Gymnema sylvestre
(Gymnema)

Therapeutic Actions:

• Antiatherosclerotic
• Enhances the production of endogenous insulin through regeneration of pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin (animal studies)
• Hypolipidemic

Clinical Indications:

• Diabetes, type I and II

Contraindications:

• Desensitizes the taste buds to sweet and bitter tasting foods for 3 hours after ingesting (Can be avoided by taking herb in capsule)
• Hypoglycemia

Drug/Nutrient Interaction:

• Glibenclamide and tolbutamide effects were enhanced in non-insulin dependent diabetics
• Insulin must be monitored due to the insulin-lowering effects

Chemical Constituents:

• Gymnemic acid

Toxicity:

• No known toxicity, gymnema does not lower blood sugar in healthy people

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).