Benefits of Giloy: Precautions and Dosage

Table of Contents

• What is giloy?

• Where does giloy grow?

• Why is giloy important?

• What is giloy called in different languages?

• How can we consume giloy?

• 7 Different forms of giloy for use

• What are the benefits of giloy?

• Giloy health benefits

• Other benefits of giloy

• Down sides of giloy

• Dosage instructions of giloy or indications of giloy

• Precautions for taking giloy or contraindications of giloy

• Take-home points

• FAQ on Benefits of Giloy, Precautions and Dosage

Introduction

Giloy is also known as Heart-leaved moonseed due to its heart-shaped leaves and its reddish fruit. Giloy is a deciduous, extensively spreading, large climbing shrub with unisexual flowers and clusters of aggregate fruits.

Giloy tastes bitter and hot, which after metabolization becomes sweet and heavy.

What is giloy?

• Giloy is the common name of Tinospora cordifolia. Tinospora cordifolia is an herbaceous vine belonging to the family of Menispermaceae. 

• Giloy is used for fever, cold, infections, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis in ayurvedic medicine.

• The medicinal properties of giloy are due to the presence of some important chemical constituents that we will discuss later in this blog.

• Despite all the benefits, the giloy is not a medically prescribed drug. Giloy was not approved as prescription medicine due to its high risk of liver damage that occurred in many Indians.

Where does giloy grow?

Giloy is a climbing shrub that grows in the tropical regions and is indigenous to tropical areas of India, Myanmar, Srilanka.

Why is giloy important?

• Giloy is believed to prevent and cure allergies, boost immunity and also act as an antioxidant to remove toxins, purify blood and fight infections.

• Due to covid, people are more concerned about immunity and taking giloy every day can help to improve your immunity and detoxify your skin.

What is giloy called in different languages?

Giloy has different names other than the scientific name. Giloy is called with different names in different languages some of them are:

• Latin: Tinospora cordifolia(willd.) Hook.F. & Thomson

• English: Gulancha/ Indian Tinospora 

• Sanskrit: Guduchi, Madhuparni, Amrita, Chinnaruha, Vatsadaani, Tantrika, Kundalini & chakra lakshanika. 

• Hindi: Giloy, Guruch

• Bengali: Gulancha 

• Telugu: Thippateega 

• Tamil: Shindilakodi 

• Marathi: Giloya, Shindilakodi 

• Odia: Guluchi

• Gujarathi: Galo, Gilaya

• Kannada: Amrita balli, Madhupa

• Giloy has many health benefits, so it is called ‘Amrita’ in Sanskrit means a “root of immortality”.

Giloy has so many active ingredients that are the reason for the giloy health benefits, the components are:

Active ingredients of giloy

The active components of giloy belong to different classes of phytochemical compounds like alkaloids, glycosides, diterpenoid lactones, sesquiterpenoid, steroids, aliphatic compounds and others. The use of each component and the source of active components are discussed below:

How can we consume giloy?

Giloy is taken orally in different forms to obtain health benefits for skin, face and also for other medically proven and believed benefits.

Not everyone is comfortable taking pills, some feel it is easy to drink a refreshing juice and so you can use giloy in different forms given below for its benefits.

7 Different forms of giloy for use

Giloy can be taken in the form of juice, powder, syrup, paste, tablets or tea as kadha.

You can buy giloy preparations from the market, but making it on your own is much more hygienic and satisfying. You can easily prepare some of the giloy preparations at home. 

1. Preparations of giloy

Except giloy tablets and giloy syrup, other preparations such as giloy juice, giloy powder, giloy paste, giloy tea or khada can be prepared at home.

2. Preparation of giloy juice

Giloy juice is basically the stem extract with water. The preparation of giloy juice involves -

Fresh branches of giloy plant, water, a knife, a blender, filter, honey.

• Start with scraping off the outer layer and cutting the giloy into small pieces

• Blend the pieces into smooth pulp without adding any water.

• Then add water and blend it well into a smooth paste.

• Strain the liquid through a filter to remove any chunks.

Take 2- 3 tablespoons of giloy juice with the same amount of water and drink it on an empty stomach. You can add honey for taste, but it is optional.

You can even add other herbs like tulsi, aloe, neem to enhance the benefits of giloy. The preparations available in the market come in the combination of aloe or amla juice.

3. Preparation of giloy tea

Preparation of giloy tea is very easy and will taste good when prepared at home naturally. 

The ingredients required for the preparation of giloy tea are - giloy stem, lemon, palm candy, water, ginger, black pepper and cumin seeds.

• Take fresh giloy stem and use 5-6 smashed pieces for a cup of tea.

• Cut the giloy stem into small pieces of 1.5 inches length.

• Start boiling 4 cups of water, add basil leaves, crushed ginger, black pepper and cumin seeds.

• Allow it to boil for at least 10 mins until the water reduces to half.

• Strain the liquid and add lemon juice and honey or palm candy.

We can replace the giloy stem with giloy leaves or can use both. Giloy kadha is also available in the market that comes packed as tea bags.

4. Preparation of giloy paste

Paste is also called churna. The process of giloy paste includes just - giloy stem and water. 

• Collection of fresh giloy stems and dry them in direct sunlight.

• Dry the stems until all the moisture is removed.

• Now, take the dried stems and grind them into fine powder.

• Use a sieve to separate the coarse particles and make it smooth.

• You can now add it with honey or palm candy to make it into paste or churna.

You can buy 99% pure giloy paste from the market. You can take 1 tablespoon of giloy paste twice daily after lunch and dinner.

5. Preparation of giloy powder

Giloy powder preparation involves - giloy stems and water.It can be prepared at home but is a bit more complicated than the other preparations of giloy. So, it is better to buy from the store.

• Take giloy stems and grind them into paste.

• Allow the paste to settle down and clean the sediment with water.

• Repeat the process of settling down and cleaning again and again.

• Stop the procedure when you see a fine white powder.

• Dry this white powder in sun

You can prepare the giloy powder in bulk and store it for upto few weeks. Try to keep it away from moisture or water. Fresh leaves and roots can be used for making giloy powder.

6. Preparation of giloy tablets

You can use giloy tablets by purchasing some ayurvedic brands available in the market. Many companies like Himalaya, Patanjali, Dabur, Baidyanath are making giloy tablets using mostly natural ingredients.

 It is better to consult your doctor before buying them.

7. Preparation of giloy syrup

• The syrup of giloy cannot be made at home and it requires other ingredients. You can purchase the giloy syrup from the market.

• There are many combinations of giloy syrup with other herbs like amla, tulsi, wheatgrass, neem. You can buy according to your need and taste.

• Consult an ayurvedic doctor for correct formulation for your health conditions. 

• Now have a look at how you are benefited with the use of giloy.

What are the benefits of giloy?

The benefits of giloy are due to the medicinal properties present in it. The medicinal properties that giloy possess are due to the presence of phytochemical constituents that are mentioned above. Benefits of giloy include antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-allergy, anti-viral, antimicrobial, anti-arthritic, antistress, antioxidant, antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotector, antispasmodic, liver protection.

Let’s have a brief about each of the properties:

Benefits of giloy plant as anti-diabetic agent

Giloy benefits diabetic patients when used in the therapy of diabetes by regulating blood glucose.

The alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, steroids are responsible for antidiabetic property giloy. Giloy also benefits the neuropathic problems of diabetic patients.

Benefits of giloy as anti-cancer agent

Giloy benefits you in cancer with its anti-tumor effects. Benefits of giloy include radioprotective action, inhibition of sublethal gamma radiation and chemoprotective action.

Active ingredients of giloy fight against cancer cells. Giloy can be used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma, skin cancer, prostate cancer. Giloy also benefits in reducing the side effects caused by the treatment of cancer. 

Giloy doesn’t have side effects in cancer treatment like synthetic chemotherapeutic agents.

Benefits of giloy as antiallergic agent

Giloy benefits in reducing allergic reactions due to its effective anti-allergic properties. Giloy helps in the treatment of allergic rhinitis [a disease in which allergens cause nose inflammation]. 

Allergens like pollen grains, dust can cause sneezing, stuffy nose, itching, swelling of the face and nose. The use of giloy juice or giloy powder will reduce the severity of symptoms in allergies.

The anti-allergic properties of giloy come from its stem. Allergic rhinitis is also called hay fever.

Benefits of giloy as antiviral agent

Giloy juice benefits in the treatment of viral infections like HIV. Decreased recurrent resistance of HIV virus is seen due to giloy consumption.

The HIV benefits of giloy are proved by the reduction in eosinophil count, stimulation of b lymphocytes, macrophages, and polymorphonuclear leukocytes and hemoglobin percentage.

Benefits of giloy as antimicrobial agent

The antimicrobial properties of giloy help to fight against gram-positive bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhi. 

When applied on the skin or taken orally, giloy benefits the skin to reduce bacterial infections. You can also use giloy paste directly on the infected skin surface. 

Other giloy skin benefits include the application of giloy to reduce or treat scabies and other skin problems.

Giloy plant benefits in bacterial clearance and improves the phagocytic and intracellular bactericidal capacity of neutrophils.

Benefits of giloy as anti-arthritic/ anti-osteoporotic

Giloy plant benefits in arthritic problems when given alone or in combination with Zingiber officinale [ginger]. The combination of giloy and ginger benefits in rheumatoid arthritis treatment. 

It is found that giloy affects the proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of bone in osteoporosis. 

Ecdysteroids isolated from the giloy plant benefits have shown protein anabolic and anti-osteoporotic effects in mammals. 

Beta-Ecdysone from the giloy plant benefits to induce a significant increase in the thickness of joint cartilage, induce osteogenic differentiation, to relieve osteoporosis.

20-OH-β-Ecdysone of giloy plant benefits in the treatment of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis

Benefits of giloy as antistress agent

Giloy benefits in the treatment of stress by acting as an anti-stress agent. Giloy benefits you in reducing both mental and physical stress. Even cardiovascular performance is enhanced by the use of giloy juice.

Benefits of giloy as neuroprotective agent

Giloy acts as a neuroprotective in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, dementia. Giloy benefits in neurological diseases due to its antioxidant property. Giloy helps to increase the dopamine level in the body and reduces oxidative stress. Giloy juice also helps you in locomotor activity.

Benefits of giloy in diarrhea and ulcer

The use of Giloy is a traditional remedy to treat diarrhea and stomach ulcers. Benefits of the giloy plant stem include treatment of stomach ulcers. Giloy helps in reducing gastric volume, the acidity level and increases the pH of the stomach.

Consume giloy tea for a few days to get rid of the stomach ulcers caused by the consumption of processed foods.

Benefits of giloy as antipyretic and analgesic

Giloy acts as an antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory. Giloy plant benefits in reducing pain, fever and inflammation. In Ayurvedic medicine giloy tea is used to cure fever. Giloy plant stem benefits to treat dengue fever.

Benefits of giloy as antidepressant

Benefits of giloy include treatment of physical and mental problems. Giloy plant benefits people who are suffering from depression anxiety and acute stress. 

The antidepressant effect of giloy is due to the reduction in the monoamine oxidase level in the brain.

Giloy health benefits

Giloy’s health benefits include treatment of chronic fever, diabetes, arthritis, asthma; improvement of immunity, sexual health, vision; reduction of weight, skin problems, stress and anxiety.

Giloy health benefits for chronic fever

The use of giloy tea in the treatment of chronic fever helps to reduce the symptoms. Giloy plant benefits you increase the platelet level in the blood and reduce the dengue fever symptoms. Consumption of giloy powder or extract along with honey will also help to treat malaria and swine flu.

Giloy health benefits for diabetes mellitus type 1 and type 2

Giloy benefits by promoting insulin secretion inhibiting gluconeogenesis (production of glucose) and glycogenolysis (breakdown of glycogen-glucose reserve) which helps to regulate blood glucose. 

Giloy has the hypoglycemic property to reduce blood sugar levels in diabetic patients. Giloy juice benefits diabetic patients to reduce lipid levels and nerve problems. Despite consuming giloy juice visit a medical professional frequently to observe the difference.

Giloy can be helpful in both diabetes 1 and 2.

Giloy health benefits in asthma

Giloy helps in the treatment of respiratory problems. Benefits of giloy also include treatment of asthma. Giloy has an anti-inflammatory property which helps to reduce breathing problems such as cold cough tonsils and chronic diseases like asthma. 

Asthma is one of the dangerous health hazards which causes shortness of breath, chest tightness, wheezing, coughing. Sometimes asthma can be dangerous as it causes difficulty in breathing and leads to coma. Giloy benefits you in the treatment of asthma when taken as giloy juice or chewing giloy root.

Giloy health benefits as an immunomodulator

Giloy plant benefits immunity of the body by increasing the leukocyte count [white blood cells] to fight against infection. 

Usually, infections occur due to the entry of a foreign particle or due to the accumulation of toxic remains in the body due to improper digestion. 

Giloy improves immunity due to its rejuvenating properties. The active components in the giloy benefit you by increasing your immunity, boosting the phagocytic activity of macrophages, increasing nitric oxide production by stimulating splenocytes and macrophages. 

The cytotoxic effect of giloy benefits to influence the cytokine production, mitogenicity, stimulation and activation of immune effector cells. Giloy also helps in the regulation of IL-6 cytokine, activation of cytotoxic T cells and B cell differentiation, reduction in reactions to injury or inflammation.

Some people use giloy to treat heart problems and also help with infertility problems.

Giloy health benefits in toxicity

Giloy has an anti-toxic effect that helps us to fight against free radicals. Giloy helps to remove toxins from the liver and kidney, purifies the blood, and helps in urinary tract infections.

Giloy benefits in sexual health

The health benefits of giloy also include - sexual health. Giloy has a high level of aphrodisiac properties. This property of giloy benefits you in improving fertility, to treating several sexual problems like involuntary ejaculation and impotence.

Giloy juice benefits you in vaginal and urethral discharge problems.

Giloy health benefits in vision

Glow is popularly used in India to improve their vision. It is believed that giloy benefits in the treatment of eye problems. Boil some giloy in water, allow it to cool and then apply on the eyelids to improve your vision. To get good results try applying giloy on eyelids.

Giloy health benefits in weight loss

Giloy juice benefits to reduce body fat. Giloy juice benefits to decrease fatty liver disease because of high sugar consumption. The use of giloy juice benefits you in your weight loss management.

Giloy health benefits for high cholesterol

Giloy juice benefits you to reduce visceral fat. Giloy helps you to remove a high amount of fructose in the body which is the reason for heavy weight. Giloy helps in the reduction of excess fat in the stomach.

Giloy benefits for skin

The use of giloy benefits your face to treat skin problems. Giloy benefits skin in reducing infections, healing wounds and treating any lesions. 

Giloy powder when used with neem oil heals wounds. You can easily prepare giloy powder by using a mortar and pestle.

Applying giloy plant paste benefits you to keep away from bacterial infections. 

Covering the wound with large beetle leaves after the application of giloy benefits you in the quick healing process. When taken orally, giloy benefits in the treatment of psoriasis.

Giloy health benefits for gout

Giloy benefits in the treatment of gout. 

Frying the gloss leaves with castor oil and making it into a warm compress helps you in the treatment of gout and arthritis. 

A tincture prepared using high-proof alcohol and giloy can treat inflammation. Using fresh giloy leaves is not recommended as it can spoil the tincture.

Giloy benefits for face

Giloy has anti-aging properties which help to reduce pimples, dark spots, wrinkles on face and face lines. The anti-aging property of giloy benefits your face to improve glow. Applying giloy paste benefits your face to provide moisture and obtain the glowing skin you want.

Giloy health benefits in the digestion

Giloy helps in the improvement of digestion by reducing the indigestion problems that create discomfort in the stomach. 

Giloy benefits you to maintain the digestive system and relieve dyspepsia. 

Giloy plant benefits you to relieve from colitis, hyperacidity, worm infestations, abdominal pain, excessive thirst, loss of appetite and vomit.

Take half a gram of giloy powder with Amla powder and jaggery in the morning to help you relieve constipation. Giloy juice also benefits to treat stomach irritations when taken with buttermilk. Giloy juice benefits you as a good remedy for piles.

Other benefits of giloy

• Giloy benefits you during snake bite and scorpion sting bites as an antidote.

• Giloy plant bark benefits in leprosy and muscle spasm.

• Giloy plant benefits for skin by reducing scabies.

• Dried fruit of giloy benefits you in the treatment of jaundice and rheumatism when taken with ghee or honey.

Down sides of giloy

Giloy doesn’t show any side effects as long as you consume in the recommended doses or as prescribed by the health professional. But there are some side effects in certain people.

• Giloy causes severe liver problems and causes liver damage which is the reason for its rejection as prescription medicine.

• In diabetic patients, giloy should be used only after Ayurvedic doctor consultation. In some people, giloy consumption may cause constipation and stomach irritation based on the amount that you consume. 

• Giloy benefits in immunity in the correct dose but overdosage can overstimulate the immune system and cause overreaction. This overreaction can lead to symptoms like multiple sclerosis, lupus and can also increase rheumatoid arthritis. 

• Even though giloy has anti-fertility properties, it can be reversed once you stop consuming giloy. If you are trying to get pregnant you should avoid giloy consumption. Feeding mothers and pregnant women should avoid using giloy.

Dosage instructions of giloy or indications of giloy

• You can consume giloy in the form of powder, juice, syrup or paste. Always consult a doctor or ask for a doctor’s suggestion before consuming Giloy. 

• The normal recommended dose is five grams of giloy powder per day. You can consume it with honey or you can add one to two tablespoons of giloy powder to the water. 

• You can take one to two tablets of giloy per day. If you are using giloy for a child, please visit a doctor for the dosage. 500 mg tablets are available for the kids.

• It will take at least 60 to 90 days for giloy to benefit the improvement of your immune system. The dosage may vary depending on the condition and the doctor’s prescription.

• It is better to avoid giloy after and during surgery. 

Precautions for taking giloy or contraindications of giloy

When taking giloy be cautious of the interactions given below:

Giloy interacts with diabetic medication 

• Giloy will decrease blood pressure and it will interact with the diabetic medications when taken at the same time i.e., it causes synergistic activity. 

• Antidiabetic medications lower your blood glucose level and giloy also lower your blood glucose levels which may lead to hypoglycemic conditions. So, it is better to monitor your blood glucose level frequently. Ask your doctor’s advice before starting to use giloy.

• Some examples of anti-diabetic drugs include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase)

Giloy interacts with immunosuppressants

• Giloy is used to increase the immune system. So, taking with it medications that decrease the immune system will reduce the efficacy of giloy or efficacy of the immunosuppressants.

• Medications that decrease the immune system include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids).

Giloy interacts with medications of liver

• Giloy may increase the effect of some medications because there are medicines that get metabolized and broken down in the liver. When giloy is taken along with these medications it will cause an increase in the availability of these medicines.

• So before taking giloy inform your health professional about your medications. 

• Some of the medications that get metabolized in the liver by cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) are clozapine (Clozaril), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), fluvoxamine (Luvox), haloperidol (Haldol), imipramine (Tofranil), mexiletine (Mexitil), olanzapine (Zyprexa), pentazocine (Talwin), propranolol (Inderal), tacrine (Cognex), zileuton (Zyflo), zolmitriptan (Zomig).

• Some of the medications that get metabolized in the liver by cytochrome P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) are amitriptyline (Elavil), carisoprodol (Soma), citalopram (Celexa), diazepam (Valium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), phenytoin (Dilantin), warfarin

• Some of the medications that get metabolized in the liver by cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) are celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Voltaren), fluvastatin (Lescol), glipizide (Glucotrol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), phenytoin (Dilantin), piroxicam (Feldene), tamoxifen (Nolvadex), tolbutamide (Tolinase), torsemide (Demadex), warfarin (Coumadin).

• Some of the medications that get metabolized in the liver by cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) are amitriptyline (Elavil), clozapine (Clozaril), codeine, desipramine (Norpramin), donepezil (Aricept), fentanyl (Duragesic), flecainide (Tambocor), fluoxetine (Prozac), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), olanzapine (Zyprexa), ondansetron (Zofran), tramadol (Ultram), trazodone (Desyrel).

Take-home points

• Giloy plant benefits in the treatment and cure of various diseases when taken in a specified dose.

• Giloy juice benefits diabetic patients in reducing blood glucose levels.

• Giloy is contraindicated during pregnancy, breastfeeding and surgery.

• Never take giloy without doctor consultation when you are using any prior medications for other health issues.

• Giloy has an antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect.

• Before using the giloy for a child ask for a doctor’s advice.

References

• NCBI

• NCBI

• Review on Medicinal Properties of Tinospora cordifolia