Amla, Amalaki or Indian Gooseberry is a highly potent medicinal plant for its innumerable healing properties. Amalaki, as it is popularly known in Sanskrit and in ancient texts of Ayurveda, has various meanings – mother, nurse, immortality and it also means ‘sour.’
The small green, pulpy, juicy fruit known as usirikaya in Telugu, Nellika in Tamil, goes with the botanical names Emblica Officinalis or Phyllanthus Emblica. Ayurveda strongly recommends eating a gooseberry daily for improving immunity, boosting metabolism and longevity.
It is in fact known as a ‘divyaushada’ or a divine medicine as it contains five tastes – sweet, sour, bitter, astringent and pungent that help in the functioning of both mind and body.
The healing and medicinal properties of amla are innumerable as it is loaded with vitamin C, calcium, iron, phosphorous, carotene, vitamin B, protein and fibre.
Amla holds a lot of great religious significance during rituals in the Hindu month of Kartik, that usually falls in between October and November. In many parts of India, it is a practice to offer the fruit as a Naivedya to Lord Shiva and eat it to ward off various respiratory infections, common cold, flu and other health problems that are caused due to the imbalances of vata, kapha and pitta.
Amla is a powerhouse of antioxidants and ancient medicine endorses the consumption of this fruit to prevent the formation of cancer cells. It can be consumed raw, in the form of juice, churna, candy, pickles or supplements.