Amalaki|dravyasambhasha

Amalaki

Table of Contents

Family

Sanskrit name

Nirukti (Definition)

Gana/Varga(grouping in Ayurveda)

Ayurvedic synonyms

Vernacular names

Morphology

Distribution

Types of Amalaki

Pharmacological properties

Chemical composition

Amalaki as Rasayana

Amalaki as Vajikarana

Amalaki in different diseases

Dose

Ayurvedic formulations

Research updates

Important references

Family : Euphorbiaceae

Sanskrit Name : आमलकी

Amalaki (Bha. Ni.) : It supports body because of Rasayana property.

Latin name : EMBLIKA OFFICINALIS Gaertn.

Syn- Phyllanthus emblica Linn.

Gana/Varga:

Charaka	Vayasthapana, Virechanopaga
Sushruta	Triphala, Parushakadi
Bhavaprakasha nighantu	Haritakyadi varga 36-38
Dravyaguna Vijnana II (P.V. Sharma)	Rasayana page 758
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India-Part-I	Vol. Ipage 4, 5

Synonyms:

Based on Habitat
कोरङगका	कोरङगदेशे भवा । (अ.नि.)
Korangaka	It is found in Koranga desha.
Based on Swaroopa
तिष्यफला	तिष्यं मंगल्यं फलम् अस्याः इति । तिष्ये पौषमासे फलं जायतेऽस्याः । (भा.नि.)
Tishyapahala (Bha. Ni.)	Its fruits are auspicious. Fruiting is during Pausha masa.
वृत्तफला	वृत्तं फलमस्याः । (रा.नि.)
Vruttaphala (Ra.Ni.)	Fruits are Globose in shape.
षड्रसा	षड् रसाः सन्त्यस्याम् । (शो.नि.)
Shadrasa (Sho.Ni.)	It is having Six Rasa.
शीतफलम्	शीतवीर्यं फलम् । (शो.नि.)
Shitaphalam (Sho.Ni.)	Fruits are Shita in Virya.
कोलम्	कोलपरिमाणं फलमस्य । (कै.नि.)
Kolam (Kai.Ni.)	Its Fruits measure 1 Kola Pramana(approximately 5gms).
Based on Karma
अमला	न मलं तिष्ठत्यनया । (जै.उ.)
अमृतफल	अमृतवद् रसायनं फलमस्याः । (भा.नि.)
Amruta phala (Bha. Ni.)	Its fruits are Rasayana just like Amruta.

अमृता	न म्रियते अनया इति । (भा.नि.)
Amruta (Bha. Ni.)	It makes you free from death just like nectar.
वयःस्था	वयो यौवनं तिष्ठति अनया इति । (भा.नि.)
Vayasya (Bha. Ni.)	It maintains Youthness.
वयस्या धात्री	वयसे आयुषे हिता, आयुष्येत्यर्थः । (भा.नि.) ध्रियते पीयते इयं रसायनादि गुणार्थिभिः इति । धात्रीव देहस्य धारण्पोषणकरी । स्थन्यमिव फलरसो पीयतेऽस्याः । (भा.नि.)
Dhatri (Bha. Ni.), Dhatriphala (Bha. Ni.)	It supports and nourishes just like mother due to Rasayana property.
वृष्या	शुक्रवर्धनी । (भा.नि.)
Vrushya (Bha. Ni.)	It enhances Shukradhatu.
जातीफलरसम्	जाति प्रशस्तः फलरसोऽस्य । (भा.नि.)
Jatiphalarasa (Bha. Ni.)	Its fruit juice is useful.
शिवम्	कल्याणकारी । (भा.नि.)
Shiva (Bha. Ni.), Shriphala (Bha. Ni.)	It is auspicious.

Vernacular names:

Hindi	Amala, Avala;
Assami	Amlaku
Kannada	Bettada Nellikai
Bengali	Amla
Marathi	Avale
Gujarati	Ambala
Guajarati	Avala
Punjabi	Amla
Telagu	Ushirikaya
Tamil	Nellimaram
Malayalam	Nellimaram
English	Emblic myrobalan

Morphology: Habit : Small to medium sized deciduous tree, 8-18 m in height with thin light grey bark exfoliating in small thin irregular flakes; Leaves : simple, very many, sub-sessile, closely set along the branchlets, distichous, light green having the appearance of pinnate leaves; Inflorescence: axillary fascicles, Flowers greenish yellow, unisexual, males numerous on short slender pedicels, females few, subsessile, ovary 3-celled; Fruits : globose, fleshy, pale yellow with six obscure vertical furrows enclosing 6 trigonous seeds in 2-seeded 3 crustaceous cocci.

Distribution: Throughout India, in mixed deciduous forests and on hill tops upto 200 m, also cultivated in gardens and homeyards.

Types: Vanya ( Cicca acida) and Gramya.

Guna-Karma:

Guna	Guru, Ruksha, Shita
Rasa	Amlapradhana lavana varjita pancharasa(Amla, Madhura, Katu, Tikta Kashaya)
Vipaka	Madhura
Virya	Shita
Prabhava	Tridoshahara
Karma
Doshaghnata	Tridoshahara Vatahara : Due to Amla rasa Pittahara: Due to Madhura rasa and Shita virya Kaphahara: Due to Ruksha guna and Kashaya rasa
Agrya karma	Vayasthapana, Pramehahara
Anyakarma	Vrushya, Rasayana, Chakshushya, Keshya, Medhya, Rochana, Diapana, Hrudya, Shonitasthapana, Garbhasthapana, Kushthaghna, Jwaraghna;

Chemical composition:

Alkaloids	Phyllantine, Phyllantidine.
Tannins	Emblicanin A and B
Flavanoids	Quercitin
Polyphenols	Gallic acid, Malic acid, Mucic acid, Chebulic acid, Methylegallate
Others	Vit. C, Minerals, Proteins, Alenine, Cystiene, lysine.

Prayojya Anga: Phala (Fruit), Phala majja.

Amalaki as Rasayana :

a. Trituration of 1000 Amalaki Swarasa should be given to 256 Tola of Amalaki powder, to this honey and Ghee each 256 tola should be added followed by addition of 96 Tola of Pippali powder, 48 Tola of Sugar candy. Altogether collected in mud pot tightly closed and kept in heap of Bhasma during Varsha Rutu. After 1 year it should be consumed with Pathya Ahara and Vihara. (Cha.Chi.1/85)

b. For 1 year, one should stay with cows, should consume only Cows milk, chant Gayatri mantra, follow Brahmacharya, conquer all Indriya and fast for 3 days and enter Amalaki Vana during Pausha, Margashirsha and Phalguna Masa should pluck Amalaki with chanting of Brahma and consume as much as one can. (Cha.Chi.1/85)

Amalaki as Vajikaranartha : Amalaki powder triturated for 21 times with Amalaki juice, is advised in ¼ Tola with sugar candy and honey twice a day, followed by a glass of milk. (Su.U.26/24)

Amalaki in different diseases:

1. Amalaki in Timira (Cataract): Rasakriya(Kajal) prepared with powder of Amalaki, Rasanjana and honey, ghee is advised. (Cha.Chi. 26/255)

2. Amalaki in Raktabhishyanda (Conjunctivitis): Rasakriya(Kajal) prepared with Amalaki Phala and Patra is advised. (Su.U.12/49)

3. Amalaki in Pandu Roga(Anemia): Amalaki being Agni deepaka, Rasayana and source of Vitamin C useful in Panduroga.

Amalaki Swarasa should be given with Ikshu Rasa and Madhu, and consume Hita Ahara. ((Su.U.44/18)

4. Amalaki in Jwara (Fever) :

A. In absence of sweating and sleep, Peya prepared with Amalaki and Ginger taken with Ghee and sugar candy. (Cha.Chi.3/186)

B. Amalaki juice with Ghee is advised. (Cha.Chi.3/225)

5. Amalaki in Raktapitta(bleeding disease) :

Amalaki juice is given with honey or Amalaki powder alone can be taken. (Cha.Chi.4/56)

6. Amalaki in Prameha(Diabetes mellitus) :After Shodhana therapy(detoxification), Amalaki juice should be given with turmeric powder along with honey is beneficial. (Su.Chi.11/7), (Sha. Sam.)

7. Amalaki in Mutrakricchra(Dysurea) :: Amalaki juice should be given with jaggery . (Vrinda)

8. Amalaki in Yonidaha(vaginal burning) :Amalaki juice should be given with sugar candy. (Bha.Ni.)

Matra(Dose): Churna : 10-20 gms; Swarasa : 5-10 ml.

Vishishta Yoga(Ayurvedic formulations): Chyavanaprasha avaleha; Dhatri loha, Dhatryadi ghruta, Triphala churna, Triphala Ghrita;

Research :

1. Antioxidant Effect : the main reason behind antioxidant and free radical scavenging activity of P. emblica, is the ascorbic acid, tannins and polyphenolic constituents of P. emblica. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3453465/)

2. Laxative Effect : It possesses prokinetic and laxative activities in mice along with spasmodic effect in the isolated tissues of guinea pig and rabbit, and this action is mediated partially through activation of muscarinic receptors, suggesting a rationale for the medicinal use of P. emblica fruits in indigestion and constipation. .( Mehmood MH, Rehman A, Najeeb Ur R, Gilani AH. Studies on prokinetic, laxative and spasmodic activities of Phyllanthus emblica in experimental animals. Phytother Res 2012 ;27:1054-1060.)

3. Antidiabetic Effect: The hydro-methanolic extract of E. officinalis leaves effectively normalize the impaired antioxidant status in streptozotocin-induced diabetes at dose-dependent manner than the glibenclamide. ( Suryanarayan, P., M. Saraswat, J.M. Petrash andG.B. Reddy, 2007. Emblica officinalis and its enriched tannoids delay streptozotocin-induced diabetic cataract in rats. Mol Vis., 24; 13: 1291-7.)

4. Hypo-lipidemic Effect: The lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerotic actions of P. emblica fruits were evaluated in rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet. The fresh juice of fruits at a dose of 5 mL/(kg•day) for 60 days lowered serum cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and LDL levels. . ( Suryanarayana, P., P.A. Kumar, M. Saraswat, J.M. Petrash and G.B. Reddy, 2004. Inhibition of aldose reductase by tannoid principles of Emblica officinalis: implications for the prevention of sugar cataract. Mol Vis., 12; 10:148-54.)

5. Immunomodular effect: Laboratory experiment in mice showed that an aqueous P. emblica extract natural killer cell activity and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity in mice.

6. Memory Enhancingactivity:Amlachurna produced a dose-dependent improvement in memory of young and aged rats. It reversed the amnesia induced by scopolamine and diazepam. Amlachurna may prove to be a useful remedy for the management of Alzheimer's disease due to its multifarious beneficial effects such as memory improvement and reversal of memory deficits. (Alam, M.I. and A. Gomes, 2003. Snake venom neutralization by Indian medicinal plants (Vitex A. negundo

and Emblica officinalis) root extracts. J. Ethnopharmacol., 86(1): 75-80.)

7. Antiulcer activity: Methanolic extract of Emblica officinalis was studied against ulcer. Emblica officinalis had significant ulcer protective and healing effects and this might be due to its effects both on offensive and defensive mucosal factors. (Srikumar, R., N.J. Parthasarathy and D.R. Sheela, 2005. Immunomodulatory activity of triphala on neutrophil functions. Biol Pharm Bull., 28(8):1398-403.)

भावप्रकाश-पूर्वखण्ड-मिश्रप्रकरण - २. हरीतक्यादिवर्ग

आमलकी

त्रिष्वामलकमाख्यातं धात्री तिष्यफलाऽमृता |
हरीतकीसमं धात्रीफलं किन्तु विशेषतः |
रक्तपित्तप्रमेहघ्नं परं वृष्यं रसायनम् ||३६||
हन्ति वातं तदम्लत्वात्पित्तं माधुर्यशैत्यतः |
कफं रूक्षकषायत्वात्फलं धात्र्यास्त्रिदोषजित् ||३७||
यस्य यस्य फलस्येह वीर्यं भवति यादृशम् |
तस्य तस्यैव वीर्येण मज्जानमपि निर्दिशेत् ||३८||

मदनपालनिघण्टु - १. अभयादिवर्ग

आमलकी

धात्रीफलाऽमृतफलाऽऽमलकं श्रीफलं शिवम् |
तद्वद्धात्रीफलं वृष्यं विशेषाद्रक्तपित्तजित् ||२६||
अम्लत्वात्पवनं हन्ति पित्तं माधुर्यशैत्यतः |
कफं रूक्षकषायत्वात्तस्मात्किमधिकं फलम् ||२७||

कैयदेवनिघण्टु - १. ओषधिवर्ग

आमलकी

जातीफलरसा सीधुरसा सीधुफला तथा |
वयःस्था चामृतफला तिष्या तिष्यफलाऽमृता ||२३५||
धात्री वृष्या वृष्यफला दिव्या राधामृतोद्भवा |
धात्रीफलं शीतफलं निष्कं(तिष्यं) रसफलं मतम् ||२३६||
श्रीफलञ्चामृतफलं कोलकामलकं शिवम् |
शृङ्गी धात्री चामलकी शुक्तिः शुष्कामलक्यपि ||२३७||
तद्वद् धात्री स्वेदमेदोहराम्ला शुक्रला हिमा |
भग्न सन्धानकृत् केश्या पिपासाकफपित्तहृत् ||२३८||
तन्मज्जा तुवरः स्वादुस्तृट्छर्द्यनिलपित्तहा |
हन्ति वातं तदम्लत्वात् पित्तं माधुर्यशैत्यतः ||२३९||
कफं रूक्षकषायत्वात् फलेभ्योऽभ्यधिकं मतम् |
चक्षुष्यं सर्वदोषघ्नं वृष्यमामलकीफलम् ||२४०||

धन्वन्तरिनिघण्टु - १. गुडूच्यादिवर्ग

आमलक (वयस्था)

वयस्थाऽऽमलकं वृष्यं जातीफलरसं शिवम् |
धात्रीफलं श्रीफलं च तथाऽमृतफलं स्मृतम् ||२४३||
कषायं कटुतिक्तोष्णं स्वादु चाऽऽमलकं हिमम् |
सरं त्रिदोषहृद्वृष्यं ज्वरघ्नं च रसायनम् ||२४४||
हन्ति वातं तदम्लत्वात्पित्तं माधुर्यशैत्यतः |
कफं रूक्षकषायत्वात्फलं धात्र्यास्त्रिदोषजित् ||२४५||

राजनिघण्टु - ११. आम्रादिवर्ग

आमलकी

आमलकी वयस्था च श्रीफला धात्रिका तथा |
अमृता च शिवा शान्ता शीताऽमृतफला तथा ||१५६||
जातीफला च धात्रेयी ज्ञेया धात्रीफला तथा |
वृष्या वृत्तफला चैव रोचनी च चतुर्दश ||१५७||
आमलकं कषायाम्लं मधुरं शिशिरं लघु |
दाहपित्तवमीमेहशोफघ्नं च रसायनम् ||१५८||
कटु मधुरकषायं किञ्चिदम्लं कफघ्नं रुचिकरमतिशीतं हन्ति पित्तास्रतापम् |
श्रमवमनविबन्धाध्मानविष्टम्भदोषप्रशमनममृताभं चामलक्याः फलं स्यात् ||१५९||