Ayurvedic Herb

Guduchi (Giloy) (has a safety note)

SanskritGuduchi (Amrita)BotanicalTinospora cordifoliaAlso calledGiloy, Amrita, Heart-leaved moonseed

A bitter climbing vine called amrita, the nectar of immortality, used in Ayurveda as a rejuvenating tonic for all three doshas.

* Safety note: Linked to liver injury, including serious cases; read the cautions before use. Read the cautions

Guduchi is a vigorous vine with heart shaped leaves that climbs over hedges and trees across India. Cut a piece of the stem and it can root again, which is part of why it earned the name amrita, the nectar that does not die. Vines grown on neem trees are traditionally considered the best.

The stem is pale green and strongly bitter, with a slight astringent finish. Ayurveda counts guduchi among its great rasayanas and calls it balancing for all three doshas, especially vata and pitta. It turns up in many classical formulas for heat, the skin and the change of seasons.

Ayurvedic Properties

RasaTastes
  • Bitter
  • Astringent
  • Sweet
  • Pungent
ViryaHeating or cooling
Heating
VipakaPost-digestive effect
Sweet
AgniEffect on digestion
Gently supports agni

Classical texts describe it as supporting digestion, despite its bitterness.

GunaQualities
  • Heavy
  • Oily
TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
  • Vata: decreases
  • Pitta: decreases
  • Kapha: decreases
  • decreases (calms that dosha)
  • increases (can aggravate it)
  • neutral or balancing
  • not known
  • V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha

Guduchi is a classic tridoshic herb. Its bitterness and sweet post-digestive effect calm pitta, its oily quality soothes vata, and its bitter and astringent tastes keep kapha light.

Traditional Uses

  • Traditionally used to support the body's natural resilience through seasonal change.
  • Traditionally used to support healthy digestion and the clearing of excess heat.
  • Traditionally used to support clear, comfortable skin.
  • Traditionally used to support vitality and long life as a rasayana.

How People Use It

  • TeaSimmer 1 teaspoon of the dried cut stem in 2 cups of water for 10 to 15 minutes. It is very bitter, so a slice of ginger and a little honey help.
  • WaterA pinch of powder stirred into warm water is a traditional way to take it, best under a practitioner's guidance.
Try This

Guduchi Ginger Decoction

A short, bitter cup used in the classic way, as a simple decoction.

  • 2 cups water
  • 1 teaspoon dried guduchi stem pieces
  • 3 thin slices fresh ginger
  • Raw honey to taste
  1. Combine the water, guduchi and ginger in a small pot.
  2. Simmer gently, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes until it reduces a little.
  3. Strain and let it cool until it is comfortable to sip, then stir in honey.
  4. Use it occasionally rather than daily, and only after checking the cautions below.

Pairs Well With

Cautions

  • Guduchi (Tinospora) is a well established cause of liver injury according to the NIH LiverTox database. More than 50 cases have been reported, some severe, often weeks to months after starting it and more often in people with existing liver disease.
  • Do not use guduchi if you have liver disease or an autoimmune condition, and stop right away and call your doctor if you notice fatigue, nausea, dark urine or yellowing skin.
  • Avoid during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
  • It has shown blood sugar lowering effects in lab studies and may affect the immune system, so talk with your doctor if you take diabetes medication or immune-suppressing drugs.
  • Please use guduchi only under the guidance of a qualified practitioner and with your doctor's knowledge.

Sources and Further Reading

This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.