Traditional Chinese Herbs and Chinese Medicines for Diabetes

Diabetes according to TCM

Chinese Herbal Medicines for diabetes
Research on 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
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.

For patterns involving the lungs, Mai Wei Di Huang Wan is a better choice than Liu Wei Di Huang. Use the single herb Tian Hua Fen (trichosanthis)

For patterns involving the stomach/ spleen with resulting sensation of gnawing hunger or thirst, add Bai Hu Tang Wan (White Tiger Pills). Use the single herb Zhi Mu (anemarrhena)

For patterns 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.

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TCM RESEARCH ON DIABETES

TCM and Diabetes

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.

Vray M.; Attali JR.. Randomized study of glibenclamide versus traditional Chinese treatment in type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetes et Metabolisme

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. 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.

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