What Is Guggul Used for, and Are There Any Side Effects?

Alternative and complementary medicines are becoming increasingly popular in Western countries. As of 2013, 21% of Americans reported using these methods to improve health and help treat medical conditions. Guggul extract is an ancient medicine made from the resin of the guggul tree. This natural supplement has been used to treat a wide range of disorders, such as edema, intestinal worms, and ulcers. However, researchers have yet to fully study guggul benefits. 

Guggul extract is available over the counter at many big-box stores and health supply retailers, but there are a few things you should keep in mind before using this supplement. Read on to explore guggul benefits, side effects, and drug interactions. 

Guggul extract is a natural substance that has been used to treat numerous diseases since 1700 BC. The ancient Sanskrit medical text Sushrut Samhita details the use of orally administered guggul to treat numerous disorders, including cancers, liver dysfunction, malignant sores, and sinus problems. Today, guggul is frequently used as part of the Ayurvedic holistic medicine system. 

Guggul extract comes from oleo gum resin produced by several varieties of the guggul tree, including Commiphora wightii, Boswellia serrata, and Commiphora mukul. These trees are small and thorny, resembling shrubs. They grow extensively in the dry areas of the Indian subcontinent, including Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. 

Guggul trees must be at least five years old to produce the gum resin. The harvesters create incisions larger than 7.5 cm in the plant between February and June. These cuts ooze a yellow sap that dries into pieces that the harvesters gather by hand. One tree produces approximately 200 to 500 grams of dry guggul each season. 

Guggul extract has many valuable compounds that provide various health benefits. While research on this substance remains limited, clinical studies show that guggul may help treat these conditions: 

Asthma. Guggul resin contains guggulsterone, a bioactive compound that can reduce inflammation in the airway. A 2021 study found that rats treated with guggulsterone had improved asthma symptoms.

An earlier study also found that 70% of humans with bronchial asthma had reduced symptoms after they were treated with 300 milligrams of guggul gum resin three times a day. 

Cancer. Guggulsterone has several anticancer activities. This compound halts the growth and spread of many varieties of cancer cells, including breast, lung, and ovarian tumors. It has also been shown to cause the death of malignant cells. 

Cardiovascular diseases. Guggul extract can help prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis and hypercholesterolemia. This supplement’s hyperlipidemic effects may be related to its anti-inflammatory properties. However, further research is needed to determine how guggul impacts cardiovascular health. 

Chronic diseases. Guggul contains natural phenolic compounds like gallic acid and sinapic acid. These products have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which gives guggul the ability to help fight chronic diseases. 

Diabetes. Research suggests that guggul gum may help manage and prevent Type 2 diabetes. One study administered 900 milligrams of Boswellia serrata gum resin to people with diabetes. After taking this dosage daily for six weeks, the diabetic patients had decreased cholesterol levels and increased blood HDL levels. 

Inflammatory bowel diseases. Guggul’s anti-inflammatory properties may help treat common inflammatory bowel diseases like colitis and Crohn’s disease. One study found that 59.9% of patients with Crohn’s disease who received guggul extract remained in remission. However, 55.3% of the placebo group also stayed in remission, so more research is needed to determine if guggul is an effective treatment for this condition. 

Parasites. The gum resin of Commiphora molmol, a member of the guggul tree family, has been used to treat fascioliasis. The Fasciola liver fluke causes this zoonotic disease. One study found that a drug containing gum resin effectively treated humans infected with the parasite. Three weeks after the drug was administered, the patients no longer shed detectable eggs, and their liver enzyme levels had almost returned to normal. No side effects were observed during this study. 

Researchers haven’t extensively studied other purported benefits of guggul in clinical settings. Historically, though, the extract has also been used to treat these conditions: 

• Edema 
• Liver diseases
• Obesity
• Sinus infections
• Skin sores 
• Sudden paralytic seizures
• Ulcers
• Urinary tract disorders
• Vitiligo

More research is needed to determine guggul’s full effects on human health conditions. 

Many health supply stores and online retailers offer guggul products in a few forms. You can take this supplement as a capsule, tablet, liquid extract, or skin cream. 

Currently, there is no standardized dosage for guggul. Products containing this substance call for varied dosages ranging from 6.25 milligrams to 132 milligrams. 

It is also important to note that the lack of regulation of dietary supplements means that many products don’t contain the advertised amount of guggul. For example, several guggul products claimed to provide 25 milligrams of guggulsterone, but testing showed that they contained 7.8 milligrams or less. 

Your healthcare provider can be a helpful resource to help you determine an appropriate dosage (and a trustworthy source) of guggul. 

Researchers have yet to examine the long-term side effects of guggul. Short-term use of guggul for six months or less is typically considered safe. 

However, several adverse effects have been observed in clinical trials using guggul, including: 

• Diarrhea
• Gastrointestinal pain
• Hiccups
• Mild nausea
• Skin rashes or sensitivity 

One case study also reported that a man developed rhabdomyolysis after taking Commiphora mukul extract. This syndrome damages the sarcolemma and can cause muscle cell components to leak into the plasma. This was the only known case linked to the supplement. 

Because of the lack of research into guggul extract’s side effects, experts recommend that pregnant or breastfeeding women avoid taking this supplement.

Guggul can interact with several prescription medications, including: 

• Antibiotics: Plant products like guggul can reduce the absorption of the antibiotics amoxicillin and digoxin. 
• Beta-blockers: Guggul may affect the absorption of the beta-blocker propranolol.
• Blood thinners: Guggul may increase the risk of bleeding by inhibiting platelet aggregation, though researchers haven’t observed this symptom in clinical trials. Nevertheless, patients who take anticoagulant agents should exercise caution while taking this supplement.
• Calcium channel blockers: Guggul has been shown to decrease the bioavailability of diltiazem. The effect of this drug on other calcium channel blockers, though, is currently unknown.

If you’re interested in trying guggul, consider consulting with your healthcare provider to ensure that it won’t interact with any medications or supplements.