Emblica officinalis (Amalaki) is traditionally used as a cooling and cleansing herb to treat many diseases. But scientists say that emblica officinalis has more health benefits, including effects for high lipid and high cholesterol levels, atherogenesis, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes and anti-aging.
Emblica officinalis has lipid-lowering and anti-atherogenic effects. Amalaki is a natural lipid-lowering herb for the treatment of high lipid levels caused by diabetes. The juice of the fruit can treat hypercholesterolemia due to its anti-atherogenic effects. Emblica officinalis can significantly reduce serum cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and LDL levels, decrease the formation of aortic plaque, accelerate cholesterol and phospholipid excretion to feces. This indicates that the lipid-lowering effects may be involved with the interference with the absorption of cholesterol.
Emblica officinalis has antioxidant and anti-aging effects. Scientific studies have found that many diseases, such as cancers, aging, cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, shocks, and inflammation is due to the occurrence and development of lipid peroxidation (LPO). Amalaki can improve the antioxidant capacity and protect vascular endothelial function. The main causes of aging is excessive free radicals, and high lipid peroxide (LPO) levels. The fruit extract of emblica officinalis can inhibit pyrogallol and epinephrine autoxidation, therefor it delays the senescence process.
From the viewpoint of traditional medicine, the above effects can still be explained from the blood cleansing and cooling effects of emblica officinalis. By cleansing the blood, making the blood less thick, and cooling down the over-heating body, you will have less chance to have the problems of high lipid and high cholesterol levels, atherogenesis, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes, or you can relieve the symptoms if you already have these problems. Without these health disorders, you can live longer. That is why it has anti-aging effects.
So we can say, emblica officinalis essentially is a moderate blood coolant, purifier and thinner. This can explain all its ancient and modern uses: from digestive tract ulcers and skin disorders to anti-atherogenic and antioxidant effects. The traditional medical systems do not use the words like “cholesterol”, or “atherogenesis” to describe diseases, they use the words like “too much blood”, or “too thick blood” to indicate the diseases. You may prefer to use one “language” than the other. But this is just personal preference.
It is easy to understand that, emblica officinalis has indirect effects for the above diseases (Atherogenesis, High Blood Pressure, Cardiovascular Diseases, Obesity, and Diabetes) in a long term use.
