Indian Gooseberry or Amla – why do we love it?
Indian Gooseberry or Amla – why do we love it?
Phyllanthus emblica, also known as Amla from the Sanskrit word Amalaki is a deciduous tree of the family Phyllanthaceae. Its native range is tropical and southern Asia.
In the Buddhist tradition there are many references to the fruit of the emblic myrobalan or Amla.
Half an amalaka fruit was the final gift to the Buddhist sangha by the great Indian emperor Ashoka. This is illustrated in the Ashokavadana in the following verses: "A great donor, the lord of men, the eminent Maurya Ashoka, has gone from being lord of Jambudvipa [the continent] to being lord of half a myrobalan". In Theravada Buddhism, this plant is said to have been used as the tree for achieving enlightenment, or Bodhi, by the twenty first Buddha, named Phussa Buddha. (Credit to Wikipedia).
Anyway, so why do we really care about it?
The antioxidants and vitamins found in amla berries offer several health benefits. High concentrations of vitamin C in amla helps the body recover from illness. Amla berries also include several flavanols, chemicals that have been linked to benefits like improved memory.
Diabetes control, better digestion, healthier eyes, Immunity, better brain health are some of the health benefits associated with Amla. (Source)
Amla berries are an excellent source of Vitamin A,C,E, Iron and Calcium.
Amla juice can be used as a face scrub as it helps exfoliate the skin well. The antioxidants and Vitamin C in amla help to tone, tighten the skin, and make it firm. Take a spoonful of amla powder and mix it with hot water. Use this paste to scrub your face, rinse it off after five minutes.
Caveat – blog is based on personal experiences. Please supplement with your own research