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Dietary supplement

Guggulu Ingredients & Drug Interactions

by Banyan Botanicals

Guggulu label
See full label image
Powder Category: Botanical
Most serious interaction: Moderate
Clinical methodology reviewed by · Updated Sep 16, 2026 · Label data from the NIH DSLD
What is this page for?

First and foremost: checking Guggulu against your medications. The heart of this page is the interaction checker and the full interaction report — how this product’s ingredients may interact with prescription and over-the-counter medicines you may be taking.

Around that, we add a pharmacist’s high-level view of the product as a whole — what’s inside, the evidence for its stated use, how transparent the label is, and what safety data exists — so you can see the full picture in one place. It’s educational information from our licensed clinical databases and the clinical staff at HelloPharmacist — not medical advice — and we don’t sell or endorse products. Our editorial policy

The interaction bottom line Most serious interaction: Moderate

Guggulu is a dietary supplement by Banyan Botanicals with 1 active ingredient. Its ingredients are commonly taken for high cholesterol, joint pain and arthritis, weight management.Based on those ingredients, 757 medications have a known interaction with it, the most serious rated moderate. The ingredients most likely to interact are Guggulu. Use the checker below to test your specific medication, or read the full HelloPharmacist Interaction Report.

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Check Your Meds Against Guggulu by Banyan Botanicals

Ask about any prescription or over-the-counter medication and we check it for interactions with Guggulu by Banyan Botanicals — and tell you which ingredient is responsible.

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HelloPharmacist Scorecard of Guggulu by Banyan Botanicals

Our pharmacy team’s full take, with four database checks built into the cards below — a summary of what is known, not a grade of the product itself.

From our pharmacy team — supplement deep dive

Generated from HelloPharmacist’s pharmacist-curated databases and editorial rules · Last generated Aug 6, 2026

What’s inside

Full disclosure
Ingredient Transparency · database check
Full

Every active ingredient lists its own amount on the label.

Why this rating?
  • The label discloses an exact amount for 1 of its 1 active ingredient.
  • No proprietary blends here — you can verify the dose of every single component.

Guggulu is a single-ingredient product: guggul powder, the resin extract from a tree native to India and traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine. The powder also contains silicon dioxide as an inactive ingredient (a flow agent to keep it from clumping).

Does it work?

Couldn't assess
Evidence for Intended Use · database check
By FDA rules, dietary supplements can’t claim to treat, cure, or prevent disease — so labels speak in careful marketing language. We discern each product’s intended use from its name, label claims, and label statements, then grade the clinical evidence for that use. How these ratings are computed
Not assessable

This is a single-ingredient Guggul product and its label doesn't state a use — see Guggul's own graded uses on its monograph.

Why this rating?
  • We looked at the product name, claims, and label statements and couldn't find a stated purpose to grade.

The evidence for guggul's effectiveness is limited. For obesity, the research we have rates it as possibly ineffective.

For acne, hemorrhoids, and high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia), there isn't enough reliable evidence to establish whether it works or doesn't. If you're considering it for any of these purposes, talk with your doctor about whether the current evidence supports a trial, and what you might expect.

The evidence, ingredient by ingredient Guggul

How safe is it?

Well-documented data
Safety Information · database check
Well characterized

Adverse-effect, pregnancy, and general safety data are on file for most of these ingredients.

Why this rating?
  • We hold adverse-effect (side-effect) data for 1 of the 1 matched ingredient.
  • Pregnancy & breastfeeding safety ratings cover 1 of 1.
  • General safety write-ups exist for 1 of 1.
  • Remember: this measures how much safety information exists. Thin data is not the same as being safe.

Guggul is generally well tolerated when taken by mouth, but digestive upset is common — belching, bloating, diarrhea, headache, nausea, and unpleasant taste happen in regular use. Skin reactions (rash, itching, swelling, and rarely blistering) occur in some people, and the risk appears higher at larger doses.

A small number of trial participants developed these reactions within minutes of taking it. Rare serious muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) has been reported.

Avoid guggul during pregnancy — it may stimulate the uterus and its safety isn't established. There isn't enough safety data to recommend it while breastfeeding either.

Side effects, ingredient by ingredient Guggul

Meds to double-check

Moderate interaction found
Known Interaction Concern · database check
Moderate identified

The most serious documented interaction for these ingredients is Moderate. Check your medications for a personalized result.

Why this rating?
  • 1 of the 1 matched ingredient can interact with medications — Guggul.
  • The most serious interaction on file is rated Moderate.
  • Some involve high-stakes drug classes: anticoagulant / antiplatelet drugs.
  • For scale: 758 individual medications appear in the full list. A big number alone doesn't make a product dangerous — what matters is whether YOUR medication is on it, so run yours through the interaction checker on this page.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking guggul if you're on blood thinners (anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs like warfarin or aspirin), propranolol or other beta-blockers, diltiazem or other calcium channel blockers, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy, thyroid medications, tamoxifen, or any drugs your liver processes through the CYP3A4 pathway — which includes many common prescriptions. The interaction checker on this page can help you verify your specific medications.

Check your own medication Run your meds through the checker above

The bottom line

Scorecard at a glanceFully disclosed formula with no assessable stated purpose. Moderate medication interactions have been identified, and safety information is well characterized.

Guggul is a single-ingredient Ayurvedic supplement with limited evidence for the conditions it's used for and a significant list of medication interactions — especially with blood thinners, heart drugs, birth control, and thyroid therapy. It commonly causes digestive upset and skin reactions.

Before taking it, discuss your medications and health goals with your doctor or pharmacist, and skip it if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

Educational only — not medical advice; always confirm with your pharmacist. Our editorial policy · How we use AI

Assessment coverage: 1 of 1 active ingredient matched to our full ingredient reviews (monographs). Based on the product label dated Jan 24, 2024.

This Scorecard evaluates available label information, ingredient evidence, and known medication-safety considerations. It does not independently verify product identity, purity, potency, contamination, or manufacturing quality. How these ratings are computed

At a glance

General information

Key facts about Guggulu, straight from the product label.

Brand Banyan Botanicals
Barcode (UPC) 618192077238
Net contents 3.15 Ounce(s); 89 Gram(s)
Market status On market
Date entered into DSLD Jan 24, 2024
DSLD ID 305651
Product type Botanical
Supplement form Powder
Dietary claims / uses All Other
Intended target group(s) Adult (18 - 50 Years), Organic
From the label
Everything in this section is reproduced from the manufacturer’s own product label — it’s the label speaking, not HelloPharmacist. We show it so you can see exactly what the maker states; we don’t verify or endorse those statements.

Supplement Facts

The label details for Guggulu by Banyan Botanicals, sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database.

Supplement Facts

Daily Value (DV) Target Group(s):
Adults and children 4 or more years of age
Minimum serving Sizes:
0.13 Teaspoon(s)
Maximum serving Sizes:
0.25 Teaspoon(s)
Servings per container
147
UPC/BARCODE
618192077238
IngredientAmount% DV
Guggulu0.25 Teaspoon(s)--

Other ingredients: Silicon Dioxide

Tap any ingredient to jump to its full detail below.

Label statements
These statements are the manufacturer’s wording, reproduced from the product label — the label is saying it, not HelloPharmacist. We don’t verify or endorse them.
Suggested/Recommended/Usage/Directions

Suggested Use: 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon with warm water, once or twice daily, or as directed by your health practitioner.

FDA Statement of Identity

Dietary Supplement

Formula

Ayurvedic Herbs

Seals/Symbols

USDA Organic

Formulation

Certified Organic Certified Organic by: QAI

Is this label outdated? Report a formula or label change and our pharmacy team will review it.

See for yourself

Guggulu by Banyan Botanicals label

The label scan from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Tap to enlarge.

Guggulu label

Label images are published by the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database for the version of this product on file. Always read your actual product label.

View the full label (PDF)
What’s inside

The Ingredients in Guggulu by Banyan Botanicals

This is the 1 active ingredient this product is made of. Select it to open its full monograph.

Serving size0.13 Teaspoon(s) Dosage formPowder Servings per container147 Amounts shown are per serving.

Guggulu

Interacts with
757 drugs
0.25 Teaspoon(s) per serving

Guggul is a gum resin from the Commiphora wightii tree, long used in Ayurvedic medicine for cholesterol, joint, and skin problems. Modern studies are...

Guggulu monograph & interactions

Other (inactive) ingredients: Silicon Dioxide. These complete the product’s ingredient list but are not active constituents.

Interaction report

Guggulu by Banyan Botanicals Drug Interactions

Want to check YOUR meds against Guggulu?

Ask about interactions with your drugs in plain English — “Can I take it with lisinopril?” — and we find you the answer in seconds, ingredient by ingredient.

 Go to the checker
757Drugs
757 Moderate

Ingredients driving the most interactions

Guggulu 757

Individual Drug Interactions

The ingredients in Guggulu interact with 757 drugs. Click any drug to see the details.

1 of the 1 ingredient in Guggulu interact with drugs. Each result below shows which ingredient is responsible. Guggulu

Each ingredient & the kinds of drugs it affects

For each ingredient in Guggulu with known interactions, here are the types of medications it can affect. Open any type for the detail — or search your exact drug in the checker above.

Guggulu9 drug types · 757 drugs

Anticoagulant/Antiplatelet Drugs

Theoretically, guggul might increase the risk of bleeding when taken with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs.
In vitro research and preliminary clinical studies suggest that guggul might have antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects.

Likelihood Possible Evidence B
Contraceptive Drugs

Theoretically, guggul might increase the risk of adverse effects when taken with contraceptive drugs.
In vitro research shows that guggul has estrogen-alpha receptor agonist activity.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Cytochrome P450 3A4 (Cyp3A4) Substrates

Theoretically, guggul might reduce the effects of CYP3A4 substrates.
In vitro research shows that guggul constituents known as guggulsterones can induce CYP3A4.

Likelihood Probable Evidence D
Diltiazem (Cardizem, Others)

Guggul might reduce the effects of diltiazem.
A small pharmacokinetic study shows that concomitant use of guggul with diltiazem reduces the bioavailability of diltiazem.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Estrogens

Theoretically, guggul might increase the risk of adverse effects when taken with estrogens.
In vitro research shows that guggul constituents known as guggulsterones have estrogen-alpha receptor agonist activity.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Propranolol (Inderal)

Guggul might reduce the effects of propranolol.
A small pharmacokinetic study shows that concomitant use of guggul with propranolol reduces the bioavailability of propranolol.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Rosuvastatin (Crestor)

Theoretically, guggul might increase the effects and adverse effects of rosuvastatin.
Animal research shows that guggul increases the bioavailability and hypolipidemic effects of rosuvastatin. The mechanism of this interaction is unclear.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Tamoxifen (Nolvadex)

Theoretically, guggul might interfere with tamoxifen therapy.
In vitro research shows that guggul has estrogen-alpha receptor agonist activity.

Likelihood Possible Evidence D
Thyroid Hormone

Theoretically, guggul might increase the risk for adverse effects when taken with thyroid hormone therapy.
Animal research suggests that guggul has thyroid-stimulating effects.

Likelihood Probable Evidence B
Guggulu full monograph & interactions
The maker

Brand information

Manufacturer and brand details for Guggulu, from the product label.

Banyan Botanicals

See all Banyan Botanicals products
Name
Banyan Botanicals
City
Albuquerque
State
NM
ZipCode
87113
Phone Number
1-800-953-6424
Web Address
banyanbotanicals.com
Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Guggulu by Banyan Botanicals: Common Questions

Does Guggulu by Banyan Botanicals interact with any medications?
Yes. Based on its ingredients, Guggulu has a known interaction with 757 medications. Use the checker to see how it interacts with a specific drug.
How can one product interact with so many drugs?
Guggulu contains a single active ingredient, and that one ingredient can interact with many different medications on its own. We check it against each medication and show the mechanism responsible.
Where does this information come from?
The product label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database (DSLD); the interaction data is built on the Natural Medicines database and reviewed by HelloPharmacist pharmacists.
What is guggul?
Guggul is a resin extract from an Indian tree used traditionally in Ayurvedic medicine. This Banyan Botanicals product is pure guggul powder with no other active ingredients.
Does guggul actually work for high cholesterol or weight loss?
The evidence is weak. For obesity, research rates it as possibly ineffective. For high cholesterol, acne, and hemorrhoids, there simply isn't enough reliable data to say whether it works. Talk to your doctor about whether it's worth trying given the current evidence.
What side effects might I experience?
Digestive upset — bloating, diarrhea, nausea, headache, and belching — is common. Skin reactions like rash and itching also occur, especially at higher doses; a small number of people had these reactions very quickly after taking it. Rare serious muscle problems have been reported.
Can I take guggul if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding?
No, avoid it during pregnancy — guggul may stimulate the uterus and its safety isn't established. There also isn't enough safety data to use it while breastfeeding. Talk to your doctor or midwife if you're considering guggul for any pregnancy-related concern.
Why does guggul interact with so many medications?
Guggul appears to speed up how your liver processes certain drugs and has estrogen-like activity in your body. This means it can reduce the effectiveness of some medications (like beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers), interfere with birth control and hormone therapy, and potentially increase bleeding risk if you're on blood thinners — so it affects a broad range of drug types.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

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Label information is sourced from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database and reflects the product version on file; always read your actual product label. This page is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor before combining supplements and medications.

Guggulu label
Go deeper

The Full Monographs Behind Guggulu’s Ingredients

Every ingredient we hold a full HelloPharmacist monograph for — uses, evidence, safety, and the complete interaction list.

Herb & supplement monograph

Guggul

Interacts with 757 drugs

Guggul is a gum resin from the Commiphora wightii tree, long used in Ayurvedic medicine for cholesterol, joint, and skin problems. Modern studies are mixed and often low-quality, and it can...

Read the full Guggul monograph →
Sources

Sources & How We Checked

Guggulu's label data comes from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database; the ingredient interaction data is from the Natural Medicines database, reviewed by our pharmacists.

Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists. See our data sources and editorial standards for how this information is built and checked.

The 21 references behind this product’s interaction data

Every citation that drives the interaction findings for this product’s ingredients, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Open an ingredient to browse its citations — links open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

Guggul 21 references
  1. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, Goldberg A, eds. American Herbal Products Association's Botanical Safety Handbook. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, LLC 1997.
  2. Dalvi SS, Nayak VK, Pohujani SM, et al. Effect of gugulipid on bioavailability of diltiazem and propranolol. J Assoc Phys India 1994;42:454-5.
  3. Singh RB, Niaz MA, Ghosh S. Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Commiphora mukul as an adjunct to dietary therapy in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 1994;8:659-64. PubMed
  4. Tripathi YB, Tripathi P, Malhotra OP, Tripathi SN. Thyroid stimulatory action of (Z)-guggulsterone: mechanism of action. Planta Med 1988;54:271-7.
  5. Agarwal RC, Singh SP, Saran RK, et al. Clinical trial of gugulipid – a new hypolipidemic agent of plant origin in primary hyperlipidemia. Ind J Med Res 1986;84:626-34.
  6. Malhotra SC, Ahuja MM, Sundaram KR. Long term clinical studies on the hypolipidaemic effect of Commiphora mukul (Guggulu) and clofibrate. Indian J Med Res 1977;65:390-5.
  7. Mester L, Mester M, Nityanand S. Inhibition of platelet aggregation by "guggulu" steroids. Planta Med 1979;37:367-9. PubMed
  8. Szapary PO, Wolfe ML, Bloedon LT, et al. Guggulipid for treatment of hypercholesterolemia: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 2003;290:765-72.
  9. Brobst DE, Ding X, Creech KL, et al. Guggulsterone activates multiple nuclear receptors and induces CYP3A gene expression through the pregnane X receptor. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 2004;310:528-35. PubMed
  10. Bianchi A, Cantu P, Firenzuoli F, et al. Rhabdomyolysis caused by Commiphora mukul, a natural lipid-lowering agent. Ann Pharmacother 2004;38:1222-5.
  11. Gelfand JM, Crawford GH, Brod BA, Szazpary PO. Adverse cutaneous reactions to guggulipid. J Am Acad Dermatol 2005;52:533-4 PubMed
  12. Nohr, L. A., Rasmussen, L. B., and Straand, J. Resin from the mukul myrrh tree, guggul, can it be used for treating hypercholesterolemia? A randomized, controlled study. Complement Ther.Med. 2009;17(1):16-22. PubMed
  13. Gelfand, J. M., Crawford, G. H., Brod, B. A., and Szazpary, P. O. Adverse cutaneous reactions to guggulipid. J.Am.Acad.Dermatol. 2005;52(3 Pt 1):533-534. PubMed
  14. Kolonte, A., Guillot, B., and Raison-Peyron, N. Allergic contact dermatitis to guggul extract contained in an anticellulite gel-cream. Contact Dermatitis 2006;54(4):226-227. PubMed
  15. Salavert, M., Amarger, S., Le Bouedec, M. C., Roger, H., Souteyrand, P., and D'incan, M. Allergic contact dermatitis to guggul in a slimming cream. Contact Dermatitis 2007;56(5):286-287. PubMed
  16. Malhotra SC, Ahuja MM. Comparative hypolipidaemic effectiveness of gum guggulu (Commiphora mukul) fraction 'A', ethyl-P-chlorophenoxyisobutyrate and Ciba-13437-Su. Indian J Med Res 1971;59:1621-1632.
  17. Gaur SP, Garg RK, Kar AM, et al. Gugulipid, a new hypolipidaemic agent, in patients of acute ischaemic stroke: effect on clinical outcome, platelet function and serum lipids. Asia Pacif J Pharm 1997;12:65-69.
  18. Baldwa VS, Sharma RC, Ranka PC, et al. Effect of Commiphora mukul (guggul) on fibrinolytic activity and platelet aggregation in coronary artery disease. Rajas Med J 1980;19:84-86.
  19. Donato F, Raffetti E, Toninelli G, Festa A, Scarcella C, Castellano M; TRIGU Project Working Group. Guggulu and Triphala for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolaemia: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Randomised Trial. Complement Med Res 2021;28(3):216-22 PubMed
  20. Mehdi Z, Fatemeh P, Roja R, et al. Efficacy and safety of Hemoheal cream in patients with hemorrhoids: a randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical trial. J Tradit Chin Med 2021;41(2):301-307.
  21. Asad M, Asdaq SMB, Mohzari Y, et al. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction of Rosuvastatin calcium with guggulipid extract in rats. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021;28(6):3490-3496. PubMed

See these in context on the Guggul monograph →

Parts of this content are provided by the Therapeutic Research Center, LLC.

DISCLAIMER: Currently this does not check for drug-drug interactions. This is not an all-inclusive comprehensive list of potential interactions and is for informational purposes only. Not all interactions are known or well-reported in the scientific literature, and new interactions are continually being reported. Input is needed from a qualified healthcare provider including a pharmacist before starting any therapy. Application of clinical judgment is necessary.

© 2021 Therapeutic Research Center, LLC

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