Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy)

Scientific Name: Tinospora cordifolia

Family: Menispermaceae

Common Names: Guduchi, Gulancha Tinospora, Indian Tinospora and Giloy

Tinospora cordifolia is a native plant from tropical and subtropical regions of India. Also, known to be found in Far East, primarily in rainforests. The plant is climbing shrub with heart-shaped leaves. The herb plant flowers during the summer and fruits during the winter. Tinosopora cordiofolia prefers acid, neutral or basic alkaline soil. It can grow in semi-shade or no shade. Requiring moist soil. Tinospora Cordifolia grows without chemical fertilizers, and use of pesticides. The plant is classified as a rasayana herb: Enhance longevity, promote intelligence and prevent disease. The herb has a long history in use by practitioners of Ayurvedic medicine (the traditional medicine of India), since 2000 B.C. Known by its practitioners to treat convalescence from severe illness, arthritis (or joint diseases), liver disease, eye diseases, urinary problems, anaemia, cancer, diarrhoea, and diabetes. Also, help remove toxins from the body. The plant is cultivated by stem cutting in the month of May-June and used in Tibetan medicine. The herb is known to have a sweet, bitter and acid taste. Extracted from the stem and root is a nutrient starch used to treat chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. Not advisable to be taken by pregnant women and nursing mothers. Also, individuals with severe liver or kidney disease should avoid taking Guduchi.

Tinospora cordifolia

According to some herbalists, Tinospora helps the human body adapt to stress, regardless of the source: Heat, cold, exertion, trauma, sleep deprivation, toxic exposure, radiation, infection or psychological duress. Oral administration of an aqueous (dissolved in water) Tinospora cordifolia root extract administered to diabetic rats (condition induced) caused a significant reduction in blood glucose (sugar) and brain lipids (Most common biomolecules found in the brain. Performing brain activity in two respects: structure and function). Tinospora Cordifolia is one of many herbal drugs taken orally, found to protect mice from cyclophosphamide (belongs to a class of drugs) induced Leukopenia (Lower white blood cell count. Harder to fight against infections in the body.) Patients in India, had received Guduchi before abdominal surgery had fewer postoperative infections, and improved outcomes. Alcoholic extract of the stem Tinospora cordifolia shows activity against E. coli (Eschericha coli helps the human body, break down and digest food, normally lives inside the intestines. When the E.coli moves from the intestines to other parts of the body, can cause sickness. Most common related to eating food that contains harmful bacteria.). Indonesians use the stems of the herb to treat fever, malaria, stomach ache and jaundice. Known to combat premature aging.