Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not make enough or any of the hormone insulin, or when the insulin produced doesn’t work effectively. This causes the glucose level in the blood to shoot up. There are generally two main forms of diabetes:
- type 1 (Diabetes insipidus), which occurs due to inadequate secretion of anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) in the body. People suffering from type 1 diabetes require daily injections of insulin
- type 2 (Diabetes mellitus), which is a more common form and occurs due to malfunctioning of the pancreas.
Type 2 diabetes can further lead to increased risks of hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose level), polyurea (excessive urination), polydypsia (excessive drinking), polyphagia (excessive eating), weight loss, tiredness, paralysis, visual disability, heart attacks, eczema, gangrene and sometimes, itching in the groin. However, in some individuals this condition may well be totally asymptomatic.
Herbal Remedies for Diabetes
These time-tested herbal alternatives may be effective for treating diabetes or relieving the symptoms of diabetes. However, any diabetic should consult with a doctor before using these herbs:
- Prepare a mixture of amla (Emblica officinalis) fruits powder (two tablespoons), turmeric (Curcuma longa) roots powder (one tablespoon), guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia) stems powder (one and half tablespoon), Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre) leaves powder (three tablespoons), neem (Azadirachta indica)leaves powder (one tablespoon) and bael (Aegle marmelos) leaves powder (one and half tablespoon) and store in an airtight container. Have two teaspoons of the mixture twice a day with water.
- Mix powders of half teaspoon bay (Laurus nobilis) leaves powder and turmeric (Curcuma longa) each in a tablespoon of aloe (Aloe vera) gel. Have this mixture twice a day before breakfast and dinner.
- Mix equal quantities of powdered gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre), guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia), neem (Azadirachta indica), vijaysar (Pterocarpus Marsupium), pippali (Piper longum), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds and bitter gourd (Momordica charantia). Separately, soak two grams each of chirayata (Swertia chirata) and paneer doda (Tukhm-hayaat) in a cup of water for 12 hours and filter. Have a teaspoon of the mixture with half the solution before meals.
- Have two teaspoonful powdered fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seeds daily with milk.
- Add three tablespoonful of powdered cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) to one litre of boiling water. Simmer for 20 minutes in a low flame, and then strain the mixture. Have this drink daily to control glucose levels.
- Eat two cloves of garlic (Allium sativum) with water every morning on an empty stomach. Garlic helps in controlling sugar.
- Drink a cup of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) juice every morning. Include this vegetable in your daily diet to reduce blood sugar levels.
- A tablespoon of amla (Emblica officinalis) fruit juice, mixed with a cup of fresh bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) juice, can be taken daily to beat diabetes.
- Consume five to ten grams of powdered jamun (Syzygium cumini) seeds every morning. It directly works on the pancreas and controls sugar.
Exercise and Diet
Keeping weight under control is quite important for those suffering from diabetes. A moderate and regular exercise is a must for diabetics. Brisk walk, cycling, jogging and swimming are quite beneficial in burning unwanted calories and cutting down sugar levels. Diabetes can be managed well with yoga too. Practising asanas like Trikonasana (triangle pose), Ardha matsyendrasana (half spinal twist), Dhanurasana (bow pose), Merudandasana (spinal twist), Kati chakrasana (waist rotating pose) and Naukasana (boat pose) regularly impacts the endocrine system and body metabolism.
Carbohydrate consumption should be limited, and refined sugars should especially be eaten in moderation only, if at all. Dietary intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grain pulses should be increased. Smoking should be avoided in any form. Alcohol consumption must be in moderation.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Reference:
Garima Sancheti and Deepak Acharya. Diabetes- A Real Troublemaker. Disabled-world.com, 2006-04-05
Garima Sancheti - Dr Garima Sancheti is a PhD in Radiation and Cancer Biology from Rajasthan University, India. She has written various research articles in ...
