Giloy Plant Benefits, Uses, Risks, & Dosage

Tinospora Cordifolia, commonly known as giloy, is an Indian shrub native to the country. Ayurvedic medicine uses its roots, stems, and leaves. Every different part of the giloy plant benefits your health in different ways.

It is claimed to treat hay fever, sports performance, diabetes, high cholesterol, upset stomach, gout, an itchy skin illness caused by mites (scabies), and a variety of other ailments, however there is little scientific evidence supporting these claims.

Tinospora has a number of chemicals that may affect the body. Some of these compounds have antioxidant effects. Others may increase the activity of the body’s immunological system. Certain substances appeared to have anti-cancer properties in test animals. The majority of research has been done on animals or in test tubes. Due to limited research, the effects of Tinospora Cordifolia on the human body are unclear.

What is Giloy?

The giloy plant (Tinospora Cordifolia) is a climbing shrub in the Menispermaceae family that grows on other trees. The plant is native to India, but it can also be found in China, Australia, and Africa’s tropical regions.

It’s considered an important medicinal plant in Ayurvedic and traditional medicine, where it’s used to cure a variety of health problems .

In Ayurvedic medicine, all parts of the plant are employed. Nevertheless, it is assumed that the stem contains the most therapeutic chemicals. The plant’s stem has been certified for use in medicines by India’s Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia.

Giloy plant is also known by the names Giloy, Guduchi, and Amrita. The term “giloy” comes from Hindu mythology. It alludes to a legendary heavenly elixir that keeps celestial beings forever young .

“Guduchi” means “something which shields the entire body,” and “amrita” means “immortality” in Sanskrit .

Giloy plant is typically used to treat :

1. Fever
2. Urinary problems
3. Asthma
4. Dysentery
5. Diarrhoea
6. Skin infections
7. Hansen’s disease (formerly called leprosy)
8. Diabetes
9. Gout
10. Jaundice
11. Anorexia
12. Eye conditions

Giloy Plant Benefits for Health

According to different studies, the giloy plant benefits your health in multiple ways. However, it’s worth noting that the majority of studies looked at the effects of giloy on rats or lab cells. Because there have been few human studies, it’s unclear whether the giloy benefits would be applicable to individuals.

1. Metabolic Benefits

Giloy benefits people who have diabetes or are at risk of heart disease.

Giloy plant lowers blood sugar by making cells less insulin resistant, according to several research conducted on animals and cells in the lab. In lab animals, it may also lower cholesterol levels.

Yet, it’s worth noting that, in addition to giloy, the animal study used a multi-herb mixture that includes seven additional herbs. As a result, it’s difficult to say whether the potential advantages are due to giloy or another herb.

Berberine is one of the alkaloid chemicals found in the giloy plant. It’s a traditional herbal treatment that has been proved in human trials to lower blood sugar levels. Berberine operates in a similar manner to metformin, a diabetes medicine.

Berberine has been shown to be as beneficial as some drugs in lowering blood sugar, LDL (bad) cholesterol, and blood pressure.

Some of the results reported in lab testing could be attributed to berberine and other alkaloids found in giloy.

2. Immune System Benefits

Tinospora Cordifolia has been shown in lab research to have antioxidant properties, which implies it can help protect cells from oxidative stress .

Some giloy compounds have shown anticancer potential when tested on breast, prostate, and ovarian cancer cells in the laboratory.

Consuming Tinospora Cordifolia (giloy) may also help your immune system fight allergens. In a trial of 75 persons with hay fever allergies, giloy was found to help with symptoms such as runny and stuffy noses.

Importantly, after taking giloy, 83 percent of patients reported complete relief from sneezing.

Giloy plant has components that can boost your immune system and protect you from germs and other diseases.

It can stop Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, Pseudomonas spp., and Proteus spp. from growing.

It also appears to kill bigger diseases. In one study, a T. Cordifolia lotion was compared to permethrin, a medicine used to treat scabies, an itchy rash produced by small mites infesting your skin. The researchers discovered that both treatments were equally effective at killing scabies and clearing the rash.

Giloy Uses For Human Health

Let’s take a look at some of the giloy uses for improving human health:

Possibly Effective for

Hay fever is a common ailment that affects After roughly 2 months of treatment, a specific extract of Tinospora Cordifolia (Tinofend, Verdure Sciences) appears to reduce sneezing, nasal irritation, and stuffy nose.

Insufficient Evidence for

Performance in sports: In healthy men, consuming an extract of Tinospora stem does not boost speed or strength, according to preliminary studies.

Diabetes patients’ foot sores: Early study suggests that combining Tinospora Cordifolia with additional treatments prescribed by a doctor may speed up the healing of diabetic foot ulcers.

Osteoarthritis: Specific Ayurvedic formulations containing Indian gooseberry, ginger, and Tinospora, with or without Boswellia, have been shown to alleviate pain and improve function in people with osteoarthritis in some studies.

Mites/itchy skin infection (scabies): Scabies symptoms can be relieved by using a lotion containing Tinospora Cordifolia, according to preliminary research. It appears to be on par with permethrin lotion in terms of effectiveness.

1. Cancer
2. Diabetes
3. Fever
4. Gonorrhoea
5. Gout
6. High cholesterol
7. Liver disease
8. Rheumatoid arthritis
9. Stomach ulcer
10. Syphilis
11. To counteract a suppressed immune system
12. Upset stomach
13. Other conditions

To rate the efficiency of Tinospora for these uses, more research is needed.

Risks of Giloy Plant

In healthy persons, there don’t appear to be any dangers related with giloy when used at the dose suggested on the product label or by a health practitioner. For other folks, though, it may not be the best option.

If you take diabetes medications, you should avoid this plant because it has the ability to reduce your blood sugar. You could experience a hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) reaction.

If you have an autoimmune condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or Crohn’s disease, Giloy could be problematic. This is due to its immune system-stimulating properties.

Your immune system is already overstimulated when you have autoimmunity. As a result, instead of attacking harmful bacteria, it attacks select healthy cells.

Finally, giloy is not advised for use by pregnant or lactating women. This is due to a lack of understanding of how it operates in humans. If you’re thinking about taking it, talk to your doctor first.

When it comes to natural medicines, we always advise caution. Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it’s always safe. Some can have unpleasant side effects or interact with specific drugs.

It’s best to consult a doctor prior to taking giloy or any other over-the-counter medication.

Giloy Side Effects

Let’s take a look at some of the side effects of giloy:

When taken by mouth: Tinospora Cordifolia is possibly safe when ingested orally for up to 8 weeks. Some people may get headaches or nose pain as a result of it. There’s not enough credible evidence to say whether giloy is safe to use for longer than 8 weeks or what the potential adverse effects are.

When applied to the skin: When used topically, there isn’t enough trustworthy evidence to say whether giloy is safe to use while pregnant or breastfeeding. To be on the safe side, avoid using it.

How to Use Giloy?

Giloy is sold as a medication in tablet or capsule form in pharmacies. You should follow the directions on the label since each manufacturer’s preparation may change.

Giloy powder, as well as a tincture or juice prepared from the roots and stems, can be purchased. Mix the prescribed amount with water to use it.

If your doctor has diagnosed you with scabies and given permethrin cream, inquire if giloy or Tinospora cordifolia lotion, cream, or ointment can be used instead.

Please remember that giloy isn’t regulated in the same way that medications are, so you can’t be sure you’re getting the right amount of active component.

Recommended Dosage of Giloy

In scientific studies, the following doses have been explored:

For allergic rhinitis (hay fever), take 300 mg of a particular Tinospora cordifolia aqueous stem extract three times a day for eight weeks (Tinofend, Verdure Sciences).

Conclusion

Giloy benefits upon consumption as a folk medicine, notably Ayurvedic treatment in India, have been observed for many years. It may be beneficial if you wish to boost your immune system, combat hay fever symptoms, or keep your blood sugar levels in check. However, there are few studies that demonstrate whether or not it works in people. Some modest human research has focused on treating allergy symptoms or an itchy scabies outbreak. Most people should be fine taking giloy as long as they follow the product label’s instructions. It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women. If you take blood sugar-lowering medication or have an autoimmune disease, you should be warned that giloy may trigger an allergic reaction.

Before using any herbal supplements, it’s always a smart option to consult with a doctor.