Gymnema
Gymnema sylvestre · मधुनाशिनी
Herbs & Roots. Ayurveda and Modern nutrition.
Also called Gurmar, Sugar destroyer, Madhunashini, Gurmarbooti
Sanskrit: मधुनाशिनी (Madhunashini)
Can cause low blood sugarA climbing plant from India whose leaves are used in Ayurveda to lower sugar cravings and blood sugar.
Did you know? Chewing the leaves can briefly dull the sweet taste, which is why the plant is called the sugar destroyer.
What it may help, and how strong the proof is
- Blood sugar. Small trials in type 2 diabetes suggest gymnema extract lowers blood sugar. Trials are small and short, and results vary.Early proof
- Weight. Traditional use for weight control. Human evidence is weak.Traditional proof
Parts of the body
Traditional use
Ayurveda uses gurmar for high blood sugar (madhumeha), and also for weight and digestion.
How it is classified
- Herbal actions
- Hypoglycemic, Antioxidant. Energy: neutral.
- Ayurveda
- Calms Kapha. Taste (rasa): bitter, astringent. Energy (virya): cooling. After digestion (vipaka): pungent. Madhumehahara (anti-diabetic).
How people take it
Trials used standardized extracts, around 400 mg a day in divided doses. Leaf tea and powders are used in tradition.
Tea, capsule, tablet and powder.
Where to get it
Grows wild in India, Sri Lanka, Africa and other tropical areas. Leaves are dried for tea and powder. Buy extracts or capsules, and check for standardization to gymnemic acids.
Be careful
It can push blood sugar too low when used with diabetes medicines or insulin, causing shakiness and sweating. Stomach upset is common. Not for use in pregnancy, since safety is unknown.
Avoid if: pregnancy; breastfeeding; children under 12; diabetes medicines; before surgery.
Mixing with other things
- Works well together
Both are traditional blood sugar herbs in Ayurveda and folk use. Neither has strong human proof.
- Works well together
Both are used for blood sugar in Ayurveda and are often combined.
- Works well together
Gymnema is also sold for blood sugar, and its proof comes from small trials.
- Use cautionDiabetes medicine (metformin, insulin, glipizide, Ozempic)
Can add to diabetes medicines and cause low blood sugar. Check blood sugar closely if combined.
Adds up with others that may lower blood sugar: , , , , , , , , , , , , , and 39 more.
The honest take
Gymnema has some small human trials on blood sugar, so the effect is real but modest. The trials are small and short, and results vary. It is not a replacement for diabetes medicine or medical care.