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Indian gooseberry is a tree that grows in India, the Middle East, and some southeast Asian countries. Indian gooseberry has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years. Today people still use the fruit of the tree to make medicine.
Indian gooseberry is most commonly used for high cholesterol, abnormal levels of cholesterol or blood fats (dyslipidemia), and persistent heartburn. It is also used for diarrhea, nausea, and cancer, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Indian gooseberry seems to work by reducing total cholesterol levels, including the fatty acids called triglycerides, without affecting levels of the "good cholesterol" called high-density lipoprotein (HDL).
When taken by mouth: Indian gooseberry is LIKELY SAFE for most people when consumed in amounts found in foods. Indian gooseberry is POSSIBLY SAFE when used as medicine at doses of up to 1,000 mg daily, short-term. Ayurvedic formulations containing Indian gooseberry have been linked to liver damage. But it's not clear if taking Indian gooseberry alone would have this effect.
Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There isn't enough reliable information to know if Indian gooseberry is safe to use as medicine when pregnant or breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and stick to food amounts.Bleeding disorders: Indian gooseberry might increase the risk of bleeding or bruising in some people. If you have a bleeding disorder, use Indian gooseberry with caution.
Diabetes: Indian gooseberry might decrease blood sugar levels. Your diabetes medications might need to be adjusted by your healthcare provider.
Liver disease: In theory, taking Indian gooseberry with ginger, Tinospora cordifolia, and Indian frankincense might make liver function worse in people with liver disease. But it's not known if taking Indian gooseberry alone can have these effects.
Surgery: Indian gooseberry might increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Stop taking Indian gooseberry at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.
There are no known interactions with medications. Before taking this product, talk with your health professional if you take any medications.
Copper: Indian gooseberry might bind to copper in the stomach. This might decrease the amount of copper the body can absorb.
Herbs and supplements that might harm the liver: Some Ayurvedic formulations that contain Indian gooseberry have been linked to liver damage. While it's not clear if Indian gooseberry or other ingredients in these formulations caused the liver damage, in theory, taking Indian gooseberry along with other herbs and supplements that might also harm the liver can increase the risk of liver damage. Some of these herbs and supplements include borage, chaparral, uva ursi, and others.
Herbs and supplements that might lower blood sugar: Indian gooseberry might lower blood sugar levels. Taking it along with other herbs that might lower blood sugar may cause your blood sugar levels to go too low. Other herbs that might lower blood sugar include devil's claw, fenugreek, garlic, guar gum, horse chestnut, Panax ginseng, psyllium, and Siberian ginseng.
Herbs and supplements that might slow blood clotting: Indian gooseberry might slow blood clotting. Using Indian gooseberry with other herbs that might slow blood clotting may increase the risk of bleeding in some people. These other herbs include angelica, clove, danshen, ginger, ginkgo, red clover, turmeric, vitamin E, willow, and others.
Iron: Indian gooseberry might bind to iron in the stomach. This might decrease the amount of iron the body can absorb.
There are no known interactions with foods.
The following doses have been studied in scientific research:
BY MOUTH:
- For abnormal levels of cholesterol or blood fats (dyslipidemia): A specific product providing 0.5 grams of Indian gooseberry fruit extract has been taken two times daily for 12 weeks.
- For persistent heartburn: 1 gram of Indian gooseberry fruit extract has been taken twice daily for 4 weeks.
Aamalaki, Amalaki, Amblabaum, Amla, Amla Berry, Aonla, Aovla, Arbre de Malacca, Arbre Myrobolan, Dhatriphala, Emblic, Emblica, Emblica officinalis, Emblic Myrobalan, Groseille à Maquereau Indienne, Groseille Indienne, Groseillier de Ceylan, Grosella de la India, Indian-Gooseberry, Mirobalano, Myrobalan Emblic, Mirobalanus embilica, Neli, Phyllanthus emblica, Yu Gan Zi.
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