Amla is astringent rich, sour-tasting, wintergreen fruit. It is famous for its medicinal uses. It is a rich source of Vitamin C. It is cultivated all over India. It flowers in April-May and fruits in winter. It is known by Indian Gooseberry in English in India.
Our India is indebted to nature from all sides. One of the main benefits of Amla plant is its medicinal properties. From immemorial time, these plants have enriched our lives and health.
This is great medicine, but due to its delicious properties, amla is also used in the kitchen. This is a low-yielding and high-profit crop for farmers. Just as amla is used for food in daily life, it is also used in many medicines. It is a cash crop for farmers.
Land Selection for Amla Cultivation:
Light to heavy, well-drained, calcium-rich soil is suitable for amla crop cultivation. Do not use calcareous or sandy soils for amla crops.
Climate: Amla grows everywhere in hot and temperate climates.
Varieties suitable for cultivation
Scientifically, when cultivating more than two varieties of amla can benefit from pollination. Therefore, it is more beneficial to cultivate two or three different varieties rather than cultivating the same variety. Krishna, Kanchan, Chakaiya, NA-6, NA-7 are varieties of amla trees that should be selected for cultivation.
How to plant Amla
1 m for planting. x 1 m. x 1 m. Dig a shaped pit. Pour a mixture of 15 to 20 kg of manure, 1.5 kg of single super phosphate, 100 gms of fennel powder, and good quality soil 15 cm from the soil Fill it up to a height of 1 m.
For this, Amla seeds should be planted in the field in the rainy season or by planting Amla seedlings in cropping them next year. For this, after the stem of the plant is as thick as a pencil. For good pollination, two varieties should be planted. Cultivation of the second variety should be at least ten percent of the original area.
The amla tree should be kept at a height of one meter from the ground with making sure five to six vigorous branches will grow at a suitable distance in a scattered position in all four directions.
Remove the branches below one meter on the trunk. At the end of the fruiting season, diseased, weak, dried branches should be pruned. This can be intercropped for the first five to six years. Intercropping should not be taken in this month as amla orchards are in full bloom from January to February.
Crop of Amla
The raw fruit is green, it tends to turn yellow when ripe. Amla fruits are to be used in medicine only after proper ripening. Due to this, it is customary to worship in the month of Kartik, and then the only amla is used in the medicine. Modern research has also shown that amla extracted this month contains the highest amount of ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
A mixture of 100 gms of fennel powder and good quality soil is applied 15 cm above the ground. Fill it up to a height of 1 m. For this, by planting amla seeds in the field in the rainy season or by planting it in seedlings bags.
For this, after the trunk of the plant is as thick as a pencil, the eyes of the desired variety should be filled in the month of August in a patched manner. For good pollination, two varieties should be planted. Cultivation of the second variety should be at least ten percent of the original area. Turning is essential for the proper growth of plants.
The fully grown amla tree produces about 50 to 70 kg of amla fruits every year. With proper care, the amla tree can bear fruit for up to 70 years.
Indian Gooseberry is used in many medicines and chemicals in Ayurveda. Ayurveda tells us when to use fresh amla, how to use dried amla, how to remove it. Modern science also considers amla to be the best source of vitamin “C”. Ayurveda states the properties of amla as follows,
This fruit is astringent, sour, and sweet; Cold as well as easy to digest; Reduces inflammation as well as bile; Useful in diseases like vomiting, gonorrhea, inflammation, etc.; It is rich in nutrients and is beneficial in fatigue, constipation, flatulence, etc. Due to all these qualities, Amla is likened to nectar.
Apart from this, amla is good for the skin, improves radiance, is good for hair, is useful for the eyes. Amla fruit is mainly used in medicine, but amla seeds and cover also have medicinal properties.
Indian Gooseberry is considered to be superior to most of all medicine as it is considered to be superior in chemical properties and youth-sustaining substances. Other than there are numerous health benefits of amla juice you can read on this link. Amla is the main ingredient in Chyavanprash, Brahmarasayan, Amalkavaleh, Dhatri Rasayan etc.
How to use Amla
Amla is used in many ways. The following are some of the most important and experienced solutions.
Bile Soothing – Amla is great for reducing heat.
In case of vomiting due to bile, it is better to mix a teaspoon of amla powder with sandalwood and lick it a little.
In case of eye problems, it is beneficial to apply aloe vera and sesame seeds soaked in water for five to six hours on the closed eyes.
In case of burning sensation in the stomach, chest, throat due to bile, a small mixture of one teaspoon of amla powder, half a teaspoon of sugar, and one teaspoon of homemade ghee can be taken.
If there is bleeding from the nose, apply amla powder in water on the scalp to stop the bleeding.
People suffering from acid reflux should take fresh amla juice, a mixture of amla juice, powdered sugar, and cumin powder daily. This leads to very good marks.
