Best Herbs To Help Control Diabetes

1.Aloe Vera

This prickly succulent, filled with a thick, slimy gel has been utilized throughout history for it’s cooling, healing and soothing properties. These amazing properties are the result of aloe’s active compounds: anthraquinones, lectins, and mannans. The gel is incorporated into a number of personal care, health and beauty products because of it’s strong anti-inflammatory properties. It can be used both externally and internally, and when used internally—in the form of juice—has a direct impact on blood glucose levels. Studies have shown that aloe vera extract can regulate fasting blood glucose levels in prediabetics within 4 weeks, and reverse lipid profile levels within just 8 weeks. It is the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant nature of aloe that targets diabetically-weakened areas of the body, for example, pancreatic beta cell damage caused by oxidative stress. The antioxidant potential of aloe is responsible for a lot of it’s positive effects. Some additional benefits of aloe: it encourages faster healing, decreases blood lipids and reduces the swelling and inflammation of skin ulcers and wounds.

2. Red Ginseng

Ginseng root has long been used in Chinese medicine to address a range of ailments. The root is traditionally used as a tonic to improve energy, stamina, mental performance and improve immunity, however it can also be used for diabetes. There are two main species of ginseng—American ginseng and Asian or Korean ginseng—though the kind which is diabetes-specific is Korean red ginseng. This kind of ginseng has been proven to provide glycemic control, improve pancreatic cell function and enhance the uptake of blood sugar from tissues. When used in animal studies it has significantly decreased blood glucose levels, blood glucagon levels, and increased blood insulin levels. When performing similar studies on humans it was found that even in non-diabetics, ginseng impacted blood sugar levels. The inherent benefits of red ginseng can be further enhanced if it is fermented, since the live bacteria which result from the fermenting process helps optimize the absorption of ginsenosides within the ginseng. Beyond blood sugar control, red ginseng has also been found to provide antioxidant protection, an important element when dealing with diabetes. All these things combined make this herb a powerful diabetic, anti-hyperglycemically .

3.Psyllium

Psyllium comes from seed husks of the plantago ovata plant. It is most commonly known for it’s laxative effects, and because of this, is featured in many fiber supplements to treat constipation, diarrhea or other intestinal ailments such as irritable bowel syndrome. Psyllium helps lower blood cholesterol, as well as blood sugar levels, resulting in less need for insulin. For those wanting to treat type 2 diabetes, psyllium is key. The high-fiber, soluble nature of psyllium helps control blood sugar; it doesn’t raise blood glucose levels—ensuring it doesn’t spike unnecessarily—and slows the absorption of sugar. The husks transform to a gel when mixed with water. When ingested, this gel quality plays a pivotal role in how food is assimilated in the body; the psyllium slows down and delays food digestion, reducing the absorption of sugars—and consequently—minimizing blood sugar peaks. In fact, in 2000, a study performed by K von Bergmann showed a high intake of dietary fiber “improved glycemic control, decreased hyperinsulinemia and lowered plasma lipid concentrations in patients with type 2 diabetes.” In fact, information published in the Oxford University Press confirmed that psyllium is a great addition to any health program because of it’s glycemic benefits and glucose-reducing action.

4.Garlic

Containing more than 400 powerful chemical components—such as disulfide, allicin, and S-ally Systerine—garlic is highly regarded for it’s ability to address a number of physical ailments and issues (it can protect the heart, is antimicrobial and even protects against cancer.) Components such as the ones mentioned above are responsible for lowering blood sugar and helping diabetes. Allicin in particular—a sulfurcontaining compound—has been noted for it’s powerful hypoglycemic effect. These compounds increase the insulin released from beta cells in the pancreas as well as increasing hepatic metabolism. Garlic in any form is potent—raw, aged or cooked. It regulates blood glucose, aids blood flow, and increases insulin by supporting the liver. There have even been studies which pit garlic tablets against metformin (using placebo tablets as a control group.) The result of these studies have been impressive; whereas there was no change in the placebo groups’s readings, garlic tablets positively effected fasting blood glucose and were pronounced “comparable to metformin.

5.Sage Leaves

Belonging to the same “family” as lavender, thyme, rosemary and mint, and used frequently in Mediterranean cooking, sage contains a number of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds. Sage has been noted for it’s metformin-like effects and is a known antidiabetic plant. It can be drunk as a tea (an infusion) or used in the form of essential oil. It is useful in the treatment of diabetes if taken supplementally. There have been a number of studies performed which confirm these findings; in 2010 a study by KB Christensen found that sage tea infusions can be as effective as metformin in type II diabetes, increasing the action of insulin and lowering the production of liver glucose. Sage tea can also improve the lipid profile as well as increasing antioxidant defenses. When used in an animal study, sage decreased serum glucose in type I diabetic rats and an aqueous extract of the herb was discovered to have an insulin-like effect in the body. Essential oil of sage has also been used for it’s antidiabetic effects.

6.Cinnamon

A spice often used in baked goods, with a warm, mellow flavor; cinnamon has a long-standing reputation in the natural health community. However, this history is now reinforced by modern day scientific research. In 2013, in Annals of Family Medicine, it was concluded that cinnamon is responsible for “statistically significant” decreases in fasting blood sugar, overall cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. And in 2012, an animal study published in Pharmacognosy Research, supports these findings. It is important to bare in mind that there is not just one kind of cinnamon, there are a few different varieties and they are not all created equal. The preferred variety for therapeutic purposes is Ceylon cinnamon. This is the variety which has been effective in scientific studies. It also needs to be noted that Cinnamomum aromaticum and Cassia cinnamon (the other kinds of cinnamon) are known to be high in coumarin—a blood-thinning substance. Ceylon cinnamon has much lower coumarin levels .

7.Turmeric

Belonging to the ginger family, this bright orange root has been used in both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine—for hundreds and hundreds of years—and for good reason; turmeric is a spectacular herb for the body. The most crucial component of turmeric is curcumin—the substance which gives turmeric it’s signature orange hue. It has numerous benefits: it supports healthy digestion, eases pain, brightens the skin, improves liver function and on and on… With antiinflammatory and antioxidant properties, this root helps treat both types of diabetes, as well as preventing the onset of diabetes in the first place. Specifically, turmeric improves insulin function, reduces insulin resistance, protects beta cells (which are responsible for insulin production), improves any insulin-response pathways which have been disrupted, reduces the inflammatory signals which are typically overactive in diabetes (for example, IL-1, cytokines IL-6 and TNF) and treats many diabetic symptoms due to it’s anti-inflammatory effect. Curcumin can be difficult for the body to properly absorb, but the addition of black pepper remedies this. Just by using a small amount of black pepper you can enhance the bioavailability of this medicinal plant.