GURMAR TEA

[ushapillai]

What is Gurmar tea ? Where would one get it and how should it be brewed , how often should one take in the day?

I am located in Mumbai if someone could please guide me about the availability of Gurmar. Thank you.

[Hidden]

You can get the leaves, they come dried, quite inexpensive from any local ayurvedic shop. Check Justdial.com for ayurvedic shop in yr area.

[sweetbay]

This Gurmar herb is available on pansaree shop or ayurvedic shop ,used for antidiabetic effect . Tea of this sort I don't know .May be Gurmar boiled in water ,strained n consumed as tea is d answer .

[bhaskarraut in reply to sweetbay]

Yes, I agree, gulmar is a herbal poweder and it is available in ayurvedic shops.

[pkgurudeo]

GURMAR is a LATA it generally climbed on Neem tree its leaves are like money plant leaves you can say it just like money plant its steam when grinding will provide juice which has excesive quantity of insulin though I have not used it till now but I have listen about it by many more

[dushyant]

Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre) - briefing

In Green Health Watch Magazine 29 (2005) we reported Thomas Smith’s exploration of the causes and mechanisms of type 2 diabetes (previously called ‘insulin-dependent diabetes’), and his personal recovery from the disease (as described in his book Insulin: Our Silent Killer. Thomas also reported that two studies [1] had found that the Indian herb gurmar (Latin: Gymnema sylvestre) had helped people with type 1 diabetes (previously called ‘noninsulin-dependent diabetes’). Enquiries from readers combined with our discovery that gurmar/Gymnestre extract also appears to benefit people with type 2 diabetes have prompted us to write this briefing.

Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre)

Gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre) is a woody climbing plant that grows in the tropical forests of central and southern India. When chewed, the leaves emit substances that foul the taste of sweetness, which explains its Hindi name (gurmar: destroyer of sugar). It has been used in India for the treatment of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes for over 2,000 years (some claim for over 6,000 years) and is recommended in India for the treatment of diabetes to this day. It is also used there for stomach ailments, constipation, water retention and liver disease.

The substances in the leaves are also noted for lowering blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels (at least, in rats). [2]

‘Western medicine’s knowledge of gurmar/Gymnema

The first suggestion of gurmar/Gymnema’s potential to treat diabetes was reported in 1926, [3] when its ability to reduce urinary glucose levels was reported. In 1930 gurmar/Gymnema’s urine glucose lowering ability was confirmed, but only where the pancreas was still functioning to some extent (suggesting a direct effect of gurmar/Gymnema’s active ingredients on the pancreas’s insulin-producing function). [4]

It was 50 years until the next gurmar/Gymnema trial was published in 1980. [5] This found that the taking of a water-soluble extract of gurmar/Gymnema leaves by both diabetic humans and diabetic animals lowered urine glucose levels and raised blood insulin levels. Since then things have picked up somewhat.

In 1990 Shanmugasundaram and colleagues at the University of Madras (India) [1] published the first fully human-based trial. Twenty-two patients with type 1 diabetes were given 200 milligrams of gurmar/Gymnema leaf extract twice daily for between eighteen and twenty months in addition to their normal doses of oral hypoglycaemic (blood glucose-lowering) drugs. The patients were aged 40-62 years old and had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes for between one and twelve years. Over the duration of treatment the addition of gurmar/Gymnema leaf extract to their normal medical regime appeared to have significantly lowered both:

fasting blood glucose levels (average reduction from 174 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dl) to 124mg/dl) and

red blood cell haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels (see below)

Almost all of the patients (21 of 22) were able to reduce their intake of hypoglycaemic drugs. Five patients were able to maintain healthy blood glucose levels with the gurmar/Gymnema extract alone and stop their conventional drugs completely. Their natural (pancreas-produced) insulin levels also increased significantly compared to those taking the hypoglycaemic drugs alone.

The researchers suggested that the increased pancreas production of insulin was probably due to regeneration/repair of specialist cells called beta cells in the islets of Langerhans* within the pancreas by active ingredients in the gurmar/Gymnema extract. A group of these active ingredients are now generally referred to as ‘gymnemic acids’.

A very similar study [8] suggesting similar benefits for type 2 diabetes patients was published in 1990. The regenerative/reparatory action of gurmar/Gymnema extract on beta cells has been confirmed many times since, [7,10] including:

in 2001, when Joffe and Fried8 improved blood sugar levels after three months in a group of people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who took 800mg per day of a standardised gurmar/Gymnema extract containing 25% gymnemic acids called Beta Fast GXR, and

in 2010, when Al-Romaiyan and colleagues [10] achieved reductions in the blood glucose levels of type 2 diabetes patients with a gram a day for two months of a standardised gurmar/Gymnema supplement containing 25% gymnemic acids called OM Santal Adivasi

(Despite the evidence, the regeneration/repair of islet of Langerhans beta cells is still considered impossible by many doctors, which is why to this day orthodox medicine often states that both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are incurable.)

Red blood cell haemoglobin A1c levels

Haemoglobin is the iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the respiratory organs to the rest of the body. The importance of reducing red blood cell haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels (which are almost always raised in people with poorly controlled diabetes) cannot be overstated when treating diabetes

The DCCT trial [7] showed that the reduction in HbA1c levels achieved in patients with type 1 diabetes could reduce the complications of retinopathy (damage to the retina of the eye) by 38%, nephropathy (progressive kidney disease) by 28% and neuropathy (nerve damage) by 35%

The UKPDS8 trial [11] showed that the reduction in HbA1c levels in patients with type 2 by just 0.9% could reduce any diabetes indicator by 12%, reduce any microvascular end point by 25%, reduce risk of myocardial infarction by 16%, reduce retinopathy by 21% and reduce microalbuminurea (where the kidney leaks albumin) at twelve years old by 34%

This trial also showed that post-prandial (one to two hours after eating) glucose is a better indicator of glycaemic control than fasting glucose levels. The treatment of post-prandial hyperglycaemia is critical to achieving optimal outcomes in type 2 diabetes.

Gurmar - destroyer of sugar

If the body, for whatever reason, is not coping with the levels of sugar/glucose consumed, a fundamental part of any diabetes ‘cure’ is to reduce sugar/glucose input. Gurmar/Gymnema helps here too. If consumed on a daily basis it reduces the appetite for foods and drinks high in sugars by turning their taste from sweet to unpleasant. This is one of the reasons it is now also being used to treat obesity.

Two other possible herbs for treating diabetes

Researchers have identified other herbs which may be useful in the treatment of diabetes:

Extracts from the roots of a cucumber-like vegetable called karela, bitter melon or bitter gourd (Momordica cymbalaria) improved the glucose tolerance of ‘type 2 diabetic’ rats

Early laboratory work indicates that some compounds extracted from the bark of chirette (Swertia chirayita), a plant traditionally grown in the Himalayas, appear to stimulate insulin production and improve its action

* The million or so islets of Langerhans are the regions of the pancreas that contain its endocrine (hormone-producing) cells. Healthy beta cells, specifically, produce insulin and amylin and secrete it directly into the blood flow.

[1] Shanmugasundaram,ERB et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1990;30:281-94

Baskaran,K et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1990;30:295-305

[2] Shanmugasundaram,ERB et al. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 1990;30:265-79

[3] Gharpurey, (K.G. Indian Medical Gazette 1926; 61:155

[4] Mhasker,KS and Caius,JF. Indian Jnl. Medical Research Memoirs 1930;16:2-75

[5] Shanmugasundaram,KR et al. Pharmacol Res Commun 1981;13:475-86

[6] J. Ethnopharmacol. 1990 Oct; 30(3): 295-300).

[7] DCCT Research Group. The New England Journal of Medicine 1993;329(14), Diabetes 95;44:969-983

[8] Joffe DJ and Freed SH. Diabetes In Control Newsletter 2001;76

[9] Al-Romaiyan A et al. Phytotherapy Research 2010;24:1370-76.

[10] Asare-Anane, GC Huang, SA Amiel, PM Jones & SJ Persaud. Endocrine Abstracts 2005: 10 DP1

[11]Harris et al. Diabetes Care. 1994

(16309) Nick Anderson. Green Health Watch Magazine 15.9.2013

Gurmar/Gymnema sylvestre for obesity

As well as helping people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, the Indian herb gurmar (Gymnema sylvestre) may also be of use in treating both diabetes and obesity. Active ingredients in the herb (generally called ‘gymnemic acids’) appear to:

block carbohydrate/sugar receptors in the human intestine, restricting the body’s ability to accumulate carbohydrate/sugar molecules, as well of course

foul the taste of sweetness

When the potential for treating both diabetes and obesity with gurmar was recognised in Japan [1] gurmar/Gymnema teas and chewing gum were developed.

Editorial

Half an hour on the web failed to find a source for Gymnema tea or chewing gum in the UK, but found 100 Gymnema tea bags for $12.99 (£8.12) offered by the ‘Slim Sharp’ shop in the US, viz. webpage amazon.com/Gymnema-green-Te...

{1} Nakamura,Y et al. Journal of Nutrition 1999;129:1214-22

(16318) Kanetkar,P, Singhal,R and Kamat,M. Journal of Clinical Biochemistry and Nutrit. 2007;41(2):77-81

Taken from: greenhealthwatch.com/newsst...

[dhankumar]

DEAR ONE.

you can have good quality gudmar leaf powder in APMC market vashi with S.V. Ayurvedic Bhandar shop # L-28.

actually there are 8 to 10 ingredients in Gudmar tea.but you can take only gudmar leaf powder mixed with tea or coffie.

remember main ingredient of all diabetic treatments is exercise.. begin with light exercise for a quarter of hour.

the surya namaskar is THE BEST.. U can have One strong cup in morning and One at bed time. At bed time mix a quarter of tea spoon SENNA powder in Tea. It will taste Bitter surely but it is good for you.

[kunjukunju48]

Where can we get this in Kerala

[ahmadshaker]

Dear All,

I follow up this community but I rarely contribute. However, I do appreciate the reply of Dushyant as it reflects the professionalism of the writer. We hope to see more people of this caliber contributing to HealthUnlocked..

[sanmjay]

Gurmar is a plant. if you keep the lief of this plant in your mounth, for few second after that you will not feel the sweetness of sugar.

to prevent diabetic people take dust of Gurmar in empty stomach. check with aurvedic or hosiory shop you will get for sure.

the better way to take it mix Jamun dust in equal ratio with Gurmar.

[ushapillai in reply to sanmjay]

would the tablets be as effective the ones manufactured by Himalalya? Thanks

[sanmjay in reply to ushapillai]

I have never used this tablet. if you are taking this then keep measuring and watch the effect.

I believe and workout insted of taking medicine.

[ushapillai]

Thank you so much for your reply please tell me if you have tried it also and what was the result?

[avrs]

Does Met formin contains Gurmar?

[ranj in reply to avrs]

no.

[TPSOBEROI]

I HAVE ALSO HEARD ABOUT GURMAR TEA AND GURMAR AS SUCH BUT DO NOT KNOW ITS SOURCE. FRIENDS USING THIS TO MAINTAIN THEIR SUGAR LEVEL MAY PLEASE INFORM ON THIS PLATFORM.

[rankx001]

Do you know who is medfree. Try to understand this person.

[sajidahmed]

Hi All,

I am new to this group,

my child was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, I came to know about Gurmar plan by family friend, he is taking daily Gurmar leave and his sugar level are normal( no drugs).

my kids has started using Gurmar leave and his insulin dose got reduce( 1,1,1,4).

Gurmar leave are good,