|
|
Diabetes
and Ginseng
Ginseng
a magical herb trusted over 5000 year for its ability to promote vigor,
nourish nervous system, enhances hormonal secretion, lower blood sugar
& cholesterol and increases immunity.
Ginseng for diabetes
 
Ginseng
has a long history of herbal use over 5,000 years. It is one of
the most highly regarded herbal medicines gained
reputation
for being able to promote
health, general body vigour and prolong life. Ginseng can
also used to treat diabetes and cholesterol.
Benefits
of Ginseng
The ginseng root has many benefits as listed below
- Vitalize, strengthen, and rejuvenate the entire
body.
- Promote general mental and physical well being.
- Adaptogen
- substances usally plant derived, that assist the body to restore
itself to health and work without any unwanted effects even if the
recommended
dose is widely exceeded.
- Carminative - An agent that prevents
or relieves flatulence (gas in the gastrointestinal tract) and, in
infants, may help in the treatment of colic.
- Expectorant - Promoting or facilitating the
secretion or expulsion of phlegm, mucus, or other matter from the
respiratory tract.
- Demulcent - soothe or soften especially to
relieve pain in inflamed or irritated mucous membranes.
- Stimulant and tonic - a drug or similar
substance that increases physiological activity (stimulating
agent).
- It stimulates as well as
relaxes the nervous system.
- Promotes the secretion of hormones.
- Enhance
stamina.
- Lowers
blood
sugar and cholesterol.
- Increases immmunity
against
diseases.
- Used in the treatment of debility by
old age or
illness, appetite loss, insomnia, stress,
and shock.
Ginseng is not normally prescribed for pregnant women. The length of
treatment for ginseng is around 3
weeks. Excess dosage can cause headaches, restlessness and raised
blood-pressure, especially when taken with caffeine,
alcohol, turnips and spicy foods.
Different ginsengs available: Asian
ginseng(Panax ginseng), Siberian Ginseng(Eleutherococcus senticosus),
Japanese Ginseng(Panax japonicus), American Ginseng(Panax quinquefolius)
Bioactive
constituent of Ginseng
The
dried roots and rhizomes of ginseng contain
many important constituents, includes ginseng
saponins, ginseng oils and phytosterol, carbohydrates/sugars,
nitrogenous substances, amino acids and peptides,
organic acids, vitamins and minerals, and certain enzymes. Among these,
ginseng saponins is the
most active constituents.
Hypoglycemic
action mechanism of Ginseng
The
hypoglycemic
activity of ginseng glycopeptide (GGP) may be attributed
to the enhancement of aerobic glycolysis through stimulation of
beta-adrenoceptor and increase of various rate-limiting enzyme
activities related to tricarboxylic acid cycle.
The mechanisms
of American ginseng root in the treatment
of diabetes remains a
mystery. Initial studies have shown
that American ginseng increases
insulin production and reduces cell
death in pancreatic β-cells.Also, studies have revealed
American
ginseng's ability to decrease
blood glucose in type II diabetes
patients.
Scientific
clinical evidence of ginseng for diabetes
- Ginseng
therapy in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients. By
E A Sotaniemi, E Haapakoski and A Rautio at
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland.
Ginseng therapy elevated mood, improved psychophysical performance, and
reduced fasting-blood-glucose (FBG) and body weight. The 200-mg dose of
ginseng improved glycated hemoglobin, serum PIIINP, and physical
activity. Placebo reduced body weight and altered the serum lipid
profile but did not alter FBG. Ginseng may be a useful therapeutic
adjunct in the management of NIDDM.
- Korean
red ginseng stimulates insulin release from isolated rat pancreatic
islets. By
Kim K, Kim HY at
Food Convergence Technology Division, Korea Food Research Institute,
Kyonggi-do, Republic of Korea. These
findings suggest that Korean red ginseng displays beneficial
effects in the treatment of diabetes at least in part via the
stimulation of insulin release in a glucose-independent manner. For
further information visit Pubmed
(National Center for Biotechnology Information).
- Korean
red ginseng (Panax ginseng) improves glucose and insulin
regulation in well-controlled, type 2 diabetes: results of a
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of efficacy and
safety. By
Vuksan V, Sung MK, Sievenpiper JL, Stavro PM,
Jenkins AL, Di Buono M, Lee KS, Leiter LA, Nam-KY, Arnason JT, Choi M,
Naeem A Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine,
University of
Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
Although clinical efficacy, as assessed by HbA1c, was not demonstrated,
12 weeks of supplementation with the selected Korean red ginseng
treatment maintained good glycemic control and improved plasma glucose
and plasma insulin regulation safely beyond usual therapy in people
with well-controlled type 2 diabetes. Further investigation with
similarly selected KRG treatments may yield clinical efficacy. For
further information visit Pubmed
(National Center for Biotechnology Information).
- Effects
of American ginseng berry extract on blood-glucose-levels in ob/ob
mice.
Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, Department of Anesthesia and
Critical Care, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago,
Illinois 60637, USA. By
Xie JT, Aung HH, Wu JA, Attel AS, Yuan CS. Results support in
vivo
antihyperglycemic and antiobese activity of American ginseng berry
extract that may prove to be of clinical importance in the prevention
and treatment of Type 2 diabetes. For further information visit Pubmed
(National Center for Biotechnology Information).
- Effect
of
Panax ginseng supplementation on biomarkers of glucose tolerance,
antioxidant status and oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic subjects:
results of a placebo-controlled human intervention trial. By
Ma
SW, Benzie IF, Chu TT, Fok BS, Tomlinson B, Critchley
LA. Diabetes Obes
Metab. Mar 18, 2008. The
'results indicate that there
may be some benefit of ginseng supplementation in terms of lowering
insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic subjects but not in regard to
improving oxidant: antioxidant balance.' They write that the mechanism
of action for the positive effects of Asian ginseng supplementation on
fasting-blood-sugar-levels and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetic
patients seen in this study remains to be determined. Possible
mechanisms include effects on 'insulin release from pancreatic beta
cells, insulin-stimulated glucose disposal' and increasing insulin
sensitivity related to the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor.
Ginseng
diabetes dosage
Generally recommended daily dosage of ginseng is 1 g to 2 g of raw
herb, or 200 mg daily of an extract.
Ginseng
diabetes safety
Ginseng
appears to be nontoxic, both in the short and long-term, according to
the results of studies in animals. Reported
rare cases of breast
tenderness, postmenopausal vaginal bleeding, and menstrual
abnormalities associated with ginseng use.
Chinese tradition
suggests that ginseng should not be used by pregnant or nursing
mothers. Animal study shows that ginseng use by a pregnant
mother may cause birth defects.
Ginseng
diabetes
natural treatment procedure
Ginseng is
believed to be effective
in the treatment of
type 2 diabetes with out any unwanted
effects. Don’t give up the diabetes conventional medications,
take ginseng along with it till the
glucose level in blood reaches normal. Then slowly reduce the dosage of
the conventional medicine and finally discard if possible. For type 1
diabetes the ginseng can be taken along with insulin therapy, in
due coarse
insulin shots requirement may be reduced.
Are
Ginseng diabetes safe?
Remember
that ginseng is a herbal medicines, so it too has some side
effects. Herbals can also interact with other medicines you are
taking. It is best to get registered herbal practitioner's advice
before
taking herbs, if the treatment is for pregnant women,
breast-feeding mother, child or older people.
Useful diabetes natural treatments
|
