Emblica Officinalis

 Family Name : EUPHORBIACEAE 

Botanical Name : EMBLICA OFFICINALIS 

Common Name : GOOSEBERRY, PHYLLANTHUS EMBLICA, EMBLICA, INDIAN GOOSEBERRY, AMLA 

Part Used : FRUIT 

Habitat : Northern and South Western India. 
The tree is small to medium sized, reaching 8 to 18 m in height, with crooked trunk and spreading branches. The leaves are simple, subsessile, the flowers are greenish-yellow. The fruit is nearly spherical, light greenish yellow, quite smooth and hard on appearence, with 6 vertical stripes or furrows. The fruits ripen in autumn. Its taste is bitter-sour. Being more fibrous than most fruits, it cannot be consumed raw in vast quantity; indeed, it is taken with salt. A glass of water taken immediately after eating a large fruit makes the water seem sweeter. 
Uses : It is Aperient, Carminative, Diuretic, Aphrodasiac, Laxative, Astringent and Refrigerant. It is the richest known source of vitamin 'C'. It is useful in anaemia, jaundice, dyspepcia, haemorrhage disorders, diabetes, asthama and bronchitis. It cures insomnia and is healthy for hair 

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