Essential Facts About Indian Tinospora Stem
Names
- Botanical: Tinospora Cordifolia
- Ayurveda: Guduchi, “The One Who Protects the Body”
- Sanskrit: Amrita, Cakralaksana
- Other: Giloy, heart-leaved moonseed, Indian Tinospora
Energetics
- Rasa (taste): bitter, astringent, sweet and pungent
- Virya (action): heating
- Vipaka (metabolism, post-digestive effect): sweet
- Effect on doshas: Considered tridoshic, balances all 3 doshas, particularly vata and pitta.
Habitat
Guduchi was originally found growing in tropical regions in India, but it has spread to areas of Sri Lanka and Burma. The Guduchi vine grows quite well in the wild, and generally doesn’t require a lot of attention when it’s being cultivated.
Description
Guduchi is a tropical, climbing herb. It’s a member of the Mernispermacaea family, and it is often found growing along the side of buildings in Indian cities or growing through some of the dry forests of India, where it likes to climb up large trees.
It is particularly fond of growing in areas where neem trees and mango can be found. Guduchi has a characteristic heart-shaped leaf that can easily identify the plant.
Parts Used
The stem and the leaves are generally the only parts of the guduchi vine used for medicinal purposes.
Nutrients
There are a large number of medicinal compounds and nutrients that have been identified in the guduchi plant. Some of the most important nutrients include: tinosporone, tinosporic acid, syringen, berberine, gilenin, picrotene, bergenin, gilosterol, glucan polysaccharide, cordifol, sitosterol, magnoflorine, tembetarine, and isocolumbin.
Medicinal Uses of Indian Tinospora Stem
Indian tinospora stem is a fairly popular compound in Ayurvedic medicine, and has been used for helping to manage a wide variety of conditions. These are some of the most common indications for Guduchi.
Protecting the Liver
Guduchi has shown promising ability as a hepatoprotective – a substance that protects the liver. It can also help to reduce damage done by viral hepatitis, as well as helping to regenerate liver tissue.
Enhancing Joint Health
Another fantastic benefit of guduchi is its ability to help enhance the health of the joints. This is particularly important for Vatas, who are prone to having vulnerable joints that crack all the time.
Guduchi can help ward off damage from conditions like arthritis and gout, and can help clear uric acid out of the body.
Enhancing Immunity
Another impressive benefit of guduchi is its ability to help enhance immunity. It is known to help ward off diseases as serious as cancer, AIDS and autoimmune disorders. It can also be useful for off-setting some of the dangerous effects of chemotherapy.
Enhancing Digestion
Guduchi has been useful for helping to protect the digestive system, as well as to prevent destructive digestive conditions like gastritis and dysentery. It can also be used to balance symptoms of digestive upset, like bloating, gas, etc.
Usage and Dosage of Indian Tinospora Stem
Indian tinospora stem (guduchi) is generally recommended to be taken in dosages between 1 and 15 grams daily.
There are a number of different preparations that guduchi can be mixed into. Guduchi mixed with kutki and chiretta, for example, will be useful for helping improve immunity. Guduchi mixed with gurmar, turmeric, amalaki and shilajit can help to fight diabetes. Guduchi is also included in Chyawanprash.
Reviewed by Dr. Jayant Lokhande, MD (Botanical Drugs), MBA (Biotechnology)
