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Gymnema
Description: Gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre) is a climbing plant commonly found in tropical forests of India. Its leaves are used medicinally, and when chewed directly appear to mask the body’s ability to taste sweet foods. This is the reason it is known in Hindi as gurmar, or "destroyer of sugar".Gymnema has been studies for its effect of lowering blood sugar since the 1920s.1

Useful in treatment of:

Diabetes. While it is still not certain how gymnema causes reduced blood sugar, several theories have been suggested. One study showed that gymnema raises insulin levels.2 Another suggests that the herb helps the body to rebuild damaged pancreas cells.3 Still others suggest that gymnemic acid, by blocking sweet tastes,4 simply stops people from eating sugary foods.5

Gymnema appears effective in treating Type 2 diabetes. No controlled studies have been done. However, preliminary research suggests that 400 mg taken daily can reduce the need for oral medications by Type 2 diabetics.6 It may also decrease the amount of insulin needed by Type 1 diabetics.7 These changes should not be made without the assistance of a health care professional.

Recommended Dosage: 400 to 600 mg daily of an extract standardized to contain 24% gymnemic acid.

Contraindications: None.

References:

1Mhasker KS, Caius JF. A study of Indian medicinal plants. II. Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. Indian J Med Res Memoirs 1930;16:2–75.
2Shanmugasundaram KR, Panneerselvam C, Sumudram P, Shanmugasundaram ERB. Insulinotropic activity of G. sylvestre, R.Br. and Indian medicinal herb used in controlling diabetes mellitus. Pharmacol Res Commun 1981;13:475–86.
3Shanmugasundaram ERB, Leela Gopinath K, Radha Shanmugasundaram K, Rajendran VM. Possible regeneration of the islets of Langerhans in streptozotocin diabetic rats given Gymnema sylvestre leaf extracts. J Ethnopharmacol 1990;30:265–79.
4Fushiki T, Kojima A, Imoto T, et al. An extract of Gymnema sylvestre leaves and purified gymnemic acid inhibits glucose-stimulated gastric inhibitory peptide secretion in rats. J Nutr 1992;122:2367–73.
5Gymnema. Lawrence Review of Natural Products Aug 1993 (monograph).
6Baskaran K, Ahmath BK, Shanmugasundaram KR, Shanmugasundaram ERB. Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. J Ethnopharmacol 1990;30:295–305.
7Shanmugasundaram ERB, Rajeswari G, Baskaran K, et al. Use of Gymnema sylvestre leaf extract in the control of blood glucose insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. J Ethnopharmacol 1990;30:281–94.
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