Haritaki is described as a rejuvenator herb. It pacify all three Doshas. Haritaki is mild purgative drug and enhance life span. It cures all the diseases.
Properties
| Botanical name | Terminalia chebula Retz. |
| Family name | Combretaceae |
| English name | Myrobalan or Chebulic Myrobalan |
| Hindi name | Harada |
| Synonyms | Abhya Pathya Pootna Amrita Chetki Shryesi Vyastha Jivanti Rohini |
Habit
Haritaki is a deciduous tree of 50 to 80 ft average height with dark brown bark.
Leaves are alternate to subopposite in arrangement, oval, 7–8 cm long and 4.5–10 cm broad with a petiole.
Fruits are drupe-like, 2–4.5 cm long and 1.2–2.5 cm broad, blackish, with longitudinal ridges.
Flowers are dull white to yellow, monoecious and have a strong, unpleasant odour.
Chemical composition
- Chebulagic acid
- Chebulinic acid
- Tannic acid
- Gallic acid
- Lutic acid
- Vitamin B and C
Rasa Panchaka
- Rasa –
- Kashaya (astringent) – dominant
- Tikta (bitter)
- Katu (pungent)
- Amla (sour)
- Madhura (sweet)
- Guna–
- Laghu (easy to digest)
- Ruksha (dry)
- Virya – Ushana (hot in potency)
- Vipaka– Madhura (sweet)
Action on Dosha
- Tri Dosha Shamaka, mainly Vata Shamaka
Useful part – Fruit
Dose – 3 to 6 gm powder mix with honey or water.
Contraindication of Haritaki
Haritaki is contraindicated in pregnant women, lean and thin person, after fasting and bloodlatting due to dominancy of Kashaya Rasa and hot potency.
Ayurveda And You. 