Vibhitaki, also known as Baheda in Hindi, is one of the three fruits in Triphala (along with Amalaki and Hareetaki), a widely used combination in Ayurvedic preparations. The word "Vibhitaki" translates to "lack of fear", signifying its role in dispelling the fear of diseases.

Botanical name

Terminalia Bellerica

Family

Combretaceae

Vernacular names

English; Beleric Myrobalan, Beddanut, Ink tree

Hindi; Baheda

Kannada; Tarekayi, Toure, shantikayi

Telugu; Tadichettu, Balla

Tamil; Akkam, Tanitadi, Tanrikkai

Malayalam; Tannikka

Bengali; Baida, Bohera

Marathi; Behda, Bahda

Oriya; Baheda

Urdu; Bathera

Assam; bhomora, bhomra, bhaira

Thai; kot phung pla

Sanskrit Synonyms

बिभीतकस्त्रिलिंगःस्थादक्षःकर्षफलस्तुसः।

कलिरद्रूमोभूतवासस्तथाकलियुगालयः।

a. Vindhyajata; Grows in the Vindhya region

b. Kaalidruma; Abode of kaali

c. Bhutavasa; Abode of Bhutas

d. Karshaphala; The fruits are of one karsha pramana

e. Aksha; Good for eye disorders

f. Bahuveerya; Has broad action

g. Bahedaka

 

Properties of Vibhitaki

बिभीतकंस्वादुपाकंकषायंकफपित्तनुत्।
उष्णवीर्यहिमस्पर्षभेदनंकासनाशनम्।।
रूक्षंनेत्रहितंकेश्यंकृमिवैस्वर्यनाशनम्।
बिभीतमज्जतृट्छर्दिकफवातहरीलघुः।।
कषायोमदकृच्चाथधात्रीमज्जाअपितद्गुणः
॥भाप्र॥

रसासृङ्मांसमेदोजान्दोषान्हन्तिविभीतकम्।
स्वरभेदकफोत्क्लेदपित्तरोगविनाशनम्
॥चसू. २७॥
विभीतकःकटुपाकेलघुवैस्वर्यजित्सरः।
कासाक्षिवक्त्ररोगघ्नःकेशवृद्धिकरःपरः॥धनि॥

a. Rasa (taste); Kashaya (astringent)

b. Guna(qualities); Laghu (light), Ruksha (dry)

c. Veerya (potency); Ushna (hot)

d. Vipaka (conversion after digestion); Madhura (sweet)

e. Effect on Tridoshas; Pacifies kapha and pitta doshas.

Important formulations of Vibhitaki

a. Vibhitaki taila

b. Triphala churna

c. Triphaladi gritha

d. Phalatrikadi kwatha

e. Talisadi churna

f. Lavangadi vati

Benefits of Vibhitaki as per Ayurvedic references

a. Bhedana; Having laxative property
b. Kasa nashanam; Relieves cold and cough
c. Nethra hitham; Good for eyes
d. Keshyam; Beneficial for hair growth and quality
e. Kriminashanam; Relieves worm infestation
f.  Vaisvarya nashanam; Relieves hoarseness of voice
g. RasasrikMamsa medojan doshan hanthi; Detoxifies lymphatics, blood, muscle, and fat tissues
h. Vaktra rogagna; Relieves diseases of the oral cavity

Home remedies of Vibhitaki

External uses

Disorders of the eye; Vibhitaki fruit kernel mixed with honey is used as Anjana.

Granthi visarpa (Herpes zoster); Hot paste of the bark of Vibhitaki should be applied.

Hair; Seed oil of Vibhitaki is cold in potency and is used as hair oil.

Internal uses

1. Atisara (loose motion);

a. The burnt fruit of vibhitaki mixed with salt should be taken.
b. 2- 5 grams of Vibhitaki bark powder along with 1 -2 cloves is taken along with honey several times a day controls diarrhea.

2. Shotha (inflammation);

The paste of Vibhitaki should be taken along with rice-washed water (tandulodhaka)

3. Respiratory disorders (cough and dyspnoea);

Vibhitaki powder should be taken along with honey

4. Urinary calculi;

Seeds of Vibhitaki pounded with alcohol (Madhya) should be consumed in case of urinary calculi.
3 – 4 grams of fruit pulp taken along with honey twice a day controls burning micturition.

5. Eyes;

An equal quantity of Vibhitaki powder and sugar taken in 3 -6 grams will enhance visual clarity.

6. Fever;

40 -60 ml of Vibhitaki bark decoction helps to bring down fever.

Benefits of Vibhitaki based on research studies

1. Antimicrobial activity

The antimicrobial activity of crude and methanol extract of Terminalia Bellerica dry fruit was tested by disc diffusion method, against 9 human microbial pathogens.The study indicated that Terminalia Bellerica was highly effective against S. aureus with lower MIC valuesand the result indicated that T. Bellerica dry fruit possesses potential broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity.

2. Anti-diarrhoeal activity

The research study carriedout on anti-diarrhoeal activity revealed that the extracts have a more prominent anti-secretory effect than the reduction in gastrointestinal motility.

3. Anti-spasmodic and broncho dilatory activity;

The studies carried out on animals with crude extract of Terminalia bellericafruits elicited relaxation of CCh-induces contractions thus helping in bronco dilatation.

4. Anti-hypertensive activity;

A research study revealed the effect of Terminalia bellerica in reducing hypertension,especiallyprotective arterial blood pressure.

5. Hepatoprotective activity;

Sangeetha Shukla et al .,(2006)evaluated the protective effect of Terminalia bellerica fruit extract and its active principle, gallic acid against CCl4 intoxication.