Can Ayurveda Treat Diabetes?

Why Ayurveda helps Lower Blood Sugar

Ayurvedic medicine helps treat diabetes because it can balance the doshas responsible for its development and lower glucose level in the blood.

Accordingly, it can improve insulin resistance and glucose metabolism in the body. 

How Ayurvedic Medicine works for Diabetes

Ayurveda works to reduce blood sugar and improve glucose metabolism by introducing a new healthy diet and bringing lifestyle changes.

It also includes different herbs and supplements that can improve insulin resistance and lower glucose level.

Ayurveda for Diabetes: Treatment Protocol

Ayurvedic medicine recognizes that type I diabetes is incurable. Nevertheless, it includes treatments that help manage the disease.

On the other hand, Ayurvedic medicine believes that type II diabetes can be treated, managed, and even reversed if people change their unhealthy lifestyle habits as they are the major cause of type II diabetes.

Ayurvedic treatment for diabetes is specifically tailored to each individual’s case. However, Ayurvedic treatment for diabetes generally involves the following aspects:

A. Purvakarma treatments:

Purvakarma is Sanskrit for “foremost action.” It comprises herbal and oil treatments that loosen the accumulated toxins in the body. Ayurvedic medicine believes these toxins cause diabetes.

Accordingly, purvakarma practices direct the toxins to specific waste and elimination centers in the body. They help prepare people for Panchakarma (detoxification therapies).

Purvakarma consists of three treatments:

1- Pachana (digestion therapy): a practice where herbal treatments are administered to the patient. These herbal formulations help the body digest and eliminate toxins that cause diabetes.

2- Snehana (oleation therapy): is a practice where oils, ghee (purified butter), or oils mixed with herbs are consumed internally or applied externally to loosen toxins in the body that cause diabetes. Snehana helps lead the toxins to a particular center in the body where they can later be expelled via panchakarma therapies.

3- Swedana (sudation therapy): is a practice that involves a thermal treatment to help release toxins  that accumulate in the blood through the skin. By eliminating toxins in the blood, swedana decreases blood sugar levels.

It typically occurs after oleation therapy as the oils help the body absorb the steam. It can target the whole body (bashpa swedana) or a specific part of the body (nadi swedana).

During swedana, the patient sits in a wooden box or room filled with herbal steam to help the patient eliminate the toxins in his or her body by sweating. Ayurvedic practitioners recommend having a warm shower after swedana therapy.

B- Panchakarma treatments:

Panchakarma, which is Sanskrit for “five treatments” is a five-step detox program in Ayurveda. These treatments help detoxify the body and restore balance to the vata, pitta, and kapha doshas.

The five treatments are:

1. Vamana (medicated emesis) 
2. Virechana (medicated purgation)
3. Vasti (medicated enema) 
4. Nasya (nasal medication) 
5. Raktamokshan (bloodletting)

An Ayurvedic practitioner would manage diabetes using the following Panchakarma treatments:

1- Vamana (medicated emesis): a practice where patients undergo forced vomiting to eliminate toxins and remove the body’s excess kapha dosha. It is usually done in the spring. Vamana helps regulate the body’s blood sugar levels.

2- Virechana (medicated emesis): a practice where patients are given herbal treatments to induce diarrhea. This helps clear out toxins in the gut and restore balance to the pitta dosha. It also stimulates the liver and can decrease insulin resistance. It also stimulates insulin production.

3- Basti/Vasti (medicated enema): vasti is a practice where patients are given oils or liquids that help cleanse their colon. Basti is a practice where patients are given oils infused with herbs to eliminate toxins in their colon. They help stimulate the liver and the pancreas to decrease insulin resistance and increase insulin production.

C- Rasayana (Rejuvenation treatments):

In Ayurveda, rasayana, which is Sanskrit for “path of essence,” consists of practices that help rejuvenate and nourish the mind and body. Rasayana practices include consuming herbal treatments or decoctions and maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. They also incorporate exercise, yoga, and a regular self-care routine (dinacharya) to maintain balance in all aspects of life.

The rasyana practices that help treat diabetes are explained in more detail below:

1- Dietary Modifications:

The Ayurvedic diet aims to balance all three life energies or doshas in the mind and body. Patients should maintain a diet that restores balance to the unbalanced doshas to treat or prevent diabetes.

An Ayurvedic diet also prescribes eating specific foods as part of Purvakarma (preparatory treatments) before Panchakarma (detoxification therapies) to help loosen the accumulated toxins in the blood and gut that increase blood sugar levels. The diet also helps nourish the body.

Patients should maintain the Ayurvedic diet even after they complete Purvakarma and Panchakarma therapies.

2- Herbal treatments:

Ayurveda prescribes herbs or herbal treatments to treat diabetes. The treatments are specifically tailored to the person’s symptoms. Practitioners prescribe different herbs depending on the person’s symptoms.

Some of these herbs include:

- Gurmar (Gymnema): is an herb commonly known as the “sugar crusher/destroyer.” It helps the body regenerate the pancreas’ beta cells, which produce insulin. Gymnema also lowers blood sugar and increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin, so it can use insulin more effectively.

It also makes sweet foods taste bitter. This causes people to consume less sugary foods which helps regulate blood sugar and promotes weight loss.

- Haldi (Turmeric): it helps lower the body’s blood sugar and regulates it.

- Nimb (Neem): it helps lower the body’s blood sugar and regulates it.

- Amla (Indian gooseberry): it contains chromium, a mineral that helps regulate blood sugar.

- Tvak (Cinnamon): it helps lower blood sugar, especially after a high carbohydrate meal. It also helps the body’s cells take up insulin more easily.

- Methi (Fenugreek): Fenugreek seeds help lower the body’s blood sugar levels. The seeds also decrease the body’s insulin resistance.

- Triphala: Triphala is an herbal treatment consisting of three different fruits, amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki. They help lower blood sugar and decrease insulin resistance. They also promote weight loss which can help treat type II diabetes.

- Jira (Cumin): it helps lower the body’s blood sugar and regulates it.

3- Dinacharya (Routine):

Dinacharya or establishing a routine is one aspect of Rasayana that helps treat diabetes and restores balance to both the body and the mind.

It includes:

1- Adjusting dietary habits: Patients should eat foods at regular times. They should also eat foods that are healthy and have a low glycemic index. This helps restore balance to the imbalanced dosha and keeps their blood sugar levels under control.

2- Regulating sleeping habits: Patients need to adjust their sleeping habits and begin sleeping at regular times every night to help the body regulate its insulin production.

3- Exercising regularly: Patients should engage in physical activity every day to stabilize all the doshas. Exercise helps the body maintain its blood sugar levels. It also promotes weight loss, which delays the development of type II diabetes.

4- Practicing yoga: Patients should practice at least 10 minutes of yoga every day to relieve stress and stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin.

5- Practicing breathing techniques: Patients should practice breathing techniques or pranayama every day. Pranayama helps decrease stress levels, which helps regulate blood sugar levels in the body. Some breathing techniques also stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin.

Ayurvedic Medicine for Diabetes: recommendations

- Maintain a healthy diet: Maintain a diet that contains low-glycemic index foods and is rich in fiber. People who have diabetes should eat grains such as barley, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, and protein. They can eat bitter-tasting fruits like bitter gourds or gooseberries to manage diabetes.

- Exercise regularly: Engage in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day to help the body regulate its blood sugar levels. 

- Sleep well: Maintain a regular sleep schedule and get at least 7 hours of sleep. Sleep helps the body regulate blood sugar levels. It also helps control insulin production and decrease insulin resistance.

- Practice yoga: Practice yoga, including pranayama or breathing techniques, for 10 minutes every day. Yoga postures that help the pancreas produce more insulin benefit people with diabetes.

- Practice activities that increase mindfulness: Practice meditation or pranayama (breathing techniques) for at least 20 minutes every day. Meditation and pranayama help relieve stress, which helps regulate blood sugar levels in the body.

Foods to eat:

According to Ayurveda, people with diabetes should consume low glycemic index or low sugar foods.

These foods include:

• Fruits like figs, pomegranates, citrus fruits, gooseberries, and bitter gourds

• Vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, spinach, carrots, radishes, beets, garlic, onions, cucumbers, lettuce, and tomatoes

• Whole-grain foods like barley

• Split lentils and legumes like red lentils, chickpeas, and beans

• Low-fat dairy products like skimmed milk or low-fat yogurt

Herbs to use:

The following herbs are beneficial for diabetes because they help regulate blood sugar and improve insulin production.

- Gurmar (Gymnema Sylvestre): is an herb commonly known as the “sugar crusher/destroyer.” It helps the body regenerate the pancreas’ beta cells, which produce insulin. Gymnema lowers blood sugar and increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin, so it can use insulin more effectively. It also makes sweet foods taste bitter. This causes people to consume less sugary foods which helps regulate blood sugar and promotes weight loss.

- Haldi (Turmeric): it helps lower the body’s blood sugar and regulates it.

- Nimb (Neem): it helps lower the body’s blood sugar and regulates it.

- Amla (Indian gooseberry): it contains chromium, a mineral that helps regulate blood sugar.

- Tvak (Cinnamon): it helps lower blood sugar, especially after a high carbohydrate meal. It also helps the body’s cells take up insulin more easily.

- Methi (Fenugreek): Fenugreek seeds help lower the body’s blood sugar levels. The seeds also decrease the body’s insulin resistance.

- Triphala: Triphala is an herbal treatment consisting of three different fruits, amalaki, bibhitaki, and haritaki. They help lower blood sugar and decrease insulin resistance. They also promote weight loss which can help treat type II diabetes.

- Jira (Cumin): it helps lower the body’s blood sugar and regulates it.

Ayurvedic Medicine for Diabetes: things to avoid

- Don’t skip meals: skipping meals, especially breakfast, makes it harder for your body to regulate its insulin levels.

- Avoid drinking coffee and tea: these drinks aggravate the vata dosha and may cause a vata imbalance. This may cause people to overeat and gain weight, which may increase the risks of developing diabetes.

- Avoid or limit alcohol consumption: Drinking alcohol causes the body’s blood sugar levels to fluctuate. Alcoholic drinks cause the body’s blood sugar levels to drop because the liver is busy trying to flush out the alcohol, it doesn’t have time to break down glucose.

After the body digests the alcohol, blood sugar levels rise dramatically, which could be dangerous for people with diabetes. Some alcoholic beverages also contain a lot of sugar, which can cause blood sugar levels to spike.

Avoid soft drinks: these drinks contain high amounts of sugar and can increase blood sugar levels.

Stop smoking: Smoking causes diabetes to worsen because it increases the body’s insulin resistance. It also increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and other illnesses that prevent the body from healing.

Foods to avoid:

According to Ayurveda, people with diabetes should avoid high glycemic index or high sugar foods. They should also avoid foods that contain high amounts of salt.

These foods include:

• Rice

• Potatoes

• Grains like wheat

• Fruits like bananas, mangoes, pears, and grapes

• Red meat

• Seafood

• High-fat dairy products like curds or yogurt

• Processed foods

• Refined grains

• Sugary foods and sweets

Ayurveda for Diabetes: precautions

Ayurveda uses natural and herbal remedies to treat diseases. However, if you want to use Ayurvedic medicines, herbs, supplements to treat a particular condition, you should consider the following precautions:

- Consult your Ayurvedic practitioner before taking Ayurvedic products on your own. Let them know if you have diabetes or are taking medication that may affect your treatment plan. They should adjust it to avoid any harmful interactions with the medication you are taking.

- Some Ayurvedic products and practices are banned in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not approve or review Ayurvedic products. Some herbal compounds or preparations may contain lead, mercury, or arsenic in toxic amounts.

They can cause serious illnesses in children and may be life-threatening for pregnant or lactating women and their babies. Other compounds from untrustworthy manufacturers may contain steroids, which may cause further health issues.

- Panchakarma treatments aren’t suitable for all patients who have diabetes. Eligibility for panchakarma is determined by an Ayurvedic practitioner.

People with diabetes who are classified as having “weak” or lean and thin bodies aren’t eligible for panchakarma treatments. People who are anemic and pregnant women also aren’t allowed to undergo panchakarma treatments.

If you are taking diabetes medication, make sure to discuss your treatment plan with an Ayurvedic physician thoroughly. When taken with diabetes medications, some Ayurvedic herbs such as cumin may cause the body’s blood sugar levels to become too low.

WARNING:

- Make sure to disclose to your primary care physician that you are seeing an Ayurvedic practitioner and are taking Ayurvedic formulations. This ensures you stay safe and avoid medication interactions that might cause serious side effects.

- If you are taking medication for diabetes, don’t stop taking them if you begin Ayurvedic treatment unless your doctor approves it.

- Some Ayurvedic practitioners may not be qualified to treat you. Make sure that your Ayurvedic practitioner is well-trained, certified, and has the relevant experience to meet your needs.

- Be careful when buying Ayurvedic herbs or formulas. Don’t buy Ayurvedic products unless they have a GMP (Good Manufacturing Product) stamp on them if you are buying them from India. Be extra careful when purchasing herbs online because online stores may be selling counterfeit products.

Ayurveda for Diabetes: side effects

Since Ayurvedic treatments are derived from natural herbs and plants, most treatments do not cause adverse events. However, if you take some Ayurvedic preparations or herbs, you may experience the following side effects.

- Heavy metal poisoning: some Ayurvedic products contain toxic amounts of heavy metals like lead, arsenic, or mercury. They might cause heavy metal poisoning.

- Some Ayurvedic herbal formulations might cause headaches, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, rashes, or allergic reactions.