Guggul: Uses, Benefits, Side Effects and More!
By Dr Anuja Bodhare +2 more
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By Dr Anuja Bodhare +2 more
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Guggul is an oleo-gum resin obtained from the bark of Commiphora wightii and belongs to the family Burseraceae. It is obtained as an exudate from the tapping of branches and stems of the guggul tree. It is found in dry areas of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. In India, it is found in Gujarat, Assam, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh.1
The guggul tree is a small, bushy tree and has thorny branches. It makes yellowish gum resin in small ducts found all over its bark. The guggul tree is hit by making a cut on its bark, due to which the resins flow out and are allowed to harden before they are collected.1
Guggul has been used in the Indian traditional system for thousands of years to manage inflammation, gout, rheumatism, arthritis, obesity, and lipid metabolism disorders. It is also known as Guggula, Gugar, Guggal, and Indian bdellium.1
Other vernacular names of guggul are Guggul Dhoop and Kanth Gan in Kashmiri; Guggulu in Oriya; Guggula in Bengali; Guggul in Assamese; Guggal, Gugal, Gugar in Gujarati; Muqil (Shihappu) in Urdu; Guggal in Punjabi; Makishakshi guggulu, Guggipannu in Telugu; Mahisaksi Guggalu in Tamil; Mahishaksh, Guggul in Marathi; Gulgulu, Guggulu in Malayalam; Guggala, Kanthagana, Guggal, Mahishaksha guggulu, Guggulugida, Guggala, Guggulu in Kannada.2
Guggul is an oleo gum resin and contains gum, resin and volatile oils (small quantity). It contains amino acids, sugars, essential oils, flavonoids, cembrene, camphorene, allycembrol, and ellagic acid.3
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Guggul has the following therapeutic properties:4
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Guggul possesses many properties, which may show potential uses against many disease conditions.
Several studies have confirmed that guggul is beneficial for arthritis and inflammation and has anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity. The guggul extract was evaluated for anti-arthritic activity in various animal models. It was found that it blocked the disease’s development and lowered the severity of the disease.1Several studies have confirmed that guggul might be helpful for arthritis and inflammation and show anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. The guggul extract was also evaluated for anti-arthritic activity in various animal models. In studies it was found that it blocked the disease’s development and lowered the effect of arthritis.1 However, do not use guggul as an alternative to medicinal treatment. Talk to a healthcare provider before using guggul for arthritis.
In a study, gugulipid (extract of guggul) was found to be effective in managing nodulocystic acne (a severe form of inflammatory acne that cauIn a study, gugulipid (extract of guggul) was found to be effective in managing nodulocystic acne (a severe form of inflammatory acne that causes cysts and nodules on the face). In a human trial, too, it was found to have some benefits for nodulocystic acne. The patients who had oily faces showed better results.1 However, talk to a skin doctor or specialist before using any herbal remedy on your face.
According to a study, guggul shAccording to a study, guggul showed a lipid-lowering effect in obesity and atherosclerosis (a condition where fat deposits in the arteries). The lipid-lowering effect of guggul was studied in animals as well as humans. Guggul contains bioactive compounds that might be responsible for hypolipidemic activity.1 You should talk to a healthcare provider before using any herb to manage weight. In addition, talking to a dietician will help you make better dietary choices.
Guggulsterone (plant steroid) found in guggul may show the heart-protective property. Guggulsterone was tested in an animal model for heart-protective activity. It was found to lower cholesterol, phospholipid, and glycogen levels and protect the heart against damage.1 However, if you are suffering from heart problems, talk to a doctor and get a proper diagnosis and treatment.
In my experience, I have observed that Guggulu, a herbal remedy, may have potential effectiveness in managing asthma symptoms. It is believed that Guggulu’s anti-inflammatory properties could help reduce airway inflammation and improve respiratory function.
Dr. Siddharth Gupta, B.A.M.S, M.D (Ayu)
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Your Ayurvedic physician will prescribe the form and dose as per your requirement. Guggul can be used as:
Side effects associated with guggul use are:
Before using guggul or any herbal remedy, consult your doctor about the side effects associated with its use. It will help you make well-informed choices about your health.
Over the years, I have observed that conditions like eczema and psoriasis, which involve inflammation of the skin, can be challenging to manage. However, I have found that Guggulu, a natural remedy, might offer some relief. Based on studies, using a cream containing Boswellia, an active component of Guggulu, can potentially reduce the reliance on corticosteroid creams and improve symptoms such as redness and superficial skin issues.
Dr. Rajeev Singh, BAMS
Even though guggul is generally considered relatively safe, it is better to use it with caution.1
Also, before taking guggul for its health benefits, consult your healthcare provider about the possible precautions associated with its use.
Gugulipid (guggul extract) may interact with blood pressure medicines like diltiazem and propranolol. It reduces the absorption of these medicines. Taking guggul along with these medicines may lower the effectiveness of these drugs.6
If you are taking any medicines, talk to your healthcare provider about the possible interactions of the treatment with other herbs and drugs. This will help you avoid unwanted side effects and interactions.
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Guggul might help deal with obesity. It has been used in Ayurveda for several years for managing obesity.1 However, talk to a healthcare provider before using herbal remedies to manage weight.
Yes, guggul might be good for the heart as it may show heart-protective activity.3 If you are experiencing any heart problems, consult a doctor and get a proper diagnosis and treatment.
There is no sufficient information about the safe usage of guggul during pregnancy. However, avoid taking guggul during this time to be safer. You must consult your doctor if you want to take guggul during pregnancy.
It is mentioned in Ayurveda that when raw guggul is taken, it may sometimes cause diarrhoea, skin rashes, headache, mild nausea, irregular menstruation and liver damage (at high doses). In addition, a study found that some people had temporary side effects like fatigue and stomach-related issues.1 Therefore, before using guggul or any herbal remedy, consult your doctor about the side effects associated with its use.
Guggul may interact with blood pressure medicines like diltiazem and propranolol and may lower the effectiveness of these drugs.6 Therefore, If you are taking any medication, talk to your healthcare provider about the possible interactions of the treatment with other herbs and medicines.
Guggul is good for arthritis. It showed anti-arthritic activity when tested in an animal model. However, its anti-arthritic activity in humans is yet to be tested.1 You should talk to a doctor before using any herbal remedy for arthritis.
Guggul was found to lower cholesterol levels in an animal model.1 However, its effect on humans is yet to be tested. Therefore, do not use it as an alternative to medicinal treatment. Talk to a doctor before you use guggul for managing cholesterol.
Yes, guggul is considered safe in prescribed doses, but some studies found few side effects associated with its usage. Therefore, it is best to consult a doctor before taking guggul.1
Guggul is available as powder, tablet, and capsules.2,5 Consult a doctor before taking guggul for any health condition.
1. Sarup P, Bala S, Kamboj S. Pharmacology and Phytochemistry of Oleo-Gum Resin of Commiphora wightii (Guggulu) . Scientifica (Cairo). 2015;2015:1–14. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4637499/
2. Health MOF, Welfare F. The Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India, Part 1. 2001;3:129–30. Available at: http://www.ayurveda.hu/api/API-Vol-1.pdf
3. Priyanka P, Sanjeev MK, Kumar GV, Jitender S, Sweety. Gum guggul: An ayurvedic boom. Int J Pharmacogn Phytochem Res. 2014;6(2):347–54. Available at: https://impactfactor.org/PDF/IJPPR/6/IJPPR,Vol6,Issue2,Article37.pdf
4. Vikaspedia. Commiphora wightii [Internet]. Available from: https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/package-of-practices/medicinal-and-aromatic-plants/commiphora-wightii
5. Ahmed R, Wang YH, Ali Z, Smillie TJ, Khan IA. HPLC Method for Chemical Fingerprinting of Guggul (Commiphora wightii)-Quantification of E- and Z-Guggulsterones and Detection of Possible Adulterants. Planta Med. 2016;82(4):356–61. Available at: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/HPLC-Method-for-Chemical-Fingerprinting-of-Guggul-E-Ahmed-Wang/4f3ca400664e5173813aa679c80d5e1685daf3a4
6. Dalvi SS, Nayak VK, Pohujani SM, Desai NK, Kshirsagar NA, Gupta KC. Effect of gugulipid on bioavailability of diltiazem and propranolol. J Assoc Physicians India. 1994;42(6):454–5. Available at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7852226/
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Last updated: Aug 11, 2023
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