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Chinese Herbs and
Chinese Medicines for DiabetesDiabetes according to TCM
Chinese Herbal Medicines for diabetes
Research about TCM and diabetes
Diabetes According to Traditional Chinese Medicine
In the terminology of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), diabetes is called Wasting and Thirsting Disease.
Wasting and Thirsting Disease is thought to be caused by a collapse of the Yin of the Kidney, the Spleen, or the Lungs.
Research and a great body of human experience has shown that Chinese herbal medicine can be helpful for treating type 2 (adult onset) diabetes.For the best results, it is important to begin with a Chinese medical diagnosis that identifies the organs involved. This enables the practitioner to construct a formula appropriate for the individual pattern. Different herbs and formulae are required to build yin in various organs.
Chinese Herbs for Diabetes
Commonly used base formulas are the Chinese medicines Liu Wei Di Huang, and Da Bu Yin Wan. Other herbs and acupuncture are added to treat complications of diabetes such as peripheral neuropathy, cataracts, etc. The most common variations are as follows:
For diabetes patterns involving the lungs, Mai Wei Di Huang Wan is a better choice than Liu Wei Di Huang. A useful single herb is Tian Hua Fen (trichosanthis root).
For diabetic patterns involving the stomach/ spleen with resulting sensation of gnawing hunger or thirst, add the Chinese medicine Bai Hu Tang Wan (White Tiger Pills). A useful single herb is Zhi Mu (anemarrhena)
For diabetes involving the kidneys marked by frequent urination, use Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan (Golden Book Pills) instead of Liu Wei Di Huang Wan. Use the single herb Hu Lu Ba (fenugreek).
For cateracts or other eye problems due to diabetes, use Ming Mu Di Huang Wan or Cateract Vision Improving Pills.
An Asian vegetable, called bitter melon, or momordica charantia, is known to lower blood sugar levels in diabetics.
TCM RESEARCH ON DIABETES
Yu Xiao San 8805
Designed to restore pancreatic function and to proliferate insulin beta cells, Yu Xiao San has been shown to gradually and effectively lower blood-sugar levels and increase insulin secretion. In addition it has been shown to regulate carbohydrate metabolism, improve blood circulation, lower blood cholesterol and increase immune response. The main herb components are Ramulus Euonymi Alatae, Niu Bang Zi (Fructus Arctii Lappae), Wei Ling Xian (Radix Clemetidis Chinensis), Di Gu Pi (Cortex Lycii Chinensis Radicis), E Zhu (Rhizoma Curcumae Zedoariae), Jie Geng (Radix Platycodi Grandiflori), Li Zhi He (Semen Litchi Chinensis) and Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng). This patent is currently also being produced in the US and marketed as a health food. (see Appendix-Clinical Research).
Clinical ReportFrom Feb. 1992 to Oct. 1992, 10,618 cases were selected based upon the diagnostic criteria established for diabetes mellitus by the World Health Organization. The patients were drawn for clinical assessment from the China Beijing Chao Yang District Red Cross Hospital and from 48 comparable hospitals nationwide.
Treatment Criteria and Result
Clinical Recovery: The preferred criterion: FPG (Fasting Plasma Glucose) <6.1 mmol/L (110 mg/dl), HbA1c <6.8%; symptoms and complications recovery; discontinuing medication after 3 months or more.
Prominent Effect: FPG <7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dl), HbA1c <8%; symptoms improved and complications reduced.
Effective: FPG reduced 3.33 mmol/L (60 mg/dl), HbA1c <9%.
Ineffective: No evidence of symptom improvement and reduction of criteria established for diabetes mellitus.Results
After 4 months of treatment and monitoring, of patients with Type 1 diabetes, 84 (6.80%) demonstrated clinical recovery, 106 (8.58%) prominent effect, 144 (11.65%) some effect, and 902 (72.98%) no effect. Over the same period, 1794 (19.12%) patients with Type 2 diabetes demonstrated clinical recovery, 2346 (25.01%) prominent effect, 3835 (40.88%) some effect, and 1407 (15.00%) no effect. Overall totals were 1,878 (17.69%), 2,452 (23.09%), 3,979 (37.47%) and 2,309 (21.75%) respectively.
Diabetes et Metabolisme, Vray M.; Attali JR.
Randomized study of glibenclamide versus traditional Chinese treatment in type 2 diabetic patients.
According to a recent French study at the Universite Paris-Nord, hospital Jean-Verdier, France, TCM (traditional Chinese herbal medicine) offers effective treatment for patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The French researchers evaluated the efficacy of a traditional Chinese treatment based on three plants in association with a sulfonylurea, glibenclamide (2.5 mg x 3/d).A randomized double blind trial was established involving 4 groups of patients, all of whom were type 2 diabetic outpatients, 40-70 years of age, being treated by diet alone or oral anti-diabetic drugs.216 patients from five different medical centres took part in the trial.Blood tests were used to monitor changes in blood sugar levels and insulaemia.
The researchers found that those patients receiving the TCM treatment experienced significantly decreased blood glucose values only 2 hours after the test meal, although the beneficial effects were compounded when combined with glibenclamide. Hypoglycaemia occurred in 19 patients in the control groups but no instances were recorded in the TCM group.
This was the first multi centre controlled trial of TCM in relation to diabetes and the three Chinese plants tested were found to be well tolerated and effective in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Hopefully further research in this field will follow.
Vuksan V, Stevenpiper JL, Koo VYY, et al. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) reduces postprandial glycemia in nondiabetic subjects and subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Archives of Internal Medicine 2000; 160: 1009-1013.
American ginseng improves glucose tolerance in diabetics and nondiabetics.A small, randomized clinical study showed that treatment with American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) helped improve glucose tolerance in nondiabetic people as well as those with type II diabetes mellitus.
For the study, 10 nondiabetic people and 9 people with type II diabetes received treatment with 3 g ginseng or placebo capsules either 40 minutes before or in combination with an oral glucose challenge.
In nondiabetic participants, no difference was observed in glycemia between placebo and ginseng when the substances were administered along with glucose, but significant reductions were seen when ginseng was taken 40 minutes before the glucose challenge. However, compared with placebo, both ginseng dosage regimens improved glucose tolerance in the people with diabetes.
The researchers cautioned that for nondiabetics, "to prevent unintended hypoglycemia, it may be important that the American ginseng be taken with meals." They also noted that the 3 g dose of ginseng used in their study is higher than that used in most other clinical studies, which is typically 1.5 g or less
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