Giloy Health Benefits

In Ayurveda, Heart-leaved Moonseed is prized for its countless medicinal uses for ages. Check out the Proven Giloy Health Benefits here!

Giloy Health Benefits were truly highlighted during the pandemic when people realized the importance, healing powers, and nutrition value of this magical herb. Let’s have a look in detail.

Botanical Name: Tinospora cordifolia

Other Names: Gurjo, Heart-leaved moonseed, Guduchi, Shindilakodi, Garo, Galac, Gurcha, Guluchi, Amruthu, Gulancha, Gulvel, Galo, Dhira

Here’s everything you need to know about growing Giloy plant in India

What is Giloy?

Giloy is a herbaceous creeping vine plant native to the Indian tropical region. This plant bears heart-shaped leaves on elongated and twinning branches, hence earned Heart-leaved moonseed name. Its useful barks are gray-brown in color and are easy to peel off.

Mythological Story Behind the Origin of Giloy

According to some folklores, in the Ramayana, many monkeys who supported Rama died during the battle. They were revived by sprinkling the drops of divine nectar. While distributing, some of the nectar fell on the ground, and it sprouted in the form of the Guduchi / Giloy. From then, it was revered and used as an amrita plant.

Giloy Plant Significance

In Ayurveda, Giloy plant is popular for its immense curative properties. Its roots and stem have a great significance in Ayurvedic medicines as they contain therapeutic compounds including Alkaloids, Terpenoids, Lignans, and Steroids. The plant is also prized for its alterative, diuretic, anti-constipation, anti-oxidant, anti-stress, anti-inflammatory, and hypoglycemic properties.

According to the Hindu scriptures, this plant is one of the three Amrita plants (Guduchi, Garlic, and Haritaki) and has been termed as Amritavalli that literally means the root of immortality. According to the verses from Charak Samhita, the medicinal Giloy plant can both treat Vata and Kapha doshas.

How to Consume Giloy?

People generally consume Giloy stem and roots in juice or kaadha (concoction) form. To prepare Guduchi juice, snip off a young branch from the plant, wash it thoroughly. Then, scrap the outer skin until a green part becomes visible. Grind this part with water into a grinder and drink the juice after straining.

Nowadays, Guduchi is easily available in powdered, capsules, or syrup forms in markets. For a healthy person, the doses can vary, but generally, one teaspoon twice a day is advised. Its consumption is forbidden for lactating women.

1. Empowers the Immune System

A plethora of antioxidants present in Giloy works as a booster for the immune system. They fight against infections and free radicals present in the body. Besides, it also cleanses the blood, detoxifies the skin, and flushes out toxins from the body.

Also, its diuretic properties, termed as mutrakriccha in Sanskrit, heal urinary tract and liver infections too.

2. Suppress Chronic Fever

Be it dengue, malaria, swine flu, or hay fever, Guduchi reduces all types of chronic fever, thanks to its antipyretic and anti-inflammatory properties. To suppress this high fever and increase platelet count, the practitioners suggest Giloy syrup with neem and tulsi.

3. Anti Aging

Apart from its healing properties, it is a lesser-known fact that giloy has anti-aging effects as well. Although the aging process, wrinkles, and pimples are unstoppable but, regular Giloy consumption with Haridra and Amla slows down the aging by reviving the skin tissues. Moreover, you can also apply Giloy stem or leaves paste on the skin.

4. Great for Digestion

Ranging from hyperacidity, diarrhea, ulcers to vomiting, Giloy is one solution to all Gastrointestinal problems. Also, its regular use is effective in improving bowel movement and bloating problems.

Practitioners suggest taking one teaspoon of Giloy powder in lukewarm water for relieving constipation and other digestive issues.

5. Helps Diabetic Patients

Giloy does wonders for patients with type 2 diabetes. According to a research, it effectively reduces the blood sugar level by acting as a hypoglycaemic agent. In Ayurveda, Guduchi is termed ‘madhunashini,’ which is the ‘destroyer of sugar.’

Giloy also enhances the insulin level in the blood that ultimately keeps the sugar level in check.

6. Improves Eyesight

Boil Giloy powder or a handful of its leaves in three cups of water. After cooling down, apply this solution topically over the eyelashes for improving the vision opacity and better sight clarity.

7. Treats Arthritis Problem

If someone has arthritis or joint pain, then that person can get relief by consuming milk boiled with Giloy stem or simply by chewing Guduchi roots.

According to a study, Giloy’s anti-arthritic and anti-osteoporotic properties hampers the pro-inflammatory cytokines formation in the body, hence reducing arthritis inflammation.

8. Reduces Respiratory Problems

The anti-inflammatory properties of Giloy are useful in treating respiratory problems like cough, tonsils, etc. It is also beneficial for asthmatic patients, dealing with shortness of breath, chest tightness, or coughing.

9. Suppresses Stress and Anxiety

Giloy juice is a magical health tonic for relieving stress and anxiety, thanks to its anti-stress property. Besides, it also boosts memory and improves the cognitive function of the brain. Just take 2-3 teaspoons of Giloy juice in water regularly to see its benefit.

10. Effective Against Coronavirus Infection

Neither, Medical science has found accurate coronavirus treatment, nor the Giloy is the solution for this deadly virus. But, many studies advocate that its anti-viral property effectively controls the replication of the virus, besides strengthening immunity.

Experts also suggest using giloy in combination with tulsi and ashwagandha for an enhanced immune response.