Ginseng May Lower Blood-Sugar Levels

Ginseng May Lower Blood-Sugar Levels

ATLANTA, Ga.--The April 9 issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine reportedthat diabetic patients who took ginseng had a noticeable reduction in blood-sugar responseafter a meal. Conducted at the University of Toronto, researchers tested nine people withType II diabetes and 10 people without diabetes. Over several weeks, each patient receivedfour treatments of three grams of ginseng or a placebo, followed by 25 grams of sugarglucose-similar to a "small breakfast." Blood samples taken two hours latershowed a 20 percent reduction in blood sugar levels. Ginseng may slow the rate that foodis moved from the stomach and digested by the small intestine.

Vladimir Vuksa, head of the research team, said that this study was a good first step.The study was partially sponsored by Chai-Na-Ta Corp. For further information, visit www.archinternmed.com.