Punarnava Guggulu

August 16, 2016Last Updated: March 28, 2019

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Punarnava Guggulu is an ayurvedic medicine, which has anti-inflammatory, anodyne and anti-arthritic properties. It is mainly used for rheumatoid arthritis, gout, hernia, sciatica, frozen shoulder, backache, urinary bladder pain, and tailbone pain.

Punarnava Guggulu vs. Punarnavadi Guggulu

Punarnava Guggulu is anti-arthritic formulation whereas Punarnavadi Guggulu is mainly used as diuretic. Ingredients in both formulations are also different. Some people mistakenly use both names as a synonym to each other. Read here about Punarnavadi Guggulu.

Punarnava Guggulu Ingredients (Composition)

Ingredients	Quantity
Punarnava – Boerhavia Diffusa	4.8 Kg
Erand mool (Castor plant roots) – Ricinus Communis	4.8 Kg
Sonth (dried ginger root) – Zingiber Officinale	768 grams
Water	24.6 Kg
Prepare a Kwath (Decoction) using above ingredients and reduce the liquid to 1/8 part i.e. around 3 Kg. Filter the decoction and add Shuddha Guggulu in the following quantity.
Shuddha Guggulu	384 grams
Now, simmer the mixture until it becomes thick. Then add following ingredients:
Erand Oil – Castor Oil	192 grams
Nishoth (Trivrit or Turpeth) roots – Operculina Turpethum	240 grams
Danti roots – Baliospermum Montanum	48 grams
Giloy (Guduchi) – Tinospora Cordifolia	96 grams
Triphala	72 grams
Trikatu	72 grams
Chitrak root – Plumbago Zeylanica	24 grams
Sendha Namak	48 grams
Shuddha Bhilawa (Bhallataka) – Semecarpus Anacardium	48 grams
Vaividang (False Black Pepper) – Embelia Ribes	48 grams
Swarnamakshik Bhasma	12 grams
Punarnava – Boerhavia Diffusa	48 grams
Tablets are prepared from above mixture and called Punarnava Guggulu.
Reference: BHAISHAJYA RATNAVALI, CHAPTER 27, VATAVYADHI CHIKITSA, VERSE 109 – 113

Pharmacological Actions

Punarnava Guggulu reduces joint pain, swelling, inflammation, stiffness due to following medical properties.

Medicinal Properties

Analgesic
Anti-arthritic
Anti-inflammatory
Anti-gout
Anti-rheumatic
Carminative
Muscle relaxant

Ayurvedic Properties

VIRYA (Potency)	USHNA (Hot)
PRABHAVA (Action)	Anti-arthritic
DOSHA KARMA (Effect on Humors)	Pacifies VATA DOSHA and KAPHA DOSHA
Dhatu (Tissue) Effect	RASA, RAKTA, MAMSA, MEDAS, ASTHI
Organs Effect	Bones, Joints, Muscles
Main Indication	Vata Disorders

Therapeutic Indications

Punarnava Guggulu is useful in following health conditions:

Rheumatoid Arthritis
Gout
Hernia
Sciatica
Frozen Shoulder
Backache
Urinary Bladder Pain
Tailbone Pain
Neck Pain
Spondylitis
Spondylosis – Cervical Spondylosis, Lumbar Spondylosis or Thoracic Spondylosis

Dosage & Administration

The general dosage of Punarnava Guggulu is as follows.
Children	250 to 500 mg *
Adults	500 mg to 3000 mg *
Maximum Possible Dosage	6 grams Per Day (in divided doses)
* Twice a day with warm water or milk
Best Time to Take: After Food

Note: The classical dosage of Punarnava Guggulu seems to be very high, so some people may feel restlessness, vertigo, burning sensation with the high dosage (more than 1 gram twice daily). Therefore, it should be started with a low dosage and can be gradually increased to the classical dosage as described in BHAISHAJYA RATNAVALI.

Safety Profile

Punarnava Guggulu has USHNA VIRYA (hot potency), so the high dosage of this medicine can cause some side effects especially in people with Pitta body type or suffering from any Pitta condition.

Side Effects of Punarnava Guggulu

Punarnava Guggulu may cause following side effects if taken more than 1000 mg twice daily.

Vertigo
Restlessness
Heartburn
Hyperacidity
Burning sensation in abdomen
Feeling of excess heat

Pregnancy & Lactation

Punarnava Guggulu is absolutely contraindicated during pregnancy, so it must not be used by pregnant women. It may cause miscarriage and promote heavy bleeding. The lactating mother should also avoid this medicine.