I Tried Haritaki Powder for Digestion and Sleep

I’ll be honest—I was skeptical the first time I heard about Haritaki powder. A friend of mine, deep into Ayurveda, swore it helped her digestion, skin, and even sleep. I had been struggling with irregular digestion and mild anxiety at night, so I figured: why not try something natural before reaching for another supplement?

I started slow. Just a pinch of the bitter-tasting powder in warm water before bed. Not exactly delicious, but manageable. What I didn’t expect was how quickly I felt a shift—lighter mornings, more regular digestion, and, weirdly enough, a calmer mind at night. That made me want to dig deeper.

Turns out, Haritaki (also known as Terminalia chebula) has been called the “King of Medicines” in Ayurveda for a reason. It’s been used for centuries to support detoxification, digestion, and even skin health. One of the most helpful overviews I found was here: https://ask-ayurveda.com/articles/1231-how-to-use-haritaki-powder-ayurvedic-guide-for-health-skin-and-more. It explains how to use it, who should avoid it, and how it works within Ayurvedic tradition.

What stood out to me was how many people online are rediscovering this ancient herb. On LinkedIn, someone shared a post describing Haritaki powder as "more than a digestive—it’s a full-body detox tool" (linkedin.com/posts/ask-ayurveda_haritaki-powder-is-more-than-a-digestiveits-activity-7349067587277725699-btkz). I saw a Threads post where someone detailed their nightly routine with Haritaki tea and how it helped them sleep better (threads.com/@askayurveda_24/post/DL7dNu6RAAE).

The skin benefits also caught my attention. On Instagram, someone showed how they mix the powder into a paste and use it as a face mask (instagram.com/p/DL7dNorxIb7/). I haven’t tried that yet, but I did save a DIY recipe board from Pinterest for later (pinterest.com/pin/895934919625287733).

People are clearly getting results. On Twitter, a user talked about how their bloating disappeared within days of starting Haritaki (twitter.com/1857364984759541760/status/1943301806764790164). And there was a story on Facebook from a yoga retreat center that included Haritaki in their detox protocol alongside breathwork and meditation (facebook.com/885804900366149/posts/1054695790143725).

It's not magic, and it’s definitely not for everyone. You have to ease into it and be consistent. I’m still learning and experimenting, but I’ve come to appreciate how something as simple as a powdered fruit can have such a wide range of effects. The key seems to be using it mindfully and listening to your body.

Ask Ayurveda (that’s the brand from the guide I linked earlier) has done a great job of making ancient practices feel accessible again. And I love how this herb is starting to show up in real conversations—not just in textbooks or clinics.