FOREVER AMALAKI

Emblica officinalis

Amla: Mother of Herbs

It is believed that what gold is to the minerals, amla is to the herbs. Called amalaki, dhatriphala and vayastha in Sanskrit and Emblica officinalis scientifically, it is the most widely used herb in the ayurvedic system of medicine. Legends tell us that Chayavana Rishi regained his youthfulness because of the specific use of a herbal compound which primarily consisted of amla.

The English name of amla — Indian gooseberry — denotes that it is indigenous to India. Its light green fruit grows on a small tree which is found in wet forests of hill areas throughout the Indian subcontinent. Though all parts of the tree have medicinal value, it is the fruit which constitutes the main drug.