Many Indians have this fruit daily to preserve youth, mental health: Doctor shares tips

The Indian legends are full of interesting tales that narrate the magical powers of herbs and medicinal plants. One of them is about the Ashwini Kumaras, or the divine healers, who made a herbal mix of chyavanaprash with Indian gooseberry as the main ingredient, turning the old and blind sage Chyavana into a handsome young man. There are millions of people in India who eat Chyavanaprash daily, hoping to preserve their youth and health. Dr Gopalakrishnan Valiyaveettil of the Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala explains why amla deserves a place in our diet.

A recipe for mental health issues
Amla or Indian gooseberry is an excellent herb that boosts immunity while keeping you healthy and strong. Besides, it can improve memory, intellect and strengthen the nervous system. Traditional treatment methods like applying a thick pack of gooseberry mixture or nellikka thalam on the head to treat mental health problems, and Thakradhara by mixing gooseberry and buttermilk, are quite famous.

Gooseberries contain the highest amount of vitamin C among fruits. Unlike other fruits, the vitamin C in gooseberries isn’t lost due to oxidation. Gooseberries, whose scientific name is Phyllanthus emblica, contain pectin, vitamins C and B complex, calcium, iron, tannin, gallic acid, resin, glucose, protein, albumin and cellulose. 100 grams of gooseberries contain 600 – 920 grams of vitamin C. Meanwhile, tannin prevents vitamin C loss when gooseberries are heated.

Medicinal qualities
Skin feels young and rejuvenated when you bathe in water infused with gooseberries. Besides body pain, urinary problems, weakness, and anaemia, gooseberries with jaggery could be used to treat these conditions. Having gooseberry paste with grapes stimulates your taste buds. Mix gooseberry paste into milk and drink it to prevent acid reflux. Gooseberry paste and liquorice could be used to reduce stomach ache caused by eating stale food. Besides, applying gooseberry paste on the abdomen will cure urinary problems. Ayurveda also recommends gooseberries for treating constipation. However, overconsumption or drinking lukewarm water immediately after eating gooseberries might cause diarrhoea.

Consuming gooseberry powder in limited quantities is effective for acidity, stomach pain, piles, excessive bleeding during periods and glaucoma. Washing eyes using gooseberry seed kashayam will reduce eye pain. About 3 – 6 grams of triphala choornam made from gooseberry, inknut, and terminalia bellirica powder can be consumed with honey or ghee daily for eye health. Mix 6 grams of fresh gooseberries with 100 ml of milk, then consume it to ease heartburn, gastric trouble, and bloating.

For good hair and to avoid premature greying
Applying a hair mask made using dried gooseberry and mango seed paste will add shine to your hair. Infusing gooseberry extract with four times as much sesame oil is an excellent remedy for premature greying. Meanwhile, applying dried gooseberry powder to the head boosts hair growth and prevents hair fall. Gooseberry powder mixed with honey or gooseberry kashayam is often recommended to treat conditions like white discharge. Boiling gooseberry powder in gooseberry extract and then mixing it with sugar, honey or ghee is said to be an excellent herbal concoction that increases libido. Meanwhile, consuming dried gooseberry powder with turmeric powder will reduce blood sugar levels.

Main ingredient in Ayurvedic medicine
Gooseberry is often used as a main ingredient in most Ayurvedic medicines. Abhayarishtam, Ashokarishtam, Dashamoolarishtam, Saotarishtam, Durabalarishtam, Kandakarikritham, Kalayanakakritham, Mahatikatakritham, Abhrabhasmam, Kadakadiradi kashayam, Musalikadiradi kashayam, Shatavari gulam, Chyavanaprasam, Dhanwantharam tailam, Kachooradi tailam, and Vayu Gulika are some popular Ayurvedic medicines that include gooseberries among their ingredients. One could consume up to 10–20 ml of gooseberry extract daily, while 3–6 grams of choornam could be consumed.
Note: The advices and prescriptions shared here are for reference only. Always consult your doctor before use.