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Illustration: I. Pfeiderer |
In preparation for my
Panchakarma treatment next week, I've done quite a bit of research on
Ayurvedic herbs and spices. One of the herbal mixtures I discovered was Triphala. In Sanskrit, Triphala means "three fruits" and is actually a mixture of three fruits: Amalaki (Amla or Indian gooseberry), Bibhitaki (Behada) and Haritaki (Harada). Each of these fruits by itself has potent healing properties. Combined, the mixture has a powerful detoxifying and rejuvenating effect. Since detoxification and rejuvenation is the main purpose of
Panchakarma, I decided to try Triphala on my own even before my treatment.
Triphala is widely available in tablet, Vcap, tincture and powder form. The tincture and powder is consumed by first mixing it into warm water. I did not want to be bothered with measuring and mixing and I don't care for tablets, so I opted for Nature's Way Triphala, 1500mg Vcaps

- an equal blend of the extract of the three fruits standardized to 45% tannins.
I followed the recommended dosage of 3 Vcaps per day and almost immediately (within less than 6 hours) knew it was working because I had an unexpected and irregular bowel movement. For the next week or so, I noticed both a marked increase in the number of bowel movements and changes in the poop itself. Speaking of poop, everyone should be in the habit of examining their poop on a daily basis.
At any rate, after about 10 days of use, I feel significantly "lighter" in the abdomen and am not bloated after eating certain foods. So, at least for me, Triphala is doing what it is purported to do: improve digestive functions in the stomach, help move the food along the GI tract, aid in evacuating the bowel and act as an internal cleanser and detoxifying agent.
Note that although Triphala is generally considered safe, it is
not recommended for pregnant or lactating women.
This information is provided for general interest and informational purposes
only. It is not intended as guidance for medicinal use. Consultation with
professional health care provider is always advised and encouraged.