Guduchi or Giloy is a famous Ayurvedic herb, used extensively in treatment for fever, diabetes, urinary tract disorders, anemia, jaundice, asthma, cardiac disorders etc. It is a well known immuno-modulator herb used in the correction of auto-immunity.
Botanical name –Tinospora cordifolia Wall. ex Seringe.
Family: Menispermaceae (Guduchi kula)
Table of Contents
How to consume Guduchi?
The best way to consume giloy is by making its Kashayam (decoction).
For an adult – A tablespoon of Giloya powder is added with 2 cups of water, boiled and reduced to half a cup, filtered and administered within 8 hours of preparation.
Guduchi is administered in the form of home remedies, as explained above.
Guduchi is administered along with different co-drinks for different uses –Read more
Guduchi capsule and Guduchi Ghanavati (tablets) are also available in the market.
Home Remedies
- Guduchi (dry herb powder or in its decoction (kashayam) form) along with Ghee (clarified butter) is useful in Vata imbalance disorders. – like arthritis.
- Guduchi along with jaggery helps to relieve constipation.
- Giloy in combination with sugar candy (unprocessed sugar) is helpful in Pitta imbalance disorders such as skin diseases, gastritis, dizziness, liver disorders etc.
- Giloy along with castor oil is useful in relieving gout
- Giloy along with ginger powder is useful in rheumatoid arthritis
- For Pitta type of vomiting, associated with severe burning sensation, migrain, gastritis, water added with the powder of chanaka (Bengal gram) or Gavedhuka- root or Guduchi – Tinospora cordifolia and kept overnight can be given to the patient.- Charaka Chikitsa Sthana 20/31
- For seasonal allergies, giloy powder or its Satva (extract powder) – 500 mg is administered along with 1 gram of Trikatu (black pepper, long pepper and ginger) and 2 pinches of turmeric, made into paste with honey. This is advised once or twice a day with water.
Qualities, Effect on Tridosha
Giloy-medicinal properties –
Rasa -Taste -Kashaya (Astringent), Tikta (Bitter)
Vipaka -Taste conversion after digestion -Madhura -sweet
Guna -qualities -Laghu -Light to digest, Snigdha -Oily, Unctuous.
Veerya -Potency -Ushna -Hot
Effect on Tridosha –Doshatrayahara -Balances Tridoshas -Vata, Pitta and Kapha
Giloy uses, indications
Charaka Sutrasthana 25
– Guduchi / giloy is best to cause astringent effect, promoting digestion, alleviating Vata, Kapha, constipation and Raktapitta (bleeding disorders)
Other uses:
Rasayani -Rejuvenative
Sangrahini -brings about absorptive nature to stomach and intestines, Useful in malabsorption syndrome, diarrhea.
Balya -improves strength
Agnideepani -Improves digestion power
Amahara -relieves Ama -indigestion
Trut hara -relieves excessive thirst (as seen in fever)
Dahahara -relieves burning sensation in the body. Note that though Guduchi is Hot in potency, it helps to relieve burning sensation. This action is brought about by its Madhura Vipaka. (Sweet after-taste). Sweetness is coolant in nature.
Mehahara -useful in treatment of diabetes, urinary tract disorders.
Kasahara -Useful to relieve cough
Paunduhara -relieves anemia
Kamala -Useful in treatment of jaundice and related diseases of liver
Kushta -Useful in skin diseases
Vatasra -Vatarakta -Useful in gout-arthritis
Jvara -Useful in fever. 90% of Ayurvedic medicines for fever contain Guduchi as an essential ingredient.
Krimihara -useful to relieve intestinal worms.
Vamihara -useful to relieve vomiting.
Prameha -useful in diabetes and urinary tract disorders
Shwasa -useful in difficulty in breathing, (dyspnoea), asthma, Bronchitis
kasa -Cough, cold
Arsha -Piles, hemorrhoids
Krichra -Difficulty in passing urine
Hrudya, Hrudroga -Vatanut -Useful in heart diseases with Vata symptoms such as pain.
Chakshushya – improves vision, good for eyes, useful in eye disorders
Vayasthapana – anti aging, rejuvenating
Vrushya -Aphrodisiac
Useful in sero-negative arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, multiple sclerosis etc.
Action of Giloy (Tinospora cordifolia) on Fever | Does it Cause Hypothermia?
Part used
Most used part is the stem. Almost all the pharmacies use the stem of Guduchi. Leaves and aerial roots are also used for medicinal purposes.
How to use fresh guduchi stem?
Its dry stem powder -1 tablespoon is mixed with a cup of water, boiled, reduced to half a cup. Filtered. This Kashaya can be consumed once a day, just before food.
Glioy leaves Vs stem –
Stem is the widely used part of Tinospora. Leaves have similar qualities, but are less effective.
Guduchi home remedy for fever
Interesting fact:
The aerial roots of Guduchi are so thin yet so strong that Sushruta made use of this for suturing surgical wounds. This had dual benefits. One was -the thread was very strong so, there was no chance of wound rupture. Second is, Guduchi has potent wound healing properties. Hence wound healing used to happen very quickly.
Dosage
Guduchi Dosage: Stem powder -3 -6 grams per day, in divided dose
Water decoction -15 -60 ml per day, in divided dosage
There is a special extraction technique for Guduchi, called Guduchi Satva. It is useful in fever. Read more about Guduchi Satva
Giloy churan dose for rasayana and therapeutics:
Guduchi as rasayana -usually taken after Panchakarma treatment -5 -10 grams, 2 times a day after food (churna)
Therapeutic dose -5 grams 2 times a day after food with suitable Anupana.
Guduchi dose for 1 year old
If it is Guduchi powder -500 mg of powder -2 times a day, mixed along with a teaspoon of honey -once or twice a day, after food is the dose.
If it is Guduchi capsule, (extract), then 250 mg capsule one per day can be given for the child, after food.
It can be continued for a period for 2-3 months based on need.
Giloy for general immunity for normal people –
Powder -2 grams once a day can be taken along with a teaspoon of honey for 2 months.
Or Giloy decoction is prepared with 1 teaspoon of powder added with 1 cup of water, boiled and reduced to half a cup. Filtered. This is consumed once per day.
Watch the video about Guduchi here
Guduchi for CoronaVirus?
Can Guduchi be helpful in corona virus?
Guduchi can boost immunity and is very effective in fever management. Hence, it has the potential to have some preventive role against most of the virus attacks including corona. But claiming it to be 100 % preventive against corona is difficult unless we do a clinical trial.
Guduchi can improve immunity if taken in below ways –
in the form of decoction – herbal tea – 1 tablespoon of powder added to 2 cups of water, boiled and reduced to half a cup and it is consumed (adult dose)
Or its powder – 1 teaspoon 2 times a day after food
Or its tablet or capsule – is consumed in a dose of 2 tablets 2 times a day after food
It can be taken for a period of 4-6 weeks.
Always consult your doctor before taking any remedies.
If you wish to make a herbal combination then guduchi, Ashwagandha, long pepper, moringa is a good one.
Side effects and precautions
It is a very good herb for diabetes. But if you are taking other medicines, it may further lower the blood glucose levels. Hence people with diabetes should take this herb only under medical supervision.
Its usage in pregnancy should be monitored under strict medical supervision. It is used in post-natal care and in children.
Interaction with medicines, supplements
Can this be used while taking Homeopathic medicine?
Yes. This product does not react with homeopathic medicine.
Can this medicine be continued while taking supplements like multivitamin tablets, Omega 3 fatty acids etc?
Yes. Generally, this product goes well with most dietary supplements. However, if you are taking more than one product per day, please consult your doctor for an opinion.
With western medicines
Seek your doctor’s advice if you are taking this product along with other western (allopathic / modern) medicines. Some Ayurvedic herbs can interact with modern medicine.
If both Ayurvedic and allopathic medicines are advised together, then it is best to take Allopathic medicine first, wait for 30 minutes and then take the Ayurvedic medicine.
Chemical properties and pharmacology
Guduchi is highly rich in antioxidants. It has wound healing properties, antipyretic (fever-reducing) and anti-viral properties.
Alkaloids:
Berberine, Choline, Tembetarine,Magnoflorine, Tinosporin, Palmetine,Isocolumbin, Aporphine alkaloids,
Jatrorrhizine, Tetrahydropalmatine
DiterpenoidLactones:Furanolactone, Clerodane derivatives[(5R,10R)-4R-8R-dihydroxy-2S-R:15,16-
diepoxy-cleroda-13 (16),14-dieno-17,12S:18,1S-dilactone],Tinosporon, Tinosporides, Jateorine,
Columbine
Glycosides:
18-norclerodane glucoside,Furanoid diterpene glucoside,Tinocordiside, Tinocordifolioside,Cordioside, Cordifolioside,Syringin, Syringin-apiosylglycoside,Pregnane glycoside, Palmatosides,
Cordifolioside A, B, C, D and E
Steroids:
Beta–sitosterol, Delta -sitosterol,20 Beta-hydroxyecdysone,Ecdysterone, Makisterone A, Giloinsterol
Sesquiterpenoid:
Tinocordifolin
Aliphatic Compound:
Octacosanol, Heptacosanol Nonacosan-15-one dichloromethane
Others:
3-(4-Dihydroxy-3-methoxy-benzyl)-4-(4-compounds hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-tetrahydrofuran, Jatrorrhizine,Tinosporidine, Cordifol, Cordifelone,Giloinin, Giloin, N-trans-feruloyltyramineas diacetate, Tinosporic acid
Anti oxidants:
Ascorbic acid,Lycopene,Carotene,Phenol,Iron,Anthocyanin
References for chemical composition:
Upadhaya AK, Kumar K, Kumar A, MishraHS. Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook. F.and Thoms. (Guduchi)-Validation of Ayurvedic pharmacology through experimental and clinical studies. Int J Ayurveda Res 2010; 1:112-121.
Patel MB, Mishra S. Hypoglycemic activity of alkaloidal fraction of Tinospora cordifolia. Phytomedicine 2011; 18:1045-1052.
Sriramaneni RN, Omar AZ, Zaini AM. Vasorelaxant effect of diterpenoid lactones from Andrographis paniculata chloroform extraction rat aortic rings. Pharmacognosy Res 2010;2:242-246.
Dhanasekaran M, Baskar AA, Ignacimuthu S,Agastian P, Duraipandian V. Chemopreventive potential of Epoxy clerodane diterpene fromTinospora cordifolia against diethyl nitrosamine induced hepatocellular carcinoma. Invest New Drugs 2009; 27:347-355.
Ly PT, Singh S, Shaw CA. Novel environmental toxins: Steryl glycosides as a potential etiological factor for age-related neuro degenerative diseases.J Neurosci Res 2007; 85:231-237.
Nutritional composition, Research
Nutritional composition of Giloy:
Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Copper, Zinc, Manganese
Giloy Home remedy for rheumatoid arthritis
Research:
Immunomodulatory effect -A randomized clinical trial on 68 HIV positive patients was conducted. 60% of patients receiving Tinospora cordifolia extract and 20% on placebo reported decrease in the incidence of various symptoms associated with disease. (1)
Fever – Experimental study was conducted on albino rats with Guduchi ghrita, using brewers yeast method. The study found out significant antipyretic activity. (2)
Home remedy for gout
Ayurvedic medicines
Important Ayurvedic medicines with Guduchi as main ingredient:
Amritarishta– Extensively used in the treatment of fever.
Siva Gutika– used for a variety of diseases like liver and spleen disorders, respiratory conditions, etc
Guduchi Satva– used in Ayurvedic treatment of burning sensation of feet, bleeding diseases etc.
Mushalyadi Churna– It is used in aphrodisiac treatment and oligospermia
FAQs
Does Giloy help in reducing Eosinophilia?
Yes, but herbs like turmeric, neem, Tulsi leaves, etc are more commonly used in eosinophilia.
Can giloy help to revive pancreas in type 1 diabetic patient?
Giloy helps to revive pancreas in type 1 diabetes. But it cannot be assured that the patient will be able to completely avoid insulin, with the use of Giloy.
Guduchi Kashayam remedy for gout
Does Guduchi help in fighting off a viral attack, and also help with weakness/pain? Is neem also a good option?
When there is viral fever, to bring down the temperature, to improve immunity and also to fight the virus, Giloy is a good option, in the order mentioned.
Neem helps to fight viruses, and to bring down the temperature.
For a better effect, using a teaspoon of neem and Guduchi together to prepare Kashayam is a very good option.
Q: Guduchi is hot, but still it balances all the three doshas. How is it justified? As per its hot quality, it should have increased Pitta Dosha.
Answer: A herb does not act only based on its hotness or coldness. While, hotness helps Giloy to decrease Kapha and Vata dosha, its bitter taste helps to decrease Pitta dosha. (Bitter taste decreases Pitta). Hence, it balances all the Three Doshas.
Different Methods of Giloy (Guduchi) Juice Extraction
Guduchi as rejuvenator
Guluchi as anti ageing medicine:
As per Charaka Samhita Chikitsa Sthana1.3, regular intake of 5 ml of Giloy juice prepared from its root and flower is explained as an excellent brain tonic and rejuvenator -Medhya Rasayana.
Giloy in PCOS
Is Giloy useful in PCOS
Giloy is useful in controlling the blood sugar level, to fight insulin resistance and also to prevent weight gain. These symptoms are associated with PCOS. This way, giloy is useful in PCOS.
Giloy is useful in controlling the blood sugar level, to fight insulin resistance and also to prevent weight gain. These symptoms are associated with PCOS. This way, giloy is useful in PCOS.
Guduchi for Corona prevention
Can Guduchi prevent or cure CoronaVirus?
It is very difficult to make such a big claim without proper scientific studies.
Guduchi has rejuvenating and immune boosting properties, hence it is useful to promote immunity against many viral infections. So, theoretically it can be said that taking Guduchi regularly can help with immunity. It is a common practice to take guduchi powder or decoction when there is a threat of any communicable disease, especially involving fever.
To improve immunity, guduchi can be taken in the form of
herbal tea (1 tablespoon of powder, put to 2 cups of water, boiled and reduced to half a cup, filtered and consumed when hot),
powder – 1 teaspoon 2 times a day
tablet or capsules (1 – 2 – once or twice a day, depending on doctor’s advice.) etc.
Guduchi might not be useful to cure Coronavirus. But it is useful to control fever caused due to viral infection.
Giloya Varieties, Classification
Tinospora crispa
Tinospora malabarica
Tinospora sinensis
Tinospora tomentosa
DN
Padmaguduchi
Kanda Guduchi
Giloy – Padma guduchi
Systematic classification
Kingdom : plantea
Subkingdom : phanerogamia
Division : angiosperm
Class 1 : dicotyledons
Subclass : thalamiflorae
Family : menispermacea
Genous : Tinospora
Species : cordifolia
Vernacular names, Sanskrit synonyms
Names in different languages:
English name -Indian Tinospora, Heartleaved moonseed, Heart-leaved tinospora, Indian tinospora, tinospora gulancha
Hindi name -Giloy, Gurach, Gulvel, Guruchi
Kannada name – agniballi, amrutaballi
Malayalam name – amritavalli, chitamrith
Telugu name -dussiramu, tippatige
Marathi name -Ambarvel,amrita, amritavalli, guduchi, gulvel
Bengali name -Giloy, Gulancha
Oriya name -Gulochi, Gulancha
Punjabi name -Batindu, Gilogularich
Gujarati name -Gulo, Gado, Galo
Sikkim name -Gurjo
Tamil name -Amrida Valli, Silam, Pattigai, amirtavalli, kunali, Seendhil Kodi, Seenthil Kodi
Assamese name -Hoguni-lot
Konkani: amritvel
Manipuri name -ningthou khongli
Mizo: theisawntlung
Nepalese: gurjo
Urdu: gurch, guluncha
Sanskrit Synonyms:
Amruta / Amrita – it is one of the most used synonyms. It means nectar. Many formulations use this name of Guduchi. Example: Amrutottara Kashaya.
Guduchi -It protects and guards the body from diseases.
Chakrangi,Chakralakshana -wheel-like appearance in transverse section of stem.
Chandrahasa -It refers to the moon-like appearance of a transversely cut stem.
Chinnaruha, Chinnodbhava -Regular growth of plant even if it is cut-off several times.
Jwarari, Jwaranashini -Useful against fever
Ayattha, Amravalli, Kundali, Guduchika, Jivantika, Tantrika, Devanirmita, Dhara, Nagakanyaka, Bhishakpriya
Madhuparni – Crushing the leaves give viscid juice like honey
Somavalli, Vayastha – Promote longevity
Classical categorization
Classical categorization of Guduchi Ayurveda:
Charaka has grouped Giloy in following groups of herbs –
Vayasthapana – group of rejuvenative herbs.
Daha prashamana – A group of herbs that reduce burning sensation.
Trishna nigraha – A group of herbs that mitigate excessive thirst.
Triptighna – that relieves early satiation.
Stanyashodhana – Group of herbs that cleanse breast milk.
Sushruta has classified this herb under – Guduchyadi, Patoladi, Valli Panchamoola, Kakolyadi and Aragvadhadi group of herbs.
Bhavaprakasha has grouped a set of herbs under Guduchi, called Guduchyadi group of herbs.
Kaiyadeva Nighantu –
Chaturbhadra – Ativisha, Shunti, Musta and Guduchi
As per Charaka, Guduchi is one among the 4 medhya rasayana (Brain tonics, to improve memory),where its juice extract is to be administered.
Bhavaprakasha Nighantu, Sodhala Nighantu, Nighantu Adarsha, Dhanvantari Nighantu -Guduchyadi Varga
Kaiyadeva Nighantu -Aushadha Varga
Priya Nighantu -Pippalyadi Varga
Botanical identification
Tinospora cordifolia and Tinospora malabarica are used in the name of Guduchi.
Morphology
Large glabrous climber with succulent, corky, and grooved stems.
Leaves – Membranous, roundish, sub deltoid, cordate with a broad sinus and large basal lobes, petiole is 2.5 cm to 7 cm long
Inflorescence – Laxed raceme elongated often longer than leaves
Flowers – Clustered in axils of small subulate bracts. sepals 6 in number
Fruit – Red on ripening , size of a large pea
Seeds – Broadly ellipsoid with a slender dorsal ridge and a ventral depression
Useful part
Stem
Manufacturer:
Baidyanath Giloy Juice manufactured by Shree Baidyanath Ayurved Bhawan Pvt. Ltd.
How to make a Giloy tablet?
First kashaya (decoction of Giloy) is prepared. This is done by adding 100 grams of giloy powder to 1 liter of water and boiling and reducing to 250 – 300 ml. Filter it.
To it, add 150 grams of giloy powder and heat under mild fire till the whole mass becomes semi solid. Then it is rolled into pills.
Liver damage
Does Guduchi Cause Liver Damage?
During the first wave of Coronavirus, Indians went back to drinking Kadha (herbal decoction). In ancient India, it was a common part of daily routine to have Kadha, especially during the time of fever and respiratory illnesses. Among the many ingredients to prepare Kadha, Guduchi is probably number 1.
It is the most preferred anti-fever Ayurvedic herb. So, millions of people were consuming Kadha. Probably this was one of the reasons why the first wave of coronavirus did not hurt India to a great extent. (The second wave hit us badly as people let their guard lose, that is a story for a different day). A few days before, a research report was published stating six patients taking Guduchi kadha developed liver damage. It was not a clinical research study. It was just a case study of six people. The collected data was insufficient and the brazen conclusion that Guduchi was the pinpointed reason for their liver damage was outrageous. This false news was picked up by many newspapers.
Guduchi is one of the Rasayana herbs, as explained by Master Charaka. The herbs with Rasayana tag are usually safe for long term use. There are many research reports stating that Guduchi has a protective action towards the liver tissue. When all these Ayurvedic research reports point towards the safety of Guduchi, the attack on this humble Satvic herb during this time of the pandemic is definitely uncalled far.
The Department of AYUSH, of the government of India, rightfully came forward and trashed the case reports.
So, if you are wondering how to make Guduchi Kadha,
Take guduchi powder – half a tablespoon. Mix it with black pepper, ginger, cumin, turmeric and any other spice that you get in your household – half a tablespoon.
Add this to two cups of water. Boil it for a few minutes. Filter and consume when it is still hot. For improving taste, you can add a little bit of jaggery. If you want to add honey to it, you need to allow the kadha to cool down. This – half a cup is good for one adult person, per day.
Make sure that the herb is Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia). Buy it from an authentic source.
Consult your Ayurveda doctor before taking this or any other remedy.
Tinospora crispa
Tinospora crispa is often used as an adulterant and substitute for Guduchi. But Tinospora does not have the benefits of Guduchi.
Difference between Tinospora cordifolia
Systemic Action
Internal administration-
Digestive System – Carminative, digestive, facilitate proper movement of doshas, Anti helminthic, helps for the release of bile from gallbladder. It Indicates vomiting, excessive thirst, Loss of appetite, Liver disorders, Acidity, Acid reflux, jaundice, Helminthiasis, abdominal colic etc.
Respiratory system – Pacifies kapha dosha. Indicated cough.
Circulatory system – Cardiac tonic, Indicated in Anemia, vatarakta, Amavata etc.
Reproductive system – Aphrodisiac, indicated in oligospermia conditions.
Excretory system – Indicated in Diabetes
Tvak – Indicated in skin disorders. Also beneficial in syphilis.
Satmikarana – Rejuvenative
Tapakrama – Indicated in fever and associated burning sensation (Vishamajvara, Jirna jvara)
