Triphala is probably one of the most popular Ayurvedic compounds, and it can be found nowadays in almost every health food store and Indian grocery store. It is well known for being a mild laxative and lower bowel tonic. Triphala literally means ‘three fruits’ and contains equal parts of the amalaki, haritaki, and bibitaki fruits. These fruits come from the various Myrobalan trees found in India and have particularly balancing effects on each of the three doshas.
Amalaki
Amalaki or amla is regarded as a sacred tree in India. The tree was worshipped as Mother Earth and is believed to nurture humankind because the fruit is very nourishing. Amalaki fruit is well known for its cooling, pitta pacifying properties, and is rich in iron and vitamin C. It is strengthening to the blood, bones, liver, and heart. It is used alone or with other herbs to treat a variety of inflammatory types of disorders related to excess pitta. Even though it is sour to the taste, it has a special cooling quality that helps balance pitta.
It is also nourishing to all the bodily tissues and a tonic to the immune system, and it is the basis for the herbal jam known as Chyavanaprash, which is a general rasayana (rejuvenative tonic) used in Ayurveda. It reduces the toxicity of environmental pollutants, normalizes cholesterol, sheds unwanted fat, cures ulcers, prevents cancer, detoxifies the body, and regulates digestion.
Haritaki
Haritaki fruit rejuvenates vata dosha; it is warming and nourishing to all the bodily tissues. It promotes digestion and absorption, helps tonify the colon and regulate healthy eliminatory functions, and also has anti-parasitical properties. It nourishes the brain, respiratory tract, throat, nerves, eyes, and skin and is supportive to mental functions. It is also referred to as the king of herbs in Tibetan medicine.
Bibhitaki
Bibhitaki fruit is primarily a tonic to kapha and has an affinity to the lungs and stomach, and is nourishing to the bone tissue. Its anti-kapha action helps to break down stones in the urinary tract. It also has both a laxative and tonifying effect on the colon and promotes digestion, absorption and the elimination of parasites. It is also used to improve and restore the voice and vision and to promote hair growth.
A Well Balanced Mix…
When these three fruits are mixed together in equal quantities they form a well balanced and rejuvenating formula. Most laxatives tend to be habit forming and can weaken the tone of the colon over time, whereas triphala can be used safely for extended periods to provide both a cleansing and rejuvenating action.
Drinking triphala tea everyday helps to cleanse the body of toxins, promotes digestion, assimilation, and absorption, and rejuvenates the body and mind.
A word of caution: Triphala shouldn’t be taken in cases of ulcerative colitis or during pregnancy. In these cases, amalaki alone can be used safely.
Triphala Tea
Triphala tea is made by stirring a 1/2 to 1 tsp. of the powder into a cup of hot water and letting it steep for five to ten minutes.
As laxative and bowel tonic, any of the following methods are effective ways to aid and regulate elimination: Drink the tea, powder and all, before bedtime.
To provide a stronger effect, when needed, boil 1/2 to 1 tsp. in a cup of hot water for 3 to 5 minutes, then strain it before drinking.
A cold infusion can also be made by soaking 1/2 to 1 tsp. of triphala in a cup of room temperature water overnight and drinking it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach.
If there is dry constipation and triphala doesn’t work, then adding a 1/4 tsp. of licorice powder per 1/2 half tsp. triphala can help promote moisture in the colon.
A Final Note…
Anyone following an Ayurvedic regime and lifestyle should make a habit of drinking Triphala tea on a daily basis to help eliminate toxins and rejuvenate their intestines. Triphala also helps increase the digestion and absorption of other herbal formulas one may be taking as part of an Ayurvedic regime.
In Ayurveda good digestion is the key to optimal health, and a healthy GI tract is the key to good digestion and elimination. Triphala can do wonders to cleanse and rejuvenate it.
So keep drinking that triphala tea!
Hi! Very interesting post.. I use triphala myself..Do you know if triphala can be used for someone who has crohn’s disease? My Aunt was just diagnosed and I am trying to find out what is best for supplements/herbs along with nutrition.
Crohn’s is a pitta imbalance in the small intestine and needs to be treated very carefully. Triphala can cause more loose motion when this condition is in its aggravated state, but can help at certain points. I would suggest she work one on one with a practitioner first. I do long distant consultations and have experience with treating this condition, my website is bluelotusayurveda.com
If she knows a skilled practitioner in her area she can get help locally. I have seen ayurveda work very well to manage this condition. Diet and lifestyle are key.
Good Luck
Vishnu Dass
Hi , I just wonder if there is any European substitute to tripala, I read your books (which is amazing, thank you!) but I couldn’t find answer. Is there any chance to substitute it in som way, especially during detoxification process using more common European herbs? I would be grateful for your reply.
Kind regards,
Eva
I don’t know of any herbal laxatives that have the same unique action as triphala. cascara sagrada, and rhubard have gentle laxative properties that can help to remove wastes, but don’t have the same tonic properties. Raw Fruit vegetable smoothies, which are high in fiber are very cleansing. I add ginger to them to warm them up. Since triphala is widely available, might as well use it. But I appreciate your wanting to use local, there is a special gift in using local herbs. I feel that digestive health is best treated with good diet, more than herbs anyways.
Thank you for your fast reply! I have look through your book, and I came out with something like this coltsfoot, fennel, licorice (2 times more than all)
comfrey root (2x), chamomile and marshmallow. does such blend have any sense? Sorry that I bother you, but I am writing book for polish people about ayurveda, namely for polish women how to look after themselves. But the thing with the book is that I try to use only local herbs, dishes or spices, and it is so so difficult for me. I stuck with the detoxifing namely it might sounds mad but instead of khachindi i will use old polish vegetable brew recipe with jupiter, ginger, garlic, pepper with true pasta and red lentils. And that’s for diet plus some steamed vegetables like carrots as snack, and then this ‘horrible’ triphala came to me,.. and i start to think. The more I think and read I less know . Thank you anyway for your prompt response. All the best, Eva
What action are you trying to get with the formulas your mentioned, laxative? You might try adding a stronger laxative. Marshmallow and coltsfoot are moistening, but have weak laxative action otherwise. I think 3 cascara or rhubarb, 2 fennel, 1 licorice is better. Maybe some 1-2 parts senna if people are very blocked up, but only short term. Senna is too habit forming and drying to the system otherwise. The best food for cleansing is food high in phyto nutrients like fresh fruits and veggies, some whole grain, and protein mainly from beans, nuts, and less dairy and meat. Some local meat and eggs are ok, but not during a cleanse. I am a big believer in the healing power of fruits and vegetables.
Thank you Vishnu, the purpose of this combination is to promote extraction of wastes as well as rejuvenate in some sort. I really appreciate your help, as in Poland Ayurveda is very, very new thing. Especially things that I’m going to do with it 😦 I am thinking about your last words vegetable juices, I know dr Garson therapy and as you said it might be a good idea I was thinking about introducing to Vata beetroot juice with pinch of cinamon (and any other root vegetable juice just one), For kapha (apple, spinach, wheatgrass or parsley ) for pitta ,same as kapha but without ginger and with lemon zest. I do apologize that I bother you so much. But I don;t know anyone who in Poland is professional in ayurvedic herbalism. If you don’t mind please reply to my email so it will be easier for you. Thank you for your patience .
Kind regards,
Eva
I think your juice ideas are good. My suggestion with juice is to vary the colors periodically to get a broad spectrum of micro-nutrients. But these are good ideas, I like all sorts of things for vata, so don’t get stuck on Ayurvedic food list too much. There is good info on those lists, but they can also be very restrictive. Kapha doesn’t get fat from avocados, and vata people can eat some apples is they digest them, there are one of the best things for the colon. Leafy greens are good for all. Everyone is different and I encourage people to eat more of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and take notes of the ones that feel better cooked, or raw. Let your own experience guide you. Lists can be helpful to a degree. The biggest cause of imbalances in nutrition are refined sugar, refined grains, processed or GMO foods. Create several smoothies on your own and feel which would be good. I personally don’t do vata pitta and kapha smoothies, I just offer guidelines and let people explore and increase their nutrition from getting more variety. Eat a rainbow of veggies.
For a laxative, I would use triphala when needed, it is an amazing formula, but also try the one I suggested.
Thank you for your help If you don’t mind I will mention it along with this mix of herbs in the book. I love the ayurvedic concept of human being but must admit that nutritious therapy is very overwhelming, I’m bit afraid that it might discourage people from using this approach to healing. Because lack of professional training courses in my country I had to learn by myself. I red lot and lots of books starting from great books of Vasad Lad finishing on Your’s. I’m bit like a sponge, and love to learn :). I can’t go to India or abroad as I’m pregnant and my other kids wouldn’t allow me, but I think the most important is the passion and this odd need to help. As a pretty simple person I try to use simple ways to explain ayurveda, so we will see how it will go. In Poland we have a massive amount of doctors who prescribe antibiotics for even a sneeze, furthermore lots of people are really sick because of western type of diet. But polish citizens are also a bit guilty in this case because they love all the pills, syrups so if after the visit with GP they come out empty handed they feel they wouldn’t be cured.Nevertheless, thank you for your empathy and your willingness to help that is really nice of you. I wish you all the best from Poland. Kind regards, Eva
Thanks for sharing. Don’t be overwhelmed. Use what ayurvedic knowledge you have, and apply what you know to be healthy and balanced. You will already be ahead of the pack there. Remember that just getting people to eat balanced meals with lots of fresh vegetables, whole grains, healthy protein, especially more vegetarian protein and to reduce to garbage food is enough to keep them busy. Good luck! I would read Joel Fuhrmans book Eat to Live. He speaks clearly to westerners and those eating a standard american diet. He provides much research ideas. I often get my clients to read that book to get off fade diets. So many ideas of what to eat and not to eat, he is a good Western author and doctor doing good work.
thank you – this is the first post i have received from you and was just up in asheville hoping to visit, alas we had not enough time. I have trained in TCM and tuina and would love to study ayurvedic herbs, where would you point me? I am in Minneapolis and seeking a mentor.
Check on the National Ayurvedic Medicine Association website for approved practitioners is a start. Dr. Lad is my go to.