What is Amla (Indian Goosbery)?

Amalaki (Emblica officinalis), also known as amla, is a potent rejuvenating herbal adaptogen, renowned for its impressive list of health benefits and all-encompassing support. It has been used in Ayurveda and other Asian medicinal practices for thousands of years; offering a high concentration of natural antioxidants and vitamin C, amalaki is a powerful ally for strengthening the immune system, nourishing the tissues, and gently removing toxins.

Amla is also an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin E, as well as iron, calcium, and dietary fiber. A hundred grams of raw Amla contains 478 mg of vitamin C. By comparison, a lemon contains 77 mg of vitamin C per 100 grams. Amla offers 30 percent more vitamin C than oranges, as well.

Amalaki has been renowned in the Ayurvedic tradition for thousands of years. It is known to pacify all three doshas of vata, pitta, and kapha, though it is especially calming to pitta. In Ayurveda’s language of energetics, amalaki is said to have a rasa (taste) that is primarily sour, as well as sweet, pungent, bitter, and astringent. From an Ayurvedic perspective, digestion begins with the experience of taste. Because amalaki contains five of the six tastes, lacking only the salty taste, it stimulates digestion, improves appetite, and kindles agni (the digestive fire).

Here are some of the remarkable ways Amalaki benefits the body:

• Enhances digestive health: Amalaki’s potent sour taste is known to activate and support digestion, helping the body to easily digest, absorb, and assimilate nutrients. It also cleanses and protects the liver, which plays a critical role in transforming food into physiologically useful nourishment.
• Promotes proper elimination: Thanks to its high antioxidant content and cleansing nature, amalaki supports natural detoxification in the GI tract and throughout the body. It also soothes, tones, and rejuvenates the bowels, supporting proper and regular elimination of toxins.
• Maintains healthy blood sugar levels: Amalaki’s ability to stimulate microcirculation and cleanse the blood help to promote healthy blood sugar levels already in the normal range. It also has an affinity for the urinary tract and the healthy excretion of urine, which goes hand in hand with balanced blood sugar levels.
• Fosters thick, healthy hair: Amla is revered for its ability to nourish and rejuvenate the health of the hair, leading to full, luscious hair.