What Does Triphala Cure?

A standby in the ayurvedic armamentarium, the herbal blend triphala appears to have substantial laxative, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Clinical studies in humans have yet to be performed. Animal studies, however, show these benefits and also suggest that triphala stimulates the action of disease-fighting white blood cells, reduces cholesterol levels and protects tissue from radiation damage.

What It Is

• Triphala contains amalaki fruit pulp, bibhitaki and the herb haritaki. Amalaki is also known as amla, while a common alternate name for bibhitaki is bahira. None of the ingredients in triphala has significant side effects, though one problem seems to be the taste, which has been described as pungent, sweet, bitter and sour.

Laxative

• Each of the ingredients of triphala has constipation-relieving effects, but haritaki has the strongest effect on the bowels.

Wound Healing

• An alcohol-based preparation of triphala was found to significantly speed skin wound healing in rats. The rats who received the triphala treatment also had far fewer wound infections than did untreated rats. Triphala-soaked sponges have also kept open wounds infection-free.

Anti-Inflammatory

• Administration of triphala to mice suffering from gouty arthritis lowered chemical signals of inflammation.

Immunity Booster

• Feeding rats triphala induced them to produce white blood cells (neutrophils) when the rodents were exposed to a noise stress.

Other Purported Use

• Other potential benefits include cancer protection, cholesterol lowering and protection against the negative effects of exposure to gamma radiation. Any anticancer effect of triphala would be related to its antioxidant activity.