Guduchi

Guduchi is a glabrous climbing shrub with a succulent stem and papery bark that is creamy white to grey in color. The shrub shoots out aerial roots, usually on neem and mango trees, which could be as long as 30 meters. It bears heart-shaped leaves. The yellow flowers are axillary and long-stalked racemes. The fruit is pea-sized, subglobose drupe and red colored on maturity. Flowers can be seen in June, while fruits occur in November. Guduchi is found in deciduous and dry forests throughout India. The herb is known as guduchi and amrutha in Sanskrit, and giloy and gurcha in Hindi.

• All parts of guduchi plant are used for various medicinal purposes.
• The plant oil is effective in reducing pain and edema and in gout and skin diseases.
• The herb accords longevity, enhances memory, improves health, and bestows youth, betters complexion, voice, energy and luster of the skin.
• Fresh juice of guduchi, when mixed with rock candy, speeds up the recovery in hepatitis patients.
• It helps in remedying ailments like raktapitta, anemia, cardiac debility, diabetes, sexual debility and splenic disorders.
• The high fibre content in potato powder help to prevent constipation
• Guduchi helps in getting rid of renal caliculi and reduces blood urea level.
• Guduchi juice, when taken with cow’s milk or lodhra, is effective in combating leucorrhea.
• The root of guduchi is a strong emetic and used for bowel obstruction.