Amalaki (Emblica officinalis)

Aamyik Prayog (Therapeutic Uses) of Amalaki

• Jvara (Fever)

1. The juice of Amalaki fruits fried with ghee alleviates fever.(Charaka Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 3/ 230)
2. The patient with fever, in case of loss of sweat and sleep accompanied by excessive thirst, should take liquid gruel processed with Sunthi and Amalaki added with sugar and fried with ghee. It alleviates fever. (Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana. 3/ 187)

• Aruchi (Loss of appetite): The Amalaki fruits are roasted on a charcoal fire, added with Ghee, Jirka, and salt, and fumigated with Asafetida. They stimulate digestive fire. (Kshemakutuhala. 8/ 64, 11/ 27)
• Arsha (Piles): 

1. Phala Arishta. (Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana. 14/ 148-52)
2. Kanak Arishta. (Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana 14/ 158-68)
3. Khada (a dietary preparation) made of Kaashmarya and Amalaki is taken with a supernatant fatty layer of curd that controls bleeding piles. (Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana. 14/ 202)
4. A regimen of buttermilk with Amalaki, Guduchi, etc. is prescribed in piles. (Susruta Samhita Chikitsa Sthana. 6/ 13)

• Krimi Roga (Worms): The juice of Amalaki or decoction of Bhibhitaki or Haritaki mixed with honey is useful as Anupana. (Susrutra Samhita Uttar Tantra. 54/ 31)
• Pandu (Anaemia): 

1. The juice of Amalaki and sugarcane in the form of Mantha (Churned drink) is beneficial in case of anemia. (Sushruta Samhita Uttara Tantra. 44/ 8)
2. One should take the powder of Amalaki with honey. (Sushruta Samhita Uttar tantra. 44/ 27)

• Kamala (Jaundice): 

1. Dhatryavaleha. (Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana. 16/ 100, 101)
2. Dhatryarista. (Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana. 16/ 111- 113)
3. The juice of Mridwika (grapes) and Amalaki is useful in drink and food in case of jaundice. (Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana. 16/ 114)

• Rakta Pitta (Intrinsic hemorrhage): 

1. Amalaki fruits mixed with plenty of honey and sugar should be used as a purgative. The juice is particularly beneficial in Rakta Pitta. (Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana. 4/ 57-58)
2. A fine paste of Amalaki fried with ghee is applied to the head. It cures epistaxis instantaneously. (Vrinda Madhava. 9/ 30, Sharanghdhara Samhita. 3/ 11.61)

• Swara Bheda (Hoarseness of voice):  In case of hoarseness of voice, one should take Amalaki fruits with milk. (Raja Amarttanda. 10/ 3)
• Hikka (Hiccough): Juice of Amalaki and Kapittha mixed with Pippali (powder) and honey checks hiccough. (Charaka Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 17/ 135)
• Kasa (Cough): The powder of Amalaki cooked with milk and added with ghee should be taken in a cough. (Shusruta Samhita Uttara Tantra. 52/ 36)
• Murcha (Fainting): 

1. Ghee cooked with a decoction of Haritaki or juice of Amalaki alleviates fainting. (Sushruta Samhita Uttara Tantra. 46/ 19)
2. Steamed fruits of Amalaki should be pounded and mixed with Draksha and Shunthi and taken with honey. It pacifies fainting, bronchial asthma, and cough. (Vangasena Murcha. 35, Bhava Prakasha Samhita Chikitsa Sthana. 1/ 562)

• Hridya Vikara (heart disease): Chyavanaprasa, Agastya Leha, and Brahma Rasayana (made of) Amalaki is useful in diseases of the heart. (Charaka Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 26/ 99)
• Chardi (Vomiting)

1. In vomiting, a cold soup of green gram mixed with Amalaki juice should be taken. (Ashtanga Sangreha Chiktsa Sthana. 8/ 15)
2. Amalaki fruits, Draksa, and Sarkara 40 gm should be pounded and mixed with honey 40 gm and water 160 ml. All this should be strained by cloth and taken. It alleviates vomiting caused by Tridosa. (Vangsena. Chardi. 37, Bhava Prakasha Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 17/ 20)

• Trishna (Thirst): In the abnormal taste of the mouth, gargles should be used of sours and powder of Amalaki. (Sushruta Samhita Uttara tantra. 48/ 17)
• Daha (Burning sensation): Powder of Amalaki is impregnated with sugarcane juice twenty-one times and taken with milk added with sugar in the morning. It alleviates severe internal burning sensation. (Siddha Bhaishjya Manni Mala. 4/ 473)
• Amlapitta (Acid peptic disease): Powder consisting of Amalaki, Shatavari, and sugar all equal is mixed with an equal quantity of honey and taken with milk or ghee. It alleviates senility and promotes vision and vitality. It is known as Chatuhsama. (Vangasena Amlapitta. 49)
• Udavartta (due to urinary obstruction): An upward movement of Vayu, juice of Amalaki mixed with water should be taken for three days. (Sushruta Samhita Uttara Tantra. 55/ 22)
• Udara Shool (Abdominal pain):

1. In pain caused by Pitta (hyperacidity) Amalaki powder mixed with honey should be taken. Juice of Amalaki or Vidari Kanda mixed with the juice of Trayamana and Draksha and added with sugar alleviates pain caused by Pitta instantaneously. (Vrinda Madhava. 26/ 25-26
2. In Parinamasula, the powder of Amalaki fruit mixed with Lauha Bhasma or Madhuyasti powder should be taken with honey. (Vangsena Parinamasula. 95, Bhava Prakasha Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 30/ 78)

• Kustha (Leprosy): 

1. One who takes powder of Amalaki and Nimba leaves in the morning regularly is freed from leprosy. (Raja Amrittanda. 8/ 1)
2. In vitiligo, the decoction of Amalaki and Khadira mixed with seeds of Bakuci should be taken. It destroys the disorder quickly. (Vrinda Madhava. 51/ 34)

• Vatarakta (Gout): One should administer the decoction of Amalaki and Haridra sweetened with honey to alleviate the Vatarakta. (Charaka Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 5/ 10)

• Visarpa (Erysipelas): In erysipelas, Amalaki juice mixed with ghee should be given. In case there is constipation, Trivrit powder should be added to this. (Charaka Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 21/ 67, Vrinda Madhava. 54/ 3)
• Jalakagardabha (acute spreading inflammation): In Jalakagardabha, regular use of Amalaki and cold pastes (Sheeta lepa) are recommended. (Charaka Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 12/ 100, Ashtanga Hridya Uttara Tantra. 32/ 6, Ashtanga Sangreha Uttara Tantra. 37/ 8)
• Masurika (Pox): In case of pox associated with the wound in the mouth and throat one should take the decoction of Amalaki fruits and Madhuka added with honey as a gargle. (Bhava Prakasha Samhita Chiktisa Sthana. 60/ 50)
• Vyanga (freckle): Tender fruits of Amalaki should be kept in cow’s urine for a week and then pounded with goat’s milk. It is applied as a paste on the face. (Ashtanga Sangreha Uttara Tantra. 37/ 24)
• Palitya (Greying of hairs): One who applies the paste of Mandura, Amalaki, and Japa flowers on hairs before taking bath is freed from the disease. (Vrinda Madhava. 57/ 91)
• Prameha (Diabetes):

1. Amalaki and Haridra are the best remedies for Prameha. (Ashtanga Hridya Uttara tantra. 40/ 48).
2. The patient of Prameha, after unction, emesis, purgation, and a non-unctuous enema should be given the juice of Amalaki mixed with Haridra and honey. (Vrinda Madhava. 35/ 16, Sushruta Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 11/ 8)

• Mutra Vega Vidharana (Suppression of urine): 

1. On taking 160 ml, juice of Amalaki mixed with honey one is relieved of the urinary trouble. (Sushruta Samhita Uttara tantra. 58/ 39-40)
2. One should take Ela with the juice of Amalaki. (Susruta Samhita Uttara Tantra. 58/ 41)
3. Amalaki taken with jaggery is saturating, promotes semen, and alleviates exertion, Raktapitta, burning sensation, colic, and dysuria. (Vrinda Madhava. 32/ 8)
4. One should take the juice of Amalaki or sugarcane mixed with honey in case of dysuria or hematuria. (Bhava Prakasha Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 35/ 32)

• Netra Vikara (Eye diseases):

1. Juice coming out of the mature fruit of Amalaki staying on the plant after piercing with the nail alleviates numerous diseases of the eye caused by the aggravation of Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. (Raja Amrittanda. 3/ 10)
2. Semisolid extract of Amalaka and Rasanjana mixed with honey alleviates diseases of the eye caused by Pitta and Vata, defects of vision, and Patal. (Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana. 26/ 250, Vrinda Madhava. 61/ 172)
3. Similar preparation made by boiling leaves and fruits of Amalaki pacifies acute conjunctivitis by filling the eye. (Vanga Sena Netraroga. 34)

• Swasthsya Swasthya Rakshnam (As preventive measure): Healthy person should wash his mouth, face, and eyes with a decoction of Amalaki or cold water to prevent disorders of the face, dryness of mouth, and diseases caused by Rakta and Pitta. (Sushruta Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 24/ 15, 16)
• For promoting intellect (Medhya): To promote intellect and prevent senility one should take powder of sesamum and Amalaki mixed with honey and ghee in the morning for a month. (Vaidya Manorama. 20/ 15, 20/ 5)
• Rasayana (Rejuvenator):

1. Amalaki- Rasayana. (Charaka Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 1. 2/ 8, 1. 1/ 58 – 74, 1. 2/ 4- 10, 1. 3/ 9- 13)
2. One should take powder of Amalaki mixed with gold (Bhasma) and honey. It promotes longevity. (Sushruta Samhita Chikitsa Sthana. 28/ 20)
3. For maintaining youthfulness (and preventing senility) Amalaki is the best one. (Ashtanga Hridya Uttara Tantra. 40/ 56)
4. Senility in persons goes away who take Amalaki juice mixed with honey, sugar, and ghee while keeping on a wholesome diet. (Ashtanga Hridya Uttara Tantra. 39/ 149)
5. One who takes powder of Amalaki, Vidanga and Asana mixed with oil, ghee, honey, and Lauhabhasma does not lose youthfulness. (Ashtanga Hridya Uttara Tantra. 39/ 150)
6. Those who take Amalaka and Tila mixed with Bhringaraja regularly do not suffer from disease and senility. (Vrinda Madhava. 69/ 11)
7. Amalaki- Rasayana (Vrinda Madhava. 69/ 19)

• Vajikarana (As aphrodisiac): Powder of Amalaki impregnated with the juice of Amalaki itself mixed with sugar, honey and ghee should be taken followed by intake of milk. By this, even the old are stimulated like the young. (Sushruta Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 26/ 24, Vrinda Madhava. 70/ 8-9)
• Pradara (Leuccorhea):

1. The paste of Amalaki seeds mixed with sugar and honey should be taken with water, or powder or juice of Amalaki should be administered with honey. (Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana. 30/ 117)
2. The paste of Amalaki seeds mixed with honey and sugar should be taken with water. It alleviates leucorrhoea in three days. (Bhava Prakasha Samhita Chiktsa Sthana. 69/ 10)
3. Amalaki seeds are taken with rice water to alleviate menometrorrhagia or Amalaki pounded with Udumbara decoction and taken with cold water does the same. (Vaidya Manorma. 2/ 9)

• Somaroga (Excessive urination): Ripe banana fruit, Amalaka juice, honey, and sugar- all mixed should be taken to control the Somaroga (excessive urination). (Gada Nigreha. 6. 1. 69)
• Yoni Daha (Burning sensation in female genitals): In such a case, the woman should take Amalaki juice mixed with sugar. (Bhava Prakasha Samhita Chiktsa. 70/ 41)
• Bala Roga (Children’s disease): In Vicchi disease of children 320 gm of Amalaki powder is impregnated with cow’s urine seven times and dried in the sun. This applied as paste alleviates the disease. (Vangasena. Balrog. 122)
• Udarda (Urticaria): 

1. One should use Pippali- Vardhamana or garlic or Madhuka mixed with sugar or Amalaka mixed with jaggery. (Vrinda Madhava. 52-53)
2. One should regularly use the leaves of Nimba mixed with Amalaki along with ghee. It alleviates eruptions, allergic manifestations, wounds, itching, and intrinsic hemorrhage. (Vrinda Madhava. 52/ 8)