Diabetes, Herbs and Aging Baby Boomers

Diabetes is a disease that is not restricted to aging baby boomers. However, our discussion will try to center more in that area and the use of herbs for diabetes treatment.

The disease is a lifelong ailment and according to the best sources it will normally worsen with time. It is symptomatic of the pancrease having less and less ability to process the proper amount of insulin for the body. Insulin is the hormone that is used to convert primarily sugar and starches for use as energy. Its effectiveness is measured in terms of our blood glucose levels.

Insulin is produced in the pancreas in specialized areas called islets of langerhans. These areas have pancreatic beta cells sometimes noted as B-cells, or beta cells. The beta cells are the cells that produce the insulin that will be released into the blood stream. We hope to show how that the use of some herbs can help control, stabilize and even heal in this process.

Type2 diabetes, commonly called mellitus diabetes, usually accounts for almost 95 percent of the cases and affects adults (aging baby boomers) more than children. The disease begins as a resistance to insulin and ends up with the pancreas developing a lack of ability to produce the hormone.

The following herbs have been involved in various studies and have been shown to be effective in the treatment of diabetes.

The information is meant only as a starting point for your further research and no specific claims for effectiveness or healing are being made.

HERBS

The first two listed herbs have both been shown by use and by studies to regenerate or at least to limit the decreasing action of beta cells in the pancreas.

Pterocarpus Marsupium

The Indian Kino Tree or Pterocarpus Marsupim is a relatively large tree common to India. The bark and the heartwood of this tree yields flavonoids that have been shown to accomplish at least two things.

One is by using the flavonoid, epicatechin, that is extracted from the bark of the tree. It has the effect of acting like or mimicing insulin and as such, it helps to lower blood sugar levels. This is believed to be accomplished by limiting the absorption of glucose in the gastrointestinal tract. The excess glucose is eliminated which in turn leaves adequate levels of insulin in the blood.

Secondly, the flavonoids in the extracts of the tree tends to limit the action of an oxidized product of uric acid called alloxan. Alloxan has the ability to destroy the islet of langerhan cells that produce insulin for the body. These flavanoid containing extracts have not only been shown to be able to reduce the ability of agents to harm the B-cells but also to regenerate those pancreatic cells.

Ocimum Sanctum

Ocimum sanctum, holy basil, tulsi, meaning the incomparable one is a plant from India known to help in multiple ailments. For this discussion, holy basil is an herb that particularly helps as a treatment for diabetes by reducing blood glucose levels.

The plant's success is largely accounted because of the oils contained in it's leaves. The oils contain eugenol and methyl eugenol as well as other compounds that directly interacts with the pancreas. This interaction enhances the function of the beta cells which in turn enhances insulin secretion.

Bitter Melon

Bitter Melon (Momordica Charantia) contains an insulin like polypeptide that helps to lower blood glucose levels. It has also been discovered by Garvan Institute of Medical Research and the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica that it contains compounds that activate the enzyme AMPK, activated protein kinase. This enzyme reacts within the muscles of the body to help muscle cells in the uptake of glucose from the blood into the tissues of the body. The study shows the legitimacy for bitter mellon as an antidiabetic herb.

Antidiabetic Activities of Triterpenoids Isolated from Bitter Melon Associated with Activation of the AMPK Pathway Min-Jia Tan, Ji-Ming Ye, Nigel Turner, Cordula Hohnen-Behrens, Chang-Qiang Ke, Chun-Ping Tang, Tong Chen, Hans-Christoph Weiss, Ernst-Rudolf Gesing, Alex Rowland, David E. James,* and Yang Ye* (Chemistry & Biology 15, 263-273, March 2008)

Gymnema Sylvestre

Wikipedia states 'Gymnema sylvestre R.Br. is a herb native to the tropical forests of southern and central India where it has been used as a naturopathic treatment for diabetes for nearly two millennia'. Also stated in this study H Asare-Anane, GC Huang, SA Amiel, PM Jones & SJ Persaud (2005) Poster Presentations - Stimulation of insulin secretion by an aqueous extract of Gymnema sylvestre: role of intracellular calcium. Endocrine Abstracts, Volume 10 DP1. is the fact that extracts from Gymnema Sylvestre helps with insulin secretion for type 2 diabetes individules.

One further fact is that some of the extracts known as glycosides seem to curb what is commonly known as the 'sweet tooth'. Gymnemic acid is similar in structure to glucose molecules and tends to mimic their action on the taste buds. This mimicing action then acts to curb the sugar craving.

Blueberry Leaves

Blueberry leaves have, as do all plants to some degree, a compound called myrtillin. It is primarily this compound that enables the blueberry leaves to lower blood glucose levels.

The following link records these statements concerning myrtillin. 'Results of the clinical trial are confirmed, well know and previously described phenomenon that blueberry leaf extract possess antidiabetic properties'...'The long history of blueberry leaf extract use in folk medicine and its growing popularity by the informed public is no longer a scientific mystery'.

Other Herbs

There are other herbs that are highly recommended to help with the on going battle of diabetes. Below are a few of them. As a note of interest, in researching those listed I hold particular interest in the studies concerning the cedar berry.

Onion and Garlic

Glucomannan

Bauhinia Forficata

Cedar Berry or Juniper Berry

Coccinia Indica

One final note.

Diabetes is known to cause or least a known factor in the development of atherosclerosis, a hardening and narrowing of the arteries. In our efforts to help control this naturally, niacin is sometimes used. Niacin, when taken in large doses, can raise the blood glucose levels by creating an increased insulin resistance.

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