What are Policosanol and Gugul?
Policosanol and guggul are distinctly different substances, but when taken together, their combined effect can foster certain benefits in your body. Both of them are derived from plant secretions that occur naturally.
Policosanol is a combination of long chain alcohols that are typically derived from
sugar cane wax. The primary alcohol in policosanol is called octacosanol, but others are present in it as well. Sugar cane wax is the primary plant from which policosanol is derived, but it can also be harvested from other plants including beeswax, nuts, seeds, and rice wax.
Guggul is a resin harvested from the sap of the Mukul myrrh tree, which is native to India, Central Asia, and North Africa. It has a long history of use in the Ayurvedic tradition, both for its fragrance and its use as a remedy.
The Benefits of Policosanol
Decreasing the levels of negative cholesterol (LDL) may be possible with
policosanol. A meta-study published in 2017 showed that policosanol might be useful for reducing both LDL cholesterol (a.k.a. "bad" cholesterol), as well as overall cholesterol levels. It is thought to be particularly helpful for regulating cholesterol spikes after meals. However, the science to support this claim is conflicting, and more research is needed to prove it conclusively.
Raising good cholesterol may also be possible with policosanol. One study from 2017 showed that a daily policosanol supplement corresponded with higher levels of
HDL cholesterol (the good kind) in young men. The group that took it for the longest amount of time saw the most improvement, and it was especially helpful to smokers. More scientific study is needed to support the correlation between policosanol and higher HDL.
Leg pain due to poor blood flow might be alleviated with
policosanol. A certain kind of leg pain known as "intermittent claudication" can take place when blood flow in the legs is hindered during exercise, or even just during regular daily activities. This can cause pain and the need to stop and rest until the symptoms cease. A policosanol supplement taken daily by mouth may extend the time that individuals with this complication can exercise or walk without pain.
The Benefits of Guggul
Reducing overall cholesterol might very well be possible with guggul. However, it most likely does not directly lower LDL levels while raising HDL levels; it is likely useful solely for reducing cholesterol overall when such a reduction is necessary.
Acne may be treated with guggul. Taking a guggul supplement by mouth might work for treating severe acne that is on the face, chest, and back. In fact, there is evidence to support that guggul works just as well to this purpose as tetracycline, an antibiotic used to treat acne. It specifically works to decrease inflammation and the pain from acne, and reduce incidence of acne outbreaks.
Weight loss might be bolstered with the use of guggul supplements. This is due to its ability to help trigger lipolysis and apoptosis, which refer to the breakdown and death of fat cells, respectively. However, more research is necessary before this conclusion can be proven, as scientific studies are conflicted about guggul's potential to help with weight loss.
Controlling one's cholesterol is a high priority for millions of people, and it's good to know there is another option with policosanol and gugul. You may also find
Sytrinol
beneficial. The bonus is that policosanol and guggul offer health benefits in other areas as well, but be sure to discuss their use with your personal physician if you have any questions.
