Kadukkai also called as Haritaki in Hindi is called the mother of herbs and is one of the the three ingredients in triphala which itself indicates its medical importance. At home we use it in home remedies extensively. Kadukkai is the Tamil name and we call the powder kadukkai podi in Tamil.
Like with any ingredient we should get to know both the health benefits and side effects of haritaki I have given the detailed health benefits here. Kadukkai is one of the safest herbs that can be taken for long durations of time but it should be had in the correct dosage else we will face some side effects.
What Is Kadukkai?
Kadukkai is the fruit of a tree whose botanical name is Terminalia chebula. It has wide medicinal uses and is used for treating and preventing kidney stones, for improving digestion, for treating cough, sore throat, headache and for treating eye inflammations when used as an eye rinse. Finally it is commonly used for improving immunity, for treating fever along with reducing cholesterol and blood sugar levels!
Haritaki Dosage:
Usually 1/2 to 1 tsp of haritaki powder is the daily dosage for adults depending on the disease. For children, I would highly recommend consuming after consulting an Ayurvedic physician but if you don’t want to consult a physician I would suggest 1 to 2 grams per day.
I would suggest slowly increasing the dosage overtime to prevent side effects. The dosage for haritaki capsules are 1 tablet twice daily after meals preferably with hot water but I would kindly suggest consulting a physician for the correct dosage depending on your body type.
5 Side Effects Of Kadukkai
1. Diarrhea:
In my personal experience, the dosage of haritaki powder should be gradually increased and I would suggest starting with 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon. A friend of mine started with a teaspoon of haritaki powder a day and she experienced stomach discomfort and diarrhoea and she had to stop taking haritaki powder completely for a few days for her stomach to be alright.
2. Kadukkai Side Effects During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Haritaki is taken during pregnancy for treating constipation, nausea and heartburn. Haritaki if taken even in slightly higher doses can stimulate uterus and can cause abortion so I would very strongly suggest not consuming haritaki at all during pregnancy. Even in in smaller doses it can cause diarrhoea in some pregnant women.
3. Drug Interactions
If you are a diabetic person and are considering taking haritaki, I would suggest consulting with your physician first as it might interfere with diabetic medications as it has blood sugar lowering properties.
4. Dehydration & Fatigue:
Excess consumption of haritaki is also said to cause dehydration and tiredness due to its astringent properties. An ayurvedic doctor mentioned this to me but I couldn’t find any studies supporting this claim.
5. Male Fertility:
In some parts of India, haritaki is used for fertility management for men. In a study, haritaki fruits were dried, powdered and the extract was obtained using ethanol. 12 rats were divided into two groups, one group was given 100 grams of distilled water per day and the second group was given 100 grams of distilled water mixed with 60 mg of haritaki extract for 28 days. After 28 days, it was proven that haritaki could induce anti fertility effect by decreasing spermatogenesis, activities of androgenic enzymes and plasma testosterone.
How To Prevent Side Effects:
- Try not to go above the mentioned dosage unless your Ayurvedic physician recommends it.
- Haritaki generally agrees with everyone but if you experience severe discomfort or vomiting or diarrhoea in the above mentioned dosage, please discontinue use.
- Always start small and gradually increase the dosage over time for your body to get used to the dosage.
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