Chinese Herbs for Diabetes

QUESTION: Does anybody know about what can do Chinese herbs for diabetes? Is there any research evidence on them?

Is there any side effects while using them? Is it safe to use them while in pregnancy? Can you provide a list of Chinese herbs that really works for diabetes?

Thank your for your comments.

ANSWER: Hi there,

This is a very important question, because diabetes can be treated not only by drugs, but by herbs too. Besides this, most of the modern drugs are produced at the basis of plants and herbs, which is talking about the herbs’ effectiveness.

In addition, the usage of herbs, sometimes, replaces the drugs treatment, which is more comfortable and cheaper for the patients.

Besides this, the herbs, including the Chinese ones are not causing side effects, like some of the drugs used for diabetes.

Regarding your question, about the existence of Chinese herbs for diabetes treatment, the answer is yes. The most popular and the most effective one is bitter melon juice.

You can find only this herb on the market, but you can find it in a combination with other herbs, which are improving your glucose metabolism.

You may find in the form of the most popular herb called Liu Wei Di Huang, and it is your choice to buy this or only bitter melon.

Other useful herbs, used for treatment of diabetes are Gymnema Sylvestre and Fenugreek. As both of them are very effective, you can combine them in purpose to achieve better control of your blood-glucose concentration.

In addition, please take not that there are a lot of other herbs used by diabetics, but not all of them are effective and not all of them are proven to work.

Regarding the usage of these herbs during pregnancy, you have to know that there is no problem to do this.

However, it would be better for a pregnant lady and for her baby to make a consultation with the doctor about it, because sometimes even the herbs and not able to stimulate your organism to produce more insulin and the pregnant women are obligated to take injections.

However, they are not toxic for the baby or for a pregnant lady, although nobody can give sureness.

With regards to the research evidence you are asking, I can tell you that several researches have shown the efficiency of those plants. One, of the most popular researches, which was estimated in the Philippines during 2007, showed that small dose of bitter melon is as effective as a high dose of glibenclamide.

These herbs are really effective, but you will achieve better results in short period if you combine them with proper diet and exercises.

Following a low-carb diet along with running for about one hour a day, will keep your blood-glucose concentration within the normal ranges.

In this way, all the complications caused by diabetes are going to be avoided, and you will be able to live normal life.

Hope it helped!

Dr.Alba