MADHU MEHAM(DM)

Introduction:

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is described in Ayurveda as madhumeha kshaudrameha, which literally means “excessive urine with sweet taste like honey,” or dhatupak janya vikriti , which means a disease caused by a defective metabolism leading to derangement in body tissue (seven dhatus ) transformation process. Historically, Ayurvedic texts have described 20 types of urinary disorders ( pramehas ) based on the predominant dosas (10 kaphaja , 6 pittaja , and 4 vataja urinary disorders) and physical characteristics of the urine (e.g., volume, color, odor, taste, sediments, solid particles, presence of seminal fluid, and mucus).

The urine is discharged in excessive quantities and is generally turbid. DM is one of these pramehas that may occur in any of the three ( vata, kapha, or pitta) body constitutions.


Medicinal plants :
Gymnema sylvestere R.Br. (Asclepiadacea):
Gymnema sylvestere (GS), a plant popularly known as gurmara (meaning sugar destroyer), is derived from a large woody climber that grows in the hills of Behar, Orissa Madhya Pradesh, and the Deccan Peninsula of India. It has been used I n Ayurveda to treat DM for 2000 years. The whole plant, seeds, leaves, and roots are taken as a powder or as a decoction in combination with other herbs. The alcohol extract of GS (known as GS4) contains gymnemic acids (a chemically complex mixture of saponins and gurmarin, a polypeptide of 35 amino acids).


Momordica charantia (Cucurbitaceae):

Momordica charantia (MC), a climbing vine, has been widely used in Ayurveda as an antidiabetic, abortificient (whole plant), antirheumatic, and carminative (fruits) agent. It is believed to cure deranged kapha and pitta. The gourd produced by the plant, known as karela in India (bitter gourd), is traditionally eaten as a fried vegetable or as a fresh juice.

Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn. (Leguminose Family):

Trigonella foenum-graecum (TF), known as methika in Hindi and Sanskrit and methi in Tamil, is an erect aromatic herb, 30 to 50 cm tall. It is widely cultivated in many parts of India. Its seeds are used in cooking as well as treating diabetes, whereas its leaves are eaten as a vegetable. The endosperm of the seed is rich in galactomannan (14 to 15%), young seeds contain carbohydrates and sugar, and mature seeds yield amino acids and fatty acids on hydrolysis. TF seeds also contain carotene, vitamins, and saponins. It is used in Ayurveda as a diuretic, tonic, carminative, astringent, and emoliant. It is also used to treat diabetes, colic, dysentery, diarrhea, coughing, dropsy, rheumatism, rickets, and anemia and to
subdue deranged vata.

Coccinia indica Wight (C. grandis, C. cordifolia Cogn):
Coccinia indica (CI), known as Bimbi or Kundura in India, is a climber with branched leaves. CI is found wild in hedges and waste places in different parts of India. Fresh juice from leaves, stem, and roots is used to treat diabetes, glycosuria, enlarged glands, and skin diseases. The leaves and stem are also used as an antispasmodic and expectorant agent in bronchitis.

Pterocarpus marsupium (Papilionoidae):
Pterocarpus marsupium (PM), also known as pitsara, bijasal, pitasal, or red sandalwood in India, is a moderate to large deciduous tree up to 30 m in height. Cold, aqueous extract of the wood is used to treat diabetes. The paste of the leaves is used to treat abscesses and skin diseases, and the extract of the bark is used as an astringent for gum and is also useful in diarrhea.

Ficus bengalonsis L. (Moraceae):
Ficus bengalonsis (FB), also known as Vata, bor, bot, or Banyan tree, is a large evergreen tree that sends down aerial roots for lateral growth. It is effective in deranged kapha and pitta. Infusion of the bark is used to treat diabetes. The white milky juice of the plant is helpful when applied on sores, ulcers, and cracked soles of the feet; it is also helpful for inflammation and rheumatism. FB leaves contain quercetin-3-galactoside, rutin, and beta-sitosterol, and its bark contains leucoanthocyanin and two flavonoids.

Ayush-82:
Ayush-82 is a mixture of four herbs: the seeds of Mangifera indica,

Syzygium cuminii,

Momordica charantia,

leaves of Gymnema sylvestre.
One hundred type 2 DM patients (ages 40 to 70; 52% male) were given 5 g of Ayush-82 3 times a day for 6 weeks in conjunction with Shuddha Shilajit. Shuddha shilajit is a mineral preparation of black bitumen purified by triphala water. (Triphala is a mixture of Terminalia chebula, terminalia bellerica, and Emblica officinalis.) Shilajit was given 500 mg twice a day for 2 weeks.

Oral hypoglycemic drugs were withdrawn after 2 weeks of treatment with Ayush-82. All patients were advised to consume a a daily 1200-calorie diet.

Although the average blood sugar, FBS, and PPBS levels reduced significantly (p <>

M-93:
M-93 is a mixture of four herbs: Aegle marmelos (bilva),

Azadirachta indica,

Ocimum sanctum (tulsai),

and Piper longum (kalimircha).

Thirty type 2 DM patients (ages 41to 60) were treated with M-93, 1 g daily for 3 months.112 Patients with FBS >300 mg/day, chronic renal failure, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic ketoacidosis were excluded from the study. The authors stated that M-93 showed a positive response after 30 days of therapy and no adverse effect was observed. The results need to be confirmed.