Triphala
Also called triphala churna, three fruits, amalaki haritaki bibhitaki, Itrifal, Itrifal Saghir, triphala powder.
Best grade C across 7 graded outcomes Botanical Last checked
We earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes our grades or rankings. How we make money →
The short answer
From 14 sourcesTriphala is a three-fruit blend that Health Canada accepts as a traditional Ayurvedic mild laxative. Controlled human trials are small: 2 g a day reduced scalp oiliness in 80 people, and a Persian triphala preparation cut weight by about 5 kg in 62 obese adults. A post-COVID trial and a cholesterol trial found no benefit.
Every graded outcome on this page
7 rows · line = participants- CGrade CLipids, blood glucose and body weightWeightn 749
- CGrade CScalp oiliness (sebum) in scalp seborrhoeaOily scalpn 80
- CGrade CBody weight and waist size in obesityWeightn 62
- DGrade DInflammation and oxidative stress when added to interval training after COVID-19Long COVIDn 104
- DGrade DGut bacteria compositionGut bacterian 31
- ∅No effectTotal and LDL cholesterolCholesteroln 90
- ∅No effectOxidative stress and inflammation after COVID-19Inflammationn 74
- 4 more graded outcomes, in the evidence chapter
Key facts
- What it is
- Blend of amalaki (Phyllanthus emblica), haritaki (Terminalia chebula) and bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica) dried fruits1
- Health Canada traditional use
- Traditionally used in Ayurveda as a mild laxative for occasional constipation, at 2 to 6 g of dried fruit a day1
- Best trial results
- Less scalp sebum in 80 people (2 g/day, 8 weeks); 4.8 kg more weight loss than placebo in 62 obese adults (Persian preparation, 10 g/day)34
- Metals caution
- NCCIH: some Ayurvedic preparations contain lead, mercury or arsenic in amounts that can be toxic2
What it is
Triphala is an Ayurvedic blend of three dried fruits: amalaki (amla), haritaki (Terminalia chebula) and bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica).
Forms
Form
| Form | Elemental % | Absorption (human data) | GI tolerance | Studied for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triphala tablets, capsules or powder | Varies1Not applicable (botanical; no elemental fraction) | No human absorption data in our sources.1 | Health Canada lists a possible laxative effect. In an open-label safety study, 20 healthy volunteers took 2,500 mg/day of aqueous extract for 4 weeks with no serious adverse effects; no adverse effects in the 12-week obesity trial, and the 2021 review found no serious adverse events.11148 | Scalp oil, weight, post-COVID inflammation and gut bacteria (1 to 10 g/day) |
What the human research says
Human trials only, one row per outcome. The form line shows what each trial actually tested. Grades follow our evidence-grading policy.
Trial map
7 graded outcomes, largest study first7 graded outcomes: 2 improved, 2 mixed, 3 no effect. The largest, a 2021 systematic review of 749 people on lipids, blood glucose and body weight, found mixed results.
1Lipids, blood glucose and body weight
Mixed · Grade C · Systematic review, 749 people, 2021
Participants in 12 randomised trials
Dose, result and source| Outcome | Found | People | Study | Who was studied |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lipids, blood glucose and body weight | Mixed | 749 | Grade C · Systematic review, 2021 | Participants in 12 randomised trials |
| Inflammation and oxidative stress when added to interval training after COVID-19 | No effect | 104 | Grade D · RCT, 2025 | Adults aged 18–59 with long COVID: placebo (37), interval training (38) or interval training plus triphala (29) |
| Total and LDL cholesterol | No effect | 90 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2021 | Adults with high cholesterol at low to moderate cardiovascular risk (Italy) |
| Scalp oiliness (sebum) in scalp seborrhoea | Improved | 80 | Grade C · RCT, 2022 | People aged 14 to 50 with oily scalp (scalp seborrhoea), Iran; 80 completed |
| Oxidative stress and inflammation after COVID-19 | No effect | 74 | No-effect grade · RCT, 2025 | Adults aged 18 to 53 with post-COVID-19 condition (Thailand) |
| Body weight and waist size in obesity | Improved | 62 | Grade C · RCT, 2012 | Adults aged 16 to 60 with simple obesity (Tehran) |
| Gut bacteria composition | Mixed | 31 | Grade D · Pilot RCT, 2020 | Healthy adults (UC Davis); 9 in the triphala arm completed |
Every graded row
7 rowsShowing 7 of 7 outcomes. Human trials only.
CGrade CLipids, blood glucose and body weightWeightSome trials positive; quality limitedSystematic review · 12 studies
n 749 · 2021
Mixed LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides fell in 6 studies; weight, BMI and waist fell in 5 trials in obese patients; fasting glucose fell in people with diabetes but not without. No serious adverse events. The authors call for large well-designed RCTs.
- Design
- Systematic review, 12 studies, n = 749, 2021
- Population
- Participants in 12 randomised trials
- Form
- Triphala (various preparations)
- Dose
- Varied by trial
- Duration
- Varied by trial
- Source
- Reference 8 · PubMed 33886393 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CScalp oiliness (sebum) in scalp seborrhoeaOily scalpLess scalp oil vs placebo (borderline, wide CI)RCT
n 80 · 2022
Improved Scalp sebum improved by 25.34 points more than placebo (95% CI 0.39 to 50.29; p = .047); mean satisfaction was 37.9% vs 17.9% (p = .001).
- Design
- RCT, n = 80, 2022
- Population
- People aged 14 to 50 with oily scalp (scalp seborrhoea), Iran; 80 completed
- Form
- Triphala powder standardised to about 92 mg gallic acid per gram
- Dose
- 1 g twice daily (2 g/day)
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 3 · PubMed 32698634 (opens PubMed)
CGrade CBody weight and waist size in obesityWeightAbout 5 kg more weight loss than placeboRCT
n 62 · 2012
Improved Compared with placebo, weight fell by 4.82 kg more (95% CI 3.52 to 6.11), waist by 4.01 cm and hip circumference by 3.21 cm. No adverse effects or changes in liver or kidney tests.
- Design
- RCT, n = 62, 2012
- Population
- Adults aged 16 to 60 with simple obesity (Tehran)
- Form
- Itrifal Saghir, a Persian triphala preparation
- Dose
- 5 g twice daily (10 g/day)
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Source
- Reference 4 · PubMed 23351558 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DInflammation and oxidative stress when added to interval training after COVID-19Long COVIDNo effectRCT
n 104 · 2025
No effect Interval training lowered IFN-γ, TNF-α and oxidative-stress markers; adding triphala gave no further significant benefit. ALT and creatinine stayed stable with triphala.
- Design
- RCT, n = 104, 2025
- Population
- Adults aged 18–59 with long COVID: placebo (37), interval training (38) or interval training plus triphala (29)
- Form
- Standardized triphala capsules (500 mg)
- Dose
- 500 mg twice daily (1,000 mg/day), 5 days a week
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 10 · PubMed 40943540 (opens PubMed)
DGrade DGut bacteria compositionGut bacteriaNo consistent changePilot RCT
n 31 · 2020
Mixed Responses were highly personalised and no bacterial group changed uniformly; trends toward a lower Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio and more Akkermansia muciniphila, and less Rikenellaceae.
- Design
- Pilot RCT, n = 31, 2020
- Population
- Healthy adults (UC Davis); 9 in the triphala arm completed
- Form
- Triphala
- Dose
- 2,000 mg/day
- Duration
- 4 weeks
- Source
- Reference 6 · PubMed 32955913 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectTotal and LDL cholesterolCholesterolNo better than placeboRCT
n 90 · 2021
No effect Total and LDL cholesterol fell similarly with the blend and placebo; no differences in BMI or waist. Two people on the blend (4.3%) developed a hypersensitivity rash vs none on placebo.
- Design
- RCT, n = 90, 2021
- Population
- Adults with high cholesterol at low to moderate cardiovascular risk (Italy)
- Form
- Blend of guggulu (Commiphora mukul) and triphala
- Dose
- Three times daily (amount not stated in the abstract)
- Duration
- 3 months, plus 3 months follow-up
- Source
- Reference 7 · PubMed 33242870 (opens PubMed)
∅No effectOxidative stress and inflammation after COVID-19InflammationNot better than placeboRCT
n 74 · 2025
No effect Oxidative and inflammatory markers improved within the triphala group, but no primary outcome differed significantly between triphala and placebo.
- Design
- RCT, n = 74, 2025
- Population
- Adults aged 18 to 53 with post-COVID-19 condition (Thailand)
- Form
- Triphala capsules
- Dose
- 1,000 mg/day, 5 days a week
- Duration
- 8 weeks
- Source
- Reference 5 · PubMed 41122087 (opens PubMed)
What the numbers add up to
Each point is worked out from the data and the sources numbered on this page, with the arithmetic shown under it. It adds no new data and is not medical advice.
Traditional laxative, untested as one
Mouthwash is a different product
Studied doses
Doses used in research, shown against the official limits. They describe the studies, not a recommendation for you.
Studied doses in research, not advice. These are amounts used in research, not personal advice. Your clinician or pharmacist can say what fits you.
Doses studied in human trials
Interactions and safety
Published interactions only: each row cites a source. No row means none was found in our sources, not that a combination is safe.
What Triphala meets
2 cited rows 2 tested togetherMedicines 2
Supplements and foods 1
- Drug label or FDA notice
- Reference summary
- Tested together in a graded trial
Choose a medicine or supplement above to read its cited rows here.
Also cited: 2 tested together
Other medicines and supplements (timing)
Drug labelDrug label or FDA notice
Other medicines and supplements (timing): Health Canada's triphala monograph directs that products be used a few hours before or after other medications or health products.
Source 1, Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (2024)
Drugs broken down by CYP3A4 or CYP2D6
ReviewReference summary
Drugs broken down by CYP3A4 or CYP2D6: MSK says triphala may raise side effects of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. The cited work is a lab study (rat liver microsomes and enzyme assays) that found weaker inhibition than the reference inhibitor; no human interaction study was found.
Source 12, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (2022); Source 13, J Ethnopharmacol (2011)
GuggulGuggul page
Tested together
Total and LDL cholesterol with guggulu plus triphala. Graded on the Guggul page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Tested together
Total and LDL cholesterol. Graded on the Triphala page; tested together is not a claim that they work better together.
Interactions
2 agents| Agent | What the source says | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Medicines2 | ||
| Other medicines and supplements (timing) | Health Canada's triphala monograph directs that products be used a few hours before or after other medications or health products.1 | Drug label |
| Drugs broken down by CYP3A4 or CYP2D6 | MSK says triphala may raise side effects of drugs metabolized by CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. The cited work is a lab study (rat liver microsomes and enzyme assays) that found weaker inhibition than the reference inhibitor; no human interaction study was found.1213 | Review |
Check with what you take
Kept on this device onlyAdd what you take. We list every interaction our evidence profiles cite between Triphala and your picks, and between your picks.
- Loading names…
Add a supplement or medicine you take to check it against Triphala.
Starting from one medicine? The interaction checker rates how serious each pair is, on a curated list of 19 entries for 11 medicines. This cabinet has no severity rating: it lists every interaction row our supplement pages cite.
Who should be careful
4 groups- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Health Canada: ask a health care practitioner before use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. LactMed has no triphala entry, and no human pregnancy or breastfeeding data were found in our sources.1
- Fever or unexplained gut problems
- Health Canada: when used as a laxative, do not use if you have fever or any undiagnosed gastrointestinal trouble, and ask a practitioner if symptoms worsen or there is no laxative effect within 7 days.1
- Heavy metals
- NCCIH reports that some Ayurvedic preparations contain lead, mercury or arsenic in toxic amounts and that FDA warns about metals in some Ayurvedic products.2
How to read the label
What to check on the Supplement Facts panel.
How to read the label
2 checksAll three fruits
Health Canada restricts the name Triphala to products containing all three fruits: amalaki, haritaki and bibhitaki.1
Dried fruit vs extract
Health Canada doses are grams of dried fruit (1 to 3 g as a tonic, 2 to 6 g as a laxative); extracts are concentrated, so compare the source-fruit equivalent.1
Where to buy Triphala
Products from brands we partner with that contain Triphala. Check the amount per serving against the doses studied above, and the label for other ingredients.
Triphala products from partner brands
1 product Paid links · we earn a commission- HerbsProNOW Foods Triphala 500 mg, 120 tablets
2 tablets: 1,000 mg triphala extract (min. 40% tannins; amla, behada and harada fruit); also 200 mg magnesium (oxide) and 120 mg calcium (carbonate)
$12.49one-timeChecked Oct 15, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Short answers to common questions; the numbers link to the sources below.
Common questions
6 answersDoes triphala work for constipation?
Health Canada accepts it as a mild laxative based on traditional Ayurvedic use, at 2 to 6 g of dried fruit a day. We found no placebo-controlled trial of triphala alone for constipation.1
Does triphala help with weight loss?
Does triphala lower cholesterol?
Is triphala safe?
Trials reported few side effects: 20 healthy volunteers took 2,500 mg a day for 4 weeks with no serious adverse effects. Health Canada advises checking with a practitioner in pregnancy or breastfeeding and spacing it from other medicines; NCCIH warns that some Ayurvedic products contain toxic metals.1112
Does triphala interact with medicines?
What are the three fruits in triphala?
Amalaki (Indian gooseberry, Phyllanthus emblica), haritaki (Terminalia chebula) and bibhitaki (Terminalia bellirica).1
Sources
14 sources: trial abstracts, NIH fact sheets and reference databases. Numbers in the text link here.
Sources cited on this page
14 sources- 1Triphala (Natural Health Product monograph, November 29, 2024)Guideline Health Canada, Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate, 2024 · webprod.hc-sc.gc.ca
- 2Ayurvedic Medicine: In DepthFact sheet National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), 2019 · nccih.nih.gov
- 3Effect of oral administration of Triphala, a polyphenol-rich prebiotic, on scalp sebum in patients with scalp seborrhea a randomized clinical trial.RCT J Dermatolog Treat, 2022 · PMID 32698634
- 4Efficacy of 'Itrifal Saghir', a combination of three medicinal plants in the treatment of obesity; A randomized controlled trial.RCT Daru, 2012 · PMID 23351558
- 5Ameliorative Effects of Triphala Supplementation on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Individuals with Post-COVID-19 Condition: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial.RCT Glob Adv Integr Med Health, 2025 · PMID 41122087
- 6Modulatory Effects of Triphala and Manjistha Dietary Supplementation on Human Gut Microbiota: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study.Pilot RCT J Altern Complement Med, 2020 · PMID 32955913
- 7Guggulu and Triphala for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolaemia: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Randomised Trial.RCT Complement Med Res, 2021 · PMID 33242870
- 8Effects of Triphala on Lipid and Glucose Profiles and Anthropometric Parameters: A Systematic Review.Systematic review J Evid Based Integr Med, 2021 · PMID 33886393
- 9Effect of triphala mouthrinse on plaque and gingival inflammation: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Meta-analysis Int J Dent Hyg, 2020 · PMID 32383334
- 10Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of HIIT in Individuals with Long COVID: Insights into the Potential Role of Triphala.RCT Int J Mol Sci, 2025 · PMID 40943540
- 11Study of the safety of oral Triphala aqueous extract on healthy volunteers.Open-label trial J Integr Med, 2020 · PMID 31680053
- 12Triphala (About Herbs; last updated January 5, 2022)Database Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 2022 · mskcc.org
- 13Cytochrome P450 inhibitory potential of Triphala--a Rasayana from Ayurveda.Lab study J Ethnopharmacol, 2011 · PMID 20883765
- 14Comparative anti-plaque and anti-gingivitis efficiency of Triphala versus chlorhexidine mouthwashes in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Meta-analysis J Clin Pediatr Dent, 2024 · PMID 39275820
What changed
Every dated change to this page: what changed, who made it and why.
Change log
2 entries| Date | Change | Who and why |
|---|---|---|
| evidence, forms, interactions, who should be careful, FAQ, insights | Added a 2025 randomized trial of triphala added to interval training in long COVID (PMID 40943540, no added benefit), an open-label safety study at 2,500 mg/day (31680053), MSK's CYP3A4/CYP2D6 interaction note with its lab study (20883765), a 2024 children's mouthwash meta-analysis (39275820), and a medicines caution. LactMed checked: no triphala entry. | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: A–Z page audit |
| all | Initial editorial evidence review. Every PMID checked against NCBI E-utilities esummary (title, year, journal; none retracted) and each cited abstract read; numbers taken from the abstracts. Funding: none of the trial abstracts name a funder (disclosed as not stated). Safety from Health Canada's Triphala monograph (2024-11-29) and NCCIH's Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth. Where to buy: NOW Foods Triphala (label checked 2026-10-15, including its added magnesium and calcium). | Writer: Kymata Health EditorialTrigger: new page |
Supplement & Nutrient Encyclopedia. Educational information only; it is not medical advice and does not replace a clinician. Dietary supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Statements about supplements have not been evaluated by the FDA.