Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf C/S (Shardunikha) 1 lb: C

This is Starwest's nitrogen-flushed double wall silverfoil pack. Used as an infusion, decoction, extract and tincture. Gymnema sylvestre is a woody, climbing plant, native to India. Chewing the leaves destroys the ability to discriminate the 'sweet' taste, giving it its common name, gurmar, or 'sugar destroyer.' Gymnema sylvestre is a stomachic, diuretic, refrigerant, astringent, and tonic. The leaves of this plant have been used in India for over 2000 years to treat diabetes and diabetic symptoms. The leaves are also used for stomach ailments, constipation, water retention, and liver disease. Clinical tests showed that regular use over a period of three to four months helped to reduce glycosuria, or the appearance of carbohydrates in urine. Recent clinical trials conducted in India have shown that an extract of Gymnema sylvestre is useful for controling blood sugar levels. In reducing the symptom of glycosuria, the dried leaves are used in daily doses of three to four grams for a period of three months or more. both animal and human studies have shown Gymnema to increase urine output and reduce hyperglycemia. Gymnema has been demonstrated to work in multiple ways. It raises insulin levels, apparently by helping to regenerate cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin. Gymnema also improves the uptake of glucose into cells, thus preventing adrenaline from stimulating the liver to produce glucose. Gymnema also significantly reduces the metabolic effects of sugar by preventing the intestines from absorbing the sugar molecules during the process of digestion. The leaves are also noted for lowering serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Gymnema cannot be used in place of insulin for type 1 or type 2 diabetes, but has been successfully used as a supplemental therapy to help control blood sugar levels by both groups. http://www.herbmed.org/Herbs/Herb16.htm: Clinical Trials GS4 extract (400 mg/day) for 18-20 months reduced blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and glycosylated plasma proteins, allowed reduced conventional drug dosage for 22 Type 2 diabetic patients Baskaran 1990 Sweetness perception of sucrose or aspartame was reduced by oral application of Gymnema sylvestre extracts in half of the test subjects Brala 1983 Suppression of bitter and sweet tastes may be due to neural inhibition rather than chemical interactions in solution or competition of molecules for receptor sites Lawless 1979