Amla enjoys same status in herbs as the Gold enjoys in minerals.
Amla which is known as Amalaki, Dhatriphala and Vayastha in Sanskrit does have Emblica officinalis as its scientific name and it is the most widely used herb in the Ayurvedic system of Medicine. According to Indian legends, Chayavana Rishi (Hermit) regained his youthfulness with the help of an herbal compound in which Amla was the main constituent.The English name, Indian Gooseberry, denotes that, Amla is indigenous to India. Amla, a light green
fruit grows on a small tree found in wet forests of hill areas throughout Indian subcontinent. Though all parts of the tree have medicinal properties, Amla fruit is the one which constitutes the main drug.Wild and cultivated are two varieties of Amla found in India and are known as Vanya and Gramya respectively. They are also commonly referred as Desi and Banrasi respectively. The wild Amla is small, hard and stony and contains a lot of
fiber where as the cultivated one is big, smooth, fleshy and rich in juice content with less of fiber. Amla when
dried is wrinkled and attains grey black color. Amla is rare fruit with all the tastes except the salty taste. With sourness as the foremost taste, it is same time sweet, astringent, bitter and pungent. It is light, dry and cold in effect and richest source of
Vitamin C which is 20 times higher than found in Orange.Amala contains more than 80% of water besides proteins, minerals, carbohydrates and fiber. Calcium, Phosphorous and iron are the main
minerals and Vitamin B complex and Vitamin C are main vitamins contained in Amla. Dried amla retains much of its Vitamin C, even if dried in shade; the leaves and bark are rich in tannin.Amla’s preventive, curative and restorative qualities make it an extraordinary herb in Ayurveda. Charaka specifically mentioned it as a great ‘Rasayana’ (Chemical) to protect people from
diseases and further to keep people away from manifestation of premature aging. Since Amla can cure all the three doshas – Vata, pittaa and Kapha, it has wide range of curative effect and it is called as Sarvadoshahara – a remover of all diseases,
More abstracts about the Amla:Mother of Herbs