What Is Giloy? Health Benefits, Uses & Nutrients

It’s been three years since the first wave of the COVID pandemic. We are living the new normal, where the only key to staying fit is your body’s immunity. From Ayurveda to modern medicine, boosting your immunity is the basis of all cures. 

Ayurveda is more than 5000 years old and forms the core of Indian scriptures and the Vedas. It discusses the interplay of three energies in the human body— vata, pitta and kapha—that moulds a person’s personality and physical well-being. Acharya Charak of Charak Samahita (the basic books of traditional Indian medicine and Ayurveda) refers to Ayurvedic herbs and spices like ashwagandha, cumin, turmeric, licorice roots, and giloy as powerhouses of nutrients. Today’s discussion will give you a deeper insight into giloy benefits and how we can use the giloy plant in our daily lives.

What is Giloy?

A Wonder Drug From Mother Nature

Giloy is popular by many names. “Guduchi” or “Amrita” in Sanskrit and “Giloy” in English. It is classified as an astringent, that relieves gas and bloating and a pacifier for constipation. 

The word “Giloe,” comes from Hindu mythology which means the one who remains young forever. While “Guduchi” in Sanskrit means ‘to safeguard the entire body’. Even though the benefits of Giloy are evident in the name itself, we will be diving deeper into its benefits soon. 

Scientifically Giloy is called Tinospora cordifolia, or T. cordifolia.  It is native to Southeast Asian countries like India, and is a climbing shrub and grows on other trees. The stems, leaves, and roots of the plant are all used in Ayurvedic medicine. Needless to say that the entire giloy plant is useful and is beneficial to the human body.

In the book Charak Samhita, Acharya Charak lists guduchi as an ingredient in a paste used to treat skin conditions. It also mentions Ghee, prepared with rasna (an ayurvedic aromatic plant), guduchi, madhuyasti (mulethi), and bala; and mixed with milk and beeswax, considered ideal for curing all signs of inflammation (redness, swelling, and pain) in conditions like gout. It is also present as a component of “taila” or essential oils that calms the mind and body and relieves fatigue, depression, and stress. [1]

In a nutshell, Giloy, or “Amrita,” with its numerous medicinal properties, is the nectar for health and youth in its true sense. 

What Are the Medicinal Properties of Giloy?

Giloy is an ensemble of medicinal compounds. Every part of the giloy plant—the roots, the stem, the leaves, and its flowers—have medicinal properties. Before we include Giloy in our daily routine, let’s give you a peek into its composition.[2]

According to their scientific makeup, the components of Giloy have the following nutritional values:

What Are the health benefits of Giloy?

The advantages and healing properties of Giloy have been acknowledged by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).[3] Here are some of the benefits that make this herb the root of immortality in Ayurveda.

1. Immunity booster 

Giloy improves the body’s inherent immunity and rejuvenates the white blood cells and lymphocytes (the key cells of the immune system) to fight against toxins. Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant nature regulates gland secretions and hormones, to fight any foreign entries in the body like viruses or bacteria.[4][5]

Although there is no proof that Giloy can treat corona infections, it can boost your immunity so which provides the strength to the body to fight infection.

While we cannot say it cures the infection, we can surely say it has potential. 

2. Maintains heart health, gut health and liver functions.

It guards the heart and regulates lipid, fat, and cholesterol digestion. 

It boosts glutathione (a natural antioxidant in the body) levels and protects the liver from the toxins of food preservatives, alcohol, and drugs. [6]

The regular use of Giloy or its extract improves the condition of diarrhoea, hyperacidity, vomiting, colitis, and many other conditions by reducing digestion-related issues.

In short, it makes sure that your tummy is happy!

3. A powerhouse of antioxidants 

Antioxidants are compounds that help protect the body from damage caused by harmful molecules known as free radicals. Free radicals can damage cells, proteins, and DNA, which can lead to chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

Giloy is rich in antioxidants that help protect the body from oxidative stress caused by free radicals. [7]

Antioxidants may also help reduce inflammation, boost the immune system, and improve overall health and wellness

4. Maintains skin health 

The antioxidants present in Giloy do more. In addition to preventing wrinkles, antioxidants also lighten and reduce skin pigmentation. This is also why, Giloy is used to treat a variety of skin conditions, including acne, dermatitis, eczema, herpes and herpes labialis, scarring, and more. 

Through its protein activities, it boosts collagen formation and strengthens skin and hair.

5. Maintains blood sugar levels 

Giloy is also known as “Madhunashini” in Ayurveda; the Sanskrit word for “sugar destroyer.” It stimulates insulin production and reduces blood glucose levels.

It lowers blood sugar by reducing insulin resistance (the body’s inability to use insulin in high blood sugar conditions) in cells. In essence, giloy’s effectiveness in controling diabetes is due to the presence of berberine-type alkaloid compounds. [8]

This alkaloid compound not only lowers blood sugar but also lowers cholesterol and blood pressure and promotes healthy living.

6. Protects brain health and aids in better nerve functioning

Giloy increases the production of acetylcholine neurotransmitters, a chemical that sends signals through nerves. This helps to power the memory and sensory activities of the brain. [9]

7. Amazing benefits for lung and breathing issues

Giloy helps prevent respiratory illnesses. The giloy plant is anti-inflammatory. Breathing problems caused by asthma can be traced to inflammation of the airways like the throat, pharynx, and trachea. Giloy helps treat inflammation providing relief in respiratory problems.

8. Prevents inflammation in the body

Giloy reduces joint pain and inflammation by inhibiting the production of chemicals that mediate inflammatory reactions, producing redness, heat, swelling, and pain in the body. It is indispensable in the treatment of arthritis and gout.[10]

These anti-inflammatory and immunity-boosting properties help to control chronic fevers like dengue, hay fever, and all viral infections.[11]

9. It can reverse osteoporosis

Giloy contains several minerals that are ideal for bone health. It boosts collagen production and the production of bone-forming cells. [12]

It can reverse conditions of bone softening like osteoporosis by promoting the deposition of calcium and phosphorous. By reducing all signs of inflammation, giloy is a good cure for bone pains and swellings. No wonder our grandparents swore by this plant for their knee pain and bone health. 

10. Wound healing properties

Giloy rapidly deposits new collagen and induces cell formation to fill up a cut or bruise in the body. It prevents scar formation and soothes the injured skin.[13]

Giloy Benefits for Weight Loss and Gut Health

• The alkaloids, terpenoids, antioxidants, and steroids in Giloy together work towards weight management. The Giloy benefits for weight loss are multifactorial; let’s see how:

• Giloy improves digestion by fighting indigestion and acidity caused by gut inflammation and gut bacteria. Well-digested food prevents fat deposition.

• Giloy, through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, thereby reduces water retention in the body. This is important for weight loss.

• Giloy manages diabetes and diabetes-related weight issues.

• Additionally, Giloy’s adiponectin and leptin-like compounds (fat metabolism hormones) aid in weight management.

How to Grow the Giloy Plant At Home?

The giloy plant, with its heart-shaped leaves, is not only ornamental but can also become your personal pharmacy. 

You can be easily grow the plant from giloy seeds or giloy plant stem cuttings. A mud pot is sufficient to grow the plant. Moderately humid temperatures are the best to grow them.

How to Consume Giloy?

The Giloy plant is an all-rounder when it comes to consumption. Although the stem is the part that is most frequently used, the roots, leaves, and flowers are also useful and can be used in several preparations. 

Raw giloy is best consumed by sucking on the stem or chewing the plant’s leaves. If that doesn’t sound appealing, there are many other giloy preparations to choose from, such as 

• Making decoctions/tonics or kadhas 
• Extracting the juices
• Adding it to churans or powders
• Intake in the form of tablets 

Another form of using Giloy is in the form of pastes. This is often used for application on wounds or as a skin mask.

The easiest methods of consumption are:

1. Giloy juice

• A few branches from the giloy plant should be cut and thoroughly cleaned. 
• The outer skin of the branch must be scraped to access the fresh green portion. 
• This should be chopped up and blended in a blender. 
• You can add water to make it a little flowy.
• Squeeze the juice out of the pulp and consume fresh. You can store it for maximum 2-3 days

2. Giloy powder

Cut and peel the stems and blend with some water and set aside for 10–12 hours at night. This mixture is vigorously and thoroughly mixed in the morning. The plant’s mushy starch will be released into the liquid in this way. Sieve the mixture and leave it alone for 4-5 hours. The filtrate and the residue will separate. Air dry the residue left completely to create giloy powder.

Giloy powder and juice are also commercially available in the market if you don’t have the time to prepare them. 

Does Giloy Taste Bad?

Like all other herbs, giloy is essentially bitter in taste. But there are multiple giloy recipes to make it tasty. To discuss a few:

3. Giloy masala tea

Boil water with all the Indian spices of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, fennel seed powder, and giloy powder or fresh stem. Once the colour of the water changes, add green tea leaves and let it brew for 10 minutes. Strain it to serve this immunity-boosting tea.

4. Honey-mint giloy kadha

Add cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, dry ginger powder, and giloy stem, leave, root or giloy powder to boiling water. When the concoction changes colour, steep some mint leaves in it. Serve it after stirring with a spoonful of honey.

What Are the Side-effects of Giloy?

Overusing anything is bad, and Giloy is no different. We need to know a few don’ts and potential side-effects of giloy:

1. Sudden fall in blood sugar

Frequent consumption of giloy juice with its anti-diabetic medicinal properties can bring down sugar levels drastically. It is better to consult your diabetologist before starting regular consumption of giloy. [14]

2. Can trigger autoimmune arthritis and skin conditions

Giloy is a potent modulator of immune cells. Overconsumption can sensitize the immune system and cause conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus (autoimmune diseases) [15]

3. Constipation

In contrast to its benefits, some people feel constipated after prolonged use of giloy. This is why it is always suggested to start regular consumption after consulting with the physician if you have any kind of health issues. 

What Precautions You Should Take When Using Giloy?

1. Control giloy’s intake if you have diabetes medicines to prevent sudden drops in blood sugar levels.
2. The immunity-boosting effects of giloy get nullified with medicines that suppress the immune system, for example, steroids taken for chronic skin conditions or anticancer medicines. In such cases, always talk to your doctor first. 
3. Giloy boosts the liver to metabolize medicines, thereby reducing its excretion and increasing its absorption. This can cause drug toxicity in the long run.

Key takeaways

No doubt the giloy plant is an ayurvedic marvel. With its wide range of health benefits, this herb has the potential to be your pill for overall health. It is simple and convenient to use this miracle herb, thanks to a variety of homemade recipes using giloy. 

If you want to achieve a happy tummy and a happy body, giloy can be your best friend.