Amla Powder: 7 Proven Benefits (+ Top 4 Brands)

Amla (also known as Indian gooseberry) is a small fruit native to India. For centuries, it’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine as a means to reduce inflammation, improve heart health, and more.¹Therapeutic potential of Phyllanthus emblica (amla): the ayurvedic wonder

In more recent years, scientific research has begun to verify some of these benefits. Now, amla powder and amla oil have become increasingly popular supplements for supporting liver health, hair growth, and more.

In this guide:

• The 4 best amla brands
• Benefits of amla powder
• Amla powder dosage
• How to make amla oil
• Using amla oil for hair growth

The 4 Best Amla Brands

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Benefits of Amla Powder

Research on amla and its natural chemical components suggests it may have many health benefits.

For example, amla powder contains various flavonoids, which have been shown to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic^?anti-cancer effects.²Identification of phenolics in the fruit of emblica (Phyllanthus emblica L.) and their antioxidant activities³Flavonoids: an overview

Let’s delve more into the benefits of amla powder.

• Powerful Antioxidant

Research has shown that amla powder is a powerful antioxidant.

Amla berries contain tannins, which protect plants from insects, bacteria, and more.⁴Antimicrobial properties of tannins Certain tannins are strong antioxidants, and research suggests this is the source of some of amla powder’s antioxidant effects.⁵Antioxidant activity of active tannoid principles of Emblica officinalis (amla)

Beyond tannins, amla also contains various flavonoids, as mentioned above. The specific flavanoids present in amla extracts also act as powerful antioxidants.⁶Identification of phenolics in the fruit of emblica (Phyllanthus emblica L.) and their antioxidant activities

These antioxidants are present in the whole amla berries, in teas, and in extracts.⁷Antioxidant Activity of Emblica officinalis As such, the antioxidant effects should be present in amla powder, amla oil, and most other forms.

• Reduced Inflammation

Amla powder has been shown to significantly reduce pain and inflammation.

In vitro,^?in test tubes or Petri dishes outside of living organisms extracts of the amla berry have been shown to reduce activity of leukocytes and platelets.⁸Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Extracts from Leaves of Phyllanthus emblica These two types of cells are largely responsible for inflammation in the body.⁹Platelets in Inflammation: Regulation of Leukocyte Activities and Vascular Repair

As expected, then, studies have verified that amla is able to reduce inflammation in living organisms.

One notable study examined the effects of amla in acute and chronic^?short-term and long-term inflammation in rats.¹⁰The antiinflammatory potential of phenolic compounds from Emblica officinalis L. in rat At high doses, the amla extract did significantly reduce both types of inflammation.

Another study even found that a combination of amla and an herb called Ceylon leadwort was as effective as aspirin at reducing inflammation.¹¹Antiinflammatory activity of Phyllanthus emblica, Plumbago zeylanica and Cyperus rotundus in acute models of inflammation

• Reduced Fever

Fever is the body’s natural method of killing certain viruses and bacteria and triggering certain immune responses.¹²Fever: pathological or physiological, injurious or beneficial?

Conventional wisdom is to treat fever with medication, such as aspirin. However, since the early 2000s, growing evidence indicates it’s better to “let it ride” in non-life-threatening cases, allowing the fever to break naturally without intervention.¹³Fever: suppress or let it ride?

Regardless, many people still choose to reduce fever with medication, mostly to alleviate the associated discomfort.

Amla contains naturally-occurring components with fever-reducing proprieties, such as tannins, alkaloids, and flavonoids. As expected, then, amla extract has been shown to reduce fever.¹⁴Evaluation of anti-pyretic and analgesic activity of Emblica officinalis Gaertn

What is currently unclear is exactly how and why these components can reduce fever. It could be because they may kill certain fever-triggering microbes, or it may be that they simply possess antipyretic^?anti-fever effects, similar to aspirin.¹⁵The pharmacology of fever.

Regardless, for those wishing to reduce fever, research shows that amla powder may be effective.

• Effects on Cancerous Cells

Some early research suggests that amla powder may have an impact on cancerous cells.¹⁶Anticancer Properties of Phyllanthus emblica (Indian Gooseberry)

One study identified that 17 different components of the amla plant that showed significant antiproliferative^?to suppress cell growth (especially of tumors) effects against human stomach cancer cells, human uterine cancer cells, and melanoma in mice.¹⁷Antiproliferative Activity of the Main Constituents from Phyllanthus emblica

In plain English, the study showed that amla may reduce tumor growth.

Several animal studies have also shown that amla extract can kill certain cancer cells, resulting in an increased lifespan in the treated animals.¹⁸Effect of Emblica officinalis, Phyllanthus amarus and Picrorrhiza kurroa on N-nitrosodiethylamine induced hepatocarcinogenesis¹⁹Antitumour activity of Emblica officinalis

While these findings are promising, much more research is needed to determine whether amla powder can have any meaningful impact against cancerous tumors in humans.

• Liver health

Some early research has shown that amla powder may be effective in promoting liver health.

Amla has been shown to protect the liver against harmful agents like heavy metals and ethanol.²⁰Hepatoprotective properties of the Indian gooseberry (Emblica officinalis Gaertn): a review One study even found that amla protected against liver damage caused by liquor consumption in rats.²¹Hepatoprotective studies on Phyllanthus emblica Linn. and quercetin.

Another study found that amla extract can reduce the onset of liver fibrosis in rats.²²Hepatoprotective activity of Emblica officinalis and Chyavanaprash Liver fibrosis is a condition in which excess scar tissue builds up in the liver, often occurring in chronic liver disease.²³Liver fibrosis

These findings are promising, but further research is needed to understand the extent to which amla powder may be able to protect the liver.

• Heart health

Some research suggests that amla powder may help improve certain aspects of heart health.

A few studies have shown that amla may be able to reduce hypertension (high blood pressure). This has been observed both in animal and in human studies.²⁴The protective role of amla (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) against fructose-induced metabolic syndrome in a rat model²⁵Efficacy of amla powder (Emblica officinalis) and nutrition counselling on hyperlipidemic and hypertensive subjects²⁶The effect of oral supplementation of amla juice with honey vs. Garlic on blood pressure and selected complaints among clients with hypertension in a selected community at Tirupur

Research has also shown that amla powder may be effective in reducing hyperlipidemia, including high cholesterol levels. This also has been demonstrated in both animal and human studies.²⁷Flavonoids from Emblica officinalis and Mangifera indica—effectiveness for dyslipidemia²⁸Efficacy of amla powder (Emblica officinalis) and nutrition counselling on hyperlipidemic and hypertensive subjects²⁹Effect of the Indian gooseberry (amla) on serum cholesterol levels in men aged 35-55 years.

Hypertension and hyperlipidemia are both risk factors of cardiovascular disease. Left unchecked, they can lead to the development of heart disease.

While amla powder’s potential to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease is promising thus far, more research is needed.

• Hair health

Some early research has shown that amla oil may be effective in promoting hair growth and treating hair loss.

For example, one notable study found that amla oil was effective in promoting hair growth in rats. The researchers noted that it was most effective at 7% to 8% concentration, with growth observed at days 8 and 9.³⁰Preparation, evaluation and hair growth stimulating activity of herbal hair oil

Farther down, we have information on making homemade amla oil with the same methods as this study.

Another study found that a product containing extracts from amla and five other herbs was effective in promoting the production of papilla cells,³¹Preclinical and Clinical Studies Demonstrate That the Proprietary Herbal Extract DA-5512 Effectively Stimulates Hair Growth and Promotes Hair Health which play a central role in hair growth.³²Role of hair papilla cells on induction and regeneration processes of hair follicles.

That study should be taken with a grain of salt, though, since amla was not the only herbal extract in the product.

Another study did find that pure amla oil promoted hair growth in rabbits, but not in sheep. The researchers did note that the different structure of sheep skin may be responsible for the difference, though.³³Effect of Topical Application of Oils of Amla, Coconut, Sarson and Samsol on Growth of Rabbit’s Hair and Sheep Wool

Although further research is needed, the studies thus far have shown that amla is likely to promote hair growth in humans.

Amla Powder Dosage

There is currently no officially recommended amla powder dosage.

Furthermore, little research has been performed on effective dosages of amla powder.

One study did find that a dosage of 1, 2, and 3 grams of amla powder daily improve cholesterol levels of type 2 diabetic subjects.³⁴Effect of Amla fruit (Emblica officinalis Gaertn.) on blood glucose and lipid profile of normal subjects and type 2 diabetic patients For most pure amla powders, this would be roughly 1/3 to 1 whole US teaspoon daily.

However, more research is needed to determine which dosages of amla powder are effective for different uses.

For external application of amla oil to promote hair growth, read below.

Making Amla Oil for Hair

The Tested Method

One of the above studies found amla oil at concentrations of 7% to 8% to be most effective for promoting hair growth.³⁵Preparation, evaluation and hair growth stimulating activity of herbal hair oil

To prepare the oil, the researchers first dried and crushed the amla. To skip this process, amla powder can be used as a substitute.

1. To make amla oil at 7% or 8% concentration, the researchers measured out 7 or 8 grams of amla powder per 100 milliliters of olive oil. That’s roughly 3 US tablespoons of pure amla powder per half cup of olive oil .

2. Next, researchers put the powder in a muslin cloth and hung it in an olive oil base. Tea filter bags are an easy alternative to muslin cloth.

3. The oil was then boiled and stirred to extract the compounds from the amla powder.

4. After that, the olive-based amla oil was cooled and filtered again, and the leftover powder in the cloth was discarded.

For someone making amla oil at home, this final filter likely isn’t necessary.

The Easy Method

This method takes the same measurements from above and makes the process easier. The result should be a similar homemade amla oil.

1. Measure out 7 to 8 grams of amla powder per 100 milliliters of olive oil. That’s roughly 3 US tablespoons of pure amla powder per half cup of olive oil .

2. Mix the powder and oil in a pot and bring to a low boil. Stir continuously for several minutes, then let cool.

There’s likely no need to filter the powder from the oil. The original study filtered it to produce pure oil with no solids in order to control as many variables as possible.

Using Your Amla Oil

Before topical application of any new substance, you should perform a skin irritation test.

1. Apply a small amount of your amla oil to a small area of exposed skin, such as your arm.

2. Cover the area with a bandage and wait 24 hours.

3. After 24 hours, check for irritation. If your skin shows no signs of irritation, it’s likely safe to apply it to your scalp.

4. Apply your homemade amla oil to your scalp. The researchers in the above-cited study applied the oil once daily.

You may not want to go about your day with an oily, strange-smelling scalp. If so, consider applying the amla oil at night, sleeping with a shower cap, and rinsing the oil out in the morning.

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Summary

Science has shown that amla powder may be effective at reducing inflammation and fever, promoting liver and heart health, and providing powerful antioxidants.

There’s also very promising evidence of amla oil’s ability to promote hair growth, thickness, and health.

If you’re interested in trying amla powder or amla oil, we recommend one of the following 4 brands. And if you want the best of both worlds, you can pick up a bag of amla powder and easily make amla oil at home.