Haritaki (Kadukkai): Types, Benefits, Formulations, and Side Effects

The haritaki is one of the three herbal dried fruits used to make the most popular Ayurvedic formula Triphala.It is mostly cultivated in Southern Asia and India. The dried haritaki has been used in ayurveda for long years and used as Indian traditional medicine. It is also referred to as “chebulic myrobalan”. 

The haritaki has a bitter taste, and it is available in powder or the dietary supplementary form. This is rich in vitamin C, and it has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. People use this haritaki for its wide range of health benefits; therefore it is used to treat allergies, sore throat, indigestion, and constipation. In Ayurveda, the haritaki is used to support Vata.

Common Names of Haritaki

• Botanical Name: Terminalia Chebula
• Tamil Name: கடுக்காய் – Kadukkai Pinju
• Telugu Name: కరక్కాయ – Karakkaya
• Hindi Name: हरड़ – Harad
• Gujarathi Name: Hardo
• Bengali Name: Haritaki, Horitoki
• English Name: Ink Nut, Chebulie
• Malayalam Name: കാട്ടുകൈ – Katukkai
• Kannada Name: Alalekaayi
• Marati Name: Hirada, Hirda
• Sanskrit Name: Pathya, Abhaya, Haritaki
• Oriya Name: Haridra
• Assamia Name: Hilikha
• Urdu Name: Harad
• Punjabi Name: Har, Harrar

How to Consume Haritaki in Different Seasons?

Usually, haritaki is taken in powder form; you can mix with the warm water or in the form of tea or decoction.

The way of taking the powder in the different seasons is given below.

In Summer: In summer, the haritaki powder can be taken with jaggery.

In early Winter: In the early winter, try to take this haritaki powder with ginger and in the late winter, take the haritaki powder with the long pepper.

In autumn Season: The haritaki powder is taken with the flavored or natural honey to get its benefits.

But using different ways in different seasons is hard to follow, so it is better to consume the haritaki powder with honey or long pepper.

The Different Types of Haritaki (Kadukkai)

Chetaki Haritaki: This type of haritaki has three-layered skin; it is used for purgation which is mostly found in the Himachal regions.

Vijaya Haritaki: It is widely used to cure most of the diseases; this type of haritaki is mostly found in the Vindhya mountain regions.

Putna Haritaki: This type of fruit is very small, and it has big seeds. This haritaki is mostly used for external applications. This Putna Haritaki is commonly found in the Himalayan region.

Rohini Haritaki: The Rohini Haritaki is round in shape, and it is mostly used to heal the wound. This type of haritaki is the best remedy to fight against harmful substances. You can get abundantly in Sindh regions.

Abhaya Haritaki: This type of Haritaki has five-layered skin; which is widely used to treat vision problems. The Abhaya Haritaki is cultivated in the Champa regions of Chhattisgarh.

Jayanti Haritaki: The Jayanti Haritaki tree has yellow-colored flowers; the dried fruit of this tree is used to cure all types of health issues. This type of haritaki is commonly found in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat.

Amrita Haritaki: This type Haritaki has thick fruit pulp, and the fruit has the panchakarma properties. Champa Bhagalpur regions are famous for these type of Haritaki.

Proven Health Benefits Of Haritaki (Kadukkai)

Manage Diabetes

Traditionally the Haritaki is strongly recommended for managing diabetes; it helps to control the blood sugar level. The insulin is generated from the pancreatic β-cells of the body, the haritaki powder helps to consume the luteolin on the cell.

The haritaki powder is also used to reduce the starch breakdown in the glucose, which helps regulate the insulin level and leads the blood glucose at the lower level.

Promotes Digestion

Haritaki is a traditional remedy to improve the digestive function; the haritaki is helped to absorb the important nutrients from the food.

It is widely used to treat gastric problems, such as heartburn, esophagitis, flatulence, diarrhea, indigestion, peptic ulcer, constipation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, stomach pain, and flatulence.

Due to the mild laxative effect of the haritaki powder, it helps to remove the excess energy from the body. The carminative nature of this fruit helps to break down the food particles into the stomach.

The haritaki powder helps remove the abdominal gas, which reduces the bloating, abdominal distension, and gaseous cramps.

Improves Oral Hygiene

Haritaki powder is also used as a mouthwash; it is used to treat various oral problems, such as mouth ulcers, gum disease, oral sores.

The antibacterial property of the haritaki helps reduce the bacterial invasion from the oral cavities that help to protect cavity and tooth decay.

Enhance Weight Loss

This herb is used to improve digestion, which plays a key role in reducing obesity. The detoxifying property of the haritaki powder helps remove AMA toxins from the body that reduce the sudden hunger pangs. The haritaki powder with the glass of water and honey helps burn excess fat and energizes it.

Heals Wounds and Infections

Haritaki has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal properties so that it is not only used to remove the germs and bacteria from the body and also helps to treat wounds and improve healing.

This herb has bioactive compounds so that it is used to treat different skin problems like sores, skin fungus, etc from ancient times.

Manages Oxidative Stress

Consumption of haritaki will increase antioxidants in the body and help to fight against oxidative stress. A study conducted by the cell biochemistry and function in 2009 proves that haritaki boosts antioxidant properties in the body.  Due to the presence of vitamin E, vitamin C, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione, it will improve your health in a good way.

Improves Cognitive Function

Haritaki is one of the traditional remedies for brain health, as it contains brain-boosting properties. The presence of flavonoids and antioxidants of haritaki will improve focus, memory capacity, calmness, concentration, and alertness. Consuming various forms of haritaki can act as a stimulator and brain tonic, which reduce the risk of neurodegenerative disorders. The neurodegenerative elements in this herb will reduce tension from the brain and prevent memory loss. 

Respiratory Anomalies

In Ayurveda, haritaki is used as a great home remedy for respiratory problems. The predominance of antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-asthmatic properties will effectively treat various respiratory problems like cough, cold, asthma, flu, etc. It also reduces the accumulation of phlegm in the nasal cavities and chest, and eases breathing. Daily consumption of haritaki will strengthen your lung tissues and maintain lung health.

Maintain Heart Health

The heart-healthy properties of haritaki play a vital role to treat heart problems. We already know that haritaki can calm our mind and relaxes our cardiac system. This function is more beneficial for people who are suffering from palpitations and arrhythmias. Haritaki will effectively treat fortified heart muscles, prevent lipid formation, and reduce cholesterol levels in blood, so it reduces the risk of heart attacks, atherosclerosis, blood clots, heart blocks, etc. 

Boost Immunity

Haritaki has a wealth of Vitamin C and antioxidants that proves it as a great source for boosting the immune system, fighting microbes, and treating infections. It also has strong anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and antifungal properties that effectively treats infections. Consumption of haritaki also improves regeneration of tissues and will quickly heal your wounds.

Hair, Skin, And Eyes: What Is Haritaki Good For?

Haritaki For Skin Health

The haritaki has powerful antioxidant properties and also it has some nutrients like magnesium, iron, potassium, copper, and Vitamin C. These nutrients of the haritaki are very useful to treat the various hair and skin problems.

It effectively removes the radicals from the body and helps to reduce the oxidative damage. This is a natural toner so that it will flush out the toxins from the skin’s internal layer, and also it helps to promote healthy skin.

The haritaki is used to treat various skin problems, such as rashes, acne, boils, pimples, etc. The haritaki is used in a lot of ways for healthy skin.

Haritaki For Eyes

The haritaki has a potent chakushya property; this property is highly significant in curing most eye problems, such as watery eye, dry eye, stye infection, inflamed eye, and conjunctivitis.

The boiled water of haritaki dry fruits and tea is used for eye wash or cleanser to help cure various eye problems and vision disorders.

Haritaki For Hair

Haritaki plays an important role for healthy hair. It is used to treat scalp infections, such as itching, hair fall, and dandruff.

The hariaki provides the potent constituent property to the Triphala that helps to clean the hair follicles and removes the impurity and dirt for the healthy hair growth. The haritaki also helped to strengthen the root of the hair. 

Mix the haritaki powder with the bahera, amla, and henna powder. Add tea liquid or water with the powder and make a paste. Apply the paste on the hair, keep it for 1 hour, wash the hair with cold water, and condition your hair. This will help to healthy hair growth.

DIY Haritaki Face Masks For Natural Glow

The haritaki powder is used to improve skin health from the ancient days. It is used in the DIY Mask to cure various skin problems.

Pore Reducing Pack

Take a spoonful of haritaki powder, half spoon of multani mitti, half spoon of besan. Mix the mixture of powder with 2 spoons of rose water and apply it on your face.

Keep the mask for 20 minutes and wash your face with the cold water. Use this face mask twice in a week that shows the good result on your face.

The astringic property of the haritaki helps to reduce the pores on your face. This pack resists the melanin production so that it helps to reduce pigmentation and wrinkles.

Dark Circle Diminishing Pack

Take a spoonful of haritaki powder, two drops of almond oil, and half spoon of fresh aloe vera gel. Make it as a paste and slowly massage the paste around the eyes in the circular motion.

Keep it for 15 minutes and wash your face with the cold water. After washing the face, apply some moisturizer on the skin.

Using this pack trice in a week will help to remove the dark circles from the face. The antioxidants in the haritaki helps reduce pigmentation and oxidative damage, and it is an excellent benefit to treat the dark circles.

Dosages

For Adults: The ayurvedic doctors recommend 5-10 gms of haritaki powder once or twice a day before and after food.

For Children: It is recommended to take 1-2 gm once or twice in a day. It is suggested to give the haritaki powder with a glass of water or milk and a spoonful of honey, or you can take as the suggestion of your doctor.

Haritaki Formulations: How to use

Vyaghri Haritaki Avaleha

The vyaghri haritaki avaleha is in semi-solid states like the bhaisajya haritaki ratnavali, which helps to treat the problems caused by the imbalance of vata and pitta. Vyaghri Haritaki Avaleha plays an important role in treating various respiratory problems like cold, cough, bronchitis, asthma, and tuberculosis.

The ingredients used in the preparation of this haritaki formulation are yellow-fruit nightshade, haritaki, giloy, Black pepper, dry ginger, cinnamon, patra, cardamom, Long pepper, Indian rose chestnut, Liquorice, and water. 

Prepare a decoction by using all these ingredients. 

Take a seedless haritaki powder and purify it using a purification device like dola yantra.

Add this purified powder and jaggery in yellow-fruit nightshade decoction and heat it until it gets the semi-solid state.

Allow it to cool and add other ingredients at the end with some honey and mix it thoroughly.

Store this semi-solid vyaghri haritaki avaleha formulation in an airtight glass jar. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does haritaki taste like?

The taste of haritaki is sour, sweet, and astringent. Haritaki powder has a bitter taste and so most people prefer haritaki in capsule form.

Is haritaki good for dark circles?

Haritaki is one of the best home remedies to treat dark circles. This herb is fully loaded with antioxidant properties, which reduce pigmentation and oxidative damages. Thus, it prevents your skin from getting damaged. It also has great benefits in treating dark circles. Using a haritaki face mask will help to get rid of dark circles permanently. 

How to use haritaki powder for dark circles?

Mix a spoonful of haritaki powder with 1/2 spoon of fresh aloe vera gel and 2 drops of almond oil. Apply this mixture around your eyes and slowly massage in a circular motion. Leave it to dry for 15 minutes and wash your face in cold water. Finally, apply some moisturizer to avoid dryness. Using this method three times in a week will permanently remove dark circles. 

What should you take haritaki with?

It is better to take haritaki with some Ayurveda carrier substance. The carrier substance will encourage the assimilation of herbs in the body. When taking haritaki powder with the carrier substance, it will be more effective for you. 

• Vata Body: With Ghee
• Pitta Body: With Rack sugar
• Kapha Body: With Himalayan salt
• All Body Types: With Jaggery

Conclusion

Haritaki is a magical remedy with the important properties, which used to treat a lot of health problems, such as gastritis, indigestion, obesity, lung disease, impotence, cold, cough, asthma, urinary tract infection, vision defects, and skin and hair problems.

The haritaki is available in different forms such as dried fruits and powders, you can use it with the combination of different products based on the season.

Before using the haritaki, you have to get the proper consultation that helps to avoid adverse effects and enjoy the benefits.