Common names for Terminalia chebula include Terminalia, Harada, Harada, Haritaki, and Harar. Terminalia chebula is a deciduous tropical tree that grows to the height of 30 meters and 1 meter in trunk diameter. Though native to Asia it is also found in Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Iran, Egypt, and Turkey and also in Pakistan and Yunnan, Guangdong, Tibet, and Guangxi province of China. In India, it is found in the deciduous forests of Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh.
The tree has cracked, thick and black bark. Leaves are oval, opposite or alternate and taper to the tip. Flowers occur in short panicles or terminal spikes and emits unpleasant strong odor and is yellow in color. Flowers give way to yellow to orange-brown and ovoid fruits which comprises elliptical seeds.
It is used as a traditional medicine in India, Africa, and Asia. Terminalia is used as a medicinal plant in Ayurveda and used as an aid for digestive problems, gum inflammation, wounds, coughs, and asthma. It is considered to be laxative, expectorant, stomachic, tonic, and hemostatic. It also displays antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is used for treating various diseases such as paralysis, cancer, ulcers, cardiovascular diseases, gout, arthritis, leprosy, and epilepsy. Seeds are edible and also extract edible oil. The sour edible fruits are used for manufacturing black salt. The wood is heavy, hard, strong but not durable and is used as furniture material and for construction.
Leaves
Leaves are 10 to 20 cm long, simple, sub opposite, petiolate, exstipulate. Laminae is broadly elliptic to elliptic-oblong and rarely ovate, bases are obtuse, margins are entire and tips are glabrescent and acute.
Fruit
Drupes are glabrous, subglobose to ellipsoid, about 2.5 to 5 cm by 1.5-2.5 cm, ridged, smooth or 5 angulate, wrinkled, and turn blackish when dried. Fruits have astringent substances such as gallic acid, chebulinic acid, and tannic acid.
Seed
Fruit encloses a single seed that is rough, ellipsoid about 1.0-2.0 cm by 0.2 -0.7 cm.
Health Benefits of Terminalia chebula
- Cognitive health
Terminalia chebula helps to promote cognitive functioning. It enhances brain functions, boosts short-term and long-term memory and learning retention. It is due to oxygenation which is enhanced with the use of plants. The oxygenation clears neuro pathways to promote overall brain function. The brain is a muscle that requires exercise. Fit brain promotes the functions such as fight or flight response. Brain function and enhanced memory result in increased performance levels. Strong cognitive functioning includes retention of information, better memory, increased focus, high innovation levels, more energy, and mindfulness.
- Digestive health
Constipation provokes pain, discomfort as well as embarrassment. Terminalia chebula is a treatment for constipation. Constipation causes less than three bowel movements in a week and severe constipation causes one bowel movement in a week. It also results from severe discomfort while passing bowel movements. This plant promotes and aids healthy digestion. Add a teaspoon of Terminalia chebula powder and drink 1-2 times a day to cleanse the colon and clear 15 pounds of toxic waste in the system.
- Eye cleanse
The solution of Terminalia chebula is used to cleanse eyes. Combine it with water and used as an eyewash for reducing eye dryness, stye infections, eye infections, and conjunctivitis/ pink eyes. The fruit is used to extract juice or tea and used as an eye cleanse. Boil the dried Terminalia chebula fruit into tea with cooled water and used as a cleanser.
- Cleanse wounds
Terminalia chebula is used to treat issues such as sores, skin fungus, lip sores, and ulcers. The plant acts as an anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and antibacterial agent which is effective for cuts and wounds. This helps to speed up the healing of wounds.
- Treatment for cancer
Terminalia chebula has anti-bacterial properties which are effective in treating cancer. It improves organs (kidneys and pancreas) health that have been damaged by cancer. It may not be the absolute cure but as a supplement for treatment.
- Anti-aging
Terminalia chebula lengthens telomeres and is found to be beneficial for slowing down damage to telomeres as cells divide. Anti-aging is possible with an increment of telomerase in the body, an enzyme that repairs telomeres as they divide. The study shows that Terminalia chebula effectively increases the lifespan of cells by 40%. It slows down oxidative stress and the shortening of telomere.
Culinary uses/Medicinal Uses
- Seeds are consumed as snacks.
- Sour fruits are added to salads or preserved in brine or fried.
- Crude extract of fruit inhibits the growth of cancer cells.
- It is used to cure inflamed gums and also provides relief from asthma.
- Internal use of fruits is useful for constipation, nervous and digestive complaints, dysentery, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, intestinal worms, abnormal uterine, rectal prolapse, inflammation, bleeding, involuntary ejaculation, and vaginal discharge.
- Use it externally to treat wounds, ulcers, gum disease, and mouth inflammation.
- It increases the stool frequency and evacuates the bowel.
- It also treats the parasitic infection.
- It is used as a blood purifier, gargle for sore throat, and ulcerated gums.
- Apply the fruit paste in conjunctivitis.
- Use it externally for hair wash, brushing teeth for bleeding gums, and pyorrhea.
- Use the decoction to wash non-healing ulcers and wounds.
- Fry Terminalia powder in ghee and consume it regularly with sufficient ghee in food to promote longevity and energy.
- For hepatitis, use the Terminalia decoction in hepatitis.
- Use the Terminalia to improve memory.
- It is also used as antidote for snake bites.
Side Effects
- Pregnant women should not use the plant as it may lower the production of breast milk.
- Use it with caution by lean individuals, mental depression, pitta conditions, severe weakness and in pregnancy.
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