Encyclopedia · botanical
Amla
Amla fruit has one small positive placebo-controlled trial of an oral syrup in women with pattern hair loss, plus lab and animal data; amla oils and masks are tradition.
What it is
Amla is the fruit of Phyllanthus emblica, rich in vitamin C and tannins such as gallic acid. It is used in Ayurvedic and Persian traditional medicine as a hair tonic, as oil, powder paste or syrup.
How it works
- In a Thai screen of 17 traditional hair plants, an ethanol extract of amla was the second most potent inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase from rat liver, although the screen's mouse hair-growth work did not pick amla as best (Kumar 2012). This is a rat enzyme, not human scalp.
- An aqueous extract, mostly gallic acid, raised growth-factor gene expression in cultured human keratinocytes to a level comparable to 1% minoxidil at 10 µg/mL (Wongrakpanich 2022). This is in vitro only.
What the studies show
- In a triple-blind trial of 60 women with pattern hair loss (52 completed), 10 mL of oral amla syrup three times daily for 12 weeks raised the anagen-to-telogen ratio versus placebo (P=0.002), with better physician and patient ratings. One participant had mild constipation. It was a single-centre, 12-week study with no replication found. Akhbari 2024
- Amla extract strongly inhibited 5-alpha-reductase in a rat-liver assay. Kumar 2012
- Amla extract in transfersomes gave growth-factor expression comparable to 1% minoxidil in cultured keratinocytes. Wongrakpanich 2022
- A 2025 review names amla among herbal remedies backed by small, short studies. Ahmed 2025
How it's used in studies
An oral syrup of 10 mL three times daily for 12 weeks, a traditional-medicine formulation. Topical use has no human trial.
Side effects and safety
One mild constipation case occurred in the trial. Dietary amla is common, but high-dose supplements have not been assessed. Aflatoxin contamination has been reported in some stored amla products (Choudhary 2011). Amla oil on the scalp is a conditioning oil; patch-test it.
Bottom line
Limited evidence, for oral amla in female pattern loss only. It is a pleasant, inexpensive adjunct, not a substitute for minoxidil or anti-androgens. Amla powder masks stain light hair and dry the lengths. Discuss with a doctor before taking it as a supplement if you take other medicines.
Studies 5
Akhbari M et al. The effect of an oral product containing Amla fruit on female androgenetic alopecia: a randomized controlled trial. J Ethnopharmacol. 2024
Tested: 10 mL oral amla syrup three times daily vs placebo
Result: Anagen-to-telogen ratio rose versus placebo (P=0.002); one mild constipation case. 52 completed.
Read the study ↗Kumar N et al. 5alpha-reductase inhibition and hair growth promotion of some Thai plants traditionally used for hair treatment. J Ethnopharmacol. 2012
Tested: extracts of 17 traditional hair plants
Result: Amla extract was the second most potent inhibitor of the enzyme; it was not picked as best in the mouse hair-growth work.
Read the study ↗Wongrakpanich A et al. Phyllanthus emblica extract-loaded transfersomes for hair follicle targeting. J Oleo Sci. 2022
Tested: amla aqueous extract at 10 ug/mL
Result: Growth-factor gene expression comparable to 1% minoxidil.
Read the study ↗Ahmed A et al. Herbal remedies for hair loss: a review of efficacy and safety. Skin Appendage Disord. 2025
Tested: herbal hair-loss remedies including amla and onion juice
Result: Names amla and onion juice among remedies backed by small, short studies.
Read the study ↗Choudhary GP. Biodeterioration in Emblica based medicinal products and their aflatoxin contamination. Anc Sci Life. 2011
Tested: storage and mold testing
Result: Reports mold growth and aflatoxin contamination in some stored amla products.
Read the study ↗Related
- BhringrajBhringraj is the Ayurvedic "king of hair" herb; extracts speed regrowth in rats and mice, but no human hair trial was found.
- HibiscusHibiscus leaf and flower extracts grew hair in rats and cultured rat follicles, but no human hair trial exists.
- Green tea EGCGEGCG, the main green tea catechin, grew human hair follicles in a dish, but there is no good human trial of it alone for hair loss.