Use Berberine To Fight Type 2 Diabetes

Filed in archive Treatment on July 26, 2006

Yet another natural 'treatment' for diabetes is gaining attention: berberine. The plant has long been used in natural medicine, particularly in China, to treat illnesses and injuries. Now, it looks like Type 2 diabetics may also be able to benefit. The plant apparently lowers blood sugar.

Research by Chinese, Korean and Australian scientists at Sydney's Garvan Institute has finally provided the proof that berberine works in the treatment of the disease.

"This is very exciting because clearly it's a growing problem and now we're looking at a new weapon in our armoury in the fight against it," said Professor David James, head of the Garvan's diabetes and obesity research program.

Type two diabetics have too much glucose in their blood and insulin, the hormone that normally regulates blood sugar, can't do its job properly.

The researchers discovered that berberine makes insulin work better so that it can now effectively reduce blood sugar levels.

In their study, published in the journal Diabetes, the researchers found that rats and mice given berberine over three weeks had a 50 per cent drop in blood sugar.

We're not rats and mice, obviously, but perhaps berberine will prove to be another option. What is your favorite natural remedy?