Overview
Giloy is one of the herbs traditionally used in Ayurveda for joint pain & arthritis. Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), commonly known as Giloy or Amrita (nectar), is the first and foremost herb of the Guduchyadi Varga. It is described as 'Amrita' because it bestows nectar-like benefits -- rejuvenation and longevity. The plant is a large climbing shrub found throughout India, growing on mango and neem trees. Its stems are succulent with long filiform aerial roots. The bitter stem is the main medicinal part. Guduchi is one of the best Rasayanas and Medhya drugs in Ayurveda, and is especially renowned for managing fevers (Jwarahara). When grown on a Neem tree, its properties are considered superior. Guduchi Satva (starch extract) is a widely used preparation for Pitta disorders, burning sensation, and general debility. The text describes it as Tridoshahara (balancing all three doshas) with primary action on Pitta and Kapha.
How Giloy Helps with Joint Pain & Arthritis
According to Ayurvedic pharmacology, Giloy has specific properties that make it valuable for addressing joint pain & arthritis:
- Potency (Virya): Ushna (hot)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka): Madhura (sweet)
- Taste (Rasa): Tikta (bitter), Kashaya (astringent)
- Qualities (Guna): Laghu (light), Snigdha (unctuous)
Ayurvedic Properties
- Taste (Rasa)
- Bitter (Tikta), Astringent (Kashaya)
- Quality (Guna)
- Light (Laghu), Unctuous (Snigdha)
- Potency (Virya)
- Hot (Ushna)
- Post-digestive (Vipaka)
- Sweet (Madhura)
- Key Constituents
- Giloin (C23H32O10.5H2O), Giloinin (tinosporin), Gilosterol (Gilosterol, C28H48O), Berberine. Also contains starch (Guduchi Satva).
- Also Known As
- English: Giloy, Heart-leaved Moonseed, Tinospora
Sanskrit: गुडूची, मधुपर्णी, अमृतवल्ली, छिन्नरुहा, छिन्ना, वत्सादनी, जीवन्ती, तन्त्रिका, सोमवल्ली, सोमवल्लिका, कुण्डली, चक्रलक्षणा
Hindi: गिलोय, गुरुच, गुडुच
What the Classical Texts Say
- Jwara (fever, especially chronic fever)
- Prameha (diabetes/urinary disorders)
- Pandu (anemia)
- Kamala (jaundice)
- Kushtha (skin diseases)
- Vatarakta (gout)
- Krimi (worms/parasites)
- Daha (burning sensation)
- Aruchi (anorexia)
- Hridroga (heart disease)
- Raktapitta (bleeding disorders)
Source: Bhavaprakash Nighantu, Varga 3
It is neither abhisyandi (producing more secretion or moisture inside the minute channels so as to block them) nor dry, such water is like Amrita (nector) for drinking and other purpose.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 3: Ritucharya adhyaya Seasonal
The treatment shall be bathing (washing), pouring with water processed with anti-poisonous drugs, application of paste of Sevya (Ushira), Candana (sandalwood), Padmaka – Wild Himalayan Cherry (heart wood) – Prunus puddum / cerasoides;, Somavalka, Talisa Patra – Cinnamomum tamala, Kushta (Saussurea lappa), Amrita (Tinospora) and Nata – Valeriana wallichi.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 7: Anna Raksha Vidhi
Tikta Gana – group of bitters :त तः पदोल ाय ती वालकोशीर च दनम ् भू न ब न ब कटुका तगरा गु व सकम ् न तमाला वरजनी मु त मूवाट पकम पाठापामागकां यायोगुडू चध वयासकम ् प चमल ू ं महा या यौ वशाल अ त वषावचा Patoli, Trayanti – Gentiana kurroa, Valaka, Usira – Vetiveria zizanioides, Chandana – Sandalwood, Bhunimba – The creat (whole plant) – Andrographis paniculata, Nimba – Neem – Azadirachta indica, Katuka – Picrorhiza kurroa, Tagara – Indian Valerian (root) – Valeriana wallichi, Aguru, Vatsaka – Hol
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 10: Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their
Tikta and Katu त तं कटु च भू य ठं अ ु यं वातकोपनम ् ऋते अम ृतापटोल यां शु ठ कृ णा रसोनतः Generally bitters and pungents are non-aphrodisiacs and aggravate (increase) Vata except for Amrita (Indian tinospora), Patoli, Shunthi (ginger), Krishna (long pepper) and Rasona – Garlic – Alium sativum.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 10: Rasabhediyam Tastes, Their
20 Treatment for over nourishing त मेदो नल ले मनाशनं सव म यते कुला थजूण यामाकयवमु गमधूदकम ् म त ुद डाहता र ट च ताशोधनजागरम ् मधुना फलां ल या गुडूचीमभयां घनम ् रसा जन य महतः प चमल ू य ग ु गल ु ोः शलाजतु] योग च साि नम थरसो हतः वड गं नागरं ारः काललोहरजो मधु यवामलक चूण च योगो अ त थौ यदोशिजत ् Treatments which reduce Medas- fat, Anila- Vata and Kapha are desirable; Use of Kulattha – horse gram – Dolichos Biflorus, Jurna, Shyamaka, Yava – Barley – Hordeum Vulgare, Mudga – green gram – Averr
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 14: Dvividha Upakramaneeya
50 स य द धे व ी र ल च दनगै रकैः ल पे सा याम ृतै व प त व धवि या In case of Samyagdadha- proper burning, a paste of Tavaksiri, Plaksha, Chandana (Sandalwood), Gairika (Red ochre) and Amrita (Tinospora) mixed with ghee should be applied on the area of burn and then therapies indicated for an abscess of Pitta origin should be adopted.
— Astanga Hridaya, Chapter 30: Kshar-AgniKarma Vidhi
Source: Astanga Hridaya, Ch. 3, Ch. 7, Ch. 10, Ch. 10, Ch. 14, Ch. 30
Other Herbs for Joint Pain & Arthritis
See all herbs for joint pain & arthritis on the Joint Pain & Arthritis page.
Medical Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Ayurvedic treatments should be pursued under the guidance of a qualified practitioner (BAMS/MD Ayurveda). Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment. Content is sourced from classical Ayurvedic texts and may not reflect the latest medical research.