Guduchi (Guduchi)

Guduchi bottle

What is this herbal medicine?

Revered for being one of history’s most famous adaptogens, GUDUCHI (Indian Tinospora/Tinospora cordifolia) supports 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. In the Philippines, the natives used a variety of the Tinsopora plant as a general body-support tonic. They called it makabuhay meaning ‘you may live’ (US Dispensatory, 1918, Remington, Wood, et al, Ed.). Guduchi, a climber with bark that peels of easily and numerous aerial roots, is found in the Himalayas and in many parts of South India. 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).

Active constituents

The plant contains saponins, which after hydrolysis yield the sapogenins diosgenin, gitogenin, chlorogenin, ruscogenin, 25D-spirosta-3 and 5-diene, among others. The flavonoids rutin, quercetin, kaempferol, kaempferol-3-glucoside and-rutinoside, and tribuloside have been isolated from the leaves and fruit. The seeds contain the carboline alkaloids harmane and harmine. Harmol is also found in the herb. These constituents render the herb its therapeutic properties.

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.

Indications:

• Recurrent infections
• Hepatitis
• Arthritis
• Individuals undergoing chemotherapy

Contraindications:

None

Recommended dose:

One capsule, twice a day or as directed by your physician

Composition

Each capsule contains 250mg extract of Guduchi

Note: The information on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat your problem without consulting your doctor.