Guggul(Sanskrit Ayurvedic Term)
Guggul or Dhuna[fragrant balsamic resin] Commiphora Mukulor or Commiphora wightii , is generally used by the Bharatiya Hindus for Puja and Havan purpose. Guggul gum resin is also used by mouth for high cholesterol, “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), and weight loss in people who are obese or overweight. It is a natural air purifier. Guggul is usually prescribed as Ayurvedic remedies to help balance the three doshas- Bayu -Pitta -Kafa, Guggul has also been found to stimulate the thyroid gland. To this end, anyone with a thyroid condition should consult a doctor before using a guggul extract or supplement. [Guggul. Review of Natural Products. Facts & Comparisons [database online]. St. Louis, MO: Wolters Kluwer Health Inc; December 2011.[Caption Image- Guggul tree]
Medical Use of Guggul
- Anti-inflammatory (guggul reduces inflammation, swelling, redness and tenderness)
- Antioxidants (scavenge free radicals and delay aging)
- Anti-fungal (fights off with yeast infections)
- Antimicrobial (helps with infections due to various microbes)
Loban -gum benzoin(Loban Arabic terms)
Bharatiya Hindus used it for Puja and Tantric worship. It produced from tree bark in Indonesia , Java, Sumatra and traded by Arabians. It is extracted and collected from the plant bark. Benzoin appears in international trade in several forms. Most Siam benzoin exported from Lao PDR is in the form in which it is collected from the tree, after it has been cleaned and graded. It consists of hard, usually cream-coloured/pale orange pieces, which if broken reveal a milky white colour. The benzoin is quite pale in colour when freshly collected but darkens gradually during storage to a sandy-orange colour. During handling and transport from its collection to the point of export, larger pieces are inevitably broken down to smaller ones and a significant proportion of dust and siftings is produced. Some benzoin which finds its way to Bangkok through Thai traders living near the border with Lao PDR, and which is used in the preparation of traditional medicines (but also occasionally exported), is formed in larger, dark brown lumps with a glassy appearance.[FAO]
The price of Loban Powder in India Mart is Rs 80-150/- Per KG and a Loban Cake will come around Rs 250/- Per KG. At the same time, the Cost of Guggul is Rs 500/- in India Mart.
