Giloy Benefits, Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

In Ayurveda, giloy is widely used for its benefits in relieving chronic cough, asthma and asthma-associated symptoms.

Animal studies suggest that giloy extract is very effective in reducing hypersensitivity and allergic responses that are associated with asthma.

A review article published in Pharmacognosy reviews mentions Tinospora or giloy as a potential anti-asthmatic herb.

However, no human studies have been to test the mechanism and effect of giloy on asthma patients so far.

Read more: Ayurvedic treatment of asthma

Giloy has revolutionized the world of ayurvedic medicines with its amazing weight loss benefits. If you have an interest in traditional or holistic medicine you might already have heard of some weight loss benefits of giloy. There hasn’t been a study exclusively focussed on the weight loss benefits of giloy so far. But, studies suggest that this herb is an excellent hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective. Regular consumption of giloy would not only reduce the harmful fats in your body but it also helps keep the liver healthy so your food can be digested more efficiently.

Read more: Obesity treatment

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Anticancer properties of giloy have been studied in various types of cancers including breast cancer, skin cancer, and brain tumours. Many in vivo studies claim that giloy extracts have a potential as an anti-cancer agent. It is further suggested that palmatine alkaloid present in Tinospora may be responsible for its anti-cancer properties. However, due to lack of human models its best to talk to your ayurveda doctor to know more about the anticancer potential of this herb.

Menopause not only marks the end of the reproductive phase in women but also comes with certain unpleasant yet natural signs and symptoms. It is believed to also have an effect on the immune system. Studies indicate that postmenopausal women have significantly lower levels of antibodies and other associated cells that are responsible for keeping a person free from infection. As a result, women are comparatively more prone to diseases and infections in the later stages of life. Fortunately, giloy has been claimed to be an excellent immune booster for postmenopausal women.

In a clinical study comprising 200 postmenopausal women, 100 women were given giloy water extract while the other 100 women were given placebo. The effect of this treatment was studied by noticing changes in various body parameters and immune cells for a period of six months. At the end of this study, it was found that the women who received giloy extracts had a much better immune function than the women who received placebo. So, giloy certainly has a potential in delaying menopause-related changes in the immune system.

A study in India strongly suggests that giloy has a huge potential in reducing anxiety and depression. In vivo studies hint that the giloy is as efficient as some of the commonly used anti-anxiety drugs. However, research on human models is yet to be established. According to ayurvedic doctors, Tinospora is also one of the top herbs used in memory boosting formulations.

Read more: Remedies to improve memory

Preclinical studies suggest that regular use of giloy efficiently maintains a healthy lipid profile for the body. Research studies indicate that giloy administration significantly reduces the levels of low-density fats (bad cholesterol) and free fatty acids in the body. However, in the absence of human studies, it's best to check in with an ayurvedic doctor before taking giloy in any form for cholesterol reduction.

Read more: Foods to reduce high cholesterol

A number of animal studies hint that Tinospora or giloy is an effective wound healing agent. It was further suggested that topical application of giloy not only heals wounds faster but it also leads to a more efficient development of connective tissue on the injury site. Unfortunately, no human models are available to confirm the wound healing potential of this herb.

In vivo studies suggest that giloy is an excellent aphrodisiac. An overall Improvement in mating performance, changes in sexual vigour, and ejaculations were observed in animal models on supplementation with giloy. However, sexual studies on humans are in progress.

Read more: How to increase libido

Giloy is used in ayurveda as a remedy for indigestion, flatulence, and stomach bloating. Several laboratory-based studies claim that giloy extracts are very efficient in reducing gastric ulcer symptoms along with an increase in the stomach pH and decreasing acidity. But, due to the absence of human-based studies, it is difficult to confirm the effects of this herb in anti-ulcer treatments.

Read more: Stomach ulcer diet

Antioxidants are body’s primary defense against free radicals (reactive oxygen species). These free radicals are formed as a result of various metabolic functions of the body. But lifestyle conditions or stress can create an imbalance between antioxidants and free radicals in the body. This creates a condition known as oxidative stress. A body under constant oxidative stress starts showing a gradual decline in its normal functioning. Over time, this can lead to diseases like high blood pressure and diabetes. Early signs of ageing are also associated with oxidative stress. Studies hint that giloy or Tinospora is an excellent antioxidant.

Further studies suggest that the phenolic content of giloy may be responsible for its antioxidant property. According to researchers, a good amount of antioxidants in the body would not only reduce the risk of diseases like stroke and diabetes but also helps in improving the overall efficiency of your body.

Clinical studies indicate that giloy is an excellent anti-allergic, especially in case of allergic rhinitis. In a study done in India, 75 people were given giloy or placebo for a period of 8 weeks. The study reported a significant reduction in all rhinitis symptoms in the group that was given giloy.

Additionally, the eosinophil and neutrophil count (types of white blood cells) were also found to be significantly decreased. So, giloy may have some uses in anti-allergy therapies.

Read more: Home remedies for allergic rhinitis

In- vitro, laboratory studies suggest that giloy or Tinospora stem extracts show variable antibacterial activity against a number of pathogenic bacteria. The study further claims that Pseudomonas spp was most sensitive to this herb while Klebsiella and Proteus showed moderate susceptibility.

Preclinical studies indicate that giloy or Tinospora is an excellent antimicrobial agent against peritonitis (inflammation of the inner lining of abdomen) caused by Escherichia coli. However, due to lack of human studies, not much can be confirmed about the antimicrobial aspects of this herb.

Read more: What are antibiotics

Giloy is used in traditional medicine for treating chronic fevers. Animal models suggest the potential antipyretic activity of giloy. In some clinical studies on the efficiency of giloy in dengue, a marked reduction in fever was noted. But no evidence suggest the exact mechanism by which this herb effects body temperatures.

Read more: Home remedies for fever

In Ayurveda, giloy is considered one of the most important hepatoprotective herbs. Ayurvedic doctors suggest giloy for remedying conditions like jaundice. Recent lab and animal-based studies indicate that administration of giloy extract (leaf, bark, stem) shows marked hepatoprotective activity.

It was further claimed that giloy increased the levels of superoxide dismutase while simultaneously decreasing the secretion of various biochemicals from liver like aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase etc. According to doctors, these enzymes are secreted in small doses by a healthy liver but in case of a damaged or problematic liver, these enzymes are secreted in much higher amounts. Which then becomes a reason for liver-based toxicity in body.

Lab studies hint that tinosporine and tinosponone present in giloy can be very useful against hepatitis B and hepatitis E.

According to a review article published in the Indian Journal of Traditional knowledge, a clinical study has also been done to test the hepatoprotective efficiency of giloy. In this study, 20 hepatitis patients were given 4 giloy tablets three times a day for a period of 4 weeks. Significant reduction in liver damage and hepatitis symptoms were observed in all the subjects. However, if you are suffering from any kind of liver disorder, it’s always best to check in with your ayurvedic doctor before taking giloy in any form. 

Read more: Foods to improve liver health

Preclinical trials suggest that Giloy is an excellent agent for reducing arthritic inflammation and bone damage. It was further reported that giloy reduced inflammation by suppressing the activity of certain cytokines (proteins that are secreted by the immune system of the body) and T Cells (a kind of antibody cells), which are mainly responsible for inflammatory activities of the body.

Additionally, it was noted that giloy decreased the activity of osteoclasts, which are cells responsible for bone resorption and remodelling in humans. However, clinical trials are still pending in this field.

Read more: Arthritis types

Giloy has been in use as a hypoglycemic (reduces blood sugar) agent in traditional and folk medicine systems. Numerous animal and lab-based studies have been done to test the efficiency of giloy as an anti-diabetic. Studies indicate that giloy or Tinospora is quite efficient in reducing blood sugar levels. It was further mentioned that this herb executes its hypoglycemic action by increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing oxidative stress in the body.

Read more: Insulin resistance

Additionally, giloy also interfere with some crucial steps in glucose metabolism (gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis) which leads to an overall decreased blood glucose levels. In fact, The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)  and National Botanical Research Institute in India, have jointly launched a polyherbal product (made of more than one herb) tablet with giloy as one of its constituents. According to CSIR, this drug has been launched as an ayurvedic supplement for reducing blood sugar levels and it has no side effects that come with the usual anti-diabetes medicines.

Read more: Diabetes treatment

Ayurvedic doctors suggest giloy juice as a remedy for early symptoms of dengue. According to a case study mentioned in The International Journal of Applied Research, a female patient of dengue was administered 40ml giloy juice twice a day for a period of 15 days. At the end of 15 days, the person showed marked improvement in platelet levels along with a reduction in fever and rashes. No evident side effects were seen.

In another study, 200 people with low platelet count were given a 5ml mixture of papaya and giloy leaf extracts for 5 days. Significant improvement in platelet levels was observed in all patients. So, it can be safely said that giloy or Tinospora has a potential in preliminary therapies against dengue.

Read more: Indian diet plan for dengue fever

Giloy is extensively used by the traditional system of medicine for its immunomodulating (improves immunity) benefits. Ayurvedic doctors consider giloy as one of the top immunity-boosting herbs.

In a random clinical trial, 68 HIV positive people were divided into two groups. One group was given giloy while the other group was on placebo (a substance with no therapeutic effect) for a period of six months. At the end of the assigned period, it was found that the group who took giloy exhibited significant improvement in their health along with an overall decrease in disease symptoms.

According to an article in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, giloy or Tinospora has a band of natural biochemicals which are responsible for the immunomodulatory effect of this herb. Additional studies hint that the immunomodulatory mechanism may be due to the stimulation of phagocytes (a type of immune cells) in body.

Read more: Foods and remedies to increase immunity