- Botanical Name - Tinospora Cordifolia
- Common Name - Heart-leaved moonseed, Indian Tinospora
- Hindi Name - Giloy, Gurach, Gulvel
- Punjabi Name - Batindu, Gilogularich
- Gujarati Name - Gulo, Gado, Galo
- Marathi Name - Ambervel,Gulvel
- Sikkim Name - Gurjo
- Assamese Name - Hoguni
- Urdu Name - Guruch, Guluncho
- Bengali Name - Giloy, Gulancha
- Malayalam Name - Amritavalli, Chittamrith
- Tamil Name - Seenthil Kodi, Amritavalli
- Kannada Name - Agniballi, Amrutaballi
- Telugu Name - Dussiramu, Tippatige
Giloy stems and leaves are rich in Calcium, Phosphorus, Iron, Zinc, Copper and Manganese. Guduchi also contains some important phytochemicals such as terpenoids, alkaloids, lignans and steroids.
These compounds have antimicrobial, antiviral, anticancerous, and anti-diabetic properties, making giloy a potent herb.
Benefits of Giloy:
- Fever: Giloy is the best Ayurvedic herb for treating fever. Its antipyretic activity is well touted among the Ayurvedic community. This makes Giloy beneficial to cure Hay fever, dengue, malaria and many other chronic fevers. The starch of giloy derived from its stem by macerating it after soaking in water is administered to cure fever. 500mg to 1 gm of this starch, also known as Giloy satva, made into tablets or powder, is given in case of fever.
- Gout: Ayurveda Acharya Charaka, Giloy is the best herb to cure Gouty arthritis. Gout is arthritis with a raise in serum uric acid levels. Giloy flushes out the toxins adhered to the joints and helps relieve pain, stiffness and inflammation.
- Immunity: Giloy is an immuno- modulator herb. It is a powder of antioxidants that fights free radicals, thus boosting the immune system.
- Diabetes: Guduchi is bitter and can regulate blood sugar levels. Giloy is beneficial for diabetes by relieving frequent urination, genito-urinary infections associated with high blood sugar.
- Digestion: Giloy is hot in potency and can improve the secretion of certain digestive enzymes in the body. Giloy enhances digestion and metabolism, reduces acidity, and improves liver functions.
- Skin conditions: Giloy is a pitta alleviating herb and is highly helpful in curing blood and skin disorders. Giloy cleanses the blood and treats psoriasis, eczema and lupus.
- Anti-ageing benefits of Giloy: Giloy contains a lot of antioxidants and is a rejuvenating herb. It helps in the regeneration of cells and keeps the body young.
How to use giloy at home?
- Giloy juice made from tender stems or leaves of Giloy has a number of uses. Just drinking 10-20 ml of Giloy juice regularly helps in improving immunity, relieves pain due to uric acid deposition on the joints and acid reflux disorders.
- Fresh stems and leaves of Giloy, Basil leaves, black peppercorns can be boiled in water for 10-15 minutes. This mixture can be strained and taken once or twice a day to boost immunity and respiratory disorders. Fresh Ginger and licorice can also be added to this formulation.
- Guduchi powder taken with Ashwagandha powder daily mixed with a teaspoonful of honey and ghee is considered a Rasayana. It improves longevity, prevents ageing and also reduces stress.
- 5 ml of Giloy juice taken every day from its roots, leaves, and flowers is an excellent brain tonic. It improves memory, brain functions and the functioning of the nervous system.
Vegetable soup added with leaves and tender stems of giloy are very beneficial to reduce blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. Giloy Soup is a wholesome food for those who have Gouty arthritis. Here is the simple giloy soup recipe for you:
Ingredients:
- Tender stems of giloy - about 8- 10 small cut pieces
- Cut vegetables - Carrots, Beans, and Broccoli - 1 cup
- Grated Ginger - 1/2 tsp
- Water - 3 cups
- Turmeric - 1 pinch
- Pepper powder - 1/4 tsp
- Pink Salt - as required
- Ghee - 2-3 drops
- Boil all the vegetables in 3 cups of water and turmeric powder.
- Add salt and pepper powder to the soup. Add ghee and serve hot.
Giloy stem tea is a simple and effective preparation to extract the goodness of giloy into the water by boiling and making it palatable by adding honey or sugar candy. Here is an easy recipe of giloy tea for acidity and gut health.
Ingredients:
- Giloy stems - 2-3 pieces
- Fennel Seeds - 1/4 tsp
- Corriander seeds - 1/4 tsp
- Water - 2 cups
- Honey - optional
- Boil 2 cups of water, add cut pieces of giloy stems, fennel and coriander seeds. Let the mixture boil for 3-5 minutes.
- Strain the tea and add honey once it becomes lukewarm. Do not add honey to boiling tea.
- Drink Giloy stem tea to cure acidity once or twice a day.
- The starch obtained from Giloy stems is the most potent part of the plant. 500mg to 1gm of this extract is given once or twice a day to cure fever.
- Fresh juice of Giloy leaves and stem without diluting with water is effective even when taken in small quantities. 10-20 ml of fresh juice is taken on an empty stomach once or twice a day.
- Giloy kadha is prepared by adding four times water to crushed Giloy leaves and stems and then boiling and reducing to half. That gives a concentrated solution of Giloy, and the dosage is 125 to 250 ml per day on an empty stomach.
- The dosage of Giloy tablet or capsule is 2 to 4 per day or as advised by your physician.
- Giloy powder or churnam can be taken in the dosage of one to two teaspoons mixed with warm water or honey.
The stems of giloy have potent active ingredients than that of the giloy leaves. Both fresh and dried stems are used in the Ayurvedic formulations.
Side effects and precautions:
There are no side effects when giloy is used in recommended doses. Pregnant women are not advised to take any herbs without consulting a physician. Lactating mothers can take Giloy without any ill effects.
How to grow Giloy at home?
Indian Tinospora is a plant that requires low maintenance and can be planted at home and easily grown on your balcony. Giloy requires moderate sunlight, and its heart-shaped leaves add to a modern and classy look to your patio.
To grow Giloy at home, mix some seeds with soil and manure in a pot and keep it in a well-ventilated portion of your balcony. Within two weeks, you will start seeing small shoots and leaves of the plant. Another method is to immerse a cut piece of a healthy stem about 30 cm. you will start seeing new rootlets within 4-7 days. Then it is ready to be transferred to a pot of soil mixed with manure. As the plant starts growing, it might need the support to climb and should be taken care of accordingly.
Giloy is second to Holy Basil considering its easily availability, medical properties and gardening at home.
