Guduchi Introduction
Tinospora cordifolia, is commonly known as Guduchi or Giloy. In Sanskrit, it is termed as Amrita, means the ‘herb of immortality’, because of its numerous health and medicinal properties. It is a miracle herb, used in the treatment of various diseases including fever, jaundice, chronic diarrhea, skin diseases, eye disorders, metabolic and joint disorders.
Guduchi is a deciduous climbing shrub comes under Menispermaceae family. It is one of the best Rasayana (Rejuvenator). It is a famous medicine known for its therapeutic applications.
Guduchi Properties
- It is associated with the properties of immune-modulation and rejuvenation.
- The various bio-chemical and pharmaceutical compounds are found such as alkaloids, diterpenoid lactones, glycosides, steroids, sesquiterpenoids, and phenolics.
- These compounds are having pharmacological properties such as anti-diabetic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, hepato-protective, and immuno-modulatory.
- It is also attributed with anti-toxic, anti-infective, anti-arthritic, anti-osteoporotic, anti-diabetic and Anti-microbial.
Guduchi in classical texts
The plant has been narrated by different names in different classical literature.
- Charaka Samhita: Vayahsthapana
- Sushruta Samhita: Guduchyadi
- Ashtanga Samgraha: Aragvadhadi
- Dhanvantari Nighantu: Guduchyadi varga
- Shodhal Nighantu: Guduchyadi varga
- Madhava Dravyaguna: Shaka varga
- Madanpala Nighantu: Abhayadi varga
- Raja Nighantu:Guduchyadi varga
- Kaiyadev Nighantu: Aushadhi varga
- Bhavaprakasha Nighantu: Guduchyadi varga
- Saraswati Nighantu: Latadi varga
- Shaligrama Nighantu:Guduchyadi varga
- Haritakyadi Nighantu:Shaka varga
- Priya Nighantu: Pippalyadi varga
Different names
- English: Tinospora cordifolia
- Assamese – Siddhilata, Amarlata
- Bengali – Gulancha
- Gujarati – Galac, Garo
- Hindi – Giloy, Gurcha
- Kannada – Amrutaballi
- Kashmiri – Amrita, Gilo
- Malayalam – Chittamrutu
- Marathi – Gulvel
- Oriya – Guluchi
- Punjabi – Gilo
- Tamil – Seendal, Seendil kodi
- Telugu – Thippateega
- Urdu – Gilo
Tinospora Species
- T. arfakinsa
- baenzigeri
- barkis
- celebica
- cordifolia
- crispa
- dentate
- dissitiflora
- esiangkara
- formani
- fragosa
- glabra
- glandulosa
- guangxiensis
- hainanensis
- hirsute
- homosepala
- macrocarpa
- maqsoodiana
- merriliana
- neocaledonica
- nudiflora
- orophila
- palminervis
- sagittata
- siamensis
- sinensis
- smilacina
- subcordata
- sumatrana
- teijsmannii
- tenara
- tinisporoides
- trilobat
Therapeutic uses
- Juice of Guduchi and Shatavari in equal proportion along with jaggery helps to reduce fever caused by Vata.
- Decoction of Triphala (Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica and Emblica officinalis) and juice of Guduchi is useful for fever of irregular pattern.
- Ghrita (Medicated ghee) and oil (Medicinal oil) prepared with juice and paste of Guduchi, Triphala, Vasa (Justicia adhatoda L), Draksha (Vitis vinifera L.) and Bala (Sida cordifolia L.) alleviate chronic fever.
- In case of jaundice and hepatitis, one should take buffalo’s ghee processed with Guduchi juice and milk.
- Decoction of Guduchi, Triphala, Nimba and Patola mixed with honey and sugar are beneficial to prevent vomiting and hyperacidity (Amplapitta).
- Decoction of Guduchi, Nimba and Patola leaves mixed with honey should be given who are sufferings from Amlapitta (hyperacidity).
- Guduchi is said to be the best remedy in the management of gout if its decoction processed in Ghrita or Milk.
- Guduchi along with the Shunthi is beneficial in the treatment of rheumatism
Dosages
- 3-6 g of Giloy in powdered form along with specified adjuvants.
- 20-30 g of coarse powder for preparing decoction.
- 125 mg – 1000 mg of Guduchi satva along with specified adjuvants
Guduchi benefits
- It helps to make your immune system stronger.
- It is beneficial for skin diseases when giloy is taken with ghee on empty stomach in the morning.
- It has cures gastro-intestinal disorders due to the effect of bacteriostatic.
- It energies the liver and increases its longevity.
- The extracts of the stem of Tinospora Cordifolia are having anti-stress activity.
- It is beneficial in glucose tolerance and adrenaline induced Hyperglycaemia.
- Its extract extract and decoction is helpful in the management of gout.
- Show good impacts on the function of cardiac conditions.
Importance
The genus Tinospora includes 34 species,9 however, phytochemical investigations, pharmacological experiments, and clinical applications have mainly focused on four species of Tinospora, viz.T. cordifolia, T. sagittata, T. capillipes, and T. crispa. Tinospora cordifolia (TC) has been reported to effectively prevent hepatotoxicity, whereas certain other species like Tinospora crispa may be associated with hepatotoxicity. Thus, consumption without correctly identifying the plant might land in hepatic injury. Thus, proper identification becomes a mandate.
