Have you heard of Guggulu (commiphora mukul) before?

Guggulu is often prescribed by the Ayurvedic physician in conditions such as arthritis, obesity, high cholesterol, PCOS, autoimmune disorders and cancer.

The meaning of Guggulu is that “one that protects from disease”. This name serves it well. It truly is a gift for mankind.

References in the Atharvaveda can be found which mentions guggulu and its use of dupa (fumigation). It mentioned that disease will not spread to the places where fumigation is done.

A reference found in the Charaka Samhita says that ailments in the meda dhatu (adipose tissue) and anila (Vata or neurological) disorders are best treated with guggulu only.

“Guggulurmedonilaharanam CS. Su“

According to Sushruta Samhita guggulu cures obesity, tumours, ulcers, urinary complaints, fistula in ano, sinus, oedema, cardiac tonic ….. to name a few.

But what is guggulu?

For a deeper understanding for the students of Ayurveda

Guggulu is an exudate or a gum resin from a small thorny tree also know as Indian bellidium found in the northern parts of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

There are five types of guggulu described in the classical text, however two are mainly used and preferred for medicinal use.

1. Mahisaksa Guggulu (looks like a buffalo eye)

2. Kanaka Guggulu (has the colour of gold)

Guggulu has to be purified before using it for Ayurvedic Medicines otherwise it can cause irritation and side effects. This is an important process called Shodhana.

This can be done with triphala or guduchi kwatham, turmeric powder, nirgundi leave juice or cows urine/gomutra.

Purified guggulu has the following characteristics

1. Soft and waxy

2. Brown/ blackish in colour

3. Fragrant

4. Soft

5. Bitter

6. Devoid of dust

7. Soluble in water giving milk like solution

Guggulu is a YOGAVAHI, which helps to transport other herbs deep into the tissues. Many guggulu formulations have been mentioned in the classics such as

Aabhaguggulu, Kanchanara guggulu, Kaishore guggulu, Gokshuradi guggulu, Triphaladiguggulu, Dashangaguggulu, Simhananda guggulu and Yogaraj guggulu to mention a few.

Restrictions while taking guggulu according to the classical text

1. Excess excercise

2. Sour, and heating foods

3. Exposure to sun

4. Alcohol (madya pana)

5. Anger (krodha)

6. Intercourse

7. indigestion provoking foods (ajirnakara ahara)

Therapeutically Nava guggulu (fresh guggulu) and Purana guggulu (older then one year) are used. Fresh guggulu is more nourishing (brimhana) and older guggulu has a more scraping effect (lekhana).

At Lakshmi Ayurveda we prepare classical Ayurvedic formulations using the ancient traditional methods.

For interest in student mentoring programs or consultation appointments email: info@lakshmiayurveda.com.au

We wish you a beautiful Sunday with love from Lakshmi Ayurveda

* 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘛𝘎𝘈. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘈𝘺𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘯. 𝘞𝘦 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘺, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴.