Terminalia chebula. 訶 子  Hē zǐ   Chebulic myrobalan   Family: Combretaceae  
Nature- warm   FLAVOR: Bitter, sour and peppery
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Astringents
1. Stimulates intestines, strengthens Lungs, lowers excessive energy.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Chronic cough and hoarseness. Loss of voice.[1]
2. Chronic diarrhea and dysentery, prolapse of rectum, intestinal flatus and bloody stools, metrorrhagia and leukorrhea.[1]
3. Seminal emission and excessive perspiration.[1]
PREPARATIONS: Decoction  2-4 g.[1]
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Constituents.
Research.

Potential therapeutic applications for Terminalia chebula in Iranian traditional medicine
Assie Jokar, Fatemeh Masoomi, Omid Sadeghpour, Mohsen Nassiri-Toosi, Shokouhsadat Hamedi
Abstract
Terminalia chebula (family: Combretaceae) is widely used in the traditional medicine of India and Iran to treat diseases that include dementia, constipation, and diabetes. This tree is known in Iranian traditional medicine (ITM) as halileh or halilaj and the fruit is used to develop treatments. It is described in ITM as an astringent that has a "cold" and "dry" temperament. References to the medicinal properties of Terminalia chebula were collected from important ITM sources and from modern medical databases (PubMed, Scirus, ScienceDirect, and Scopus). The medicinal properties described for this tree in ITM were compared with those reported in studies of modern phytotherapy. The results confirm that the tree referred to as halileh in traditional books is the Terminalia chebula used in present-day studies. Treatments that have not been evaluated in modern phytotherapy but have been traditionally treated with Terminalia chebula include fever, and psychological and psychiatric issues. This article confirms the medicinal uses of Terminalia chebula.
J Tradit Chin Med 2016 Apr;36(2):250-4. doi: 10.1016/s0254-6272(16)30035-8. PMID: 27400482 DOI: 10.1016/s0254-6272(16)30035-8 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Review on Potential Mechanisms of Terminalia chebula in Alzheimer's Disease
Amir R. Afshari, Hamid R. Sadeghnia, and Hamid Mollazadeh*
Abstract
The current management of Alzheimer's disease (AD) focuses on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) and NMDA receptor antagonists, although outcomes are not completely favorable. Hence, novel agents found in herbal plants are gaining attention as possible therapeutic alternatives. The Terminalia chebula (Family: Combretaceae) is a medicinal plant with a wide spectrum of medicinal properties and is reported to contain various biochemicals such as hydrolysable tannins, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids, so it may prove to be a good therapeutic alternative. In this research, we reviewed published scientific literature found in various databases: PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, Scirus, and Google Scholar, with the keywords: T. chebula, AD, neuroprotection, medicinal plant, antioxidant, ellagitannin, gallotannin, gallic acid, chebulagic acid, and chebulinic acid. This review shows that T. chebula extracts and its constituents have AChEI and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, all of which are currently relevant to the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.
Adv Pharmacol Sci. 2016; 2016: 8964849.
Published online 2016 Jan 28. doi: 10.1155/2016/8964849
PMCID: PMC4749770 PMID: 26941792 ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The development of Terminalia chebula Retz. (Combretaceae) in clinical research
Anwesa Bag, Subir Kumar Bhattacharyya, and Rabi Ranjan Chattopadhyay*
Abstract
Medicinal plants are part and parcel of human society to combat diseases from the dawn of civilization. Terminalia chebula Retz. (Fam. Combretaceae), is called the ‘King of Medicine’ in Tibet and is always listed at the top of the list of ‘Ayurvedic Materia Medica’ because of its extraordinary power of healing. The whole plant possesses high medicinal value and traditionally used for the treatment of various ailments for human beings. Some of the folklore people used this plant in the treatment of asthma, sore throat, vomiting, hiccough, diarrhea, dysentery, bleeding piles, ulcers, gout, heart and bladder diseases. The plant has been demonstrated to possess multiple pharmacological and medicinal activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antiproliferative, radioprotective, cardioprotective, antiarthritic, anticaries, gastrointestinal motility and wound healing activity. But no systematic updated information on the therapeutic effectiveness of Terminalia chebula, a popular herbal remedy in India and South-East Asia has so far been reported. This review highlights an updated information particularly on the phytochemistry and various pharmacological and medicinal properties of Terminalia chebula Retz. and some of its isolated compounds, along with their safety evaluation. This may provide incentive for proper evaluation of the plant as medicinal agent against the human diseases and also to bridge the lacunae in the existing literature and future scope which may offer immense opportunity for researchers engaged in validation of the traditional claims and development of safe and effective botanical medicine.
Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2013 Mar; 3(3): 244–252.
doi: 10.1016/S2221-1691(13)60059-3
PMCID: PMC3631759   PMID: 23620847 Agricultural and Ecological Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute 203, Barrackpore Trunk Road Kolkata-700 108, India
Reviewed by Rumiza Abd Rashid
Chemistry (Forensic Analysis) Programme Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia., Tel: +603-55437855, Fax: +603-55444562, E-mail: ym.ude.mtiu.malas@0559azimur
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Studies on the aqueous extract of Terminalia chebula as a potent antioxidant and a probable radioprotector
G H Naik, K I Priyadarsini, D B Naik, R Gangabhagirathi, H Mohan
Abstract
Aqueous extract of a natural herb, Terminalia chebula was tested for potential antioxidant activity by examining its ability to inhibit gamma-radiation-induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomes and damage to superoxide dismutase enzyme in rat liver mitochondria. The antimutagenic activity of the extract has been examined by following the inhibition of gamma-radiation-induced strand breaks formation in plasmid pBR322 DNA. In order to understand the phytochemicals responsible for this, HPLC analysis of the extract was carried out, which showed the presence of compounds such as ascorbate, gallic acid and ellagic acid. This was also confirmed by cyclic voltammetry. The extract inhibits xanthine/xanthine oxidase activity and is also an excellent scavenger of DPPH radicals. The rate at which the extract and its constituents scavenge the DPPH radical was studied by using stopped-flow kinetic spectrometer. Based on all these results it is concluded that the aqueous extract of T. chebula acts as a potent antioxidant and since it is able to protect cellular organelles from the radiation-induced damage, it may be considered as a probable radioprotector.
Phytomedicine . 2004 Sep;11(6):530-8. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2003.08.001. PMID: 15500265 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2003.08.001 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of an aqueous extract of Terminalia chebula as an anticaries agent: a clinical study
Usha Carounanidy 1, R Satyanarayanan, A Velmurugan
Abstract
Plant-derived medicines have been a part of our traditional health care system, and the antimicrobial properties of plant-derived compounds are well documented. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of an aqueous extract of Terminalia chebula (a medicinal plant) on salivary samples and its potential for use as an anticaries agent in the form of mouthwash. A concentrated aqueous extract was prepared from the fruit of T. chebula . A mouth rinse of 10% concentration was prepared by diluting the extract in sterile distilled water. The efficacy of the mouth rinse was assessed by testing on 50 salivary samples. Salivary samples were collected from subjects assessed to be at high risk for caries. Salivary pH, buffering capacity, and microbial activity were assessed before rinsing, immediately after, and 10 min, 30 min, and 1 h after rinsing. There was an increase in the pH and buffering capacity and decrease in microbial count. An aqueous extract of T. chebula used as a mouth rinse seems to be an effective anticaries agent.
Indian J Dent Res Oct-Dec 2007;18(4):152-6. doi: 10.4103/0970-9290.35823. PMID: 17938489 DOI: 10.4103/0970-9290.35823 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov