Herbs & Supplements:
Gymnema
Gymnema sylvestre
Principal Proposed Uses
•
Diabetes (Blood Sugar Control)
Native to the forests of India, Gymnema sylvestre (also called gumar) has a coincidental double relationship to sugar: When placed on the tongue, it blocks the sensation of sweetness, and when taken internally, it might help control blood sugar levels in diabetes. (There doesn’t seem to be any connection between these two uses.)
Indian physicians first used gymnema to treat diabetes almost 2,000 years ago. In the 1920s, preliminary scientific studies found some evidence that gymnema leaves can reduce blood sugar levels,1 but nothing much came of this observation for decades.
What Is Gymnema Used for Today?
With the recent revival of interest in herbs, gymnema has become increasingly popular in the United States as a supportive treatment for diabetes. However, the evidence that it works is weak, limited to a few animal and preliminary human studies.2–4
Warning: Diabetes is a dangerous illness, thus gymnema should only be used under medical supervision. Under no circumstances should you try to replace insulin with gymnema alone.
Dosage
Gymnema is usually taken at a dosage of 400 to 600 mg daily of an extract standardized to contain 24% gymnemic acid.
Safety Issues
When used in appropriate dosages, gymnema appears to be fairly safe, although extensive studies have not been performed. One obvious risk is that if gymnema is successful, it may lower blood sugar levels too far, causing a dangerous hypoglycemic reaction. For this reason, medical supervision is essential.
Safety in young children, pregnant or nursing women, or those with severe kidney or liver disease has not been established.
Interactions You Should Know About
If you are taking insulin or oral medications to reduce blood sugar levels, gymnema might cause them to work even better, potentially causing hypoglycemia. Therefore, you may need to reduce your dose of medication.
View References
Last reviewed March 2002 by Medical Review Board
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