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Triphala

Supplement ayurvedic blend gut
Aka: amalaki bibhitaki haritaki
Brands seen in Singapore: NOW Foods, Swanson, Organic India, Planetary Herbals, Himalaya
Not medical advice. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before you start, stop or change the timing of anything you take.
How to use
What it’s for
A traditional gut formula — human trial evidence is thin
Studied for
The two RCTS here dosed 1,000 mg a day for 8 weeks
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Peterson 2017: laxative action is its classical use
  • Polyphenols promote bifidobacteria and lactobacillus
  • 1,000 mg a day was safe and well tolerated in an RCT
Cons
  • That RCT: no added benefit over exercise alone
  • NCCIH: some ayurvedic products carry lead or mercury
  • Research is concentrated in india and mostly dental
Sources
  1. Therapeutic Uses of Triphala in Ayurvedic Medicine (Peterson, Denniston & Chopra, J Altern Complement Med 2017) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “In addition to laxative action, Triphala research has found the formula to be potentially effective for several clinical uses … Polyphenols in Triphala modulate the human gut microbiome and thereby promote the growth of beneficial Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus”
  2. Ameliorative Effects of Triphala Supplementation on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Individuals with Post-COVID-19 Condition: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial (Global Adv Integr Med Health 2025) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Participants were randomly assigned to receive either placebo (n = 37) or Triphala (1000 mg/day; n = 37) capsules, taken 5 days per week for 8 weeks.”
  3. Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of HIIT in Individuals with Long COVID: Insights into the Potential Role of Triphala (Int J Mol Sci 2025) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “104 participants … randomized into three groups-control (placebo), HIIT … and combined (HIIT + Triphala, 1000 mg/day)-for 8 weeks … Triphala supplementation did not provide any additional statistically significant benefit but was safe and well tolerated.”
  4. Evolution of Triphala research over 2 decades: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis (Zhao et al., Medicine (Baltimore) 2026) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The analysis of 417 publications … with oral therapeutics showing the highest research intensity at strength = 3.1. Geographically, the research was predominantly concentrated in India, which produced 271 publications”
  5. NCCIH — Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth (What the Science Says About Safety) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “Some Ayurvedic preparations may contain lead, mercury, or arsenic in amounts that can be toxic. … A 2015 published survey of people who use Ayurvedic preparations showed that 40 percent had elevated blood levels of lead”
  6. NCCIH — Ayurvedic Medicine: In Depth (If You Are Considering Ayurvedic Medicine) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “If you're pregnant or nursing, be sure to consult your (or your child's) health care provider as some Ayurvedic products may contain products that could be harmful.”
  7. HSA — Guidelines on Prohibited and Restricted Ingredients in Health Supplements and Traditional Medicines, Version 1 (Oct 2025), Annex A (72 rows) and Annex B (4 rows: caffeine, green tea extract, St John's wort, L-tryptophan) — read from the cached PDF text on disk · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “The objective of this guideline is to highlight the substances of concern when used in HS and TM and is not meant to be an exhaustive list.”
  8. HSA — Health Supplements Guidelines, Rev. No. 020 (January 2026), Table 6: diseases/conditions not allowed for health supplements · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “HS must not be labelled, advertised or promoted for any specific medicinal purpose, i.e. treatment or prevention, implied or otherwise, of any disease or disorder, including its related conditions.”
  9. iHerb Singapore — Triphala category (default order, 1 - 32 of 32 results) · read 2026-08-27
    what it says
    “NOW Foods, Triphala, 120 Tablets … Swanson Vitamins, Triphala with Amla, Behada & Harada, 500 mg … Organic India, Triphala, 180 Vegetarian Caps … Planetary Herbals, Triphala, 180 Tablets (1,000 mg per Tablet) … Himalaya, Organic Triphala, 60 Caplets”
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Updated 2026-08-29. Every line above traces to a numbered source. Kozen-X is not a medical device and does not give medical advice. It lists what published sources have written down — nothing more. A pair not listed is unrecorded, not cleared. Before you start, stop or re-time anything, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.