Article by Dr Raghuram Y.S. MD (Ay) & Dr Manasa S, B.A.M.S
We know that Triphala has a broad-spectrum role as a preventive and curative medicine in Ayurveda. It is the best trinity herb ever. Each ingredient of Triphala i.e. Haritaki – Terminalia chebula, Bibhitaki – Terminalia bellirica and Amalaki – Emblica officinalis has utmost medical importance and has immense healing and curing actions and what to tell about the combination of all three!
Triphala is one of the best Rasayanas. Rasayanas are those medicines (and non-medicines) which help in building and maintaining all the tissues of the body, which in turn helps in maintaining the immunity at optimum levels and hence one can stay healthy and keep away the impending diseases while on Rasayana. They are the best immune modulators and anti-ageing medicines. Rasayana, exploring into the depth of its meaning, has broad-spectrum meaning and immense health benefits.
Related Reading – Rasayana
Triphala Rasayana
Context – Acharya Charaka has explained four simple to use and practice ‘Triphala Rasayanas’ in the Rasayana Adhyaya i.e. Charaka Chikitsa Sthana Chapter 1, Quarter 3, Verses 41-47.
Ref – Cha.Chi.1.3/41-47
In this article we shall discuss these four easy-to-practice Triphala Rasayanas.
Prathama Triphala Rasayana – Triphala Rasayana 1
Ingredients –
– Abhaya – Haritaki fruit – 1 number
– Bibhitaki fruits – 2 numbers
– Amalaki fruits – 4 numbers
– Kshaudra – honey
– Sarpi – ghee
How to take?
The powder of the above mentioned fruits taken in the mentioned quantity should be mixed with honey and ghee and consumed.
When to take?
It should be taken when the previously taken food has been digested properly. This is as a rule.
Now the question comes if it needs to be taken after the digestion of breakfast, lunch or dinner?
We should assume that it is after the digestion of dinner. So, this Rasayana should be taken first thing in the morning, on empty stomach after having known that there are no signs of indigestion of previously consumed food (dinner) and that the signs of proper digestion of food are present.
How long?
This Triphala Rasayana should be consumed for one year. It means to say that it should be consumed for at least one year continuously, every day, if the results of Rasayana need to be observed.
Benefits
This Rasayana would bestow longevity of a hundred years. He who takes this Rasayana would enjoy a healthy life devoid of ageing and diseases i.e. the person would not look aged in spite of biological ageing and would keep feeling young and will also not suffer from any disease as long as he takes this Rasayana and will have very good immunity.
Dvitiya Triphala Rasayana – Triphala Rasayana 2
Ingredients –
– Triphala Kalka – Paste of Triphala
– Kshaudra – honey
– Udaka – water
– Or Kshaudrodaka – Honey water
Other materials needed – new iron vessel
Method of preparation and consumption
The Triphala paste is applied over the interior of the new iron vessel and left in place for a day.
This paste is later removed, mixed in honey and water or honey water and consumed.
Follow up measures –
Prabhuta Sneham Ashanam – As long as this Rasayana recipe is taken, one should make sure to take food with a rich (more) quantity of Sneha – ghee and oil, after the medicine has been digested.
How to know that the medicine has been digested? – One should wait for ‘hunger’ to manifest after taking the medicine. He should not take any food until he feels hungry. Feeling of hunger is the sign that the medicine has been digested.
How long should this recipe take?
One should take this recipe for at least one year to tap the optimum benefits of Rasayana.
Benefits
This Rasayana too bestows longevity of one hundred years devoid of ageing and diseases.
Tritiya Triphala Rasayana – Triphala Rasayana 3
Ingredients –
– Triphala
– Madhuka – Glycyrrhiza glabra
– Tugakshiri – Curcuma angustifolia, arrowroot
– Pippali – Piper longum, long pepper
– Kshaudra – honey
– Sarpi – ghee
– Sita – sugar
Method of mixing and consuming
Triphala Powder should be mixed thoroughly with the other ingredients mentioned above and consumed.
Benefits –
Siddham Rasayanam – This recipe is an effective and proven Rasayana.
Chaturtha Triphala Rasayana – Triphala Rasayana 4
Ingredients –
– Triphala
– Sarva Loha – all kinds of metals (iron?)
– Suvarna – gold
– Vacha – Acorus calamus
– Vidanga – Embelia ribes
– Pippali – Piper longum / long pepper
– Madhu – honey
– Sarpi – ghee
Method of mixing and consumption
Triphala should be mixed thoroughly with the other ingredients so as to make a homogenous mixture and should be consumed.
How long should this recipe be consumed?
This recipe too should be consumed for a period of one year continuously.
Benefits
– Medaprada – bestows intelligence
– Smritiprada – bestows memory
– Balaprada – bestows strength, endurance and immunity
– Ayuhprada – bestows longevity
– Dhanya – bestows auspiciousness / wealth and fame
– Jara nibarhana – keeps away the ageing process, anti-ageing
– Roga nibarhana – destroys the diseases
Points of Interest
Though the rules and regulations of consuming all Triphala Rasayanas have not been detailed in each preparation, those mentioned in the first recipe have to be followed. All these four Rasayanas should be taken after the previously taken food is digested, i.e. early in the morning on empty stomach. All of them should be taken for at least one year continuously to tap the optimum benefits of Rasayana.
Rasayanas work best when they are consumed after Shodhana. Therefore, a wise physician should plan to administer Shodhana before administering Rasayana. Shodhana need to be customized on a one-to-one basis.
The second Triphala Rasayana also bestows the additional benefits of loha – iron. Ghee is not a part of the recipe but the diet comes with a rich quantity of ghee. This might nullify the iron intolerance if any. This recipe can be given in conditions like anemia wherein both iron and rasayana is needed. Ghee itself is a Rasayana and is used in abundance.
Madhuka, Tugakshiri and Pippali are additional ingredients of the third Triphala Rasayana. It is mentioned as Siddha Rasayana. Its benefits are tried and proven many times. This term brands it as the best one among the lot.
Seeing the broad spectrum action of the fourth Triphala Rasayana, it can be said that this formulation is an unparalleled medicine for disorders of mind, intelligence and memory apart from a disease modifying and anti-ageing medicine and immune-modulator. It also enhances the lifespan / longevity of not only individuals, but also of each and every cell of the body. The action can be contributed to sarva loha – multiple metals and suvarna – purified gold salts in it. By meaning Sarva Loha it is not clear if the Acharya is particular about different kinds of purified iron (loha is a name for iron) or different type of purified metals (loha also generally means metals). In either way, its therapeutic action will be unparalleled. If sarva loha is ‘all metals’ then the question comes – ‘how many metals, and which metals?’. The answer would be ‘whichever metal is available’ or ‘whichever metal is suitable for a given vyadhi – disease or individual or both. These types of Rasayanas can be readily used for those suffering from chronic illness and conditions like cancer and also for those who are recovering from serious and chronic psycho-somatic disorders.
Triphala Rasayana 1 seems to be the easiest formulation in terms of contents and preparation and seeing its therapeutic benefits, it is also the effective Rasayana.
