“18 Proven Health Benefits of Haritaki Herb”

“Great for the GI tract, Super Detoxing Agent, Wonderful Immune Booster”

In Ayurvedic Medicine Haritaki is called “The King of Medicines”

Haritaki fruit has been used for thousands of years with great success in India. This wonderful fruit grows in Asia and is common in Ayurvedic Medicine. Haritaki is a great for cleansing our GI tract and building good probiotics and thus improving our immune system. It’s also important as a natural antibiotic, anti-fungal agent, and anti-inflammatory agent. Plus it also helps to protect and cleans the liver.

Where it Grows - Commonly grows in India, China, Nepal, Vietnam, Bhutan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Bangladesh, and Malaysia and other tropical areas of the world. It’s a tall tree with lots of deciduous leaves and greenish fruits that are dried and used as Haritaki herb.

Other Names - Other names are Terminalia chebula, Kadukkai, Harad, Pakistan, Kadukka Podi, Karakkaya, and Chebulic Myrobalan, and other common names.

Taste of the Fruit - The fruit is sweet, sour, and astringent tasting.

Contains - Contains lots of tannins, gallic acid, polyphenols, ellagic acid, and other antioxidants. Also chebulinic acid, plus terflavin A, Terchebin, punicalagin, ethyl gallate, luteolin, and other healing compounds. 

Used in Triphala - Haritaki is commonly used in the Ayurvedic Treatment Triphala.

In Ayurvedic Medicine - Haritaki is considered a good balancing agent for all the doshas and especially Vata… but if you take too much of Haritaki it can increase Pitta.

A Good Adaptogen - Haritaki is considered a powerful adaptogen that helps to balance the body, get rid of stress, and create strength.

Helps with Weight Loss - Haritaki is well known for helping a person to lose a few extra pounds.

Lowers Cholesterol and Triglycerides - Haritaki also helps to lower cholesterol and triglycerides thus helping to prevent heart attacks, strokes, and cancer.

Decreases Stomach Acids - Haritaki is well known to lower stomach acids and creates mucus that helps to protect against gastric ulcers. And it also helps to get rid of H. Pylori bacteria in the stomach.

Great Colon Cleansing Agent - Larger doses of Haritaki increases passage of food through the GI tract and helps to cleanse the colon.

Cleansing Agent for the Liver and Kidneys - Haritaki is a great cleansing agent for the liver and kidneys. It’s full of Terminalia Chebula improved concentrations of antioxidant glutathione, plus superoxide dismutase that helps to slow the aging process and protect the liver and kidneys.

Antibacterial and Anti-fungal Agent - Haritaki is a great agent that kills many types of bacteria and also fungal infections including candida.

Great for Acne - Take the powder and add hot water and make a paste and place the paste on your skin and let dry and then wash off… works great for acne. 

Helps with Lung Conditions - Haritaki can help with asthma, bronchitis, coughs, and other lung conditions. Take 1/4 teaspoon of Haritaki powder with some honey and take once daily for 7 to 10 days.

Improves Digestion - Haritaki is well known for improving digestion and helps to improve our probiotic bacteria in our gut. And Haritaki also improves digestion of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.

Lowers Blood Sugar - Haritaki lowers blood sugar and helps to prevent insulin resistance. And studies show that Haritaki can lower a person’s A1c levels and thus it's a great help for those who suffer from diabetes.

Creates Lustrous Hair - Take Haritaki powder and mix it with a carrier oil like sesame oil or olive oil and place on your hair and rinse off… creates lustrous healthy hair and prevents dandruff.

Heals Mouth Ulcers and Cavities - Taking Haritaki by making a mouthwash with the powder heals mouth ulcers and kills bacteria that creates cavities— according to studies in the Journal of Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry.

Spiritual - From a spiritual point of view, Haritaki opens up the third eye or pineal gland and helps to create enlightenment.

Forms - Haritaki can be found as dried fruits, powders, tablets, capsules, tinctures, and more.

Dose - In capsules take 1 to 4 - 500 mg capsules daily for only 7 to 10 days. For the powder start out with 1/4 teaspoon in hot water - 3 or 4 times a day and use more if you feel you need more. Remember Haritaki should only be used for a maximum of 7 to 10 days.

Finding - Haritaki can be found online on amazon.com and eBay.com and other places online. And it can also be asked for at your local health food store, and Indian and Asian Markets. In general, the powder costs about $25 to $35 per pound.

Side Effects - Haritaki is not for those who are pregnant, nursing, or small children. And taking too much Haritaki can create gas, bloating, and diarrhea and can lower blood sugar if you use too much of it.

Dr. Paul Haider - Master Herbalist