Friday 10 April 2015

Can Diabetes be cured? - The herbal approach

 Previously we looked at the contemporary approach to finding a cure for diabetes. Now let’s look at the herbal approach for treating the disease.

Several studies carried out in the past confirm that certain herbal therapies; Cinnamon, Bilberry extract, Bitter melon, Fenugreek, Okra, Ginger, Aloe Vera, do play a beneficial role in blood glucose control. The result of this has been the uptake of these remedies by many people in the treatment of their diabetes.

Though western health experts remain skeptical about the purported benefits of these herbsmaintaining that in fact because certain vitamins, herbs and supplements could increase the  hypoglycemic  (blood sugar lowering )effects of diabetes medication, the use of such herbs by diabetics could portend the real risk of a dangerous drop in blood sugar levels with all its attendant consequences. Generally then it must be said that, before you take these or any other like herbs, your doctors okay should be sought in order to help ascertain safety of and appropriate dosage.

We shall now briefly look at individual herbs with reported anti-diabetic properties. Commonly known as garlic, Allium Sativum has been shown in studies to be beneficial in the treatment of diabetes. Having both antioxidant and micro-circulatory effects, it is speculated to cause a reduction in blood glucose level, increase secretion and slow down the degradation of insulin. Further study needs to be made on it though.

Next comes Bauhinia forficata and Myrcia uniflora. Both being South American plants, Bauhinia forficata commonly referred to as vegetable insulin, is widely used as an ingredient in Brazilian herbal cures. Studies made on both plants however suggests that their anti-diabetic effects is exaggerated. An herb which has shown notable anti-diabetic effects however is Coccinia indica. Known as the ivy gourd, it grows across the Indian sub-continent and is used in Ayurvedic remedies-that is in the holistic Indian system of healing of which herbal and mineral remedies forms a part. (Ayurvedic method also comprises diet, detoxification and purification exercises, yoga, breathing exercises, meditation and massage therapy). In fact many experts contend that Coccinia indica should be further studied.

Ficus carcia; fig-leaf to us, on the other hand is readily known as a diabetic remedy in Spain and South-western Europe. Its active component though remains unknown. Though studies on animals indicate that the plants leafs encourages glucose uptake, trial studies in humans is still needed to ascertain true efficacy.

Under consideration now is Ginseng. Ginseng is actually a collective name for a variety of different plant species. And different types of ginseng abound. Thus we have Korean, Siberian, American and Japanese ginseng. Under study, American ginseng has been found to decrease fasting blood glucose but generally speaking further study needs to be made on ginseng species before an official statement on them can come out.

A rather promising herbal treatment though is that derived from Gymnema Sylvestre. This plant, also used in Ayurvedic medicine is native to the forests of southern and central India and is reported to have substantial blood sugar lowering effects. In fact some studies in animals ascribe to it not only increase in beta cell function but in addition regeneration of islet cells. As such it is my suggestion here that use of this plant -the isolation of its active component, the synthesis and possible modification of that component to boost efficiency, is something that should be looked at here by Harvard Melton lab scientists (see previous article) who are equally looking at the self-regulation route, i.e. the encouragement of beta cells to replicate themselves as a viable cure and treatment to Type 1 diabetes.

Another herb which is a good candidate for blood glucose regulation is Momordica charantia with reports citing impressive effects on blood glucose levels. Suggested to help diabetics with insulin secretion and glucose oxidation, the drug goes by various names and is native to some areas of Asia, India, Africa and South America. Also known as Kerala or Karola and bitter melon, it is marketed as charantia.

Again, we have Ocimum sanctum, an herb employed in traditional Ayurvedic practises and commonly known as Holy Basil. Controlled clinical trial of this plant showed encouraging effects on fasting and postprandial glucose. It is the opinion of scientists that the herb could assist insulin secretion and improve generally the functioning of beta cells.

In addition to this is a plant-Opuntia streptacantha  which trial studies in animals has revealed helps to significantly reduce the incidence of postprandial glucose and HbA1c. Commonly known as the prickly-pear cactus, it is traditionally used for glucose control by denizens of the Mexican desert area where it can be found. However longer term clinical trials still need to be made on it.

Further to this is Silibum marianum or Silimarin for short. Commonly known by the name milk thistle, it is reportedly another herb with anti-diabetic properties-namely glycaemic control. How it does this however is yet to be fully understood.

Yet again, we have Trigonella foenum graecum or fenugreek. Widely grown in India, North Africa and parts of the Mediterranean, it is also used in Ayurvedic treatment as well as in cooking. Non-controlled trials on this plant on type 2 diabetics show improved glycaemic control.

Moreover a report made in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology cited Linun usitassimum (LU6) an active fraction of flaxseed as being found to improve glucose utilization in the liver and lower after meal blood sugar elevations. The most exciting part of the report however is that this flaxseed fraction brought plasma and c-peptide back to normal levels. Since C peptide is a direct indicator of how much insulin is being produced by the beta cells, normalization of C peptide levels in turn therefore means that beta cell function had effectively been restored. The report went "...significant insulin producing islet formation was also observed in in vitro PANC-1 cells after LU6 treatment, indicating the cellular aggregates to be newly formed islets. This suggests the potential of LU6 in the formation of new islets in vitro, as well as in vivo. Thus, LU6 can be used as a nutraceutical-based first line treatment for diabetes".

Other substances have equally been found to spur the regeneration of beta cells.
Arginine for example is one. It was found by a 2007 study that this amino acid, L-arginine is capable of stimulating the generation of beta cells in the subject diabetic animals.
In the same year researchers claimed to confirm the protective and restorative effect of avocado seed extract on pancreatic islet cells in diabetic mice.

Further to this, Berbebine in 2009, a plant compound common to the herbs barberry and goldenseal was found to induce beta cell regeneration in diabetic rats. Chard in its own turn was found to assist in the resurgence of injured beta cells.

Again in 2009, corn silk was marked out as not only reducing blood sugar levels but also stimulating beta cell regeneration in Type 1 diabetic rats. A year later Curcumin a derivative of Turmeric was found to do the same-that is stimulate beta cell regeneration in type 1 diabetic rats. Moreover an earlier 2008 study also reported curcumin as preserving pancreatic islet cell survival and transplantation efficiency.

Geinstein is another herb which looks promising for the treatment of both Type 1 diabetes. The reason for this is that it not only prevents the onset of insulin deficient diabetes, but also stimulates the growth of beta cells in the mice it was applied to.

Honey too has been cited as having possible beta cell regeneration properties owing to its ability to increase fasting C-peptide levels. This was highlighted by a 2010 study.

Going further, it was found by a 2003 animal study that eating Nigella Sativa (black seed) resulted partially in the regeneration/proliferation of beta cells as well as inducing general better beta cell function.

Interestingly in 2011, a human study on the herb stevia, noted that it had anti-diabetic properties, including revitalizing damaged beta cells and even comparing favourably with the drug glibenclamide but without the adverse effects.

Sulforaphane a compound which can be found in large quantities in broccoli sprouts is also reported to have beta regenerative qualities.


Other herbs that have been studied, and may have positive effects for diabetic patients include: Berberine, Cinnamomym tamala, Curry, Eugenia jambolana, Gingko, Phyllanthus amarus, Pterocarpus marsupium, Solanum torvum and Vinca rosea.

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