Guggul

Guggul (Commiphora mukul), sometimes also called guggulu or Indian myrrh, has a long tradition in the Asian healing science of Ayurveda. Its resin has been used for a variety of treatment purposes, from arthritis, skin inflammation and bone inflammation to fat metabolism disorders and obesity. Classical Ayurvedic texts such as the Atharva Veda and the Sushrutasamhita rave about the myrrh plant. More recent research reports show that it also has a lot to offer from the point of view of scientific medicine.

Botanical characteristics

Guggul belongs to the myrrh family. It grows in northern India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is characterized by its ash-coloured bark, which peels off the trunk in small rolls. Guggul resin is used therapeutically. It is harvested by peeling off some bark from the base of the tree trunk and making a cut there. The resin then runs out at this point, only to coagulate into brownish-yellow drops a little later. These drops are then simply scraped off the tree trunk. The guggul harvest begins in November and lasts until the end of January. One tree yields around 1 kilogram of resin. The regular "tapping" does not harm the trees.

The active ingredients of guggul

Guggul has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine to treat various ailments such as obesity, arthritis and inflammation. Guggul contains a mixture of plant compounds including sterols, essential oils, lignans, flavonoids, carbohydrates and amino acids, all of which may be responsible for the various health benefits. The main active ingredients of guggul are its steroids, the so-called guggulsterones. These substances make the big difference between Commiphora mukul and all other Commiphora (= myrrh) plants. One would almost be tempted to speak of a separate species, but from a purely external point of view, guggul is very similar to the myrrh plants that are also known from our latitudes.

Two of the guggulsterones appear to be responsible for the cholesterol and weight-reducing effects of the resin, namely the E- and Z-guggulsterones. It is now scientifically well documented that they intervene in fat metabolism. However, there is still no clarity about their exact mechanisms of action. Some laboratory experiments indicate that guggulsterones reduce fat absorption through their influence on bile. However, it is also possible that they directly stimulate the work of the thyroid gland and thus stimulate "hormonal fat breakdown" to a certain extent. In another laboratory study, it was also found that guggul sensitizes certain receptors in the liver and thus "convinces" it to remove more LDL cholesterol from the body.

Potential health benefits of guggul

Guggul can improve cholesterol levels

The first paper on guggul and its influence on lipid metabolism appeared in 1966: a dissertation at Banaras Hindu University in India, its author was a young researcher named Satyavati. He had leafed through the old Ayurvedic scriptures and discovered that there was already a connection between obesity and arteriosclerosis, although the technical equipment for such findings was not yet available at the time. The Ayurvedic doctors had observed that patients who were given guggul resin not only improved the condition of their blood vessels, but also their obesity. Guggul was therefore the key through which they linked vascular diseases and obesity. Reason enough for Satyavati to take a closer look at this plant.

And so he carried out concrete experiments on guggul. He used rabbits that suffered from obesity and high cholesterol levels. As the young researcher observed, both problems could be brought under control with the help of guggul resin. In addition, the risk of the animals suffering from heart attacks and other arteriosclerosis-related diseases was reduced. Satyavati's findings also impressed other researchers, and guggul now found its way into large-scale research projects. These studies on animals and humans have shown that guggul can help to significantly reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels (14, 15, 16),

According to a recent study by the UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, guggul blocks the so-called famesoid X receptor, which plays a central role in the human cholesterol balance. The "anti-fat effect" of guggul resin has been clinically proven many times over. According to this, a daily dose of 10 to 15 g leads to a cholesterol reduction of up to 25 percent and a triglyceride reduction of up to 30 percent in the blood after three months. The first improvements in blood lipid levels occur after about 2 weeks. Encouraging results, which ultimately led to Guggul being compared with the established cholesterol-lowering drug Clofibrate. The result: the herbal drug is in no way inferior to the synthetic drug in terms of its effect on blood lipid levels. It is not for nothing that guggulsterones have been used as standard in India for some time to treat lipometabolic disorders.

Guggul can support weight loss

The most remarkable study on guggul and its influence on body weight dates back to 1995 and was carried out at the Swami Prakashananda Ayurveda Research Center in Bombay. Here, 58 overweight patients were divided into two groups: one group was instructed to eat a low-calorie diet and take a brisk walk for 30 minutes a day, while the other group was also given a guggul extract. After 30 days, both groups showed a significant reduction in weight. However, the guggul patients had lost an average of 0.6 kg more body mass, and those weighing over 90 kg even showed weight losses that were 2.25 kg higher than in the diet and walking group (17).

This result proves how effectively Guggul can help us lose weight. However, one thing should not be forgotten: Guggul was not used solo in the Bombay study, but as part of an exercise and diet program. Its great strength therefore obviously lies in supporting these two classic methods of weight reduction. However, it is not a means of losing weight despite all dietary sins. However, this is by no means a weakness of Guggul, but rather its particular seriousness. This is because it does not come across as a miracle cure - along the lines of: "Eat as before and still lose 10 kg in four weeks!" - but as a herbal medicine that can help us to get our weight problems under control within the bounds of what is feasible.

Guggul can be used to treat acne

Guggul has been studied for its potential to treat acne. It has been shown to be suitable as both an adjunctive and alternative treatment for nodulocystic acne - a severe form of acne that affects the face, chest and back (18). An older study of 21 subjects found that oral administration of 25 mg guggulsterone was as effective as tetracycline, an antibiotic commonly used to treat acne (19). In addition, people with oily skin responded significantly better to guggulsterone than to tetracycline treatment. Another study found that taking guggul orally for 6 weeks helped treat acne without significant side effects (20).

Guggul can be helpful for eczema, psoriasis and skin irritation

Eczema and psoriasis are both non-contagious skin conditions that are primarily caused by inflammation of the skin. Most research into the ability of guggul to treat these and other skin conditions has examined the effects of guggul extracted from the Boswellia serrata plant. Guggul-based creams have been shown to relieve itching, redness and other skin discoloration and inflammation in people with psoriasis and eczema (21). A recent study also found that a guggul-based cream could treat skin reactions that occurred as side effects of radiation for the treatment of breast cancer. This study also found that a guggul-based cream relieved symptoms such as skin redness, inflammation, tightness and pain and reduced the need for treatment with a steroid cream (22).

Guggul could help with hypothyroidism

Disorders of thyroid function are common and particularly affect women. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone to keep the body functioning normally. Studies conducted with animals suggest that guggul extracts alleviated hypothyroidism by increasing iodine uptake and boosting the activity of enzymes produced by the thyroid gland (23, 24). A human study investigated the treatment of thyroid dysfunction using Triphladya Guggul tablets and a Punarnavadi Kashayam infusion. The results showed that this treatment reduced signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism such as weakness, fatigue and muscle pain (25).

Guggul could relieve osteoarthritis

Early research suggests that guggul may relieve symptoms of osteoarthritis. An older study of 30 subjects with knee osteoarthritis treated with guggul showed improvements in pain and knee swelling, as well as improved knee mobility (26). In addition, patients treated with Guggul were able to improve their walking distance. Another human study came to similar conclusions. Although further human studies are needed to better understand the effects on osteoarthritis, Guggul appears to be effective in treating this condition without significant side effects (27).

Guggul could help in the treatment of diabetes

Guggul is said to lower blood sugar levels and help control diabetes. However, there is no current research on this topic and most of the older research on the effects of guggul on blood sugar levels was conducted on animals (28). In addition, a more recent placebo-controlled double-blind study did not find guggul to be statistically effective in reducing blood glucose levels in patients with type 2 diabetes (29). Further research is therefore required before definitive conclusions can be drawn regarding the blood glucose-lowering effects of Guggul.

Need in sport

For athletes, especially bodybuilders, guggulsterones are of interest as an effective diet-supporting agent. The conversion of T4 to T3 is not reduced as much when guggulsterones are taken, despite calorie reduction. According to reports from bodybuilders, the simultaneous intake of the ephedrine/caffeine combination and guggulsterones appears to dramatically accelerate fat loss. Many athletes compare the effect to that of clembuterol combined with low-dose synthetic thyroid hormones, and another area of application for guggulsterones is acne, where they have even shown a better effect than tetracycline, an antibiotic often used to treat these skin conditions.

The correct dosage depends on how high the guggulsterone content of a preparation is. For the treatment of obesity and fat metabolism disorders, 70-90 mg of guggulsterone is generally recommended, divided into three portions per day. For the usual extracts (with 5% guggulsterone content) this means the equivalent of 500-600mg three times a day. Most athletes use Gugglusterone throughout the entire diet phase, i.e. up to three months, without any significant loss of effect or problems.

Safety and side effects

Guggul is potentially safe and harmless for most people. Guggul has been used safely for up to 24 weeks in clinical trials. Some research suggests that long-term use of Guggul for up to 75 weeks may be safe. Guggul may cause side effects such as stomach upset, headache, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, diarrhea, belching and hiccups. Guggul can also cause allergic reactions such as skin rashes and itching. Guggul can also cause skin rashes that are not related to allergies. These side effects occur more frequently at higher doses such as 6000 mg per day.

Dosage and method of administration

Guggul supplements are available in a wide range of forms including capsules, extracts, powders and lotions, which can be found online and in drugstores and supplement stores. Dosage recommendations vary greatly from product to product. Typically, the dosage for oral intake is between 6.25 and 132 mg (30). The dosage recommendation is typically based on the amount of guggulsterone - a plant steroid found in guggul extracts and supplements. Guggul is also often sold in combination with other plant extracts. Due to a lack of research, there are no recommendations regarding the most effective dosage of guggul.

Storage

Guggul supplements, lotions and extracts should be stored at room temperature in a cool, dry place. Avoid exposing these products to light, heat or moisture.

Precautions and warnings

Pregnancy and lactation: Guggul is probably not safe and harmless during pregnancy. It appears to stimulate menstrual flow and stimulate the uterus, which is why some scientists are concerned that it may jeopardize pregnancy. Not enough is known about the safety of guggul while breastfeeding. For these reasons, pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use Guggul.

Hormone-sensitive conditions such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer and endometriosis: Guggul could act like estrogen. Therefore, if you suffer from a disease that could be aggravated by oestrogen, you should not use Guggul.

Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism: Guggul may interfere with the treatment of these conditions. For this reason, Guggul should only be used under medical supervision if you have a thyroid condition.

Surgeries: Guggul could increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. For this reason, the use of Guggul should be discontinued at least 2 weeks before planned operations.

Interactions

Guggul should not be used in combination with the following medications:

Estrogen

Large amounts of Guggul could theoretically increase the side effects of estrogen.

Care should be taken when combining Guggul with the following medications:

Hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills):

Some birth control pills contain estrogen. Guggul could theoretically increase the side effects of birth control pills.

Diltiazem

Taking Guggul can reduce the amount of diltiazem absorbed by the body. Taking Guggul in combination with diltiazem could reduce the effect of diltiazem.

Drugs that are broken down by the liver (cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4 substrates)

Some drugs are broken down by the liver. Guggul may accelerate the rate at which the liver breaks down certain medicines. Taking Guggul in conjunction with medicines that are broken down by the liver may reduce the effects of some medicines. For this reason, you should consult your doctor before taking Guggul if you are taking medicines that are broken down by the liver.

Medication that slows down blood clotting

Guggul could slow down blood clotting. Taking Guggul in conjunction with medications that also slow blood clotting could increase the risk of bleeding and the tendency to bruise. Some medications that can slow blood clotting include aspirin, diclofenac (Voltaren), ibuprofen, naproxen, heparin, warfarin and others.

Propranolol

Taking Guggul can reduce the amount of propranolol absorbed by the body. Taking Guggul in combination with propranolol could reduce the effect of propranolol.

Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)

Some types of cancer are affected by the body's hormones. Estrogen-sensitive cancers are cancers that are affected by estrogen levels in the body. Tamoxifen (Nolvadex) is used to treat these cancers. Guggul could theoretically affect estrogen levels in the body and could reduce the effectiveness of tamoxifen. For this reason, Guggul should not be used when taking tamoxifen.

Thyroid hormones

Guggul may increase thyroid hormone levels in the body. Taking Guggul in combination with thyroid hormones could increase the effects and side effects of thyroid hormones.

References

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10. Kimmatkar N, Thawani V, Hingorani L, Khiyani R. Efficacy and tolerability of Boswellia serrata extract in treatment of osteoarthritis of knee--a randomized double blind placebo controlled trial. Phytomedicine 2003 Jan;10(1):3-7
11. Ferrando AA, Sheffield-Moore M, Paddon-Jones D, Wolfe RR, Urban RJ. Differential anabolic effects of testosterone and amino acid feeding in older men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003
12. Mesrob B, Nesbitt C, Misra R, Pandey RC. High-performance liquid chromatographic method for fingerprinting and quantitative determination of E- and Z-guggulsterones in Commiphora mukul resin and its products. J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl 1998 Dec 11;720(1-2):189-96
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29. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5960856/
30. https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/chem_background/exsumpdf/gumguggul_508.pdf