2. Terminalia Chebula is called the "king of medicines" in Tibet and is always
Vernacular names listed first in the Ayurvedic meteria medica because of its extraordinary
of India powers of healing. In Ayurveda it is considered to destroy all diseases and
eliminate all waste from the body. At the same time, it is known to promote
tissue growth and health.
English : Black myrobalan
chebulic myrobalan,
Modern science has found that Terminalia Chebula has a strong effect
Ink nut.
Sanskrit : Hareetaki against the herpes simplex virus HSV, has antibacterial activity, and exhibits
Tamil : Kadukai strong cardio tonic properties. Terminalia Chebula also has antioxidant
Malayalam: Kadukka components, which indicates it can increase the life of tissues. Yet another
Telugu : Karaka, Karakkay. study shows the anti-tumor activity of Terminalia Chebula and another study
Kanada : Alalekaee.
shows that it has considerable effect in inhibiting the HIV virus which
Hindi : Harad, Haritali, Haritaki,
Harra ultimately results in AIDS
Botanical name I Terminalia Chebula Thus, Terminalia Chebula can be seen to be a valuable addition to anyone's
Family I Combretaceae herbal collection. With its rejuvenating and cleansing properties, Terminalia
Chebula is excellent for the digestive system. As a preventative supplement
Habit I Tree
it has great anti viral attributes, as shown by its anti tumor and HIV action. It
Propagation I Seed is also effective for alleviating constipation in general, and is helpful for vata
persons because it works in the Triphala formula which is a well balanced
digestive and rejuvenating aid.
Habitat
Terminalia chebula is found in the sub Himalayan tracks form Ravi
eastwards to west Bengal and Assam, ascending up to at altitude of 1500m
in the Himalayas, In the This tree is wild in the forests of Northern India,
central provinces and Bengal, common in Madras, Mysore and in the
southern Parts of the Bombay presidency.
A tree 15.24m in height & 1.5-2.4m in girth with a cylindrical bole of 4-9m, a
rounded crown and spreading branched found throughout the greater parts
of India.
Bark dark brown often longitudinally cracked, exfoliating in woody scales,
Leaves ovate or elliptic with a pair of large gland at the tip of the pedicel
Terminalia chebula -Tree in Flowers yellowish white; in terminal spikes, drupes ellipsoidal, obovoid or
Karumanthurai Hills, Tamil nadu India ovoid, yellow to orange brown, sometimes tinged with red or black and hard
Pic @ Dr. Kavitha when ripe. 3-5cm long becomes 5 ribbed on drying.
Fruits the ovoid, yellow to orange brown fruits are 2.5to 4.0cms long.
Usually 5-angled when dry, stone very think, bony, obscurely angled, rough,
grooved, having gum vessels on the wall
Propogation
Seeds hard, pale yellow
Terminalia chebula's dried fruits
Pic @ Dr. Kavitha
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3. A. Classification according to the size of the fruit
(i) Survari harade, which are large, dense and heavy about 2 inches long,
yellowish-brown: when cut it contains yellowish or darkish brown, pulp
and stone.
(ii) Rangari harade - these are smaller, less wrinkled and less furrowed
than the above variety; in length about an inch; the epidermis is yellow;
when cut it presents a yellow dried pulp and a stone. The pulp is less
astringent than that of survari harade.
(iii) Bala harade are smaller than the above two varieties. Their color is
deep brown or black; highly wrinkled, dark or brown epidermis. Their
Terminalia chebula's tender fruit pulp I dark and homogenous; there is no stone.
Pic @ Dr. Chelladurai
(iv) Java harade- these are the smallest of all. Other characters are similar
to those of Bala harade.
B. Classification according to shape
(i) Vijaya - having alabu shape used in all diseases, habitat in vindahya
mountains.
(ii) Rohini- Round in shape- used in vrana, habitat in zansi and other state
other parts of M.P.
(iii) Pootana - Size is small -mesocarp is less, seed is bigger, externally
used, habitate Sind.
(iv) Amirtha- Mesocarp is more used for shodhanakarma habituate M.P
and Champaranya.
(v) Abhya - Fruit having five ribbed used in eye diseases, habitate
Champaranya, Himalaya.
Terminalia chebula's flower
(vi) Jeevantee- fruit is golden yellow, used in all diseases, habitate
Pic @ Dr. Kavitha
himalaya.
(vii) Chetaki- Fruit having three ribs, used as purgative. Habitat- Himalayas.
It is of 2 types I. Shwetha - fruit is 4" in length II. Krishna - fruit is one
inch in length.
C. Classification according to the growth of the fruit
(I) Halileh - Zira. When the size is that of a cumin seed.
(II) Halileh - Javi, when the size is that of a barely corn.
(III) Halileh - Zangi when the size is of a raisin
(IV) Halileh - Chini when fruit is greenish yellow and somewhat hard.
(V) Halileh - Asfer when it is very nearly mature
(VI) Halileh - Kabul or fully matured fruit
Chemical constituents
Fruit contains 45% tannin, gallic acid, albumin, yellow color, chebulic acid,
which turns into tannic acid and gallic acid when boiled.
Terminalia chebula's flower
Pic @ Dr. Kavitha
Collection
Generally two good years are followed by one or two poor ones, fruits are
collected when they turn yellow. The seeds can be collected as soon as they
fall on the ground, and are dried under shade. the seeds can be stored in
gunny bags for one year but fresh seeds germinate quicker.
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4. Qualities of best hareetaki
Fresh fruit having unctuous qualities, hard, having round shape and epicarp is thicker, weighs 22 Gms.
The dried fruits (wt per pint; fresh 10-13gm dried 6-7.5g) constitute one of the most important vegetable tanning materials and
have been used in India for a long time. The mature fruits are collected during January to April by shaking the trees, and are
then dried in thin layers, preferably in shade and graded lender different trade names, selection being based upon their
solidness, color and freedom form insect attack
Rasa/ Taste - Vilavana pancharasa
Endocarp is sweet in taste.
Epicarp is pungent in taste.
Seed portion contains astringent
Fiber portion is sour
Peduncle region of the fruit is bitter
Vipaka Madura
Veerya/ Potency Ushna
Guna / Property Laghu, rooksha,
Doshaghnata Tridoshaghna
Tridoshaghnata of hareetaki
It pacifies Pitta with its sweet, bitter, and astringent taste. It pacifies Vata with its Amala rasa. It pacifies
Kapha with its katu, thikha & kashaya rasa.
It pacifies Kapha administered with salt. It pacifies Pitta administered with sugar. It pacifies Vata
administered with ghee.
Karma / Action Chakshushya, Brimhana, Rasayana, Anulomaka, Deepana, Medhya, Krimighana, Swarya,
Uses Swasa, Kasa, Premaha, Arshas, Kusta, Shotha, Udhara, Vaishwarya, Grahanee, Vibandha,
Vishamajwara,Gulma, Admana, Vrana, Charadi, Hikka, Diseases of hear and throat, Kamala, Shoola,
Aanaha, Diseases of spleen and liver, Ashmaree, Mootrakrichchra, Mootraahata.
Visista yoga Aristam/ Asvam - Infusion Abhyarista,Aravindasavam, Dasamoolaristam, Punarnasavam
Kashayam - Decoction
Amurthotharam Kashayam, Bharangyadi Kashayam, Chiruvilwadi Kashayam, Ghandharvahasthadi
Kashayam, Kathaga Kathiradi Kashayam, Manjishtadi Kashayam, Mahaikthakam Kashayam,
Patolamooladi Kashayam, Punarnavadi Kashayam
Lehyam - Pastries
Gomuthra Haritaki, Agasthaya Rasayanam, Manibhadra Lehyam, Chitrakahareetaki, Danteehareetaki,
Vyaghree chareetaki
Choornam - Powders Thriphaladi choornam, Avipathi choornam, Hinguvachadi choornam, Hutabhugadi
choornam, Navayasam Choornam
Gulika / Vati - Tablets Pathyadi vati, Thriphala gulgulu, Yogaraja gulgulu
Thailam - Oil I Thriphaladi thailam, Thriphaladi Coconut oil
Gana / Groups classified (Mentioned in Ayurveda texts)
Triphala, Amalakyadi, Parooshakadi, Trivritadi,- (Charaka)
Prajasthapana, Arshoghana, Jwaraghna,Kusthaghana, Kasaghana - (Su)
References
Astanga Hridya
Charaka Shamitha
Susrutha Shamitha
Welth of India
Indian Materia Medica - 1982 Nadkarani K.M -
Medicinal Plant of India - Vil 2 Indian concil of Medicinal Research New Delhi
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