W Haritaki oath Gilpin of Mice ules The Fruit Is Alwaysflisted First \_ | UR UC UA aE LeL +.South Asian cultures have long used the tree's wood in home-building, furniture and farming tools. Both the bark and fruit are used for dyeing cloth and tanning animal hides. And, of course, the fruit has been used asa potent medicinal remedy for centuries, ‘The flavor of the haritaki fruit is unique ‘Traditional healers who use i say it contains every taste (sweet, biter, ete) except that of sal. The fruit ripens and is harvested in the autumn, because its medicinal effects are strongest when it is rip. Haritak is well known for its laxative effects, which is why the fruit is normally dried in the sun and ‘ground into a powder. This proces is thought to reduce the fruit’ laxative properties, mak- ing it more suitable for other medicinal uses. Cooking or steaming the fruit reduces the laxative effect even more, although many Ayurvedic healers believe cooking reduces those eects to some extent Studies have shown more possibilities for haritaki, including HIV, AIDS and gastrointestinal ulcers. ‘The Haritaki Tradition Haritaki is used in Ayurveda for many beneficial purposes. It is considered to bal- ance the mind, body and spirit to belp with ‘mental clarity and the five senses and to aid in digestion, Healers also use the fruit as an ant-inflammatory, astringent, expectorant, antiseptic, anti-emetie and asa tone for car Aiovascular health. It is commonly used for a range of ailments, including asthma, ulcers, coughing and arthritis, among others. ‘Because itis a gentle natura laxative and Aetoxifie, haitaki is sed to remove undi ested food and accumulated impurities from the intestinal tract and is a common Ayurvedic remedy for constipation and dar thea. Haritaki i also believed to nourish the tissues of the colon, lungs, liver and spleen. ‘rational healers also use it asa remedy for other digestive disorders like bloating, gas, indigestion and failure to thrive. In India, any believe it tobe especially important for Increasing intelligence, avareness and overall energy levels. But more than anything else, haritakl is prized for it extremely potent and broad-spectrum anti-microbial properties. ‘The world in general is starting to take notice of haritaki and its range of benefits Demand forthe fruit andits extracts has risen slowly, but itis poised to explode thanks to increased awareness and to a geowing body of research supporting its use asa medicinal agent. Many experts believe the haritaki frit will also have wide applicability in ether non- ‘medicinal products, including cosmetics like shampoos and conditioners, facial serubs, ‘masks and body wraps. Scionce Takes Note Ina recent study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, researchers tested the effect ofa mild solution of hartaki fruit extract as an oral rinse on a bacterium com- ‘monly found in the mouth. They discovered the mouthwash markedly inhibited oral bac- terial counts of Streptococcus mutans for up to three hours when compared to placebo. ‘The researchers believe haritaki inhibits bacterial growth by blocking the bacterum's ability to synthesize sugars, which are neces- sary for theie growth. Another study performed in Japan exam- ined the chemical makeup of extract of har taki fruit, finding that it contained notable levels of gallic acid and an important com- ponent of gallic acid, its ethyl ester. These substances are known potent antimicrobials that have been shown to act against even the strongest antibitic-resistant strains of ‘Staphylococcus aureus. Recently, a group of scientists tested six Ayurvedic medicinals, including haritaki, on animals to test their potential as adapto- ‘gens. The study, published in Phytotherapy Haritaki for Today’s Diseases The lit or raonal uses of hati ong and made up of some wol-known telth problens ike iets, recon, constipation, es, vomiting and even hemormoits. But experts ae finding that hark my be uel in some diseases tat werent as prevalent in the past a8 they ate now. A recent study indeatis that hari has marke abies fo inhibit the HV vu, dereasing te ral oad olson atets, ‘Ale study dscovredhattakisani-tumoe properties. Perhaps most imply hark tas been founda contain potent antndais, ‘hich ae cent o overal health and work o ede theoidtvestess that ett sure ‘of somay of todas mors dees, ‘Research, found that all six herbals aided the animal subjects in thelr vesponses toa variety of physical and environmental stressor. In 4 comprehensive study of Indian medicinal plants, researchers tested 82 plant extracts against several bacterial and vial pathogens. ‘The haritaki fruit was one ofthe only plants toexhibita broad spectrum of potency against all athogens. Subsequent tests for toxicity in animals found that haritaki exhibited no cel: Iular damage from exposure. ‘Another study examined the three fruits that make up the ériphata, the three-fruit formula of Ayurvedic medicine, one of which is hartaki, The researchers were looking for any potential cholesterol-reducing effects, Although all three fruits reduced serum ‘cholesterol levels, the researchers discovered that haritakt significantly reduced deposits in both the lives and aortas of tested rabbits Other studies have shown even more posi bilities for haritak, including HIV, AIDS and sastrointestinl ulcers While haritaki may not be abe to destroy all diseases, ancient tradition and modern sci- ence are racking up the proof that this Fruits a medicinal force to be reckoned with VOUMED GSEs Seaktrsghn Heat 37