Medicinal Uses of Emblica Officinalis (Amla / Indian Gooseberry)

Picture of Indian Gooseberry; Emblica officinalis green

What is the name of Emblica offcinalis In different languages of the world:

In Sanskrit Emblica officinalis is known as Amalaki; Vayastha; Amalakam; Sriphalam.

In English they are called Emblic Myrobalan; Indian Gooseberry.

In French they are called Phyllanthe emblic.

In German they are called Amlabaum; Gebrauchlicher.

In Hindi they are called Amla; Aoula; Amlika.

In Arab they are called Amlaj.

In Nepal they are also called Amla.  

Habitat of Emblica Officinalis:

They are generally found in the Deccan, the sea-coast districts and Kashmir.

                                                     Which Parts of the Amla or Indian Gooseberry are used:

Dried embilica Officinalis ; Dried amla

Dried fruit, the nut or seed, leaves, root, bark and flowers are all used. The ripe fruits are used generally fresh.

Acton:

Fresh Indian Gooseberry is refrigerant, diuretic and laxative. The Green amla is exceedingly acid. Amla is also carminative and stomachic. Dried amla is sour and astringent. Flowers of the Indian Gooseberry are cooling and aperient. Bark of the amla is astringent.

Preparations of Amla:

Decoction and infusion of the leaves and seeds of the amla; a liquor, a fixed and an essential oil; confection; powder; paste and pickles. An astringent extract equal to catechu is prepared from the root by decoction and evaporation.

 What Are The Uses of The Amla:

Fresh amla is used to Turkeystan in inflammations of the lungs and of the eyes as a collyrium. In Persia is is used as a vermifuge; the juice of the Indian Gooseberry is used; it is generally given with honey; the dose is from 1 to 3 drachms. The green amla fruits are made into pickles and preserves to stimulate appetite. A paste of the fruit alone or with nelumbium speciosum, saffron and rose water is a useful application over the public region in irritability of the bladder, in retention of urine and to the forehead in cephalalgia. An infusion of the seeds is given as a febrifuge and in diabetes; it is also used as a collyrium and applied with benefit to recent inflammations of the conjunctive and other eye complains.

Amla when dried is useful in haemorrhage, diarrhoea and dysentery cases with the iron in amla, it is a valuable remedy in anaemia, jaundice and dyspepsia. A fermented liquor prepared from the root of the Emblica Officinalis is used in jaundice, dyspepsia, cough, etc. Juice of the fresh fruit and ghee mixed together is a good restorative tonic. Juice of the bark of the amla tree combined with honey and turmeric is a remedy for gonorrhoea. A fixed oil obtained from the amla berries strengthen and promote the growth of hair. Essential oil distilled from the leaves is largely employed in perfumery.