Guduchi ...

Botanical Name Tinospora cordifolia

Common Names: Tinospora, Guduchi, Giloy

Parts Used: Whole plant, sometimes only the root or stem.

Introduction: Guduchi is a famous plant of traditional use and also a powerful rasayana mentioned in Indian ayurvedic literature. It is considered as a bitter tonic and powerful immuno modulator. Guduchi is very much useful to enhance memory.

Plant Description: Guduchi is a perennial plant of weak and fleshy stem found throughout the India. The aerial roots that arises from the stem are tread like. The leaf is heart shaped and smooth. The flowers are yellowish in colour emerges in bunch in rainy season. The fruits of guduchi are pea like which are seen in winter in India.

History: Guduchi is one of the most valuable medicinal herbs of Indian ayurveda. It is one of ayurveda strongest immune building herbs which is little known in the west. As per Indian ayurvedic concept guduchi is excellent for clearing deep seated fevers and strengthening the immune system.

Chemistry: A variety constituents have been isolated from Tinospora plant. They include alkaloid like Tinosporin Glucosidal, Bitter principles, crystalline component. The bitter principles have been identified as columbin, chasmanthin and palmarin.

Distribution: Guduchi is found throughout tropical India, from Himalayas to southwards upto Srilanka.

• Guduchi acts as a diuretic and found to be effective against Renal obstruction like calculi and other urinary disorders.

• Guduchi acts as a memory booster, develops inteligence, promotes mental clarity. It is described as one of the Medhya Rasayana (mental rejuvenative) in the Charak Samhita (The oldest and most potent book of Ayurvedic Medicine).

• Guduchi is regarded as a liver protector.

• Guduchi is considered helpful in eye disorders as a tissue builder and promotes mental clarity.

• The stem of guduchi is used in general debility, dyspepsia and urinary diseases.

• Guduchi is anti-pyretic and act as a tonic after fever, also has action against alternative fever like Malaria.

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