Chebulic myrobalan

HARRO

Localname  :    Harro                                                               

Indian name      : Harad

English name    : Chebulic myrobalan

Scientific name : Terminalia chebula

INTRODUCTION

Description

            Terminalia chebula is a medium-sized deciduous tree reaching up to 25 m in height, often with a short, cylindrical bole of 5-10 m in length and 60-80 cm in diameter, dark brown bark and a rounded crown with spreading branches.

The fruit is drupe-like, 2-4.5 cm long and 1.2-2.5 cm broad, blackish, with five longitudinal ridges. The dull white to yellow flowers are monoecious, and have a strong, unpleasant scent. They are carried by terminal spikes or short panicles. The fruits are smooth ellipsoid to ovoid drupes, yellow to orange-brown in color, with a single angled stone.

Fresh Fruit Chebulic Myrobalan

Flower of Chebulic Myrobalan

        

Availability (Altitude)

Terminalia chebula is found throughout South East Asia. It is found in the countries like India, Sri-Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, China and Thailand.

They are specially found in the dry slopes in an altitude of approximately 900m (3000 feet) in elevation.

In India it is found in the Sub Himalayan tracks from Ravi eastwards to West Bengal and Assam, ascending up to the altitude of 1500m in the Himalayas.

In Nepal, it grows in tropical and sub-tropical forests up to the height of 1500.

Composition (Natural Ingredients)

A number of glycosides have been isolated from Harro, including the Triterpenes arjunglucoside I, Arjungenin, and the Chebulosides I and II. Other constituents include a Coumarin conjugated with gallic acids called chebulin, as well as other phenolic compounds including ellagic acid, 2,4-chebulyl-β-D-glucopyranose, chebulinic acid, gallic acid, ethyl gallate, punicalagin, terflavin A, terchebin, luteolin, and tannic acid. Chebulic acid is a phenolic acid compound isolated from the ripe fruits. Luteic acid can be isolated from the bark. Chebula also contains Terflavin B, a type of tannin, while chebulinic acid is found in the fruits.

USES

The fruits are rich in tannin and are used in the leather industry. A dye can be prepared from the fruits. The fruits also have numerous medicinal properties. The wood is used as construction timber and for furniture, carts and implements, but is not of much value.

Some of its uses in the medicinal field are given below:

• Chewing the Harro’s fruit causes increase in digestion power.
• If it is made into a paste and eaten, it clears and cleanses intestines.
• If it is steamed or boiled, it becomes absorbent, useful in malabsorption syndrome (abnormality in absorption of food nutrients across the stomach).
• If it is fried and used, it is useful in Tridosha (Responsible for all Movement in the Body) imbalance conditions.
• If Harro is taken after food, it helps to eliminate all the toxic effects due to food poisoning.
• If it is taken along with salt, it balances Kapha (Principle that holds the cells together and forms the muscle, fat and bone).
• If taken with sugar, it balances Pitta and if taken with ghee, it balances Vata disorders.
• Intravaginally, Terminalia chebula is used as a douche for treating vaginal infections.

Use of Harro in hemorrhoids (are swollen veins in the lowest part of your rectum and anus)

Harro helps to ease bowel movement, one of the complications in hemorrhoids. It helps in reducing the pile mass and reducing / stopping the bleeding. A bath with – 2 tablespoons of Harro, in half a bucket of water, for 10 minutes, before bath, is useful in reducing the swelling and healing.   

Medicine use for digestive care which includes

Chebulic Myrobalan

 

SIDE-EFFECTS

• Though there are a few nutritive health benefits, Harro is more of cleansing, moisture absorbing, weight reducing in nature. Hence it is advised to avoid during pregnancy.
• In most of the contra indications explained above all have dryness and lack of water supply. So, harro, already being harsh, is not advisable because it may further contribute to dryness.
• Harro is best avoided in infants, up to 5 years of age. It should be given under medical supervision in children.
• Single herb usage of Harro is contra indicated in lactating mother. It may decrease breast milk production.

SPECIAL PRODUCT

Detoxification & Rejuvenation for Vata

1. Removes excess vata from the system
2. Assists natural internal cleansing
3. Supports healthy elimination and maintains regularity
4. Nourishes and rejuvenates the tissues

As one of the three ingredients in the Ayurvedic super formula Triphala, Harro is considered to be one of the best herbs for balancing vata dosha. Supporting the body's natural cleansing process, it gently removes accumulated natural toxins in the gastrointestinal tract. As rejuvenate, it strengthens and nourishes the tissues and supports the proper function of the colon, lungs, liver, and spleen. Harro is traditionally used to address all vata-related imbalances. It maintains regular elimination, helps promote healthy body mass, and supports comfortable and complete digestion. Harro is believed to increase energy, intelligence, and awareness.

Method of Preparation

This medicine is found in both tablet and powder form. This tablet especially preferred by the hemorrhoids patient. Its making process is given below:

1. Mainly the fruit part is taken and turned into the powder form by mixing other necessary elements.
2. The fruit either boiled or easily turned into powder form.  
3. After that, if needed to turn into some tablets, the same powder is gone through some processing and made tablet out of it.
4. It is sent for packaging then.
   (It is either found in bottle or in plastic as a form of packaging.)  
   
   
   This medicinal herb and its demand is increasing generally in Indian market, I couldn’t find its high demand in Nepali market. Though, organic farms in Nepal participates to protect this valuable medicinal plant for generations and planted some in farm.

Conclusion

This medicinal plant could be used instead of the various clinical medicine. It is useful and cheap in some cases than the other medicines. The critics have responded positively on this medicinal herb. If publicized well in Nepali market it can have higher demands in Nepal too. It can establish herbal industries on Harro focusing on digestive care and hemorrhoids. This can benefit the economy of Nepal. Nepal can fully  be benefited from this plant economically.

Hope you find this useful.  I welcome any constructive suggestions and feedbacks from you.

By: URJA CHAWAL