Triphala’s Digestive Health Benefits

Carlos Sánchez 5 min. of reading Antioxidants Leave a comment

Triphala is an ancient Ayurvedic formula that has gained popularity for its digestive health benefits. It is composed of three powerful fruits:

Amla (Emblica officinalis), a type of Indian gooseberry.
Behada (Terminalia bellerica).
Harada (Terminalia chebula), also known as black myrobalan.

This natural blend offers properties that may improve digestion, regulate bowel movements, and detoxify the body. If you’re interested in how Triphala can support your digestive wellness, keep reading to discover everything it can do for you.

Index

1 Proven Benefits of Triphala
2 Can Triphala Really Help with Weight Loss?
3 How to Take Triphala
4 Does Triphala Have Side Effects or Contraindications?

Proven Benefits of Triphala

Some of Triphala’s most well-known properties include:

1 Laxative and Gut-Protective Effect

This is Triphala’s most widely known use. It is often associated with ‘detox’ or digestive cleansing properties.

In low doses, it can be used as a prokinetic agent to aid digestion or prevent acid reflux, and in higher doses, as an effective laxative.

In a human study evaluating its digestive effects, participants with digestive issues reported improvements in constipation, abdominal pain, hyperacidity and flatulence.

2 Supports Gut Microbiota

Triphala’s bioactive effects are partly attributed to this benefit. In Ayurvedic medicine, it is firmly believed that disease begins in the digestive system, and interest in the microbiota has grown in recent years, much like in Western medicine.

Triphala’s phytochemicals, such as Quercetin and Gallic Acid, promote the growth of beneficial Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus, while limiting the growth of harmful Escherichia coli.

3 Adaptogenic Properties

Like Ashwagandha, Triphala has adaptogenic effects that help reduce stress. Its three fruits act synergistically to balance the body and mind, reducing the negative effects of chronic stress.

By regulating inflammation and balancing cortisol levels, Triphala may promote a sense of calm and wellbeing. These adaptogenic actions make it a natural option for those looking to manage stress effectively.

4 Powerful Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory

The fruits that make up Triphala contain antioxidant compounds such as Vitamin E and flavonoids.

Chebulinic acid, a phytochemical found in the herbal extract, is metabolised into Urolithin, a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound.

5 Antimicrobial Effect

Triphala has been evaluated as an antibacterial mouthwash in this randomised double-blind clinical trial, concluding that it is effective against Streptococcus mutans, a bacteria present in the mouth that causes gingivitis and other dental issues.

Its results in this study were comparable to those achieved with conventional Chlorhexidine mouthwashes.

6 Supports Fat Loss and Has Hypolipidaemic Effects

This study on rats over a 10-week period assessed the metabolic effects of Triphala in animals fed a high-fat diet.

At the end of the study, researchers observed:

Significant reductions in body fat percentage;
Improved lipid profile (lower total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL, and increased HDL); and
Improved oral glucose tolerance, suggesting a potential antidiabetic effect.

Can Triphala Really Help with Weight Loss?

Besides the rat study mentioned above, we also have further data suggesting that it may support fat loss in humans as well.

In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial lasting 12 weeks, subjects who took Triphala lost 5 kg more than the control group, with no associated side effects.

Other parameters also improved, such as waist circumference and lipid profile. Part of this weight loss may be due to its inhibitory effect on digestive and pancreatic enzymes such as alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase, which are responsible for breaking down polysaccharide chains into glucose for absorption.

This could lead to some degree of carbohydrate ‘malabsorption’, which may support weight loss. It’s the same mechanism used by well-known antidiabetic drugs such as miglitol and acarbose.

How to Take Triphala

Most Triphala supplements are sold in 500 mg doses of Triphala extract, with a recommended intake of two capsules on an empty stomach to improve absorption throughout the day.

Triphala Extract by EssentialSeries.

Does Triphala Have Side Effects or Contraindications?

Due to its prokinetic effect, Triphala may cause abdominal cramps, flatulence, or diarrhoea, especially at high doses. No other serious adverse effects have been reported.

However, it may interact with other medications metabolised by the liver enzyme complex Cytochrome P450, as it competes for its metabolism.

This may increase the half-life or effectiveness of the drug. Some of these medications include: anticonvulsants, antifungals, quinidine, antipsychotics, antivirals, macrolides, ergot derivatives, opioids, or rifampicin.

If you’re taking any medications from these pharmaceutical families, it’s best to avoid Triphala due to potential interactions. Likewise, it should be avoided in pregnant or breastfeeding women and children, as no safety studies exist for these populations.

Bibliographical Sources