Holistic Health The Health Benefits of Haritaki By Cathy Wong facebook twitter Cathy Wong is a nutritionist and wellness expert. Her work is regularly featured in media such as First For Women, Woman's World, and Natural Health. Learn about our editorial process Cathy Wong Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc on July 06, 2020 facebook twitter linkedin Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc, is a board-certified acupuncturist, herbalist, and integrative medicine doctor practicing in Santa Monica, California. Learn about our Medical Review Board Arno Kroner, DAOM, LAc Updated on November 23, 2020 Print Haritaki (Terminalia chebula) is a tree native to southern Asia and India. Sometimes referred to as chebulic myrobalan, the dried fruit of this tree has a long history of use in Ayurveda. It is said to support the Vata dosha and is one of three dried fruits that make up the Ayurvedic formula Triphala. People use haritaki to promote healing from a number of conditions ranging from sore throat and allergies to constipation and indigestion. Haritaki is rich in vitamin C and substances found to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition to its natural state, haritaki is also available in powder or dietary supplement form. Health Benefits There's a lack of clinical trials supporting the claims that haritaki can improve your health. So far, most of the evidence for haritaki's health effects comes from preliminary, animal-based research and laboratory studies. Preliminary research in humans suggests it may offer certain health benefits, but more is needed to confirm this. Cavity Prevention A 2010 study published in Oral Health & Preventive Dentistry suggests a haritaki-based mouthwash may help prevent cavities. In the study, 30 people were given either distilled water or a mouthwash made with haritaki. Researchers analyzed saliva samples collected after rinsing and found the haritaki-based mouthwash was significantly more effective in reducing levels of bacteria linked to the development of cavities. Pain Relief Haritaki may help with pain management, suggests a small study published in the Journal of Anaesthesiology Clinical Pharmacology in 2016. Researchers gave study participants a single oral dose of Terminalia chebula or a placebo and found that Terminalia chebula increased pain threshold and pain tolerance compared to the placebo. Further studies found haritaki extracts show promise for treating knee pain. A 90-day randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study of 105 people with knee osteoarthritis, published in 2018 in the Journal of Medicinal Food found, found the extract: Relieved painIncreased physical functionImproved quality of life Cholesterol A 2010 study from the Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research determined that haritaki helped reduce total cholesterol in mice. The study authors also found that haritaki helped reduce the animals' levels of triglycerides, a type of blood fat known to increase heart disease risk when elevated. The research on haritaki's effect on cholesterol levels, however, is limited to animal studies, and it is too soon to recommend the supplement for this purpose. Oxidative Stress Haritaki may help increase the expression of antioxidants found to fight oxidative stress, according to a 2009 study from Cell Biochemistry and Function. In tests on aging rats, the study's authors observed that treatment with haritaki helped boost concentrations of several antioxidants, including: GlutathioneSuperoxide dismutaseVitamin CVitamin E This research, too, is limited to animal studies, so haritaki can't yet be recommended for improving health in this way. Blood Sugar In a 2010 animal-based study from Phytotherapy Research, scientists ran a series of experiments involving rats with metabolic syndrome and discovered that haritaki may help treat the condition by lowering blood sugar levels. Those looking to prevent or treat diabetes or metabolic syndrome may find this promising, but should not stop recommended treatment in favor of taking haritaki, as more research is needed to determine its effectiveness for this use. Possible Side Effects The safety of long-term use of haritaki isn't known. However, since haritaki may reduce blood sugar levels, there's some concern that using it in combination with blood-sugar-lowering medications may have harmful effects. It's important to talk to your doctor prior to using haritaki in combination with blood-sugar-lowering drugs, such as those prescribed for diabetes. Haritaki should not be used by pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, those with medical conditions, or people who are taking medications without consulting a doctor. Tips for Safer Use of Nutritional Supplements Selection and Preparation In addition to being one of the ingredients in the formula Triphala, haritaki is also sold alone as a powder, capsule, and dried fruit. The shell of the haritaki fruit and the stone should not be consumed. Haritaki supplements are available for purchase online, in many natural-foods stores, and in stores specializing in dietary supplements. Look for brands that are certified organic. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate supplements and the content of some haritaki products may differ from what is specified on the product label. There is no standard recommendation for dosing; follow product label instructions. Other Questions Can haritaki relieve stress?In Ayurvedic medicine, haritaki is considered a powerful adaptogen—an herb that boosts the body's resiliency to stress. It may minimize the harmful effects of stress on the body, but it isn't known for having sedative properties like other stress-relieving herbs. What does haritaki taste like?The haritaki fruit has been described as sweet and sour with an astringent taste. The powder, like the fruit itself, has a bitter taste, so many people prefer the capsule form. A Word From Verywell While there's some interesting preliminary research on haritaki, it's too soon to recommend it as a treatment for any condition. If you're considering trying it, talk with your primary care provider first. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Nayak SS, Kumar BR, Ankola AV, Hebbal M. The efficacy of Terminalia chebula rinse on Streptococcus mutans count in saliva and its effect on salivary pH. Oral Health Prev Dent. 2010;8(1):55-8. Pokuri VK, Kumar CU, Pingali U. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study to evaluate analgesic activity of Terminalia chebula in healthy human volunteers using a mechanical pain model. J Anaesthesiol Clin Pharmacol. 2016;32(3):329-32. doi:10.4103/0970-9185.173365. Karlapudi V, Prasad Mungara AVV, Sengupta K, Davis BA, Raychaudhuri SP. A Placebo-Controlled Double-Blind Study Demonstrates the Clinical Efficacy of a Novel Herbal Formulation for Relieving Joint Discomfort in Human Subjects with Osteoarthritis of Knee. J Med Food. 2018;21(5):511–520. doi:10.1089/jmf.2017.0065 Maruthappan V, Shree KS. Hypolipidemic activity of haritaki (Terminalia chebula) in atherogenic diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. J Adv Pharm Technol Res. 2010;1(2):229-35. University of Rochester Medical Center, Health Encyclopedia. The Truth About Triglycerides. Mahesh R, Bhuvana S, Begum VM. Effect of Terminalia chebula aqueous extract on oxidative stress and antioxidant status in the liver and kidney of young and aged rats. Cell Biochem Funct. 2009;27(6):358-63. doi:10.1002/cbf.1581 Singh I, Singh PK, Bhansali S, et al. Effects of three different doses of a fruit extract of Terminalia chebula on metabolic components of metabolic syndrome, in a rat model. Phytother Res. 2010;24(1):107-12. doi:10.1002/ptr.2879 Panossian A, Wikman G. Effects of Adaptogens on the Central Nervous System and the Molecular Mechanisms Associated with Their Stress-Protective Activity. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2010;3(1):188–224. Published 2010 Jan 19. doi:10.3390/ph3010188