Amla, also known as Indian gooseberry, is a type of fruit found on the Indian subcontinent. The amla fruit itself is yellowish-green and used in dishes such as murabbah, a sweet delicacy served with the fruit soaked in a sugary syrup.
Amla Berry
In addition to being a delicious treat, amla fruit can be used to make dry amla, or gooseberry powder, which has been used primarily in traditional Indian Ayurvedic medicine.
In modern medicine, amla has some purported benefits that include lowering cholesterol, improving lung function and easing GERD symptoms.
Amla powder, also known as gooseberry powder, is sold as a supplement that can be taken as a tablet or added to food and drinks like yogurt, milk and smoothies. It contains beneficial compounds found in amla fruit, such as antioxidant-rich polyphenols, anti-inflammatory triterpenoids and essential oils. All parts of the plant, including the leaves and the fruit, can be used to make amla powder.
A 2010 review in the Journal of Basic Clinical Physiology Pharmacology explains that amla is an important herbal drug in the Unani and Ayurvedic systems of medicine and has been used for both medicinal purposes and as a tonic. For instance, the amla fruit in particular has been used in traditional medicine to treat diarrhea, jaundice and inflammation.
According to the review, amla contains helpful ingredients, such as:
- Vitamin C: In fact, a single Indian gooseberry contains approximately 600 to 800 percent of the Daily Value (DV) for vitamin C
- Amino acids
- Minerals
- Essential oils
- Fatty acids
- Tannins
- Glycosides
Potential Benefits
A September 2021 review in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology lists an impressive array of ways to use amla powder, including as treatment for:
- Respiratory symptoms, such as cough and the common cold
- Fever
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Diabetes
- Headaches
- Skin diseases (including leprosy)
- Inflammation
- Anemia and hepatopathy
- Jaundice
- GI conditions, including colic, flatulence, ulcers, diarrhea and dysentery
- Menstrual bleeding
- Cardiac disorders
- Other things it may do
- Lower Cholesterol
- Weight Loss
- Lower Sugar Levels
- Antioxidant
- Treats Lice
- Treats Gerd
And last, but not least: premature greying of hair. We know what you're thinking: That's quite a range, right? To go from a common cold to leprosy to gray hair is a lot.
But while amla berry powder may be useful for a lot of different conditions, the review noted it showed the most promise in working against conditions such as diabetes, cancer, hepatitis B and malaria. There were still a lot of missing pieces in the studies they looked at, though, so more research will be needed in the future.
This herb is sold by the ounce
Sourced from: https://www.livestrong.com/article/280952-what-are-the-benefits-of-amla-powder/
