Author: Rajen. M
Publication: The Star (thestar.com0
Date: August 26, 2001
Ancient Sanskrit texts written by
physicians of the revered Ayurvedic medical system more than 2,500 years
ago, described the condition now known as atherosclerosis (hardening of
the arteries) with a remarkable degree of accuracy. These texts also prescribed
a treatment for it - the herb called guggul (commiphora mukul).
The earliest references to the therapeutic
properties of guggul are listed in Atharva Veda (one of the four well-known
scriptures of India), which devoted an entire verse to praising the herb.
The English translation of this
verse (Kanda 19, Sootra 38) reads: "Disease does not afflict and the curse
never affects whom the delicious adour of the healing Guggul penetrates
(spreads). The disease also flees away in all directions from him like
horses and deer. O Guggul, either born from Sindhu or from the sea. I chant
your name of both types for the removal of diseases." The ancient books
promised freedom from heart disease for those who consumed "tears" of the
bark from this knobbly plant.
The discovery of guggul in modern
times makes a very interesting narration. In 1966, inspired by ancient
Sanskrit text, G.V. Satyavati, a young Indian doctoral candidate at the
Banares Hindu University, reported the cholesterol lowering effects of
this herb. She based her work on the insights provided by the famous Ayurvedic
treatise related to the treatment of obesity and fat disorders with guggul.
Intrigued by the similarities between
the ancient concept of (obesity and blood fat disorders) and artherosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries), Satyavati and her advisor carried out laboratory
tests. Their early work showed that guggul did indeed bring down cholesterol
levels in rabbits.
Amazingly, it protected the animals
against hardening of the arteries. Other researchers became interested,
and a two-year study was done on test subjects fed hydrogenated vegetable
oil to artificially elevate their cholesterol levels. Again, the blood
fat normalized.
In the three decades since that
ground breaking work, much has happened. The initial work sparked by Satyavati
has entered clinical trials that further confirmed the cholesterol-lowering
effects of this herb.
In 1986, guggul was approved for
sale by the Indian government as a cholesterol-lowering agent following
a period of intense investigation by government scientists and independent
investigators.
Ayurvedic doctors had effectively
catalogued more than 600 plants and plant-derived medicines by 600BC. Guggul
held a prominent position in their medical journals (Indian Journal of
Medical Research, April 1988). After more than 2,500 years of successful
use in India, this natural herb - which clinically demonstrates a cholesterol-lowering
ability rivalling any natural substance yet found - is now also available
in the United States as a supplement, containing the purified and standardised
form of the guggul tree resin.
A considerable volume of research
dating back to the 1960s has clearly validated gum guggul's amazing benefits.
According to Dr James Braly from Los Angeles, California, clinicians in
the US are now reporting results with their patients, which further substantiate
what the studies showed.
These results stimulated a number
of clinical trials, all of which confirmed the herb's effectiveness. It
has been clinically documented to reduce total cholesterol by 15% and bad
cholesterol (LDL) by 17%. It can increase good cholesterol (HDL) by 12%.
This, in fact, can improve the cardiovascular ratios - making it the only
herb documented to improve overall blood lipid profile!
One study, after finding that gum
guggul lowered not only total cholesterol but also LDL and VLDL - while
raising HDL - concluded that it "can serve to be of significant clinical
importance." (Indian Journal of Medical Research, April 1988)."
It does not stop there. Guggul has
been shown in animal models to make the arteries more supple, and even
reversing hardening of the arteries!
It has also been demonstrated in
both animal and human trials to reduce platelet stickiness. Sticky platelets
have been strongly implicated in strokes and heart attacks. No wonder,
Chapter 19, Verse 38 of the Atharva Veda says, "diseases will also flee
away in all directions like horses and deer for he who takes guggul."
However, the most wonderful thing
is that despite all the good effects, there is no side-effect! This is
unlike modern anti- cholesterol medications that have been implicated in
cases of muscle weakness, cancers, loss of libido and depression.
Total blood cholesterol reduction
in the range of 22% to 27% is being achieved with the use of gum guggul
alone, irrespective of dietary modifications. This is equal to some modern-day
cholesterol lowering drugs. Indeed, guggul is a physician's dream come
true: it brings down levels of unwanted LDL and VLDL components which clog
the arteries, and at the same time raises the anti-clogging HDL. Guggul
also reduces blood triglycerides (Indian Journal of Medical Research, April
1988).
Low-fat diets have become popular
but unfortunately they usually reduce the beneficial HDL along with total
cholesterol. Guggul is a much better alternative to remove all fat from
the diet.
An artery narrowed by plaque can
easily become obstructed by a blood clot. Such an event may precipitate
a heart attack if the clot forms in a coronary artery. In the brain, a
blood clot can result in a stroke. Platelets (solid particles in the blood)
form clots by clumping together.
Studies in Europe have shown that
guggul decreases platelet stickiness and normalises clotting, while additionally
assisting the body in breaking up clots, thus helping prevent strokes as
well as heart attacks (Planta Medica, Vol. 37, 1979).
The search for answers to explain
how guggul works has pointed to the thyroid gland, the body's key metabolic
regulator. Underactive thyroids are common. Poor thyroid function and high
cholesterol (with low HDL) often go together. Since the thyroid controls
overall metabolism, thyroid deficiency can be a major factor in obesity.
By perking up a sluggish thyroid, the herb helps the body burn calories
more efficiently, thus eliminating the need for drastic caloric reduction,
which is usually an unsuccessful and unhealthful weight- loss strategy
(Planta Medica, Vol.50, 1984).
Gum guggul is an exciting breakthrough,
which can help overcome one of the major heart disease risk factors - an
imbalanced cholesterol/blood fat profile. Guggul affects blood cholesterol
favourably by pushing down total cholesterol, lowering bad cholesterol
and pushing up good cholesterol. And it can even reverse the ravages of
hardening of the arteries. It works even better with a low-carbohydrate
diet.
