Different herbal treatments for diabetes

Even from early civilization, herbs have been considered to be a powerful tool in treating illnesses. In places where physicians cannot reach, people have invented their own concoction of herbs and plants to deal with the common afflictions of daily life. Sometimes, these herbal treatments are far more superior and effective that its chemical counterparts, not to mention even safe and inexpensive. Nowadays, because of the expensive treatment for diabetes as well as the contraindications that these medications give, a lot of people are trying to discover the wonders of these herbal treatments for diabetes mellitus since each treatment does not give the same response to another individual. These medications are unregulated and are not standardized which poses a risk for their use, although some would debate that natural ingredients would not be harmful to their health unless taken in significantly increasing amounts. Any medication, be it herbal or chemical, should always be taken in moderation. Several people who have opted to try herbal treatments for their diabetes may find themselves feeling a lot better but with no actual effect on their blood sugar levels. If you are considering this kind of treatment, it would be wise to consult with your healthcare provider first to be able to discuss the pros and cons of this treatment as well as receive the right advice on how to manage their diabetes.

There are several herbs that have exhibited some encouraging effects in treating diabetes mellitus. They are the following:

1. Pterocarpus marsupium common names: Indian Kino, Malabar Kino, Pitasara, Venga

This tree is considered as the source of the Kino in European pharmacopeias. It produces a resin that is gum like and has the appearance of dried blood, or dragon’s blood as believed by the Indians. The flavonoid epicatechin taken from the bark of this tree has been seen to prevent alloxan induced damage to the cells in rats. This flavonoid and an alcohol extract of Pterocarpus marsupium has been tested and have shown favorable results in terms of the regeneration of beta cells in pancreas. This is only seen in this herb.

2. Momordica charantia common name: Bitter Melon, balsam pear

Bitter melon is a green vegetable widely available in Asian countries, as well as in Africa and South America. Its leaves and fruit are both utilized as an herbal treatment and as a vegetable dish. This fruit gives out a very bitter taste which makes it unpopular, giving it its name of bitter melon. The extract of the unripe fruit and leaves has been used to lower blood sugar, as seen in several experimental studies as well as clinical studies.

The composition of Bitter melon has been confirmed to have compounds with properties against diabetes. Charantin is a hypoglycemic substance which is made up of mixed steroids more potent than tolbutamides in treating diabetes. It is extracted from bitter melon using alcohol. Momordica on the other hand also has polypeptide-P, a polypeptide that gives the same action as insulin, which is to lower blood sugar levels upon subcutaneous injection into patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Ingestion of at least fifty to sixty milliliters of the extract has given positive results in the treatment of diabetes as seen during clinical trials.

Extremely higher doses of the extract of bitter melon may lead to gastrointestinal problems such as pain in the abdomen and diarrhea. Hypoglycemic patients should refrain from taking in bitter melon because it might exacerbate the low levels of blood glucose. Those under the medication of hypoglycemic drugs should monitor their intake of this extract since it may increase the effectiveness of these drugs, such as chlorpropamide, glyburide, or phenformin, and cause severe hypoglycemia.

Gymnema Sylvestre common name: Gurmar, Meshasringi, Cherukurinja

This herb, Gymnema, helps in the manufacture of insulin in the pancreas of patients with type 2 Diabetes mellitus. It also enhances the performance of insulin in lowering blood glucose levels in diabetics of both types. It lowers one affinity for sweets. It can also be substituted for the oral medications used to lower blood glucose in patients with Type 2 diabetes. The usual dose of the Gymnema extract is 500 mg a day.

Allium cepa common name: Onion

Allium sativum common name: Garlic

These spices, garlic and onion have been tested to give a significant decrease in blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. They contain the active ingredients allyl propyl disulphide (APDS) and diallyl disulphide oxide (allicitin) and other flavonoids.

Clinical and experimental studies have shown that APDS decreases blood sugar levels by occupying the insulin-inactivating sites found in the hepatic cells of the liver. This will result in having more free insulin in the bloodstream. When APDS was given to fasting patients, in a 125 mg/kg dosage, the results were a significant decrease in the blood glucose levels concurrent with an increase of insulin in the serum. Allicitin also produces the same effect with a dosage of 100mg/kg.

An increased dosage of onion extract led to the reduction of blood glucose levels during tests for glucose tolerance. There was a direct proportion in the effect of onion extract on blood glucose levels, wherein an increase in dosage causes an improvement in blood glucose levels. Using onion in the diet, either raw or boiled also gave a significant effect. Onions also have an effect on the metabolism of sugar in the liver, which may increase insulin release and prevent destruction of insulin.

Garlic and onion are also used to lower down high blood pressure in hypertensive patients as well as decrease lipid levels and prevent aggregation of platelets. So, in spite of its odor and taste, it is a very good herbal treatment for diabetes mellitus.

Other herbs that are used to treat diabetes are Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), blueberry leaves (Vaccinium myrtillus) which imitate the action of insulin although weaker, asian ginseng, bilberry, stevia, gingko biloba, cinnamon which increases the efficiency of insulin up to three times its action, barberry, and Salacia oblonga which controls blood sugar levels after a meal.

Herbs are natural plants that help in the treatment of several illnesses, such as diabetes mellitus. Take care in using these plants and always consult your health care provider or your doctor as to the treatment that is best for you.

Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus is a condition wherein you have increased glucose in your blood due to a deficiency in insulin and an unhealthy lifestyle, which may lead to several complications if not treated early. These complications include peripheral neuropathies, skin problems, hypertension and even death.

A complete turnaround in lifestyle is needed for a long term treatment of diabetes mellitus. Blood glucose levels should be maintained within normal limits everyday, thus it has to be monitored regularly. Here are several treatments available for patients with Diabetes Mellitus.

1. Blood glucose monitoring

Measuring your blood glucose everyday is a painful task since you have to draw blood from yourself every time you try to find out your blood glucose levels. This test is vital in the treatment of diabetes since it will indicate just how much carbohydrate intake you need to sustain your body, without aggravating the sickness further.

Normal values for blood glucose levels in patients without complications are 80 to 120 mg/dL for fasting blood glucose and lower than 180 mg/dL after meals. For the patients already with complications, they have a fasting blood glucose of 100 to 140 mg/dL and at least 200 mg/dL an hour after eating. Blood sugar should also be monitored for a sudden drop in levels which may also lead to systemic shock of the patient.

There are several factors that affect blood sugar levels.

a. Food

The amount of calories taken from the carbohydrates in the food that you eat will determine the levels of blood glucose. It usually peaks after an hour or two after meals and then should go down again after a couple more hours.

b. Physical activity and exercise

An increase in physical activity can lower blood sugar since it triggers your cells to produce more energy from glucose to supply the body’s increasing needs. Aerobic exercises help decrease blood glucose levels in controlled levels but a increase in doing household chores and work can actually bring down your blood sugar to dangerous levels.

c. Medications

Insulin is prescribed especially for type 1 diabetes patients who have a lack of this hormone in their blood as well as type 2 diabetes patients who have a hard time controlling their blood sugar. But some medications such as those for hypertension and cholesterol when taken with insulin may lead to an increase blood sugar levels. Mention to your doctor all medications that you are taking so as to be able to let him prescribe the right medication for you.

d. Stress in Illness

Stress due to an underlying illness may also affect your blood glucose levels since it triggers other factors which may decrease or increase levels of blood sugar. Having a fever can decrease blood sugar levels, thus intake of insulin should be monitored so as to maintain the levels of blood glucose within normal limits.

e. Alcohol Intake

Any amount of alcohol will trigger an erratic response in the levels of blood sugar. Even just a small amount may lead to a change in blood sugar since it contributes to an increase in the calorie intake from carbohydrates.

2. Having a healthy and well-balanced diet

The diet of a diabetic patient is limited to the number of calories they have to take in order to keep their blood sugar levels in check. This does not necessarily mean that the food that you eat should have no taste and appeal. It just means that the patient should learn to eat healthy foods like fruits and vegetables instead of unhealthy junk foods and fast foods. These healthy foods are high in nutrition and yet give a little amount of calories and fat, allowing you to have your fill of it. But of course, anything in excess is always detrimental to ones health.

3. Regular Exercise

Regular exercise is not only beneficial in lowering down blood sugar levels but of other substances such as cholesterol and triglycerides. It is also good for the normal functioning of the heart and lungs. Consult your health provider first before undergoing any exercise regimen so as to be able to monitor your blood sugar levels from going below and giving you hyperglycemia. Any type of sport such as jogging, tennis, and swimming can help lower sugar levels as well as increase your body’s health. You can have minimum of thirty minutes of activity everyday which you may increase as your body becomes accustomed to it.

4. Weight within normal limits

Falling within the weight range of obese and overweight people is commonly seen in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Fat makes your cells resist insulin thus increasing blood sugar. Losing weight and fat will make them receptive to this hormone, thus further decreasing daily blood sugar levels. Sometimes, all it takes to treat diabetes is just to lose weight. Consult your health expert as to the right way to lose weight.
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5. Medications

Medications are prescribed when diet and exercise is not enough to control the blood sugar levels. Mainly, it is insulin that is given to make blood sugar levels lowered down. Insulin is given intramuscularly, through injections or an insulin pump. This is a small device that pumps the needed insulin into the body without the hassle and pain of injection. But this is not prescribed fro everyone. Other medications include sulfonylurea drugs which try to stimulate the production of insulin by the pancreas, Meglitinides, Biguanides, Metformin or commonly known as Glucophage, Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors that act on the digestive enzymes for carbohydrates by inhibiting them and regulating the entry of sugar into the blood stream, thiazolidinediones that makes the cells more receptive to insulin and the stops the liver from releasing excessive amounts of glucose, and the combination of several drugs in order to control blood sugar in the best possible way.

6. Transplantation

An invasive type of treatment for diabetes mellitus is the exchange of some vital organs that are responsible in regulating blood glucose levels. These are still in their testing stages although results have been promising in some patients. These are pancreas transplantation, which is usually done with a kidney transplant. Unfortunately, it is not a hundred percent successful. Another type is the Islet cell transplantation which is less invasive and deals with the cells in the liver rather than in the pancreas.

The treatment of diabetes mellitus is extensive and sometimes expensive. It also requires your full cooperation in trying to change your whole lifestyle and outlook to a healthier one in order to keep your diabetes under control. Without this, nothing will happen.

Caring for dark skin

Dark skin or black skin is commonly seen in the natives of Africa, some of the races in Australia, in the African American race in the US, and people from the Caribbean and other islands. These people have a very high amount of melanin in their skin. Melanin is the substance that gives color to the skin so an increased amount of it makes the skin colored black. Melanin is responsible for blocking the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays from producing free radicals on the skin surface and harming the outermost layer of cells of the skin. It makes the skin look younger since it slows the effects of aging. It is no wonder that black people always look younger than their white skinned counterpart. But when black people age, they have an irregular pigmentation of their skin, appearing as dark patches on the skin. These dark patches are sometimes too light or too dark, depending on the skin tone. There are still different dark shades. Sometimes, it is also caused by an inflammation or infection. As the area of the skin is inflamed and red from an insect bite, acne, trauma or other causes, it becomes dark brown as the redness and inflammation subsides.

Dark skin is prone to irregular pigmentations and melanomas. In pregnant women, a dark spot often occurs around the neck area, which does not go away unless she gives birth and it is treated with calamine lotion to prevent itchiness. Birth control pills and estrogen hormonal treatment can also be a factor in causing irregular pigmentations by altering hormone content in the body, thus leading to discoloration in the skin.

To be able to treat this type of affliction, all you need is tretinoin. Tretinoin is applied to skin several times a day for several days to weeks and months, depending on the depth of irregular skin pigmentation. Skin lighteners and bleaching creams all contain steroids which may further damage your skin. They can even cause irreversible skin redness, thinning and blood vessel streaks. Also, avoid those products that use mercury as an ingredient since this substance is extremely poisonous and corrosive.

Having black and dark skin is also beautiful especially when the undertones in dark skin are thoroughly understood. The best type of skin care available for all types of skin, may it be black or white is keeping it clean and free from any dirt and harmful deposits.

Maintaining the cleanliness of the skin helps a great deal in maintaining its health. A lot of dark skinned people often neglect to clean their skin since the dirt is hardly visible on the skin. The darker your skin is, the more you should be cleaning it. There is no excuse in having dirty skin since dark skin is never synonymous to having filthy skin.

Treatment of black skin is basically the same as the treatment with any other skin type. It is just the skin care products that vary. Knowing which product works best on your skin is the first step to proper skin treatment and maintenance. Understanding your skin type affects the decisions you make on skin care since you will have to experiment on which shades will best complement your natural dark skin tone.

There are specific products to care for black skin. Taking care of the dark skin of African Americans is very different from the products of Caucasians and Asians. Black skin care products contain heavy oils that are formulated to penetrate the skin deeply and nourish the skin from the inside, but without the oily feeling that you get in using oil based skin products. Oil from the emu has been tested to be one of the highly recommended ingredients in skin care products for black and dark skin.

Due to their ability to not be easily affected by the sun’s rays, dark skinned people are prone to staying under the sun for a prolonged period of time. Too much sun is also dangerous to the skin, even for black skin since the heat and the UV rays will bombard the skin into giving in and thus becoming affected by it. The UV rays damage the collagen and elastin molecules in the skin, leading to the sagging and loss of elasticity of the skin. This is seen as having stretch marks, loose skin, and fat deposits around the waist, breasts, stomach, thighs, face and neck area. This is why sunscreen is also suggested to people with dark skin to be able to protect them further from a prolonged exposure to the sun’s rays.

Hydroquinone is also a substance that can help lighten dark areas of the skin to be able to have dark skin that is constant in color and not with patches and different shades of black. You just have to apply this regularly to the affected area. Hyperpigmentation can also be addressed by the new Obagi Nu-derm System which treats hyperpigmentation easily through a series of tests and treatments.

Another type of treatment is the application of Jessner’s solution on the skin. This solution is used to lighten certain areas with hyperpigmentation plus treat aged skin due to damage from the sun through mild skin peeling. Before using this solution, the skin should first be treated with Retin-A or tretinoin for two to three weeks to prepare it. During treatment, it is advised not to sunbathe to avoid sunburn and to avoid places where you can hurt and damage your skin.

Jessner’s solution is to be applied using a gauze strip, two to three times on the face, neck and other areas to be treated. It is to be left for ten minutes before rinsing it off using cool water. Direct sunlight should be avoided for at least a week and Vaseline applied daily as a thin coat for four more days. Peeling should be done in four weeks intervals, depending on the size of the skin affected. The Jessner’s solution should be stored in a dark cool place, away from direct sunlight, and has a shelf life of two to three years. It works best on areas damaged most by the sun. It should be avoided on the eyes and genitals.