Sacred Fruit Indian Gooseberry or Amla and Its Health Benefits

Check out the many Amla health benefits and Amla Ayurvedic uses. Find out Indian Gooseberry or Amla medicinal properties and why Amla is considered as a divine and sacred fruit by Hindus.

Indian Gooseberry or Amla is a small light green colored fruit. Let’s have a look at the innumerable Indian Gooseberry Ayurvedic properties and Amla health benefits in detail.

To begin with, we need to know that according to Hindu mythology, Amla or Indian Gooseberry grew from the drops of divine nectar that fell to earth accidentally as a result of a fight between Hindu Gods and Demons during the churning of the ocean or ‘Samudra Manthan’ as explained in many epics. Is Amla or Indian gooseberry really a divine fruit? Keeping in mind the innumerable Amla health benefits and Amla medicinal properties, we can say that Amla is indeed a divine fruit or a gift of God for humans. What makes Amla so special? Let’s take a look at some facts about Amla.

Also read: Amla Health Benefits in Hindi

What is Amla or Indian Gooseberry?

Amla or Indian Gooseberry

As the name suggests, Indian Gooseberry is a small berry that grows mainly in India and a few other South East Asian countries and Middle East. It is a fruit of deciduous tree of Phyllanthaceae family. The botanical name of Amla is Phyllanthus Embilica. It is also known as Emblic Myrobalan or Emblica Officinalis in addition to being called by its most popular name, Indian Gooseberry. An Amla tree usually reaches a maximum height of 15 meters with simple green leaves that resemble pinnate leaves. The fruit itself is almost spherical with smooth outer skin and six vertical stripes. The taste of Indian Gooseberry is sour due to which it is eaten in many forms such as pickles and chutney.

Amla Ayurvedic Uses

Indian Gooseberry is an integral part of Ayurvedic treatments and Unani medicine. According to Ayurveda, Amla works wonders in balancing all three doshas i.e. Vata Dosha, Kapha Dosha and Pitta Dosha. Also, it is a popular belief all that ailments originate due to imbalance in any of these doshas therefore if Amla can bring back the balance to normal, it can cure almost all diseases. Though it is a bit exaggerated, in many communities it is believed that Amla indeed cures all ailments.

Synonyms of Amla or Indian Gooseberry

• The Hindi name of Amla is Amla
• The Sanskrit name of Amla is Dhartik
• The Marathi name of Amla is Awla
• The Konkani name of Amla is Avalo
• The Punjabi name of Amla is Aula
• The Oriya name of Amla in Anla
• The Telugu name of Amla is Rasi Usiri
• The Bengali name of Amla is Amloki
• The Kannada name of Amla is Bettada nellikaayi
• The Assamese name of Amla is Amlakhi
• The Malayalam name of Amla is Nelli
• The Thai name of Amla is Ma Kham Pom
• The Chinese name of Amla is Anmole
• The Malay name of Amla is Melaka
• The Tamil name of Amla is Nellikaai

Indian Gooseberry or Amla Health Benefits

Indian Gooseberry is a rich source of Vitamin C, polyphenols, minerals like Iron and zinc; vitamins like Carotenes and Vitamin B complex and antioxidants. You can enjoy innumerable health benefits of Amla if you eat it regularly in any form. Though fresh Amla obviously has more nutrients than its preserved or other forms, you can reap the benefits of this fruit by making it a part of your regular diets in any form.

Indian Gooseberry or Amla Medicinal Properties

• Amla Alleviates Asthma
• Amla Balances Cholesterol Levels
• Amla Enhances Digestion
• Amla Enhances Intellect and Concentration
• Amla Helps in Weight Loss
• Amla Purifies Blood
• Amla Reduces Blood Sugar Level and Helps in Diabetes Management
• Amla Reduces Cough
• Amla Reduces Fever
• Amla Reduces Inflammation
• Amla Rejuvenates the Whole Body
• Amla Stimulates Hair Growth
• Amla Strengthens Heart and Its Functions
• Amla Treats Constipation

Amla is Used in Cooking/Making – Amla Recipes

• Amla Chutney
• Amla Pickles
• Amla Murabba (A type of Sweet Dish which looks like jam)
• Amla Dal or Pulse
• Amla Syrup
• Amla Juice
• Amla Candy