Description

Amla Berries, aka Indian Gooseberry (Phyllanthus Emblica)

HERB COMMON NAME :  Amla (aka Indian Gooseberry)

HERB SCIENTIFIC NAME :   Phyllanthus Emblica

OTHER NAMES :  Indian Gooseberry, Emblic, Emblic Myrobalan, Myrobalan, Malacca Tree, Gooseberry, Amalaki, Amlaki, Amlak, Dhatri, Dhatrik, Anavala, the Healer Berry

FAMILY :  Phyllanthaceae

ASSOCIATIONS & CORRESPONDENCES :

• Element: Air
• Planet: Moon
• Day: Monday
• Direction: East
• Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
• Chakra: 1^st Root Chakra (Muladhara)
• Energy: Yin
• Gender: Feminine
• Spirit Animal: goose
• Sabbat or Holiday: Mabon / the Fall Equinox (btw Sept 21-24)
• Deity or God / Goddess Association: Vishnu, Lakshmi

Parts Used:  Fruit

Description:  Amla fruit (aka Indian Gooseberry) has several culinary and herbal medicinal uses. It is rich in vitamin C. A single Indian Gooseberry contains about 600-800% of the daily value (DV) of vitamin C. A 3.5 ounce serving of fresh berries contain as much vitamin C as 20 oranges. Just 1 teaspoon of Indian Gooseberry powder provides 1,500 units of antioxidants (more than the average person consumes in an entire week). It is one of the most antioxidant-rich foods on Earth. The fruit, leaves, and seeds are used in traditional Chinese, Thai, and Indian medicine and have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years.

Due to its high vitamin C content, Indian Gooseberry may help prevent cellular damage, thus slowing the natural aging process. It may prevent the breakdown of collagen.

It is believed to be a powerful natural remedy for hair loss. Indian Gooseberry is high in vitamin E, which has been shown to enhance hair growth.

Indian Gooseberry is also used to protect against age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The berries are rich in vitamin A, which is key to improving eye health. It may also help protect from conjunctivitis (pink eye) and other eye infections.

Human studies have shown that supplementing with Indian Gooseberry resulted in lower triglyceride and total LDL (bad) cholesterol, as well as an increase in HDL (all good) cholesterol. It may also help reduce high blood pressure by acting as a vasodilator. It is said that less than a teaspoon of Amla powder works just as well for reducing bad cholesterol levels as drug Zocor.

People commonly use Indian Gooseberry for persistent heartburn. The fiber may also help regulate bowel movements, which may relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. It is also believed that 1 teaspoon of dried Indian Gooseberry a few times a day works just as well against dyspepsia as other antacids. It has a natural laxative effect that can help encourage regular bowel movements and prevent constipation. Amla fruit is traditionally eaten after meals.

The soluble fiber content has been shown to slow the rate the body absorbs sugar, reducing blood sugar spikes and possibly help symptoms of type 2 diabetes.

Amla fights against free radicals that can damage brain cells. The high vitamin C helps the body produce norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter that is believed to improve brain function in people with dementia.

In animal studies, Amla fruit has shown to be effective at killing lung, liver, cervical, breast, ovarian, and colon cancer cells. In test-tubes, amla introduced to cancer cells cut the growth rate in half. However, this has not been studied on humans.

Historical Uses:  superfood, hair loss, baldness, alopecia, anti-aging, wrinkles, sagging skin, vision, eyesight, age-related macular degeneration, AMD, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heartburn, high blood sugar, diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, IBS, laxative, constipation, conjunctivitis, pink eye, eye infection, antibacterial, inflammation, anti-inflammatory, memory, dementia, digestion, dyspepsia, stomach ache, upset stomach, nausea, bloating, gas, cancer, lung cancer, liver cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer

Mystical Attributes:  In the Buddhist tradition, half an amla fruit was the final gift to the Buddhist sangha by the great Indian emperor Ashoka. In Theravada Buddhism, Amla is said to have been used as the tree for achieving enlightenment, or Bodhi, by the twenty-first Buddha named Phussa Buddha.

Mystical Intentions:  enlightenment, health and healing, new beginnings, growth

Other Uses:

Taste & Smell:  Amla fruit is fibrous, bitter and sour.

Botany, Cultivation & Harvesting:  Indian Gooseberry, or Amla, is native to parts of Asia and the Middle East.

The small to medium-size tree (3 feet 3 inches to 26 feet 3 inches high) has yellow-green flowers that blossom into bright, nearly spherical, light yellow-green golf ball sized (about 1” diameter) edible fruits with six vertical stripes or furrows, a pit and thin peel.

The branchlets are finely pubescent, usually deciduous, and 3.9-7.9 inches long. The leaves are simple, light green, subsessile (have no stalk), and closely set along the branchlets.

The berries ripen in autumn and are harvested by hand after climbing to upper branches that bear the fruits.

Contraindications & Toxicity:

• Due to its anti-platelet properties, may thin blood and prevent normal blood clotting.
• Avoid use with bleeding disorders or if taking blood thinners.
• Do not use prior to surgery.
• May lower blood sugar levels.
• Do not use if pregnant, nursing, or trying to conceive.

Constituents:

• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
• Ellagitannins (emblicanin A, emblicanin B, punigluconin, pedunculagin)
• Punicafolin
• Phyllanemblinin A
• Phyllanemblin
• Polyphenols (flavonoids, kaempferol, ellagic acid, gallic acid)

Sources: https://spiritartsandherbs.com/sources

**IMPORTANT INFORMATON: Products are sold as curio items for entertainment purposes only and based upon historical and magical uses.  We do not imply or guarantee that any items provide specific abilities, powers, outcomes, remedies, or treatments. Any information provided on listings or through private conversation is intended for educational purposes only and are based on historical folklore and traditions, and should not replace the advice of a physician. Use our products at your own risk. By purchasing this item, you understand and release Spirit Arts & Herbs Inc from any liability. No items we sell are for internal use and should never be ingested for any reason. Some may also not be safe for topical application, or even be safe to touch while unprotected. Always use proper safety precautions when using our products. We will not be held responsible for illness, injury, or death from the use of any product.

PRODUCT IS NOT A TREATMENT. This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. CAUTION : Do not use ANY product if pregnant or nursing. Do not use if allergic to any ingredients. Prior to use, consult with your professional health-care provider to ensure safe use and understand effects that ingredients may cause relative to safety, personal conditions, and medication interactions which may be harmful. FOR ADULT USE ONLY. By purchasing, you confirm that you are over 18 years of age. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not use more than recommended by your healthcare professional.  Purchase of this product indicates that you have read, understand, and agree to Spirit Arts & Herbs Terms and Conditions.

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