Guggul
Commiphora wightii · गुग्गुलु
Resins & Pitch. Ayurveda and Modern nutrition.
Also called Guggulu, Indian bdellium, Mukul myrrh
Sanskrit: गुग्गुलु (Guggulu)
May affect thyroid hormonesA sticky resin from an Indian shrub, used in Ayurveda for joints and weight, and studied for cholesterol.
Did you know? Guggul comes from the same plant family as frankincense and myrrh, the Burseraceae family.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Cholesterol. Some small trials found lower LDL and triglycerides with guggul extracts. Larger, better trials are lacking, and results are mixed.Early proof
- Joint pain & arthritis. Used for arthritis for centuries. Human trials are few and small.Traditional proof
- Weight. Used in Ayurveda for weight loss. Human evidence is weak and mixed.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Ayurveda uses guggul for joint pain, swelling and weight problems. It is an ingredient in several classic formulas.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant. Energy: warming.
- Ayurveda
- Calms Kapha. Can raise Pitta. Taste (rasa): bitter, pungent, astringent. Energy (virya): heating. After digestion (vipaka): pungent. Medohara (reduces fat), Rasayana (rejuvenative), Shothahara (reduces swelling).
How people take it
Early cholesterol trials used about 25 mg of guggulipid extract three times a day. Products vary, so check the label for the standardized content.
Capsule, tablet and powder.
Where to get it
Guggul is a small thorny tree from India and Pakistan. Resin is collected from cuts in the bark. Buy standardized extract capsules or tablets, or raw resin sold as a gum.
Be careful
Common side effects are stomach upset, gas and loose stools. Guggul may change thyroid hormone levels. Some products have been found mislabeled or contaminated. Avoid during pregnancy.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; thyroid disease; bleeding disorders; before surgery.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Yogaraja Guggulu, a classic Ayurvedic formula, combines guggul with triphala fruits such as haritaki.
- Works well together
Pippali (long pepper) is also an ingredient in Yogaraja Guggulu.
- Works well together
Both resins are used for joint pain in Ayurvedic practice.
- Use cautionThyroid medicine (levothyroxine (Synthroid))
Guggul may change thyroid hormone levels, which can interfere with thyroid medicine.
- Worth knowingStatins (Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor)
Guggul was studied as a cholesterol-lowering herb. Combining it with statins has not been well studied.
The honest take
Guggul is an old remedy with a lot of hype about cholesterol and weight. The human trials are few, small and mixed, and product quality varies. Its clearest real concern is possible effects on thyroid hormones, so ask a doctor before taking it.