Herb Salacia Oblonga Rivals Prescription Drugs in Treating Diabetes

Traditional Indian medicine, called Ayurveda, has offered the world numerous incredible herbal remedies for many ‘fatal’ diseases that are more often treated with prescription drugs, and Salacia oblonga is yet another in the arsenal of ancients. In one study, a dose of 1000 mg per day of salacia oblonga was shown to decrease insulin and blood glucose levels by 29% and 23%, respectively, but a smaller dose of 480 mg of  the herb extract was also found to be very effective.

Salacia oblonga herb, also known as Saptarangi or Ponkoranti, does not alter insulin in the same way that injections do, though this change is comparable to an oral dose of prescription medications often given to diabetes patients. Almost 10% of the US population suffers from diabetes while 79 million people are considered to be prediabetic. It is considered one of the top ten killers of Americans. Given these statistic and the questionable effects of prescription drugs, a natural remedy like salacia oblonga could certainly stand to take the test.

Native to Indian and Sri Lanka, the herb has been used for thousands of years, but has been proven effective only recently via modern scientific studies to even address acute stages of type 2 diabetes.

Read: 4 Herbs for Diabetes

Pharmaceutical drugs to treat diabetes rake in billions of dollars worldwide. This little Ayurvedic herb costs pennies on the dollar. Medications are meant to do the following for those suffering from diabetes, which Salacia oblonga does just as well without the inflated price tag and possible side effects like nausea, skin rashes, weight gain and urinary tract infections:

• Stimulate the pancreas to produce and release more insulin

• Inhibit the production and release of glucose from the liver

• Block the action of stomach enzymes that break down carbohydrates

• Improve the sensitivity of cells to insulin

And of course there are many other, more common herbs that can help with diabetes. Cinnamon for diabetes can be one of the most effective natural solutions you can try, while turmeric has been shown to help with diabetes prevention significantly. Other options include bay leaves, ginseng, fenugreek, and the mineral magnesium.

Additional Sources:

Ohio State University