Harītakī (Terminalia chebula) Properties, Potency, Action and Indication

 

Harītakī is the sanskrit name of Terminalia chebula Retz. English name of this herb is ink nut. It is one among the triphala. Along with āmalakī and vibhitakī, harītakī is commonly used in ayurveda formulation. Here are the details about harītakī, presented in table form.

Brief Introduction of Pañca Māhabhūta

In the learning of Āyurveda it is important to understand the concept of Pañcamāha Bhūta. All the substance is made up of Pañcamāha Bhūta. Pañcamāha Bhūta is the 5 elements that constitute the universe and body (macrocosmos and microcosmos). The Pañcamāha Bhūta which is present in universe also present in our body. These 5 elements are Ākāśa, Vāyu, Agni, Jala, and Pṛthvī. Pañcamāha Bhūta also called as Pañca Bhūta, but Pañcamāha Bhūta more common used.

Vibhītakī (Termenalia bellirica): Definition, Indication and Formulation

Vibhītakī is one among triphala. As one among triphala, vibhītakī most commonly used in Ayurveda medicines preparation. Bhīta in Sanskrit term means fear. Vibhīta means lack of fear and Vibhītakī means the fruits that takes away the fear of diseases. Here is the detail of Vibhītakī in table form.

Triphala Cūrna

Triphala is the combination of three fruits of herbal drugs that are Amalaki, Vibhitaki, and Haritaki. It is the most used herbal formulation used in Ayurveda.

Brief Introduction of Bhaiṣajya Kalpanā

Bhaiṣajya Kalpanā is Ayurveda Herbal Pharmaceutics. So in this article I want to explain you in brief about Bhaiṣajya Kalpanā. Bhaiṣajya Kalpanā is composed of two words, bhaiṣajya and kalpanā.

Amalaki (Emblica Officinalis): Definition, Properties and Usage

Amalaki is called as Indian gooshberry. It is one of the Triphala, commonly used in the preparation of Ayurveda formulation. It is most used Ayurvedic ingredients. It is both used as food and as medicine. The Amalaki name itself from the word amla which mean sour. Amalaki fruit having sour taste, as the predominant taste. 

Sanskrit name	Amalaki, Amalaka
Botanical name	Emblica officinalis Gaertn.
Family	Phyllanthaceae
Vernacular name -          English -          Indonesia -          Hindi -          Kannada -          Malayalam -          Tamil -          Bengali -          Gujarat -          Punjab -          Assam -          Manipuri -          Marathi -          Urdu -          Arab	Indian gooshberry Amla, amloko Amla, Awla, Anwla, Ambala, Amlika Nelli, Nellikai Nelli Nellikkai, Perunelli, Nellikaae Aamla, Amla, Aamalaki, Aamro Aavla, Aamlam, Aamli Aamla, Ambalo, Ambul Amlaki, Amla, Amlokhi, Amlok Heikru Aouli, Avalkati, Avil, Avla Aamla, Amal khushk Amlakhushk
Part Used	Fruit pulp
Rasa (taste)	Amla (sour) Madhura (sweet) Kaṭu (pungent) Tikta (bitter) Kaṣaya (astringent)
Guna (properties)	Laghu (light) Rukṣa (dry)
Vīrya (Potency)	Śīta (cooling)
Vipāka (metabolic effect)	Madhura (sweet)
Gaṇa (grouping)	Panca Kaṣaya Triphala Mustadi gaṇa Paruṣakadi gaṇa Amla skandha Nikumbhadi gaṇa
Action	Rasayana (rejuvenating) Vajikarana (aphrodiasiac) Cakṣusya (eye tonic) Vayasthapana (youth preserving)
Usage	Raktapitta (bleeding) Amlapitta (gastritis) Prameha (diabetes) Daha (burning sensation) Netra roga (eye disease) Kusṭha (skin disease) Arśa (hemorrhoids) Rajayakṣma (Phthisis) Pradara (leukoderma) Mutra krcchra (dysuria)
Effect to  body	Decrease vāta, pitta, kapha
Chemical content	Vitamin C Carotene Nicotinic acid Myoinositol Riboflavin Fatty acids Phyllembin Phyllemblic acid Mucic acid Embicol D-mannosyl D-glucosyl D-galactosyl residues Embicol L-rhamnosyl D-xylosyl D-arabinosyl Pectin D-fructose D-glucose Leucodelphinidin Procyanidin 3-O-gallated prodelphinidin Tannin (in bark) Ellagic acid Lupeol Oleanolic aldehyde O-acetyl oleanolic acid
Distribution	India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and other tropical country
Morphology Size Leaves Flowers Fruits   Seeds Tree Bark	Up to 8-18 meters height Simple, light green, subsessile, resembling pinnate leaves. Small, greenish-yellow Round, nearly spherical, light greenish yellow, smooth, shining, presence of vertical stripes. Trigonous Brown in colour
Products	Amalaki churna Triphala churna Baladya grita Amalaki avaleha Etc.

Amalaki is tridoṣahara drug, means it give benefit to all tridoṣa or curing the disease by imbalance of vāta, pitta as well as kapha.

Brief Introduction of Ayurveda

Ayurveda is an Indian science of medicine. In samhita of Ayurveda mentioned that:

Ayuhu vedayati iti ayurvedaha.

The meaning is "The science that tells us about Ayu is known as Ayurveda."

What is ayu? Ayu is life. In samhita of Ayurveda said that Ayu is the combination of body, sense organs, mind and soul. 

The synonym of Ayu are Dhari, Jivitam, Nityagam and Anubandha.

 

Ayurveda as Upaveda

Ayurveda is the upaveda of either Rigveda or Atharvaveda. Upaveda mean applied or secondary knowledge. Veda is known as the holy book of Hinduism. Rigveda as well as Atharvaveda is one among the four main holy books in Hinduism. The four holy books are: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda.

Even though Ayurveda as the upaveda of either Rigveda or Atharvaveda, the knowledge of Ayurveda also mentioned in the remaining three vedas but not as detail as in Atharvaveda. So Ayurveda is considered as upaveda of Atharvaveda. Each veda has its own speciality.

Rigveda mainly contains various hymns for praying to vedic Gods such as Agni, Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Surya, etc. (Wikipedia)

Samaveda mainly contains melodies and chants. Samaveda has the root of music and dance tradition of this planet. (Wikipedia)

Yajurveda mainly contains primarily prose mantras for worship rituals. The Yajurveda is broadly grouped into two – Krishna Yajurveda (black) and Shukla Yajurveda (white).  (Wikipedia)

Atharvaveda contains formula for magic and also the daily rituals for initiations into learning, marriage and funerals. Further, royal rituals and the duties of the court priests are also included in Atharvaveda. (Wikipedia) 

 The Branches of Ayurveda

There are 8 branches of Ayurveda. As mentioned in Aṣṭāñga Hṛdaya the branches of Ayurveda are:

• Kāya cikitsa – The branch of Ayurveda which is deal with the treatment of diseases arising from disorders of digestive activity (Inner Medicine).  
• Bāla cikitsa – The branch of Ayurveda which is deal with the treatment of diseases of children (Paediatrics).
• Graha cikitsa – The branch of Ayurveda which is deal with treatment of diseases arises from possession by evil spirits, pathogenic micro-organism etc. and deal with mainly with mental diseases (Psychiatry).
• Ūrdhvañga cikitsa – The branch of Ayurveda which is deal with treatment of diseases of the head inclusive of the eyes (ophthalmology), ears (otology), nose (rhinology), throat (laryngology), and teeth (dentistry).
• Śalya cikitsa – The branch of Ayurveda which is deal with treatment of diseases of requiring the use of knife or surgery. Also known as śastra cikitsa.
• Damṣṭrā cikitsa – The branch of Ayurveda which is deal with treatment of diseases due to poisoning (toxicology).  
• Jarā cikitsa – The branch of Ayurveda which is deal with treatment of diseases of old age (geriatrics). It is also known as Rasayana cikitsa. and
• Vṛsa cikitsa – The branch of Ayurveda which is deal with treatment of diseases like impotency, sterility etc. and making man sexually strong (aphrodisiac).