The mosty commonly used natural remedies for blood sugar control are herbal medications. In excess of 400 traditional plant treatments for diabetes have been reported, but only a fraction of them have any scientific backing. An overview of the herbal mediciations that have been tested for efficiacy follows:

Ginseng is a root native to Asia and North America. It has been used as a folk medicine and tonic for thousands of years. There are several species of ginseng, but those that are believed to have blood sugar lowering properties are Panax ginseng (Asian ginseng) and Panax quinquefolius (American ginseng). Ginseng contains ginsenosides, which are a family of steroids named steroidal saponins. It is the actions of these ginsenosides which researchers believe are responsible for the pharmacological effects of ginseng. Based on the results of a study, Vuksan provided the following hypotheses regarding the mechanisms by which ginseng produces these effects:

1. Ginseng may slow down the digestion of food, with the effect that the rate of carbohydrate absorption into portal hepatic circulation is also slowed down.

2. Ginseng may affect glucose transportation

3. Ginseng may modulate nitric oxide mediated insulin secretion.

In a randomized, placebo controlled study in 2000, Vuksan, et al gave capsules of panax quinquefolius (American ginseng) to diabetic subjects. These subjects were already receiving diabetes treatment in the form of diet or prescription drugs. Those subjects who received a 3 g dose of ginseng had a blood sugar level that was 59.1 % less than subjects who had received a placebo treatment. Additional dosages above 3g did not result in further reductions in blood sugar levels.

(Vuksan V, Stavro MP, Sievenpiper JL, Beljan-Zdravkovic U, Leiter LA, Josse RG, Xu Z. Similar postprandial glycemic reductions with escalation of dose and administration time of American Ginseng in Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care 23(9):1221-1225, 2000).

In a 1995 study, Sotaniemi, et al. treated Type 2 Diabetics with a small dose (100-200 mg) of American ginseng or a placebo. The ginseng group evidenced a reduction in the levels of fasting blood glucose and HbA in the ginseng group. The ginseng group also gave evidence of elevated mood, improved psychophysiological performance and physical activity, as well as reduced bodyweight.

(Sotaniemi, EA, Haapakoski, E, RautioA. Ginseng therapy in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients. Diabetes Care 1995; 18: 373-375).

No major adverse side effects of ginseng use have been reported. Minor side effects include nervousness and excitation, which lessen with continued use. Ginseng may have an estrogen-like effect on post menopausal women which could result in diffuse mammary nodularity and vaginal bleeding. Ginseng may also have an inhibitory effect on some prescription medicines, such as Wafarin and Phenelzine.

(Palmer BV, Montgomery AC, Monteiro JC, Ginseng and Mastalgia. Br Med J 1978:1:1284).

Numerous recent studies have indicated that cinnamon may help prevent the onset of diabetes. The first study was published in the August, 2000 issue of New Scientist. It reported data from the Agricultural Research Unit in Maryland, which found that cinnamon rekindled the ability of fat cells in diabetics to respond to insulin and greatly increased glucose removal. A 2003 study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggests that cinnamon may cause muscle and liver cells to respond more readily to insulin, which would allow the insulin to regulate blood sugar more effectively. At the same time, the cinnamon seems to reduce several risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

(Anderson, R. et al. Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of people with Type 2 Diabetes. Diabetes Care; December 2003).

The recommended dosage of cinnamon for diabetic effect is ½ teaspoon per day.

Research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture USDA) has shown that chromium has an important role to play in enhancing insulin response in Type 2 diabetics. Chromium is an essential nutrient for humans, the main function of which is to increase insulin’s efficiency in regulating blood sugar levels. The modern Western diet, in conjunction with a high stress life-style, can lead to a deficiency in chromium. In 1998, USDA scientists monitored 180 patients with Type 2 diabetes. The subjects were divided into three groups, each receiving twice daily doses of either 200 mcg or 500 mcg of chromium or a placebo. All of the patients taking chromium showed measurable improvements in their diabetes –related symptoms. At the end of two months, those who took 1,000 mcg of chromium daily showed significant improvement in insulin response, the number of insulin receptors, and levels of blood lipids (fats and cholesterol).

( Anderson, R. Chromium in the Prevention and Control of Diabetes ; Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 1998 ).

It is recommended that Type 2 diabetics supplement with 200 mcg of chromium two to three times daily.

Bitter Melon ( momordica charantia) is a vegetable / fruit that has long been used as a folk medicine in the treatment of diabetes. The fresh juice and unripe fruit of bitter melon has been scientifically established as a blood sugar lowering agent. The constituents of bitter melon with anti-diabetic properties are believed to be charantin and an insulin-like polypeptide (polypeptide P). In a 1986 study, Welihinda, et al showed that glucose tolerance was improved 73 % in Type 2 diabetic patients who were given 57 g of bitter melon juice.

( Welihanda J, Kurananayake, EH, Sheriff, MH, Jayasinghe, KS. Effect of Momordica charantia on the glucose tolerance in maturity onset diabetes. J Ethnopharmacol 1986;17:277-282).

(Srivistava Y, Venkatakrishna,-Bhatt A, Verma Y, et al. Anti-diabetic and adaptogenic properties of Momodicsa charantia extract. An experimental and clinical evaluation. Phyother Res 1993;7:285-289).

It is believed that bitter melon has a direct action similar to insulin. The recommended dose of bitter melon tincture ranges from 6 to 50 ml per day. In capsulated powder form, recommended dose ranges from 3 – 15 g daily. However, a standardized extract may be taken at dosages of 100-200 mg three times daily.

Fenugreek (trigonella foenumgraecum) is a spice commonly used in the Middle East and India. Numerous studies suggest that fenugreek can reduce blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetics. In 1996 a metabolic study was carried out, and diets with or without 25g fenugreek were given randomly to 10 Type 2 diabetic patients, each for 15 days, in a crossover design. An intravenous GTT at the end of each study period indicated that fenugreek in the diet significantly reduced the area under the plasma glucose curve, half-life, and increased the metabolic clearance rate. In addition, it increased erythrocyte insulin receptors. These results suggest that fenugreek can improve peripheral glucose utilization, which contributes to an improvement in glucose tolerance.

(Sharma RD, Sarkar DK, Hazra B, et al. Hypolipidaemic effect of fenugreek seeds: A chronic study in non-insulin dependent diabetic patients. Phytother Res 1996;10:332–4.)

The only known side effect to Fenugreek consumption is that urine may have a maple syrup smell after ingestion. Dosages from 10 -100 g daily in divided dosages have been recommended.

Prior to the availability of insulin, the leaves of the bilberry plant (vaccinium myrtillus) were used as a diabetic treatment. Oral admintsration of bilberry leaf decoctions have been shown to reduce hyperglycemia in dogs, even in the presence of concurrently injected glucose.

(Bever B, Zahnd G. Plants with oral hypoglycemic action. Quart J Crude Drug Res 1979; 17:139-196).

Pterocarpus Marsupium

Pterocarpus marsupium is a plant that contains the flavanoid epicatechin in it’s bark. Epicatechin consists of glycosides and esters, which have known anti-diabetic properties. In a 1998 open trial, Pterocarpus evidenced an ability to significantly lower the blood glucose level of patients with mild Type 2 diabetes. By the end of the 12 week trial , 67 of 97 participants had managed to attain good blood sugar control. Dosages were between 2-4 g daily.

(No authors listed. Flexible dose open trial of Vijayasar in cases of newly-diagnosed non-insulin dependent diabtes mellitus. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Collaborating Centres, New Delhi, Indian J Med Res 1998;108:24-29).

Gymnema Sylvestre has been used as a treatment for diabetes in India for hundreds of years. A 1990 study gave it some scientific credence. In that study 22 Type 2 diabetics were given 400 mg of gymnema extract daily in addition to their hypoglycemic medication. Blood sugar control improved in all cases. 5 patients were actually able to discontinue their oral medication and continue to control their blood sugar with gymnema extract only.

(Baskaran K, Kizar Ahamath B, Radha Shanmugasundaram, K, Shanmugasundaram ER. Antidiabetic effect of a leaf extract from Gymnema sylvestre in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients. J Ethnopharmacol 1990;30: 295-300).

A recommended dosage of Gymnema is 400-600 mg/day.

Both onions (allieum cepa) and garlic (allieum sativum) have been shown to lower fasting glucose concentrations in both human and animal subjects. The components believed to be responsible for this effect are sulfur containing compounds - allyl propyl disulfide in onions and diallyl disulfide in garlic. It is believed that the glucose lowering effect is achieved due to the active ingredients competing with insulin for insulin – inactivating sites in the liver. This results in an increase of free insulin.

(Jain RC, Vyas CR, Mahatma OP. Letter: Hypoglycemic action of onion and garlic. Lancet 1973;2: 1491).

Recommended dosages are one 400 mg onion capsule and 4 g of fresh garlic daily.