What is Chebula?

To those unfamiliar with the ins and outs of skincare, or even those just looking into chebula for the first time, you might not know very much about this ingredient. You might also wonder why this word you don’t recognize is in the ingredients lists on some of your serums, creams, and other skincare products.

Is Chebula a Fruit?

Chebula, also known as Terminalia chebula, is a fruit. It has a brown color and a ridged, nut-like texture. It also has a more prominent ridge or seam along its sides.

The fruit is oblong, with two points on either end. Some would describe it as almost looking like a date or an almond, as it visually shares aesthetic qualities with both of these. However, before the fruit is ripened, it’s green in color.

There are seven different types of chebula fruit, and all of these taste slightly different from each other, varying in levels of sweetness, sourness, and bitterness. However, the fruit is not typically needed and is more well known for its medicinal properties.

How has Chebula Fruit been used Historically?

Chebula fruit generally grows and is harvested in specific mountain regions, and it’s been most noted for its alleged medicinal properties in countries like Thailand and India.

These countries have tended to use the fruit to create several severe health conditions. However, clinical trials for all of these health conditions are not necessarily conclusive, and it isn’t easy to draw confident conclusions for each use case.

It’s been historically believed that the fruit could support body immunity and immune system health, and the chebula fruit was even used to treat several skin-related conditions. This use can be traced back to hundreds of years ago, as noted in a medically reviewed article by StyleCraze.

Some of these treatments were meant to aid in soothing and reducing the appearance of some kinds of ulcers, and chebula was also believed to support proper wound healing and other skin conditions. It’s even believed that appropriate usage of chebula can support proper dental health.

The fruit is also known for supporting digestive health and is thought to be able to support proper function in the liver, colon, and spleen. It’s also been noted that chebula can support lung health and support the strength of joint tissues.

There have also been propositions that chebula supports several aspects related to mental health. For example, in India, there are claims that the fruit supports heightened intelligence, increased energy levels, more frequent feelings of rejuvenation, and improved awareness levels.

With what seems like a pretty good track record for an assortment of health-related treatments, the fruit’s extract is being used as an ingredient in some skincare products. This includes serums, moisturizers, and other creams.

What are the Benefits of Chebula? Can Chebula Help My Skin?

Today, chebula fruit has been most notably associated with its apparent anti-aging properties. In addition, some clinical trials have claimed that products containing chebula can visibly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increase the feeling of softness in a user’s skin. 

Chebula serums and skincare products have frequently been used to improve the appearance of skin to make it appear more youthful and healthy. However, some products have been clinically proven to fight signs of aging, as determined by an independent scientific clinical study cited by True Botanicals. 

The following is a more extensive list of ways in which products containing chebula can benefit the skin:

• Brightening: Chebula can help support the look of a more youthful complexion, and it also has brightening properties. Because of this, it can support those looking to reduce the appearance of dull-looking skin.
• Firming: Products containing the fruit’s extract can also support firmer-feeling and firmer-looking skin.
• Reduce Wrinkles and Fine Lines: Double-blind studies have proven that serums containing chebula extract can support wrinkle reduction significantly. For example, one study found that a particular serum could reduce the appearance of wrinkles by 22% after six weeks of use.
• Anti-aging: A study found that 97% of those who used a specific serum-containing chebula could see a reduction of aging signs after four weeks. That serum was also clinically proven to outperform competitors in this regard.
• Softening: For the same serum, trials would show a reduction in the roughness of the skin. In one week, 100% of users in these studies would seem softer and smoother feeling skin.
• Even Skin Tone: Hand-in-hand with supporting soft skin, the serum also appeared to support an evening out of the skin tone.
• Hydrating: Along with the above descriptions of supported even skin textures, it’s believed that the serum helped the skin’s overall hydrated appearance.
• Lightens Dark Spots: It’s generally believed that products containing chebula extract can also reduce the appearance of dark spots on the skin. In addition, because these serums typically brighten the skin, dark spots can typically also be lightened.

Clinical studies that trial chebula and products containing chebula extracts indicate that the fruit can support a more youthful look. When used correctly, the power of the fruit can be harnessed for clinically proven anti-aging support in the skin.

With its long history and many medical uses, it’s no wonder that the fruit has become associated with many breath-taking abilities.