Amla
Amla literally means ‘sour’; it is the Hindi word for a fruit tree that grows throughout India and carries sour-tasting gooseberry-like fruits. Amla is also known by the Sanskrit name ‘Amalaki.’ Other Sanskrit nicknames for amla - names meaning ‘mother,’ ‘nurse,’ and ‘immortality’ - really are a testament to the healing capacity of its fruits. Amla has been used in Ayurveda and other Asian healing methods for centuries. Because Sanskrit is the first language of Ayurveda, Banyan tends to offer natural herbs according to their Sanskrit names and therefore offers Amla as Amalaki.

Amla is one of the three fruits that are contained in Triphala and it is the main ingredient in the nutritive jam Chyavanprash. Amla contains a very high concentration of vitamin C, one of the highest known in the plant kingdom - 20 times that of an orange. More significantly, the vitamin C included in the amla fruit is stabilized by the presence of tannins, which help amla to maintain its vitamin content even through processing.

Benefits of Amla

Facilitates healthy metabolism, digestion and elimination*
Anti- inflammatory qualities, cools,tones, nourishes tissues and organs*
Strengthens the heart and respiratory system*
Improves reproductive health*
Encourages healthy eyes, hair, nails, and skin*
Balances indigestion
Develops ojas for healthy immune response and youthfulness*

Amla pacifies Vata, Pitta, and Kapha, though it is especially soothing to Pitta. In addition, amla revitalizes all of the tissues in the body and builds ojas, the essence of immunity and youthfulness.

In general, amla is a strong ally for many systems of the body. It is known to promote energy, reproductive health, and healthy levels of cholesterol. Amla is also a tonic for the heart, the arterial system, the respiratory system, the sense organs, and the mind.