- Vernacular Names
- Sanskrit Synonyms
- Qualities and Effect on Tridosha
- Giloy uses
- Classical categorization
- Part used
- Home Remedies
- Side effects and precautions
- Ayurvedic medicines with Guduchi as main ingredient
- More information
अमृता साङ्ग्राहिकवातहरदीपनीयश्लेष्मशोणितविबन्धप्रशमनानां
Above shloka in charaka samhita guduchi is one main herb with bitter taste. It helps in stimulating digestion and helps in alleviating vata and kapha dosha. Guduchi is beneficial herb to cure constipation and bleeding disorders.
In Ayurveda it is regarded for its highest medicinal values. Giloy growing creeper on neem tree has best medicinal values than giloy growing alone. It is an immune-modulator herb. Guduchi satva is extract obtained from giloy stems. That is highly medicinal in nature. Acharya charaka categorized this herb under four Medhya Rasayana. Arial roots of this herb are very thin and achrya shushrut used these roots for suturing wounds because of its quick healing properties. Giloy is useful to reduce ama (toxins) and other microbes that are responsible for causing fever and other infections. It is antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and immune stimulating herb. Berberine, tinosporin, palmetin, mangoflorine, choline, ethanol, isocolumbin, tembetarine and aporphine all chemical compounds are found in this herb.
Vernacular names:
English name – Indian Tinospora, Heartleaved moonseed
Hindi name – Giloy, Gurach
Kannada name – Agniballi, Amrutaballi
Malayalam name – Amritavalli, Chitamrith
Telugu name – Dussiramu, Tippatige
Marathi name – Ambarvel, Amrita, Gulvel
Bengali name – Giloy, Gulancha
Oriya name – Gulochi, Gulancha
Gujarati name – Gulo, Gado, Galo
Tamil name – Amrida valli, Silam, Pittigai
Sikkim name – Gurjo
Punjabi name – Batindu, Gilogularich
Assamese name – Hoguni-lot
Konkani name – Amritvel
Urdu name – Guluncha
Nepalese name – Gurjo
Sanskrit Synonyms:
Amruta / Amrita – it is one of the most used synonym. It means nectar. Many formulations use this name of Guduchi. Example: Amrutottara Kashaya.
Guduchi -It protects and guards body from diseases.
Chakrangi,Chakralakshana -wheel-like appearance in transverse section of stem.
Chandrahasa -It refers to the moon like appearance of 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, Somavalli, Vayastha, etc.
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:
Charaka Sutrasthana 25
– Guduchi / giloy is best to cause astringent effect, promoting digestion, alleviating Vata, Kapha, constipation and Raktapitta (bleeding disorders)
Rasayani -Rejuvenative
Sangrahini -brings about absorptive nature to stomach and intestines, Useful in malabsorption syndrome, diarrhoea.
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, ankyolising spondilitis, multiple sclerosis etc
Classical categorization
Classical categorization of Guduchi Ayurveda:
Charaka has grouped Giloy in following groups of herbs –
Vayasthapana – group of rejuvenative herbs.
Daha prashamana – group of herbs that reduce burning sensation.
Trishna nigraha – group of herbs that mitigate excessive thirst.
Triptighna – that relieve 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
Part used
Most used part is stem. Almost all the pharmacies use stem of Guduchi. Leaves and areal roots are also used for medicinal purpose.
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.
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 to 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.
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.
It’s usage in pregnancy should be monitored under strict medical supervision. It is used in post-natal care and in children.
Ayurvedic medicines
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
More information:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Imd-LZlGNkY