Ayurvedic Home Remedies To Control Your Blood Sugar Levels

Diabetes is increasingly becoming a cause of concern for many. In fact, according to the speculations of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the rising concern regarding diabetes will grow to 100 times more by 2030. If not controlled at the right time, diabetes can be life-threatening. However, the good news is, diabetes can be controlled, especially by following the  Ayurvedic procedure and lifestyle. There are several ways mentioned in the ancient scriptures that suggest Ayurvedic home remedies to control your blood sugar levels.

Before moving forward, let us understand what exactly is diabetes and how Ayurveda defines diabetes. Diabetes as explained in medical science is a disease, is caused by an abnormal amount of glucose in the blood, also called high blood sugar or hyperglycemia. When blood sugar levels rise, the pancreas releases insulin into the blood. It is described as a metabolic condition in which an individual has high levels of glucose in the blood, either due to insufficient production of insulin or due to the fact that the cells of the body do not respond adequately to the generated insulin or both.

Diabetes As Described In Ayurveda

In Ayurvedic terms, diabetes is referred to as “Prameha”. In English, the word “Prameha” means “Obstinate Urinary Disease”. This disease in Ayurveda includes dysfunction of the urinary system like excessive urination, diabetes, etc. As mentioned in the Ayurvedic scriptures, “Prameha”  is classified into 20 different forms based on the doshas. 4 types of diabetes are related to the Vata Doshas, six are related to the Pitta Doshas and ten are related to the Kapha Doshas. 

Prameha is the type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is known as “Madhumeha”. DIabetes can generally be classified into 2 types:

• Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 (Prameha):

The Prameha type of diabetes is considered to be an autoimmune condition, in which the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed by the immune system. This raises the blood sugar level and often results in frequent urination, intense thirst, and rapid weight loss.

• Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (Madhumeh): This is often the second stage of Prameha and generally happens in older age and with weight gain. In this type of diabetes, the body produces insulin, however, its sensitivity is reduced to a minimum. Madhumeh often results in blurred vision, slow healing of heals and wounds, fatigue, etc. 

According to the Ayurveda, some of the major causes that result in the imbalance of the doshas and lead to prameha or madhumeha are:

1. Immobility or lack of active hours
2. Consumption of too much yoghurt
3. Meat and marine animal soups
4. Excessive sweet food
5. Imbalance related to Kapha.

Unhealthy sleep routines, anxiety, depression and an unbalanced diet also lead to diabetes. Prameha can also be hereditary if you have a past history of family members suffering from diabetes.

However, Ayurveda defines two main reasons because of which diabetes can develop.

1. Dhatu Kshaya – meaning loss of tissues (dhatus) in the body.
2. Avarana – blockage of channels in the body.

Avarana often results due to increased kapha dosha and Dhatu Kshaya is considered as the beginning stage of diabetes, where the tissues produced by the body are exhausted. According to Ayurvedic studies, the extract of all tissues is known as “Ojas”. It is also considered as the essence of life. Ojas provides the bala (power) for the proper functioning and maintaining a balance of the body, mind and soul. Ojas also helps in the analysis of emotional, sensory, physical and other functions of the body.

However, during diabetes, the ojas is lost due to excessive urinary excretion and therefore, diabetes is also referred to as “Ojasmeha” in Ayurveda. As mentioned in the Ayurvedic scriptures, there are mainly three major Rupas (symptoms) of diabetes.

1. Due to excessive urination
2. A feeling of sweetness sensation in the body
3. Urinary sweetness.

Some other common signs of diabetes include regular or frequent headaches, excessive thirst, burning sensation, indigestion, inflammatory lesions, oversleeping, sluggishness, necrosis, muscle wasting, frequent diarrhoea, carbuncles, etc. While diabetes is a result of one of the dhatu being dominant in the body, it affects all the dhatus including:

1. Blood (Rakht)
2. Plasma (Rasa)
3. Fat (Medhas)
4. Bones (Asthi)
5. Muscles (Mamsa)
6. Nervous Tissue (Majja)
7. Arteries (Sira)
8. Fat (Medhas)
9. Skin (Tvak)
10. Reproductive Tissues (Shukra)
11. Nerves (Snayu)

How To Manage Diabetes With Ayurvedic Treatment

Ayurveda mainly focuses on treating the symptoms as well as eliminating the problem from the root. It believes in maintaining a balance between the Tridoshas and working towards keeping the body, mind and soul healthy for overall health. Similarly, Ayurvedic procedures and treatments not only helps in treating diabetes but also ensure it does not reoccur.

For Prameha Chikitsa (Diabetic Treatment) the main concern is controlling Kleda and stimulating the agni (Digestive Fire).

• 1. Prameha Chikitsa:

Treating type 1 diabetes needs insulin, which makes the person weak and prone to infections. However, this can be controlled with the combination of both insulin and Ayurvedic treatment. The most commonly used Ayurvedic herbs for treating prameha are Bhumuamalaki and Guduchi. Along with these herbs, following a planned diet that includes bitter and astringent food, helps. In the case of Dhatu Kshaya, only a small amount of nourishing food is recommended. While in the case of autoimmune factor, before recommending any treatment, Ama must be treated first.

• 2. Madhumeha Chikitsa:

The Ayurvedic treatment for type 2 diabetes depends on the diagnosis of the situation and level of diabetes. Depending on the analysis, dietary restrictions are recommended, along with nutritional intake, yoga/walk/exercise and Ayurvedic detoxification like panchkarma. Depending on how fit the person is either all five panchkarma acts can be performed or only Basti (enema treatment) is recommended.

Other Ayurvedic practices that should be considered to eliminate type 1 and type 2 diabetes from the root are:

• 3. Food:

You should include bitter and astringent foods in your daily diet. These foods help in keeping the sugar level low in the blood. Also, diagnose the dominant dosha and prepare your diet plan according to that. Generally, in people suffering from diabetes, the kapha dosha is dominant.

• 4. Herbs:

Just like bitter food, bitter flavoured herbs are also beneficial in treating diabetes.

• 5. Yoga/Exercise:

According to both Ayurvedic and scientific beliefs, regularly doing yoga or exercise also helps in controlling and reducing diabetes. Yoga dominantly helps in calming the kapha dosha. Mayurasan is one of the most recommended yoga poses to help get rid of diabetes. Some other postures also that help are: Surya Namaskar, Bhujangasan, Shalabhasana, Trikonasana and Pavana Muktasana.

According to the experts, Ayurvedic herbs, medicines, planned diet and regular yoga practices, strengthens the pancreas and rejuvenate to secrete sufficient amounts of insulin from the human body. While no doctor claims a complete cure for diabetes, especially type I diabetes, some Ayurvedic practitioners believe that lifestyle changes, daily yoga and prescribed Ayurvedic medications can, to some extent, reverse the condition if diagnosed early.

If you are looking for result-oriented and 100% natural and organic Ayurvedic medicine, you should consider trying the Ayurvedic medicine of Shivya – Shivya AyurvedicShivaram – Anti-Diabetic Tablets. These tablets help keep type 2 diabetes in check. Ingredients like giloy, neem, karela and more assist in insulin production and sugar reduction within the body, naturally.