The botanical name of Gymnema is
Gymnema Sylvestre. It is
also known as Gurmar, Gurmabooti, Ram’s
Horn, Periploca of the woods and
Meshasringi.
It is known as Periploca of the woods in
English and Meshasringi - meaning ram’s
horn - in Sanskrit. The leaves, when
chewed, effectively block sweet tastes in
the mouth which explains the Hindi name
Gurmar meaning "sugar destroyer".
A member of the milkweed family Gymnema
Sylvestre is a woody climbing plant that
grows in the tropical forests of central
and southern India, Deccan peninsula,
Assam, and some parts of Africa whose
leaves are used in herbal medicine
preparations.
History:
Indian physicians first used Gymnema to
treat diabetes almost 2,000 years ago. The
primary application was for adult-onset
diabetes, a condition for a condition once
described as "honey urine and is continued
to be recommended today in India. The
leaves were also used for stomach
ailments, constipation, water retention,
and liver disease.
In the 1920s, preliminary scientific
studies found some evidence that Gymnema
leaves can reduce blood sugar levels, but
nothing much came of this observation for
decades. Today, Gymnema has become
increasingly popular in the United States
as a supportive treatment for diabetes.
Active constituents:
Plant constituents include two resins (one
soluble in alcohol), gymnemic acids,
tartaric acid, gurmarin, calcium oxalate,
glucose, saponins, stigmasterol,
quercitol, and the amino acid derivatives
betaine, choline and trimethylamine.
Gymnema Sylvestre is a stomachic,
diuretic, refrigerant, astringent, and
tonic. It has been found to increase urine
output and reduce hyperglycemia in both
animal and human studies.
Usage of the herb:
Blood Sugar
The main focus of Gymnema research is
blood sugar regulation and glucose
metabolism. Several studies suggest that
Gymnema can lower blood sugar levels in
people with type 1 diabetes mellitus
(insulin-dependent diabetes) and type 2
diabetes mellitus (non-insulin-dependent
diabetes). The herb has shown to reduce
blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin and
glycosylated plasma proteins when used for
18-20 months. The effect is gradual rather
than immediate with conventional drugs.
The active components responsible for
lowering glucose are the gymnemic acids.
Traditional Ayurvedic medicine uses
Gymnema to treat a variety of other
disorders as well, including digestion
problems, cough, constipation, and
malaria. Animal studies indicate a
possible role for Gymnema in lowering
cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL
("bad") cholesterol.
Unproven Uses
Gymnema has been suggested for many other
uses, based on tradition or on scientific
theories. However, these uses have not
been thoroughly studied in humans, and
there is limited scientific evidence about
safety or effectiveness. Some of these
suggested uses are for conditions that are
potentially serious and even
life-threatening. You should consult a
health care provider before using Gymnema
for any unproven use.
Aphrodisiac
Cardiovascular disease
Cholesterol reduction
Constipation
Cough
Digestive stimulant
Diuretic
Gout
High blood pressure Laxative
Liver disease
Liver protection
Malaria
Obesity
Rheumatic arthritis
Snakebite antidote
Stomach disorders
Uterine stimulant
General Interaction:
Gymnema may alter the dosage needed for
other drugs commonly used to treat
diabetes, including glipizide, metformin,
and insulin resulting in hypoglycemia.
Cautions:
Gymnema has safely been used for decades
in various countries. Careful long-term
studies on its safety have not been done
so far, however.
Consult your doctor about your desire to
supplement your diabetes regimen with
Gymnema.
Ailments Dosage:
Diabetes: 150 mg twice a day
Warnings: Gymnema should not be taken in
place of insulin. It could potentially
lower blood sugar too much, resulting in a
hypoglycemic reaction. If you have been
diagnosed with diabetes and wish to use
Gymnema consult your physician first. It
should not be used as a substitute, only a
supplement to your current therapy.
Allergies: People allergic to plants in
the Asclepiadaceae (milkweed) family
should avoid Gymnema.
Side Effects: Gymnema may lower blood
sugar levels. Caution is advised if you
are also taking prescription drugs that
may lower blood sugar levels. Patients
taking oral drugs for diabetes or using
insulin should be monitored closely by
their health care provider while using
Gymnema. Dosing adjustments may be
necessary. Gymnema may alter the ability
to taste sweet foods.
Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding: Gymnema
cannot be recommended during pregnancy or
breast-feeding because of a lack of
information on safety and effectiveness.
Summary
Although
Gymne
ma has been suggested for multiple
conditions, the best evidence supports its
use in lowering blood sugar levels.
Because this can be dangerous in
individuals already taking prescription
drugs that lower blood sugar levels,
consult your health care provider before
starting therapy. Pregnant or
breast-feeding women should avoid Gymnema.
Contact your health care provider
immediately if you experience any side
effects.
