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Herbal Remedies for Diabetes -
A Whole Range of Effective Cures
In recent times a number of evidences have come up throwing light on the usefulness of particular herbal remedies and diet supplements in preventing diabetes and keeping blood sugar levels under control. Usually diabetes patients need to follow a strict medication schedule. However, by following a combination of the right herbal remedies and dietary supplements and by advocating some changes in lifestyle the need for diabetics to depend on medicines may get reduced or even eliminated altogether. The basic objective of the herbs and herbal medicines used for the purpose is to keep the blood sugar levels in control.
The Indian Kino or Malabar Kino is an herb that has a long history of usage as treatment for diabetes. The herb has the capacity to regenerate functional pancreatic beta cells. The flavonoid epicatechin that can be extracted from the bark of the Malabar Kino or the Pterocarpus massupium is considered to produce the effect.
The Gymnema sylvestre laso called gurmar is another herb that helps the pancreas to produce Insulin in Type 2 diabetes. Administration of the extract of this herb in medicine has been found to improve the ability of insulin thus rendering it capable of lowering blood sugar in both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. This has also been reported to decrease the cravings for sweet things.
The bitter gourd or bitter melon (also called Karela, in India) is another herb that has proven anti biabetic properties. This has been found to be even more effective than conventional drugs in reducing blood sugar levels.
Folk medicine has advocated the use of the blueberry leaf for treating diabetes. It contains an active ingredient myrtillin that is an anthocyanoside. This generates a powerful anti diabetic effect which can last for several weeks.
Oriental ginseng has been known to have an anti diabetic effect too. Traditional Chinese medicine advocates its use as a preventive or cure for diabetes. The oriental ginseng, a prescribed cure for many ailments, enhances the release of insulin from the pancreas. It also increases the number of insulin receptors. Besides, it also directly acts towards lowering blood sugar levels.
Other herbs that are known to possess anti diabetic properties are ginkgo biloba, bilberry, stevia, cinnamon, fenuygreek, Indian gooseberry, mango leaves and neem (margosa) leaves. Extracts of ginkgo biloba can prove helpful in preventing and treating early stage of diabetic neuropathy. Bilberry lowers risk of complications associated with diabetes. Stevia though not anti diabetic is a natural sweetener and can be used in place of sugar thus reducing the sugar intake of diabetic patients. Cinnamon has been known to help control diabetes and its complications in more ways than one. It makes fat cells more responsive to insulin, greatly increases conversion of glucose to energy and blocks formation of free radicals.
The fenugreek seeds containing trigonelline- an active compound acts as a blood sugar lowering agent. Indian gooseberry has a pancreas stimulating effect too thus helping control diabetes. Again, an infusion prepared by squeezing the tender mango leaves kept in water overnight when taken in an empty stomach in the morning lowers blood sugar levels in diabetics. Alternatively, the powder of the leaf may also be administered. Similarly, the leaves of the neem or margosa can also be juiced and used by diabetics for lowering blood sugar levels.