GUDUCHI POWDER 

Guduchi or Giloy is a famous Ayurvedic herb, which got more limelight after the Covid 19 pandemic. It used extensively in the treatment for fever, diabetes, urinary tract disorders, anemia, jaundice, asthma, cardiac disorders etc. It is a well - known immuno - modulator herb used frequently in auto - immune disorders.  

Botanical name - Tinospora cordifolia  
Family: Menispermaceae 

Chemical constituents:  

The major chemical constituents include beberin, bitter glucoside giloin and volatile oil. 

How to consume Guduchi?  

The best way to consume giloy is by making its Kashayam (decoction / herbal tea).  
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 capsule and Guduchi Ghanavati (tablets) are also available, which are usually administered in a dose of 1 – 2 tablets / capsules once or twice a day, before or after food.  

Home Remedies  

• Guduchi (dry herb powder or in its decoction (kashayam) form) along with Ghee (clarified butter) is useful in Vata Dosha imbalance disorders. Like arthritis, neuropathy, paralysis etc.  
• 1 teaspoon of Guduchi powder is administered with a teaspoon of jaggery, at night, before food to relieve constipation.  

• 1 teaspoon of Giloy powder is administered along with a teaspoon of sugar candy (unprocessed sugar) is helpful in Pitta imbalance disorders such as skin diseases, gastritis, dizziness, liver disorders etc.  
• A teaspoon of Giloy along with a teaspoon of castor oil is useful in relieving gout and constipation.  
• Giloy along with ginger powder, either in the powder / decoction form is useful in rheumatoid arthritis  
• For Pitta type of vomiting, associated with severe burning sensation, migraine, gastritis, water added with the powder of bengal gram and Guduchi can be administered. Reference: 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 –  
Taste - Astringent, Bitter 

Qualities - Laghu - Light to digest, Snigdha - Oily, Unctuous.  
Potency - Hot 
Taste conversion after digestion – Sweet  
Effect on Tridosha - Balances Tridoshas - Vata, Pitta and Kapha  

Its unctuousness helps in balancing Vata, bitter taste balances pitta and astringent taste and hot potency helps in balancing Kapha. 

Uses and 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, 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  

Part used  

Most used part is stem. Almost all the pharmacies use stem of Guduchi. Leaves and arial 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.  

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 from the stem of Guduchi, called Guduchi Satva. Its dosage is 1 to 2 gms.  

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.  

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 time.  
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.  

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  

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  

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.  

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