Baidyanath Guggul-Commiphora Mukul

Guggul is Indian Myrrh resin (Commiphora mukul) that has many renowned health benefits such as reducing cholesterol. Guggul is a specific herb for obesity and excessive weight- this works via its ability to enhance thyroid function. Guggul is extracted from a small tree, which grows in arid regions and produces a brown or dull green oleo-resin (guggul) that is bitter, pungent, sweet and astringent, hot, and pungent after digestion.

Guggul controls and balances the doshas; excessive use might increase pitta but this is rarely seen. In the course of its excretion by skin, mucous membranes and kidneys, guggul stimulates these organs and disinfects their secretions. Guggulu scrapes ama (toxins and waste products) and fat from the body, purifies blood, strengthens the nerves and rejuvenates the tissues. It is an excellent yogavahi (a compound that carries the other substances mixed with it deep into the tissues); when added to a compound, it potentiates its fellow ingredients. Its strong anti-inflammatory action makes guggul the best medicine for many kinds of arthritis. It is also useful in treating hay fever and chronic bronchitis (in which its smoke is inhaled), consumption, emaciation, diarrhoea, colitis, chronic indigestion, hepatitis and leucorrhoea. Like its cousin, myrrh, it strengthens and purifies the gums and teeth and is added to poultices for swellings and boils.

Modern researchers, following a clue in a verse of Sushruta, found that guggul reduces blood cholesterol, and an extract called guggulipid is now prescribed for this purpose by Indian allopaths. Guggul has also been found to increase the number of white blood cells and to stimulate phagocytosis, the process by which the white cells engulf and devour alien invaders in the body, and to reduce myocardial necrosis (destruction of heart tissue, for instance, after a heart attack), to relieve pain, strengthen the thyroid and raise blood levels of thyroid hormone. It also seems to depress fertility and to counteract melatonin, the pineal hormone that is often implicated in depression.

Guggulu is purified by boiling it in decoction of triphala, punarnava or kanchanara Baubinia variegata) to extract the toxic fractions from the resin.

Suggested Use: 1-2 Vegicaps twice daily for at least 3 months.