A new study performed by a team of researchers from the University of Nottingham has revealed that a number of traditional South-Asian medicines can successfully be used to treat type 2 diabetes.
The study, which was published in the Frontiers in Pharmacology journal, is among the first major ones to be performed on the traditional medicine of any kind.
Ayurvedic medicine is one of the oldest medical systems in the world and is still widely practiced in various areas. The Ayurvedic medical system is mostly based on plants, but it can also include animal ingredients, metals and minerals. Some of the areas in which this type of medicine is still used are India, Nepal, but also China, Iran and Mexico.
According to SciTechDaily,
The Ayurvedic medical system features a multi-pronged and individualized approach to managing health conditions that can include lifestyle modification (including diet), Ayurvedic detoxifying and purifying therapies (e.g. Panchakarma), and Ayurvedic medicines (containing plant, animal, or mineral-origin ingredients – single or in combination).”
The research conducted by the experts from Evidence-Based Healthcare in the School of Medicine and the Nottingham Center for Evidence-Based Healthcare revealed that, in the case of people suffering from type 2 diabetes, certain Ayurvedic medicines successfully managed to keep blood sugar levels under control. Furthermore, the use of such medicines was also found to lead to other health benefits, such as weight loss, improved blood pressure and cholesterol, and improved diabetes-related parameters, in general.
SciTechDaily explains that most people who prefer Ayurvedic treatments are usually from rural communities, with limited financial possibilities and certain beliefs regarding Western treatment methods. Dr. Kaushik Chattopadhyay, the leading author of the study, stated that
This is the first time a thorough review has taken place looking at all these medicines on a much larger scale. The current evidence suggests the benefits of a range of Ayurvedic medicines in improving glycemic control in type 2 diabetes patients. Given the limitations of the available evidence and to strengthen the evidence base, high-quality randomized controlled trials should be conducted and reported.
