Kanthagan A Guggul Tree exudates

Guggul, a soft brown gum resin giving fragrance on burning. It is known as Bdellium in the ancient Greek and Hebrew world, sought for its gummy resin, which is tapped from the bark of the Commiphora wightii tree and is used both as a perfume or incense and as a medicine. It has a warm, slightly sweet, balsamic, herbaceous and earthy aroma with hints of vanilla and is often burnt after sundown to lend a tranquil note to the evening. It has different names region wise in India namely-Mugil. Guggo, Guggulu, Guggul Mahishksh, Xanthan, Kanthagana Guggulu, Guhhul Sugar etc. Occurrence It is mostly confined to western India being a native species, from where it was introduced westward to southern Pakistan and the middleeast. It prefers arid and semi-arid climates and is tolerant of poor soil. It is found in arid rocky tracts of Rajasthan Gujarat Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka are the important states where it is grown extensively. The Tree It grows as a shrub or small tree, reaching a maximum height of 13 ft with thin papery bark. The branches are thorny. The leaves are simple or trifoliate, the leaflets ovate, 1-5 cm long, 0.5- 2.5 cm broad, and irregularly toothed. It is gynodioecious, with some plants bearing bisexual and male flowers, and others with female flowers. The individual flowers are red to pink, with four small petals. The small round fruit are red when ripe. Botanically Commiphora wightii of family Burseraceae. The individual flowers are red to pink, with four small petals. The small round fruit are red when ripe drupes and a black seed with a yellow pseudo-aril. Environmental requirements The tree prefers arid to semi arid climate and can grow in poor soils having sandy loam, silt loam texture and poor in organic matter, draught and salinity resistant with good adaptability. It is also considered as a drought area salinity resistant plant and prefers loams to sandy loam soils with pH ranging between 7.5 to 9.0. Soils are coarse textured, properly drained and calcareous soils are normally poor in organic carbon, nitrogen, excessive in potash ion, magnesium, and zinc and copper, medium in phosphorus and calcium. Rainfall between 100mm-50mm. Air temperature 40 degree C in summer and 3 degree C at some point in winter

Harvesting and handlings

The plant attains its normal height and girth in 8 to 10 years of age when these are ready for tapping. Usually stem or branch having maximum diameter of approximately 5cm at the area of incision, no matter age the plant was tapped. The period from December to March is right for tapping. A prick chisel of approximately 3 cm width is used to make bark deep incisions. Iftapping is successful, gum exudations starts evolved after about15-20 days from date of incision and keep for nearly 30 to 45 days. A piece of polythene sheet can be pouched around the place of incision. A maximum of 500g of gum has been obtained from a plant. The quality grades are normally acquired from thick branches of the tree. These lumps of Guggul are translucent and of commercial use

Period of harvesting the gum

The trees are tapped for resin from November through January, and collection continues until May or June through a nick on the bark of the tree. Yield A healthy tree yields 250-500 grams of gumresin in one season, and guggul plants typically begin yielding resin after five years. Starting from the sixth year, yield of gum resin increases from 200 to 400gm per plant. The exuded resin is allowed to dry on the tree before it is collected. Collected resin is cleaned by sieving and hand picking to remove foreign matter, and packed in sacks for transfer to points of sale, either nationally or internationally. The collected gum is graded according to its purity. Lower grades are generally dull coloured and blended with stand, stones and other foreign materials. For the similar plant, because the date of gum series advances which coincides with advancing summer season temperature, the quality of gum deteriorates. Sun drying of gum adversely influences gum quality.

Uses Traditional

Gum guggul is used as incense, to make lacquers, varnishes, and ointments, as a fixative in perfumes, and in medicine. Aromatics enrich our existence and connect us to realms beyond, while elevating our sense of peace and contentment. Outstanding among the earth's aromatic endowments is Guggul, a soft brown gum resin that in fragrance. Known as Bdellium in the ancient Greek and Hebrew world is sought for its gummy resin, which is tapped from the bark of the tree and is used both as a perfume or incense and as a medicine. It has a warm, slightly sweet, balsamic, herbaceous and earthy aroma with hints of vanilla and is often burnt after sundown to lend a tranquil note to the evening. Well known and widely used in Ayurvedic medicine, Guggul is burnt as incense for sacred rites and fires. In India Guggul is traditionally burnt over hot coals, the resultant smoke ensuing carried to different rooms and then held in all corners for a few seconds. Its fragrant, dense smoke is said to rejuvenate oneself, increase one's energy and promote a feeling of well-being, while purifying the air and cleansing it. 52 The gum can be purchased in a loosely packe form called dhoop, an incense from India, which is burned over hot coals. This produces a fragrant dense smoke. It is also sold in the form of incense sticks and dhoop cones which can be burned directly. Guggul is also used in Ayurveda remedes and it is mentioned in Ayurvedic texts dating back to 600 BC. It is often sold as an herbal supplement Guggul has been used in the traditional Ayurvedic medical system for centuries and has been studies extensively in India. Commercial products ae promoted for use in hyper lipidemia; however, clinica studies do not substantiate this claim. Ant inflammatory and cardiovascular effects are being evaluated, as well as use in cancer, obesity, and diabetes.

1. External uses

Duggal Paste- A pas implemented to the exterior of the body to promote healthy skin, free of movement within the joints, reduction of Guggul (kanthgan) resin swelling, and detoxification of the tissues. - Gargling- Guggul may be gargled or held inside the mouth after which spit to suppor wholesome oral mucous membranes, teett and gums.

2. Internal uses The Flavor plays such an important role in the digestive technique and indicators the frame to provoke its supportive mechanisms, Ayurveda traditionally recommends tasting herbs. Guggu may be taken internally alone, however, is usually taken in combination with different herbs.

Save Guggul Movement' in Rajasthan, India Because of its use in traditional medicine, C wightii has been overharvested, and has become so scarce in its two habitats in India-Gujarat and Rajasthan-that the World Conservation Union (IUCN) has enlisted it in its IUCN Red List of threatened species. Several efforts are in place to address this situation. India's National Medicina Plants Board launched a project in Kutch District to cultivate 500 to 800 hectares of guggul while a grass-roots conservation movement, led by IUCN to educate guggul growers and harvesters in safe sustainable harvesting method.

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Courtesy: Dr BL Puttoo   and Koshur Samachar 2025,December