This plant is also called miracle fruit thanks to the various benefits they report. For the most common, Gymnema Sylvestris is used to address diabetic problems, as its virtues are mostly directed without limiting sugar cravings. However, the shrub still has many efficiencies for the well-being of the body.

Gymnema Sylvestris: for blood sugar regulation

It was already for millennia that Ayurvedic medicine uses the Gymnema Sylvestris. The virtue against sugar was known, 2,500 years ago by traditional Indian medicine. It was used for heal the diabetes, formerly referred to as honey urea. In additionto decreasing sugar cravings, it can also decrease blood sugar levels. This plant is found in many places on earth. There are also a large number of varieties.  

Focus on Gymnema Sylvestris

Gymnema Sylvestris is a shrub in the Apocynaceae family. We note its presence in three continents. In Africa, they are found in the West, South and South East regions. In Asia, they are found particularly in the Near East, in the southern part - from India to Malaysia - and in the Far East. They can also be found in Oceania, in Australia. This ubiquity had facilitated the popularization of healing techniques from this plant.  

Note on the shrub

Gymnema Sylvestris is a bush that can grow two to three meters tall. The shrub crawls and appears as a vine.

It has oval leaves with opposite arrangement. These are of round form, even a little oval, of 2,5 centimeters of scale.

The plant has yellowish, fragrant flowers, about ten in number at the tip of the inflorescence zone. Gymnema Sylvestris also has fruits in a 10 cm spanning multi-seeded follicle.

The stem is gray. It has a bark with short hairs that become smooth as it grows.

There are currently five major varieties of Gymnema Sylvestris in the world. We quote the different varieties of which the ceylanica Hook, the chinense Benth, the decaisneana Thwaites, the decaiseanum Thwaites and the Sylvestre.

How to use Gymnema Sylvestris?

In traditional use, one chews the leaves, flowers, fruits and roots of Gymnema Sylvestris. The taste is then mixed with saliva. Some habits involve spitting out the debris, others allow you to swallow it.

There are also uses by the preparation in marmalade or in cooking. You cook part of the shrub, such as the leaf or stem, and add a few ingredients. The potion is used as herbal tea, infused, inhaled and applied to a part of the body.

Gymnema is usually consumed as a dietary supplement. The leaves can be an ingredient for soup. In Africa, fruits are cooked like vegetables. The taste is not far from that of the potato.

Currently, commercial processes exist. We find processes based on powder or essential oil. They can be purchased on the Internet or from some natural remedy distributors.

The different virtues of Gymnema Sylvestris

It is not by pure chance that the Indians nicknamed this miracle fruit plant. Indeed, these benefits are multiple and throughout history, it was used to cure certain diseases. Gymnema Sylvestris is currently used in scientific research for medical and pharmaceutical outcomes. Several products are currently present on the market of medicines and natural remedies.

Natural components and their effects

The main components of Gymnema Sylvestris are biologically active elements including specific acids. These substances have the effect of modifying the taste and suppressing the desire for sugar. The shrub also has an amino acid content.

In main effect, the Gymnema Syslvestris, through all its forms allows to reduce sugar craving in an individual. This leads to the decrease in blood glucose levels. This makes it an effective solution to accompany anti-diabetes care. Therefore, this could combat obesity and act to lose weight. The plant does have some effect in preventing infections from spreading.

Besides that, in Africa, they use Gymnema Sylvestris to treat epilepsy, prevent against cancer and gout. In African forests, they chew and then apply the leaves to the skin after an insect bite or snake bite.

The preparations in the kitchen are used to treat gastronomic problems, hemorrhoids and fevers.

Gymnema Sylvestris: are there any precautions to take?

As it is a dietary supplement used in the care, being said diabetes, medical assistance is firmly recommended. This would allow us to gauge the doses to be undertaken.

However, care must be taken in the case of the pregnant woman. The use of Gymnema Sylvestris could have adverse effects.

Otherwise, in the most common cases, the consumption or use of Gymnema Sylvestris does not have enough adverse effects. So far, research has undertaken no contraindications to this shrub.

However, research has not yet fully concluded the full virtues and effects of Gymnema Sylvestris. For this purpose, it is advisable to be careful about the use, because we do not know yet its misdeeds.

Sources:

https://www.passeportsante.net/fr/Solutions/PlantesSupplements/Fiche.aspx?doc=gymnema_ps
https://www.naturalforme.fr/lemag/gymnema-sylvestris/
https://www.arkopharma.com/fr-FR/reguler-sa-glycemie-grace-au-gymnema-sylvestre