Giloy was claimed by many medical experts and doctors to increase immunity. However, a new study shows that excessive use of giloy damages your liver. Almost overnight, the sales of Giloy rocketed and people started taking it without any medical consultation.
‘Giloy plant is used in Ayurvedic medicine. All parts of giloy are useful in improving digestion and boosting immunity.’
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Now two years later, a study recently published in Hepatology Communications, the official journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease, has found that consumption of 'giloy' without prescription and monitoring can cause damage to organs such as the liver. The study was conducted by Liver Research Club of India at 13 medical centres including King George's Medical University (KGMU).
Giloy, also known as 'Amrita' or 'Guduchi' in Hindi, is an herb that helps improve digestion and boost immunity. It has heart-shaped leaves that resemble betel leaves. All parts of the plant are used in Ayurvedic medicine. However, the stem is thought to have the most beneficial compounds.
The study was conducted on 43 patients -- 23 females and 20 males -- who reported symptoms of jaundice. Clinical findings revealed that all patients were suffering from chronic liver disease or liver failure.
Doctors also found that each of the patients had a history of taking a concoction of giloy.
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"Most of these patients had consumed the herbal drug without prescription or taken unprescribed doses for an average 46 days. This generated common antinuclear antibodies which started attacking liver cells and induced acute hepatitis with autoimmune hepatitis-like features," said Prof Patwa.
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Source-IANS