Haritaki: 12 Major Health Benefits (Latest Findings)

Interested in learning more about the wonderful health benefits of Haritaki, long known by traditional holistic medicine?

You’re in the right place!

There’s a growing interest among alternative health practitioners and herbalists concerning the healing properties of this amazing herb.

Let’s find out a little more about the plant itself, then we’ll find out its main uses and benefits and then learn just how easy you can take advantage of it yourself.

Haritaki is an herb primarily used to increase your metabolism and cleanse the blood, and comes from the fruit of the Terminalia chebula tree.

The chebula tree grows up to 30-meters tall, with a trunk that measures approximately 1 meter when full grown. The small nut-like fruits contain an elliptical-shaped seed covered by a fleshy and rigid pulp.

The dried fruit can be consumed either dried or in powder form.

The main growing region of haritaki is in India in the sub-Himalayan tract.

In Ayurvedic medicine and in Traditional Tibetan medicine, Haritaki is highly regarded as a universal panacea and is used to prevent or treat a wide variety of health concerns.

It’s a perfect fit if you are looking for a blood cleanser or a boost for your metabolism.

Active Compounds

Haritaki contains Tannin, a fabulous booster for detoxification and cleansing.

In addition, Haritaki has a bunch of active compounds including healthy acids and metabolites: tannic acid, gallic acid, chebulinic acid, stearic acid, palmitic acid, terchebin, chebulin, behenic acid, oleic acid, sennoside, anthraquinone, mucilage, arachidic acid, and linoleic acid.

Haritaki has many names like a lot of herbs out of India, so here are some of the other names it is known as: Abhaya, Kadukkai, Chebulic Myrobalan, Black Myrobalan, Hardh, Ink Tree, Hardad, Harar, Karakkaya, and Marathi.

Among holistic health practitioners, you might also commonly hear Triphala used interchangeably but more accurately, Indian triphala is a combination of Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica, and Emblica officinalis.

Uses of Haritaki

In Ayurveda, Haritaki powder is used to treat blood and digestive disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, and has been proven to be a wonderful all-natural alternative remedy for the following health conditions:

• Conjunctivitis
• Gout
• Anemia
• Dysuria
• Urinary Stones
• Gastrointestinal Disorders
• May help lower blood sugar (Caution is advised in patients with blood disorders or hypoglycemia)
• May reduce cholesterol

Haritaki Benefits

Here are some of the properties and benefits of the herb.

1. Antiviral – extracts of the fruit inhibit HIV [1]
2. It has laxative, purgative, astringent and restorative properties
3. Boosts energy
4. Promotes longevity
5. Improves memory
6. Improves metabolism and aids digestion
7. Anti-inflammatory
8. Enhances the five senses
9. Protects from oxidative stress
10. Aphrodisiac
11. Antioxidant
12. Mouthwash preparation using this herb’s extracts can help prevent cavities

Haritaki has the ability to cleanse your body of toxins and has natural blood-purifying effects.

It’s believed to contribute significantly to weight loss by speeding up your metabolism and cleansing your digestive system.

So, can you lose weight with Haritaki? Obviously, nothing alone is a “magic bullet” but if you combine Haritaki with a sensible diet and exercise plan, this herb can definitely aid in your natural weight loss plan.

If you have any digestive stomach-related disorders, Haritaki is a good fit for you. It is used to treat a variety of conditions, ranging from acidity to constipation.

It works to form a protective barrier in your stomach by increasing the production of mucus, effectively preventing ulcer and acidity.

It is a natural laxative that can benefit people suffering from constipation. When combined with a diet rich in fiber, it promotes good bowel health without the side effects of flatulence and bloating, which are common to most constipation pills. Who isn’t interested in better regularity?

Haritaki is perfect for you if you are planning a diet or cleansing cycle. Please keep in mind, however, that Haritaki is not a tonic herb and is not intended to be taken daily for an extended period.

It’s important to educate yourself of any possible risks or contraindications for conditions you may have, or if you’re a pregnant or lactating woman.

If you are looking for a purely tonic herb with similar holistic benefits to Haritaki, please learn more about the health benefits of Jiaogulan.

Where to Buy Haritaki

Hands down my favorite brand of Haritaki powder and tablets is Banyan Botanicals.

Their reputation for the best source of pure, organic herbs and powder extracts is truly second-to-none in the herbal supplements industry, and I consider the value to be outstanding. You’ll see a selection in the box below.

Dosing

There’s no known recommended dose for adults. The fruit has been consumed as a dried powder, concentrated powder extract, and as tablets.

Further human studies are needed for evidence whether Haritaki is effective as a treatment for any of the conditions listed in this article.

This video is from another premium source of information on Haritaki: haritaki.org

Before you go, do you have any questions, comments, concerns, experiences, etc. on the health benefits of Haritaki? If so, we encourage you to post them in the comments below! We’d love to hear from you.