Simhanada Guggulu
Simhanada Guggulu is a classical Ayurvedic guggulu, a resin-based preparation. Listed in Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI) Part I; described in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API); included in CCRAS clinical practice guidelines for Amavata (Rheumatoid Arthritis). The Ayurvedic Formulary of India (Part I, entry 5:12) lists 7 ingredients: Haritaki 48 g, Bibhitaka 48 g, Amalaki 48 g, Water for decoction 576 ml. reduced to 144 ml, Saugandhika (gandhaka)-suddha 48 g, Kausika (guggulu)-suddha 48 g and Citra taila (eranda) 192 g.
| Also known as | Simhanada Guggulu, SimhanadaGuggulu |
|---|---|
| Pharmacopoeia status | Listed in Ayurvedic Formulary of India (AFI) Part I; described in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API); included in CCRAS clinical practice guidelines for Amavata (Rheumatoid Arthritis) |
Composition
As given in the Ayurvedic Formulary of India, Part I, entry 5:12 (SIMHANADA GUGGULU), which cites Bhaisajyaratnavali, Amavatadhikara; 130-131.. Names, parts and quantities are transcribed as printed and checked row by row against the book. Manufacturers' versions of a classical formulation can differ from the formulary.
| # | Ingredient | Part | Quantity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Haritaki | pericarp | 48 g. |
| 2 | Bibhitaka | pericarp | 48 g. |
| 3 | Amalaki | pericarp | 48 g. |
| 4 | Water for decoction | 576 ml. reduced to 144 ml. | |
| 5 | Saugandhika (gandhaka)-suddha (gandhaka) | 48 g. | |
| 6 | Kausika (guggulu)-suddha (guggulu) | exudate | 48 g. |
| 7 | Citra taila (eranda) (eranda) | oil | 192 g. |
The Formulary gives the anupana, the vehicle it is taken with, as warm water. This is what the Formulary records for the classical preparation. It is not a dose for any product, and not advice to take anything.
The evidence at a glance
2papers on this site for this drug, published 2011 to 2012, every one with a DOI.
- 2Laboratory and animal studies
A count is not a conclusion and a tier is a study design, not a verdict. Everything listed here is laboratory or animal work, which does not show an effect in people.true See the research index for how papers are tiered.
Names and identification
| Language | Name |
|---|---|
| English | Simhanada Guggulu |
Where is it described in the classical texts?
Bhaishajya Ratnavali (Amavata Chikitsa Prakarana, Chapter 29); also described in Chakradatta (Amavata Chikitsa) and Yoga Ratnakara
How does it work?
- DMARD-like action: Some reviews describe DMARD-like activity for the combined ingredients in rheumatoid arthritis
- Ama Pachana (toxin digestion): Shuddha Gandhaka (purified sulphur) and castor oil act synergistically to digest metabolic toxins (Ama) that are considered the root cause of Amavata in Ayurvedic pathology
- Anti-inflammatory and anti-gout: Triphala provides potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperuricemic effects; guggulsterones inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokine cascades
- Mild purgative detoxification: Castor oil (Eranda Taila) provides gentle laxative effect that eliminates accumulated Ama from the GI tract, breaking the Ama-Vata cycle
Which traditional uses are supported by research?
These summaries come from the source notes, which do not name the studies behind them.
- Amavata (rheumatoid arthritis): traditionally used in classical practice for this condition. Reviews have reported DMARD-like activity, with reductions in inflammation, pain, and stiffness.
- Traditionally used for gout and high uric acid. Pharmacological studies have reported anti-hyperuricemic effects for Triphala.
- Traditionally used to improve joint flexibility. Clinical observations have reported improved mobility and reduced swelling.
- Traditionally used for detoxification and Ama elimination. The combination of castor oil and purified sulphur is traditionally described as having laxative and digestive actions.
What do recent studies show?
No study for this section could be traced to a published paper. Classical formulations are researched largely in journals that PubMed does not index, so an absence here reflects the reach of the index rather than the state of the evidence.
Recent safety updates
- Contains purified sulphur which may cause mild GI discomfort in some patients; castor oil component may cause loose stools; avoid in patients with diarrhea or irritable bowel syndrome; not recommended during pregnancy and lactation
- Long-term use should be monitored; guggulu may interact with anticoagulant drugs; avoid in patients with bleeding disorders; discontinue if skin rash or allergic reaction occurs
Dosage forms and preparation
Dosage Forms: Vati (pill/tablet), Capsule
Standard Dosage: 2 tablets at bedtime
Optimal Timing: After meals
Storage: Airtight container, cool dry place; guggulu preparations are hygroscopic
Marker Compounds: Guggulsterone, Gallic acid, Sulfur
Vehicle (Anupana): Warm water
Synergistic Combinations
- Key herbs: Guggulu, Triphala, Gandhaka, Eranda taila; guggulu potentiates anti-inflammatory and hypolipidemic actions
Published research
Literature indexed in PubMed that concerns this subject, grouped by study type. A paper appearing here is a record of what has been published, not evidence that the subject works, and laboratory or animal results do not transfer to people. Study titles link to PubMed so you can read the source rather than take our word.
Laboratory and animal studies2
- 2012. Clinical efficacy of Shiva Guggulu and Simhanada Guggulu in Amavata (Rheumatoid Arthritis)Ayu. PMID 23559798 · doi:10.4103/0974-8520.105246
- 2011. A comparative study of Rasona Rasnadi Ghanavati and Simhanada Guggulu on Amavata with special reference to Rheumatoid arthritisAyu. PMID 22131757 · doi:10.4103/0974-8520.85724
Reviewed by Dr. Awadesh Pratap Singh, BAMS, on 11 October 2026. What that review covered.
Consult a qualified vaidya before acting on anything here. Ayurvedic practice is prescribed to a person, not to a condition: the same dravya is given, withheld or substituted depending on your constitution, your agni, the season and what else you are already taking. A page cannot know any of that. Self-prescribing from a reference is how the wrong preparation, the wrong dose or the wrong anupana gets used.
Educational reference only. Nothing on this page is medical advice, a diagnosis, or a recommendation to take anything. Traditional uses and research findings are reported as published, not as claims about what any product does. If you take prescribed medication, raise any interaction with the prescriber rather than acting on a page. See our editorial standards.