Shardunikha Leaf Powder (Gymnena sylvestre;Sugar Destroyer) 8 oz: B

Gymnema sylvestre is a woody, climbing plant, native to India. The leaves of this plant have been used in India for over 2000 years to treat madhu meha, or 'honey urine.' Chewing the leaves destroys the ability to discriminate the 'sweet' taste, giving it its common name, gurmar, or 'sugar destroyer.' The hypoglycemic (blood sugar-lowering) effect of gymnema leaves was first documented in the late 1920s. This action is gradual in nature, differing from the rapid effect of many prescription hypo-glycemic drugs. Gymnema leaves raise insulin levels, according to research in healthy volunteers. The leaves are also noted for lowering serum cholesterol and triglycerides. Gymnema has been used in India for the treatment of diabetes for over 2, 000 years. The primary application was for adult-onset diabetes (NIDDM), a condition for which it continues to be recommended today in India. The leaves were also used for stomach ailments, constipation, water retention, and liver disease. Plant constituents include two resins (one soluble in alcohol), gymnemic acids, saponins, stigmasterol, quercitol, and the amino acid derivatives betaine, choline and trimethylamine. Gymnema sylvestre is a stomachic, diuretic, refrigerant, astringent, and tonic. It has been found to increase urine output and reduce hyperglycemia in both animal and human studies. Gymnema's antidiabetic activity appears to be due to a combination of mechanisms. Two animal studies on beryllium nitrate- and streptozotocin-diabetic rats found Gymnema extracts doubled the number of insulin-secreting beta cells in the pancreas and returned blood sugars to almost normal. Gymnema increases the activity of enzymes responsible for glucose uptake and utilization, and inhibits peripheral utilization of glucose by somatotrophin and corticotrophin. Plant extracts have also been found to inhibit epinephrine-induced hyperglycemia. The primary clinical application for this botanical is as an antidiabetic agent. Gymnema has been the object of considerable research since the 1930s, with promising results for types 1 and 2 diabetes. In a controlled study, a standardized Gymnema extract was given to 27 type 1 diabetics at a dose of 400 mg daily for 6-30 months. Thirty-seven others continued on insulin therapy alone and were tracked for 10-12 months. Insulin requirements were decreased by about one-half and the average blood glucose decreased from 232 mg/dL to 152 mg/dL in the Gymnema group. The control group showed no significant decreases in blood sugar or insulin requirement. In addition, there was a statistically significant decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) after 6-8 months on Gymnema when compared to either the pretreatment levels or the control group.7 Twenty-two type 2 diabetics were administered 400 mg Gymnema extract daily for 18-20 months in addition to their oral hypoglycemic medications. This group experienced significant decreases in average blood sugar and HbA