Herbal Home Remedies For Diabetes Mellitus - A Review

Diabetes mellitus is a lifestyle disease characterised by increase in glucose level in the blood and intra cellular metabolic changes. Therefore, it is called as a metabolic disorder. In Diabetes Mellitus there is insulin deficiency or insulin resistance by the receptors of insulin on cell membranes. But more than that, there are many cellular and micro-vascular changes or damages occur due to Diabetes Mellitus. The treatment of Diabetes Mellitus includes the use of oral hypoglycaemic agents like sulfonylureas, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, alpha glucosidase inhibitors and insulin. Long-term use of these medicines creates unwanted side effects e. g. beta cell damage etc. resulting in uncontrolled increase in blood sugar level as well as multi system complications. To avoid such problems herbal medicines have greater advantages as compared to allopathic medicines. Instead of using these types of allopathic formulations, it is beneficial to use Ayurvedic formulations for better management of diabetes mellitus. The cost of allopathic medicines and formulations available in market is very big in amount. And especially when the medicines are to be taken for lifetime, poor people, middle class people cant pay the money required to continue the medicines for lifetime. Therefore, Ayurvedic herbal plants and spices which are easily available in every home and which are anti-diabetic in action should be used for the treatment. It will give better cure to Diabetes and also prevent the upcoming complications. In this review, herbal plants which are easily available in Indian houses and were showing hypoglycemic activity and beneficial activities in Diabetes are discussed. They can be used as home remedies for the effective treatment for diabetes mellitus.