Endocrinology & Diabetes

Herbal and Natural therapies in Diabetes

Aloe vera:  Aloe vera is a common plant with many different uses. Many people are aware of its benefits for skin care, but it may also have other benefits, including slowing the progress of type 2 diabetes.
Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a fragrant spice that comes from the bark of a tree. It has a taste that can add sweetness without any additional sugar. It is popular with people with type 2 diabetes for this reason alone, but it may also offer other benefits.
Bitter melon:  Bitter melon is a medicinal fruit. There is some evidence that bitter melon may help with the symptoms of diabetes. One review has noted that people have used many parts of the plant to help treat diabetes.
Milk thistle: People have used milk thistle since ancient times for many different ailments, and especially as a tonic for the liver. The extract from milk thistle that has received the most attention from scientists, is a compound with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These are the properties that may make milk thistle a useful herb for people with diabetes.
Fenugreek:  Fenugreek is another seed that may help lower blood sugar levels.The seeds contain fibers and chemicals that help to slow down the digestion of carbohydrates and sugar. There is also some evidence that the seeds may help delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Gymnema: Gymnema sylvestre is a herb that comes from India. A 2013 review noted that people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes who took gymnema showed signs of improvement. In people with type 1 diabetes who took the leaf extract for 18 months, fasting blood sugar levels fell significantly, compared with a group who received only insulin.
Ginger: Ginger is another herb that people have used for thousands of years in traditional medicine systems. However, in 2015, a review suggested that it may also help treat diabetes. The results showed that ginger lowered blood sugar levels, but did not lower blood insulin levels.