Herbal Plant

Top 10 List of Medicinal Plants for Diabetes Treatment

written by Eka Arifin October 28, 2017

Most people thought that the root problem of diabetes is sugar. Well, that is just the after effect because the main problem of diabetes is wrong eating, unhealthy habit, obesity and physical inactivity. That’s why the number of diabetes patients are increasing day by day because the number of people who work behind the desk with almost zero physical activities and due to no time they prefer to depend on junk food instead of homemade healthy but bothersome foods to be consumed in daily basis. According to WHO the diabetes is becoming one of the conditions that cause death and the number is projected to raise about 50% in the next 10 years.

What is Diabetes?

In general, diabetes is a condition when the level of sugar in blood stream is higher than normal. Insulin has important role in this matter because it assists in the process of turning glucose into energy and without which the level of sugar will keep increasing in the blood. Type 1 diabetes occurs when insulin is not enough to process the glucose and type 2 diabetes occurs when insulin could not work properly mostly caused by overweight or obesity.

Once a person is diagnosed with diabetes, there is no such cure but some treatments followed by healthy eating and healthy habit are highly recommended in order to control the current level of blood sugar to avoid the worst effects. The list of medicinal plants for diabetes below is working the same as most of diabetic treatment; whereas they are not providing you the final solution but they are certainly helping you in making sure your blood sugar level is under control.

1. Garlic

As one of the important spice in the list of Asian herbs and its benefit, garlic is also on the top of the list of medicinal plants for diabetes. Several research studies have been conducted to find out more about the health benefits of eating fresh garlic and among them volatile sulphur found in garlic considered to be the one that responsible in lowering the insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. The same studies also found out that regular consumption of garlic could help managing the blood sugar level as well. So, in summary garlic is super food recommended for diabetic patients.

2. Okra

Most English-speaking nations used the term ladies’ finger for okra. It is flowering plant with edible green seed pods that you could eat raw or cooked. However, whatever method you choose to consume okra, raw or cooked, the anti-hyperglycemic properties will work optimally to manage the blood sugar level. The anime studies have been conducted to see the health benefits of okra for diabetes and how significant this plant in tackling diabetes is and the result was amazing and very significant. It is because okra is rich of fiber to help digestive track to work optimally and the result is maximum absorption of glucose.

3. Milk Thistle

Milk thistle is probably one of the flowering plants that are not really common to be found in your backyard but it is actually among the list of important medical plant benefits you should grow in your garden, especially you who have been diagnosed with diabetes. It is originated from Mediterranean and comes from the daisy family. Some studies have been conducted to find out more the possibility of this flowering plant in treating diabetes surprisingly,  a natural compound well known as silymarin is the one that responsible in managing the blood sugar level. Silymarin is one of the powerful antioxidants which function is even better than placebo.

4. Loquat Fruit

Though loquat fruit is well known for its fruit but it is actually a flowering plant from Rosaceae with botanical name Eriobtrya japonica. This plant is native to China but quite easy to be found in almost all Asia regions from Japan, Korea, India, Philippines and even in hilly region of Sri Lanka. Most Asians prefer to use Japanese plum or Chinese plum instead of loquat fruit. The fruit is edible but the gem of this plant is its leaves and the leaves have been used as part of diabetes treatments by Asian people. The leaves contain certain chemical compound well known tormentic acid such as polysaccharides and triterpenes which are very effective in making sure optimal production of insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes.

5. Cinnamon

Speaking the most popular spice, cinnamon is indeed among them. However, it is not only due to its unique flavor why people are adding cinnamon to their diet regularly like as spices in food, baking and even beverages but because the benefits of cinnamon to human health which is quite amazing. There are two types of cinnamon, first is Ceylon which is native to Sri Lanka and among the top India herbs health benefits and second is cassia cinnamon which is essential Chinese herbs health. One of the amazing benefits of cinnamon is for diabetes because it is low in calories and recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes in order to reduce the resistance of insulin.

6. Green Tea

There are some reasons why green tea is best for diabetes patients though most people don’t know yet about its possibility to treat diabetes. People may take the benefits of drinking green tea for beauty sake without realizing that taking it regularly is likely to reduce the chance of being diabetic as well. It is because green tea is excellent source of some potent antioxidants like flavonoid well known as epigallocathechin gallate or EGCG catechins which may increase the fat oxidation to reduce the risk of accumulation of fat cells that may increase the insulin resistance. The other benefits of green tea is as anti-depressant, the calming effect of green tea also has important role in managing the blood sugar level by suppressing the production of adrenaline hormone which is commonly associated with the rise of blood sugar.

7. Licorice

Licorice is one of the top plants in the list of medicinal plants in China and has been used as part of Chinese traditional medicine for over centuries. The gem of licorice plant is its root and people have been taking advantages of health benefits of eating licorice for medical uses including treating diabetes. Some studies have found out that licorice contains anti-hyperglycemic properties well known as amorfrutins. This anti-diabetic compound has been proven to be effective in reducing the blood sugar level naturally and effectively. So, this plant is effective to treat type 2 diabetes patients.

8. Cayenne Pepper

One of the problems most people with diabetes should face is the increase of appetite but limited options of food to eat. Well, one of the health benefits of cayenne pepper is excellent treatment for diabetes and you must have known that spicy food may help you increasing your appetite no matter how boring the menu is. Cayenne pepper is originated from Mexico and the locals have been using this pepper as part of diabetes treatment for over centuries. Scientifically, cayenne pepper contains certain compounds that could help reducing the insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. Recent studies even stated that cayenne pepper could treat diabetes type 1 as well though further studies are still required.

9. Fenugreek

The botanical name of fenugreek is Trigonella foenumgraecum. Fenugreek is probably well known for its seeds which are used as spices but the other parts of the plant also contain a lot of health benefits like the leaves, commonly consumed as vegetables and herbs. Furthermore, people also start to aware of the health benefits of fenugreek tea which made of the fenugreek seed. Now, a cup of fenugreek tea could be used as diabetes treatment as well it is so rich of antioxidant and may help in managing the blood sugar level only when you consume it in regular basis.

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10. Garcinia Kola

The common name of garcinia kola is bitter kola, as native to Africa, this fruit is among the top of the list of African fruits and health benefits. Bitter kola is well known for its benefit to improve sexual health for both men and women. The locals are even adding bitter kola as part of the daily diet for pregnant mother. Furthermore about the health benefits of bitter kola is also great for diabetes because it contains anti-diabetic properties that could help managing blood sugar level and natural solution to prevent gestational diabetes in pregnant women.

Actually there is one more type of diabetes well known as gestational diabetes which is characterized by the rise of blood sugar level only during pregnancy, so it is possible to happen even to a woman with no history of diabetes before. Some reports compiled by WHO, the type 2 diabetes cases now are increasing among children. Years ago, this condition is very rare but not anymore. It may increase your awareness toward this global epidemic. Learning about the list of medicinal plants for diabetes mentioned above are important but the most important thing to do is when the healthy benefits of healthy eating are combined with the health benefits of exercises because those are likely to help you reducing the possibility of diabetes in attacking you and your family.