GYMNEMA
Gymnema sylvestre is a climbing plant that grows at low elevations in Asiatic countries. It has the remarkable property of anesthetizing the sweet taste buds of the tongue. This undoubtedly led to its use in treating diabetes mellitus over 2000 years ago in India. The plant contains groups of compounds called gymnemic acids, which appear to be the cause of the blockage of the sweet taste buds and the reason why this herb lowers blood sugar in diabetics.
Diabetes is becoming epidemic in this country as more of the population becomes obese and sedentary. The percentage of people with diabetes in America has risen from 1% in 1970 to 5% in 2002. The greatest increase has been of the non-insulin dependent, Type 2 diabetes. This is characterized by a decrease in insulin production by the beta cells of the pancreas and by resistance to the circulating insulin in the rest of body’s cells.
Clinical studies in both insulin requiring and non-insulin requiring diabetics have shown that use of a water-soluble extract of Gymnema (400 mg/day) lowered average blood sugar, lowered fasting blood sugar, lowered cholesterol and triglycerides and appeared to increase levels of insulin. Many of the patients in these trials were able to lower use of insulin or oral diabetic drugs. Although these trials were not placebo controlled, diabetes generally does not respond to placebos. If taken along with insulin or diabetic drugs, Gymnema has the potential to cause low blood sugar problems so it should only be taken with the supervision of the physician managing your diabetes.
Gymnema appears to slow sugar absorption in the small intestine. Its other action may be to help the pancreatic beta cells to produce more insulin when needed. Use of the herb seems to be safe and it has a very long history of use in the Far East. An adequate dose is necessary to obtain good results. The dose of 8 grams of herb (taken 4 grams twice daily) is found in 10 milliliters of a 1:1 extract or in 8 grams of tablets.
Other herbs found useful in diabetes include fenugreek, bitter melon, goat’s rue, and sacred basil. In addition, soluble fiber in the diet (such as Psyllium seed husks) has been shown to lower blood sugar and lipid levels.
For diabetics with difficulty controlling their blood sugar levels, use of these herbs and plant fibers offers another option.
Daniel Blodgett MD