Amla

Vernacular names
Common name:Amla,Indiangooseberry
Hindi: Aonla Manipuri: Amla
Marathi: Amla Tamil: Nelli
Malayalam: Nelli, Nellikka Telugu: Usiri,
Usirikaya Kannada: Betta nelli, Amalaka
Oriya: Aonla Gujarati: ambala Sanskrit:
Dhatri, amalaka
Botanical name:Phyllanthus
emblicaFamily:Phyllanthaceae(Amla
family)
Synonyms:Emblica officinalis

Morphology
The tree is small to medium in size, reaching 8 to 18 m in
height, with a crooked trunk and spreading branches. The
branchlets are glabrous or finely pubescent, 1020cm long,
usually deciduous; the leaves are simple, subsessile and
closely set along branchlets, light green, resembling pinnate
leaves. The flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit is nearly
spherical, light greenish yellow, quite smooth and hard on
appearance, with six vertical stripes or furrows.
Ripening in autumn, the berries are harvested by hand after
climbing to upper branches bearing the fruits. The taste of
Indian gooseberry is sour, bitter and astringent, and it is
quite fibrous. In India, it is common to eat gooseberries
steeped in salt water andturmericto make the sour fruits
palatable[citation needed].

Chemical Constituents
Phyllemblin, Ascorbic acid (Vitamin
C), Gallic acid, Tannins, Pectin etc.

Pharmacology
It is vata, pitt and kapha suppressant. It reduces the burning sensation
in the body. It helps in providing the essential minerals and vitamins
required for good vision and mental development. It helps in
strengthening the nervous system. It helps in improving the condition
of digestive system. It stimulates liver for proper secretion of bile
juices. It is helpful in supporting heart by fighting its ailments also
helps in improving the general heart condition. It is a good aphrodisiac
agent and also a good female tonic. It is helpful in skin related
ailments. It also helps in sorting out the urinary problems and
diabetes. It is a good general health tonic.
According to ayurveda it contains
Gunna (properties) guru (heavy) and ruksh (rough) and sheet
(cold)
Rasa (taste) madhur (sweet), amal (sour), katu (pungent), tickta
(bitter) and kashaya (astringent)
Virya (potency) sheet (cold)