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Tinospora Cordifolia

Other Name(s):

Ambervel, Amrita, Gilo, Giloe, Giloya, Glunchanb, Guduchi, Gulancha Tinospora, Gulvel, Gurcha, Heart-Leaved Moonseed, Heavenly Elixir, Indian Tinospora, Jetwatika, Moonseed, T. Cordifolia, TC, TCRE, TCRET, Tinospora, Tinospora Indien, Tinosporia Cordifolus.

Overview

Tinospora cordifolia is a shrub that is native to India. Its root, stems, and leaves are used in Ayurvedic medicine.

Tinospora cordifolia is used for diabetes, high cholesterol, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), upset stomach, gout, lymphoma and other cancers, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), hepatitis, peptic ulcer disease (PUD), fever, gonorrhea, syphilis, and to boost the immune system.

How does it work?

Tinospora cordifolia contains many different chemicals that might affect the body. Some of these chemicals have antioxidant effects. Others might increase the activity of the body's immune system. Some chemicals might have activity against cancer cells in test animals. Most research has been done in test tubes or in animals. There isn't enough information to know the effects of Tinospora cordifolia in the human body.

Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for...

  • Allergies (hay fever). A particular extract of Tinospora cordifolia (Tinofend, Verdure Sciences) seems to significantly decrease sneezing and nasal itching, discharge, and stuffy nose after about 2 months of treatment.

Insufficient Evidence to Rate Effectiveness for...

  • Diabetes.
  • High cholesterol.
  • Upset stomach.
  • Gout.
  • Cancer, including lymphoma.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Liver disease.
  • Stomach ulcer.
  • Fever.
  • Gonorrhea.
  • Syphilis.
  • To counteract a suppressed immune system.
  • Other conditions.
More evidence is needed to rate the effectiveness of Tinospora cordifolia for these uses.

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale: Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate (detailed description of each of the ratings).

Side Effects

Tinospora cordifolia seems to be safe when used short-term. The safety of long-term use, more than 8 weeks, is not known.

Special Precautions & Warnings

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of Tinospora cordifolia during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.

Diabetes: Tinospora cordifolia might lower blood sugar levels. Use it cautiously if you have diabetes, and monitor your blood sugar levels. The doses of your diabetes medications might need to be adjusted.

"Autoimmune diseases" such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or other conditions: Tinospora cordifolia might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of autoimmune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it's best to avoid using Tinospora cordifolia.

Surgery: Tinospora cordifolia might affect blood sugar levels, so there is a concern that it might interfere with blood sugar control during and after surgery. Stop taking Tinospora cordifolia at least 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.

Interactions

Medications for diabetes (Antidiabetes drugs)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Tinospora cordifolia might decrease blood sugar. Diabetes medications are also used to lower blood sugar. Taking Tinospora cordifolia along with diabetes medications might cause your blood sugar to go too low. Monitor your blood sugar closely. The dose of your diabetes medication might need to be changed.

Some medications used for diabetes include glimepiride (Amaryl), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab, Micronase), insulin, pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), chlorpropamide (Diabinese), glipizide (Glucotrol), tolbutamide (Orinase), and others.

Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants)Interaction Rating: Moderate Be cautious with this combination.Talk with your health provider.

Tinospora cordifolia might increase the immune system. Taking it along with some medications that decrease the immune system might decrease the effectiveness of these medications.

Some medications that decrease the immune system include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.

Dosing

The following doses have been studied in scientific research:

BY MOUTH:

  • For allergic rhinitis (hay fever): 300 mg of a specific Tinospora cordifolia aqueous stem extract (Tinofend, Verdure Sciences) three times daily for 8 weeks.