Ayurvedic Herb

Amla (Indian Gooseberry)

SanskritAmalakiBotanicalPhyllanthus emblica (syn. Emblica officinalis)Also calledIndian gooseberry, Amalaki, Emblic myrobalan

A sharp, sour green fruit that Ayurveda prizes as a cooling, nourishing rasayana and the heart of chyavanprash.

Bite into a fresh amla and your whole face reacts. It is sour first, then astringent and a little bitter, and if you take a sip of water afterward the water tastes oddly sweet. Ayurveda says this small green fruit holds five of the six tastes, everything but salty.

The Sanskrit name amalaki is often linked to the idea of a nurse or mother, and that is how the tradition uses it: a cooling, building fruit for everyday care. It is one of the three fruits in triphala and the main ingredient in chyavanprash, the dark herbal jam many families take by the spoonful through the winter.

Ayurvedic Properties

RasaTastes
  • Sour
  • Sweet
  • Pungent
  • Bitter
  • Astringent
ViryaHeating or cooling
Cooling
VipakaPost-digestive effect
Sweet
AgniEffect on digestion
Gently supports agni

Sour yet cooling, it supports digestion without adding heat.

GunaQualities
  • Heavy
  • Dry
  • Cold
TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  • Vata: decreases
  • Pitta: decreases
  • Kapha: decreases
  • decreases (calms that dosha)
  • increases (can aggravate it)
  • neutral or balancing
  • not known
  • V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha

Amla is considered tridoshic and is especially loved for pitta, since it is sour yet cooling. Its sour taste comforts vata and its astringency and dryness keep kapha in check.

Traditional Uses

  • Traditionally used to support healthy digestion without adding excess heat.
  • Traditionally used to support strong hair, healthy skin and bright eyes.
  • Traditionally used to support vitality and graceful aging as a rasayana.
  • Traditionally used to support resilience through the change of seasons, often as chyavanprash.

How People Use It

  • PowderStir a pinch to 1/2 teaspoon of amla powder into warm water, juice or yogurt. It is very sour, so start small.
  • HoneyMixing the powder with a little raw honey softens the sourness and makes an easy morning spoonful.
  • FoodFresh or frozen amla (found in Indian grocery stores) can be pickled, made into chutney or simmered into a sweet preserve.
Try This

Amla Honey Morning Spoon

A tart little wake up for the change of seasons.

  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon amla powder
  • 1 teaspoon raw honey
  • 1 small pinch ground ginger (optional)
  • 1/2 cup warm water to follow
  1. In a small dish, stir the amla and ginger into the honey until it forms a thick paste.
  2. Take it off the spoon, slowly, before breakfast.
  3. Follow with a few sips of warm water.
  4. On busy days, a spoonful of chyavanprash does the same job.

Pairs Well With

Cautions

  • Amla is a common food in India and is generally well tolerated in food amounts. Human research on concentrated amla supplements is limited.
  • If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, keep to food amounts and talk with your practitioner before using powders or supplements.
  • Amla has been studied for effects on blood sugar, cholesterol and platelets. Check with your doctor if you take diabetes medication, cholesterol medication or blood thinners.
  • Amla can bind with iron, so people with low iron may want to take it apart from iron rich meals or supplements.
  • Ayurveda advises going easy on amla when digestion feels heavy and sluggish or kapha is high.
  • Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor before using amla regularly in supplement form.

Related From Our Shop

We don't carry Amla (Indian Gooseberry) on its own right now. These are related things we do carry.

From the Journal

Sources and Further Reading

This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.