Botanical Name: Commiphora Mukul
Family Name: Burseraceae
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Sapindales
Family: Burseraceae
Genus: Commiphora
Species: C. wightii
Popular Names: Commiphora, Mukul, Balsamodendrom Mukul, Indian Bedellium Tree, Moql, Moqle-arzagi.
Part Used: Whole Plant
Habitat: Rocky tracks of Western India and Eastern Himalayas
Description
Guggul is a yellowish resin, which is secreted by a small, thorny mukul myrrh tree called commiphora mukul. The shrub reaches a maximum height of 4 to 6 feet and bears thorns on its branches. The leaves are small similar to those of neem. The flowers are red and the fruit is oval in shape and pulpy in nature. The gum resin excreted by the bark of the plant is called guggul. The plant is grown throughout the north India. The herb has been playing a major role in the traditional medicine of India. It is also known as guggul gum, guggal, gugglesterone, gugulu and gum gugal.
Plant Chemicals
(+)- resin, essential oil, guggulsterones, E stereoisomers, Z stereoisomers, gugulipid, myrrhanol, alpha-camphorene
Uses and Benefits of Guggul
- Guggul possesses strong disinfecting properties and is a weight-loss and fat-burning agent.
- It lowers elevated serum cholesterol and triglycerides, while maintaining or improving the HDL to LDL ratio.
- The herb increases white blood cells count and reduces the risk of coronary artery disease.
- Guggul was historically used for a condition called medoroga, a disease similar to the modern atherosclerosis.
- Studies report that it increases the production of thyroid hormone. Since this hormone breaks down the cells of protein, fat and carbohydrates, this herb is believed to be promoting weight-loss.
- The herb is used as an anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving herb by many Indian herbal doctors.
- Guggul is useful in arthritic pains and helps reverse the degenerative changes that occur in joints and bones.
- The herb is widely used in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, osteoarthritis, sciatica, paralysis, hemiplegia, lymphadenopathy, etc.
- Since it acts as a blood purifier, it is widely used in skin diseases.
- Guggul helps promote the production of red blood corpuscles (RBCs) and improve the action of white blood corpuscles (WBCs).
- It helps strengthen the digestive system, easy secretion of digestive juices, works as an appetizer and avoids indigestion and constipation.
- The herb is beneficial in haemorrhoids and colitis and relieves from hyperacidity and belching.
- Regular use of guggul helps improve sexual ability, sperm-count and sperm-quality.
- Guggul helps treat leprosy and eczema. Its extract also helps fight tumours.
- The herb is useful in menstrual disturbances and painful menses
Caution
Guggul extract can generate side-effects like headache, nausea, diarrhoea, anorexia, abdominal pain and skin irritation in some individuals.
Thyroid patients should consult a doctor before using guggul extract.
