Indian Bdellium: Health Benefits and Therapeutic Uses (Guggal, Commiphora wightii)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

The word “Guggulu” is derived from the phrase “gudti rakshyati vatrogata iti Guggulu”, which means the one having the potential to protect from vata roga is Guggulu. Mythologically, it is believed that Guggulu evolved as nectar during Devasur Sangrama by Lord Vishnu to replenish the lost bala, shourya, and tejas of Devtas.

Guggulu has many uses in traditional medicine and is considered the best analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug in Ayurveda. Atharva Veda mentions that fumigating the area with guggul prevents the spreading of yakshma and other diseases. Kaiyadev classified different colored guggul in terms of their doshaghanta like Krishna varna Guggulu is best for rakta-pitta dosh, pingal varna guggulu is best for kapha-pitta dosh, and Shweta varna guggul is best for vata-pitta dosh.

2. Common Names

• Family – Burseraceae
• Hindi Name – Guggal, Gugal
• English Name – Indian bedellium

3. Vernacular Names

• Bengali – Guggula
• Gujarati – Gugal
• Kannada – Kanthagana
• Siddha – Gugal
• Marathi – Guggul
• Malayalam – Gulgulu
• Tamil – Mahisaksi
• Telugu – Makishakshi
• Urdu – Muqil
• Punjabi – Guggal

4. Synonyms

• Devadhupa – Incense prepared from its resin is used to worship God.
• Kananiryasa – The exudate is crystalline.
• Marudeshya – The plant grows naturally in sandy arid regions.
• Palankasha – The exudate is used to scrape away excessive fat.
• Pura – Its exudate is highly potent in action.

5. Classical Categorization

• Charaka Samhita – Sangyasthapana
• Sushrut Samhita – Eladi
• Ashtanga Hridya – Eladi
• Dhanvantari Nighantu – Chandanadi varga
• Madanpal Nighantu – Karpuradi varga
• Kaiyadev Nighantu – Oshadi varga
• Raj Nighantu – Chandanadi varga
• Bhavaprakasha Nighantu – Guduchyadi varga

6. Distribution

Guggul is a native plant of northern Africa and central Asia, in India, it is mostly found in arid rocky places of Rajasthan, Gujrat, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka.

7. Morphology

A small tree or shrub with spinescent branches reaching up to a height of 7 to 8 feet. Young branches are aromatic and brownish-red in color. The plant exists in three forms, male, female, and bisexual.

Bark – It is characterized by the presence of silvery paper-like brownish bark which peels off regularly, and below it the stem is green.

Leaves – Trifoliate in which the terminal leaflet is biggest and lateral leaflets are less than half the size of the terminal one, alternate, rhomboid-ovate shape, serrated margin, and reddish-brown petiole.

Flowers – small, brownish-red in fascicles of two to three, pedicels are very short. Calyx is glandular, hairy, and campanulate. Petals are brownish-red, broadly linear, nearly thrice the length of the calyx, reflexed at the apex. Stamens are eight to ten in number, alternatively long and short, half the length of the petals. Ovary oblong-ovoid, attenuated into the style.

Fruits – Small, oval shaped drupes, red when ripe, easily split into two.

Exudate – Obtained from the oleo resin ducts in the bark, when fresh, the resin is pale yellow to brown, and aromatic. After collection, it is opaque, aromatic, reddish-brown, dusty surface, mixed with sand, consisting of irregular roundish masses of varying sizes. The best resin is the one that is thick, aromatic, burns completely in fire, melts easily in sun heat, and turns milky white when dissolved in water.

8. Ayurvedic Properties

• Rasa (Taste) - It has Kashya, Katu , Tikta ( pungent, bitter, astringent) taste.
• Virya (Potency) - It is Ushna in nature (hot).
• Vipaka (Post-digestive taste) - It is Katu (bitter) taste.
• Guna (Qualities) – Laghu, Ruskha, Vishad.

9. Chemical Constituent

It contains volatile oil, resin, gum, and bitter compounds. The oleo gum resin contains guggulsterones Z & E, cholestrol, mucolol, camphorene, cembrene, ferulic acid, amino acid, and guggulligans. The other compounds reported are myrcene, polymyrcene, sugar, myricyl alcohol, flavonoids and ellagic acid.

10. Types

Bhavaprakash and Kaiyadev Nighantu have described five types of Guggulu:

Commercially, two varieties are available:

• Bhesha Guggulu (Mahishaksh) – Dark green to yellow, found in Gujrat.
• Kana Guggulu (Hiranya) – Reddish-yellow, found in Rajasthan.

(Source: Singh 1969)

11. Identity, Purity, and Strength

• Foreign Matter – Not more than 4%
• Total Ash – Not more than 5%
• Acid-insoluble ash – Not more than 2%
• Alcohol-soluble extractive – Not less than 1%
• Water-soluble extractive – Not less than 53%
• Volatile Oil – Not less than 1%

12. Ayurvedic and Pharmacological Actions

Ayurvedic Actions

In the traditional Ayurvedic system of medicine, Guggulu niryasa is described as sangyasthapana, bhagnasandhankar, deepan, raktaprasadana.

Fresh Guggul

It looks like a fresh jambu fruit, aromatic, strength-promoting, aphrodisiac, stimulant and weight-promoting.

Old Guggulu

It has a bad odor, is scrapping, and is devoid of natural color and potency.

• Doshakarma – Tridoshakarma
• Dhatukarma – Rasayana
• Malakarma – Anuloman

Pharmacological Actions

 It has anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, liver stimulant, aphrodisiac, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, antidiabetic, and diuretic properties.

13. Health Benefits

It is used in the treatment of sciatica, facial paralysis, arthritis, infertility, swelling, hemorrhoids, obesity, worm infestation, skin disease, and gout.

14. Therapeutic Uses

Asthma – Shallaki, guggulu, Agaru and Padmaka mixed with ghrita.

Obesity – Regular use of Rasajana, Brihat panchmool, guggulu, shilajeet and agnimantha is beneficial.

Gout – Regular use of guggulu, shilajit and honey is beneficial.

Fistula in ano – Intake of guggulu and vidanga mixed with decoction of Triphala and Khadira.

15. Official Part Used

Oleo gum resin.

16. General Doses

Powder – 2 to 4g.

17. Formulations

Yograj guggul, Triphala guggulu, Gokshuradi guggulu, Vatari Guggulu, Punarnavaidi guggulu, and Chandrprabha vati.

18. Side Effects

If it's taken in an inappropriate dose may cause liver and lung damage, and over-dose may cause muscle wasting, dryness in the mouth, impotence, and debility. Ling-term and higher doses may cause cataracts, diarrhea, and dryness in the body.