Diabetes is one of the bad nightmares for everyone across the world. High sugar levels can lead to a lot of medications. Diabetes is a common condition across the globe and has been observed to be increasing and it is said to increase from 4% in 1995 to 5.4% by 2025. Diabetes is a condition that is known to disrupt the levels of blood sugar in the body.
As blood sugar is known to work towards helping the body metabolize food, it is essential to keep it under check. Approximately 1.6 million deaths were caused due to diabetes in the year 2016. Diabetes is a significant cause of stroke, heart attacks, kidney failure, blindness in various patients. Using some of the best herbs for diabetes can be a viable natural treatment.
Herbs like Gymnema, fenugreek, aloe vera, cinnamon, and milk thistle has anti-diabetic effects. Read on to explore the numerous benefits of using herbs for diabetes.
The Effective Natural Herbs for Diabetes
Natural herbs are a popular way of treating diabetes. These are safe to use, and some of these can be added to the recipes or eaten directly. Here are 9 best herbs that effectively help to treat diabetes.
[Also Read: Natural Remedies for Diabetes]
1. Fenugreek
Benefits
Fenugreek can help you manage diabetes. People around the world are diagnosed with diabetes every year. However, you can help reverse this condition by using fenugreek. Several studies have come up with remarkable facts and benefits of fenugreek(1) as a natural solution for diabetes.
Fenugreek is highly rich in blood glucose-lowering properties and can also be used to treat type e diabetes. The best way to include fenugreek is to soak the seeds overnight. Also, it better to include it in food preparations. But what if we say that fenugreek is the best to treat diabetes. Keep reading to know how to prepare fenugreek tea.
How to Use?
- Take a tbsp of dried fenugreek leaves and a teaspoon for fenugreek seeds
- Boil a cup of water in a saucepan, add the fenugreek leaves and seeds
- Let it steep for 5-10 minutes
- Filter and add honey of your choice
- Have this warm tea twice a day regularly in the morning and evening
How Much to Use?
You can use 1 teaspoon or 200g of fenugreek leaves
[Also Read: Benefits of Fenugreek Tea]
2. Aloe Vera
Benefits
You all know that Aloe vera contains anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-bacterial properties. But do you know that aloe vera(2) contains anti-diabetic effects? Yes. Aloe vera stimulates the secretion of insulin, that is particularly beneficial for people with diabetes.
Aloe vera helps in blood sugar control and regular supplementation with aloe vera may reduce fasting plasma glucose levels and improve HbA1c levels in those with prediabetes. Drinking aloe vera juice is useful to treat with people with diabetes.
How to Use?
- Take a fresh aloe vera and a cup of warm water
- Slit the edges with a scissor or knife and open up the outer layer
- Scoop off the gel and ensure to discard the greenish gel
- Add the 100 gm of gel to a cup of water
- Stir the mixture well and drink
- Add the gel to fruit drink or smoothie
- You can also consume aloe vera capsules
How Much to Use?
- Drink aloe vera juice with 100 gm aloe vera gel regularly in the early morning for best results
- You can consume 300 mg of aloe vera capsule per day before lunch
[Also Read: Foods for Diabetics]
3. Sage
Benefits
The international herb association awarded sage with the title of Herb of the Year. The popularity of sage(3) is high in recent years. Sage is a powerhouse of phenolic acids and sorted antioxidants. The herb boosts insulin secretion and helps to manage blood sugars in type 2 diabetes and curb blood sugar in prediabetics.
Consuming sage on an empty stomach helps reduce the blood glucose levels significantly. The potential benefits of sage include boosting immunity, fights depression, good for heart, and cures Alzheimer’s disease. The best way to consume sage is in the form of tea. Read on to know how to prepare sage tea.
How to Use?
- Take 2-3 fresh sage leaves
- Add the leaves in the boiling water
- Let it steep for 5 minutes
- Filter and drink the tea
- You can add them to your food or chew sage leaves
How Much to Use?
You can consume 2-3 cups of sage tea per day, 4-6 grams of leaves and half a teaspoon of dried leaves per day.
[Also Read: Tips to Reverse Diabetes Naturally]
4. Ginseng
Benefits
Ginseng is used in many traditional medicines and is considered to be one of the favorite herbs for diabetes. As per a study in 2012, ginseng helps lower the HbA1C levels as well as reducing the resistance of insulin. The herb has been known as disease-fighting and immunity boosting herb for ages and contains anti-diabetic effects.
Consuming ginseng slows down the absorption of the carbohydrates, and the cells take up and use more glucose. The research team of the University of Toronto claims that the people with diabetes who used ginseng have lower blood sugar levels by 15-20% better than placebo. Also, ginseng helps improves circulation, improve stamina, and increase resistance to stress and anxiety. Read on to know how to use ginseng.
How to Use?
- Take a fresh ginseng root and a bowl of water
- Chop the root and add it to the bowl containing water
- Boil the water and let it steep for 4-5 minutes
- Also, you can mix ginseng powder in warm water and consume
- Drink regularly in the early morning and before dinner
How Much to Use?
You can consume 3 grams of ginseng or 6-7 slices of ginseng root and a teaspoon of ginseng powder per day.
5. Cinnamon
Benefits
Cinnamon is a fragrant spice that comes from the bark of a tree. The herb is a popular ingredient in various dishes. A 2010 study involving humans show that cinnamon may improve the levels of blood pressure, insulin and insulin sensitivity, glucose levels, antioxidants, fats & lipids in the blood, and digestion.
The number of organic compounds present in cinnamon such as antifungal, antiviral, and antiseptic properties makes cinnamon the best herb to boost the immune system.
The results from the diabetes care journal in 2003 suggest that cinnamon improves blood glucose and cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes, hence, it can be used as an alternative medicine to treat diabetes.
How to Use?
- Take a cinnamon stick and boil it in water for 15-25 minutes
- Let it steep for 10 minutes
- Strain and transfer the tea to a cup
- Consume cinnamon tea in the morning and evening
- Also, you can add cinnamon powder to juices or smoothie for breakfast and take a capsule once in 2 days
How Much to Use?
You must take 2 inches of cinnamon stick, 500mg of the cinnamon capsule and half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder a day.
6. Bitter Melon
Benefits
Indian and Chinese traditional practitioners use bitter melon for centuries. Bitter melon is a medicinal fruit that contains three active substance with anti-diabetic properties such as charatin for blood glucose-lowering effect, polypeptide-p as an insulin-like compound, and vicine.
These three substances work together or individually to help reduce blood sugar levels. Research results say that using bitter melon in the diet leads to a reduction in blood sugar levels in some people.
How to Use?
- Take fresh leaves from the plant
- You can also draw thin slices from bitter melon by leaving the skin intact
- Add the leaves or slice into a boiling water
- Let it steep for 5-10 minutes
- Remove the leaves or slices and serve the broth
- You can add honey for a sweet taste
How Much to Use?
You can consume 50-100 milliliters daily or 2-3 ounces throughout the day
7. Milk Thistle
Benefits
Milk thistle is used since ancient times for various ailments and especially as a tonic for the liver. Silymarin is the extract from milk thistle with high anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
These properties make milk thistle a wondrous herb to treat people with diabetes. Studies have shown a decrease in blood sugar levels and improvement in cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes. Read on to explore the dosage of milk thistle.
How to Use?
- Take a tbsp of milk thistle seeds
- Crush the seeds and it to 3 cups of boiling water
- Let it steep for 20 minutes and then strain
- Drink a cup in the morning, evening, and at night before bed
How Much to Use?
You can consume 150 milligrams a day for effective results for diabetes.
8. Gymnema
Benefits
Last but not least, Gymnema Sylvestre is a herb also known as “sugar destroyer,” which derives from India. A 2013 study claims that the people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes who took Gymnema showed definite signs of improvement.
The herb helps you fight sugar craving and lower high blood sugar levels. Gymnema promotes regeneration of pancreas and stimulates insulin secretion, which lowers blood sugar. The herb increases the enzyme activity in the cells, that results in the utilization of excess glucose in the body. Also, the herb contains substances that decrease the absorption of sugar from the intestine.
How to Use?
- Take fresh Gymnema Sylvestre leaves and cup of water
- Add a few leaves in the boiling water
- Let it steep for 10 minutes
- You can also add the powder to a cup of warm water
- Consume the tea regularly for best results
How Much to Use?
Consume 1 teaspoon of Gymnema leaves, 100 mg of capsules and 1 teaspoon of Gymnema powder.
[Also Read: Tea for Diabetes]
9. Bilberry
Benefits
Bilberry extract is a safe herb for most of the people with diabetes. The herb is beneficial for people who suffer from high blood sugar levels, also effective in treating diabetes mellitus. The glucoquinine present in the bilberry is responsible for lowering the blood sugar levels.
However, be careful when you consume bilberry extracts as it can cause your blood sugar to drop too low levels.
How to Use?
Consume the bilberry extract once in the morning and evening an hour before dinner
How Much to Use?
You can take 10-100 milligrams of bilberry extract with 25% anthocyanocides
Diabetes might look like a severe condition to manage, but it is not impossible to do so. There are several herbs for diabetes that can be effective in treating the condition well. The herbs that are mentioned above lower high blood sugar levels and stimulate insulin levels.
How to use these herbs for diabetes are discussed well in this article. These herbs are highly effective and promote good health too. However, one should always consult the doctor before taking any of these herbs or supplements to manage diabetes.
FAQs
1. What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that affects the insulin and blood sugar levels in your body. Generally, in diabetes, the body either produces insulin that the body does not use properly or the body does not produce enough insulin for body function.
2. What Are the Most Common Herbs Used for Diabetes?
Herbs for diabetes can lower blood sugar levels and treat diabetes. The most common herbs used for diabetes are Gymnema, Fenugreek, Cinnamon, Milk Thistle, Bitter melon, cinnamon, and Aloe Vera. These herbs show immense medical potential for type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
3. How Can One Use Fenugreek for Diabetes?
A person can use fenugreek for diabetes by including:
- As a supplement in capsule form
- Grinding it into a powder
- Add it to warm water and consume as a tea
- Include in certain dishes
