Shuddha Guggulu

What is this herbal medicine?

In the ancient Ayurvedic text, Sushruta Samhita, SHUDDHA GUGGULU (Indian Bdellium/Commiphora wightii) was prescribed for the treatment of medoroga, a disease that closely resembles the symptoms of hyperlipidemia including high blood cholesterol and the hardening of arteries. Shuddha Guggulu has been used historically for centuries to support normal fat levels and metabolism. In the findings published in the American research journal Science, scholars at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston reported that the 2,500 year old traditional Indian cholesterol support plant ‘really works’! Another group of scholars at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas found that Shuddha Guggulu supports cholesterol metabolism and exerts an antioxidant effect, which supports the normal oxidation levels of cholesterol in the body. Shuddha Guggulu, which is actually a gum resin from the Myrrh tree or shrub, was also used historically to support normal joint function. Contemporary scholars at the South Carolina University of Health Sciences found Shuddha Guggulu to be ‘supportive of normal mobility levels.’ The antioxidant effects of Shuddha Guggulu have also undergone recent scientific scrutiny. Researchers at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, recently reported that ‘Shuddha Guggulu and its component guggulsterone significantly support normal levels of low-density lipoproteins (LDL)’. The herb is found across the world from Northern Africa to Central Asia. In India, it is found in the arid zones, mainly in the states Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Active constituents

Shuddha Guggulu contains resin, volatile oils and gum. The extract has ketonic steroid compounds known as guggulsterones. E- and Z-guggulsterones are the compounds that are responsible for lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels. As antioxidants, guggulsterones keep LDL cholesterol from oxidizing, an action which protects against atherosclerosis (artery hardening).

Herb functions:

• High serum cholesterol: Guggulsterone, the active ingredient in Shuddha Guggulu, decreases LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which in turn lowers the overall cholesterol levels in the blood. It modulates the lipid profile.
• Atherosclerosis: Shuddha Guggulu is responsible for lowering cholesterol in the body, while at the same time boosting levels of ‘good’ cholesterol. Both of these actions help prevent atherosclerosis, the clogging and hardening of blood vessels. The herb is also an antioxidant, which helps stop the oxidization of cholesterol and the subsequent hardening of the arteries. Shuddha Guggulu also reduces the stickiness of platelets, another effect that lowers the risk of coronary artery disease.
• Weight loss: Shuddha Guggulu enhances the thyroid function, which in turn regulates metabolism and can help with weight loss.
• Arthritis: The herb is a potent anti-inflammatory and helps in the management of inflammatory joint disorders like arthritis.

Indications:

• Hyperlipidemia (increased cholesterol level in the blood)
• Arthritis
• Atherosclerosis (clogging or hardening of blood vessels)
• Weight management

Contraindications:

None

Recommended dose:

One capsule, twice a day or as directed by your physician

Composition

Each capsule contains 250mg extract of Shuddha Guggulu

Note: The information on this page is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat your problem without consulting your doctor.