GUGUL AND GLUCOSAMINES

GEL FOR YOUR JOINTS

The active component of gugul is the sterols E- and Z-gugulsterone. These compounds have been studied for a variety of metabolic effects, but gugulsterones have been noted for their anti-inflammatory effect. In Jammu (a north Indian state), the Regional Research Laboratories investigated gugul for its effect on rheumatic diseases and found it to be free of any "adverse and undesirable side-effects."

Another nutrient used by many individuals seeking relief from inflamed joints is glucosamine sulfate, which is extremely popular for people coping with joint disorders and is one of the treatments of choice for many naturopathic doctors treating arthritic patients. A variety of glucosamine forms serve as the building blocks of connective tissue glycoproteins, but glucosamine sulfate is the most extensively studied. Glucosamine sulfate is recognized in Europe as a chondroprotective agent, which is a substance that increases chondrocyte anabolic activity (International Journal of Tissue Reactions, vol. 14(5) pg. 231, 1992). Although people report excellent results in the long run from glucosamines, they exert no anti-inflammatory activity.

Consequently, those individuals needing a little bit more than glucosamines to ward off joint problems would do well to complement their regimen with gugul. Based on the observations of many herbologists, gugul may prove to be an excellent anti-inflammatory complement to glucosamine.