Traditional Medicinal knowledge about useful herb Amla or Aonla (Phyllanthus emblica syn. Emblica officinalis, family : Euphorbiaceae) in Chhattisgarh, India

Research Note - Pankaj Oudhia
© 2001,2002,2003 Pankaj Oudhia - All Rights Reserved

Amla is a moderate sized, deciduous tree, native to South East Asia and is now distributed throughout India. The village names in Chhattisgarh based on this herb clearly proves that Amla is present in the state since generations. The villages having names due to heavy natural population of Amla trees are common and for the villagers, these trees are one of the potential sources of income. During my studies on village names based on common herbs, I have noted that the natives of these villages know more about different medicinal and other uses of specific tree than the natives of other parts. It was also good observation that the traditional healers of these particular regions use particular herb more frequently for preparation of herbal drugs. Amla is one of the non-wood forest produces of Chhattisgarh, having fairly high demand in national and international drug markets. The traders at national and international markets informed me that the Amla of Chhattisgarh is rich in medicinal properties and fetching higher prices as compared to Amla collected from other states. This is valuable information for researchers. The traders also know that whether the Amla coming from northern region is of best quality or the natural collection in southern parts is medicinally rich. I am trying my best to demarcate and divide different zones of Chhattisgarh, having different types ( in terms of medicinal properties) of Amla, with the help of the observations and experiences of these traders. Like other herbs, the first collector of Amla is not aware of this high demand in national and international drug markets and as result he is getting very less price for his collections. From first collectors to end users, there are so many middle men are active. I have written about non-scientific exploitation of Amla in Chhattisgarh by the traders and result of this exploitation, in terms of decreasing Amla population at alarming rates. As medicine, the traditional healers and natives of Chhattisgarh prefer wild Amla trees. Many innovative farmers are taking keen interest in commercial plantation of improved high yielding varieties of Amla. The healers and natives consider these varieties far inferior to the desi (indigenous) varieties.

Common and popular names of Aonla around the world.
Languages/Regions/Countries	Names
1) Arabic	Ambliy, Amlaj
2) Assam	Amlaki, Amluki, Sohmyrlain
3) Bengal	Ambolati, Amla, Amlaki, Amlati, Aonla
4) Cambodia	Ngop
5) Myanmar	Hziphyu, Shabju, Tasha, Zibyu, Ziphiyusi
6) Kanarese	Amlaka, Chattu, Dadi, Dhanya, Dhatri, Sudhe
7) Chinese	An Mo Le
8) Gujarati	Amali, Ambri, Ambala, Bhoza
9) Hindi	Aonla, Aora, Amlaki
10) English	Emblic, Myrobalan Tree
11) Malyalam	Amalakam, Nelli
12) Marathi	Anvala, Aola, Aonli, Avala, Arola, Awla
13) Nepal	Amla
14) Mauritius	Embelic
15) Persian	Ameloh, Amuleh
16) Portugese	Mirabolano emblico
17) Sanskrit	Adiphala, Akara, Amalaki, Amlika, Amraphala, Amrito, Dhatri, Dhatrika, Jatiphala, Kayastha, Shriphala, Vrittaphala
18) Sinhalese	Awusadexnelli, Nelli
19) Tamil	Amalagam, Indul, Nelli, Perunelli
20) Telugu	Amala kamu, Amalaki, Nelli, Usiriki
21) Urdu	Anwala
22) Uriya	Aura, Khondona, Onola

I have met many Amla breeders working in research organisations and informed that there is a strong need to start a detailed research and breeding programmes in country , to develop improved Amla varieties having more medicinal properties. For traditional healers there is no importance for production (i.e. quantity). They believe in quality and it is bitter fact that these breeders have yet not thought in this direction. The wild species found in dense forests of Chhattisgarh, can play a vital role in development of new medicinal varieties. As expert, I am trying to maintain the gene bank of medicinal crops Safed Musli (Chlorophytum borivilianum) and Ratti (Abrus precatorius) and it is very difficult for me, to collect and preserve, all herbs in my gene banks. I am sure that my article will motivate the researchers and breeders to think on this important aspect. There is no restriction on planting of Amla in home gardens. The natives prefer this tree in their home gardens as it is associated with their religious ceremonies. It is common belief among natives, that the presence of Amla tree in home gardens minimise the harmful effects of other herbs, particularly the exotic and spiny herbs. In ancient Indian literatures, it is mentioned that one must plant atleast five trees of Amla in his life. In order to get rid from mental stress, the native add Amla in herbal combination used in regular bath. In Southern parts of Chhattisgarh, the natives prepare special Herbal Mala using root pieces of Amla. It is consider as sign of good luck and fortune. In reference literatures, a lot have been written on medicinal properties and uses of Amla fruit. In present article, I am describing the traditional medicinal knowledge about different parts of Amla (except fruits), I have noted during my ethnobotanical surveys in different parts of Chhattisgarh. At first, I am describing botany and reported medicinal uses of Amla. According to reference literatures, Amla is a moderate sized (upto 10 meters), mostly deciduous, much - branched tree, with greenish grey outer bark exfoliating in small irregular patches; inner bark reddish; Branchlets (10-20 m long) slender with compound feathery arranged symmetrically giving the appearance of pinnate leaves, entire branchlets are often deciduous, but some persist to form new branches; Leaflets small (7-25 x 2-4 mm), narrow, linear and glabrous; Flowers appear in March- May, monoecious, small, greenish yellow, in clusters (fasicled) along leaf - bearing branchlets; Fruits fleshy, globose, 2-4 cm in diameter, marked with six segments, pale yellow turning reddish when ripe, acidic and astringent, 3-celled and 6- seeded, ripens between November and February; Seeds trigonous, blackish brown, 68000-89000/Kg.

According to Ayurveda, fruits are acrid, sour, cooling, alexiteric, carminative, alterative, laxative, tonic, antipyretic and useful in treatment of burning sensation, vomiting, biliousness, urinary discharges, thirst, leprosy, constipation, inflammations, erysipelas and leaves are useful in ophthalmia and incipient blindness. Seeds are acrid, aphrodisiac and useful in treatment of asthma, bronchitis, leucorrhoea etc.. According to Unani system of medicine, flowers are cooling and aperient whereas fruit is acrid, sour, cooling, astringent, tonic, expectorant, vulnerary and improves appetite. It is useful in treatment of heart diseases, liver complaints, thirst, piles, biliousness, eye troubles etc. As mentioned early, the natives and traditional healers of Chhattisgarh have rich traditional medicinal knowledge about uses of all parts of Amla herb in treatment of different diseases, here I am describing some promising uses. The natives use the fresh leaf juice of Amla for wound dressing. According to them, this application increases the rate of healing. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh are also aware of this use. According to them, one can add other herbs like Kukronda (Blumea lacera), Chirchita (Achyranthes aspera), Doob (Cynodon dactylon), Neem etc. in this juice to make it more useful. Like the leaves to Tin pania bhaji (Oxalis corniculata) and Doob (Cynodon dactylon), the natives eat the fresh leaves alone or in combination with fresh curd or whey , in order to treat stomach related diseases. It is considered as good stomach tonic. It is also used in case of diarrhoea. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh plains, use the leaves in different ways. For treatment of Epistaxis, they apply the fresh leaf juice with Kapoor (Camphor) on head. According to them, the fresh leaf juice is good hair tonic. In reference literatures, the use of Amla fruit as hair tonic is reported but the healers of Chhattisgarh also use the leaves for the same purpose. This is new information for me. The healers of Chhattisgarh Plains, prepare a special decoction using Amla leaves and suggest the patients ring problem of stomatitis, to gargle with this decoction. In case of decayed teeth and toothache, the healers prepare another decoction by boiling the equal quantities of Amla and Adusa (Adhatoda vasica) leaves in water. This decoction is given with sugar, due to its bitter taste. The healers also use the fresh leaf juice in treatment of diseases related to urinary system. The traditional healer of Mudpar village, uses the Amla leaves with Neem leaves in treatment of leprosy. The leaves are collected, dried and converted into powder. This powder is given with Shahad (Honey) internally. He informed me that this combination is a boon for the leprosy patients. The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh use the Amla flower in different herbal combinations and in most of the combinations, it is added as main ingredient. The natives of Kanker region use the Amla root and bark, in treatment of scorpion bite. The juice is extracted or by mixing root and bark powder, aqueous paste is prepared and applied externally on affected part. I have collected this information during my ethnobotanical survey titled . "Traditional medicinal knowledge about common herb used against venomous creatures". The traditional healers of Chhattisgarh, also use Amla seeds in treatment of common diseases. The seed powder mixed with Shahad (Honey ) is considered as good for gynaecological troubles specially in case of leucorrhoea (Safed Pani). In case of vomiting, the traditional healers recommend it with common herb Lal Chandan (Pterocarpus santalinus). Many healers use the Amla seeds in treatment of diabetes. The powdered seeds with honey are used for treatment. The seeds are also used in treatment of Epistaxis.

The in depth traditional knowledge about different parts of Amla herb, clearly indicates that there is a strong need to conduct more detailed ethnobotanical surveys focused on this important aspect. I have not mentioned the traditional knowledge about Amla fruits in this article. For your information, the healers use the fruits alone or in combination with other herbs, are used in Chhattisgarh, in treatment of over 150 common diseases, both internally and externally. Most of these uses have been reported in reference literatures, but the traditional uses about different parts (other than fruits),as mentioned in this article, are new information and require special attention. At present, the national and international traders are aware of the uses of fruits only. I am sure that these ethnobotanical surveys will motivate the researchers, traders, and other related persons to think on unique uses of other parts also. This approach will provide an additional income to the natives. There is also a strong need to develop new medicinal varieties according to upcoming national and international demand, so that expected pressure on natural population of Amla, can be minimised well in advance. Thank you very much for reading the article.