Tinospora cordifolia , Amrutha balli's stem, roots and leaves are used in Indian Ayurveidc preparations to treat Osteoarthritis, Pimples, Piles, Skin diseases, Diabetes, Blood pressure, Heart Diseases, Fever, Jaundice, Hyperacidity, and Gout.

Tinospora cordifolia or Amrutha balli

Did you know that Tinospora cordifolia or Amrutha balli, a herbaceous vine of the Indian subcontinent was used during the 2020-22 COVID-19 outbreak in India, as recommended by the Ministry of AYUSH as a home remedy for immune support?

Tinospora cordifolia or Amrutha balli, which is known by the common names heart-leaved moonseed, guduchi and giloy, is an herbaceous vine of the family Menispermaceae indigenous to the tropical areas of India, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. It is used in Ayurveda over centuries in the belief that Tinospora has medicinal properties to treat various disorders.

Tinospora cordifolia, also called Heart-leaved moonseed in English is known in Indian vernacular langauges as: Amrithavalli, Amritha, Madhuparni, Guduchika, chinnobhaava in Sanskrit; Amritaballi ಅಮೃತಬಳ್ಳಿ, Ugani balli ಉಗನಿ ಬಳ್ಳಿ, Amara ಅಮರ in Kannada; Giloe, Gurcha in Hindi; Galac, Garo in Gujarathi; Nerinjil in Malayalam; Gulvel in Marathi; Gilo in Punjabi; Seendal, Seendil kodi in Tamil; and Thippateega in Telugu.

Amrutha balli grown in ubtropical and tropical climate area in sandy loam soils, is a large, deciduous, extensively-spreading, climbing vine with several elongated twining branches. Leaves are simple, alternate, and exstipulate with long petioles up to 15 cm (6 in) long which are roundish and pulvinate, both at the base and apex with the basal one longer and twisted partially and half way around. It gets its name heart-leaved moonseed by its heart-shaped leaves and its reddish drupe fruits (6-7 mm long). It is propogated with seeds and stem cuttings.

Tinospora cordifolia contains diverse phytochemicals, including alkaloids, phytosterols, glycosides, and mixed other chemical compound. 

Amrutha balli's stem, roots and leaves are used in Indian Ayurveidc preparations to treat Osteoarthritis, Pimples, Piles, Skin diseases, Diabetes, Blood pressure, Heart Diseases, Fever, Jaundice, Hyperacidity, and Gout. In recent times, during the COVID-19 outbreak in India, the Ministry of AYUSH recommended use of T. cordifolia ("giloy") as a home remedy for immune support. 

Some of the Ayurvedic medicince in which Amrita balli herb is used are: Citraka Harītakī, Amritarishta, Siva gutika, Guduchi satva, and 

Mushalyadi churna. 

It has insecticidal properties against the Oriental leafworm moth (Spodoptera litura), a polyphagous pest.

- Narasipur Char