Guduchi (giloy)

Tinospora cordifolia · गुडूची

Herbs & Roots. Ayurveda.

Also called Giloy, Heart-leaved moonseed, Guluchi, Amrita

Sanskrit: गुडूची (Guduchi)

May lower blood sugar

Guduchi, or giloy, is a climbing Indian vine used in Ayurveda for fever and immunity, with small and mixed human trials.

Did you know? Ayurveda calls guduchi 'amrita,' meaning nectar of immortality, and the vine is often trained to climb neem trees.

What it may help, and how strong the proof is

Blood sugar. Small human trials in type 2 diabetes show modest drops in blood sugar. Results are not strong or long-term.
Early proof
Fever. Used for fever for centuries. Small human studies exist, but they are not enough to rely on it.
Traditional proof
Colds, flu & immunity. Traditional immune tonic. Lab studies show immune effects, but good human trials are few.
Traditional proof

Parts of the body

Pancreas & blood sugar, Immune system

Traditional use

In Ayurveda, guduchi is a rejuvenative and a classic remedy for fever, including long-lasting fevers. It is also used to support immunity and to ease joint discomfort.

How it is classified

Herbal actions: Immune balancer, Anti-inflammatory, Hypoglycemic, Tonic. Energy: warming.
Ayurveda: Tridoshic: balances all three doshas. Taste (rasa): bitter, astringent. Energy (virya): heating. After digestion (vipaka): sweet. Rasayana (rejuvenative), Jwaraghna (reduces fever), Tridoshahara (balances all three doshas).

How people take it

Common forms are stem powder, capsules and fresh stem juice. Human trials used standardized extracts for several weeks, and doses vary widely between products.

Powder, capsule and juice.

Where to get it

A climbing vine native to India and nearby regions, often grown on trees. Sold as dried stem powder, capsules, tablets and juice, and labels should name Tinospora cordifolia.

Be careful

Can cause stomach upset. It may lower blood sugar, so people with diabetes need close monitoring. It may stimulate the immune system, so people with autoimmune disease should be careful, and it is not advised in pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; autoimmune disease; diabetes medicines.

Mixing with other things

Works well together
Both are used in Ayurvedic fever and immune blends.
Works well together
Used together in some Ayurvedic fever and immune formulas.
Use caution
Diabetes medicine (metformin, insulin, glipizide, Ozempic)
May lower blood sugar, adding to the effect of diabetes medicines.
Use caution
Immune-suppressing medicine (transplant drugs, some arthritis drugs)
May stimulate the immune system, which can work against immune-suppressing drugs.

Adds up with others that may lower blood sugar: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 39 more.

Found in these formulas

Chyawanprash (Ayurveda)

The honest take

Guduchi has a long Ayurvedic record for fever and immunity, but modern human trials are small, mixed and mostly short. Most of its claims rest on tradition and lab studies. Product quality and labeling vary, so check that the label names Tinospora cordifolia.