With an estimated 150 million men and women world wide currently diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, in addition to a continuously rising prevalence of this disorder in the overall population, plant based medicine and acupuncture are actually appealing alternatives to considerable cost and the side-effects of now utilized treatments. (one) Researchers continue studying the effects of several herbs in an effort to find a single treatment that addresses the multiple facets of symptoms usually observed in diabetic patients.
Acupuncture, particularly when coupled with herbal medicine as well as diet/lifestyle changes, has become ever more popular as a strong help with dealing with diabetes mellitus. As an illustration, just one approach to treating diabetes is using the 5-Elements Theory: for a diabetic patient who’s overweight, we are able to place acupuncture needles in certain points corresponding to the Fire Element and the Earth Element. Because Fire nourishes and strengthens Earth in this particular theory, plus an imbalance or weakness in Earth frequently correlates with a situation of carrying excess fat, this method is extremely successful.
An typically used Chinese Herbal Formula for diabetics is liu wei di huang wan, or perhaps “Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia.” One of the main herbal plants in this particular formulation is the root of the rehmannia plant that was specially prepared through a baking process to reach the needed properties. (2, 3)
Another promising plant based treatment will be the herb gymnema (Gymnema sylvestre), a large, woody climbing plant from exotic Africa, best boost testosterone (socialnewsdaily.com) southern and central India, along with exotic Australia. This particular herb indicates an extraordinary ability to simultaneously focus on several of the problems encountered in diabetes patients, which includes being overweight, chronic inflammation, pancreatic B-cell feature, and enzymatic defects. This is of good interest, as no singular oral hypoglycemic drug presently demonstrates such a broad range of excellent effects. (1)
In dealing with diabetes with acupuncture and organic medicine, nonetheless, a flexible plan of action is called for such that we can tailor the herbs and acupuncture points selected because of the constitution and imbalances unique to every individual patient.
(1) Gymnema Sylvestre for Diabetes Mellitus: An organized Review, by Mathew Leach; The Journal of alternative and Complementary Medicine, V13, #9, 2007, pp.977-983
(2) Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, 3rd edition, by Dan Bensky, et al.
(3) Chinese Herbal Medicine Formulas & Strategies, by Dan Bensky, et al.