Terminalia chebula has been used as an astringent and a bowel cleanser. The herb also possesses antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It is also said to promote wisdom, intellect and eyesight. It is mild laxative and up to certain extent carminative too.

It is believed that Terminalia chebula can help to destroy all diseases and eliminate wastes from the body, and also promote tissue growth and health.

Terminalia chebula is also powerful adaptogenic agent and is one of those three herbs that makes the winning combination in Ayurvedic science called ‘triphala’ being followed by two other herbs – bibhitaki and aamlaki. In Ayurvedic medicine, Terminalia chebula is highly regarded for its over-the-top healing powers.

Serving size: 2 Vegi caps
Servings per container: 30
Each 500 mg capsule contains: Haritaki

Dosage: To improve the health of the gastrointestinal tract and to ease bowel movement, you can take one to two Haritaki capsules, twice a day, after meals.

A low fiber diet, inactive lifestyle, insufficient fluid intake, allergy to milk protein and problems in intestinal functions are the common causes of constipation. A person is said to be constipated when he/she passes bowel less than thrice a week. The stools are small, hard, and dry and are difficult to pass. To pass stool, a constipated person is forced to strain the anus. Irregular bowel movement cause bloating, gas and disturbs the gastrointestinal function. In most cases, constipation could be healed with dietary intervention.

Constipation is usually linked to diet, sedentary lifestyle, medications and illnesses. It significantly reduces the quality of life, which is more evident in elderly people who are more likely to suffer from this condition owing to physical immobility, recurrent illnesses and use of multiple drugs.

In chronic constipation, poor bowel movement might alter the colonic flora. The changes in microbial balance in the colon adversely affect the immune response of the body, aggravating the activities of the pathogenic bacteria and fungi. It also leads to digestive problems. Indigestion, excessive gas and bloating in constipated individuals could occur owing to harmful changes in the intestinal flora. Studies suggest that constipated people have lower levels of the beneficial Lactobacillus bacteria. Easing constipation helps to restore the normal intestinal flora.

Constipation should not be ignored. Prolonged constipation could lead to severe complications. Straining the sphincter muscle in the anus during defecation might injure the anus, leading to hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids cause intense pain, burning, irritation and rectal bleeding. Severe hemorrhoids might require surgery to remove the skin or tissues in the anus and rectum. Chronic constipation increases the risk of rectal prolapse. Straining while passing the hard bowel might push a small part of the intestinal lining into the anal. Surgery might be required to overcome severe rectal prolapse. Chronic constipation could also be a symptom of an underlying disease. Tumors or scar tissues might obstruct the intestine, preventing bowel movement.

Stimulant laxative drugs that are frequently taken by people with chronic constipation to pass stools could cause adverse side effects. To avoid the adverse effects of the constipation drugs, we rely on natural products such as Haritaki for aiding defecation.

Eases bowel movement

The mild laxative property of Terminalia chebula helps to ease bowel movement. It is widely recommended by traditional healers in India for treating constipation. The spasmogenic effect of Terminalia chebula on the gut helps to increase the water content in the feces and the fecal number. (Mard SA, Veisi A, Naseri MKG, Mikali P. “Spasmogenic Activity of the Seed of Terminalia chebula Retz in Rat Small Intestine: In Vivo and In Vitro Studies.” Malaysian J Med Sci. Jul-Sep 2011;18(3):18-26).

Prevents growth of harmful intestinal bacteria

Terminalia chebula helps to inhibit growth of harmful E. coli and C. perfringens bacteria that are the common causes of food borne illnesses. However, the antibacterial effect of Terminalia chebula does not affect the growth of the beneficial bacteria in the intestines. Hence, intake of Haritaki helps to preserve the normal intestinal flora. (Kim HG, Cho JH, Jeong EY, Lim JH, Lee SH, Lee HS. “Growth-inhabiting activity of active component isolated from Terminalia chebula fruits against intestinal bacteria.” J Food Prot. 2006 Sep;69(9):2205-9).

Reduces the risk of gastrointestinal illnesses

Terminalia chebula improves the health of the gastrointestinal tract and lowers the risk of gastrointestinal ailments. The Terminalia chebula fruit could help to heal chronic peptic ulcer. It reduces growth of the ulcer lesions by stimulating mucus production. It could be effective in eliminating ulcer induced by overgrowth of H. pylorus bacteria or prolonged intake of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. (Sharma P, Prakash T, Kotresha D, Ansari MA, Sahrm UR, Kumar B, Debnath G, Goli D. “Antiulcerogenic activity of Terminalia chebula fruit in experimentally induced ulcer in rats.” Pharm Biol. 2011 Mar;49(3):262-8).

Terminalia chebula helps to improve gastrointestinal motility. (Tamhane MD, Thorat SP, Rege NN, Dahanukar SA. “Effect of oral administration of Terminalia chebula on gastric emptying: an experimental study.” J Postgrad Med. 1997 Jan-Mar;43(1):12-3).By delaying stomach emptying, poor gastrointestinal motility leads to dyspepsia. Moreover, delayed gastrointestinal transit is frequently linked to idiopathic slow transit constipation. Hence, Haritaki could be used as an effective remedy for both dyspepsia and constipation.

Constipation could be prevented naturally with diet, fluid consumption and physical activities. Low fiber intake is a common cause of constipation. The dietary fiber rich whole grain products add bulk to the feces, soften the stool and eases defecation. Replacing the refined carbohydrate products such as white bread and white rice with whole wheat bread and brown rice might help you to pass stools without any difficulty.

People with mild constipation should consider including whole grain rye bread in their diets. Studies suggest that rye is more effective than wheat in easing defecation. Bread prepared with whole grain rye helps to heal constipation by shortening the intestinal transit time, softening the stools and easing defecation. For better results, you might consider combining rye bread with yogurt. While the fiber rich rye adds bulk to the feces, the lactobacillus bacteria present in yogurt provide relief from the adverse effects of chronic constipation on gastrointestinal functions. Moreover, bloating and flatulence that occurs from consumption of fiber rich diet might be prevented by consuming yogurt simultaneously with rye. By introducing beneficial bacteria to the gut, yogurt, helps to restore the healthy microbe balance in the digestive tract. The healthy bacteria aid digestion and inhibit overgrowth of disease causing microorganisms.

Nuts and seeds could increase the fiber content in your diet. Figs and prunes are also noted for easing bowel movement. Chronic constipation could be healed naturally by consuming fiber supplements. Psyllium seed husk is a popular remedy for constipation. It should be taken with enough water. However, people accustomed to low fiber diet might develop bloating and gas after taking fiber supplements. To reduce the adverse side effect of a fiber rich diet, the fiber consumption should be increased gradually. The frequency of defecation could be increased by taking 25 grams of fiber daily.

Abdominal massage might help to improve bowel movement in people with severe constipation. It helps to reduce the severity of abdominal pain associated with chronic constipation. Moreover, abdominal massage does not cause adverse side effects.

Chronic functional constipation might be controlled naturally by increasing fluid intake. The bowel movement might be eased by drinking 1.5 to 2 liters of fluid daily. To prevent dehydration consume plenty of clean water, fruit juices and broth. However, limit consumption of caffeinated beverages such as coffee and cola. Caffeine would trigger fluid loss, increasing the risk of dehydration. Alcohol could also cause dehydration. People on diuretics might develop dehydration if they fail to drink enough water to replenish the depleted water reserve lost through frequent urination.

Chronic constipation might be related to magnesium deficiency. Magnesium aids muscle movement. Deficiency of this essential mineral might cause constipation by slowing down movement of the intestinal muscles. Whole grains, seeds, nuts and leafy green vegetables are common sources of magnesium.

Constipation might be related to dietary allergies. Eliminating cow milk from the diet might help to ease defecation in children suffering from chronic constipation.

An inactive lifestyle might lead to constipation. Regular exercises help to improve gut mobility. To ease bowel movement, you can try the following exercises:

Stand with your legs apart. Raise your right hand. Slowly bend forward to touch your left foot with your right hand. Now repeat the same exercise by touching your right foot with your left arm.

Bend backwards and twist your trunk to touch your left heel with your right hand. Repeat the same exercise by bending backwards and touching the right heel with your left hand.

If you are not fit enough to do the above workouts, you can ease bowel movement even by walking. Aerobic exercises such as swimming, jogging, running and dancing might improve the movement of the muscles of the digestive tract. Certain yoga poses could help to reduce constipation. However, do not exercise after eating. Exercising immediately after eating might worsen constipation. Hence, wait at least for an hour or two after a meal, before resuming your physical activities such as running or doing yoga.

To prevent constipation do not suppress the urge to pass bowel. If the stool remains in the intestine for a long time, more water will be absorbed from it, making the stool harder. Ignoring the urge to defecate makes the stool harder.

Terminalia chebula exhibited antibacterial activity against a number of bacterial species. One group of researchers revealed that it is effective in inhibiting the urease activity of Helicobactor pyroli (H. pyroli), a ubiquitous bacterium implicated in the development of gastritis, ulcers and stomach cancers. Antibacterial activity of Terminalia chebula against both; Gram positive and Gram negative human pathogenic bacteria has also been recorded. Gallic acid

and its ethyl ester isolated from ethanolic extract of Haritaki showed antimicrobial action against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Diffusate of Haritaki featured an inhibitory effect against strain XC-100 of the bacterium Xanthomonas Campestris pv. Citri, indicating its efficacy to manage citrus canker disease. The herb also possesses inhibitory action against Salmonella typhi and other intestinal bacteria.

Researches show that an aqueous extract of Haritaki exhibits antifungal activity against a number of dermatophytes and yeasts. It is useful against the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans, dermatophytes Epidermophyton, Floccosum, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton rubrum. Its inhibitory effect on three dermatophytes (Trichophyton spp.) and three yeasts (Candida spp.) has also been recorded

Terminalia chebula fruits yielded four immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase inhibitors, gallic acid and three galloy glucoses. Their galloyl moiety plays important role in inhibiting the 3'–processing of HIV-1 integrase of the compounds. Terminalia chebula also features retroviral reverse transcriptase inhibitory activity. The herb protects epithelial cells against influenza A virus, supporting its traditional use for assisting in recovery from acute respiratory infections. It also showed a substantial inhibitory activity on the effects of immunodeficiency virus- 1-transcriptase.

Terminalia chebula has also established therapeutic activity against Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) both in vitro and in vivo tests. These findings prompted a team of Japanese researchers to evaluate Terminalia chebulas’s effect on human cytomagalovirus (CMV). They found that Terminalia chebula was very effective in suppressing the replication of human cytomagalo virus in vitro and in an AIDS model mice with immunosupresssion and concluded that it may be useful for the prevention of CMV diseases and immonocompronised patients.

The herb works wonderfully when applied to local area in various health ailments. Haritaki’s paste with water is found to be good anti-inflammatory agent. It is also analgesic and has purifying cum healing properties. The herb is therefore useful in wounds. The decoction made out of the herb can be used as a surgical dressing for healing the wound quickly.

Equal parts of three myroblanas and and catechu are made into paste with clarified butter (you can also take some bland oil) will work as an ointment in chronic ulceration, ulcerated wounds and other skin problems having any kind of discharge.

Astringent properties of the herbs can be used for the purpose fighting with hemorrhoids. The decoction of Haritaki can be used as gargling for oral ulcers and sore throats. One can also apply powder of the herb to the gums so that it ceases bleeding and development of bacteria within the oral cavity.

Antimutagenic activity of hydrolyzable tannins from Haritaki in Salmonella typhi has been listed. A group of researchers have revealed the inhibitory action on cancer cell growth by the phenolics of Haritaki Retz fruit and discovered that chebulinic acid, tannic acid and ellagic acid were the most growth inhibitory phenolics of the herb. Besides, acetone extract of bark and fruit powder of herb, harbors constituents are with assuring antimutagenic/ anticarcinogenic activity.

Six extracts and four compounds of the herb Haritaki fruit exhibited antioxidant activity at different magnitudes of potency. Terminalia’s fruit exerts antioxidant and radio-protective activity in mice. Protective effects of an aqueous

extract of Haritaki fruit on the tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative injury was discovered in cultured rat primary hepatocytes and rat liver have also been listed. It possessed stronger antioxidant activity as compared to alpha-tocopherol; HPLC analysis with diode array detection revealed that the presence of hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, flavonol aglycones and their glycosides, as main phenolic compounds.

Adaptogenic and antianaphylactic activities of Haritaki fruit was one of the six Ayurvedic herbs administered to animals to evaluate their adaptogenic potency. All six traditional rasayana (rejuvenating herbs) plants were able to aid the animals against a variety of different stressors working in different degrees. Besides, animal studies revealed that when extract of Terminalia chebula was given following induction of anaphylactic shock, the serum histamine levels were reduced showing its strong anti-anaphylactic action

Haritaki is great anti-inflammatory and astringent agent. It is therefore useful in urethral discharges such as spermatorrhea, vaginal discharges like leucorrhea. The herb can also be given as adjuvant in atonic conditions of uterus.

Hypolipidemic activity of the herb Haritaki extract against experimentally induced atherosclerosis has been recorded. It also possessed hypocholesterelomic action against cholesterol-induced hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis in rabbits. The herb improves gastrointestinal motility and has anti-ulcerogenic activity. The Haritaki fruit has been considered to be great gastric emptying agent. This action seemed to be balanced with its protective effect on the gastrointestinal mucosa, with an improvement in the secretory status of Brunner’s gland that is mainly involved in protecting against duodenal ulcer.

Cardio-protective activity of Haritaki extract pretreatment was found to ameliorate the effect of isoproterenol on lipid peroxide formation and held the activities of the diagnostic marker enzymes in isoproterenol induced myocardial damage in mice. Its pericap has also been proven to have cardio-protective action in isolated frog heart model. Cytoprotective activity of Gallic acid (GA) and Chebulic acid (CA) were disjointed from the extract of the herbal medicine Kashi (myrobalan, the fruit of Terminalia chebula) as active principal that banned the cytotoxic T- lyphocyte (CTL)-mediated cytotoxicity.

The administration of the Haritaki or Terminalia chebula extract prior to whole body irradiation of rat resulted in a reduction of peroxidation of membrane lipids in the rat’s liver as well as a diminish in radiation induced damage to its DNA. It also protected the human lymphocytes from changing with the gamma radiation-induced damage to DNA exposed in-vitro study.

Haritaki or Terminalia chebula fruit displayed dose dependent reduction in blood glucose of streptozotocin induced diabetic mice both; in short term as well as in long term study. It also showed retina protection action along with antispasmodic activity. One of the researches of Haritaki revealed its anti-spasmodic actions by the reducing the abnormal blood pressure as well as intestinal cramps. This confirms its traditional use for spastic colon and other intestinal disturbances.

Haritaki is a large tree with young branchlets and leaf buds. The tree’s leaves are- mostly sub-opposite, distant, and ovate along with long, soft, shining, rust colored or silvery hairs. It gets wither in the cold season. The flowers of the haritaki are dull white or yellowish, with a strong offensive smell. They blossom in the month of April to May. Fruits of haritaki are obovoid or ellipsoidal from a broad base glabrous. Their formations occur in the month of November to January.

Serving size: 2 Vegi caps
Servings per container: 30
Each 500 mg capsule contains: Haritaki

Dosage: To improve the health of the gastrointestinal tract and to ease bowel movement, you can take one to two Haritaki capsules, twice a day, after meals.