Herbal Med Shows Promise in Diabetes Treatment

EurekAlert reports:

Reports of a traditional Chinese medicine having beneficial effects for people suffering from type 2 diabetes now has some scientific evidence to back up the claims. A collaboration between Chinese, Korean, and Australian scientists at Sydney's Garvan Institute, has revealed that the natural plant product berberine could be a valuable new treatment.

Berberine is found in the roots and bark of a number of plants used for medicinal purposes including wound healing and treatment of diarrhoea. It has also been documented in Chinese literature as having a glucose lowering effect when administered to people with diabetes; yet, until now, its mode of action was unknown.

Garvan scientist Dr Jiming Ye says: "Our studies in animal models of diabetes show that berberine acts in part by activating an enzyme in the muscle and liver that is involved in improving sensitivity of the tissue to insulin – this in turn helps lower blood sugar levels. In addition, it seems berberine can help reduce body weight".

Comments

[ken]

I've mentioned my wife does acupuncture and herbs for a living, and it's amazing (to me) what she sees people improve from with treatments (from her and her associates).

[Ana]

Chinese Medicine is so much older and in many ways superior to Western Medicine. In the West we're pretty good at trauma management. In the East they focus on wellness. Two totally different things, IMO.