Guggul is the gum resin obtained from a variety of plants native to India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. All species are a part of the Burseraceae family, also known as the incense family.

Guggul has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine, a holistic, plant-derived medical system, to treat various health conditions, such as obesity, arthritis, and inflammation.

Thyroid disorders are relatively common, especially among women. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which your thyroid gland doesn’t make enough thyroid hormones to keep your body running normally. Results from animal and human studies have shown that this treatment significantly improved signs and symptoms associated with hypothyroidism, such as weakness, fatigue, and muscle aches.

Early research suggests guggul may alleviate symptoms associated with osteoarthritis. One older study in 30 people with knee osteoarthritis who were treated with guggul showed improvements in knee pain and knee swelling, as well as increased knee flexion. Additionally, those treated with guggul increased their walking distance.