Guggul: Guggul Extracts, Guggul Benefits, Guggul Lipid, Directions for taking Guggul

Guggulu or guggul is an ancient herb used as a medicine from a very long time.

Guggul Plant

One of the most important and trustworthy herbs in Ayurvedic system of medicine, guggul is basically a gum or yellowish resin that is produced by the Mukul Commiphora tree. This is a small, thorny plant that grows throughout northern India, and may be found from northern Africa to central Asia. While guggul is known as Indian bedellium as in English language, in India it is referred by various names like guggul gum, guggal, gugglesterone, guggul, gugulu and gum gugal. This herb finds its use in almost every kind of illness due to its miraculous treating power. Since a long time, it is an important component in many Ayurvedic classical medicines.

Guggul in Raw Form

Guggul Benefits

• Relieving pain and swelling: Guggulu is very often used as an anti inflammatory and pain relieving herb by Indian herbal doctors. It has been very dominantly used in arthritic pains. It helps in relieving pain and swelling. So in diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, gout, sciatica, paralysis, osteoarthritis, hemiplegia, lymphadenopathy etc.
• Blood Purifier: Guggulu acts as blood purifier and hence widely used in skin diseases. It promotes the production of red blood corpuscles (RBC) and improves the action of white blood corpuscles (WBC), which are helpful in fighting against any kind of infections. Effective results are seen in leprosy and eczema.
• Improving Immune System: Guggulu is also known for improving our immune system. Considered as an antibiotic, it is used in infectious diseases.
• Guggul Lipids for Lowering Cholesterol: One of the main uses of guggul is in problems related to heart. It has been reported by doctors that  by regular use of guggulu, there has been significant lowering in blood cholesterol levels. Guggul helps in maintaining LDL and HDL levels in blood in normal limits. It helps in blood pressure levels.
• Fat Loss: Guggul is rich in guggulosterones which help to regularize the fat metabolism, its assimilation and deposition in fatty tisues. It helps to burn extra fats from the body and reduce weight naturally.
• Strengthening our digestive system: Guggul helps in easy secretions of digestive juices, works as appetizer, avoids indigestion and constipation. It helps in overall strengthening our digestive system.
• Helpful in cough problem: Guggulu is also seen helpful in upper respiratory tract infection. It works as expectorant by helping in suppressing kapha dosha, which cause wet cough. Benefits are also seen in asthmatic conditions. Gargles done by guggulu water (guggulu dissolved in water) have been widely used in tonsillitis, upper respiratory tract infection, throat irritation, mouth ulcers, pharyngitis and stomatitis.
• Solving Menstrual Problem: Menstrual disturbances and stomach cramps or pain faced by  many women can be solved by guggulu. It  gives wonderful results.
• Improving Men's Sexual Ability: It has been seen that by regular usage of guggulu helps in improving sexual ability and sperm count. It also helps in improving sperm quality.
• Improving overall health: Guggulu also works as rasayan. It can be used in promoting youthnesss with longitivity. This is the reason it is the part of well-known rasayan known as Chawanprash.

Directions for taking Guggul: Dosage

Guggul Capsules

It is to be noted that guggul should never be used in raw form. In Ayurveda, Guggulu is only used after purification (shudhikar) in milk. Instead of taking in its natural form, guggle extracts are available. It is better to go for Guggul capsules, also referred as Guggul lipids.

The therapeutic dose of guggul tablets ranges from 75 to 150 mg daily. Commercial daily recommendations for the purified guggul extract are typically based on the amount of guggulsterones in the extract. A common intake of guggulsterones is 25 mg three times per day. Most extracts contain 2.5-5% guggulsterones and can be taken daily for 12 to 24 weeks for lowering high cholesterol and/or triglycerides. Take 1-2 tablets with a meal two times daily.

How Long to Take Guggul?
Herbal medicines provide progressive, long-term benefits. Herbs like Guggul usually take 3-4 weeks before you can experience the full effectiveness of taking it. Individual results can vary, depending on the nature and seriousness of the condition for which Guggul is being consumed.