Haritaki & Triphala
Terminalia chebula
Other names: Haritaki (हरीतकी), chebulic myrobalan, Haritaki & Triphala, a ru ra / arura ('the king of medicines'), Greater Tibetan myrobalan / Chebulic myrobalan
Edible plantPhoto credit: J.M.Garg
Safety information
Safety information
Toxicity: Mild; laxative effect can cause loose stools, cramping, dehydration and electrolyte loss with overuse. | Low at culinary/traditional doses; astringent. High tannin intake can irritate the gut; sustained high-tannin intake is the main theoretical concern (GI irritation, impaired mineral absorption).
Contraindications: Pregnancy (laxative/possible uterine effect — avoid medicinal doses); diarrhea/dehydration; debility/wasting (traditionally cautioned). | Caution in pregnancy (laxative/strong astringent action), dehydration, and severe constipation-from-dryness per tradition. Confirm with clinician.
Interactions: May alter absorption/transit of co-administered drugs (laxative effect); tannins chelate minerals/iron (separate dosing); antidiabetics (additive glucose lowering). | Tannins may reduce absorption of some drugs and minerals (iron) if taken together; possible additive effects with antidiabetic drugs (theoretical).
Pregnancy & breastfeeding: Avoid medicinal doses — laxative/possible uterine effect. | Caution — laxative/strong astringent action.
Evidence level
Supported by laboratory or animal studies; not yet confirmed in humans.
Preparations
decoction · fruit
Part used: fruit
Traditional use: digestive, mild laxative
powder (churna) · fruit
Part used: fruit
Traditional use: digestive regulation, mild laxative, Rasayana, oral/eye health (Triphala)
Proposed mechanism: Hydrolysable tannins (chebulagic/chebulinic acid, corilagin), gallic acid, flavonoids — antioxidant, antimicrobial, gut-transit-modulating; Triphala prebiotic/gut-microbiome modulation
Dosage note (descriptive only): Triphala/Haritaki churna ~1-3 g at night with warm water as mild bowel regulator
decoction/powder/pill · fruit
Part used: fruit
Traditional use: all-purpose drug; harmonizes three humours (rLung/Tripa/Beken); digestive complaints, tonic/laxative, base in compound formulas
Proposed mechanism: Hydrolysable tannins (chebulagic/chebulinic acid, corilagin, punicalagin), gallic/ellagic acid, triterpenoids (arjungenin/arjunolic acid) — radical scavenging, Nrf2 antioxidant signalling, α-glucosidase inhibition, antimicrobial/antiviral (preclinical)
Dosage note (descriptive only): Powdered fruit in low-gram range/day within compound formulas; rarely used alone at high dose; physician-determined
Associated conditions
Edibility
Edible parts: Fruit is edible but very astringent/bitter; used as medicinal food, occasionally pickled/preserved. Not a casual snack. | Fruit is consumed (astringent; used as food/medicine and in Triphala).
Toxic lookalike warning
Dried myrobalan fruits resemble other Terminalia fruits and tannin-rich drupes; buy identified material, do not substitute foraged fruits. | Dried myrobalan fruits resemble several other dried Terminalia and unrelated dried drupes in herb markets; identity must be botanically confirmed.
Nutritional notes
High in tannins, vitamin C, polyphenols (astringent functional food). | Rich in hydrolysable tannins, ellagic/gallic/chebulagic/chebulinic acids, vitamin C; functional-food / antioxidant role.
Healing traditions
Sources (6)
- Garang et al. 2025, Front Pharmacol (PMID 40963683)
- Peterson 2017, J Altern Complement Med (PMID 28696777)
- Ahmed 2021, J Ethnopharmacol (PMID 33465446)
- Baliga 2012, Chin J Integr Med (PMID 23239004)
- Gurjar 2025, Fitoterapia (PMID 40466870)
- Xue et al. 2026, J Ethnopharmacol (PMID 41224084)