The Herbal Library

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Browse every herb in the database by name, category, or the body system it's traditionally associated with.

All categories Aromatic Culinary Medicinal

Filtered by body system:MetabolicClear

Blood sugar problems such as diabetes need diagnosis and care from a health professional. Some of these herbs may add to the effects of diabetes medicines, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before using them.

Results

42 herbs

No. 001Medicinal

Akuamma

Picralima nitida

A West African tree whose seeds are a traditional remedy for pain, fever and malaria. Its compounds act weakly on opioid receptors, and it's sold online for pain and mood.

High Blood Sugar

No. 002Medicinal

Aloe

Aloe vera

A succulent whose leaf gel is used on burns and skin conditions. Gel on the skin may speed burn healing; aloe taken by mouth carries real risks.

High Blood Sugar

No. 003Medicinal

Alstonia Boonei

Alstonia boonei

God's tree, a sacred West African tree whose bark is used for malaria and fever. Lab studies support its use against malaria.

High Blood Sugar

No. 004Medicinal

Amla

Phyllanthus emblica

Indian gooseberry, a fruit rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, used in Ayurveda and as one of the three fruits in Triphala. Trials suggest it may lower cholesterol, blood sugar and a marker of inflammation.

High Blood Sugar

No. 005Medicinal

Arjuna

Terminalia arjuna

The bark of a large Indian tree, used in Ayurveda for centuries as a heart tonic. Trials for chest pain (angina) were too poor in quality to show whether it helps.

High Blood Sugar

No. 006Culinary

Bilberry

Vaccinium myrtillus

Dried bilberries are a traditional EU herbal medicine for mild diarrhea and mouth inflammation. Trials of supplements for blood sugar and heart health are small and inconclusive.

High Blood Sugar

No. 007Culinary

Bitter Melon

Momordica charantia

The fruit of Momordica charantia, the same species as cerasee, studied mainly for diabetes. Trials disagree on whether it lowers blood sugar.

High Blood Sugar

No. 008Medicinal

Black Seed

Nigella sativa

Black cumin seed, a spice and traditional remedy in India, Arabia and Europe. Reviews of small trials suggest it lowers blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar slightly.

High Blood Sugar

No. 009Culinary

Cardamom

Elettaria cardamomum

A spice from the ginger family. Reviews of small trials found it lowered some blood fats, inflammation markers and blood pressure slightly.

High Blood Sugar

No. 010Medicinal

Cerasee

Momordica charantia

A bitter plant known in Jamaica as cerasee and elsewhere as bitter melon, widely used as a folk remedy for diabetes and high blood pressure.

High Blood Sugar

No. 011Culinary

Cinnamon

Cinnamomum verum

A warm kitchen spice made from tree bark, traditionally used for digestive complaints. Research on its effects on blood sugar and cholesterol is mixed.

High Blood Sugar

No. 012Medicinal

Cornelian Cherry

Cornus officinalis

Shan zhu yu, the sour fruit of an Asian dogwood, used in Chinese medicine for about 2,000 years as a liver and kidney tonic and for dizziness, ringing in the ears, frequent urination and heavy sweating. Research so far is in the lab and in animals.

High Blood Sugar

No. 013Medicinal

Crepe Ginger

Hellenia speciosa

A plant from South East Asia whose rhizome is traditionally used for inflammation and pain. In Puerto Rico it's used alongside diabetes treatment, and one small study tested rhizome nose drops for sore throat.

High Blood Sugar

No. 014Medicinal

Devil's Cotton

Abroma augusta

Ulatkambal, a shrub whose slimy leaf drink is used in Bangladesh and India for diabetes. It slowed sugar absorption in rats.

High Blood Sugar

No. 015Culinary

Dog's Blood

Rivina humilis

A small plant with red berries, known in Jamaica as dogberry and elsewhere as pigeon berry or blood berry. Its leaves are cooked as a leafy green; research so far is in the lab and in rats.

High Blood Sugar

No. 016Medicinal

Duppy Gun

Ruellia tuberosa

Ruellia tuberosa, also called Mexican bluebell, a folk medicine for diabetes in Asia. It lowered blood sugar in diabetic rats but hasn't been tested in people.

High Blood Sugar

No. 017Medicinal

Fenugreek

Trigonella foenum-graecum

A maple-scented seed used as a spice and traditional medicine for about 6,000 years. It may lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes, but it isn't safe in pregnancy beyond food amounts.

High Blood Sugar

No. 018Culinary

Garlic

Allium sativum

A pungent kitchen bulb traditionally used for heart and circulation health. Research suggests garlic supplements may lower blood pressure and cholesterol a little.

High Blood Sugar

No. 019Medicinal

Ginseng

Panax ginseng

A root long used in traditional Chinese medicine as a calming herb and an adaptogen. Research on its effects is mixed.

High Blood Sugar

No. 020Medicinal

Golden Eye Grass

Curculigo orchioides

Kali musli or xian mao, an endangered herb valued in Ayurveda and Chinese medicine as a tonic and aphrodisiac, and used for rheumatic conditions. Research so far is in the lab and in animals.

High Blood Sugar

No. 021Medicinal

Guava Leaf

Psidium guajava

The leaves of the guava tree, widely used as a tea for diarrhea in the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and Asia. Small trials have tested it for diarrhea, blood sugar after meals and gum inflammation.

High Blood Sugar

No. 022Medicinal

Gudmar

Gymnema sylvestre

Gurmar, the "sugar destroyer", an Ayurvedic climbing plant used for diabetes. It lowered blood sugar in animal studies, with mixed results in people.

High Blood Sugar

No. 023Medicinal

Jack in the Bush

Chromolaena odorata

One of Jamaica's most popular bush teas for colds and flu, also used in Africa and Asia for fever, wounds and diabetes. Research so far is in the lab and in animals.

High Blood Sugar

No. 024Medicinal

Jamaican Rat Ears

Peperomia pellucida

A small weed of damp, shady places, also called shining bush, used in Caribbean folk medicine as a cooling remedy and for skin sores. Research so far is limited and often weak.

High Blood Sugar

No. 025Medicinal

Lion's Ear

Leonotis nepetifolia

A plant in the mint family, known as shandilay in Trinidad, where it's a popular traditional remedy for colds and coughs. Research so far is limited to lab and animal studies.

High Blood Sugar

No. 026Medicinal

Mango Leaf

Mangifera indica

The leaves of the mango tree, made into a folk tea in Asia and Africa and traditionally used for diabetes, breathing problems and diarrhea. Research is mostly in the lab and in animals.

High Blood Sugar

No. 027Medicinal

Mediterranean Saltbush

Atriplex halimus

A salty-leaved shrub of the Mediterranean and North Africa, eaten as a vegetable and drunk as a tea for diabetes. It lowered blood sugar in rats.

High Blood Sugar

No. 028Medicinal

Milk Thistle

Silybum marianum

A tall, purple-flowered thistle from Europe, long used for liver problems. Studies of it and its extract silymarin in liver disease have been conflicting or too limited to show a clear benefit.

High Blood Sugar

No. 029Medicinal

Paneer Doda

Withania coagulans

Indian rennet, a shrub whose dried berries are used in Ayurveda and Unani medicine for diabetes. It lowered blood sugar in diabetic rats.

High Blood Sugar

No. 030Medicinal

Periwinkle

Catharanthus roseus

Madagascar periwinkle, a garden plant used in Caribbean folk medicine for diabetes and the source of two cancer drugs. The plant can be poisonous.

High Blood Sugar

No. 031Culinary

Pomegranate

Punica granatum

A Middle Eastern fruit whose juice may help lower blood pressure and blood sugar slightly. The root, stem and peel may be unsafe in large amounts.

High Blood Sugar

No. 032Medicinal

Poria Cocos

Wolfiporia cocos

Fu ling, an edible fungus used in Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years to promote urination, reduce swelling, aid digestion and calm the mind. It's in nearly 15% of Chinese Pharmacopoeia preparations.

High Blood Sugar

No. 033Culinary

Purslane

Portulaca oleracea

A leafy plant eaten as a vegetable and used as a folk medicine, called pussley in Trinidad. Reviews of trials found it may lower fasting blood sugar a little and improve cholesterol in people with type 2 diabetes.

High Blood Sugar

No. 034Medicinal

Reishi

Ganoderma lucidum

A mushroom prized for centuries in traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean medicine. A Cochrane review found it didn't lower heart disease risk factors.

High Blood Sugar

No. 035Culinary

Sesame Seeds

Sesamum indicum

A common food seed and oil. Trials suggest sesame products may lower long-term blood sugar and inflammation. Sesame is a major food allergen.

High Blood Sugar

No. 036Medicinal

Snake Gourd Root

Trichosanthes kirilowii

Tian hua fen, a Chinese medicine root used for centuries for diabetes, swelling and menstrual problems. Its protein, trichosanthin, ends pregnancies and was once widely used in China for abortion.

High Blood Sugar

No. 037Culinary

Susumber

Solanum torvum

Turkey berry, a small berry from the nightshade family cooked in Jamaican dishes and used in traditional medicine in Asia, Africa and South America. Some batches of berries have caused serious poisoning.

High Blood Sugar

No. 038Culinary

Tarragon

Artemisia dracunculus

A kitchen herb used in traditional medicine in Iran, Pakistan, Azerbaijan and India for digestive problems, pain, sleep and worms. Its essential oil is high in estragole, a substance of concern, though water extracts contain very little.

High Blood Sugar

No. 039Medicinal

Wereke

Ibervillea sonorae

The root of a wild gourd from northwestern Mexico, sold as dried "chips" and boiled into a tea for diabetes in Mexican folk medicine. Lab and animal studies suggest it may lower blood sugar, but it hasn't been tested in people.

High Blood Sugar

No. 040Medicinal

White Mulberry Leaf

Morus alba

The leaf of the white mulberry tree. A review of 12 trials found it lowered fasting blood sugar and HbA1c.

High Blood Sugar

No. 041Medicinal

Yellow Dock

Rumex crispus

Curly dock, a plant whose root and leaves are traditional laxatives and tonics, also used for skin problems and jaundice. Research is in the lab and in rats.

High Blood Sugar

No. 042Culinary

Yerba Mate

Ilex paraguariensis

A South American drink made from the dried leaves of a holly tree. Trials hint it may help blood sugar control, but found no effect on cholesterol.

High Blood Sugar