Gymnema sylvestre leaf powder is a traditional herbal remedy in Eastern medicine that is thought to help diabetics control their blood sugar. Its Hindu name, gurmar, translates as "destroyer of sugar" for its ability to inhibit the perception of sweet flavors.
Uses
The University of Michigan states that the gymnestra sylvestre leaf powder has been used as a diabetes treatment in India for at least 2,000 years, taken in dosages of two to four grams per day. Ancient doctors also used it against other digestive disorders such as liver ailments and constipation.
Active Ingredients
Gymenma sylvestre's effects on blood sugar come from compounds known as gymnemic acids. According to the University of Michigan, these compounds appear to increase the body's insulin production while inhibiting the production and absorption of glucose. The leaves also contain a substance called gumarin that interferes with the ability to taste sweet things.
Considerations
New York University's Langone Medical Center points out that modern medical studies on gymnema sylvestre remain in the preliminary stages. Because diabetes can prove fatal if mistreated, the Center recommends that diabetics use gymnema sylvestre leaf powder only as a supplement to medication and under a doctor's supervision.
Tags: leaf powder, sylvestre leaf, blood sugar, sylvestre leaf powder, University Michigan
