Tropical Plant Can Prevent Diabetes Complications
January 3, 2002
New research shows there's a natural, herbal remedy that can help prevent and
treat some of the most common complications of diabetes, a condition that
affects 16 million of us worldwide.
It's gotu kola, a tropical creeping plant that's been a mainstay of ancient
herbal medicine for centuries. (Gotu kola is also known by its Latin name,
Centella asiatica, or as Indian pennywort.)
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Gotu kola can improve your circulation to help you avoid serious problems
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In older studies, this plant has been shown to lower blood pressure, improve
varicose veins and hemorrhoids, reduce anxiety, and even improve memory. And, in
thousands of years of use, this natural therapy hasn't shown any signs of
adverse side effects. In India and Indonesia, it's often used to promote wound
healing and to slow the progress of leprosy. Gotu kola has also been used to
treat keloids, the bulging, enlarged scars that sometimes develop after surgery,
and the connective tissue disease, scleroderma.
Now new research coming out of England and Italy found that gotu kola can help
prevent and treat many of the complications of diabetes, such as swelling, poor
circulation, nerve damage, and general vascular disease. This is an urgent
finding, because millions of people suffer with diabetes-related health issues
each year – ranging from skin ulcers to amputation.
While many are able to manage their diabetes effectively through nutrition,
exercise, and medication, the disease can take its toll on the body over the
years. The problems are most often
circulatory, resulting in nerve damage, skin ulcers, and vision problems. The
American Diabetes Association estimates that 60 to 70 percent of diabetics
experience neuropathy, a disease that
damages the nerves in the arms and legs. Sometimes the circulation to the feet
is so poor that doctors are forced to amputate. In fact, the ADA website states
that more than 56,000 feet and legs are amputated each year because of diabetes.
Clearly, it's a serious problem – and one that mainstream medicine hasn't had
much success in curing.
Some previous research (and many anecdotal reports) suggested that gotu kola
might be an answer. But the few studies that had been done were small and
reportedly flawed. This time,
researchers set out to conduct a more thorough, scientific study to assess the
herb's benefits.
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Even diabetics with existing nerve disease saw improvement with gotu kola
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A total of 340 participants fell into three groups. Group A consisted of 50
diabetics with peripheral neuropathy, a complication of diabetes that impedes
the function of the nerves
in the arms and legs. Group B was composed of 250 diabetics who did not yet show
signs of neuropathy, and group C was formed of 40 healthy non-diabetics, matched
with the patient groups for age and sex. Participants in groups A and B were
randomly assigned to take either 60 mg of gotu kola twice a day, or a placebo,
while all the participants in group C took placebo. The
study continued for one year.
The participants' conditions were assessed at baseline, and periodically over
the 12-month follow-up. The researchers tracked patients' response by measuring
four factors. Resting flux (RF) measured blood flow to the feet while sitting,
and venoarteriolar response (VAR) assessed blood flow to the feet after
standing. Rate of ankle swelling (RAS) was measured with a device called a
strain-gauge plethysmograph. Swelling (edema) was also assessed by visual
observation.
After 12 months, the researchers noted impressive results. Diabetics both with
and without neuropathy saw all of their markers improve, suggesting that the
herb can help treat AND
prevent these common complications of diabetes. In the group with neuropathy,
circulation to the feet while sitting and standing improved 38 percent, and the
rate of ankle swelling improved 28 percent. Diabetics without neuropathy saw
similar gains in circulation and improvement in the rate of swelling. In
contrast, the rate of ankle swelling in diabetics using the placebo worsened.
Over the course of the study, there were no reports of adverse side effects from
taking gotu kola. Even from other sources, there are few reported side effects.
Some manufacturers say the herb may cause headache; others do not recommend
taking gotu kola if you have an overactive thyroid or if you are taking
tranquilizers or sedatives. Also most sources do not recommend
the herb for pregnant and lactating women, as the herb's effects on the fetus
and breast milk are not known. In rare cases, the topical application of gotu
kola can cause a mild allergic reaction.
Gotu kola is widely available in health food stores and from supplement
suppliers. Some sources report that it can take up to four weeks to see results
from gotu kola; remember that the results in the study were seen after one year.
But if you suffer from complications of diabetes, the relief is likely worth the
wait. And, as this study shows, a preventative dose may help you avoid serious
complications in the future. If
you have diabetes, there are many things you can do to help manage your disease.
Now adding gotu kola to your regimen is another proven step you can take to
regain control over your health.
To Your Good Health,
Jenny Thompson
Health Sciences Institute