Medicinal plants play an important role in the treatment of common to serious diseases. Looking at the amount of work that our Ayurvedic teachers have done on medicinal herbs, it seems that they have dedicated their entire lives to the welfare of society. In this article, we have listed down the top five benefits of eating harad and a number of ways to eat this medicinal herb.
What is Harad ?
It has been widely used in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medical system. Ayurvedic teachers have described Haritaki as the first medicine in Nighantu(Collection of Āyurvedic Lexicons). Harad or Haritaki is also known as chebulic myrobalan, is a species of Terminalia, native to South Asia from India and Nepal east to southwest China, and south to Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Vietnam. It is an ayurvedic herb which is also a part of the famous Triphala churana and is known to have several health benefits based on research in 2014.
In Ayurveda textbooks, properties of Harad are mentioned in this sloka:
हरीतकी प चरसाइलवणा तुवरा परम्। रूक्षोष्णा दीपनी मेथ्या स्वादुपाका रसायनी॥
चक्षुष्या लघुरायुष्या बृंहणी चानुलोमिनी। श्वासकासप्रमेहार्शः कुष्ठशोथोदरक्रिमीन्।
वैस्वर्यग्रहणीरोगविबन्धविषमज्वरान् । गुल्माध्मानतृषाछर्दिहिक्काकण्डूहृदामयान्।।
Which translates as “Harad has dry, appetizer, intelligence improving and rejuvenating properties”.
Benefits of eating Harad
1. Regulates air, water, fire, and earth elements of your body
You could take it with ghee or clarified butter to control the air element (Vata) in your body. If you take it with a little sugar, it will control the fire and heat elements ( Pitta ). You can take it with a little rock salt to control the earth and water elements (Kapha).
2. Aids in Digestion
Harad is one of the components of Triphala which is an Ayurvedic blend that also includes bibhitaki, amla, or Indian gooseberry. Triphla has known benefit of getting rid of constipation, thanks to Harad. When taken after eating food, it helps cure indigestion and helps eliminate excess gas.
3. Good for your skin
As stated earlier, harad has rejuvenating properties, therefore, it eliminates dead skin cells and promotes the development of new cells. It also helps to treat skin disorders by purifying the blood. In a recent study, harad powder mixed with ghee and water helped fix cracked feet.
4. Aids in weightloss
Harad aids in removing toxins from the body and also maintains the correct function of the digestive system. It enhances metabolism and facilitates healthy food digestion. It also helps in liver function and therefore aids in weight loss.
5. Removes symptoms of cough and cold
You could take harad with rock salt to get rid of cough and cold. As it balances the water element (Kapha) in the body, it helps treat the symptoms of cough and cold.
Dosage based on season
- Rainy season- with rock salt
- Autumn- with sugar
- Winter – with Pippali
- Spring- with honey
- Summer- with jaggery
Don’t take it in the following conditions
- Pregnancy
- Taking anti-glycemic or anti-diabetic drugs
- Diarrhoea
- Dehydrated
- Post blood donation or blood loss.