High blood sugar causes diabetes, a serious medical condition that can lead to blindness, stroke, heart disease and kidney failure if left untreated. High blood sugar typically occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, a hormone that converts sugars and starches into energy, or when the body cannot use the insulin it does produce. Natural herbs may help lower high blood sugar, but they should only be used under the supervision of a doctor.
Bitter Melon
A traditional remedy for lowering blood sugar, bitter melon, also known as bitter gourd, may benefit patients with diabetes. A 2005 study published in Plant Foods for Human Nutrition indicates that dried bitter melon powder improved diabetic status in diabetic rats. In the study, the rats were given a diet consisting of 10 percent bitter melon powder. Researchers noted a blood sugar reduction of about 30 percent in the melon-fed rats. The herb will likely yield similar results in humans, though further research is necessary. A typical dosage consists of eating one small, unripe melon per day or taking 50 to 100 ml fresh juice, divided into two or three doses throughout the day. Pregnant or nursing women and individuals taking blood-sugar-lowering drugs should not take bitter melon.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek seeds, a common culinary spice, may help regulate glucose levels in individuals with high blood sugar. A study published in the International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research in 2009 found that fenugreek seeds lowered blood sugar in individuals with type 2 diabetes. In the study, diabetic patients consumed 10 g daily of powdered fenugreek seeds for eight weeks. The seeds were mixed with yogurt or soaked in hot water. At the end of the study, researchers concluded that the seeds soaked in hot water decreased blood sugar significantly, while the seeds mixed with yogurt produced no change.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon, an herb reported to have anti-hyperglycemic activity, may play an important role in reducing blood sugar in patients with diabetes, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. A 2003 study published in Diabetes Care found that patients with type 2 diabetes taking 1, 3 or 6 g of cinnamon a day for 40 days saw a significant reduction in blood glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides. At the end of the study, patients taking the cinnamon experienced a blood sugar reduction of 18 to 29 percent, regardless of dosage, while patients taking placebo saw no significant change.
Chicory Root
In his book "The Green Pharmacy Anti-Aging Prescriptions," herbalist James A. Duke recommends chicory for treating diabetes. Duke explains that roasted chicory root decreases the internal absorption of glucose, which he believes helps keep blood sugar levels low. In the southern United States, chicory root is often used as a substitute for coffee. To help manage blood sugar levels, make this coffee-like beverage at home and drink a cup or two each day. Purchase roasted chicory root at health food stores or roast your own by drying fresh roots, and then baking in the oven at 350 F for 90 minutes to two hours. Grind the roots and use as you would normal coffee grounds.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Diabetes
- PubMed.gov: Effect of Bitter Gourd (Momordica Charantia) on Glycaemic Status in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats
- Health Library: Bitter Melon
- PubMed.gov: Effect of Fenugreek Seeds on Blood Glucose and Lipid Profiles in Type 2 Diabetic Patients
- PubMed.gov: Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People With Type 2 Diabetes
