Gymnema Sylvestre

Gymnema sylvestre plant is used as a natural treatment for patients suffering from diabetes. Gymnemic acid is the active ingredient of this herb and is extracted from the roots and leaves of this plant. The shape of gymnemic molecule is unique and similar to that of glucose, thus helps to fits in the cells of intestines and thus preventing excess sugar absorption in blood. Due to this effect traditionally gymnema is used as an herb for blood sugar management and high cholesterol prevention.

Health and gymnema sylvestre

Gymnema sylvestre when added to insulin and drugs that are taken orally for diabetes may be beneficial in type-1 and type-2 diabetes.

Thus can be used (up to 20 months) as adjunct to conventional drug therapy. Gymnema may help lower glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and also serum glucose levels.
Gymnema may help decrease cholesterol and triglyceride levels in patients with diabetes.
Gymnema when taken by healthy adults with a high carbohydrate meal may also help curb the cravings for sweets.
Traditionally based on scientific theories gymnema is used for cardiovascular diseases, cancer, aphrodisiac, digestive stimulant, laxative, type-2 diabetes cure, rheumatoid arthritis, obesity, antimicrobial, cough, constipation, gout, liver diseases, malaria, weight loss, stomach ailments, urine stimulant and snake venom antidote.
These health benefits are based on unclear scientific evidences; more scientific studies on this herb are required to assess the safety and effectiveness in these conditions.

Side effects of gymnema sylvestre

Chronic use of this herb can lower blood pressure. People with diabetes, hypoglycemia or drugs or herbal supplementation, or other dietary supplements that include garlic, fenugreek and other dietary product which affects blood sugar levels should use gymnema with caution. Blood sugar levels should be monitored by a health care professional and adjustment of medical dose may be necessary.
Gymnema can lower blood cholesterol levels, therefore increase effects might occur when taken along with other cholesterol lowering drugs.
Gurmarin is a component present in gymnema suppresses the ability of the tongue to detect sweet tastes.
Gymnema is not recommended during pregnancy and lactation as well as for children, as its safety and effectiveness are not clear in these conditions.

Gymnema sylvestre herb and products containing this herb should be used in recommended doses under the guidance of a health care professional. Discuss with him your medications and herbal supplements (taken if any) for him to guide you in the right direction.

The world has become extremely health conscious over the last few years and people are now looking for natural methods of staying healthy, as opposed to the use of medication that causes harmful side effects. Maintaining a diet is not a task that is as easy as it proves to be and there are a number of natural products that can help with staying healthy, if added to the diet. One such natural product, also known as the ‘miracle leaf’, is the gymnema sylvestre. Found commonly in the locations of the forests of South America and Central India, the herb has been used to cure diabetes for centuries. Besides this, it has also been known to be of use in the cure of ailments such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout.

Of the many positive gymnema sylvestre side effects, weight loss is the most prominent because the herb tends to reduce a craving for sweet foods that contain a large amount of carbohydrates. There are no known previously recorded negative gymnema sylvestre leaf side effects. Because of this property possessed by the leaf, it has been recommended for use in an attempt to lose weight. The gymnema sylvestre leaf has a wide variety of uses that are beneficial to health conscious people. People who have had a history of anemia and osteoporosis have known to benefit from the use of gymnema sylvestre leaf extracts in their regular diet.

Other uses of the gymnema sylvestre herb include an increase in the functioning of the pancreas and lowering the count of triglycerides in the body. This helps with proper functioning of the heart and the circulatory system, allowing people to feel healthy even though they are enjoying life thoroughly. To obtain a gymnema sylvestre extract is not really easy because of the location of the herb. However, once the herb is located and identified, gymnema sylvestre leaf extract can be obtained through certain processes that are widely recommended and followed, before being bottled and made available over the counter. The extract of the gymnema sylvestre herb is made use of in a wide variety of dietary supplements that reduce the craving for sweet foods, thereby allowing people to keep a check on their diet. In the event that you are taking medication for diabetes or other health related problems, it is imperative that you consult your physician before making use of a dietary supplement that contains extracts of gymnema sylvestre.

Although gymnema sylvestre extract is an agent that causes you to lose an appetite for sweetened foods, it is important that you consume a certain amount of sugary foods daily to allow the body to produce energy through the burning of these carbohydrates. It is important that you eat wholesome meals so that the body has enough nutrition to carry out its regular functions without any trouble. The consumption of plenty of water is highly recommended because it not only clears out the system of harmful toxins, but also assists in metabolism and ensures the smooth functioning of the digestive system.

Submitted on January 16, 2014