Bdellium, Guggulu Indian Bdellium, Indian Myrrh, Mukul Myrrh Guggulu (Ayurveda) Gu gul  གུ་གུལ  (Tibetan) Muqil (Unani) Hei Yun Xiang  黑云香 (TCM)

Ortus Sanitatis, Cube, Johann von, 1501

A Complete History of Drugs, Pomet, London, 1748

Bdellium (Adam, 2017)

Botanical name:

Commiphora mukul (syn. Balsamodendrum mukul)

Parts used:

Gum
A number of varieties are recognised, the dark-brown and yellow-brown being preferred.

Temperature & Taste:

Warm, moist (some class as dry). Bitter
digests, discusses

Classification:

2K. RESOLVENT.   2L. EMOLLIENT
2M. DRAWING.   2P. HEMOSTATICS.   2U. SUPPURATIVES
3G. EMMENAGOGUE.   3K. EXPECTORANT.   3M. ARTHRITIC
4f. SPLENETIC.   4j. NERVINE.   4k. ARTHRITIC

Uses:

1. Moves the Blood, clears Stasis:
-poor circulation
-promotes Menstruation; expels a Dead Fetus
-Hemorrhoids, Varicose Veins
-Tumors, Fibroids, Cancer; Uterine Fibroids
-traditionally regarded as Aphrodisiac

2. Clears Wind and Damp, Moves Blood, Eases Pain:
-Joint pain, Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, Rheumatism
-Neuralgia, Numbness
-Strengthens the Bones, promotes Healing of Fractures
-‘Soften indurations of the ligaments’. (Galen)

3. Clears Phlegm, Stops Cough:
-Coughs, abscesses of the Lungs

4. Promotes Urine, Breaks Stones
-Dysuria, Strangury
-Urinary Stones

5. Purges Melancholy and Phlegm, Resolves Masses:
-regarded as purgative of Black Bile and Phlegm (Unani)
-Fibroids, Cancer; old Guggulu is regarded as stronger for Tumors

6. Externally
-Hemorrhoids; bleeding Hemorrhoids (ointment, plaster, fumes)
-in ointments for Wind diseases
-externally to discuss Ruptures, softens Hard Nodes and Swellings
-used for Swellings associated with Wounds
-Mouth wash for inflamed gums, chronic tonsillitis, ulcerated throat, tooth caries
-fumes inhaled stop Cough

Dose:

Powder: 500mg–3 grams (3–12 grams daily);
Tincture (1:5 in 90% alcohol): 5–10mls.

Corrective:

1. Tragacanth (Unani)
2. Saffron (Safflower)

Substitute:

Myrrh

Preparation:

1. Dry-Fried Bdellium.
  It should be prepared for internal use: either dry-fried, or prepared with Vinegar or Wine. Dry-frying facilitates powdering and helps digestability. Stir-frying with Wine or Vinegar helps enhance the blood-moving effect.
2. Prepared Bdellium (Ayurveda)
  In India, it is boiled in decoction of Triphala, Milk, Cow’s Urine, or else a decoction of Turmeric and Vitex nirgundi, removing the scum and filter the insoluble matter. Then it is usually (but not always) fried in Ghee, dried, and powdered. this is called Suddha Guggulu (purified Bdellium). If it is not fried in Ghee, it is spread out into little pieces and sun-dried.

Comment:

1. New (fresh) and Old (aged) Bdellium is differentiated in Ayurveda. The fresh (less than a year old) is regarded as more rejuvenating and nourishing, the old (over a year) is stronger to move Blood, resolve masses and clear toxins. It is regarded as useful in Cancer.
2. It is related to and similar to Myrrh. Some have called Bdellium an inferior variety of Myrrh, suggesting they can be used synonymously.
3. The difference between Bdellium and Myrrh: ‘Bdellium in sight is somewhat like to Myrrh, but may be distinguished thus; Myrrh is extreme bitter, so is not Bdellium; again Myrrh is easier to be broken, and of a more quick sharp scent’. (Pemell)

Main Combinations:

Bdellium is often combined with Triphala. This helps correct the heavy nature of Bdellium while helping resolve Damp and Wind disorders, and separating the pure from the impure.

1. Vata (Wind) diseases of the Bones, Joints, Nerves (Paralysis, Facial Paralysis, Rheumatism, Neuralgia etc):
i. Bdellium (Guggulu) with Triphala, Celery seed, Calamus, Long Pepper, Ginger, Cumin, Picrorhiza and Asafetida (as in Electuary of Bdellium)
ii. Bdellium (Guggulu) (10 parts), Triphala, Long Pepper (2 parts each), Cinnamon, Lesser Cardamon (1 part each) (Chakradatta)
2. Arthritis, Rheumatism:
i. Rheumatoid arthritis; Osteoarthritis; Cervical and lumbar spondylosis; Trauma, Bursitis, Frozen Shoulder, Frankincense with Bdellium (Guggulu) (This is marketed as Rumalaya Forte)
ii. Bdellium (Guggulu) with Frankincense, Withania, Turmeric (Ayurveda)
iii. combine Bdellium (Guggulu) with Triphala, Sulphur and Ginger and form pills (Ayurveda)
iv. Bdellium (Guggulu) with Harpagophytum
3. Sciatica, Bdellium (Guggulu) with Pluchea lanceolata, mixed with Ghee (Chakradatta)
4. Scoliosis, Bdellium (Guggulu) with Aloe, Celery seed (as in Pills for Scoliosis)
5. Back Pain, Bdellium (Guggulu) with Tinospora, Tribulus, Ginger (Ayurveda)
6. Fractures:
i. Bdellium (Guggulu) with Triphala, Trikatu, Turmeric
i. Triphala, Trikatu, Chebula (equal parts) Bdellium (Guggulu) (equal to the rest)
7. Hemorrhoids, combine Bdellium (Guggulu) with Barberry extract
8. Bleeding Hemorrhoids or excess Menstruation: combine Bdellium (Guggulu) with Triphala, Barberry, Dragon’s Blood, Red Earth, Pomegranate flowers
9. Acne, Bdellium (Guggulu), with Tinospora, Neem, Turmeric, Triphala
10. Scrofula and Lymphatic swellings, combine Bdellium (Guggulu) with Triphala, Turbith, Black Pepper, Longer Pepper, Ginger
11. To promote Menstruation, Amenorrhea, Dysmenorrhea:
i. Bdellium (Guggulu), with Myrrh and Juniper
ii. Bdellium (Guggulu), with Cyperus rotundus, Asparagus racemosus, Safflower
iii. Bdellium (Guggulu), with Turmeric, Asparagus root, Cyperus rotundus (Ayurveda)
12. Endometriosis, Bdellium (Guggulu) with Agnua Castus, Dandelion root
13. Pain from Blood stagnation:
i. Bdellium (Guggulu), Safflower (Ayurveda)
ii. Bdellium (Guggulu), Asarum, Madder, Peach kernel
14. Heart disease, Bdellium (Guggulu) with Arjuna, Boerhaavia, Inula racemosa
15. Cholesterol, Bdellium (Guggulu) with Frankincense, Turmeric, Fenugreek
16. Liver hardness, Cirrhosis:
i. Bdellium (Guggulu) with Gum ammoniac and Storax (as in Pills for Fibrosis of the Liver)
ii. Bdellium (Guggulu) with Turmeric, Madder (Ayurveda)
17. Dysuria, suppressed Urine: combine Bdellium (Guggulu) with Tribulus seed, Long Pepper, Ginger, Triphala, Cyperus rotundus (Ayurveda)
18. Diabetes, Bdellium (Guggulu) with Tinospora, Emblic Myrobalan, Shilajit
19. Immunodeficiency, Bdellium (Guggulu) with Withania, Licorice
20. Mouthwash for pain and inflammation, Bdellium (Guggulu) with Rose and Chebula.

Major Formulas

Candraprabha Vati (Ayurveda)
Chebula and Bdellium Pills (Haritakyadi Guggulu) (Ayurveda)
Kaisor Guggulu (Bdellium Youthful Pill) (Ayurveda)
Triphala Electuary of Bdellium (Triphala Guggulu) (Ayurveda)
Pills of Castor and Bdellium (Vatari Guggulu) (Ayurveda)
Pills of Lacca and Bdellium (Laksa Guggulu) (Ayurveda)
Pills of Tribulus and Bdellium (Goksuradi Guggulu) (Ayurveda)
Pluchea and Bdellium Pills (Rasna Guggulu) (Ayurveda)
Boerhaavia and Bdellium Pills (Punarnavadi Guggulu) (Ayurveda)

Powder of Gum Lacca Lesser (Dialacca Minor) (Mesue)
Powder of Gum Lacca Greater (Dialacca Majores) (Mesue)
Troches of Bdellium of Avicenna
​Beautiful Anodyne Antidote
Hiera of Abbas (Unani)
Hiera Logadii
Pills of Bdellium (Mesue)
Pills to Aggregate Greater (Mesue)
Pills of Colchicum (Mesue) (Habb E Suranjun)
Pills of Colchicum Greater (Habb E Suranjun Kalan)
Pills of Euphorbium (Mesue)
Pills of Leek (Unani)  
Pills of Rhubarb (Greater) (Pil. de Raved Sceni) (Mesue)
Foetid Pills Minor of Galen
Pills for Fibrosis of the Liver (Riverius)
Pills for Uterine Ulcers
Special Confection for Scoliosis
Plaster for Uterine Tumors (Aristotle)

Cautions:

1. Not used during Pregnancy or Uterine Bleeding. It has been used for Uterine Fibroids with heavy menstrual bleeding, however.
2. It is heavy on digestion and hard on the kidneys, so is usually only used for several weeks in full doses before a short break.

Main Preparations used:

1. Tincture of Bdellium:
i. Bdellium 1 part, Alcohol (90%), 5 parts. Infuse. It is best to add Licorice root to prevent Precipitation of the gum-resin.

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GENERAL / REVIEW –Commiphora mukul (Hook. ex Stocks) Engl.: Historical records, application rules, phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical research, and adverse reaction. –A review on guggulu formulations used in Ayurveda –Pharmacology and Phytochemistry of Oleo-Gum Resin of Commiphora wightii (Guggulu). –Pharmacological properties of guggulsterones, the major active components of gum guggul. ANTIBACTERIAL –Antibacterial activities of some constituents from oleo-gum-resin of Commiphora mukul. ANTI-INFLAMMATORY –Bioactive terpenoids and guggulusteroids from Commiphora mukul gum resin of potential anti-inflammatory interest. –New triterpenes, myrrhanol A and myrrhanone A, from guggul-gum resins, and their potent anti-inflammatory effect on adjuvant-induced air-pouch granuloma of mice. –Anti-inflammatory activity of resins from some species of the plant family Burseraceae. –Anti-inflammatory studies on a crystalline steroid isolated from Commiphora mukul. CHOLESTEROL –Guggulu and Triphala for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolaemia: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Randomised Trial. –Medicinal plants in treatment of hypertriglyceridemia: A review based on their mechanisms and effectiveness. –Experimental studies on the hypocholesterolemic effect of Commiphora mukul Engl. (Guggul). 1969. –Antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extract of Commiphora mukul gum resin in fructose-fed male Wistar rats. –The efficacy and safety of herbal medicines used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia; a systematic review. –Resin from the mukul myrrh tree, guggul, can it be used for treating hypercholesterolemia? A randomized, controlled study. –Guggul for hyperlipidemia: a review by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration. –Herbs for serum cholesterol reduction: a systematic view. –Effect of guggulu (Commiphora mukul–Engl.) on serum lipids in obese, hypercholesterolemic and hyperlipemic cases. –Hypocholesterolemic effect of Commiphora mukul resin (guggal). ANTI-THROMBOTIC –Medicinal plants with antithrombotic property in Persian medicine: a mechanistic review. CARDIAC EFFECTS –Effect of Commiphora mukul extract on cardiac dysfunction and ventricular function in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. –Therapeutic effects of guggul and its constituent guggulsterone: cardiovascular benefits. –Botanical influences on cardiovascular disease. CARDIOPROTECTIVE –Cardioprotective effects of Commiphora mukul against isoprenaline-induced cardiotoxicity: a biochemical and histopathological evaluation. ATHEROSCLEROSIS –Anti-inflammatory properties of BHUx, a polyherbal formulation to prevent atherosclerosis. ANALGESIC –Commiphora mukul attenuates peripheral neuropathic pain induced by chronic constriction injury of sciatic nerve in rats. DIABETES –Antidiabetic activity of Commiphora mukul and Phyllanthus emblica and Computational analysis for the identification of active principles with dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory activity. –The anti-diabetic and antioxidant effects of a combination of Commiphora mukul, Commiphora myrrha and Terminalia chebula in diabetic rats. –Effects of an Herbal Combination on Glycemic Control and Lipid Profile in Diabetic Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. –Antihyperglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extract of Commiphora mukul gum resin in fructose-fed male Wistar rats. –Antihyperglycemic and antioxidant activities of alcoholic extract of Commiphora mukul gum resin in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. –Effects of guggulsterone isolated from Commiphora mukul in high fat diet induced diabetic rats. –In-vivo anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of natural metabolites from resin of Commiphora mukul and their in-silico to in-vitro target fishing.

RENAL FIBROSIS –Z-Guggulsterone alleviates renal fibrosis by mitigating G2/M cycle arrest through Klotho/p53 signaling. HYPOTHYROIDISM –Guggulu (Commiphora mukul) potentially ameliorates hypothyroidism in female mice. –Thyroid Stimulating Action of Z-Guggulsterone Obtained from Commiphora mukul. –Response of commiphora mukul (guggulu) on melatonin induced hypothyroidism. –In vitro studies on thyrogenic effect of commiphora mukul (guggulu). OVARIAN CYSTS –Efficacy of Virechana, Triphaladi decoction with processed Guggulu in the management of ovarian cyst – A pilot study. ARTHRITIS –An Evidence-based Review of Medicinal Plants used in Traditional Persian Medicine for Treatment of Osteoarthritis. –The effectiveness of Commiphora mukul for osteoarthritis of the knee: an outcomes study. –Usefulness of guggul (Commiphora mukul) for osteoarthritis of the knee: An experimental case study. –Comparison of the anti-inflammatory activity of Commiphora mukul (an indigenous drug) with those of phenylbutazone and ibuprofen in experimental arthritis induced by mycobacterial adjuvant. CANCER –Current stage of preclinical and clinical development of guggulsterone in cancers: Challenges and promises. –Z-guggulsterone induces PD-L1 upregulation partly mediated by FXR, Akt and Erk1/2 signaling pathways in non-small cell lung cancer. –Potential therapeutic targets of Guggulsterone in cancer. –Steroids from Commiphora mukul display antiproliferative effect against human prostate cancer PC3 cells via induction of apoptosis. –Reactive oxygen species-dependent apoptosis by gugulipid extract of Ayurvedic medicine plant Commiphora mukul in human prostate cancer cells is regulated by c-Jun N-terminal kinase. –Guggulsterone-induced apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells is caused by reactive oxygen intermediate dependent activation of c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase. SYNERGISM WITH CHEMOTHERAPY –Reversal of doxorubicin resistance by guggulsterone of Commiphora mukul in vivo. –Guggulsterone of Commiphora mukul resin reverses drug resistance in imatinib-resistant leukemic cells by inhibiting cyclooxygenase-2 and P-glycoprotein. METASTASIS –Synthetic E-guggulsterone derivative GSD-1 inhibits NF-κB signaling and suppresses the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells. INHIBITS ANGIOGENESIS –z-Guggulsterone, a constituent of Ayurvedic medicinal plant Commiphora mukul, inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. ANTI-DEPRESSANT –Z-Guggulsterone Produces Antidepressant-Like Effects in Mice through Activation of the BDNF Signaling Pathway. INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE –A review of the efficacy of traditional Iranian medicine for inflammatory bowel disease. –The plant sterol guggulsterone attenuates inflammation and immune dysfunction in murine models of inflammatory bowel disease. HEMORRHOID –Traditional and modern aspects of hemorrhoid treatment in Iran: a review. –Clinical Evaluation of Commiphora Mukul, a Botanical resin, in the Management of Hemorrhoids: A randomized controlled trial.