Guduchi

Health Benefits of Guduchi

Traditionally, Guduchi has been used in Ayurveda for a wide range of actions. Here are some of the most prominent health benefits of Guduchi.

• It acts as a bitter tonic and this gives it the ability to act as an appetizer.
• Guduchi is a febrifuge – that is, it helps to reduce fever. The starchy matter (sattva) obtained from Guduchi is used for this purpose.
• Extracts of Guduchi have been found to bring about a marked reduction in allergic symptoms such as nasal itching, running or stuffy nose and sneezing.
• It has a significant action on improving liver function by destroying toxins; it is considered highly effective in treating liver damage due to hepatitis or jaundice.
• Guduchi has a marked action as an aphrodisiac; it also increases sexual potency and purifies sperm.
• It is used to treat digestive problems such as hyperacidity, abdominal pain, colitis, vomiting and loss of appetite.
• External application of Guduchi paste is said to be effective in treating chronic skin disorders such as eczema and psoriasis and also helps to impart a healthy glow to skin.
• Recent studies have shown it to have great value as an adaptogen – an agent that helps increase the body’s resistance to illness, anxiety and stress.
• Guduchi has also shown promising results as an anti-diabetic agent. Animal studies have found that extracts of the plant are capable of inhibiting the action of some of the enzymes involved in increasing blood glucose levels.

Guduchi has a strong action on the immune system, causing it to get activated. This can prove counterproductive in persons who suffer from autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and systemic lupus erythematosus and therefore, it is best avoided in the presence of these conditions.