GYMNEMA (Gymnema sylvestre) GYMNEMA (Gymnema sylvestre)Common Uses
Diabetes
Gymnema is an extract from a plant native to India. The leaves of this plant, given the name “sugar destroyer,” have been used for over 200 years in Ayurvedic medicine. The active ingredients are gymnemic acids, saponins, stigmasterol, quercitol, and amino acid derivatives betaine, choline, and trimethylamine.
The benefits in people with type I diabetes (insulin-dependent) include a noticeable reduction in all the markers for diabetes including insulin requirements, fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and blood lipids. The patients on insulin therapy without supplementation had no reduction in any of these markers. A similar study was performed on type II (non-insulin dependent) diabetics with similar results. These patients showed a significant reduction in blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, and blood lipids. The need for oral medication decreased and some patients were able to maintain their blood sugar with only supplementation.
Gymnema appears safe, although safety studies are lacking. Dangerous and potentially fatal low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur if treatment with gymnema is successful. Therefore, gymnema should only be used under veterinary supervision.
In people, standardized extracts supplying 25% gymnemic acids are recommended.
It is unknown whether supplementation in pets would provide the same benefits.