Triphala

Template:Translit (Template:Langx; Template:Langx, Template:Translit, "three fruits") is a fruit drinkTemplate:Sfnp or infusion produced from chebulic myrobalan (Template:Langx, Template:Translit; Template:Langx, Template:Translit), beleric myrobalan (Template:Langx, Template:Translit; Template:Langx, Template:Translit), and emblic myrobalan (Template:Langx, Template:Translit; Template:Langx, Template:Translit). Containing vitamin C, it is considered an Ayurvedic rasayana formula when the dried and powdered fruit are prepared in a 1:1:1Template:Sfnp or 1:2:3 ratio.Template:Sfnp It is one of the most common Ayurvedic treatments in the world.Template:Sfnp Less prominently, as Template:Translit, the drink has a 1200-year history as a kind of fruit wine in ChinaTemplate:Sfnp with the non-alcoholic form now being marketed there as a traditional herbal remedy.Template:Sfnp

History

The earliest record of Template:Translit in China is Li Zhao's Template:C. Supplement to the Book of Tang (Template:Translit), which lists it in a section on domestic and foreign alcohol available in the Tang capital Chang'an.Template:Sfnp It states the Chinese formulation was based on a recipe from Persia.Template:Sfnp One such recipe is included in Han E's mid- or late-Tang Summary of the Four Seasons (, Template:Translit), first published in 996: pulverize 3 liang (about ) of the pits of each of the 3 fruits to a sesame seed consistency; thoroughly mix 1 dou (about ) of clear honey with 2 dou of fresh clear water before adding the pulverized seeds; seal tightly with clean paper; open, stir, remove internal condensation, and reseal to allow fermentation to proceed; and reopen and consume after thirty days.Template:Sfnp Han praised the sweet resulting wine as a digestif, deflatulent, and mild laxative.Template:Sfnp The Ming-era encyclopedist Gao Lian copied much of this in his Eight Treatises on Nurturing Life (, Template:Translit) but emended the recipe to use 3 liang total in the mixture.Template:Sfnp Commenters varied as to whether preparation in the 8th or 9th lunar month (normally September or October) produced the best results.Template:Sfnp

See also

• Ayurveda & Rasayana
• Traditional Chinese medicine & Chinese alcohol
• Herbal medicine

References

Bibliography

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