Triphala Emerging a Cancer Fighter

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Triphala Emerging a Cancer Fighter

Posted by: " raynoronha " raynoronha raynoronha

Wed Aug 23, 2006 1:47 am (PST)

From :-

http://www.indolink.com/displayArticleS.php?id=082106115647

 

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One of the commonest and cheapest of Indian ayurvedic medical

formulations - Triphala - is now emerging as one of the most potent

anticancer agents.

 

This is the conclusion of scientists from a number of prominent

research institutions in India as well as abroad, confirming some of

the earlier studies conducted at Amala Cancer Research Center by Dr

Ramadas Kuttan and associates since 2002.

 

In a study entitled `Potential of traditional ayurvedic formulation,

Triphala, as a novel anticancer drug' published in the January 2006

issue of Cancer Letters, scientists at the Radiation Biology and

Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, found that

Triphala " possessed the ability to induce cytotoxicity (cell death)

in tumor cells but spared the normal cells. "

 

The scientists explain that the differential effect of Triphala on

normal and tumor cells seems to be related to its ability to evoke

differential response in intracellular ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species)

generation. Conclusion: " The differential response of normal and

tumor cells to Triphala in vitro and the substantial regression of

transplanted tumor in mice fed with Triphala points to its potential

use as an anticancer drug for clinical treatment. "

 

Similarly, a December 2005 report in the Journal of Experimental and

Clinical Cancer Research from the Radiation and Cancer Biology

Laboratory at Jawaharlal Nehru University noted that Triphala was

effective in reducing tumor incidences and increasing the

antioxidant

status of animals. The authors claim that theirs is " probably the

first report on cancer chemopreventive potential of Triphala. " They

also note " It was important to observe that Triphala was more

effective in reducing tumor incidences compared to its individual

constituents. "

 

Another report from the Department of Botanical Sciences, Guru Nanak

Dev University, Amritsar, found that " Triphala " showed a significant

cytotoxic effect on cancer cell-lines and the effect was similar on

all cancer cell lines used in this study. " The results, reported in

the Journal of Ethnopharmacology in February 2005, reveal that the

results may be due to the action of gallic acid-a major polyphenol

observed in " Triphala " . The same authors had previously reported

that

Triphala " had promising antimutagenic/anticarcinogenic potential. "

 

In February 2006, scientists from the Dr. A.L. Mudaliar Post-

Graduate

Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani

Campus, reported supplementation with Triphala prevents the noise-

stress induced changes in the antioxidant as well as cell-mediated

immune response in rats. What this means is that Triphala is an anti

stress agent. This study concludes that Triphala restores the noise-

stress induced changes because of its antioxidant properties.

 

Antioxidant studies conducted at The Radiation Chemistry and

Chemical

Dynamics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Trombay revealed

that all three constituents of triphala are active and they exhibit

slightly different activities under different conditions and the

mixture, triphala, is expected to be more efficient due to the

combined activity of the individual components. The findings were

reported in the July 2005 issue of Phytotherapy Research. Two months

later, scientists from BARC reported on the radio-protective ability

of a component of Triphala.

 

Similar results were also reported from Kasturba Medical College,

Manipal, in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine,

when scientists claimed that " Triphala, an ayurvedic rasayana drug,

protects mice against radiation-induced lethality by free-radical

scavenging. " They concluded that " Triphala provided protection

against both gastrointestinal and hemopoetic death "

 

In Phytotherapy Research, July 2004, scientists from Kasturba

Medical

College reported that certain traditional Indian polyherbal crude

drugs, including Triphala, may be potent and novel therapeutic

agents

for scavenging of (Nitrous Oxide) NO, and thereby inhibit the

pathological conditions caused by excessive generation of NO and its

oxidation product, peroxynitrite. The scientists say these findings

may also help to explain, at least in part, the pharmacological

activities like rejuvenating, adaptogenic, anti-infection, anti-

inflammatory, cardioprotective and neuroprotective activities of

these traditional, clinically used non toxic drugs.

 

Triphala, according to Dr Michael Tierra, a practicing herbalist and

author of The Wonders of Triphala: Ayurvedic Formula for Internal

Purification, is " one of the safest and most strengthening of the

cleansing herb formulas; it gently promotes internal detoxification

of all conditions of stagnation and excess while improving digestion

and assimilation. "

 

He adds: " It has been shown to be an effective blood purifier that

stimulates bile secretion as it detoxifies the liver. Triphala

benefits circulation, improves digestion and regulates elimination

without causing any laxative dependency. Triphala is also taken for

all eye disorders including the treatment of conjunctivitis,

progressive myopia, early stages of glaucoma and cataracts. Triphala

can be highly effective in removing stagnation of both the liver and

intestines and is one of the greatest and most popular rejuvenators

in ayurvedic medicine; it helps to aid the body's natural

detoxification and elimination processes without weakening systems

or

becoming habit forming. "

 

No wonder, observes Dr. Tierra, in India there is a saying comparing

the importance of triphala to that of a mother. In `A Botanical

Approach to the Treatment of Cancer' Tierra claims that Triphala is

a

herbal formula to maintain balanced elimination and detoxification.

He notes that Triphala " is widely regarded as a purgative and

laxative but in fact it is considered a rasayana and rejuvenator.

Its

special value, therefore, is both as a regulator of elimination as

well as rejuvenator of the whole body. "

 

What is Triphala

 

Triphala is a combination of the dried fruits of Terminalia chebula,

Terminalia belerica, and Emblica officinalis in equal proportions.

These are popularly known in India as harad, behada and amla. Harada

and behada have a warm energy, while amla is cool. Triphala, being a

combination of all three, is therefore balanced, making it useful as

an internal cleansing, detoxifying formula for everyone including

more sensitive type individuals and vegetarians.

 

This formula and its individual ingredients are highly valued in

Ayurveda, being compared to a " good manager of the house, " aiding

digestion, nutrient absorption and body metabolism.

 

According to Ayurvedic practitioners, daily use of triphala promotes

normal appetite, good digestion, the increase of red blood cells and

hemoglobin, and removal of undesirable fat. Triphala is very

beneficial for creating a favorable chemical environment for the

proliferation of beneficial intestinal bacteria and an unfavorable

environment for non-beneficial intestinal bacteria. Of primary

importance is the use of triphala as a bowel regulator. It is

considered as safe as food and is not habit forming, even when taken

on a daily basis. Since triphala is a tonic, cleanser and blood

purifier, there is still one other important use for it and that is

as a strengthener of the eyes, useful for cataracts, conjunctivitis

and glaucoma. Triphala can be used as daily eyewash to strengthen

vision, counteract many eye defects and eliminate redness and

soreness.

 

Practitioners of Traditional claim that Triphala

will also eliminate what is called deficient heat in Chinese

medicine. This is a feeling of heat and burning on the chest, legs,

palms and/or soles of the feet, all representing a B-vitamin

deficiency in Western medicine. Triphala taken regularly will

promote

absorption and utilization of the B vitamins and will completely

relieve the symptoms of deficient heat.

 

According to Dr Subhuti Dharmananda, Director, Institute for

Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon, most of the " rasayana "

(rejuvenation and longevity tonics) of Ayurveda are made with amla

as

an ingredient, and often with Triphala as a base to which numerous

other herbs are added. Emblic myrobalans is the main ingredient of

Chyawanprash, one of the important rasayanas and the principal

Ayurvedic remedy currently produced in India (accounting for well

over half the sales of the Ayurvedic medicines industry).

[Guest guest]

How does this react with drugs. I am particularly

interested in its reaction, if any, with eyedrops for

glaucoma.

Diana

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thank you. I'm going to try it. Sounds like it is very

helpful. I've had wonderful results adding ground flax

seed to my diet.

Diana