Introduction of triphala liquid from ancient India and its influence

Authors Yang Chongren; Zhang Yingjun

Journal Guihaia , 2021,3:41

Abstract Triphala liquid is a traditional fruit medicinal prescription originated from India.It composes of the fruits from Terminalia chebula,T.bellirica,and Phyllanthus emblica three medicinal plants,belonging to Combretaceae and Euphorbiaceae families respectively.Triphala liquid is the most famous and basic prescription in not only Tibetan medicine,but mostly frequent used in Indian Ayurvedic medicine.All the three original plants are recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia,among which P.emlica is included in the medicine and food plant directory of China.Triphala liquid was introduced into China in the middle ages with the frequent cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries and the opening of the silk road.Now,there are left only traces in ancient literature information.In recent years,with the research and development of ethnic medicine,more and more articles reported on the research of Tibetan medicine triphala liquid.By application of the theory and method combining ethnobotany with cultural anthropology,as well as the investigation of historical plant geography,the ancient books and literatures were reviewed for their real,and the base plant sources of triphala liquid was investigated,in order to explore the route and period of triphala introduced into China.The results showed that the triphala liquid and its basic and original plant material was mainly brought into China by the ancient sogdiana (suliya) traders.It was even earlier having been introduced into China with the spread of Buddhism.Moreover,the primitive religious exchanges between ancient Tibetan Katao dynasty and ancient India was also one of the ways to introduce triphala liquid into China.The original plants of triphala liquid might be different in different regions,however,the main materials were Terminalia chebula,T.bellirica and Phyllanthus emblica.All the three species are distributed in China.Nowadays,triphala liquid become gradually popularized in China due to its importance and position in Tibetan medicine.

Species covered 余甘子 Phyllanthus emblica 诃子 Terminalia chebula