Tinospora cordifolia, which is known by the common names Guduchi and Giloy, is an herbaceous vine of the family It is a shrub that is native to India. Its root, stems, and leaves are used in Ayurvedic medicine.Menispermaceae indigenous to the tropical areas of India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
India, typically growing in deciduous and dry forests. The leaves are heart shaped. The succulent bark is creamy white to grey in color, with deep clefts spotted with lenticels. It puts out long, slender aerial roots, and is often grown on mango or neem trees.Flowers are yellow, growing in lax racemes from nodes on old wood. Fruits are drupes, turning red when ripe.The stem contains alkaloidal constituents, including berberine and bitter principals, including columbin, chasmanthin, palmarin, tinosporon, tinosporic acid and tinosporol. The drug is reported to possess one fifth of the analgesic effect of sodium salicylate, which is commonly used in allopathic medicine as an analgesic and an antipyretic (to combat fever).Revered for being one of history’s most famous adaptogens, Guduchisupports normal immune function and the body's natural response to daily stress.
Guduchi is part of the rasayanas (traditional rejuvenators and important daily tonics) category of Ayurvedic plants. As per the Charaka Samhita, Ayurveda’s primary text, it is a medhya rasayana or mental rejuvenative.The herb supports the normal function of the immune system by maintaining optimal levels of white blood cells like macrophages. The plant is also used in dyspepsia and various types of fever.Tinospora cordifolia contains many different chemicals that might affect the body. Some of these chemicals have antioxidant effects. Others might increase the activity of the body's immune system. Some chemicals might have activity against cancer cells in test animals. Most research has been done in test tubes or in animals. There isn’t enough information to know the effects of Tinospora cordifolia in the human body.
Guduchi has been used for thousands of years in India but is only just beginning to be available in the West.
It is commonly used for the following purposes:
Preventing colds and flu
Reducing the side effects of chemotherapy drugs
Immune system enhancement
Chronic skin disorders such as psoriasis or eczema
Anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory
Hepatitis & jaundice (helps protect the liver from exposure to toxins)
Gout and rheumatic disorders
Recurrent infections
Hepatitis
Arthritis
Individuals undergoing chemotherapy
Herb functions:
Immunity enhancement: The herb helps increase the effectiveness of the protective white Blood cells and builds up the body's own defence mechanism. It inhibits bacterial growth and increases the body’s immunity by enhancing the functioning of protective cells and macrophages. It is recommended as an adjuvant to patients undergoing chemotherapy. Its aqueous extract has a high phagocytic index, which improves the functioning of protective cells. Guduchi is effective in the management of respiratory, skin and soft tissue infections.
Diuretic: Guduchi is useful as a diuretic, helps to remove urinary stones and assists in the management of urinary disorders including urinary tract infections.
Joint ache: It is useful in treating joint gout, arthritis and other inflammatory joint
conditions.
Hepatoprotective: The herb is regarded as a liver protector. It is helpful in treating
liver damage, viral hepatitis and alcohol, medical or chemical poisoning. It is useful in
the management of fibrosis and regenerating liver tissue.
How to Use Guduchi:
Guduchi is usually available in powdered form, and the standard dosage for immune enhancement is one teaspoon twice daily. It can be taken on an ongoing basis if you are facing a persistent health challenge such as cancer. At the onset of a cold or flu, taking guduchi for a week may help to fight off the infection.
Combined with other herbs:
Guduchi can be combined with Shatavari or ashwagandha as a general tonic, or with aloe vera juice for the purposes of detoxification.
As a paste:
Guduchi can also be used in the form of a paste and applied directly to chronic skin irritations.
Some precautions:
Although studies have shown no significant adverse side effects, guduchi can be slightly
constipating if taken for long periods by those prone to sluggish bowels.
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