Six herbs for diabetes in one capsule- that is DiaHerbs.
DiaHerbs is a special formulation of Six Herbs: fenugreek, bitter melon, gurmar, jamun, nopal and Berberine. Dr. Sarfraz Zaidi, MD, a leading endocrinologist, has put together these beneficial herbs in the appropriate proportions to help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels naturally as a part of a healthy diet.
Fenugreek, bitter melon, gurmar, jamun, nopal and Berberine are special herbs for diabetes. These herbs for diabetes have been used to maintain healthy blood sugar levels naturally as a part of a healthy diet since the ancient times in India, China and Mexico. Recently, there has been a tremendous interest in the West about these natural herbs for diabetes as people are seeking alternatives to modern medicine which unfortunately focuses on drugs and does not treat the root cause. These drugs are not only expensive but are also plagued with serious side-effects.
Now scientific researchers all around the world are putting the herbs for diabetes through the same clinical trial designs as are used to evaluate the modern drugs. And the results are quite exciting.
No 1 Herb For Diabetes: FENUGREEK (Trigonella foenum graecum)
A number of studies have shown that fenugreek can lower blood glucose level in diabetics. In a recently published study (1), researchers analyzed data from 10 clinical trials of Fenugreek in diabetic patients. They found that fenugreek significantly decreased fasting blood glucose by about 18 mg/dl (0.96 mmol/l), 2 hour post-meal glucose by about 40 mg/dl (2.19 mmol/l) and hemoglobin A1c by 0.85%, as compared with control interventions.
Clinical trials (2-6) have also demonstrated that fenugreek treatment not only lowers glucose level, but also reduces serum triglycerides level, and total cholesterol level without lowering HDL cholesterol level in Type 2 diabetic patients.
No 2 Herb For Diabetes:BITTER GOURD/ MELON (Momordica charantia)
Bitter gourd is also called bitter melon. It is vegetable that is commonly used in many Asian countries. In one animal study (7), bitter gourd supplementation reduced fasting blood glucose by 30% in rats. In another animal study (8), bitter gourd not only lowered blood glucose, but also normalized the oxidative stress in diabetic rats.
In a recent review article (9), the authors critically evaluated the studies that were designed to investigate the effects of bitter gourd on diabetes. They concluded that some of the studies do indicate anti-diabetic effects for patients. They also concluded that bitter gourd treatment is safe for humans.
No 3 Herb For Diabetes: GURMAR (Gymnema Sylvestre)
Gymnema Sylvestre is an herb, which is cultivated worldwide. In Hindi, it is known as gurmar, which means “sugar killer.” In an experimental study (11), Gymnema Sylvestre leaf extract given to diabetic rats reduced blood glucose by 13.5 -60.0%.
In a human study (12), an extract from the leaves of Gymnema Sylvestre, was given to 22 Type 2 diabetic patients for 18 – 20 months as a supplement to their oral anti-diabetic drugs. There was a significant reduction in blood glucose and HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin). In many of these patients, the dose of their anti-diabetic drugs could be decreased. Five of the 22 diabetic patients were able to discontinue their anti-diabetic drugs, and were able to maintain a good control of their diabetes with Gymnema Sylvestre leaf extract alone.
In addition to lowering blood glucose, Gymnema Sylvestre is also found to decrease weight, lower serum triglycerides, leptin, glucose, apolipoprotein B (LDL cholesterol), and significantly increase HDL-cholesterol and antioxidant enzymes levels in liver tissue (13). These effects are highly desirable in Type 2 diabetics, who often are obese and have elevated triglycerides level, low HDL cholesterol, elevated Apo B ( LDL cholesterol) and high oxidative stress.
No 4 Herb For Diabetes: JAMUN OR JAMUL (Eugenia Jambolana)
Eugenia Jambolana (Jamun) grows abundantly in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh Nepal, Burma, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malayasia. It has been used in traditional folk medicine from ancient times. Jamun has been used in various alternative systems of medicine and before the discovery of insulin, was a frontline anti-diabetic medication, even in Europe. The brew, prepared by boiling Jamun seeds in boiling water has been used in various traditional folk medicine in India (14).
There are several studies showing the beneficial effects of Jamun on diabetes in animals and humans. In an excellent, placebo-controlled, prospective clinical study (15), researchers investigated the effects of Eugenia Jambolana seeds in Type 2 diabetic patients. They had three groups: 10 patients on no anti-diabetes drugs, 10 patients taking oral hypoglycemic drugs (with history of inadequate control) and a control group of non-diabetics.
Each group was given dry powdered seeds of Eugenia Jambolana for fourteen days. On the 15th day, fasting blood and urine samples for glucose were taken. The results were impressive. In every patient, there was a marked decrease in fasting blood glucose in patients on anti-diabetic drugs as well as in patents on no anti-diabetic drugs. Moreover, there was no decrease in the blood sugar of normal, non-diabetic individuals.
No individual experienced any side-effects except for mild headaches, which authors attributed to as psychosomatic in nature. No one experienced low blood sugar.
No 5 Herb For Diabetes: NOPAL (Opuntia Streptacantha)
Nopal (Opuntia Streptacantha) or the prickly pear cactus has been used for glucose control by Mexicans for centuries. Studies have reported improvement in glucose control and a decrease in insulin level indicating a decrease in insulin resistance.
One such excellent study (16) was carried out in three groups of patients with Type 2 diabetes. Group one (16 patients) ingested 500 grams of broiled nopal stems. Group 2 (10 patients) received only 400 ml of water as a control test. Three tests were performed on group 3 (6 patients): one with nopal, a second with water and a third with ingestion of 500 grams broiled squash. Researchers found that serum glucose and serum insulin levels decreased significantly in groups 1 and 3, whereas no similar changes were noticed in group 2. The mean reduction of glucose reached 17% of basal values at 180 minutes in group 1 and 16% in group 3; The reduction of serum insulin at 180 minutes reached 50% in group 1 and 40% in group 3. This study shows that the stems of Nopal (O. streptacantha Lem.) lowers blood glucose as well as insulin level in patients with Type 2 diabetes. The mechanism of this effect is a reduction in insulin resistance.
No 6 Herb For Diabetes: Berberine
Berberine, an alkaloid extracted from plants of the Berberidaceae family, has been extensively used for many centuries, especially in the traditional Chinese and Native American medicine. There are a numbers of clinical reports about the anti-diabetic effects of berberine in Chinese literature. However, most of the studies were not well-controlled and experiments were not well-designed. Finally, a landmark study (17) from Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, China was published in 2008.
This study consisted of two components:
In study A, a total of 36 patients who were newly diagnosed for type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to receive berberine or metformin for 3 months. Berberine was found to be as effective as metformin in lowering HbA1c , fasting blood glucose and post-meal blood glucose. In addition, berberine was superior to metformin in lowering triglycerides level. The glucose lowering effect was noticed within the first week and continued to improve over the following 12 weeks.
In study B, 48 adults with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes were enrolled. They were kept on their anti-diabetic drugs which were sulfonylurea, metformin, acarbose and insulin – alone or in combination. Berberine was added as a supplement. Patients were treated for 3 months. Berberine addition led to a reduction in HbA1c , fasting blood glucose and post-meal blood glucose levels. In addition, berberine caused a reduction in triglycerides, LDL and total cholesterol levels.
Side-effects were gastrointestinal: diarrhea (10.3%), constipation (6.9%), flatulence (19.0%) and abdominal pain (3.4%). The side effects were observed only in the first four weeks in most patients. In 14 (24.1%) patients, berberine dosage was decreased from 500 mg three times a day to 300 mg three times a day, as a consequence of gastrointestinal adverse events. Of the 14 patients, ten were treated with metformin or acarbose in combination with berberine. Diarrhea and or flatulence are well-known side-effects of metformin and acarbose.
None of the patients suffered from severe gastrointestinal adverse events when berberine was used alone. Berberine did not cause any change in the liver or kidney function.
Berberine has shown to increase insulin production in Type 1 DM (18).
Studies show berberine may ameliorate diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain (19)
Studies indicate berberine may protect against diabetic kidney disease (20)
In addition, studies indicate berberine may a promising, safe anti-cancer agent (21, 22).
Dr. Sarfraz Zaidi, MD , an endocrinologist put these six herbs for diabetes in the correct amounts in just one capsule. In this way, it is much easier to consume these herbs for diabetes. It is also much more cost effective in comparison to buying these herbs for diabetes individually.
For more details about vitamins, minerals and herbs please refer to “Reverse Your Type 2 Diabetes Scientifically”
References:
6. R.D. Sharma. Effect of fenugreek seeds and leaves on blood glucose and serum insulin responses in human subjects. Nutrition Research. Vol.6, Issue 12, Dec 1986; 1353–1364
15. Waheed A, Miana GA, Ahmed SI. Clinical investigation of hypoglycemic effect of Eugenia Jambolana in type-II (NIDDM) diabetes mellitus. Pak J Pharmacol 2007;24(1):13-17.
17. Jun Yin,a,b,* Huili Xing,a and Jianping YebEfficacy of Berberine in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes.Metabolism. 2008 May; 57(5): 712–717.
18. Chueh WH1, Lin JY.Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid in herbal plants, protects pancreatic islets and serum lipids in nonobese diabetic mice.J Agric Food Chem. 2011 Jul 27;59(14):8021-7.
19. Dong J, Zuo Z, Yan W, Liu W, Zheng Q, Liu X Berberine ameliorates diabetic neuropathic pain in a rat model: involvement of oxidative stress, inflammation, and μ-opioid receptors.
20.Wei‐Jian Ni, 1 , 2 Hong Zhou, 3 Hai‐Hua Ding, 1 and Li‐Qin Tang Berberine ameliorates renal impairment and inhibits podocyte dysfunction by targeting the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase–protein kinase B pathway in diabetic rats. J Diabetes Investig. 2020 Mar; 11(2): 297–306.
21. Diogo CV1, Machado NG, Barbosa IA, Serafim TL, Burgeiro A, Oliveira PJ. Berberine as a promising safe anti-cancer agent – is there a role for mitochondria?Curr Drug Targets. 2011 Jun;12(6):850-9.
22. Patil JB1, Kim J, Jayaprakasha GK. Berberine induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells (MCF-7) through mitochondrial-dependent pathway. Eur J Pharmacol. 2010 Oct 25;645(1-3):70-8
Ish patel –
I am taking Diaherb and it really help me with control my blood sugar, so my doctor lower my diabetes medicine dose.
I strongly recommend people.
Evelyn H. –
Diaherb has really helped me with control of my blood sugars. Since I started taking Diaherb, my doctor has been able to cut back on my prescription medicine for diabetes. I am thrilled!