Indian Gooseberry

Scientific name of Indian gooseberry: Phyllanthus emblica 

Name of Indian gooseberry in different languages:

English: Emblic myrobalan, myrobalan, Amla

Sanskrit: Amalika, Amla, Amlaki

Hindi: Amla

Malayalam: Nelli നെല്ലി

Plant description:

Indian gooseberry(Phyllanthus emblica ) is a deciduous tropical tree, monoecious, grows to the height up to 18 meters tall, leaves are small, green, oppositely arranged, flowers are greenish-yellow flowering is March to May, fruits are fleshy, pale green, globose and single-seeded, a drupe, globose, 1 to 1.3 cm in diameter.

Useful plant parts: Seed, fruit, leaves, bark, roots and flowers

Medicinal uses:

It is an effective natural remedy for curing many diseases. It can cure Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation, some types of cancer, age-related renal disease, eyes disorder, diabetes, indigestion, heartburn, balance Vata, pita, and Kapha. It is one of Triphala group.

Chemical content: Ascorbic acid, flavonoids, kaempferol, ellagic acid

How to prepare medicines:

1.Acidity-Indian gooseberry-Amla can  be taken with warm milk,  vegetables, or pulses is helpful to cure acidity. 

2.Herbal treatment for Dandruff and hair lose-Indian gooseberry cut into pieces and remove seed, and ground well to made a paste form and extract its juice and add three teaspoons of lemon juice, shake well and apply on scalp and wait for 30 minutes and the wash off in the water.

Nellikka Arishtam

The fermented decoction of Indian gooseberry is called Nellikka Arishtam which is used as a tonic to enhance energy. 

Ingredients of Nellikka Arishtam

Indian Gooseberry - Amla/Nellikka: 2 kg
Jaggery - Sharkkara: 2 kg
Raisin - Unakkamunthiry 100g
Black pepper - Kurumulak: 1 teaspoon
Cloves - Grampoo: 4 numbers
Cardamom - Elakkai: 4 Numbers
Cinnamon - Karuvappatta: small piece
water: 6 cups

How to Prepare Nellikka Arishtam

Take the above-mentioned spices ( pepper, cloves, cardamom,  and cinnamon) crush well, and then crush the jaggery and keep aside, take the gooseberries and keep it clean and dry, then make a mixture of crushed jaggeries, dry grapes, and crushed spices. Take a clean vessel ( Soil pot is better) and put some of gooseberry into it, and take little of mixture and put it over the gooseberry to make a layer and again put some gooseberry over the mixture layer,  repeat this till the ingredients are complete, then pour water over it and keep the vessel airtight, keep the vessel for one day and open the lid and stir well, again keep the lid air tight, continue this process for two days. Then we can  keep the container in a dark room for three months. After three months take out the vessel and filter the decoction, it will be black in color and little alcoholic.

Indian gooseberry is used as an ingredient in Ayurveda medicines like:-

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