Increasing levels of pollution promote the growth of free radicals in the body, causing a host of diseases, including degenerative ones. Free radicals also promote premature ageing.
To counter these harmful effects, the body needs antioxidants – substances that effectively combat the ill-effects of free radicals.
The Amla is a rich source of vitamin C and other natural antioxidants, including essential minerals.
This booklet outlines all the preventive, curative and restorative properties of the Amla. All parts of the herb play a crucial role in boosting the body’s immunity.
The Amla fruit is a popular ingredient in many healthcare products and tonics, particularly because it has no known adverse side-effects.
So, if you wish to get rid of premature wrinkles and add a spring to your step, the Amla is just the herb for you.
Highlights
*What type of antioxidants exist in nature?
*Amla-a natural source of antioxidants
*Amla-a herbal food supplement
*Nutritional analysis of Amla
*Therapeutic properties of Amla
*Wide-ranging health-benefits of Amla preparation
*Findings of clinical studies
About the author:
Saroja Joshi Manohar has had a distinguished career in the field of Pharmacy education. After qualifying from Andhra University in 1962, she began researching medicinal plants.
Ms Manohar established the Pharmacy Department at Kamala Nehru Girls Polytechnic in Hyderabad. She was also appointed a member of the Second Andhra Pradesh Pharmacy Council.
Thereafter, she joined the College of Pharmacy, New Delhi and taught Pharmacognosy. Ms Manohar retired recently from the College of Pharmacy, New Delhi.
Preface
As head of the Dabur Research Foundation, I have, for many years, been excited by the remarkable potential of herbs for promoting health and well-being. Certainly, this will come as no surprise to those of you who are familiar with, or have trusted, traditional Ayurvedic remedies for preventing and treating health disorders. What might surprise you, however, is that modern clinical studies and trials have now scientifically endorsed the therapeutic properties of many common and not-so-common herbs, and that such remedies are now increasingly becoming popular with Western medical practitioners. One of the reasons for the resurgence of traditional herbal remedies is their proven efficacy combined with safety.
I was, therefore, delighted to learn that a series of simply written booklets is planned to spread awareness about the multiple health benefits of many indigenously available plants. At last, many more people will know why the world has recognised the usefulness of nutraceuticals for treating and preventing a host of common ailments and chronic disorders—like arthritis, obesity, nutritional deficiencies, stress, memory loss, constipation, and the like.
It is my hope that readers will, henceforth, evaluate the natural options available to them for their own ailments. There is no doubt in my mind that they will greatly benefit from the remarkable properties of herbal remedies.
—D.B.A. Narayana
Dabur Research Foundation
Excerpts
ABOUT AMLA—A RICH SOURCE OF THE VITAMIN C ANTOOXIDANT
Many citrus fruits are a source of vitamin C. The fruit or berries of the Amla tree are the richest source of vitamin C and antioxidants.
Vitamin C is found in all citrus fruits and is a very powerful natural antioxidant. But, perhaps, the most important source of the key natural antioxidant, vitamin C,* is the fruit of the plant, Amla, which is also known as the Indian gooseberry. Its botanical name is Emblica officinalis.
Most of us are familiar with Amla, the round, gooseberry-like fruit of a tree native to India. The tree is found both in the wild and cultivated state in the mixed deciduous forests in India. It is a medium-to-large deciduous tree with small leaves closely set in pinnate fashion, and small pale greenish to greenish yellow, dense clusters of flowers. The fruit resembles the gooseberry—nearly spherical or globular, slightly broader than long, and with small, shallow, conical depressions at either end of its longitudinal axis, especially at the place of attachment to the stalk. Normally, the fruit is 18 to 25 mm wide at the middle. When ripe, the fruit can be succulent, yellow or pink.
The fruit juice of the Amla contains vitamin C and other antioxidants, making it the most valuable source of antioxidants.** Read on to find out how you can benefit from its therapeutic properties.
THE AMLA IS A HERBAL FOOD SUPPLEMENT
Herbs may be popular for their flavouring or colouring properties but many herbs are also acclaimed for preventing health problems and for healing.
Typically, herbs are non-woody plants that die down to the ground after flowering. But, in the modern context, the term ‘herb’ is applied to all plants, any part of which is used for therapeutic, flavouring or colouring purposes. These could be the roots of a plant, leaves, stem, bark, flowers, or fruit.
Most of us are familiar with the array of kitchen herbs commonly used as seasoning in Indian cooking—such as haldi, lassun, adarak, pudina, or imli. However, there are many other valuable herbs like the Amla, which is widely used as an ingredient in common household recipes and also for medicinal purposes.
In recognition of its beneficial properties, Amla is known as amritphala in Sanskrit, which literally means the fruit of heaven or nectar fruit. It is so called because it is rich in many desirable properties.
The herb features in a 7th century Ayurvedic medical text. According to several scholars, the sage Chyawan is reputed to have restored his vitality with this fruit.
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