Amalaki (aka Indian Gooseberry, aka Amla) is COOLING. It’s great for pitta tendency people like me who get overly heated (think menstrual related acne, or loose stool), especially this time of year.
It's one of the fruits in ayurveda's digestive formula Triphala. It's english name is Indian Gooseberry.
But it's also a potent external medicine for hair and skin!! ⠀
You can take amalaki internally. It is a super-well-known rejuvenate as it gently cleanses the colon, beautifies hair and skin and is an all-around tonic for the organs. In India its known as a super-food, youth-enhancer!
It’s also SUPER helpful for blemishes. Scroll down for my summer Amalaki face mask.
➳ You can also use the powders in your smoothies or yogurt. It has a delightful sour taste.
➳ Mix it with coconut oil and use as a hair mask. It makes your hair really shinny and strong. This is so good for pitta hair that’s often very fine and breaks easily. It’s hard to grow out your hair sometimes as a pitta.
➳ Mix it with almond oil to make an anti-aging treatment and soften fine lines. (Amalaki is high in Vit C, which helps build collagen).
➳ Mix Amalaki juice or powder with aloe vera juice for a refreshing facewash.
➳ Banyan Botanicals sources THE BEST amalaki, it’s potent, organic and fair trade. Banyan is supporting farmers in Asia, not just doing business and then peacing out. Use the discount code KATIES15 for 15% of your order.
Try this facemask, it will change your skin routine forever!!!!
Amalaki facemask with honey (& optional parsley)
This is a great mask for blemishes but it may dry out your skin if left for too long, or used during dry months, or during dry skin cycles. Use this in humid environments, in the high summer season or if you have oily skin.⠀
➳ Start by chopping up finely a sprig of washed parsley⠀
➳ Crush it up in a mortar and pestle until the juice is coming out (the bottom of the clean jar on a chopping board can suffice if you don’t have one)⠀
➳ Add 2 teaspoons of Amalaki (Amla) powder and hot water to make a wet paste with the crushed parsley⠀
➳ Add a teaspoon of Manuka honey to the still warm mixture and blend them all together into a paste⠀
➳ The crushed parsley won’t spread consistently but this doesn’t matter as the hot water will have dispersed its compounds into the paste⠀
➳ You want your face mask to be the consistency of yogurt – easy to spread but not too watery/runny.⠀
➳ Apply the paste while it's still warm⠀
➳ Wash your face of any dirt or makeup⠀
➳ Apply the paste to damp, clean skin⠀
➳ Lie down in your room with mask on for 20-30mins⠀
➳ Wash off with warm water and apply your favorite moisturizer!⠀