Herbal Medicine for Diabetes

Herbs used in traditional Indian medicine to treat diabetes seems to lower blood sugar and insulin levels in a manner similar to prescription drugs, a new study reports.

Researchers gave extracts of the herb Salacia oblonga to 39 healthy adults, and the results were promising. The largest dose of the herb extract ? 1,000 milligrams ? decreased insulin and blood glucose levels by 29 and 23 percent, respectively.

"These kinds of reductions are similar to what we might see with prescription oral medications for people with diabetes," said Steve Hertzler, a study co-author and an assistant professor of nutrition at Ohio State University.

Salacia oblonga, which is native to regions of India and Sri Lanka, binds to intestinal enzymes that break down carbohydrates in the body. These enzymes, called alpha-glucosidases, turn carbohydrates into glucose, the sugar that circulates throughout the body. If the enzyme binds to the herbal extract rather than to a carbohydrate, then less glucose gets into the blood stream, resulting in lowered blood glucose and insulin levels.

"Lowering blood glucose levels lowers the risk of disease-related complications in people with diabetes," Hertzler said. "Also, poor compliance with diabetes medications often hinders the effectiveness of these drugs. It may be easier to get someone to take an herb with food or in a beverage, as opposed to a pill."

The study appears in a recent issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Thirty-nine healthy adults participated in four separate meal tolerance tests. These meals, which were given in beverage form, were spaced three to 14 days apart. Each participant fasted for at least 10 hours before consuming the test beverage.

Participants were asked to drink about two cups' worth of the chilled beverage, which contained zero, 500, 700 or 1,000 milligrams of Salacia oblonga extract. Afterward, the researchers used the finger-prick method to draw blood samples from each person every 15 to 30 minutes for three hours. These blood samples were used to determine insulin and blood glucose concentrations. The biggest changes in blood glucose and insulin levels usually happen within the first two hours after eating.

The beverage that contained the highest concentration of the herbal extract ? 1,000 milligrams ? provided the most dramatic reduction in insulin and blood glucose levels. Insulin levels were 29 percent lower, while blood glucose levels were 23 percent lower as compared to the control drink, which contained no herbal extract.

As Salacia oblonga can cause intestinal gas, the researchers had the study participants collect breath hydrogen samples hourly for eight hours after drinking the test beverage. The participants collected their breath in small plastic tubes. The researchers then analyzed these breath samples for hydrogen and methane content ? the level of either substance in the breath corresponds to the level contained in the colon.

The subjects also rated the frequency and intensity of nausea, abdominal cramping and distention and gas for two days after consuming each test meal.

While the test beverages containing Salacia oblonga caused an increase in breath hydrogen excretion, reports of gastrointestinal discomfort were minimal, Hertzler said.

Right now he and his colleagues are trying to figure out what dose of the herb is most effective, and when it should be taken relative to a meal.

"We want to know how long it takes for the herb to bind to the enzymes that break down carbohydrates," Hertzler said. "The participants in this study took the herb with their meal, but maybe taking it before eating would be even more effective."

The researchers also want to study the effects of Salacia oblonga in people with diabetes.

"A lot of studies show that lowering blood sugar levels reduces the risk for all kinds of diabetes-related complications, such as kidney disease and nerve and eye damage," Hertzler said. "We want to see if this herb has this kind of effect."

Salacia oblonga is still relatively difficult to find in the United States, Hertzler said, although there are manufacturers that sell the herb through the Internet.

This study was supported by the Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories in Columbus.

Hertzler is continuing to conduct Salacia oblonga studies with the Ross Products Division of Abbott Laboratories. He has no links to the company beyond this affiliation.

Hertzler conducted the work with former Ohio State colleague Patricia Heacock, who is now at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey; Jennifer Williams, a clinical scientist with Ross Products Division, Abbott Laboratories; and Bryan Wolf, a former research scientists with Ross Products Division.

Goldy

For Salacia Oblonga herb
Write to
Botanika
herbalpowders@operamail.com
treeseeds@operamail.com
treeseeds@rediffmail.com
www.salaciaoblongacapsules.com

Traditional Indian medicine, herb Salacia oblonga may help treat diabetes
Posted By: News-Medical in Medical Study News
Published: Tuesday, 8-Feb-2005
Printer Friendly Email to a Friend

---

A Morning Smoothie to Help You Stop Constipation

Chronic constipation can be hard to stop or elimination, since... Read More

Top 3 Reasons Why You Suffer From Pain In The Back Of The Knee

Pain behind the knee is something many of us have... Read More

Is Green Tea Good for Me?

Scientific studies continue to show that green tea is good... Read More

Kundalini Questions

Alex Wrote;"What is the difference after the kundalini awakens, and... Read More

The Macrobiotic Approach To Health And Wellness

It may be an ordinary dance studio during the week,... Read More

Paintings That Heal? & Children?s Healing Art? ? Right !

If you asked me a year ago if a Painting... Read More

Whipped Shea Butter & Its Many Uses

Shea butter, also referred to as karite, which means "life"... Read More

Martial Arts

Martial arts are currently studied worldwide from a variety of... Read More

Health Benefits of Green Tea

For over 3000 years, the Chinese have been using green... Read More

Hypnosis Way of General Indications of Deceit

When the subject is changed, he's in a better, more... Read More

Cold Laser Therapy: Hope for Arthritis

Having had the rare, first-hand opportunity to observe cold laser... Read More

Top Ten Reasons Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy Works

Studies and research show natural HRT really works. By using... Read More

How to Clean-up Your Allergies with 2 Easy Home Tips

It's that time of year again when people who have... Read More

Application Methods For Aromatherapys Essential Oils

BATH: Add 10-12 drops of a single oil or a... Read More

You Cant Fool Mother Nature

In the 1970's, there was a margarine commercial with the... Read More

Once You Discover and Act on This ?Secret? to Health and Energy, You May be Changed for the Better

I discovered something completely, 100% amazing about 5 years ago.... Read More

Quit Smoking

Consider this:Already since 1972, over 60 million people in the... Read More

Breathing Your Way To Health

Breathing, yes of course we do it, if not we'd... Read More

Which to Use When: Ice or Heat?

Knee pain after running? Wake up with a backache? Twist... Read More

Hemorrhoids & its Symptoms

Hemorrhoids are conditions where there is a swelling of the... Read More

YARROW TEA (Achillea Millefolium)

An amazing tea that can help with colds and flu,... Read More

Your Body is a Map of Your Consciousness

Everything begins with your consciousness. Everything that happens in your... Read More

Acupressure

Developed in Asia over 5,000 years ago, acupressure is an... Read More

Natural Pain Relief Through Magnetic Therapy is Possible

No one can deny the power of magnets, racing pigeons... Read More

Amazing Artemesias

Artemis - Goddess of the herbalist - gives her name... Read More

Mental Anchors

Have you ever noticed when you remember something pleasant in... Read More

Memory Loss

Memory loss affects thousands of people every year. Memory loss... Read More

Just The Tea FAQs: Health Benefits (Part II)

A hot cup of tea might be just the thing... Read More

Purchasing Essential Oil

Tips on Purchasing Essential OilsIt is important to purchase your... Read More

Muget Des Bois: A Healing Victory

Known by its other name as Lily of the Valley... Read More

Herbology

Herbology is one of the oldest healthcare sciences known to... Read More

Have you Fed Your Good Bugs Today?

Most consumers have heard of probiotics and know that they... Read More

Bad Breath and Gingivitis

Does this sound familiar to you? My dentist and hygienist... Read More