What is the Best Herb for Lowering Blood Sugar?

Most studies show that the best herb for diabetes is barberry.

According to the American Diabetes Association, one in three Americans has prediabetes. This means their blood sugar is higher than average but not high enough to diagnose type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a condition characterized by hyperglycemia, a change in the metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins. Long-term effects include eye, kidney, cardiovascular, and neurological problems.

Type 2 diabetes is a matter of primary global public health concern. Both developed and developing countries are experiencing higher rates of diabetes in adults. Diabetes has become the leading cause of disability and hospitalization.

Herbs for diabetes

The first step to managing diabetes is with an oral antidiabetic drug (OAD). However, before insulin was discovered, herbal medicines were used to manage diabetes.

Herbal medicine, also known as phytomedicine or botanical medicine, uses parts of the plant like flowers, fruits, seeds, leaves, berries, bark, and roots. Herbs are prescribed in a specific dosage to treat or manage diseases.

The first recorded use of herbs for medicinal purposes was over 5,000 years ago. Today, an estimated one-fourth of prescription medicines are derived from plants. There is also an increase in the cultivation of medicinal plants for diabetes and many other diseases.

Many herbs have been studied for their medicinal properties. Most studies show that one of the best herbs for diabetes is barberry. Barberry has a compound called berberine that has decreased blood sugar and HbA1C. Barberry also has other benefits, like being nutrient-dense and having anti-diarrheal properties. It's not advisable to take this herb while pregnant or while on traditional medicine. Berberine is also found in other plants such as goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, and tree turmeric.

Another helpful herb is cinnamon. Cinnamon increases insulin sensitivity and reduces blood glucose and cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

Other herbs have shown positive effects on lowering blood sugar. Talk to your doctor when trying different herbs for blood sugar regulation. They'll be able to help you know if your herbal remedies for diabetes can interfere with any medicine you're already on.

The other herbs to lower blood sugar include:

• American ginseng
• Bay leaf
• Bitter gourd
• Cayenne
• Turmeric (Curcumin)
• Fenugreek
• Flaxseed
• Ginger
• Ginkgo biloba
• Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre)
• Prickly pear cactus (Nopal)
• Milk thistle (Resveratrol)
• Green, black, oolong tea (Camellia sinensis)
• Insulin plant (Costus igneus)
• Black cumin or black seed (Nigella sativa)

While this list is extensive, it isn't inclusive. There may be certain herbs that will work better for you than others. It's not one herb that treats all. You'll have to try different herbs to control blood sugar and find the best herb for your diabetes.

Though herbal medicine has a long history, that doesn't mean there's extensive research to back up the benefits and effects. There's not enough definitive evidence to make a strong conclusion about the effectiveness of using herbs for diabetes. However, what the limited studies show is that they are generally safe to use. If you consider taking herbal medicines, it's best to talk to a medical doctor. They'll be able to advise you on the right amount to take and what herbs are best for you.

Do not ever substitute your diabetic medicine with herbal products. They cannot cure diabetes or prevent its complications. You should regularly monitor your blood sugar levels and other health parameters to check if the herbal remedies are indeed helping in lowering your blood sugar and have no other detrimental effects on your health.

Before Western medicine took over, herbs treated a variety of diseases. Today, herbs can be used in combination with prescribed medications, especially to manage conditions like diabetes.

Plants have phytochemicals in them that can help protect against many types of conditions and diseases. Herbs can do more than lower blood sugar. Some plants help reduce hypertension. Another benefit to herbs is the low cost and accessibility, making them more desirable than drugs.

There has been a surge in interest in natural remedies for different conditions. This makes herbs a desirable alternative treatment. Only a tiny portion of biodiverse areas have been studied for their therapeutic potential, but with more research, herbs could be a better treatment with fewer side effects.

You should, however, keep in mind that at present, research on the therapeutic effects as well as the safety of most of the herbs is limited. Secondly, because they are sold as supplements, they do not undergo rigorous regulation and monitoring by the FDA for safety and efficacy, the way drugs do. Many herbal products have multiple components, and in some cases, the ingredients or the composition may not match what is given on the labels. Make sure you always buy your herbal products from reputable manufacturers.

Herbal medicine comes from plants that have medicinal properties. Herbs contain hundreds of components, and only some of them have therapeutic properties. In addition, herbal preparations often contain multiple herbs, so they may work synergistically to reduce sugar. There are not enough scientific studies or controlled clinical trials to describe the exact mechanism by which herbs lower blood sugar.

It is hypothesized that different biochemicals may work together to lower sugar in several ways, such as reducing sugar absorption in the intestines and glucose production in the liver, stimulating insulin production, and increasing insulin sensitivity and cellular uptake of glucose.

How effective the herbs can be to treat your diabetes depends on a few factors, including:

• Stage of progression of diabetes
• Types of comorbidities you're having
• Availability of herbs
• Affordability and safety profile of the herbs

According to one study, an herbal combination effectively reduced hemoglobin A1C by 1.31 percent, showing how effective the combination treatment was in managing diabetes.

What is the best natural supplement to lower blood sugar?

Herbs containing berberine, such as barberry, goldenseal, and others, and cinnamon are possibly the best natural supplements to lower blood sugar. Studies indicate that these natural diabetes supplements may help in controlling blood sugar, but we don't have enough reliable evidence on their efficacy and safety, and they should not be used to replace your regular diabetic medicine.

What spice brings blood sugar down?

Cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, black cumin, cayenne, bay leaf, and fenugreek are some of the herbs and spices good for diabetes, believed to bring blood glucose levels down.

What herbs lower blood sugar levels?

Herbs that contain bioactive chemicals that affect how the human body absorbs and processes sugar may be able to lower blood sugar levels. These phytochemicals may work in various ways, such as reducing sugar absorption in the intestines and glucose production in the liver, stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin, and increasing the body's insulin sensitivity and cellular uptake of glucose for conversion into energy. Many herbs that lower blood sugar levels have been listed in the article.

What two herbs absorb sugar?

Herbs don't really absorb sugar themselves, but some herbs lower blood glucose levels by reducing the absorption of sugar in the intestines. Two herbs that work this way are Myrcia, a plant of the myrtle family, and Sangzhi, a traditional Chinese medicine prepared with mulberry twigs.

Which leaf is best for diabetes?

For centuries, many leaves have been used as herbal remedies to manage diabetes. Some of these include bay leaf, fenugreek leaves, and the leaves of Costus igneous, a plant commonly known as the insulin plant. Leaf extracts of many other herbs are also used to manage diabetes. Even green tea, black tea, and oolong tea are believed to help lower blood sugar. There is, however, inconclusive evidence for any leaf being good for diabetes.