November is American Diabetes Month, so we thought we’d introduce GYMNEMA to you.  Its Hindu name is Gurmar, which means “Sugar Destroyer,” and that tells you almost all you'll need to know about this herb.  For two thousand years it has been used to reduce excessively high blood sugar levels, apparently by boosting the amount of insulin available to process sugar.  It also is thought to exhibit serum cholesterol lowering activity, help in weight management regimens; and renewed interest in its research may prove Gymnema to be one of the most important supports for diabetes.

Disclaimer:
The information presented herein by Herbal Extracts Plus is intended for educational purposes only. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent disease. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplements, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Gymnema silvestre  is a tenacious, climbing vine that is native to the monsoon forests of central and southern mainland India, where it grows wild and also under cultivation as a medicinal crop.  For two thousand years, Gymnema has been used in Ayurvedic medicine of India to treat Type-2, adult-onset diabetes; and Indian traditional practitioners also used it to remedy liver disease, stomach problems and water retention. 

Interest in the herb for diabetes management waned during the period of the British Raj, when the government officially patronized Western medical treatments, and especially with the advent of insulin.  The hypoglycemic (blood sugar lowering) action of Gymnema was first documented in the late 1920s, when substances called gymnemic acids in the leaves were believed to increase the flow of insulin from cells in the pancreas or by the action of regenerating those cells.  It is not entirely clear how the plant works in this regard, but because it has shown positive results in clinical trials, renewed interest in Gymnema may prove it to be a vitally important botanical support for controlling blood sugar. 

Interestingly, but perhaps most importantly, the leaves of the plant appear to contain the plant's most effective constituents (gurmarin) and have the remarkable ability of numbing the taste glands for several hours against sweet and bitter tastes. 
 
Let’s see how GYMNEMA may help You:

Gymnema supports lower blood sugar levels in Type-2, adult onset diabetics by apparently blocking sugar's efficacy in the system and reducing blood sugar levels after sugar consumption.  Although it is not exactly clear as to how this herb works, substances in Gymnema's leaves, called gymnemic acids, are believed to increase the flow of insulin in the pancreas (boosting the amount available to process sugar), or possibly regenerate the cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin.  This theory may have been validated in a 2009 study conducted by King's College, London, when they discovered that an extract from the plant may help regulate blood glucose levels through a direct effect on the pancreatic beta cells to “significantly” stimulate insulin release without compromising pancreatic beta cell viability. Other research has claimed that Gymnema reduces glucose absorption from the intestine, improves uptake of glucose into cells and prevents adrenal hormones from stimulating the liver to produce glucose, thereby reducing blood-sugar levels.  It is interesting to note that the active ingredient, gymnemic acid, is an organic acid, atomically composed similarly to glucose molecules.  The molecules fill the receptor sites in the intestines when gymnemic acid fills the receptors on the outer layers of the intestines, blocking the absorption of sugar molecules.

Gymnema is also said to block the taste of sugar on the tongue.  The similar molecular structure of gymnemic acid and glucose has the same effect of filling receptor sites on the taste buds for several hours.  The effect of suppressing the desire for sweets seems to further support both its use in lowering blood sugar levels, as well as its use for weight control.

With regard to weight management, there are claims that Gymnema may play a part in weight control.  Because the Gymnema molecule blocks the passages through which sugar is normally absorbed, fewer calories are assimilated.  Both sugar and Gymnema are digested in the small intestine, but the larger molecule of Gymnema cannot be fully absorbed, and the remaining sugar is eliminated as waste.  It is thought that up to fifty percent of dietary sugar calories absorbed may be blocked with the use of this herb.

For two thousand years, GYMNEMA has been helping people regulate healthy blood sugar levels, and now, the most recent research is bearing out that historic use, noting Gymnema’s direct effect on the pancreatic beta cells.  In keeping with the spirit of National Diabetes Month, we encourage all diabetics or those with pre-diabetes to discuss GYMNEMA for blood glucose regulation with their doctors, check blood sugar levels faithfully, eat healthy (lots of veggies, fruits, whole grains, beans, fish and nonfat dairy products), stay active (thirty minutes of moderate exercise [walking or bicycling] daily) and lose weight (dropping five to ten percent of your weight will have an impact).
 
Below, you may order GYMNEMA directly, or for more detailed information about this herb, visit our GYMNEMA web page, and you will find important, additional facts concerning the herb’s benefits, botanical constituents, contraindications, dosage, pricing and ordering options. 

GYMNEMA from Herbal Extracts Plus is our Herb of the Month for November! When you add any Gymnema products to the shopping cart, you will see the 10% Herb of the Month Discount applied.