Why Triphala is taken at night

Triphala combines amalaki, bibhitaki and haritaki in equal parts. It is the most widely prescribed Ayurvedic formula for digestion, and the classical texts are specific about timing.

Taken at night, roughly half an hour to an hour after the last meal, Triphala works as a mild, non-habit-forming bowel regulator. Taken in the morning on an empty stomach, the same powder is used more as a rasayana — a general tonic and gentle detoxifier.

A usual dose is half to one teaspoon of the powder stirred into warm water, or one to two tablets. Start at the lower end. The powder is astringent and bitter, and most people need a week to get used to the taste.

Do not take it continuously for months without breaks, avoid it in pregnancy, and stop it if stools become loose. If you are on other medication, leave a two-hour gap.