicine states that Ayurvedic texts mention Jangi Haritaki (Chetaki), specifically the black, small-sized variety, as the primary type used to make haritaki powder or haritaki churna.
Haritaki Churna Benefits – Superb Herb for Longevity & Vitality
The primary medicinal component of the haritaki plant is its fruit.
People make haritaki churna by drying and powdering the fruit.
Haritaki churna is one of the main ingredients in the beneficial Triphala churna.
Some of the amazing health benefits of haritaki churna are:
1.) Powerful Antioxidant
Image courtesy: Wikimedia.org
Haritaki is a powerful natural antioxidant that protects against oxidative stress, DNA damage, and lipid peroxidation, helping prevent chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
The antioxidant properties of haritaki neutralize harmful substances and protect the body.
By fighting oxidative stress, haritaki reduces age-related damage to the body.
Haritaki also supports healthy liver functions by fighting against toxins.
Its antioxidant properties prevent the formation of harmful compounds linked to diabetes and other metabolic disorders.
The phenolic compounds present in Haritaki protect the brain cells from oxidative stress, which is responsible for cell death and damage.
2.) Anti-arthritic Benefits
Haritaki has anti-inflammatory properties, it reduces inflammation and pain by blocking certain enzymes and lowering chemicals in the body that cause swelling.
It can help reduce joint swelling and may help in arthritis by controlling inflammation and preventing tissue damage.
3.) Anti-diabetic Benefits
Image courtesy: Wikimedia.org
Haritaki churna benefits diabetes patients as it has strong anti-diabetic properties.
It helps control blood sugar levels, improve insulin function, and protect against diabetes-related complications.
It inhibits enzymes that break down carbohydrates, boosting insulin secretion, and improving glucose absorption by cells, thereby lowering blood sugar levels.
Chebulic acid, a key compound in haritaki, increases insulin sensitivity and reduces common diabetic symptoms such as excessive thirst, hunger, and urination.
The antioxidant properties of haritaki churna protect the liver and kidneys from diabetes-related damage.
4.) Protects the Liver
Haritaki churna benefits arise from its hepatoprotective role as well.
The churna prevents liver damage caused by toxins, alcohol, and drugs.
It reduces the harmful free radicals and reactive molecules that can damage the liver cells during oxidative stress.
Haritaki churna boosts antioxidant enzymes that protect liver cells and prevent cell death, helping maintain liver health and improve its overall functions.
Also Read – Bhumi Amla Benefits for Liver: Rejuvenate Liver Naturally
5.) Anti-cancer Properties
Preliminary research has found that Haritaki also has cancer-preventive properties.
Haritaki churna can slow down the cancer cell growth and promote cancer cell death.
Research has found haritaki effective in reducing the inflammation linked to cancer and enhances the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs by reducing the resistance against them.
The strong antioxidant property and presence of compounds like chebulinic acid and gallic acid make haritaki churna effective against various cancers such as breast, colon, liver, and prostate cancer.
6.) Good for Heart Health
Haritaki Churna benefits heart health through its cardioprotective properties.
It increases the good cholesterol (HDL) while lowering bad ones, triglycerides, and overall cholesterol levels.
This reduces the risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease.
Haritaki churna can decrease cholesterol in the liver and heart by up to 60%, preventing fat build-up in these organs.
It also enhances the body’s ability to remove excess cholesterol by boosting specific enzyme activities.
Haritaki churna’s cardioprotective properties prevent heart muscle damage and improve heart function without altering heart rate.
7.) Gastrointestinal Benefits
Traditionally, people have used haritaki churna to improve digestion and relieve constipation.
Haritaki significantly reduces stomach ulcers and overall gastric damage while boosting the production of protective mucus in the stomach.
The anti-ulcer properties of haritaki heal the stomach and intestines by alleviating pain and discomfort.
When combined with other herbs in formulations like Triphala, haritaki churna protects against intestinal damage.
Haritaki supports gastrointestinal health, protects the stomach lining, promotes healing, and enhances overall digestive function.
8.) Brain-Related Benefits
Haritaki churna benefits brain health by protecting it against various damages.
It contains compounds like ellagic acid which protect the nerve cells from damage by harmful substances.
This makes haritaki churna a potential treatment for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Studies have shown that haritaki can improve memory and learning abilities by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress in the brain cells.
Haritaki can lower stress hormones and increase beneficial brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine which reduce anxiety.
It has also shown anticonvulsant properties which help in managing seizures and providing protective effects against epilepsy.
9.) Supports Kidney Health
Studies have shown that haritaki can improve kidney function by reducing harmful substances and preventing cell death.
It also prevents the formation of kidney stones by protecting kidney cells from the damage caused by oxalate.
Haritaki churna can lower harmful levels of triglycerides, and cholesterol, and waste products in the blood which are indicators of kidney health.
By boosting the body’s antioxidant capacity, haritaki can protect against damage caused by heavy metals like mercury.
10.) Wound Healing Properties
Science and Ayurveda recognize haritaki for its impressive wound-healing properties.
Research has shown that haritaki can speed up the recovery from injuries.
The antioxidant properties protect the cells from damage leading to faster healing.
Haritaki can also stop the development of infection caused by bacteria which are common in post-surgical wounds.
It is specifically beneficial for people who are prone to slow recovery such as diabetics.
11.) Anti-aging Benefits
Haritaki reduces the stress on the body which is responsible for accelerating aging.
Studies have found that haritaki can improve physical endurance, boost muscle glycogen levels, and lower toxic by-products like lactic acid and ammonia that build up during exercise.
This can help fight against stress-related aging.
The strong antioxidant properties of haritaki protect cells from free radical damage and slow down aging.
Haritaki is far more effective than vitamin C in stimulating skin cell regeneration and stopping enzymes that break down skin’s structural proteins.
12.) Reduces Depression and Anxiety
Research has found haritaki effective in helping with depression and anxiety.
In an animal study, the haritaki extracts have shown positive results in the test designed to measure depression and anxiety.
The chebulic acid found in haritaki has strong anti-depressant and anti-anxiety effects.
13.) Controls Diarrhea
Haritaki churna benefits by managing diarrhea.
It helps slow down the food movement through the digestive system and reduces fluid secretion which decreases the frequency of bowel movement.
How To Take Haritaki Churna?
Acharya Charka stated that haritaki is one of the best herbs and should be consumed regularly.
People usually take haritaki churna orally with warm water, milk, or honey as directed by the physician.
When taken in small quantities, haritaki churna is mostly safe to consume.
However, overconsumption of haritaki might cause diarrhea, dehydration, fever, malnutrition, fatigue, stiffness of jaw, etc.
Image courtesy: flickr.com
Always consult a healthcare professional or Ayurvedic practitioner regarding the dosage and consumption of haritaki churna.
Also, if you are under any medication avoid taking haritaki churna without your doctor’s guidance.
General recommendations for taking Haritaki according to a particular season are:
- In the rainy season, consume haritaki with Saindhav (rock salt).
- In the autumn season, take haritaki with Sharkara (sugar).
- During winter, people with Pitta should take haritaki with
- People with Pitta prakriti should take haritaki with Pippali during winter.
- During Spring, consume haritaki with Madhu (honey).
- In the summer season, take haritaki with Gur (jaggery).
Takeaway Message
People have used haritaki churna for ages primarily for its digestion-related benefits.
Known as the ‘King of herbs’, it holds great reverence and value in Ayurveda.
According to Ayurveda, chewing haritaki stimulates digestive fire.
When taken cooked, it is constipating.
Grinding haritaki clears waste products, and when dried haritaki pacifies all three doshas.
Haritaki churna is one of the most convenient ways to consume haritaki.
Haritaki churna benefits make it worth to be added to one’s regime regularly to lead a healthy and disease-free life.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are the writer’s opinions and should not be considered a substitute for an expert’s advice.
अद्भुत औषधि। इसका सेवन अवश्य किया जाना चाहिए। बहुत उम्दा जानकारी।
Haritaki ke adbhut fayde bataye gaye hain is alekh me. Bahut bahut sundar. Ghar me banaya janewala buknu, Jo maa banaya karti thi,usme Anya jadi butiyon ke sath harad jarur Daalti theek. Yah hajme ke liya acha hota hai aur swadisht bhi. Ek shandar post ke liye badhai.