Ayurvedic Medicine, Amla & Skin

Ayurvedic medicine, a form of traditional Indian healing, first popularized by Deepak Chopra in the 1980’s in the book Quantum Healing, has become (nearly) mainstream, but there was a time, in our part of the world, when the 7000-year old science was unknown. I first learned of it in pharmacy school from an Ayurveda trained dermatologist named Amrit Singh, who regularly used it in his practice, endlessly extolling its virtues for skin health and the healing of many internal ailments that Western Doctors considered untreatable. Plant medicine plays a major role in Ayurveda. One of Dr. Singh’s favorite healing botanicals was the Indian Gooseberry known as Amla, the fruit of the Malaca Tree, revered by Hindus as the home of the God Vishnu.

As it turns out, in addition to its religious significance, Amla also has some potentially pharmacological properties. It contains natural anti-viral and anti-bacterial compounds, as well as substances that may help strengthen bones and joints for patients dealing with skeletal and joint disease. According to an article published in the October, 2008 issue of the journal BMC, “Complementary and Alternative Medicine” extracts of the plant can genetically reduce the effects of osteoclasts (cells that dissolve bone), slowing down the progression of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Other studies indicate that Amla may be helpful against pancreatitis, diabetes and inflammation. It protects against stomach ulcers, liver toxicity and may also have pain relieving and anti-fever properties. It may be useful for treating cancer too. Research from the September, 2010 edition of the journal Phototherapy Research, suggests “the versatile medicinal fruit“ exhibits anticancer activity against selected cancer cells, “and warrants further study…” as an anti-cancer treatment.

Recently skin care companies have caught on to the power of Amla, but Dr. Singh was hip to the power of Gooseberry years ago. One of my favorite way to use the plant comes directly out of his little black book of formulas. He took straight Amla, soaked it in olive oil, filtered it and added the extract to beeswax. Then melted it all together and cooled it into a balm. In addition to being super skin softening and anti-inflammatory, the Amla plant also has healing anti-aging properties. It makes a great skin lightener too. It's also packed with Vitamin C. Scientific research points to no less than three separate biochemical pigment pathways that Amla affects, involving melanin manufacturing minerals and enzymes.

If you want to make your own Amla anti-dark spot topical skin product, all you need is some of the raw powder (readily available on the internet) and some green tea. Add a couple of teaspoons of the powder to a cup of tea and it let soak in a dark jar for a few days or a week. Periodically reheating the mixture will make the final product more active. Filter through some cheese cloth and you’ve got yourself a wonderful Amla skin lightening toner. Apply to skin daily, store remainder the fridge, and make a new batch every day for 3 or 4 days.