Botanical Name

Commiphora wightii (Arn.) Bhandari,

Family

Burseraceae.

Synonyms

Commiphora roxburghii (Stocks) Engl., Commiphora mukul (Stocks) Hook.

Regional Name

English : Gum-guggul, Indian Bdellium, Hindi :Guggul, Sanskrit : Pura, Mahisaksa, Kausika, Palankasa,Urdu :Muqil, Punjabi :Guggal, Gujrati :Gugal, Guggal, Gugar, Assamese :Guggul, Bengali :Guggula, Kannada :Kantha gana, Guggala, Mahishaksha guggulu, Guggulugida, Guggulu, Guggal, Kashmiri :Guggul Dhoop, Kanth Gan, Malayalam :Gulgulu, Guggulu, Marathi :Guggul, Mahishaksh, Oriya :Guggulu, Tamil :Mahisaksi Guggalu, Telugu :Makishakshi guggulu, Guggipannu.

Part Used

Exudate.

Description

Guggulu is Globally distributed from Arabic countries to India. Within India it is found mainly in Gujarat and Rajasthan and to a small extent in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. It is found in arid rocky tracts of Rajputana, Khandesh, Berar, Mysore, Sind, and Baluchistan. It is sometimes planted in hedges. Guggulu is a small perennial tree or shrub up to 1.2-1.8 m high. Exudate is collected during winter season by making the incisions in the bark or in summer, falling from the bark itself. Drug occurs in vermicular or stalactitic pieces of pale yellow or brown coloured mass, makes milky emulsion in hot water and readily burns, when fresh viscid and golden coloured, odour, aromtic, taste., bitter and astringent.

Phytoconstituents

Chemical constituents of guggula are Essential oil, gum, resin, steroids. It contains -Volatile oils, pinene, eugenol, furanosesquiterpenes, triterpenes, myrrhic acid and guggulsterones.

Ayurvedic Properties

Rasa :Katu, Tikta, Kasaya, Guna :Laghu, Sara, Vasada, Vipaka :Katu, Virya :Usna, Karma :Balya, Rasayana, Varnya, Vatabalasajit, Bhagnasandhanakrt, Medohara.  

Ayurvedic Applications

Amavata, Kustha, Prameha, Vatavyadi, Granthi, Sopha,Gandamala, Medoroga.

Medicinal Uses

Guggulu gum is used for arthritis, lowering high cholesterol, “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), acne, arthritis, rheumatism, haemorrhoids, whooping cough, chronic inflammation, blood purification and other skin diseases, weight loss, cancer, obesity, and diabetes. It promotes healthy weight management and supports comfortable movement of the joints. It supports the immune system and supports a regular menstrual cycle.