Haritaki

*Haritaki is coined as the King of herbs because it can work with the body's natural cleansing process and detox all body tissues. Haritaki is used in the dried form, and it is one of three fruits that is widely used in the Triphala formula. In ancient times Haritaki was classified as a divine fruit, which has an incredible amount of healing powers. Many spiritual masters from the Buddhist, Hindu, and Tibetan faiths have discussed the ability of Haritaki to support the many functions of the human body. Haritaki helps the healthy movement of Vata in the entire body, starting from the head to the heart, and lungs, then distributing to the entire gut.

*Benefits include enhancing digestive health, supports kidney function, purges liver toxins, maintains optimal metabolism, regulates body weight, promotes healthy skin, rejuvenates the heart, promotes healthy bowel movements, maintains healthy blood sugar levels and is a source of antioxidants.

Suggested Use: 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon in powder form, once or twice daily or use as directed by your health practitioner.

Botanical Name – Terminalia Chebula
Family – Combretaceae
English Names – Chebulic Myrobalan, Indian Walnut, Indian Hogplum

Morphology –
Haritaki is a medium to a large deciduous tree. It grows up to 100 feet height, with 1 meter long trunks. The leaves are alternate in arrangement, oval, 7–8 cm long and 4.5–10 cm wide with a 1–3 cm petiole. They have an acute tip, cordate at the base, margins entire, glabrous above with a yellowish pubescence below. The fruit is drupe like 2 - 4.5 cm (0.79 - 1.77 in) long and 1.2 - 2.5 cm broad, blackish, with five longitudinal ridges. The dull whites to yellow flowers are monoecious and have a strong, unpleasant odor. They are borne in terminal spikes or short panicles. The fruits are smooth ellipsoid to ovoid drupes, yellow to orange-brown in color, with a single angled stone.

Physical and chemical properties of Haritaki –
Taste – Five tastes except salt, Astringent is dominant
Quality – Light, Dry
Potency – Hot
Post Digestive Effect – Sweet

हरीतकी पञ्चरसाऽलवणा तुवरा परम् |
रूक्षोष्णा दीपनी मेध्या स्वादुपाका रसायनी |
चक्षुष्या लघुरायुष्या बृंहणी चानुलोमिनी ||१८||
श्वासकासप्रमेहार्शःकुष्ठशोथोदरक्रिमीन् |
वैस्वर्यग्रहणीरोगविबन्धविषमज्वरान् ||१९||
गुल्माध्मानतृषाछर्दिहिक्काकण्डूहृदामयान् |
कामलां शूलमानाहं प्लीहानञ्च यकृत्तथा |
अश्मरीमूत्रकृच्छ्रं च मूत्राघातं च नाशयेत् ||२०||
स्वादुतिक्तकषायत्वात्पित्तहृत्कफहृत्तु सा |
कटुतिक्तकषायत्वादम्लत्वाद्वातहृच्छिवा ||२१||
पित्तकृत्कटुकाम्लत्वाद्वातकृन्न कथं शिवा |