Triphala

What makes triphala interesting is that much of it may not do anything until it reaches your large intestine. Your gut bacteria break down its polyphenols into a range of other compounds, some of which calm inflammation. In return, the polyphenols appear to feed helpful bacteria like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus, and hold back less helpful ones. So two people could respond quite differently, depending on what's already living in their gut.

A word on the evidence, because the laxative claim is shakier than you'd guess. A study often quoted for constipation found people going more often and more comfortably within 2 weeks, but that formula also held senna and psyllium husk, both well-known laxatives. So it says little about triphala by itself.

Safety looks better. Twenty healthy volunteers had 2,500 mg of extract a day for 4 weeks with no serious problems, and their HDL rose while blood sugar fell. In an earlier small study, some immune cell counts went up after 2 weeks. You'll also find triphala in mouthwash: rinses matched a standard medicated mouthwash for gum inflammation, which is a nice fact, but it's a rinse, not this capsule.

One thing worth knowing about Ayurvedic products in general: a US study of 193 bought online found about 1 in 5 held detectable lead, mercury or arsenic. That's a reason to care about testing with any brand, and to ask for a supplier's certificate of analysis.