In South Asia, chebula is the latest ingredient to take the beauty world by storm. If you are familiar with ashwagandha or turmeric supplementation, then you may already have some knowledge of topical or ingestible beauty products from other cultures. When it comes to chebula, you may have seen it go by some of its other names such as terminalia chebula, chebulic myrobalan, birhara, harada or haritaki. However, in India, they simply refer to it as the ‘King of Medicine’. So, what exactly is it and what does it do? Keep reading for everything you need to know about using chebula.
What is Chebula?
Chebula is the product of the Terminalia bush. It is a berry that is similar to ginger. Chebula has the same warming properties that ginger has, but more intense. In India, Tibet and Nepal, it gained its popularity in medicine by being used as a part of an ingestible Ayurvedic remedy called Triphala. This treatment has been said to reduce inflammation and even can prevent or limit the growth of certain types of cancer. However, when it comes to skincare, it has gained traction for its anti-aging properties, being said to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It has also been shown to smooth and brighten the skin’s surface while evening out the skin tone.
Benefits of Chebula in Medicine
The benefits of chebula are best displayed in its medical properties. Chebula has the ability to boost the immune system due to its ability to fight off harmful bacteria. This can help with lessening aggravation during illness or can help you to better avoid disease altogether. As previously mentioned, it also has cancer fighting abilities. The compounds it contains help fight cancer cells and reduce their effects on the human body. Regular supplementation of chebula can also help reduce any malignant growth.
Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it can also help to reduce pain that stems from chronic inflammation. Joint pain is something that can have a huge impact on how you live your life. Finding natural remedies for chronic pain can be difficult so if you haven’t tried chebula yet, you may find it helpful to do so. Another thing that the anti-inflammatory properties can help with is stomach pain. If you are someone who has regular gastrointestinal irritation, chebula can help ease the effects of stomachaches or even ulcers.
Benefits of Chebula in Skincare
When used topically, chebula can have a great effect on the quality of your skin. While chebula’s medical benefits have been known for ages, it is still relatively new in mainstream skincare. Chebula is high in antioxidants and has been said to be more potent than Vitamin C and Vitamin E. If you didn’t already know, these are two of the most important vitamins for your skin. Antioxidants neutralize any free radicals that can cause damage to your skin by weakening the amount of collagen. The lessened amounts of collagen will then reduce your skin’s elasticity which can open it up to further damage.
Elasticity in your skin is important for a variety of reasons. It is responsible for the development of fine lines and wrinkles as you age. It can also keep your skin smooth and bright in appearance and helps it to become more resilient to damage. A topical product that includes chebula will help maintain the integrity of your skin. And being that it is anti-inflammatory, it will help reduce any facial puffiness that you experience.
Chebula has also shown positive results when decreasing the appearance of stretch marks and reducing sun damage. Chebula has been able to correct this damage due to the increased production of type I pro-collagen that it creates. Essentially, it helps create an additional layer of protection on the skin. And since we know that increased sun exposure leads to premature aging, this is another reason why the anti-aging properties of chebula are unmatched.
How can I use Chebula?
When it comes to skincare, you will want to find a serum that includes chebula as an ingredient. You will want to apply these serums topically after cleansing. Fortunately, as it gains traction in the beauty industry, we will be far more likely to see products that include this magical ingredient. Here is a great chebula serum that will be sure to help you reduce fine lines and wrinkles and brighten the skin. When used consistently, you will see a decrease in uneven skin tones and dark spots.
If you want to use chebula for its medicinal benefits you will want to ingest it. You can find it in the form of vitamins or supplements. If you do plan to supplement orally with chebula, make sure you consult with your doctor to ensure that this type of supplementation is right for you.
