Manage Diabetes With Chinese Herbs
Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine Shown to Help Control Diabetes
Ancient Chinese medicine helping diabetics manage disease. Modern science confirms that TCM herbs aid in controlling blood sugar levels and lowering high blood pressure.
In Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine the condition known as wasting and thirsting disorder closely matches the western diagnosis of diabetes. Many of the plants used in the centuries old formulas for wasting and thirsting have proven to lower blood glucose, and some restore pancreatic function by increasing insulin beta cells. Other herbs aid in reducing the hypertension that often accompanies diabetes.
Diabetes, Hypertension and Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine
Diabetes and high blood pressure often occur simultaneously. There is some indication that there may be a metabolic link involving insulin resistance. But whether or not that is the case, the fact is that many diabetics also suffer from high blood pressure.
Because Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine takes a holistic approach to healing, a person suffering from both diabetes symptoms and hypertension would be treated with an herbal formula that would address both of these problems. As with western approaches, diet and exercise are an important part of diabetes control. Some mineral supplements are proving useful as well.
A look at one of the Traditional Chinese Herbal formulas used regularly as a basis for treating people with wasting and thirsting disorder shows that all six ingredients either lower blood glucose levels or reduce blood pressure. One of the herbs does both. This formula was developed long before modern diagnostic tools were available to measure blood glucose or blood pressure.
Management of Diabetes with Chinese Herbs
It is tempting to look up a list of Chinese herbs that have been proven to reduce blood sugar and start taking one or several of them. But for diabetics to gain the greatest benefit from these herbs, it is best to know more about their other properties.
For instance, researchers are looking at the insulin enhancing, antihypertensive and even cholesterol lowering properties of cinnamon. A look at the Traditional Chinese Herbal assessment of cinnamon shows that it warms and facilitates the flow of yang qi of the chest, as well as warming and facilitating the flow of blood. These properties equate to lowering blood glucose levels, especially for those with insulin resistant diabetes, and treating high blood pressure or other types of cardiac disease that often accompany diabetes.
But it is important to note that this herb is warming. For most people that would not be a problem, but for those who already tend to be too warm, it might not be the best herb to use. The good news is that there are plenty of other Chinese herbs that are likely to better fit the warm individual with diabetes symptoms.
In fact, cinnamon is not one of the herbs in the traditional formula mentioned above. And that formula is one of several that address wasting and thirsting disorder. For example, schisandra fruit (Schisandra chinensis), which is less warming, not only appears to reduce serum glucose it is also known to be an adaptogen. Adaptogens increase the body’s ability to deal with stress. And this is just one possibility.
Ongoing studies of Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas from a western perspective will likely reveal more herbs that will benefit people suffering from diabetes, allowing individuals to choose the most appropriate herbal supplements for their particular situation.
