Benefits of ancient wisdom plants for blood sugar control

Today we have a guest article, by Madhur Kotharay, put together on request, on three wonder plants for management of healthy blood sugar levels

Indian traditional medicine, Ayurveda, uses many herbs for control of blood sugar levels and management of diabetes. This usage has thousands of years of safe and effective history.

Some of these herbs are also useful for normal people to maintain their blood glucose at healthy levels, and prevent them from progressing towards diabetes.

Modern science has also understood the merits of these herbs. Around the world, many research institutions have studied them using latest research techniques.

Three wonder plants Three such plant products have received special attention: Gymnema Sylvestre (Madhunashini in Sanskit), Shunti (dried ginger powder), and Twak (the bark of cinnamon tree).

Here is the summary of their respective benefits for the control of blood sugar. Of course, none of these is my opinion. Every single statement has a corresponding medical reference, and I will provide a link to those in the article.

Caution

1. This article is not a medical advice. Only a qualified doctor should treat your condition.
2. This article is only meant to give you inputs on research done around the world on this subject. Often, even the doctors are not fully abreast of such research, partly because this does not constitute any part of allopathy or homoeopathy.
3. Even Ayurvedic doctors (my sister is one; so, I should know) refer to these herbs as per their textbooks and conventional theory, which does not include the new research.
4. For example, no ancient Ayurvedic textbook has ever mentioned about how serotonin improves insulin secretion. The world found that out only in 2009. So, leave alone the knowledge of how ginger improves serotonin receptors, which are damaged in diabetes, helping lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. The article covers all that, and more.

Madhunashini (Gymnema Sylvestre)

• Gymnema sylvestre is a plant used for thousands of years in traditional medicine for diabetes and malaria. It has no known toxic effects.
• It reduces sugar cravings for hours, making sweet food unappetizing. Which makes this ideal for those of us who struggle with a sweet tooth.
• It reduces absorption of sugar in intestines, and increases insulin secretion from pancreas. Both of these reduce post–meal sugar levels.
• It prevents insulin resistance. This prevents blood sugar levels to stay abnormally high at all times.
• Gymnema has been found to lower blood sugar levels both in type 1 and type 2 diabetics.
• Gymnema also helps in arthritis, cancer, high cholesterol and triglycerides, obesity, immunity, liver protection, wound healing, dental caries, and inflammation.

Read a detailed article for more information and medical references: Gymnema in blood sugar control.

Twak (the bark of Ceylon Cinnamon tree)

• Cinnamon is a spice used for 4000 years. It is anti–inflammatory and anti–oxidant.
• A cinnamon variety called cassia is cheap, and available worldwide. It has few medicinal benefits, and also some side effects. A rare, and expensive, variety called ceylon cinnamon is medicinally valuable, with very low toxicity.
• Cinnamon slows down carbohydrate digestion and stomach emptying. These help in lowering post–meal blood glucose.
• Cinnamon also lowers insulin resistance and mimics some actions of insulin. These help in lowering fasting blood glucose.
• Many trials have found benefits of cinnamon in lowering blood sugar by 10–30% in diabetic patients and lesser in normal people.

Read a detailed article on my website for more information and medical references: Cinnamon in blood sugar control.

Shunti (Ginger / dried ginger powder)

• Ginger is a medicinal plant, which is used as a spice for thousands of years in many cultures.
• It is also used in traditional medicine for treating indigestion, constipation, cold–related problems, and various kinds of pains. Recently, it has been found to posses anti–cancer, anti–clotting, and anti–oxidative properties.
• Ginger reduces sugar digestion in the intestines. It increases insulin secretion and mimics some actions of insulin. With these capabilities, it helps in reducing post–meal blood sugar.
• Ginger lowers insulin resistance. This helps keep the overall (fasting, as well as post–meal) levels of blood sugars low.
• Ginger helps protect many organs that are damaged in diabetes, such as diabetic liver, eyes, kidneys, and neural system. Thus, it is protective against diabetic complications.
• Ginger is also useful in bronchitis, arthritis, acidity (heartburn), upper respiratory tract infections, menstrual pain, and digestive problems.

Read a detailed article on my website for more information and medical references: Ginger in blood sugar control.

In conclusion, a combination of those 3 above mentioned wonder plants can be very effective in management and maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.