Is This It? Triphala Ayurvedic Medicine As Lipoma Treatment

[matt]

There's a supplement called Triphala sold in Amazon.

In the description area it says that it is used to many things, e.g.

• prevents aging
• imparts immunity
• improves mental faculties
• detoxifies the liver
• restores digestion
• purifies blood
• acts as a laxative without causing cramps or irritation
• rejuvenates the membrane lining the digestive tract
• contributes to effective cleansing of the colon
• helps reduce excess weight
• helps in healing ulcers in cases of Pyoderma gangrenosum
• treatment of Lipoma

So naturally I started researching this product more carefully after reading such claims.

It's originally a traditional Indian medicine that consists of the following fruit-bearing plant species

• Amalaki aka Indian gooseberry or aamla (Phyllanthus emblica or synonym Emblica officinalis)
• Bibhitaki aka beleric or bastard myrobalan (Terminalia bellirica)
• Haritaki aka Yellow Myrobalan or Chebulic Myrobalan (Terminalia chebula)

And according to Wikipedia the name Triphala means "three fruits". These herbs are also the key components in Ayurveda. Triphala is known as a cleaning agent, including a blood cleanser.

Wikipedia also claims that Triphala has been used as a treatment for various forms of cancer.

And surprise, surprise, there are some such studies available!

This one says that Tripahala is effective of inhibiting the growth of a pancreatic tumor by inducing cell death. and the interesting part is that Triphala was administered orally!

Another study tells that a direct oral feeding of Triphala to mice (40 mg/kg body weight) resulted significant reduction in tumor growth as evaluated by tumor volume measurement.

It was also found that the cell death was significantly higher in the excised tumor tissue of Triphala fed mice as compared to the control, suggesting the involvement of cell death in tumor growth reduction. These results suggest that Triphala possessed ability to induce cell toxicity in tumor cells but spared the normal cells.

Can this be real? An oral supplement that induces cell death in tumor cells?

I know Ayurvedic Medicine has been hyped about quite some time but I never looked at the scientific studies before.

Is it safe?

According to many studies, including this one, Triphala should be pretty safe to consume. It says Triphala has significant immunostimulatory effects on cellular immune response, especially cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells.

This review study from 2010 states that experimental studies in the past decade have shown that Triphala is useful in the prevention of cancer and that it also possesses antineoplastic, radioprotective and chemoprotective effects.

Should we test this? Has anyone tried it? Is it too good to be true?

There are some opponent comments on the internet that I did find. But all the studies indicate that there might just be something behind it... Hmm.

I know I'm not just going to pass this as it is also such an inexpensive product (an alternative here). It's also available in Iherb but I'm not sure which one is more potent.

[matt]

After some more research I found that Triphala has been tested on a very limited target group of 25 lipoma sufferers. Out of these 25 individuals 9 had multiple lipomas all over the body.

1. Lipoma is normally cured by surgical intervention.
2. Here attempt is made to manage conservatively.
3. A boy aged 12 years responded completely to the treatment within 21 days. Prior to the treatment surgeon advised excision. Patient and his parents decided to avoid operation due to poverty. Parents were more happy.
4. Solitory Lipoma responded well to the treatment.
5. Two or three Lipomas responded good to degree. Showed increase in soflness and slow reduction in size and shape.
6. Multiple Lipomata showed poor progress.
7. Male patients were three times more than female patients.
8. Age group from 21 to 30, 31 to 40 and 4l to 50 were having nearly equal number of patients.
9. Service group patients were having more incidence of Lipoma.
10. Prakruti having Pitta & Kapha predominance & found 65% oocurance of Lipomata.
ll. Response to treatment by 60% of patients were moderate only. Indicates that they needed long term treatment.
12. It is found that fore-arm is the common site (75%) of appearance of Lipoma. No explanation can be given about this incidence.
13. Patients were uneasy with site of lipoma & they were after conservative treatment instead of surgical correction.
14. Sookshma Tripala helped to correct Dhatwagni to some extent. life style ofthe patients is responsible for disturbance in the unctions of Agni.
15. This study needs multi disciplinary analysis in a separate project.

Conclusion:
Sookshma Triiphala is moderately useful in correcting problem of lipoma conservatively. Probably needs higher doses & long term treatment with proper diet and exercise.

This information is from the Handbook On Ayurvedic Medicines With Formulae, Processes And Their Uses By H. Panda

So it looks like Triphala was able to cure(?) solitary and 2-3 lipomas in just month and a half. But people with multiple lipomas responded poorly which is why the authors propose longer and higher doses of treatment with Triphala combined with proper diet and exercise.

[matt]

Looking at the Triphala substances independently I found that...

1. Emblica officinalis

Is both antiviral and antimicrobial. It has also anti-tumor properties. It can prevent tumor cells from multiplying. E. officinalis is good for anti-hepatitis, anti-cancer, anti-tumor and regulation of stomachal function. The plant is also regarded as a traditional immunomodulator and a natural metabolic regulator which increases the ability of an organism to adapt to environmental factors.

Includes emblicanin A (37%), emblicanin B (33%), punigluconin (12%) and pedunculagin (14%), punicafolin and phyllanemblinin A, B, C, D, E and F, flavonoids, kaempferol, ellagic acid, gallic acid and vitamin C.

2. Terminalia bellirica

May have mind-altering qualities (has shown some antidepressant-like properties) and can induce nausea or vomiting if consumed too much. Has antiviral, antimalarial, and antifungal properties. Can inhibit the RNA Tumour Virus. Can prevent tumor growth and spreading of a tumor.

3. Terminalia chebula

Can inhibit tumor cell growth by decreasing cell viability, inhibiting cell proliferation, and inducing cell death in a dose dependent manner. And like the other ingredients also T. chebula shows antibacterial and antimicrobial properties.

So all the three ingredients have antimicrobial and anti-tumor properties which makes Triphala a potent supplement for tumor patients.

Unfortunally for some weird reason these plants and their extracts and derivatives have multiple names which makes it difficult and confusing to research.

Although Triphala may not work well for multiple lipomatosis the science is there I want to test it.

I hope someone with only one to three lipomas could test Triphala too so we'll know if there's any effect on people with fewer lipomas.

[Madhu]

I have tried triphala for almost 3 months,but it is not effective.did not find any reduction.
I do have multiple lipoma,more than 60 nos.Now i am thinking of vaser lipo,which is quite effective.(may reoccur.i do not know) i have seen two persons taking this treatment & got cleared of protrusions on both the hands.They paid around 60000 INR. This was performed by an indian doctor at Bangalore who has specialised this technique.

[251152]

Madhu by protrusions you mean lipomas right?
And could you please specify (if you know of course) approx. how many lipomas costed this much?

[Madhu]

1)Yes protrusions ,i mean lipomas.
2)It is not for the no of lipomas,But both the hands upto the shoulder was treated by the plastic surgeon & the cost is ~60000 INR.Out of the two people who have gone for this Vaser lipo, one person had ~25 to 30 & another one told me he had 54 in nos.(He was able to give me the exact figure because he has been asked to mark the lipoma protrusions before the treatment)
3) with this they were able to get rid of Big ones (almost flattened) but still there were small lumps left,They were happy with the treatment.Cosmetically it is better.The small ones were not
THAT noticable.
4) The no of scars were only two nos in each hand.

I have plans to go for VASER LIPO in the last of week of march.
Will Try to post the photos Before & after,After the treatment.


MADHU.

[matt]

Ok, thanks for your feedback Madhu. I will go ahead and test Triphala anyway for some months since it's quite cheap.

And if there's someone out there with just single lipoma, I'd like to hear how Triphala works for you since the small study suggested Triphala would work better for solitary lipomas.

[SomePositive]

I am taking Omega3, 2-2 tablets, morning-evening, empty stomach, with warm water, feeling good.

[matt]

i'm extremely happy for you but this thread is for triphala.

[matt]

Ok, I decided to go with the Triplaha from Amazon. I ordered two units for now.

[251152]

good luck with that matt!

[HSonar]

Matt - good luck.

I am from India and Triphala is a very common herbal medicine. There is no harm in trying this out - I would request to keep expectations low though.

I have shown my Lipomas to a top Ayurvedic doctor in India / Mumbai and he told me he didn't have any cure for it - which is very nice of him to be honest about it. He gave me some medicines saying they might help prevent new ones from forming. Triphala was one of them.

Currently I have been on Kanchanar Guggulu for a month. I haven't seen any difference. To be honest, I don't expect overnight results for a problem that I am having for 25 years. I intend to continue Kanchanar Guggulu for 6 months. I will post if I feel or see any difference.

[HSonar]

1)Yes protrusions ,i mean lipomas.
2)It is not for the no of lipomas,But both the hands upto the shoulder was treated by the plastic surgeon & the cost is ~60000 INR.Out of the two people who have gone for this Vaser lipo, one person had ~25 to 30 & another one told me he had 54 in nos.(He was able to give me the exact figure because he has been asked to mark the lipoma protrusions before the treatment)
3) with this they were able to get rid of Big ones (almost flattened) but still there were small lumps left,They were happy with the treatment.Cosmetically it is better.The small ones were not
THAT noticable.
4) The no of scars were only two nos in each hand.

I have plans to go for VASER LIPO in the last of week of march.
Will Try to post the photos Before & after,After the treatment.


MADHU.

Madhu - thanks for the details. Please post your experiences in detail.

[matt]

Hi HSonar!

Thanks for your feedback. Do you happen to remember the recommended dosage of your Triphala? Did you find that Triphala slowed down the progress of your lipomas?

[HSonar]

Yes it was 2 + 2. It has laxative properties and I had taken Triphala before whenever I had bowel, stomach issues or acid reflux - so I was kind of used to it. So I would suggest to start with 0 - 2 i.e. none in morning and two at night. Once body is used to those 2 in the night is when you start the morning ones - if you work from home then you can start with 2 + 2.

I don't want my experience to discourage you ... everyone's body reacts differently ... it may work for you and I hope it does.

I will note down Kanchanar Guggulu dosage just for records. I have been taking 2 + 2 for past 1 month. But I have missed on an average some dosages in the beginning but intend to be regular going forward.

[HSonar1]

Hi Matt

Regarding Triphala or any powders for that matter - instead of going for capsules that are relatively expensive - you might want to buy the powder itself. On eBay you will find couple of herbal stores out of UK that send you powders. This is a very cheap option compared to buying the capsules.

What you do with the powders ( or mix of powders ) is to add Ghee (clarified butter that you can even make at home out of organic unsalted butter) + Honey. You will have to experiment to fit it to your taste. But usually I add honey just as much to avoid any bitter taste.

I have stopped taking Kanchanar Guggulu owing to a Vocal cord nodules problem. I had this vocal cord problem much before I started Kanchanar Guggulu - so it is not that KG has caused it. Just that I wanted to treat that problem before. I have bought bulk Kanchanar Gugggulu resin and when I restart will be drinking tea made of KG.

[matt]

Ok thanks for the tips HSonar1! I will consume my pills first and see the powder option later.

[Laura]

Ok, thanks for your feedback Madhu. I will go ahead and test Triphala anyway for some months since it's quite cheap.

And if there's someone out there with just single lipoma, I'd like to hear how Triphala works for you since the small study suggested Triphala would work better for solitary lipomas.

Matt, would it be possible to start a thread about the Vaso Lipo or move the Vaso Lipo posts?

Several doctors say that Vaso Lipo doesn't remove all of the lipoma.

"Granted, if you have numerous lipomas it may seem more practical to have them flattened with liposuction but keep that in mind, it would be probably a temporary flattening as they would not be completely removed and as benign tumors, they tend to regrow. Excision through small inicisions is possible with a very small chance of recurrence.

Ronald Shelton, MD"

http://www.realself.com/question/laser- ... le-lipomas

[Raju]

Madhu..

Can you please provide the address of the doctor in Bangalore for Vaso Lipo..

I am from bangalroe and i too have lipomas.

You can even SMS me(if you dont mind).

Many thanks,
Raju

[Madu]

Done