According to Ayurveda, perfect digestion is the basis of all health, if your digestive system function properly than it helps the other parts of the body to perform well, including skin health. So traditional Ayurvedic tonic for proper digestion also acts as the best herbal food for the skin because its cleansing action is replenishing instead of draining, and because of its nutrition content, Triphala, the well-known traditional Ayurvedic formulation, makes an excellent skin tonic. Triphala is one of the most famous Ayurvedic medicinal herbs. Triphala literally means "three fruits." The three fruits contained in Triphala are Haritaki, Amalaki and Bibhitaki. And because Triphala is tridoshic--equally balancing for Vata, Pitta and Kapha--it is useful for all skin types. It can be mixed with other herbs in compound formulations. Triphala has the quality to nourish the skin both directly and indirectly. Amla, one of the three ingredients in Triphala, is the richest known natural source of vitamin C. Vitamin C helps in the production of collagen, which is necessary to keep skin supple and thick. Triphala also contains calcium. Calcium helps enhance skin clarity and brings dull, tired skin to life.
Triphala Preparation
Mix triphala with equal quantity of madhuka (mahua tree), tavakshir (East Indian arrowroot) pippali (long pepper), saindhava (long salt), and each one of the lohas (iron), suvarna (gold), vacha (Acorus calamus) with either honey, ghee or sugar in equal quantity.
Benefits of Triphala
A rasayana promotes ojas, the finest product of digestion that prevents disease, creates luster and glow in the skin and rejuvenates the whole body. Besides nourishing the mind and body and promoting longevity, Triphala has many specific effects. It is particularly rejuvenating for the digestive tract, and is a rasayana for the eyes and the skin. It removes ama from the fat tissue, and balances cholesterol. Triphala also purifies the urine and prevents urinary tract disease. It enhances all thirteen agnis (digestive fires), especially the main digestive fire in the stomach. It pacifies Kapha and Pitta, and if taken regularly, is a powerful anti-aging rasayana.
