Alternatives for Diabetes

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Alternatives for Diabetes

JoAnn Guest

Jan 25, 2004 17:55 PST

 

 

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.

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The following plants are discussed:

 

garlic, bitter melon, Gymnema Sylvestre, fenugreek, 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 in addition to traditional herbal

medicines.

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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

 

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 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 at Asian groceries.

Health food stores may also carry bitter melon extracts.

 

As its name implies, it is 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 "

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.

 

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 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.

 

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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.

 

 

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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