The Magic of Giloy
- ARUSHI SHARMA
- Apr 7, 2021
- 3 min read
With a formation of the trident on their foreheads, people lined up in multiple tails that were springing out from the primary serpentine row. Their anxieties were so overpowering that it made them ignorant to the fact that implementation of social distancing was mandatory. The arrival of this Noble CoronaVirus injected the syringe of instability and precariousness to the people belonging to economically backward classes. These never-ending lines were evident in front of the grocery stores because food is one of the necessities that further created a maximum panic during the peak times of nation-wide lockdown. Because the people across the globe witnessed such a situation for the first time, the panic buying to avoid any shortage, I believe, was quite natural. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) researched that because our diets are inadequate...they are not well balanced, we are prone to get into the trap of the virus. Additionally, the safety net schemes were mostly based on either the cereal-based diet or whole gram that lacked the diverse other existing nutrients that our body requires, as also mentioned in the guidelines of the World Health Organization.
Image 1: Giloy belongs to the climber category that requires support to grow.
As more than half of the world’s population found themselves, knowingly or unknowingly, stuck within the labyrinth forged by the pandemic. Amongst this population of the people, my father was trapped too. During the period of his quarantine, he took a rich diet that varied each day. But, one constant thing was the consumption of a thing called ‘Giloy’, in one or another form. Therefore to understand the secret success and acknowledge the hidden abilities of the herb, my uncle took me back to the times of storytelling. Being an ardent follower of Ramdev, he more or less knew about the plant which he passed on to me as a benefaction. Commonly found in the dry and deciduous forests, these climbers are distributed across the tropical regions of India, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. The plant, also known as Tinospora Cordiofolia, bears flowers in summer and fruits during winters. As it is being associated with the tradition of Ayurveda, Giloy in Sanskrit is translated as “the root of immortality” as according to one of the legends it kept the angels forever young.
Also according to the FDA (Food and Drug Association), Giloy or Guduchi can be consumed in the form of juice, powder, and capsule. There is a list of why Giloy became one of the most important consumed things during the pandemic.
As it is the powerhouse of the oxidants, it helps in the purification of the blood, treatment of liver diseases, an expert in heart-related diseases, and also used for the treatment of infertility. To cut the long story short, it is considered to be a beneficial immunity booster.
Since it is antipyretic in nature, it helps in reducing the signs and symptoms of several life-threatening diseases. Also, it is used during the treatment of chronic fever.
It is an efficient source for the improvement of the digestion mechanism.
It is a hypoglycemic agent and is used for the treatment of diabetes.
Helps in lowering down the stress and anxiety levels.
Even respiratory problems are being fought with its help. Also, it reduces asthmatic symptoms.
It helps in the treatment of Arthritis.
Boiling the powder with water and when applied to the eyelids helps in the enhancement of the vision.
It is an anti-aging agent.
Even though Giloy does not have side-effects but may cause constipation and can lower the blood sugar level. Moreover, as a tip of precaution, it should be avoided during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Image 2: These products are commonly available in the market and are sold under various brand names.
References:
Srivastava, A. K. (2020). Role of Medicinal Plants of Traditional Use in Recuperating Devastating COVID-19 Situation. Medicinal and Aromatic plants. 1-16.
Devi, Gitanjali. (2020). Medicinal Plant: Giloy. International Journal of Current Research. 12(08). 1-3.
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