Guggul

 Family Name : BURSERACEAE 

Botanical Name : COMMIPHORA MUKUL 

Common Name : COMMIPHORA, MUKUL, GUGGUL, BALSAMODENDRON MUKUL, INDIAN BDELLIUM TREE, MOQL, MOQLE-ARZAGI 

Part Used : WHOLE PLANT 
Commiphora wightii (Guggul or Mukul myrrh tree) is a flowering plant in the family Burseraceae. The guggul plant may be found from northern Africa to central Asia, but is most common in northern India. It prefers arid and semi-arid climates and is tolerant of poor soil. 

It is a shrub or small tree, reaching a maximum height of 4 m, 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, 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 

Habitat : Rocky tracks of Western India and Eastern Himalayas. 

Uses : It is Carminative, Antispasmodic, Disphoretic, Ecobolic, Anti Suppurative and Emmenagogue. Gum resin used for treatment of rheumatoid arthiritis. It is a potent drug for cardiac disorders high cholesterol. It is an ingredient for over fifty compounds.