Guggul (Commiphora mukul)
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- Circulatory
- 3 conditions
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Overview
Guggul is a spiny shrub or tree growing to 6.5 feet with oval, serrated leaves, brownish-red flowers, and red fruits. The gum resin obtained from the bark forms pale yellow to brown 'tears' on the stems. Thriving in dry, semi-arid, and desert environments across much of the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East, it has been valued in Ayurvedic medicine for millennia. Early Ayurvedic texts describe guggul as effective in treating obesity, leading to modern research into its potential for managing fat metabolism problems such as raised blood cholesterol levels.
Traditional uses & properties
Guggul has anti-inflammatory, blood-thinning, and cholesterol-lowering activity, and can be helpful in treating obesity - true to ancient understanding of the herb. Its fat-soluble steroids, particularly guggulsterones E and Z, are the main active constituents. In Ayurveda, guggul is principally used to treat arthritic problems such as osteoarthritis, though it is also considered to have tonic and rejuvenating properties. Research from the 1980s and 1990s has shown that it lowers raised blood cholesterol levels and improves blood fat profiles in general. In several clinical trials, patients showed an average fall in cholesterol levels of about 12% and in triglycerides of about 14%, with overall blood-fat profiles also improving. Some trials recorded weight loss for patients taking guggulipids. The herb reduces platelet stickiness, thins the blood, may have protective activity on the heart, inhibits platelet aggregation, and can help prevent and possibly reverse arterial plaque. It is also useful in treating acne and is mildly stimulating to the thyroid, potentially helpful for weight loss.
Traditional preparations
Traditional texts describe the preparations below, and where those texts give specific amounts, the amounts are quoted here as part of that record. This is a record of historical practice, not a dosage recommendation - the figures are what the sources say, not what HerbMate tells you to take. Amounts, potency, and safe use vary enormously by preparation, plant part, and person.
Tincture (dried resin 1:3, 95% alcohol): 1-3 ml (0.2-0.6 tsp.) 2-4 times daily. Capsules: 75 mg standardized guggulsterones daily. The normal dose of guggulipid extract is 1-1.5 g per day (equivalent to 50-75 mg of guggulsterones).
Safety & precautions
Avoid if breastfeeding. Because it thins the blood, do not use in persons who bleed easily or during pregnancy. Avoid with hyperthyroid disorders. Guggul modestly reduces the absorption of diltiazem and propranolol - monitor if using with these medications. One case of rhabdomyolysis has been reported with guggul alone; if combined with statins (which also rarely cause rhabdomyolysis), the risk could be additive. All patients taking statins should be warned about symptoms of myopathy (muscle pain or weakness) and it would be prudent to reinforce this advice if taking guggul. Evidence suggests guggul may induce cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP3A4, though clinical significance is unclear. The mechanism of interaction with calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers may involve binding with drugs in the gut, reducing their absorption.
Drug & food interactions
Interaction data is not available for this herb - talk to a pharmacist before combining it with any medication. A blank entry here means we have not documented interactions, not that none exist.
Habitat
Guggul thrives in dry, semi-arid, and desert environments across much of the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East. The gum resin is harvested from the bark.
Traditionally used for
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Frequently asked questions
What is Guggul (Commiphora mukul) traditionally used for?
Traditional sources describe Guggul (Commiphora mukul) as follows: Guggul has anti-inflammatory, blood-thinning, and cholesterol-lowering activity, and can be helpful in treating obesity - true to ancient understanding of the herb. Its fat-soluble steroids, particularly guggulsterones E and Z, are the main active constituents. In Ayurveda, guggul is principally used to treat arthritic problems such as osteoarthritis, though it is also considered to have tonic and rejuvenating properties. Research from the 1980s and 1990s has shown that it lowers raised blood cholesterol levels and improves blood fat profiles in general. In several clinical trials, patients showed an average fall in cholesterol levels of about 12% and in triglycerides of about 14%, with overall blood-fat profiles also improving. Some trials recorded weight loss for patients taking guggulipids. The herb reduces platelet stickiness, thins the blood, may have protective activity on the heart, inhibits platelet aggregation, and can help prevent and possibly reverse arterial plaque. It is also useful in treating acne and is mildly stimulating to the thyroid, potentially helpful for weight loss.
How is Guggul (Commiphora mukul) prepared?
Traditional texts describe the preparations below, and where those texts give specific amounts, the amounts are quoted here as part of that record. This is a record of historical practice, not a dosage recommendation - the figures are what the sources say, not what HerbMate tells you to take. Amounts, potency, and safe use vary enormously by preparation, plant part, and person. Tincture (dried resin 1:3, 95% alcohol): 1-3 ml (0.2-0.6 tsp.) 2-4 times daily. Capsules: 75 mg standardized guggulsterones daily. The normal dose of guggulipid extract is 1-1.5 g per day (equivalent to 50-75 mg of guggulsterones).
What safety cautions apply to Guggul (Commiphora mukul)?
Avoid if breastfeeding. Because it thins the blood, do not use in persons who bleed easily or during pregnancy. Avoid with hyperthyroid disorders. Guggul modestly reduces the absorption of diltiazem and propranolol - monitor if using with these medications. One case of rhabdomyolysis has been reported with guggul alone; if combined with statins (which also rarely cause rhabdomyolysis), the risk could be additive. All patients taking statins should be warned about symptoms of myopathy (muscle pain or weakness) and it would be prudent to reinforce this advice if taking guggul. Evidence suggests guggul may induce cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP3A4, though clinical significance is unclear. The mechanism of interaction with calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers may involve binding with drugs in the gut, reducing their absorption.
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