Eastern medicine's amazing "destroyer of sugar"

Ad Astra

Ad Astra

Joined
Jul 30, 2004
Messages
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I quit drinking alcohol 15 months ago. :thumbup: In order to maintain my weight :rolleyes: I developed an ice cream habit.

Problem is, the sugar crash. It knocks me out- asleep- not long after a cup of Carmel Coyote. This never happened in the past... but hit age 40 and all kinds of new things happen, none of them good. No, I don't have diabetes: best bloodwork in my life done recently.

An aurvedic herb was recommended at a vitamin store; Gymnema sylvestre.

It is said to stabilize blood sugar, take away sweets' desirable taste, lower cholesterol, lower triglcerides, acts as a fat blocker, even has antibacterial/antiviral properties.

Indian and Chinese medicine... this stuff amazes me. First Neem, now this.

We have some well-travelled folks here; has anyone experience with this herb?

Many thanks, Mike

________

"Gymnema sylvestre is a member of the milkweed family. It is a woody climbing plant that is native to the tropical regions of India. The leaves are used in herbal medicine preparations and is known as "periploca of the woods" in English. In Sanskrit it is known as mesbasringi (meaning "ram's horn"). When the leaves are chewed the interfere with the mouths ability to taste sweetness. Hence the Hindi name gurmar - "destroyer of sugar".

For years people in India with diabetes have chewed the leaves to help control blood sugar levels. A few small studies have indicated that the extract may actually lower blood sugar levels. There have been animal studies done that also support this use. The studies indicate that gymnema can double the amount of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, and return blood sugar levels to normal.

Studies done with people who have type 1 diabetes have shown that gymnema may enhance the action of insulin. In one specific study, people who took gymnema leaf extract for several months required less insulin to control their blood sugar levels. In people with type 2 diabetes, also known as noninsulin-dependent diabetes, gymnema leaf extract has improved blood sugar levels and resulted in the need for less oral medications to control the disease.

Gymnema has also been used to treat a variety of other disorders as well. Digestion problems, cough, constipation, and malaria are just a few. Intriguing new animal studies suggest that gymnema may play a role in lowering cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL ("bad") cholesterol.

In other animal and human studies, it has been found to increase urine output and reduce hyperglycemia. Gymnema sylvestre is also a stomachic, diuretic, refrigerant, astringent, and tonic. Gymnema also has therapeutic effects for treating rheumatic arthritis and gout."
 
What about simply refraining from eating the Ice Cream and other foods based around sugar, like pop, cake and syrup heavy breakfast items?

It doesn't affect me as drastically as you, but if I eat a lot of sugar I generally feel worse. Sick to my stomach some, mouth gets a nasty afertaste, energy levels are very inconsistent. I've found it's better to just stay away from them. Oddly enough, fruits don't seem to affect me much at all in this respect.
 
Fruits are different; your body breaks them down differently. This thread reminds me what my old pal and engine works genius used to say:(after I asked him if we shouldn't stop and buy a box of doughnuts.)

"I wouldn't hire the man who ate doughnuts for breakfast."


munk
 
When my mom brings home a box of Krispy Kremes, anymore I just peek at them every so often and shake my head at how quickly they're dissapearing.

I had a hunch the sugars in fruits were different. They seem to be better for you than what you'd find in some Oreo's.
 
We currently live in an era with an astonishing variety of sweeteners, both natural and not-so-natural. Should one wish to reduce or eliminate refined sugar in their diet it's fairly easy to do. If you'd like some recommendations for things that are healthier than refined sugar, let me know.

Another thing to consider: if you're having cravings for something (and this includes sugar), your body is telling you something. Find out what the problem is before you start treating the symptoms.
 
If it's not foamy, creamy, or sweet, the american public doesn't want it.


munk
 
Between the sugar they add to everything and fast food, the obesity crisis is no wonder.

I can walk into a "health foods" restaraunt and order a fruit smoothie, and they'll add sugar to it. Nevermind that fruits have some of the highest natural sugar contents of any foods....
 
Has anyone ever ordered a Dunkin Doughnuts coffee? Unless you tell them not to, the default way to serve it is to add enough sugar to make you wince and your teeth ache (and so much cream that the darn thing is white) I feel like saying "do I look like a little girl going to a tea party to you? what
grown-a$$ man drinks coffee like that!?"

SOrry I've always wanted to say grown-A$$ man;) :D :o
 
Between the sugar they add to everything and fast food, the obesity crisis is no wonder.
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absolutely!! And you know what kills me?! Here in Maine everytime they have a story on the news about how our kids (Maine's) are overweight they blame the kids activity level and CALORIC INTAKE and completely overlook the TYPE of junk/crap they eat all day long. Whoopie pies aren't bad because they have x # of calories--they're bad because they cause a massive blood sugar spike and crash and lead to the insulin resisitance/diabetes/obesity positive feedback loop that is killing our population.

exercise + food that actually comes from nature + a positive outlook on life + ablity to handle stress = health.

Not: crap food + tons of gym time and coffee + piles of stress + constant 24 hr a day activity = a healthy looking body that is headed for disaster down the road.
 
It's not too hard to figure out: ice cream releases endorphins... The sugar-free ice cream cramps up your stomach though, and gives some people the runs. Carb-free sugar alcohols? Something like that in there.

Chocolate too. I love the stuff. But I always have; even when I drank booze.

The part dieters hate: I weigh exactly what I'm supposed to. Not overweight a'tall... but I will pass on those Krispy Kreme doughnuts (or any other kind): I didn't give up smokes and beer to die from lard-filled arteries.

No eastern-trained herbalists yet?

Medicines derived directly from plants seem, well, like the best idea for any problem.

Look at Goldenseal. That stuff dries up your allergies; worked on me but noticed I was hungry all the time: then I read ndn's used it to promote appetite in sick/injured people. Herbal stuff works.


Mike
 
Ad, I agree with using natural medicine. Honestly, people might consider me paranoid but I just don't trust the pill companies. It's plain and obvious a lot of the people in those businesses are in it for the profit, and they tend to be loaded with synthetic developed chemicals that I've never even heard of. Heard a lot of wonderful stories about the FDA too that make me wonder. If I have a headache or motion sickness, I'm just gonna wait it out. I try to keep modern medicine as a last resort only, to be used in cases where I could lose a limb or die if I don't take it.

I'm the same with foods. I could live off pop, doughnuts, beer, pizza and ice cream and not gain a pound. I know I'd feel significantly worse as a person though, and that's more important to me than how much of a gut I develop.

You know, as much as this forum frowns on the substance, nothing in the world I tried helped my sleeping habits as much as marijuana. Ever since I started smoking it, sleep comes without struggle, I can wake up more easily and I feel more refreshed. This carries over when I take breaks from it too, it's not just nights I smoke. I'll go a few weeks to a couple months at a time staying sober because I don't like getting too deep into any type of substance like that, but those positive effects remain.
 
Diet advice given by Jack LaLanne: "If man makes it, don't eat it."
A little simplistic and perhaps not realistic for many, but the basic principle seems sound.

Eric
 
The sugar in fruits is different - it's (obviously "natural") fructose. Most "sweets" like doughnuts, ice cream, etc. use refined sucrose.

Cutting refined sugar out of your diet is one of the great things you can do for yourself. Fewer mood swings, less hunger, better dental health, more energy.... It's easy to think this is a bunch of crap but the acid test is trying it.
 
Vivi said:
You know, as much as this forum frowns on the substance, nothing in the world I tried helped my sleeping habits as much as marijuana. Ever since I started smoking it, sleep comes without struggle, I can wake up more easily and I feel more refreshed. This carries over when I take breaks from it too, it's not just nights I smoke. I'll go a few weeks to a couple months at a time staying sober because I don't like getting too deep into any type of substance like that, but those positive effects remain.
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Vivi, marijuana use provides some benefits.
The problem is that the negatives seriously outweigh the positives. :cool:
 
Life is making choices and paying consequences. Perhaps someday the price of the freight will be too much.

I'm going to sound new age, when I say. "it's all good, as long as you keep on walking."



munk
 
rifon2 said:
Vivi, marijuana use provides some benefits.
The problem is that the negatives seriously outweigh the positives. :cool:
Click to expand...

I see where you're coming from, but based on my experiences I would have to disagree. I feel that if you're smoking high-end marijuana (More potency = same effects in less inhalations) that isn't laced, and you have the self-control to keep your habits in check, the positives can outweigh the negatives. Problem is, a lot of people don't have that self-control. *Shrug

In the event that I'm wrong, like Munk said, I've made the decision and I accept what consequences will come of it. If I felt it were as negative towards my health as DARE would have me believe, I would of stopped by now. There are many things in this world more important than getting stoned....many things.
 
Marijuana, Opium, Morphine, Codeine and many other plant based drugs have had accepted medical uses for centuries. The problem is not the moderate and medically informed use of such substances, but that in 98% of the cases the use of those substances is ill considered, long term, and recreational based, leading to both psychological and physical dependence. Add to that the number of predatory individuals who have set out to get rich from other peoples poor choices, and you have the crux of our drug problem. Add to that, some drugs like LSD and PCP burn out central nervous systems with no possible constructive benefit to the user. LSD to treat psychosis? (SNORT); don't make me laugh. If folks used plant based drugs thoughtfully, truely for their medical purposes, and for no longer than medically needed....there would be no DEA, and I would be a teacher with 40 years experience instead of 10.

jurassicnarc
 
I'm gonna check out your herb Mike.


The rest of my post was edited out. LOL.
 
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