7 Healing Herbs for Diabetes

Diabetes currently affects over 425 million people worldwide. It is a disease in which your blood sugar levels are too high. Your blood sugar comes from different kinds of food that you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy.

There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, is when your body does not make insulin. Type 2, which is more common, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood which can also result in a prediabetes stage. This means that your blood sugar is higher than normal, but not high enough to be called diabetes. Prediabetes is a warning sign that you are at risk for getting type 2 diabetes.

Eventually, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious problems. It can damage other internal organs like kidneys and can lead to major heart diseases. Pregnant women can also get diabetes, also known as gestational diabetes.

Diabetes can be treated and avoided with proper diet, physical activity, medication and regular check-up. Several botanical and herbal supplements are also tested, studied and used as an alternative treatment for type 2 diabetes. The following list of 7 healing herbs for diabetes can help you fight and avoid the consequences of this startling illness.

7 Healing Herbs for Diabetes

• Carob Pods or Ceratonia Siliqua – is a flowering evergreen tree or shrub in the pea family. It is widely cultivated for its edible pods. The carob tree is native to the Mediterranean region. The ripe, dried, and sometimes toasted pod is often ground into carob powder, which is sometimes used to replace cocoa powder. Carob bars, an alternative to chocolate bars, as well as carob treats and supplements, are often available in different health stores. Carob pods are naturally sweet, not bitter, and contain no theobromine or caffeine. Even with its  sweetness scientific studies have shown that carob has low glycemic index and is therefore suitable for diabetic patient. Besides having good control of sugar it is also a good source of micronutrients and antioxidants. You can check this glucosmart here for more info.

• Cinnamon – is an aromatic spice that comes from the bark of a tree. It is a popular ingredient in sweets, baked goods, and other dishes. Cinnamon is known with many health benefits. The researchers found that cinnamon can cut cholesterol by about 18% and blood sugar levels by 24%.  Researchers concluded that cinnamon might also lead to a reduction in triglycerides, better known as fat in the blood. Cinnamon can be taken thru your favorite teas and drinks, in variety of delicious dishes and yummy cakes, and in the form of supplements.

• Aloe vera – Pure Aloe Vera juice tastes slightly bitter, watery, with acidic taste. There is a slightly sweetish kick at the end. When taken as an oral supplement, aloe vera was found to significantly reduce blood sugar levels. A new study highlights the anti-diabetic effects of aloe vera. The plant, which originates from Africa, has been found to reduce blood sugar levels, which can be helpful for patients who have type 2 diabetes.

• Bitter Melon – is known as a medicinal fruit. Practitioners of traditional Chinese and Indian medicine have used bitter melon for hundreds of years. You can cook the fruit and use it in many dishes. As the time pass by, scientists look for its other prospective medical benefits. There is some evidence that bitter melon may help with the symptoms of diabetes. A review has illustrated that people have used many parts of the plant to help cure diabetes. Taking bitter melon thru its seeds, juice, vegetable supplements and pulp can lead to a reduction in blood sugar.

• Gymnema Sylvestre – is a kind of herb that comes from India. Its name means “sugar destroyer”. Using either the ground leaf or leaf extract may be beneficial. Better consult your doctor before usage. Patients with type 1 diabetes who took the leaf extract for 18 months, their fasting blood sugar levels significantly lowers, compared with others who only take insulin.

• Ginger – is another herb that people have used for thousands of years in traditional medicine systems. Ginger is often used to help treat digestive and inflammatory issues. However some studies suggested that it may also help treat diabetes. The results showed that ginger lowered blood sugar levels, but did not lower blood insulin levels. Because of this, they suggest that ginger may reduce insulin resistance in the body for type 2 diabetes. People can take ginger by adding ginger powder or chopped, fresh ginger root to raw or cooked food. It can also be added into brewed tea and can be taken as a supplement.

• Milk thistle – People have used milk thistle since long time for many different ailments, and especially as a tonic for the liver. Silymarin, the extract from milk thistle, is a compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These are the properties that may make milk thistle a useful herb for people with diabetes. Many people take milk thistle as food supplements.

Along with the above 7 healing herbs for diabetes your doctor and healthcare team can provide the support you need to make managing diabetes safe and successful.