Several herbs may help you lower blood-glucose levels. In fact, there's a long tradition of treating diabetes with plant-based medicines. The plant extract guanidine's blood glucose lowering properties, for example, sparked development of a commonly used diabetes medicine called biguanides, according to University of Maryland Medical Center. Consult a doctor before you beginning any herb regimen to lower blood sugar---especially if you are taking insulin or other medications for diabetes. Combining herbs with such drugs increases risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.
American Ginseng
American ginseng as well as Asian ginseng likely lowers blood glucose levels. American ginseng, however, is the only type that's been studied scientifically. Numerous clinical studies confirm the herb's blood sugar lowering effect in people who have type 2 diabetes, reports UMMC. American ginseng's active ingredients are ginsenosides, which have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties according to "The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide," written by George T. Grossberg and Barry Fox.
Bitter Melon
Bitter melon has a history of traditional use for treating diabetes. Preliminary clinical studies back this use, according to UMMC, indicating that the herb may decrease blood glucose levels. Other traditional unproven uses for this herb include treating infections and as use as an anti-cancer agent, according to Grossberg and Fox.
Bilberry
Bilberry is a blueberry relative that's traditionally used to lower blood sugar among diabetic people, according to UMMC. It contains chemicals called anthocyanosides. These are plant pigments with antioxidant properties. Animal studies on bilberry look promising, but no reliable human studies on the herb's ability to control blood sugar have been conducted. Human studies that produce positive results are thus far poorly designed, according to UMMC. Bilberry is also used to treat mouth inflammation and diarrhea. Germany's Commission E, that country's regulatory agency for herbs, approves bilberry for these uses, according to Grossberg and Fox.
Fenugreek
The fenugreek plant is related to the pea and comes from western Asia as well as the Mediterranean area in Europe. Small studies indicate that fenugreek helps to control blood sugar levels, according to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. More research needs to be done before a recommendation is made for or against this use. Fenugreek is also applied to the skin to combat inflammation, used to increase breast milk production and in cases of appetite loss. There is no scientific evidence to support any of these other uses, however, reports NCCAM.
References
- "The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide;" George T. Grossberg and Barry Fox; 2007
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Diabetes
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fenugreek
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Bilberry
