How does it feel?
The guduchi plant is native to India and can be found growing throughout the country. It is a large vine-like plant that produces a loose grey bark along the stem when it is mature. The leaves are a characteristic heart shape, its flowers are very small and spike-like with a green-yellow colouring. Guduchi fruits are a deep, glossy red and spherical in shape.
What can I use it for?
Guduchi has demonstrated the ability to activate macrophage and antibody production, stimulate tumour necrosis factor and also increase phagocytosis within the immune system. Guduchi acts as an immune system modulator and is indicated in conditions of an autoimmune origin.
Guduchi directly affects the liver and hepatocytes. It encourages hepatocyte regeneration, thereby improving liver function where there has been damage due to abuse or chronic illness.
Guduchi encourages regulation of the blood sugar, directly lowering blood glucose making it specific for hypoglycaemia.
Into the heart of guduchi
Guduchi plants have the ability to regenerate from any part of the stem that is re-planted. It is this perpetuating nature of guduchi that is so central to its rejuvenating qualities. It has very interesting energetics. It is bitter, astringent, pungent, yet heating and also sweet post digestively. In Ayurveda, its bitter and astringent quality clears pitta and kapha, its heating energy burns toxins whilst its enduring sweet effect regulates vata and gives it an aphrodisiac quality that nourishes reproductive fluids.Guduchi has a protective nature, and will encourage regeneration throughout the body, with a particular focus upon the liver and the immune system. It achieves rejuvenation by first encouraging effective cleansing and detoxification. It removes toxic congestion and inflammation that may be worsening chronic inflammatory or degenerative conditions. It has the ability to remove toxicity without destabilising or weakening the rest of the body. By improving liver detoxification processes, guduchi also acts as an alterative, improving overall blood quality. Through encouraging a healthier blood supply, guduchi positively impacts upon skin quality, blood based disorders or deficiencies and chronic inflammatory conditions of the musculoskeletal system.
Guduchi is indicated in liver damage, viral hepatitis and poisoning from alcohol, chemicals or recreational and medicinal drugs. It is useful in repairing fibrosis and regenerating liver tissue. It is also a useful addition whenever the liver needs protecting from hepatotoxic medications.
Indicated in gout, arthritis, and other inflammatory joint conditions. It acts by clearing accumulated toxins and uric acid via the urinary system.
Guduchi is an excellent choice for all auto-immune diseases influencing inflammation. It is indicated in degenerative diseases such as cancer, AIDS and arthritis through its ability to boost immune system functioning.
Indicated in supperative and inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus and ‘burning’ sensations on the skin. Skin problems that have arised from excessive alcohol, recreational drug and pharmaceutical drug use may also indicate the use of Guduchi.
Guduchi will heal a bowel affected with constipation, intestinal bleeding, haemorrhoids or dysentery. It is useful at redressing intestinal floral imbalance with candida-like symptoms such as bloating, flatulence and malabsorption, through its cleansing and detoxifying nature.
Guduchi regulates blood sugar levels benefiting diabetes and hypoglycaemia. Guduchi is also very calming to the nervous system soothing nervous irritation, influenced by congestion.
Guduchi’s ability to clear toxicity, and therefore excess heat, indicates it in sexual dysfunctions caused by hyper-heat conditions and is often used in formulas for male sexual dysfunction.
Traditional actions
Herbal actions describe therapeutic changes that occur in the body in response to taking a herb. These actions are used to express how a herb physiologically influences cells, tissues, organs or systems. Clinical observations are traditionally what have defined these actions: an increase in urine output, diuretic; improved wound healing, vulnerary; or a reduction in fever, antipyretic. These descriptors too have become a means to group herbs by their effects on the body — herbs with a nervine action have become the nervines, herbs with a bitter action are the bitters. Recognising herbs as members of these groups provides a preliminary familiarity with their mechanisms from which to then develop an understanding of their affinities and nuance and discern their clinical significance.
Traditional energetic actions
Herbal energetics are the descriptions Herbalists have given to plants, mushrooms, lichens, foods, and some minerals based on the direct experience of how they taste, feel, and work in the body. All traditional health systems use these principles to explain how the environment we live in and absorb, impacts our health. Find out more about traditional energetic actions in our article “An introduction to herbal energetics“.
Did you know?
Guduchi is a virile creeper that grows throughout the forests of India and Sri Lanka. Guduchi plants found growing up Neem trees are said to be the best as the synergy between these two bitter plants enhances Guduchi’s efficacy.
Additional information
Interactions
No drug herb interactions are known.
Dosage
1–15g/day in a decoction or 3–15ml/day of a 1:3 in 25% tincture
