ORGANIC AND NATURAL PRODUCTS

Triphala is now touted as a natural remedy for a variety of health conditions, although research doesn't yet confirm its effects. In Sanskrit, the word Triphala translates to "three fruits," and it is just that: a combination of Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis),  black myrobalan  (Terminalia chebula), and belleric myrobalan (Terminalia belerica).

In Ayurvedic medicine, Triphala is considered a tridoshic rasayana, meaning that it has the properties to support all three doshas (air/space, fire/water, and water/earth).

1 These qualities are believed to enhance strength and immunity and may be applied to the treatment of numerous health conditions.

Triphala is available in powder, juice, tincture, extract, capsule, or tablet form, and it is increasingly found online and in many natural food and supplements stores.

Health Benefits

According to the Ayurvedic tradition, Triphala has the properties to treat an almost encyclopedic range of health conditions. Some of this is attributed to Triphala's laxative effect, which proponents suggest can "cleanse the system." Depending on how much is prescribed, Triphala may be used as bowel tonic at lower doses, alleviating gas and promoting digestion, or as a purgative (strong laxative) at higher doses.

Beyond its effect on the gastrointestinal tract, Triphala is believed to relieve stress, control diabetes, promote weight loss, reduce cholesterol, alleviate inflammation, and treat a variety of bacterial and fungal infections.

To date, there is little research that strongly supports these claims, mainly because the studies that have been done were small or poorly designed. With that being said, there have been some promising findings in recent years that warrant further investigation.

Weight Loss

According to a 2012 study in Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, mice fed a high-fat diet and prescribed a daily dose of Triphala had lower body weight, body fat, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and "bad" LDL cholesterol than untreated mice on the same diet.

Moreover, the treated mice experienced an increase in "good" HDL cholesterol along with improvements in their liver enzymes and oral glucose tolerance, suggesting Triphala may aid in the control of type 2 diabetes.

Dental Issues

As with many multi-herbal medications, it is unknown which constituents in Triphala are bioactive. A number of test-tube studies have shown that Triphala exerts anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, although these types of results rarely translate to the same degree of effect in humans. One area in which Triphala may offer benefits is in dental health, including reduction of plaque and the prevention of gum disease and cavities.