Benefits of Harad

Harad is a fruit often collected from the Terminalia Chiluba tree when green and raw. It then gets dried until it turns black or golden brown. The Harad or haritaki tree belongs to the Combretaceae family.

It is generally found in the subtropical and tropical regions of India, China, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Malaysia and Nepal.

These trees are usually tall, up to 30 m, and have white and yellow combination flowers with a pungent smell. The tree's fruit has an oval drupe shape and can be yellow to orange-brown. There are different types of harad based on its habitat and medicinal properties.

It is available in various forms, from harad powder to tablet to oil.

Some of the properties of Harad are:

It has antiviral properties.

It has laxative properties.

Further, the Harad helps in protecting the nerves.

It has antidiabetic properties.

Harad is rich in iron, vitamin C, potassium, copper and manganese. It contains chemicals such as stearic acid, behenic acid, gallic acid, palmitic acid and tannic acid. Some of the prominent harad benefits are listed below:

Promotes Weight Loss The very first benefit of Harad powder is it helps in weight loss. The consumption of Harad powder in adequate amounts helps in controlling hunger and enhances the metabolism rate. The harad has a deep digestive property, which helps in the strong digestion of food and reduces toxins in the body. The laxative property of Harad can also be beneficial in various gut issues, such as improper digestion.

Aid in Alzheimer's Disease Another benefit of Harad churna is it assists in treating Alzheimer's disease. It is a neurological condition in certain age groups where the brain starts to lose its memory power. Harad is considered brain food because of its magical properties. Because of its cognitive properties and neuroprotective elements, it is very beneficial in treating Alzheimer's Disease. However, it is best to consult a health practitioner before taking Ayurvedic medicine.

Helps with Cough and Cold Getting a cough and cold is common in every household. But harad can be very beneficial in treating colds and coughs because of its antiviral properties. It has kapha balancing properties, which help prevent the cold, cough and other viruses that can cause it. It is best to take harad powder or churna with salt in case of cough and cold.

Heals Infections and Wounds Harad has antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties that help remove germs and bacteria from the body, which further helps in treating infections and wounds. Not just this, harad also contains bioactive compounds that can be used to treat various skin problems like skin fungus, ulcers, etc.

Better Heart Health Harad is an ayurvedic medicine that can help manage heart health. Harad fruit has cardioprotective properties, which strengthen the cardiac muscles and improve the heart's overall health. Further, proper consumption of Harad also helps in the growth of beta cells, which helps in reducing insulin resistance.

Boost Immunity Harad is known for its rejuvenating property, which helps improve a person's overall immunity. It means regular harad consumption will prevent frequent sickness or disease.

Aids in Arthritis Another significant Harad powder usage is it helps in arthritis because of its vata balancing property. The harad consumption helps enhance the life of muscles, tissues and bones. It is best to consume harad with ghee for balancing vata in arthritis cases.

Skin Benefits There are various harad benefits for skin due to its pitta balancing property, preventing skin disease. The Pitta property of Harad helps purify the blood and reduces the chance of skin disease. Further, it also has rasayana or rejuvenating property, which helps develop new cells and lowers the dead cells, which resolves pimples and acne-related issues. It is a natural toner that flushes out all the toxins from the skin.

Hair Benefits Harad or haritaki also helps in improving overall hair health. It can treat hair issues like hairfall, itching, dandruff, scalp infections, etc. It helps clean the hair follicles by removing all the dirt and impurities. It also prevents hair fall because of its rejuvenating property.

Consumption of Harad should be done in adequate quantities. Since harad is available in various forms, such as harad powder, tablet, oil and more, there may be questions about how to use it. So here are some ways to consume harad:

Consuming harad in powder form is best for those who are prone to vomit. It is best to mix honey with harad powder and consume it directly. Further, you can also mix harad powder in lukewarm water and drink it.

If the digestive issue is the reason for using harad, then it's best to chew or consume the bark of the harad plant.

In case of urinary problems, harad should be consumed in powder form with honey twice a day.

For boosting the immune system, harad should be consumed around 30 ml.

Besides this, the season also plays a vital role in the consumption of Harad, such as:

In the summer season, it is best to consume harad with jaggery.

Harad with rock salt can be a great combination during the rainy season.

It is best to take Harad with ginger in winter for potential benefits.

Below is the tabular representation of the ideal dosage of Harad in various forms.

There are undoubtedly several health benefits of harad churna, tablet, paste and more. But it has some side effects, too, which are listed below:

The very first harad side effect is digestive disturbances. If harad is consumed in excessive quantities, then it can cause diarrhoea or stools. That's why it is best to consume in lower quantities if you are just starting.

Another harad side effect is it causes the electrolyte imbalance of the body. If an individual is consuming harad for a long time, it can cause disturbance in the potassium level of the body, which results in symptoms like fatigue, irregular heartbeat and more. It is best to monitor the electrolyte level while consuming harad.

Harad is not advisable for pregnant women as it can lower the production of breast milk.

Lastly, harad also can interact with certain medications like diabetic medication, antiplatelet agents and more. If you have ongoing medications, then it is best to consult with the doctor before taking harad.

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Harad is an ayurvedic remedy that can treat various health problems such as cough, lung disease, etc. Other than this, it also has various skin and health benefits. Because of its medicinal properties, it has been used as a critical element in various Ayurvedic medicines.

Harad is readily available in departmental stores or medical counters. Every person will respond differently to herbal remedies. So, it's best to speak with an Ayurvedic practitioner who can offer you individualised advice based on your unique needs, medical history, and potential drug interactions.

Does Harad cause acidity?

Harad is a good medicine for treating gastrointestinal problems like indigestion, constipation, acidity and more. However, it should be consumed in adequate quantities. A high dose of Harad can lead to diarrhoea problems.

What is Harad made of?

Harad is a fruit that belongs to the Combretaceae family, and its scientific name is Terminalia chebula. It is one of the three components of the traditional Ayurvedic formula called Triphala, along with Amla (Emblica officinalis) and Bhibitaki (Terminalia bellirica).

Which type of Harad is best?

There are 7 different types of Harad available, but kali Harad, also known as laghu Harad, is considered best because of its health benefits, like a healthy intestinal environment

What are the benefits of harad murabba?

Harad murrabba works as a gastric tonic, good for the overall health of the digestive system.