| 1-EZ Diet, Gugu (commiphora mukul) Other common names: gugalipids, guggul (the crude gum of the herb Boswellia serata) Guggul also known as H-15, was found to have reduced swelling and pain, compared with those who received placebo. Part used and where grown: From India guggul, an extract from the mukul myrrh tree is used widely used for the reduction of cholesterol. Historical use: The herb guggul has been traditionally used for one thousand years to treat cerical spondylitis, a type of cervical inflammation and arthritis. What it does: Gugu lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels and helps maintain a healthy balance of HDL, the good cholesterol, to LDL, the bad cholesterol (the HDL/LDL ratio), thereby protecting against cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis, and is also beneficial to the liver. A number of studies have investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of gugu as well as turmeric, which does not show the same side effects and toxicity that are common in the usual anti-inflammatory medications, such as corticosteroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). A 1988 Indian study was done and colleagues evaluated forty patients with high blood lipids, who were treated with guggal. In the guggal-treated group, serum cholesterol decreased by 7.8 percent, 15.78 percent, and 21.75 percent at the end of the fourth, eighth, and sixteenth weeks, respectively. Triglyceride levels decreased by 6.7 percent, 17.1 per gradual increase up to about 35.8 percent by the end of the sixteen weeks. There was also significant decrease in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels. Researchers concluded that guggal was safe and highly effective in lowering the various lipid fractions that are known to contribute to coronary heart disease. Patients reported reduction of morning stiffness and were able to cut back on their intake of NSAIDs during the treatment period. Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis were reduced in 50 to 60 percent of the patients. Other uses: Guggul is considered to be an emenogogue, or agent that promotes menstruation. Dosage: Take 500 mg three times a day with meals. |
