Account::unsetCookie(1) Guggulu Benefits, Uses, Side Effects According to Ayurveda
College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

College of Ayurvedic Diet & Digestion

 

AYURVEDIC HERB SUPPLEMENTS

Guggulu Herbal Powder (Commiphora mukul)

Ayurveda's classic herb for cleansing the blood and scraping it of fats.

How Does This Ayurvedic Herb Supplement Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Comparison of Guggulus

All guggulu formulas are detoxicant in nature, scrape fats, and are antiarthritic. Guggulu has a strong scraping action and should not be used for more than 2 months.
NameMain ActionDosha Targeted
Kaishore GugguluLiver detoxicant / Bitter alterative (w/ Guduchi)Pitta-Kapha
Kanchanar GugguluRegulates thyroid, reduces growthsKapha
Gokshuradi GugguluCold detoxicant / diuretic / genitourinaryVata-Pitta
Punarnavadi GugguluHot detoxicant / purgative diureticKapha
Triphala GugguluLaxative detoxicant
Simhanada GugguluStrong laxative / detoxicant (with Castor Oil)
Yogaraj GugguluNervine detoxicantVata

Metabolic Nature of Guggulu

See a complete list of all biocharacteristics.

METABOLIC NATURE

Metabolic Nature

Ayurveda assesses metabolic imbalances through 20 main biocharacteristics (gunas). Aggravating them weakens your body and causes imbalance. By knowing which biocharacteristics are habitually imbalanced in your body, you will be able to identify and correct metabolic imbalances before you get sick. Every biocharacteristic has an opposite which balances it (i.e. hot balances cold). You restore balance by favoring diet and lifestyle choices that increase the opposite biocharacteristic.

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CLEAR

ABOUT CLEAR BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Clear refers to anything that cleanses or flushes out wastes, or that digests ama.

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DRY

ABOUT DRY BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Dry is identified by lack of moisture, lack of fat, or anything that causes diuresis.

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HOT

ABOUT HOT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot is identified by increased body temperature, metabolism, or inflammation.

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LIGHT

ABOUT LIGHT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Lightness is identified by reduced weight.

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MOBILE

ABOUT MOBILE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Mobile refers to anything that stimulates the nervous system, muscles, or activity.

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TASTES

The 6 Tastes

Taste is used to sense the most basic properties and effects of food. Each taste has a specific medicinal effect on your body. Cravings for food with certain tastes indicate your body is craving specific medicinal results from food. Taste is experienced on the tongue and represents your body's reaction to foods. Sweet taste causes physical satisfaction and attraction whereas bitter taste causes discomfort and aversion. Kapha should use less sweet taste while Vata and Pitta would benefit from using more sweet taste. One of the first signs of illness is that your taste and appetite for food changes. The six tastes are sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, and astringent. Do you crave foods with any of the tastes below?

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ASTRINGENT

ABOUT ASTRINGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Astringency is characterized by constriction, drawing together, or drying.

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PUNGENT

ABOUT PUNGENT BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Pungency is characterized by irritation, or sharp, spicy foods that irritate the mouth such as black pepper.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PUNGENT

DOSHAS

The Three Doshas / Body Types

Ayurveda is a metabolic theory of medicine that explains individual health, tendencies, and disease patterns through the concept of doshas, which can be understood as your metabolic patterns and tendencies.

Each dosha reflects a distinct metabolic nature and describes strengths & weaknesses in bodily function, and how these affect energy levels, digestion, susceptibility to disease, and many other tendencies.

Your metabolic nature not only affects your physical characteristics, but also influences your mental thought patterns, confidence, and enthusiasm.

Ayurveda balances these metabolic strengths & weaknesses to support your body's vitality and prevent recurrent disease cycles. This support is a critical aid, especially in chronic or incurable disease conditions.

The 3 metabolic body types (doshas), are Catabolic (Vata), Metabolic (Pitta), and Anabolic (Kapha).

Through dosha, Ayurveda empowers people to identify metabolic imbalances early, break repetitive patterns of disease, and cultivate habits that support long-term vitality and well-being.

Ultimately, these metabolic patterns also provide a framework for understanding yourself, including body, mind, and spiritual tendencies.

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PACIFIES
Kapha pacifying
AGGRAVATES
Pitta aggravating Vata aggravating

GREEK MEDICINE / TEMPERAMENTS

The Four Temperaments / Humors

Ayurveda & Greek Medicine were the dominant form of medicine along the Silk Road from England to China and South Asia. They work by assessing your metabolic type, patterns, and nature. Greek medicine recognizes 4 metabolic temperaments, Melancholic, Choleric, Sanguine, and Phlegmatic.

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PACIFIES
PHLEGMATIC

ABOUT PHLEGMATIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Wet & cold. When out of balance becomes congested, stagnant, and overweight. Loving, trusting, and patient.

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AGGRAVATES
CHOLERIC

ABOUT CHOLERIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Has a hot and dry metabolic nature. Enthusiastic, vibrant and bright. In excess burns up fluids and ojas, irritable. Corresponds to high bilirubin in the blood that irritates and heats up the body and liver.

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MELANCHOLIC

ABOUT MELANCHOLIC BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Cold and dry with a slow, variable or erratic metabolism. Colicky, tense. Withdrawn, pensive, anxious, and hesitant. Analytical, intelligent, detail oriented and creative. Prone to ojas depletion, dehydration, an overactive nervous system, and depression.

LEARN MORE ABOUT MELANCHOLIC

SANGUINE

ABOUT SANGUINE BIOCHARACTERISTIC

Hot & moist. Full-blooded, vigorous. Vivacious, social, and epicurean. Bullish.

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Other

Resinous

RESINOUS

Resinous substances often contain sap in them, such as rosemary, or herbs such as cedar, frankincense, and guggulu.

SEE ALL 'RESINOUS' FOODS / HERBS

Medicinal Benefits, Uses & Herbal Actions of Guggulu
Experiences are Personal
Experiences vary according to the person and constitution. Individual results may vary. The list of herbal-actions below has not be approved by the FDA and should not be used to treat a medical condition.

(see all)
Spleen Tonic

SPLEEN-TONIC

An herb that strengthens spleen function by improving strength of the blood. Spleen tonics Builds agni, brighten the person's appearances & firms up tissues.

SEE ALL 'SPLEEN-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

Internal Detoxicant

INTERNAL-DETOXICANT

Liquefies, dissolves, decongests or dislodges internal stagnant toxins. Decongests the lymphatic system.

SEE ALL 'INTERNAL-DETOXICANT' FOODS / HERBS

Stimulates Energy

STRONG STIMULATES-ENERGY

This category groups thyroid and adrenal stimulating herbs.

SEE ALL 'STIMULATES-ENERGY' FOODS / HERBS

Anti Inflammatory

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY

Reduces inflammation in the body. Different herbs and carriers target different body systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTI-INFLAMMATORY' FOODS / HERBS

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Antiseptic

ANTISEPTIC

Capable of preventing infection by inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. Helpful in infections and for those with weak immune systems.

SEE ALL 'ANTISEPTIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Immune Stimulant

IMMUNE-STIMULANT

Stimulates and strengthens the immune system. Helpful when fighting off a cold or flu.

SEE ALL 'IMMUNE-STIMULANT' FOODS / HERBS

Antiplatelet

STRONG ANTIPLATELET

An herb that inhibits clotting, dissolves clots, thins the blood, or destroys platelets, therefore reducing the tendency of blood to form clots. They are useful in cardiovascular disease, clots, and stroke. Aka anticoagulant.

SEE ALL 'ANTIPLATELET' FOODS / HERBS

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Alterative

ALTERATIVE

Restores the proper function of the body by cleansing the blood and balancing blood chemistry. In Ayurveda terms, they pacify Pitta in rakta. They were traditionally used to revitalize and detoxify after a long winter.

SEE ALL 'ALTERATIVE' FOODS / HERBS

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Blood Thinner

BLOOD-THINNER

Herbs that thin the blood. Helpful for people with heart disease or clogged circulation.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-THINNER' FOODS / HERBS

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Blood Tonic

BLOOD-TONIC

An herb that produces more blood cells in the body, or otherwise improves blood cell quality or hemoglobin content. Helpful for anemia and other types of deficiency.

SEE ALL 'BLOOD-TONIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Vasodilator

VASODILATOR

A vasodilator is an herb that widens the blood vessels by the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within the vessel walls, thereby increasing circulation systemically or to a local area.

SEE ALL 'VASODILATOR' FOODS / HERBS

Hypolipidemic

HYPOLIPIDEMIC

Scrapes fats / cleanses blood vessels by 1) purging bile, 2) strengthening the liver's ability to metabolize fats, 3) by increasing uptake of cholesterol in the liver, and 4) by inhibiting fat cells.

SEE ALL 'HYPOLIPIDEMIC' FOODS / HERBS

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Lowers Blood Sugar

LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR

An herb that lowers blood sugar.

SEE ALL 'LOWERS-BLOOD-SUGAR' FOODS / HERBS

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Raises Thyroid

RAISES-THYROID

An herb that increases thyroid function.

SEE ALL 'RAISES-THYROID' FOODS / HERBS

Emmenagogue

EMMENAGOGUE

Herbs which stimulate menstruation. Emmenagogues are used for scanty menstruation, to relieve menstrual pain, and improve blood flow in the pelvic area and uterus.

SEE ALL 'EMMENAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

Antiarthritic

ANTIARTHRITIC

Herbs that ease arthritic pain and promote joint health.

SEE ALL 'ANTIARTHRITIC' FOODS / HERBS

Foods with a Similar Nature to Guggulu

  • Turmeric

    Turmeric has these Actions in Common

    Antiarthritic, Blood-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator, Alterative, Antiplatelet, Emmenagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Hypolipidemic, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Turmeric Root (Fresh)

    Turmeric Root (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Antiarthritic, Emmenagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Alterative, Antiplatelet, Hypolipidemic, Spleen-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-tonic, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginger (Fresh)

    Ginger (Fresh) has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Spleen-tonic, Antiarthritic, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-energy, Antiplatelet, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Nigella (black cumin)

    Nigella (black cumin) has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Lowers-blood-sugar, Vasodilator, Immune-stimulant, Spleen-tonic

    LEARN MORE

  • Cilantro

    Cilantro has these Actions in Common

    Blood-thinner, Spleen-tonic, Alterative, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Dandelion Leaves

    Dandelion Leaves has these Actions in Common

    Blood-thinner, Lowers-blood-sugar, Alterative, Hypolipidemic, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Beets

    Beets has these Actions in Common

    Blood-thinner, Stimulates-energy, Alterative, Blood-tonic, Vasodilator, Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant

    LEARN MORE

  • Fenugreek

    Fenugreek has these Actions in Common

    Emmenagogue, Lowers-blood-sugar, Hypolipidemic, Spleen-tonic, Anti-inflammatory, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Allspice

    Allspice has these Actions in Common

    Spleen-tonic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Lowers-blood-sugar, Vasodilator, Antiarthritic

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Powder

    Mustard Powder has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator, Antiseptic, Spleen-tonic, Emmenagogue, Stimulates-energy, Antiarthritic

    LEARN MORE

  • Mustard Seed

    Mustard Seed has these Actions in Common

    Antiseptic, Spleen-tonic, Emmenagogue, Stimulates-energy, Antiarthritic, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

Herbs & Supplements with a Similar Nature to Guggulu

  • Yogaraj Guggulu

    Yogaraj Guggulu has these Actions in Common

    Antiplatelet, Blood-thinner, Emmenagogue, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Alterative, Vasodilator, Anti-inflammatory, Antiarthritic

    LEARN MORE

  • Manjistha

    Manjistha has these Actions in Common

    Internal-detoxicant, Spleen-tonic, Alterative, Vasodilator, Anti-inflammatory, Blood-thinner, Blood-tonic, Emmenagogue, Hypolipidemic

    LEARN MORE

  • Dong Quai

    Dong Quai has these Actions in Common

    Blood-thinner, Blood-tonic, Emmenagogue, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Stimulates-energy, Anti-inflammatory, Vasodilator, Antiplatelet

    LEARN MORE

  • Punarnava

    Punarnava has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Stimulates-energy, Vasodilator, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory

    LEARN MORE

  • Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi)

    Holy Basil Leaf (Tulsi) has these Actions in Common

    Blood-tonic, Emmenagogue, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Stimulates-energy, Vasodilator, Anti-inflammatory

    LEARN MORE

  • Shilajit Tonic

    Shilajit Tonic has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Hypolipidemic, Immune-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Raises-thyroid, Stimulates-energy

    LEARN MORE

  • Neem Leaf

    Neem Leaf has these Actions in Common

    Blood-thinner, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Lowers-blood-sugar, Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Antiseptic

    LEARN MORE

  • Angelica

    Angelica has these Actions in Common

    Antiplatelet, Blood-thinner, Emmenagogue, Hypolipidemic, Immune-stimulant, Stimulates-energy, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Yarrow

    Yarrow has these Actions in Common

    Alterative, Anti-inflammatory, Antiseptic, Blood-thinner, Immune-stimulant, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator

    LEARN MORE

  • Ginkgo

    Ginkgo has these Actions in Common

    Anti-inflammatory, Antiplatelet, Blood-thinner, Hypolipidemic, Internal-detoxicant, Vasodilator, Alterative

    LEARN MORE


Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

Guidelines - Preparation & Dose

See guidelines for herbs?
Follow these guidelines

TRADITIONALLY INDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Guggulu may be beneficial for these symptoms. The suitability of any herb supplement for a condition is highly dependent on the individual. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

CONTRAINDICATED FOR
THESE SYMPTOMS

Guggulu may be harmful or contraindicated for these symptoms. Please see your doctor before using this herb supplement to treat a medical condition.

Herb Drug Interaction Risk

Here are some potential herb drug interactions with Guggulu. Please see your health care provider for more information.

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