What is Triphala?
In India, there’s an old folk saying — “No mother? Do not worry, so long as you have triphala.” Indians believe triphala helps care for internal organs the way mothers care for their children. While many have never heard of triphala for over 1,000 years, many more have used it for its health benefits. For your health’s sake, talk with your physician before starting any new supplement.
The word triphala means “three fruits.” It comprises three dried fruits native to India — amla (Indian gooseberry), bibhitaki and haritaki — and is a polyherbal formulation famous in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for supporting digestion and bowel health. (x)
History of Triphala
The three berries are generally equal in proportions. According to the great Ayurvedic physician Charak Samhita’s teachings, the formula is a traditional medicine for over 1,000 years. Charak wrote triphala with honey and ghee (clarified butter) taken “daily has the potential to make a person live for one hundred years” without old age and diseases. Another Ayurvedic physician Sushrutta Samhita wrote that the three berries formula “is useful for treating ulcers and wounds.” (x)
Historically, several Ayurvedic texts clearly state that the revered triphala performs multiple treatments and even a panacea. Most Western medicine and Ayurvedic consider that health and disease start in the gut. The formula represents the foundation for effective digestion, absorption, elimination and rejuvenation. (x)
Triphala Benefits
Each of the three triphala fruits has its health benefits. However, the three together present a powerful tool to support many bodily systems. (x) Amla has antioxidant effects on the body. It eases inflammation, helps the body maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and supports the liver and the immune system. Bibhitaki can reduce the accumulation of fats and fluids in the body and support respiratory health. And finally, haritaki detoxifies the body, helping it maintain a healthy weight. As a formula, some benefits include:
- Natural Laxative
For thousands of years, traditional medicine practitioners have used triphala as a natural remedy for digestive upsets. Ingested, it produces a mild laxative effect, making it a natural alternative treatment for constipation.
Several studies have looked at triphala’s efficacy as a natural laxative. In a clinical study published in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, medical researchers treated patients with a laxative that contained triphala. After 14 days of treatment, the patients reported significant improvements to their constipation symptoms. (x)
Another clinical study, published in the Iranian Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, supported the claim that triphala makes an effective treatment for “constipation and other gastric problems.” Researchers gave it to a group of patients with gastric upsets for 45 days to assess the formulation’s laxative properties and effects on hyperacidity and appetite. Overall, they observed significant improvements in patient symptoms in these areas. (x)
- Anti-Inflammatory
Triphala has potent anti-inflammatory effects because it contains antioxidants that fight oxidative stress from free radicals. (x) Free radicals are uncharged molecules that search the body for free electrons to pair with themselves. They damage cells, proteins and DNA, inducing inflammation and chronic diseases. Antioxidants give these free radicals the electrons to reduce their reactivity with cells, proteins and DNA.
A study published in Pharmaceutical Biology found that triphala effectively reduced arthritic inflammation and damage in rats. It shows promise as an anti-inflammatory treatment for animals with arthritis. (x)
A scientific study on triphala’s anti-inflammatory properties toward Irritable Bowel Disorder (IDB) worked as a treatment, significantly reducing colonic inflammation and restoration of its normal tissue. (x)
Extensive scientific studies performed on age-related diseases, using triphala, turned out positive. Its anti-inflammatory capabilities show beneficial effects for many geriatric health concerns, such as giving strength to debilitated organs and validated pharmacological properties. (x)
- Dental Health Support
Triphala can support dental health as well. Its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties can help prevent plaque buildup and gingivitis.
Several studies support the claim that triphala can fight plaque buildup and gingivitis. A study published in the Journal of Periodontology showed that a triphala mouthwash effectively reduced plaque buildup and treated gingivitis as a standard mouthwash, and much more effective than a placebo mouthwash. (x)
In another study, published in the International Journal of Ayurveda Research, researchers gave three groups of children (1,431 children total) a triphala mouthwash, a standard mouthwash or distilled water to rinse with daily. After nine months, researchers found that the triphala mouthwash was just as effective as the traditional mouthwash for reducing plaque buildup, gum inflammation and bacterial growth. (x)
Another study, published in the Journal of Periodontal & Implant Science, found that triphala mouthwash helped hospitalized patients with periodontal disease manage plaque buildup and gum inflammation. (x)
- Weight Loss Aid
Triphala may help you reach your weight-loss goals. In an animal study published in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, researchers fed rats a high-fat diet with triphala supplement for ten weeks. At the study’s conclusion, researchers found those rats experienced significant reductions in weight, energy intake, and body fat compared to rats fed the same diet but not given the triphala supplement. (x)
A human study published in the DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences found that daily 10-gram doses of triphala induced weight loss in test subjects with obesity after 12 weeks. Test subjects showed more significant reductions in weight and waist-hip circumference than those given placebos. (x)
A scientific study performed on 120 people took part in determining the weight loss effects of triphala over four months. Triphala confirmed a hopeful role in reducing weight, circumferential measures and body fat. (x)
- Cholesterol Reducer
A study published in the Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan reported triphala could reduce cholesterol levels and arterial plaque in rats. At the study’s conclusion, researchers found rat subjects with high cholesterol showed a significant reduction in their total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, VLDL (also bad) cholesterol and free fatty acids after taking triphala. (x)
Thailand’s International College of Medicine, Thammasat University, conducted a study on 20 healthy volunteers, ten men and ten women. The administered five capsules of 500 mg of triphala orally each day, at bedtime, for four weeks consecutively. The study discovered no severe side effects. The supplement significantly improved the participants’ high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) by the 35th day and reduced their blood sugar levels by the 14th and 35th day. (x)
- Cancer Inhibitor
A study published in BioMed Research International found that triphala extract suppressed the spread of and induced apoptosis in human colon cancer stem cells in vitro. Researchers of this study concluded that their results warranted further in-vivo research into the anticancer effects of triphala. (x)
A study reports triphala ability to inhibit cancer cells and the benefits of the supplement’s aqueous extract. The results proved triphala prevents cancer cell proliferation and encourages more studies along this line. (x)The Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute reports extensive studies substantiating the validity of triphala as a preventive and therapeutic supplement against breast, pancreas, colon, ovarian, cervical and other cancers, including melanoma. The studies include in vivo, in vitro and human, demonstrating its effectiveness and safety against these diseases. Recent studies have also shown triphala demonstrates radioprotective, antineoplastic and chemoprotective attributes as a controlling influence. Such reports support using triphala as adjunctive therapy with traditional anti-cancer treatments. (x)
Triphala Dosage
The recommended dosage for triphala powder is 1/2 teaspoon once daily. Add it to a cup of boiling water to make tea. The powder may have a bitter taste, so try mixing it into a smoothie, juice or tea. It’s most helpful to talk with your physician about the amount of triphala you can take.
Triphala supplements come in several forms, including capsules, powders and liquids. They’re available at most health-food stores and online health-supplement retailers. Stop taking triphala every ten weeks for two to three weeks to give your body a rest. This will also help maintain triphala’s therapeutic effectiveness. (x)
Triphala Powder Benefits
Triphala powder supplements are a natural remedy that may be worth adding to your supplement routine. You can mix it with warm water and honey to take it before meals. The powder works as an effective natural laxative, but it may cause unwanted digestive upsets in larger doses. So start with smaller amounts and gradually work your way up to the recommended dose.
Where to Buy Triphala Powder?
You can purchase Triphala in powder form at BulkSupplements.com. The company is an industry-leading manufacturer and distributor for pure dietary supplements.
BulkSupplements.com is not just a consumer brand. It also supplies pure ingredients to other food and supplement brands to make their products. All products at BulkSupplements.com are manufactured and tested according to current and proper manufacturing practices.
Are you interested in trying Triphala powder as a dietary supplement for constipation or potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties? Contact BulkSupplements.com to place an order today.
Triphala Side Effects
Although the recommended daily dose is safe for adults, side effects are possible. They include upset stomach, indigestion and loose stools. Because triphala acts as a natural laxative, it might cause diarrhea, abdominal discomfort and dehydration taken in excess. Do not exceed the recommended dose.
Don’t take triphala supplements if you’re pregnant or nursing. Also, avoid taking it if you’re using blood thinners. Besides, triphala may not be safe for people with bleeding disorders. Indian gooseberry, one of its three medicinal components, may increase the risk of bleeding and bruising.
Before taking any new supplement, talk to your doctor to determine whether the supplement you want to take is right for you. They will also help you choose the correct dose.
The Bottom Line
Triphala is a polyherbal formulation of the fruits haritaki, bibhitaki and amla. Practitioners of traditional Ayurvedic medicine have used the formula for thousands of years to treat digestive upsets, inflammation, arthritis and other ailments.
The supplement has become a popular modern alternative to conventional medicine for treating constipation and detoxing the body. It may also prove an effective treatment for plaque buildup and gingivitis and aid in weight loss. Its antioxidant effects may help the body prevent chronic illnesses like most cancers and irritable bowel disorder.
While triphala is safe for adults to take, it may produce digestive side effects when taken in excess. It’s best to start with a smaller dose. Then you increase it gradually to the recommended one.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
