Diabetes & Herbal Medicine

Diabetes is a growing health problem among residents of the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that, as of 2008, about 24 million Americans -- 8 percent of the U.S. population -- have this chronic health condition. The Centers also state that about 57 million Americans have pre-diabetes. Herbal medicine may help manage or treat your diabetes, but you should always talk with your physician before using herbal remedies.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which your body does not generate or cannot properly use the pancreatic hormone called insulin. Insulin is responsible for controlling the amount of glucose, or sugar, in your blood, as well as the rate at which this sugar is absorbed into your cells. Your body's cells require glucose to generate energy. If you have diabetes, sugar accumulates in your blood, leading to a condition called hyperglycemia. Complications associated with diabetes include heart disease, kidney disease and nerve damage.

Herbal Medicines

According to Phyllis A. Balch, a certified nutritional consultant and author of "Prescription for Nutritional Healing," the use of herbal medicine for diabetes is an effective treatment option. Balch notes that herbal medicines commonly used in the treatment of diabetes include bitter melon, cedar berries, dandelion root, fenugreek seeds, American ginseng, huckleberry, juniper berries, gymnema sylvestre, aloe vera, milk thistle, bilberry, buchu, goldenseal and uva ursi. Other helpful herbs include garlic, jambolan and Siberian ginseng.

Featured Herb

Fenugreek is an herb that is often used to help treat diabetes. The seeds of the fenugreek plant are used in herbal preparations for diabetes and may help normalize your blood sugar and cholesterol levels, notes Balch. Fenugreek, states the University of Michigan Health System, may be helpful for both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes as well as for elevated cholesterol levels, atherosclerosis and constipation. Fenugreek is a plant that is cultivated around the world.

Disclaimer

Diabetes is a chronic health problem that requires dedicated management to avoid serious health complications. Herbs may help you manage or treat your diabetes, although the use of herbs for your diabetic condition does not guarantee a cure. Often the most effective diabetes treatments are the ones that combine several types of health measures, such as dietary changes, increased exercise and other treatment recommendations suggested by your doctor. A qualified health care professional can help you select the herbal remedies that are most appropriate for you.