The Sugar Buster Herb
The Ayurvedic herb gurmar is popular known as the sugar buster. Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre) is a member of the milkweed family of herbs and is native to the tropical forests of India. The plant also goes by other names such as: gurmari, gurmarbooti and mesbasringi. The Hindi word gur-mar literally means sugar destroyer and the Sanskrit word mesbasringi means ram’s horn because of the shape of its fruits. Leaves of this long, slender plant have been used for more than 2,000 years in India to treat diabetes, a condition also described as “sweet urine.
More Information about Diabetes
Diabetes is a consequence of abnormalities in the blood levels of insulin, the hormone that converts blood sugar into energy. It is a condition where the body cells do not use glucose properly and the blood sugar level rises beyond a normal tolerance. In an extreme situation, it can even lead to a coma from the high sugar levels. But on an ongoing chronic basis, the high sugar levels can lead to overall physical deterioration. Classic symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst and urination, weakness, excessive hunger but weight loss despite increased food consumption, blurred vision, tingling, leg cramps and dryness. Long standing complications include coronary heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and ketoacidosis.
Science now has a new classification for diabetes. Type I [insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile diabetes] results from an insulin shortage. Without insulin, the cell cannot use or burn the blood sugar as energy. Type II diabetes [Adult-onset diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)] is caused by the body’s inability to adequately process insulin resulting in lack of energy.
It is now a well-accepted fact that fast foods, deep-fried or heavily sugar-coated foods that are all high in saturated fat put people at greater risk of obesity. This contributes to increasing the risk of triggering the onset of diabetes. When too much fat accumulates in a cell, the effectiveness of the chemical receptors on the surface of the cell are decreased. This can then result in poor release of insulin or responsiveness to insulin and therefore decreased absorption of glucose.
Ironically, diabetes is considered to be a “prosperity disease” since four of five people with Type II diabetes are also overweight. According to the American Diabetes Association, there are presently six million Americans who have been diagnosed as with diabetes. One million of these are thought to be lacking insulin (Type I) and the other five million suffer from Type II diabetes.
Ayurveda, Diabetes and the Sugar Buster
Thousands of years ago, in Ayurveda, diabetes was treated using leaves of the gurmar plant. The plant’s sugar-destroying property was released when a person chewed on one or two leaves.
Gurmar was said to paralyze a person’s tongue to the taste of sweet taste. That taste-blocking reaction lasted for several hours. People will not want to eat as much sugar if they can’t taste it. By blocking the taste buds from perceiving sugar, gurmar blocks sugar in the digestive system, resulting in a decrease in blood sugar, also known as a hypoglycemic effect.
Gurmar also stimulates insulin secretion and helps the pancreas to produce more insulin in type II diabetics. Studies show powdered gurmar leaf is effective in dosages ranging from 400 mg per day to twelve grams per day.
Research Studies with Gurmar
Several small, placebo-controlled trials indicate that the leaf extracts may indeed lower blood sugar levels. In those with type I diabetes, the extract seems to enhance the action of insulin. One study followed twenty-seven people with type I diabetes who took gurmar leaf extracts for several months. The study showed that they required less insulin to control their blood sugar levels.
In the case of type II diabetes, research findings indicate that the use of gurmar leaf extracts regulate the blood sugar level thus resulting in the need for smaller doses of oral diabetes drugs to control the disease.
Research studies include publication in Diabetes Research in Clinical Practice and Israel Journal of Medical Science.
Besides having these properties, gurmar is also a cardiac stimulant and diuretic. It can correct metabolic activities of the liver, kidneys and the muscles.
The Healing Power of Nature
Gurmarin and gymnemic acid are believed to be the active ingredients in the leaf extract responsible for these numerous effects. Thus gurmar fits well into a weight management program. It complements exercise and dietary changes by curbing sugar cravings. Here is another indication that one needs to look at nature that is at its best in our backyard and not necessarily at the drug store with an expensive label.
Ram holds a doctorate degree in Neurosciences and was a Research Associate Professor of Neuroscience at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA. His research focus was in the areas of chronic stress, neuronal cell death and mechanisms of age-associated neurodegenerative diseases with special emphasis on Alzheimer’s disease.
Ram has 20+ years of research and teaching experience in Neuroscience and has published more than 50 peer reviewed papers in scientific journals and chapters in a couple of text books. Ram has supervised, trained and mentored several high school students, college interns, research technicians and post-doctoral fellows.
Ram is also a board certified Ayurveda practitioner and a registered yoga teacher. He teaches Ayurveda and Yoga at the California college of Ayurveda.
He is also the author of a recently published book-“Good Living Practices”-The best from Ayurveda, Yoga and Modern Science For Achieving Optimal Health, Happiness and Longevity.