Guggul is extracted from the yellowish gum resin of the Commiphora mukul tree, which is widely distributed throughout India and adjacent regions. Ayurvedic medicine practitioners use guggul to stimulate the thyroid and treat arthritis, acne, obesity and high cholesterol according to Drugs.com. Guggul can cause unwanted side effects and can interact with medications and lab tests. As with any supplement, you should talk to your health-care practitioner before taking it.
Contraindications for Guggul
According to "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database," clinical trials confirm that guggul is generally safe and nontoxic, when used appropriately. However, pregnant women should not take guggul because it appears to stimulate menstrual flow and may stimulate uterine contractions. Also, lactating women should not use guggul, due to insufficient information regarding its safety. In addition, guggul appears to affect estrogen levels and women with hormone-sensitive diseases such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis and uterine fibroids should not take the herb. Guggul may interact with herbs with estrogenic activity as well.
Anticoagulant Properties
You should take guggul with care if you are on anticoagulant medication or high doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, because guggul may have an additive effect and may theoretically increase your risk of bruising and bleeding. Guggul may also interact with herbs that have anticoagulant, such as angelica, clove, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, red clover and turmeric. In addition, "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database" recommends stopping guggul two weeks before any surgical procedure to reduce your risk for hemorrhaging.
Other Drug Interactions
Guggul may have thyroid stimulating properties and may therefore interact with thyroid regulating hormones. Guggul can also potentially interact with hormone-replacement therapy, breast cancer drugs, antihypertensives, contraceptives, diltiazem, propranolol and the drug Cytochrome P450 3A4.
Guggul Side Effects and Additional Warnings
In addition to interacting with drugs, guggul may affect certain lab results, including serum cholesterol, serum triglyceride and thyroid hormone measurements. Guggul can also cause side effects such as headaches, nausea, vomiting, loose stools, diarrhea, belching, bloating and hiccups, according to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. High doses of guggul, approximately 6,000 mg daily, have been associated with rash, facial swelling and other skin reactions; and may cause lesions on the lower legs in combination with muscle pain and itching.
References
- "Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database"; Therapeutic Research Faculty; 2011
- Drugs.com: Guggul
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Guggul
