Haritaki / Harad (Terminalia chebula) - Properties, Benefits, Parts used & Dosage

Classification of Haritaki

• Kingdom - Plantae
• Subkingdom - Tracheobionta
• Superdivision - Spermatophyta
• Division - Magnoliophyta
• Class - Magnoliopsida
• Subclass - Rosids
• Order - Myrtales
• Family - Combretaceae
• Genus - Terminalia L.
• Species - T. chebula

Description of Haritaki plant

Haritaki tree is 50-80 feet in height. Barks are dark brown and have cuts on them. Leaves are ovate, 3-8 inch long and 2-4 inch wide and have 5-8 veins. Flowers are small, yellowish-white and grow in a cluster.  Fruits are oval, 1-2 inch long, hard and have prominent lines. The fruits are green when unripe and become yellowish-brown on ripening. Each fruit contains one seed in it. The leaves are shed off in months of February and March. Flowers appear in April and May and fruits start to grow in the winter season. The ripen fruit is collected from January to April.

Habitat of Haritaki

It is found in India, especially in the lower Himalayas, from Ravi to East-West Bengal and Assam up to an altitude of 5000 feet.

Chemical Composition of Haritaki

The fruits contain tannins such as Chebulinic acid, Chebulinic acid, corilagin.it also contain 18 amino acid, and little amount of phosphorus, succinic, quinic acid and Shikimik acids.  In ripening fruit the number of tannin decreases and acidic level increases. The volatile oils are present in the kernel of seeds.

Categorized as per Classical

Ayurvedic Properties of Haritaki

Haritaki Effect on Doshas

It subsides all tridosha: Vata, Pitta and Kapha.

Action of Haritaki on Various Systems

• Nervine tonic: It helps to strengthen the nervous system.
• Effects on Digestion: It boosts up the digestive fire, acts as an appetizer, carminative, antihelminthic, and mild purgative.
• Cardiac tonic: Due to Madhur Vipak, it helps to strengthen the cardiac muscles and support the healthy functioning of the cardiovascular system. It also acts as anti-edematous.
• Aphrodisiac: Due to the presence of this property, it helps to maintain the healthy functioning of the reproductive system and also cleans the uterine cavities.
• Diuretics: It increases the flow of urine.
• Antiphlegmetic: It helps to reduce the cough and promote a healthy respiratory system functioning.
• Effect On skin: It is helpful in all skin diseases.
• Antipyretic: It is helpful to reduce fever.

Haritaki Uses and Benefits

It can be used in various forms like decoction, powder and paste. It can be used for external as well as internal purposes.

External use:

• A decoction of Haritaki can be used to wash wounds.
• The decoction is also used as a gargle to clean mouth and throat.
• Washing piles with Haritaki decoction helps to control bleeding.
• The paste of Haritaki applied on boils will heal fast the boils and reduce the burning sensation.

Internal use:

• Haritaki powder is given to improve the digestion and also in the case of vomiting.
• The decoction and powder of Haritaki are given to reduce fever.
• The powder of Haritaki can be used as a teeth powder, it provides strength to the gums.
• It acts as an expectorant and given in case of respiratory disorders like cough, rhinitis, and dyspnea.
• Its decoction is helpful in swelling and edema.
• It acts as an immune booster and given in the case of decreased immunity.
• It is a diuretic and useful in Dysuria, calculus.

Part Used of Haritaki

The parts of the Haritaki used in the formation of medicine are –

• Haritaki Fruits (Dry)

Dosage of Haritaki

3-6 grams

Easy ways to utilize Haritaki at Home

It can be used at home in many ways as follows:-

1. You can chew the bark of Haritaki in case of Indigestion.
2. In the case of vomiting, you can take Haritaki powder by mixing it with honey.
3. You can take 2-5 grams of Haritaki every day as it will help to release phlegm and prove to be effective in severe cough.
4. To prepare the decoction, take Haritaki, green cardamom, raisins, and Malabar nuts leaves. Also, add sugar or honey to it. Take it in small amounts after an interval of a few minutes. It helps to reduce cough and helps in bronchial asthma and bronchitis.
5. Take 3-6 grams of Haritaki powder and add sugar in equal quantity, mix it properly and take it twice a day after meals. It helps to boost up the digestive power.
6. Take 2-5 grams of its powder and mix it with one teaspoon of honey, take it twice daily in the case of urinary diseases and this is also helpful in fever.
7. Take equal quantity of Haritaki and ginger root powder and consume 1.5 grams of it to improve the digestion. Or you can take the mixture of 2 grams of Haritaki, 1 gram of ginger root and jaggery to get relief from indigestion.
8. This herb is an aphrodisiac. Take 5 grams of Haritaki, 1 gram of rock salt and cook them in castor oil and 50 ml cow's urine. Cook this mixture until only oil remains. Sieve this oil and take it with warm water in case of low semen production. It improves semen production.
9. In case of low immunity, prepare a decoction of Haritaki, aniseed, pomegranate fruit feel, babul bark, and Indian gooseberry. Take 20-30 ml of this twice a day. It will boost up the immunity. .

Caution to Be Taken

The use of Haritaki is contraindicated in the patients who are thin, dry, malnourished, having acute fever, and Pitta and Vata type body. It is also contraindicated in pregnancy and lactating mother. It is advisable to take Haritaki after medical guidance only.

Ayurvedic Classical formulation of Haritaki

• Abhayadi modak
• Abhayarishta
• Pathyadivati
• Pathyadikadha
• Vyaghriharitaki leha
• Agastiharitaki leha
• Gandharvaharitaki churna