Herb Used in Traditional Indian Medicine Shows Promise for Diabetes An herb long used in traditional Indian medicine appears to control the rise in blood sugar that follows a meal. Researchers contend that this could help treat or even prevent type 2 diabetes. Their study of 39 adults without diabetes found that a beverage made from the herb, known as Salacia oblonga, stemmed participants' normal post-meal rise in blood sugar. There was a similar reduction in blood levels of insulin, which helps shuttle sugar from the blood and into cells to be used for energy. The herb, according to the study authors, seems to work similarly to oral diabetes drugs known as alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, which impede the body's absorption of carbohydrates. The study, which was funded by Columbus-based Abbott Laboratories, is published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association. The next step is to test S. oblonga's ability to slow post-meal sugar absorption in people with diabetes, study co-author Dr. Steven R. Hertzler told Reuters Health. "We still want to see what this does in people with type 2 diabetes," said Hertzler, an assistant professor of nutrition at Ohio State University in Columbus. Though S. oblonga has a long tradition of use in Indian ayurvedic medicine, few studies have looked at the herb's effects in humans, Hertzler noted. Good blood sugar control is vital in diabetes because it reduces the risk of long-term complications such as kidney dysfunction, heart disease, vision loss, and nerve damage. The hope, according to Hertzler, is that S. oblonga can help diabetics maintain healthy blood sugar levels over time, and thereby help prevent complications. Reference J Am Dietetic Assoc. January 2005. Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.