கடுக்காய் வாயிலும் தொண்டையிலும், இரைப்பையிலும், குடலிலும் உள்ள ரணங்கள் ஆற்றிடும் வல்லமை பெற்றது. மலச்சிக்கலைப் போக்கி குடல் சக்தியை ஊக்கப்படுத்தும். பசியைத் தூண்டி இரத்தத்தைச் சுத்தப்படுத்தி வாத பித்த கபம் ஆகியவற்றால் வரும் ஏராளமான நோய்களைக் குணப்படுத்தும்.

This fruit commonly called Haritaki | Harad in Hindi, Kadukkai in Tamil, Karakkaya in Telugu, Harde Whole | Ink Nut in English, Katukkai in Malayalam, Alalekaayi in Kannada, Harade in Gujarati, Hirada in Marathi, Horitaki in Bengali and Har in Punjabi is truly a medical wonder and has many health benefits and medicinal uses. It's botanical name is Terminalia Chebula.

It treats a wide variety of diseases and is an ingredient that we first resort to for treating most of the small ailments at home.
Haritaki has been regarded very highly from ancient times by traditional healers and it is rightly called the mother of herbs. It is widely used in ayurvedic medicine and it is also one of the three ingredients of the famous triphala which by itself signifies it's importance in ayurvedic medicine.

Haritaki has got anti inflammatory, analgesic, antiulcerogenic, antioxidant, anti bacterial, anti fungal, anti carcinogenic, anti viral, astringent, anti aging, anti arthritic, anti microbial, hypoglycemic, anti pyretic and hypolipidemic properties.

Actually the amount of diseases haritaki can cure is astonishing, it is used for treating arthritis, dental problems like caries and bleeding gums, skin problems like acne and eczema, for healing wounds, for neurodegenerative disease like Alzheimer's, for constipation and shrinking hemorrhoids when used externally, for treating ulcers very effectively, for treating and preventing kidney stones, for improving digestion, for treating cough, sore throat and headache, for treating eye inflammations when used as an eye rinse, for improving immunity, for treating fever along with reducing cholesterol and blood sugar levels! No wonder it is called the mother of all herbs :).

I always have haritaki at home and we use it extensively in my home remedies. Last week, my brother in law was suffering loss of sensation in the tongue. He was complaining that he couldn't feel any taste at all in his mouth and this problem was going on for almost a month. I made a mouth rinse with haritaki and asked him to rinse his mouth with it twice daily for 10 days. Within a few days, he said he was feeling better and by the end of the 10 days, he had completely gotten back his sense of taste.

How To Use Haritaki:
You can take haritaki internally in the form of haritaki powder | haritaki churna | kadukka podi, you can easily buy the powder from the markets or make your own at home. Externally you can apply the paste of the fruit or you can make an infusion by boiling the pounded fruit with water and use.

Haritaki Dosage:
Usually 5 grams of haritaki powder is the daily dosage for adults but I would suggest slowly increasing the dosage overtime. Haritaki can be taken for long duration's without any side effects as it has low toxicity but if you are on any medications please consult an ayurvedic doctor for the correct dosage.

Haritaki is one ingredient that everyone should have in their home, it will always come in handy. While buying haritaki make sure to buy matured ones and sun dry it till crisp and then store in an airtight box. Haritaki stores well and can be stored in an airtight box for almost 6 months to 1 year.