Guggul ~ Commiphora mukul

Guggul

Latin name: Commiphora mukul

Family: Burseraceae

Part used: resin

Habitat: India

Main constituents:  gum, resin, essential oil

Energetics: resinous

Main herbal actions: anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, hypocholesterolemic, antioxidant, antiseptic, carminative, expectorant

Minor herbal actions: antifungal, thyroid gland stimulator

Main medicinal uses: pharyngitis, mucous membrane irritation, hypercholesterolemia, inflammatory arthritis

Minor medicinal uses: sore mouths and gums

Preparations: topical: wash; 1:3 tinture: 10-40 gtt qd-qid; gargle, powder in capsules: 2-20 grams (Khalsa)

Contraindications: hyperthyroidism, pregnancy (possible)

Toxicity: none known

Sources: Sharol Tilgner, N.D.: Herbal Medicine from the Heart of the Earth; http://www.himalayahealthcare.com/herbfinder/h_commip.htm


From Lecture below

Guggul gum is the de facto cholesterol lowering herb.  You can take 5 gms a day to start; wait 45 to 60 days before re-testing your cholesterol levels, then adjust the dose to 2 gms to 10 gms a day.

The demand for Guggul here in the western world has become higher than the supply.  Right now (October) is the end of the harvest season, and it has been out of stock for 3 months.  Normally, you can get it 9 months out of the year.

Unfortunately, in India, they have killed all their guggul trees, in an unconscious way, so the prices went up from $25/lb to $90/lb.  Guggul is still grown in Pakistan, though the number of guggul trees has unfortunately drastically declined.

At 5 gms a day this comes to $10/day for a patient.

lecture Oct17th, 2012 : class members please edit for corrections of any content on this study site.

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