Herbs effective in management of diabetes
THERE are different ways of administering herbal products like we found out when considering the classification of herbs. One of the ways of administration is by brewing and either boiling the herb with water to a desired temperature and letting it stand for the active ingredient flow out or pouring hot water into the herb in a cup does this. This method, also referred to as infusion, allows hot water to extract the chemical in the herb out of it. The end product of this method of administration is called tea nowadays. Like I indicated in the past, the name tea was used to refer to those herbal products that were gotten from the plant known as Camellia sinensis.
Today, every herbal product produced by brewing is known as Tea. I find this very interesting and of benefit, especially if we can make tea drinking our lifestyle. I see the human being getting uses to drinking tea 2 to 5 times a day. When this becomes the case, herbal teas and their medicinal products can be introduced to take over from drugs and their dosages. It is in the light of this that I write about herbal teas and their effect on type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Herbs that are effective in the management of diabetes 1. Cinnamon tea. There are natural phytochemicals in Cinnamon that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Together with certain liver enzymes, these chemicals in cinnamon are able to suppress the activity of those genes that support oxidative stress and inflammation. These are conditions that support the development of diabetes. Phytochemicals in cinnamon also help to improve and regulate blood sugar level and increase insulin sensitivity. Not only that, cinnamon lowers blood cholesterol level, lowers blood pressure and it ultimately improves syndrome X. It is important to note that the sweet aroma of cinnamon makes it inviting and easy to drink as tea.
2. Chamomile. Regular consumption of chamomile tea has been found effective in improving insulin resistance, lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol, overall cholesterol and triglycerides. Most importantly, chamomile has been found to exert a positive effect on glycaemic control in diabetics. In fact, consuming chamomile tea 3 times daily, after meals for a period of 8 weeks will be long enough to see the positive effects of the tea.
3. Rooibos tea. This tea is a native of South Africa where it is known as redbush tea. It is full of antioxidants and it is also caffeine-free. It is very effective when it comes to reducing inflammation and oxidative stress. Rooibos tea is similar to Green tea in its content of polyphenols and flavonoids. By its antioxidant properties, Rooibos Tea helps to prevent DNA damage by oxidative stress. It also prevents inflammation. By these actions, Rooibos Tea can be considered an effect treatment for type 2.
4. Hibiscus tea. This comes from the flower of the plant that bears the same name. It is also known as sour tea. Hibiscus tea helps to control blood sugar and insulin levels in diabetics. It also helps the body to use sugar more effectively. It also has a positive effect on insulin resistance and helps to increase HDL (good) cholesterol. Hypertension is a common complication among diabetics and hibiscus tea has been found to be effective in reducing the blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes.
5. Lemon grass tea. This is a delicious tea with a lot of antioxidant properties. With these properties, lemon grass Tea protects the cells that line the blood vessels (endothelial cells) from oxidative stress damage. These cells are prone to damage in people with diabetes. This action comes into play when trying to prevent such complications that accompany diabetes.
Other herbal teas that have been found useful in management of diabetes include peppermint tea, licorice tea, maté tea, Fenugreek, turmeric, cloves, Bilberry tea and ginger tea.