Giloy

HABITAT

Giloy is distributed throughout tropical regions of India that are located 1200 meters above from sea level of kumaon to Assam. It is native to India, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka.

INTRODUCTION

Giloy, known by the scientific name, Tinospora cordifolia, is an Ayurvedic herb that has been used and advocated in Indian medicine for ages. Through centuries, Giloy has been part of many Ayurvedic formulations used in the treatment of various diseases.

Giloy is a universal herb that helps boost immunity. It is a Hindu mythological term that refers to the ‘heavenly elixir’ that has saved celestial beings from old age and kept them eternally young. In Ayurveda, it has been used for centuries in all types of fevers, and for blood purifying, immune empowering, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory benefits. It is used as a rasayana to improve the immune system and body resistance against infections. The whole plant is used medicinally; however, the stem is approved for use in medicine as listed by the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India. In Sanskrit, Giloy is known as ‘Amrita', which literally translates to ‘the root of immortality', because of its abundant medicinal properties attributed to its ability to impart youthfulness, vitality, and longevity.

Other synonyms used for Guduchi which refer to its various properties and uses, include Chhinnaruha/Chhinnodbhava (for the plant’s capacity to grow from the cut side), Vatsadini (eaten by grazing animals), Pittaghni (bile destroying), Rasayana (capacity to improve quality of rasa, the primordial tissue which in turn strengthens all other tissues), Chakrangi/Chakraakshana (for its wheel-like appearance), Jwaranashi/Jwarari (potent antipyretic), Vayastha (prevents ageing), Amrutsambhava (ambrosia), Bhishakpriya (favourite of physicians), Saumya (not harmful) and Tikta (bitter taste).

BENEFITS

Strong Immune Builder: Giloy or Guduchi helps in maintaining healthy and sufficient level of white blood cells in our blood. Not only this, but this herb also increases the overall effectiveness of these WBCs so as to keep our body protected against any unwanted attacks from foreign bodies. By strengthening our natural defence mechanism, Giloy therefore prepares our body to fight the onset of various types of fever, especially those that directly attack our immune system.

Adaptogen: Giloy is one of those potent herbs that are known to increase our body’s adaptation power and its overall resistance to stress, anxiety and various other conditions that may be contributing to a declining immunity.

Anti-pyretic: Giloy helps get rid of recurrent fevers. Since Giloy is anti-pyretic in nature, it can reduce signs and symptoms of several life-threatening conditions like Dengue, Swine Flu and Malaria as well.

Anti-inflammatory: Giloy is helpful in conditions like arthritis, gout, osteoarthritis etc where joint pain is a common symptom. It helps to reduce pain and swelling of joints. Giloy also helps to rejuvenate joints and increases their mobility.

Blood Purifier: Giloy helps to remove toxins from blood. It acts as a detoxifying agent. Toxins accumulated due to alcohol and tobacco consumption can be expelled by regular use of this herb.

Antioxidant: Giloy herb contains a variety of antioxidants along with various antiseptic and analgesic properties. These antioxidants fight the disease-causing free radicals in our body and therefore, safeguard the body from the damage of harmful toxic matter.

MECHANISM OF ACTION

Vaibhav Aher et al study confirms the immunomodulatory activity of Tinospora cordifolia ethanolic stem extract (100 mg/Kg/p.o) through altering the concentration of antioxidant enzymes, increasing T and B cells and antibody which play an important role in immunity, enhancing the concentration of melatonin in pineal gland and increasing the level of cytokines like IL-2, IL-10 and TNF-α which plays an important role in immunity.

CLINICAL STUDIES & REFERENCES

Bishayi B, Roychowdhury S, Ghosh S, Sengupta M. Hepatoprotective and immunomodulatory properties of Tinospora cordifolia in CCl4 intoxicated mature albino rats. J Toxicol Sci. 2002;27:139–46.
Jeyachandran R, Xavier TF, Anand SP. Antibacterial activity of stem extracts of Tinospora cordifolia (Willd) Hook. f and Thomson. Anc Sci Life 2003;23:40-3.