Triphala Gold Review and Experience

Most of you have been here at Ribbons and Pearls long enough to know that I'm passionate about my health and what herbs and other foods/supplements can do for my health and well-being. I experiment a lot based on my own health needs, and I'm always excited to share how things work out on me (I am a guinea pig and I only just realized it!)

So, now that I've spent the last 2 weeks trying Triphala Gold, from what has become a favorite supplement manufacturer of mine, NutriGold.

 What I'm going to do here is share with ya'll exactly what Triphala is, what it has been said to do, what it can do for our bodies and health, and also my experience using it. 






Image source: .brownstudy.info

I'm a very detail-oriented reviewer, so get yourself somewhere comfortable and scroll away!



A little Triphala History

Triphala has been used in Ayurveda for thousands of years, basically as a body-cleanser. It could be considered an almost panacea as Triphala has more benefits than you'd ever imagine. It’s also said to stimulate all 3 doshas. 

In this regard, Triphala is an “herb” that is likely to be beneficial for pretty much everyone– unless you have some type of allergy, drug interactions, are pregnant, have some kind of medical issue that causes you not to be able to consume such a thing as Triphala or whatever else.

Unfortunately, I have to “disclaim” when I talk about this sort of thing because you guys know – you just can’t ever be too careful these days, but as with every post, I intend to provide readers with as much information as is available to me on the supplement I’m discussing (which is Triphala Gold  today).

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What is Triphala?

A supplement containing 3 different dried “fruits” called: Emblica officinalis, Terminalia belerica and Terminalia chebu.  

Image source:thevedaquest.com

These fruits also go by the names of amalaki, (also called “Amla” or “Indian Gooseberry,”) haritaki and bibhitaki.

These 3 fruits are rich in antioxidants and they have the ability to rejuvenate the digestive system by restoring digestive cells’ health and detoxifies the digestive system very well.  
 

The “Amalaki” fruit in Triphala, according to a page on Planet Herbs, contains 20 times more Vitamin C than orange juice.  It has “3,000 mg of vitamin C per piece” (according to Altmd Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine.)
 

Triphala is so rich in vitamins (for instance, it has a high Vitamin C content) and nutritional that it is considered a food supplement. 

Besides that, Triphala is high in  linoleic acid, which has many benefits of its own. 
 

Triphala Use

Triphala is commonly used as a cleanser, to cleanse most organs of the body, to cleanse stagnation and also clear excess in any area. 

There are also specific health concerns that Triphala can benefit or treat (all of which will be mentioned in this post).

Main effects of Triphala: improved digestion, immune system enhancer, a tonic for nervous system degeneration, good for diabetes.

 It has a mild laxative effect, (due to the Haritaki fruit in it) so itis very good for constipation without  causing  laxative-dependancy or causing negative effects on intestinal flora.

Triphala stimulates all 3 doshas.

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One of Trpihala's most astounding benefits is its ability to slow the growth of cancer cells, which saddens me knowing most have never heard of Triphala. Even I only recently learned of it.
 

Triphala is an organ protectant. It protects the heart, eyes and skin.

Ama and Triphala

Triphala has the ability to eliminate ama from the body.  

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Ama is an Ayurvedic concept that’s  basically the result of “channel clogs” in the body (such as the intestines, arteries, lymphatic systems, veins, and channels where our energy flows,  called “Nadis”) that come from  improperly digested toxic particles.

 

“Ama is an important factor in the cause of disease and also in the modification of the disease process.”

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“Ama  is always in the form of incompletely digested substance.  Hence it is non-homogenous, has a very bad or foul odor which can be experienced only when it is combined with excretory products such as sweat, urine, and feces, or when products such as sputum, vomit, etc., are expelled from the body. It’s very sticky.  Ama causes lethargy in the body” –Source Ayurveda-ForYou.com

 Other benefits of Triphala

Image Source:healofwashingtoncounty.org

• Helps with nervous disorders.

• Colon tonic

• Anti-spasmodic, which can reduce intestinal spasms (very painful and common for sufferers of IBS, Chron’s, spastic colon, Colitis, Etc.)

• Helps with candidiasis (I suffered with IBS/candidiasis and know that Triphala is helpful for my “left-over” minor digestive issues with these two conditions)

• Helps with emotional balance

• Antimicrobial and anti-viral

• Helps dissolve acids in stomach.

• Blood cleanser,

• Treats  gas

• Can improve pyorrhea

• Purifies blood and may increase red blood cell count, and hemoglobin levels.

• Improves circulation

• Expectorant, which explains why it’s been used in the treatment of conditions such as asthma, pneumonia, etc.

• Regulates digestive system

• Can reduce cholesterol levels and high blood pressure

• Anti-inflammatory

• Repairs nerves,

• “Channel opener” (aperient)

• Reduces excess vata, kapha and pitta, and replaces them in the locations of the body where they are needed.

• Regular consumption of Triphala is said to be beneficial for losing weight.

• Works to channel energy to all organs.

• Can help with allergies (I wish  I’d known this part about 2 weeks ago when I was sneezing my head off!) 

• Triphala is considered an “eye-tonic,” too! It may be beneficial for eye conditions such as  glaucoma, myopia, cataracts and conjunctivitis. Some even make a preparation of Triphala and use it as an eye-wash.

• Used for joint and gout problems as it helps remove acid from joints through urination.

• Triphala promotes better functioning of the digestive system, pancreas, lungs, urinary tract, immune system, liver and muscles .  

 

• Also since the digestive system is cleansed, the body will be able to better absorb nutrients that are introduced.

Image source: commonsensehealth.com

 

 

•  Regular use of Triphala is said to promote hair growth. Triphala has also been used as a means for cleaning hair and reducing oily hair (by applying it to the hair).

 

• Used to treat, and has been said to even cure ulcerative colitis!

• Good for memory

• It’s also used to treat sluggish livers and bile ducts.

• Promotes liver and kidney function and strengthens both (kidneys and liver)

• It’s also said to reduce hair-thinning.

• May have anti-aging properties.

• Note: May cause miscarriage.

                              

Another "use" of Triphala that could be useful:

I read that  combining Triphala with Black Indian Shilahit (something else I often take) to achieve what some people call "the strongest detoxifier ever." 

Basically, from what I've understood, if you take the two together, it produces an even more intense "cleansing" and detoxifying effect on the body. Some people have said it works wonders for them. I have not combined the two, and I suppose I should disclaim yet again to avoid any trouble in the future: I am not recommending anyone mix anything. Heck, I am not even recommending anyone take anything.

 

Research:

2008 study at Texas Tech University concluded that triphala has potential anticancer properties in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
 

In mice, pancreatic tumor sizes were decreased after being treated with Triphala. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2576337/

In another study done on Triphala, the findings said “We found that Triphala demonstrated significant immunostimulatory effects on cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells.”

The conclusion:  “Conclusion. Triphala has significant immunostimulatory effects on cellular immune response, especially cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells. Increases in the absolute number of these cells may provide a novel adjuvant therapy for HIV/AIDS positive people in terms of immunological improvement.”

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3519011/

Also from the same source as noted above is this statement: 


“The anticancer activity of Triphala has also been investigated; Triphala has been found to inhibit growth of several malignancies including both in vitro and in vivo, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, and pancreatic tumor.”

There’s more interesting information about Triphala on the source I linked to above, so I encourage you read it for yourself, and also to seek out your own research.

 

Taste Of Triphala

Triphala has a reputation for its horrid taste, which is 

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one reason I was happy that NutriGold offered it in a capsule form. 






After hearing words like “feet,” and “poop” when discussing the taste and odor of Triphala, I was fearful to try it in any form other than capsule. 

I can toss back a full tablespoon of wheatgrass or maca powder, but I don’t know about feet or poop-tastes!
  

Lucky for me, the capsules of the NutriGold Triphala are very easy to swallow and I never taste or smell a thing. And no after burps that have any tastes that could resemble butt or feet.



But...

Image source: i.telegraph.co.uk

I couldn't resist seeing for myself. I told you I was my own guinea pig and didn't even realize it!

I opened a capsule of Triphala Gold, and dumped a little in my mouth, careful not to add too much and be overwhelmed by the taste of an old, stiff sock.

It's not nearly as bad as what I have read! Then again, I have built up a tolerance to crappy tastes. Ha, ha.

Butt (a lot of pun-intended), I will admit it has a very sour, somewhat bitter taste. It's strange, and taste resin-y to me, but nothing that made butt come to mind. I can see that people say it tastes like feet probably because of its sour taste. 

That doesn't mean it'd taste decent if I were to down a cup of it suspened in liquid, but now you have my take on its taste. 

While we’re on the topic of the taste of Triphala, I thought it was interesting to read that people often become accustomed to this funky Triphala taste (those who take it in drink form), and that this was due to their doshic imbalances being re-balanced. 

So, for some people who begin drinking it and find the taste awful, they sometimes end up finding it tolerable later on due to a re-balance in their doshas! I just thought that was interesting how your tastes can be affected like that. 


 

USAGE:

I’ve read some things that  say to take Triphala  preferably on an empty stomach, in the morning and to avoid eating for an hour after taking. I believe this instruction is to reap all the benefits of Triphala Gold's  cleansing effect.

Or it can be taken at night, 30 minutes before bed and around 2 hours after eating for to reap the most benefits of its laxative effects. 

 

 Some people have a preferred time – morning or night. I prefer taking it upon waking as I hardly ever am able to eat anything during the first couple hours of waking up, so that might ensure I get the extra cleansing benefits. 

 

If I forget, I do it whenever I’m reminded,  which is sometimes evening or night.

The Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine recommends non-continuous use by stopping the use of  Triphala for two to three weeks every ten weeks to maintain effectiveness.
 

I’ve also read  to take at least one of your doses (whether you do one dose daily or 2) an hour before bed, although I’ve not been able to find out why this is suggested.
 

According to Altmd.com, “there are no known interactions between triphala and standard Western prescription drugs as of 2004.”
 

According to some sites, there’s a possibility of Triphala increasing risk of miscarriage, so keep that in mind if you are or may become pregnant, and Triphala is not recommended for pregnant women, obviously.
 

Note: While you can get Triphala in drink form or capsule form, I’ve read (on Ayurvedic Living) that powder form is more effective. This was another reason the NutriGold version stood out to me, although there are many other reasons too.

This information made it important that when I use Triphala (I couldn’t resist trying it after reading all the health benefits!) it must be from a reputable source. 

 I was confident in this particular Triphala because I have faith in NutriGold supplements – and that’s a huge thing, to  place my faith in a company. 

Knowing that they abide by very strict manufacturing standards (of which I list at the end of the review) made me confident to use the NutriGold Triphala, and obviously, it has given me or my family zero problems.

Dosage note:

Before I took Triphala, I read up on it for days and remembered reading that petitely sized people may be better to start with half the recommended dosage since it can cause some gurgling and other digestive system movements. 

Since I’ve struggled for years with severe (even debilitating for the first few years) IBS, and since I still occasionally experience minor flare-ups and things like borborygmus (lots of gurgling-like sounds in the digestive tract), I chose to start with less than the suggested dose.

This “borborygmus” that I sometimes experience, is far less often these days, but in the past, when the IBS and endometriosis issues were severe, it wasn’t uncommon to have intense sounds and movements in my stomach-area.

 At times, it actually felt like my insides were vibrating. Strong vibrations, too! It can get uncomfortable, especially during times when the noises are so loud that people near me can hear it and the movements so strong that it gets annoying. It’s very strange, but this is why I took it slower.

So others like me may like to know this before taking Triphala, too. Thankfully, taking Triphala didn't seem to make this come on for me, and I didn't notice any big changes in my stomach or digestive system.

On the other hand, some of the things I have that I attribute to taking Triphala Gold is improved digestion. P.S. I can definitely see how taking a bit more than the dosage or taking your doses too close together could result in . . . a need for a bathroom. Thankfully, I started slowly.

Most importantly, I get an increase in energy and motivation when I've taken Triphala. It doesn't feel anything like caffeine, but I usually notice a boost and the ability to "do more" after I've taken my dose. I actually took my last one less than an hour ago, so that could partly explain why I've been able to get so much done and also do this much typing.

It also seems that my head feels clearer than usual and I've noticed a lot less of stomach discomforts! I am thinking this is due to Triphala Gold because I've been careful to avoid other supplements while taking Triphala Gold so I would be able to tell exactly what effects one specific supplement has on me. I even took time off from my regular 2+ days of oil pulling weekly just to be sure. 

However, I do think oil pulling (another Ayurvedic form of detoxing, amongst many other things) would probably be a fabulous thing to incorporate into your daily routine alongside Triphala! I think it could very well be beneficial to each other as they both are said to detox and cleanse. I plan to start back oil pulling now that I've done Triphala for two weeks alone.

Oh, I have taken Black Indian Shilajit once during the second week of taking Triphala, but they were spaced apart well. I actually think these two have a few similarities in how they make me feel and the effects they have.

I really love that I can take Triphala Gold without any ill effects or risking stomach issues, like I used to have.  It seems to be a very gentle herb on the digestive system, from my own experience, anyways, but also pretty strong in regulating and cleansing. Usually, strong detoxers have ugly effects on me, so this is really a perfect option for people like me who've had a lot of stomach problems, sensitive stomachs or something similar.


Aside from these things, I really don't physically feel anything different than what I am used to. I have been waking up about 3 hours earlier than I have in years over the last 2 weeks, but I'm not sure if that may be a result of Triphala or what. I was quite shocked that I've been waking up feeling fine after 3 hours less of sleep. That normally does go well for me.

I think as I continue to take Triphala Gold, I'll likely see more and more benefits. For instance, I think I'm definitely going to feel the effects of a detoxification as it seems I'm well on my way to that, and that excites me. I will update when and if there's any changes from here.

About NutriGold

Along with the supplements, NutriGold sends a little informational catalog that goes into detail about their philosophy, their products and guiding principles. All the information is very handy to have, so I will share some of the parts I think are important with ya’ll below:

The NutriGold Philosophy (I really love this part and think it’s something we could all keep in mind as  things to live by.)

“Excellence can be obtained f you:

…Dream more than others think is practical.

…Risk more than others think is safe.

…Care more than others think is wise.

…Expect more than others think is possible.”

Those are some pretty powerful things to live by! I actually liked that part so much that I cut it out and stuck it to my bulletin board to remind me every  time I see it.

NutriGold’s Guiding Principles (also very powerful and worthy of being hung up as reminders as well as a few things that make me confident in my choice to trust NutriGold as a company for quality supplements)

I’m just going to write the first few sentences of each of NutriGold’s Guiding Principles.

1.     “Do no harm” - Hippocrates

“At NutriGold, we know that every time customers  purchase one of our products, they are entrusting us with their most precious asset – their health or the health of a loved one and this is not a responsibility we take lightly…”

2.    “Let the food be thy medicine, let medicine be thy food” – Hippocrates

“…At NutriGold we stay true to our guiding principle as “food as  medicine” while developing products to supplement consumers’ nutrient needs by formulating with ingredients that are either sourced from traditional food sources or cultured in whole-food matrices so customers can feel good about taking a product that is the next best things, but still a distant second to what nature has to offer.”

3.    “Quality does not have to be expensive, it just has to be a priority” – Anonymous

“It’s a well known fact that there are substantive differences in quality among supplement brands and in an industry where “quality” is synonymous with “premium” and boasts a price tag that is unaffordable for the majority of supplement users, NutriGold products are proof that quality does not have to be expensive, it just has to be a priority…”

4.    “If you work just for money, you’ll never make it, but if you love what you’re doing an you always put the customer first, success will be yours.” – Ray Krock

“The sole purpose of a company’s existence is to serve its customers, for without customers, there would be no purpose to the company’s existence…”

5.    “Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody’s going to know whether you did it or not.” – Oprah Winfrey

“It is a well-known fact that most companies struggle to do the right thing because there is often a disconnect between the consumers’ and companies’ perceptions of what counts as “doing the right thing.

NutriGold defines doing the right thing simple as doing what’s in the best interest of consumers, regardless of whether or not they know enough to care about or appreciate the significance of all the things we do to ensure their interests are protected."

And the NutriGold Advantage, which can also be viewed on their page here.

They have a symbol that says “Purity  Use of high quality, clinically validated, allergen-free ingredients, whose safety and efficacy are backed by extensive scientific, and clinical research.”

“Potency  Product potencies and recommended dosages based on ingredient specifications, clinical evidence, and in compliance with USP disintegration parameters.”

And “Perfection  Finding innovative and meaningful ways to enhance consumer satisfaction with our company through engagement, education, and empowerment.”

And to keep this from getting too long, I won’t paste the NutriGold “Our Story”   here, but I do encourage you guys to read it.

-           

Extra disclaimer (I know, I hate them, too, but these days you kind of can't afford to note post them.):

I am not a specialist or any other kind of doctor or expert. Content on this blog is not intended to be taken as medical advice, diagnosis, treatment or advice of any sort. I'm simply sharing information about my own experiences and results from use of a product or activity in hopes of providing useful information/suggestions to readers, not to be taken as a patient/medical adviser relationship. I am not responsible for what readers choose to do after viewing the content here. Furthermore, I do not hold an "exceptional" or other special relationship with the company mentioned. I'm simply a consumer who worked with the company on a review that is in compliance with FTC's guidelines. That means, everything you read here is my own words, not anything of the company's. I was not provided with monetary compensation for my review. All information posted has been done so with complete honesty. No action should be taken based solely on the content of this publication ( I'm not responsible.) Readers who rely on the information in this blog to replace the advise of an appropriate health care provider assume all risks of such behavior.