Bibhitaki
A round, velvety fruit from a tall forest tree, and the third fruit of triphala. Astringent and dry, it is the fruit of the three that leans to Kapha.
- Settles Kapha
- Settles Pitta
- Settles Vata
How Ayurveda reads bibhitaki
- Rasa · taste
- Astringent (kaṣāya)
- Guṇa · nature
- Light, dry (laghu, rūkṣa)
- Vīrya · potency
- Heating (uṣṇa)
- Vipāka · after digestion
- Sweet (madhura)
- Part used
- Fruit rind, dried
Reviewed by the Vapika team.
In the tradition
Bibhītaka means "the one who frightens off", and its other name Akṣa is the old word for a die: its seeds were the dice of the gambling hymn of the Ṛgveda and of the Mahābhārata's dice game. Folk belief held the tree to be a dwelling of spirits, and people avoided resting in its shade.
How Ayurveda reads it
Bibhitaki is astringent, light and dry, heating in potency and sweet after digestion. Of triphala's three fruits, it is the one that leans to Kapha, though it is described as settling all three.
In the Indian kitchen
Bibhitaki is not a kitchen ingredient. It is used in formulas, above all in triphala.
How we use it
We use bibhitaki as one of the three fruits of the triphala in our Triphala & Saunf and Garcinia & Trikatu kahwas.
Bibhitaki in our blends
From the texts: Bhāvaprakāśa Nighaṇṭu, Harītakyādi varga (bibhītaka).
For learning, not diagnosis. If you are pregnant, nursing or on medication, please speak to your doctor first.