Diabetes: Herbal Cures

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Diabetes: Herbal Cures

Herbal Recommendations for Diabetes

 

Before the advent of insulin, diabetes was treated with plant

medicines.

In 1980 the World Health Organization urged researchers to examine

whether traditional medicines possessed any real medicinal effects.

 

In the last 10-20 years scientific investigation has, in fact,

confirmed the efficacy of many of these preparations, some of which

are remarkably effective.

 

This discussion is, of necessity, limited to a few plants—those that

appear most effective are relatively nontoxic, and have substantial

documentation of efficacy.

 

The following plants are discussed:

 

onions and garlic, bitter melon, Gymnema Sylvestre, fenugreek, salt

bush, and pterocarpus. In addition, three other herbal medicines

(bilberry, grape seed, and ginkgo extracts) are discussed because of

their important roles in dealing with diabetic complications.

 

Even though the herbs described here possess blood sugar-lowering

effects, proper and effective natural treatment of the diabetic

patient requires the careful integration of diet, nutritional

supplements,

and lifestyle, along with herbal medicines.

 

(Allium cepa) and garlic (Allium sativum)

 

Onions and garlic have demonstrated blood sugar lowering action. The

active principles are believed to be the sulfur-containing compounds

allyl propyl disulfide (APDS) and diallyl disulfide oxide (allicin),

respectively, although other constituents such as flavonoids may

play a role as well.

 

The cardiovascular effects of garlic and onions, that is,

cholesterol and blood pressure lowering actions, further

substantiate the liberal intake of garlic and onions by the diabetic

patient.

 

 

 

Bitter Melon:

 

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia), also know as balsam pear, is a

typical fruit widely cultivated in Asia, Africa, and South America.

 

The unripe fruits are eaten as a vegatable. Bitter melon is a green,

cucumber-shaped fruit with gourd like bumps all over it. It looks

like an ugly cucumber.

 

In addition to being eaten as a vegetable, unripe bitter melon has

been used extensively in folk medicine as a remedy for diabetes.

 

The blood-sugar lowering action of the fresh juice or extract of the

unripe fruit has been clearly established in human clinical trials

as well as experimental models.

 

Bitter melon is composed of several compounds with confirmed anti-

diabetic properties.

 

Charantin, extracted by alcohol, is a hypoglycemic agent composed of

mixed steroids that is more potent than the oral hypoglycemic drug

tolbutamide.

 

Momordica charantia also contains an insulin-like polypeptide P,

which lowers blood sugar levels when injected subcutaneously into

type I diabetics. Since it appears to have fewer side effects than

insulin, it has been suggested as a replacement for some patients.

 

The oral administration of bitter melon preparations has shown good

results in clinical trials in patients with type II diabetes.

 

In one study, glucose tolerance was improved in 73 percent of type

II

diabetics given 2 ounces of the juice. The pooled area under the

glucose

tolerance curves of the patients responding to the bitter melon was

187.0

square centimeters---much lower than the baseline level of 243.6

square

centimeters.

 

In another study, 15 grams of the aquaeous extract of

bitter melon produced a 54 percent decrease in postprandial blood

sugar level and a 17 percent reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin in

six

patients.

 

Unripe bitter melon is available primarily at Asian grocery stores.

Health food stores may have bitter melon extracts, but the fresh

juice is probably best, as this was what was used in some of the

studies.

 

Bitter melon juice is, in my opinion, very difficult to make

palatable. As its name implies, it is quite bitter. If you want the

medicinal

effects, simply plug your nose and take a 2-ounce shot of the juice.

The dosage of other forms should approximate this dose.

 

 

 

Gymnema Sylvestre

 

Gymnema sylvestre is a plant native to the tropical forests of

India, and has long been used as a treatment for diabetes. Recent

scientific investigation has upheld its effectiveness in both type I

and type

II diabetes. Gymnema is probably the most practical herbal

recommendation for improving blood sugar control in diabetics. High-

quality gymnema extracts are available in health food stores.

 

Gymnema Sylvestre appeared on the U.S.market a few years ago.

Originally it was hyped as a " sugar blocker " . Manufacturers

erroneously claimed that gymnema could block the absorption of sugar

in the

gastrointestinal tract and allow the sugar to pass on through the

intestinal tract unabsorbed. Ridiculous advertisement claims were

made, such as " how to cut down on sugar calories without cutting

down on sugar. " This was, in my opinion, a blatant distortion of the

truth.

 

Gymnema components, such as gymnemic acid, block the sensation of

sweetness when applied to the tongue. This has shown some clinical

significance.

 

Subjects that had gymnema extracts applied to the tongue consumed

fewer calories at a meal compared to subjects not treated with

gymnema. It must be stressed that the gymnema extract was applied to

the

tongues—subjects did now swallow it in capsule or tablet form, as

this would not produce the same effect.

 

Gymnema extracts enhance glucose control in diabetic dogs and

rabbits.

Interestingly, in animals that have had their pancreas removed,

gymnema possesses no obvious effects.

 

It can therefore be concluded that gymnema enhances the production

of endogenous insulin.

 

The results of animal studies suggest that it accomplishes this

through regeneration of the insulin-producing beta cells in the

pancreas. Studies in humans seem to support this, both in type I and

type II diabetes.

 

An extract of the leaves of Gymnema sylvestre given to twenty-seven

patients with type I diabetes on insulin therapy was shown to reduce

insulin requirements and fasting blood sugar levels, and to improve

blood sugar control.

 

This study confirmed earlier work in animal studies. In type I

diabetes, gymnema appears to work by enhancing the action of

insulin.

 

Furthermore,

there is some evidence that it may possibly regenerate or revitalize

the beta cells of the pancreas.

Gymnema extract has also shown positive results in type II diabetes.

 

In one study, twenty-two type II diabetics were given gymnema

extract

along with the oral hypoglycemic drugs. All patients demonstrated

improved blood sugar control; twenty-one out of the twenty-two

subjects were able to reduce their drug dosage considerably; and

five subjects were able to discontinue their medication and maintain

blood sugar control with the gymnema extract alone.

 

The dosage for Gymnema sylvestre extract is 400 mgs per day in both

type I and type II diabetes. It is interesting to note that gymnema

extract is without side effects and exerts it blood sugar-lowering

effects

only in cases of diabetes.

 

 

 

Fenugreek

 

Fenugreek seeds have demonstrated significant anti-diabetic effects

in experimental and clinical studies. The active principle is in the

defatted portion of the seed and contains the alkaloid trigonelline,

nicotinic acid, and coumarin.

Administration of the defatted seed (in daily doses of 1.5-2 grams

per kilogram) to both normal and diabetic dogs reduces fasting and

after meal blood levels of glucose, glucagon, somatostatin,insulin,

total cholesterol, and triglycerides, while increasing high-density

lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels.

 

Human studies confirm these effects. Defatted fenugreek seed powder

given twice daily in a 50-gram dose to insulin dependent diabetics

resulted in significant reduction in fasting blood sugar and

improved glucose tolerance test results.

 

There was also a 54 percent reduction in 24-hour urinary glucose

excretion and significant reductions in low-density lipoprotein

(LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and

triglyceride

values.

Innoninsulin diabetics the addition of 15 grams of powdered

fenugreek seed soaked in water significantly reduced postprandial

glucose levels during the meal tolerance test. These results

indicate that fenugreek seeds or defatted fenugreek seed powder

should be included in the diet of the diabetic.

 

 

 

Salt Bush (Atriplex halimus)

 

Salt bush is a branch woody shrub native to the Mediterranean, North

Africa, and southern Europe. Salt bush is especially common around

the Jordan valley in inundated saline depressions and oases. Salt

bush

is the feeding source of the sand rat.

 

Researchers began investigating the possible therapeutic benefits of

atriplex in humans when it was

noticed that sand rats switched from a diet rich in atriplex to

standard rat

chow typically developed severe diabetes.

Replacing the atriplex to the diet brought about a quick reversal of

the condition.

 

Human studies conducted in Israel have yielded good results in

patients with type II diabetes. Blood glucose levels and glucose

tolerance

were mproved. Atriplex is rich in fiber, protein, and numerous trace

minerals including chromium. The dosage used in the human studies

was 3 grams per day.

 

 

 

Pterocarpus (Pterocarpus marsupium)

 

Pterocarpus has a long history of use in India as a treatment for

diabetes. The flavonoid, (-)-epicatechin, extracted from the bark of

this plant, prevents beta cell damage in rats. Further, both

epicatechin and a crude alcohol extract of Pterocarpus marsupium

actually regenerate functional pancreatic beta cells in diabetic

animals.

 

Epicatechin is also found in green tea (Camellia sinensis). As there

are no

commercial sources of pterocarpus in the United States, green tea

may be suitable alternative. At least two cups of green tea should

be consumed per day.

 

Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), grape seed (Vitis vinifera), and

Ginkgo biloba extracts

 

Bilberry, grape seed, and Ginkgo biloba extracts offer significant

benefits to diabetics.

 

The active compounds of these extracts are flavonoids. These

flavonoids increase vitamin C levels, decrease the leakiness and

breakage of small blood vessels, prevent easy bruising, and exert

potent antioxidant effects. These effects are greatly needed in

dealing with the microvascular abnormalities of diabetes and

preventing diabetic retinopathy.

 

Although all three of these extracts are of significant benefit,

bilberry and grape seed extract are probably the best to use in the

prevention and treatment of diabetic retinopathy, while gingko

biloba

extract appears most useful in the prevention and treatment of

peripheral vascular and nerve disease due to diabetes.

 

Regardless of the source, PCO extracts can be used to support good

health. As a preventive measure and as antioxidant support, a daily

dose of 50 mgs of the grape seed extract is suitable.

 

When used for therapeutic purposes, the daily dose should be

increased to 150 to 300 mgs. For PCO bound to phosphatidylcholine,

the dose for general support is 50 mgs; for therapeutic purposes,

150 mgs.

PCO extracts exert no side effect.

 

 

 

The standard dose for bilberry should be used on its anthocyanoside

content, as calculated by its anthocyanidin percentage.

 

Widely used pharmaceutical preparations in Europe are standardized

for

anthocyanidin content (typically 25 percent). The following doses

should be taken three times daily:

 

Anthocyanosides (calculated as anthocyanidin): 20-40 mgs.

Bilberry extract (25 percent anthocyanidin content): 80- 160 mgs

 

Much of the clinical research on Gingko biloba has utilized a

standardized extract, containing 24 percent ginkgo heterosides

(flavone gylcosides) at a dosage of 40 mgs three times a day.

However, some studies have used a slightly higher dosage of 80 mgs

three times

daily.

 

Clinical research clearly shows that GBE should be taken

consistently for at least 12 weeks in order to be effective.

Although most people report benefits within 2 to 3 weeks, some may

take longer to respond.

Gingko biloba leaf extract is extremely safe and side effects are

uncommon. In 44 double blind studies involving 9,772 patients taking

GBE, the number of side effects reported was extremely small. The

most common side effect, gastrointestinal discomfort, occurred in

only

twenty-one cases.

 

 

Taken from:

 

" The Healing Power of Herbs "

Revised and expanded 2nd version

-- Michael T. Murray, N.D.

 

Co-author of " Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine "

_________________

 

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